Best middle-priced hotel in central Lyon?

I am having a hard time deciding between hotels in the center of Lyon because each of them seems to have some oddity or problem in the tripadvisor.com reviews. I was wondering about the size of the rooms at St. Paul which look miniscule on the website. I was also wondering about the Grand Hotel des Terreaux (which, apparently, has no AC in rooms, but which looks very comfortable on the website). Size of bed and room and shower matters because my husband is 6%26#39;3%26#39;%26#39; and we are traveling with two friends, one of whom is even taller. I know French hotel rooms and showers do tend to be small compared to the US, but was hoping - ideally - for (a) not-cramped room in (b) quiet part of center, walkable to Vieux Lyon if not in it and (c) decent-sized shower (not one of those cabinets that make you bang your elbows every time you move and (d) some character, not just IKEA style. If such a place doesn%26#39;t exist, is it worth putting out the extra money for a place like the Sofitel?? Thank you.

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When do you plan to come to Lyon ? If it is not in July/August, you may not need A/C ?

What is your price range ?

The Grand Hotel des Terreaux is a good choice, I have visited the rooms and bathrooms that are large and nice, especially if you choose a %26quot;Corbeille%26quot; room. But I can confirm they don%26#39;t have A/C in the rooms.

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Hello only-Lyon,

Thanks for your reply. We are needing two rooms for three nights at the beginning of October, 2008. I know that%26#39;s not a %26quot;hot%26quot; time of year, but have a memory of France%26#39;s having a terrible heatwave around then a couple of years ago. Am I wrong? Is the Terreaux in a good location? Price range - can pay more than 100 E/night, but cannot afford the luxury places (Cour des Loges). We%26#39;d prefer not as high as 200E night (which is now almost $300 US). Thanks again.

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You will definitively not need A/C at he beginning of October. The terrible heatwawe we had in 2003 was in summertime. The average temperature in Lyon in October is 12 to 14°C.

As you can afford it, I recommend that you pay more for a %26quot;corbeille%26quot; room at the Grand Hotel des Terreaux.

I think that Les Terreaux is a good location, as you will be close to everything : an easy walk to the market along the Saône, just a bridge to cross to be in the old town. It is a very lively neighborhood with a lot of bars and restaurants, even a jazz club in the same street.

I have no personnal interest in this hotel, but had good PM from visitors who stayed there. I have visited the rooms before recommending it.

The pros :

- entirely refurbished, some rooms are very large (as you book very long in advance, you%26#39;ll be able to choose)

- very friendly staff, english speaking

- in the middle of everything, just walk out the door

The cons

- It is a personal opinion, but I don%26#39;t like the swimming pool near the breakfast room

- It is not the quietest part of the city, but the very center (depends on what you like)

The alternative could be a Mercure hotel, not as expensive as a Sofitel, for example the Beaux-Arts :

mercure.com/mercure/…fiche_hotel.shtml

or the Plazza République :

mercure.com/mercure/…fiche_hotel.shtml

They are both centrally located.

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This is very helpful. Thank you so much for your time.

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Travel Lover, you disn%26#39;t ask for a B%26amp;B, but as you mention that you travel with friends, it makes me think of an other accomodation.

There are some urban B%26amp;B in Lyon, this one is very central, on place Bellecour, and is very nice. As they propose 2 rooms, you could rent the 2 and live in a kind of private place as there is a private entrance. The place is just next door to my apartment, it is called %26quot;Bellecour sur Cour%26quot;:

http://www.bellecoursurcour.com/index.htm

Here is the feedback I received from travellers who recently stayed there.

%26quot;As for our accomodations, I highly recommend Bellecour sur Cour. The location is ideal, Patricia (manager) was just lovely and very hospitable. We were in the Pierre room and it is accurately viewed on the website. The rooms overlook the courtyard (which was quiet at night), had internet hook up, was very clean, had a queen sized bed and a fairly new tiled bath/shower. Water was hot with good water perssure. The 2 guest rooms have their own stairway and entance.off the courtyard giving the room the feel of a seperate apartment.

Breakfast was simple and was taken in the main part of the house. It consisted of juice, yogurt, toast or breads, coffee/tea. There is a small pantry area right outside the rooms in the hallway stocked with glasses, mugs, utensils, tea, instant coffee etc. Sherman%26#39;s Travel magazine did an article on Lyon in the September issue and Bellecour sur Cour is one of 3 accomodations mentioned in the article. Thanks again for suggesting Bellecour sur Cour to us.%26quot;

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This looks very promising. A perfect location (lucky you!). Thank you again so much. Now I%26#39;ll present all your helpful information to my husband and our friends.

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Removed on: 5:20 pm, September 13, 2009

Eurodisney - Children of 1 & 4 years

Hello we are toying with the idea of taking a trip to euro disney in April next year - our children will be then 1year and 4 years old - can anyone advise if there are things to do for this age group - or are we wasting out time and money?

Many thanks for all you kind help

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I%26#39;m not a parent, but I can%26#39;t imagine a 1-year old would get anything out of it.... but the 4 yr old probably would...

