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Enjoy this forum and resource dedicated to sharing and discussing global travel. Everyone is welcome to add experiences, ask questions and participate in the dialogue to further understand our world and the joy of travel.
Thank you for your visit and I appreciate your patience as I develop this forum. Throughout a lifetime of travel, I have experiences and comments scattered all over and strive to consolidate these posts, notes and commentary to this single forum.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Affordable Paris Hotel Finds
Frequently I am asked Paris hotel suggestions.
This should get everyone started .. all under 100 Euro for almost every district, taste and style. In many cases toward the lower part of my list are properties under 70Euro.
I have stayed or had friends stay in all of these. The " * " means the most recent or frequent stays. Don't hesitate to ask questions.
Enjoy!
A Room in Paris (atmosphere & personal touch)
http://www.aroominparis.com/
Hotel de Sejour (location)
http://www.hoteldusejour.com/pages/rooms_1.html
* Hidden Hotel
http://www.hidden-hotel.com/
* Mama Shelter (Funky!)
http://mamashelter.com/
* St. Christopher (Quality Hostel)
http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldet...is/Paris/19865
Eldorado Hotel (Entry level Chic)
http://www.eldoradohotel.fr/
* Hotel Londres Eiffel (Location and sweeet)
http://www.hotel-paris-londres-eiffel.com/
Hotel des Deux Iles (Location and appeal)
http://www.deuxiles-paris-hotel.com/
* La