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There are a few rides the four yr old will enjoy( but many she/he will be unable to go on as of height requirements). Also it is %26quot;cute%26quot; and at that age they enjoy seeing the characters. etc.

The one yr old is baby and will get nothing out of it.

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We took our 4 year old and our 6 year old and only the 6 year old remember the trip ...the 4 year old remembered from pictures.

Your one year old won%26#39;t be going on rides so either one of you will have to go on the height appropriate rides with the four year old.

I think I would not go till they were a little older.....but then my hubby thinks that Disney should just be for adults who want to be kids!

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the one year old will get nothing from the experience

and I do think the 4 year old is also too young -- we took our kids at 4 and 9 to Disneyworld in Florida and the 4 year old had an okay day but was too small for many rides and it was largely wasted on her (we actually paid to send her on a school trip later because we felt at 4 she hadn%26#39;t really had much of an experience there)

if YOU love disney amusement parks then go -- but don%26#39;t go thinking you are doing something for the kids -- the one year old doesn%26#39;t care at all as long as s/he is comfortable and with Mom and Dad -- the 4 year old would probably have lots more fun at one of the zillions of small playgrounds all over Paris -- for free

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Thank you all for your thoughts, will probably give it a miss until the little ones are a bit older. Appreciate everyone%26#39;s help

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Removed on: 8:16 pm, September 13, 2009

Need help on where to stay...

Hi, my boyfriend and I are spending 5 days in Paris in Jan08 and need some help! I%26#39;ve been to Paris before, but that was when I was 12 and so this time want to go back and experience things properly for myself. He has never been and so will probably want to see all of the main sights, eiffel tower etc etc.

I was planning to book a hotel in the 7th area near the eiffel tower. We are looking for a budget hotel that is clean and basic... but preferably near sights and the metro.

After reading some reviews on here I%26#39;m a little put off by the 7th area as people have said there isn%26#39;t much to do there, other than the eiffel tower. I%26#39;ve heard that perhaps the latin quarter or somewhere like that will be better for more sights and to experience the real paris.

We%26#39;d like to be in the centre of the sights, quite close to everything. Saying that, we are not huge fans of museums, maybe we might visit one but we don%26#39;t want to be located somewhere that is entirely dominated by museums. We are 18 and so would like somewhere that has a nice night life also.

Any suggestions would be grateful.

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The 7th is not a good area for young people. Very residential and quiet. Stay in the Latin Quarter or near Rue Mouffetard (also in the 5th arr.) or in the Marais.

You can see the Eiffel Tower from everywhere and walk to it.

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yes i absolutely suggest you to stay in the 6th ...unfort, can%26#39;t give you an idea about hotels because we usually rent an apart, but TA people will be glad to post some addresses. When in the 6th, go to the St Germain Pub for a drink, as you are 18, you%26#39;ll love the ambiance ...

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Dear Vctorriane;

I think 18 year olds would love the Latin Quarter, aka the 5th. The Rue Mouffetard is lively and the neighborhood interesting. It is also close to the sights, but not museum bound. You are close to both the 6th Arrond., the Ile St. Louis (charming) and across the Seine, on the other side, is the Marais, another great neighborhood.

Bon chance and bon voyage!

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Removed on: 11:20 pm, September 07, 2009

Vacation in Paris (vacationinparis.com) Apartment Question

Hello! Another poster suggested I bullet out the following question from a separate post. We%26#39;re evaluating different apartments for our February stay in Paris, and I%26#39;m looking for some feedback:

Has anyone stayed in the following apartments: 65, 100, 112, or 122? We%26#39;re hoping to be pretty centrally located, and I%26#39;m having a hard time justifying anything over $150/night.

I%26#39;ve already heard some good things about 100 -- thanks!

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You will get a lot of positive feedback on No. 122. I have not stayed in that one, but I have stayed in that location (across the street) and liked it a lot - it%26#39;s a short walk to just about everything you want to see, and I%26#39;m planning to get this apartment next time I need one there.

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I sent you a personal message.

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Hi. I sent you a PM.

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Removed on: 11:18 am, September 13, 2009

1st or 6th

I am deciding where to stay for 5 nights in the spring - I am leaning toward the 1st or the 6th. I am travelling with my husband and 3 kids. Two older (21 and 18) will want to explore on their own at night a bit - so I want a safe area and close to things they would like to do at night. Also, third child is in a wheelchair, so we want to be withing walking/rolling distance to as manysights and restaurants as possible.

your inputs are much appreciated.

Tracie

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It all depends on the address. I would think that a 21 and an 18 years old would be happier in the 6th at night esp. if you stay near Blvd Saint Germain.

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I have stayed in both, and have travelled alone and with friends, and also alone with my 14 yr old.

The 6th gets my vote.

Close to lots of interesting shops, cafes, Notre Dame( which is not in sixth but just walk over the bridge, same with Louvre and St Chapelle) book stores , restaurants etc. You can also walk to the Cluny, and the Orsay and Rodins. I tend to walk alot so for me I found this area so central.

The 1st seemed boring in evening, all there seemed to be was a strip along Rue Du Rivoli with tshirt and souvenir shops. This is just my opinion.

In the 6th the older teens( although the 21 yr old is now actually an adult LOL) can wander around the area and find lots of things to poke around,, plus I consider it very safe.

Seriously consider suggesting the older kids take a %26quot;Fat Tire Bike tour%26quot;, we did Paris at Night and LOVED it ( we are middle aged) we were definately in the older set, guides are all young American college age type students, they made Paris so fun ,just enough tidbits of knowledge to make the tour interesting and more then enough thrills to make it fun.

It was only 25 euros each and you do not have to book or pay ahead. They have a website so just google them something the kids could do at night without you guys and really enjoy!

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Here are the city bus lines with handicapped access.

www.ratp.info/orienter/accessibilite.php…

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I vote for the 6th too. On a family trip to Paris in 2004, we stayed on the Rue St. Andre des Arts, which turns into the Rue de Buci. This is a great lively area between Place St. Michel and St. Germain des Pres, and your older children would certainly find plenty to do here in the evenings. It%26#39;s also very close to Notre Dame and la Sainte Chapelle, Ile St. Louis, the Luxembourg Gardens, the Musee Cluny, the Seine, etc. etc. If the weather is nice, you will really enjoy walking and rolling through the Luxembourg Gardens.

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If you look on any good Paris street map (you%26#39;ve already got one...right??...it ain%26#39;t as if you won%26#39;t need it for general planning and touring purposes) you%26#39;ll see that the 1er-Louvre / Tuileries and the 6eme-Saint Germain des Prés are just across the Seine from each other. So the neighborhoods of either will be equally safe and convenient for your purpose (in either case, the closer to the Seine the better)...and they will flow almost seamlessly together. Either area will be within easy strolling / walking distances of a great many of Paris%26#39; many great treasures and many small pleasures...and also provide excellent public transportation connections (RER, Metro, Bus) to %26#39;..everywhere else in Paris..%26#39; when you feel compelled to venture out to Paris%26#39; other great neighborhoods.

But of the two, like others, we have a decided %26#39;..Left Bank..%26#39; preference for the neighborhoods of the upper-6eme--Saint Germain des Prés on the Left Bank. These neighborhoods are livelier, more interesting and when strolling or walking, flow seamlessly along the Seine into other interesting neighborhoods of the upper-5em-Latin Quarter, 4eme-Iles / lower-Marais and 1er-Louvre / Tuileries.

You%26#39;ll also fine a broad selection of good hotels in a variety or categories and price ranges to suit most budgets. The neighborhoods of the upper-6eme have more than enough good restaurants, bistros and cafés to choose from, within easy strolling / walking distance of your hotel, to satisy almost any taste, appetiti or budget; more than enough interesting shopping opportunities to max-out all but AMEX %26#39;black%26#39;...and lively and interesting entertainment and %26#39;..street theater..%26#39; in the evenings to keep you amused

The 1er-Louvre / Tuileries tends to be largely institutional / commercial and as such, there%26#39;s a bit less to do in the immediate neighborhoods in the evenings.

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Dear Tramac:

I%26#39;ve stayed in both the 1st and the 6th, and enjoyed both of them. In the 1st, I stayed at the Relais du Louvre, which is 1 block from the Seine and next door to the Louvre. It is just across the Pont Neuf to the Left Bank, so is very central. I will second the advice KDSail gave you.

Bon chance and bon voyage!

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I agree with La Photographe, it all depends on the address.

The 1st near Le Louvre is mostly sad at night, except one night bar I like close to Le Louvre, le Fumoir. But not the rue des Petits Champs is nice (go to Willis Wine bar). And the 1st close to the 2nd is very lively, a lot of bars and restaurants rue Tiquetonne, rue Montorgueil, etc.

I don%26#39;t need to recommend the 6th, everybody did already!

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Removed on: 9:15 pm, September 12, 2009

honeymoon at lake annecy

I am trying to book honeymoon in mid august (9th of august for 7 nights)at lake annecy, yet im not having much luck with hotels, i know its peak season but did not expect so many hotels to be booked up, i especially liked chataigniers in saint jorioz and auberge le letraz in sevier, but they both booked up.

Has anyone got any suggestions for mid priced hotels(around £60 pppn) ideally half board, and near a beach and walks.

I would greatly appreciate any help.

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Have you tried l%26#39;Abbaye, perfect for a honymoon, although a little over your price range :

http://www.abbaye-talloires.com/

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Removed on: 11:16 pm, September 12, 2009

day trip to paris/will transit strike effect it?

Hello,

My family and I ( 2 adults and 12 year old) are leaving for london 11/20 , this is our first trip. We have decided that we would love to take day trip to Paris on Eurostar.

I am looking at booking Premium tours or Golden tours day trip, do you think that the strike will effect the tours that are booked?

I have not booked it yet, or should I wait until I get to London to book the tour.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

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My understanding is that the Civil Servants will be stiking in Paris on the 20th and the transit strike my still be on then as well. So if you plan to book it do not take it on the 20th. If you are leaving on the 20th you could check out the various strike status on the 19th and then make a decision before you leave or wait until you get to London and book it then.

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Removed on: 8:17 pm, September 13, 2009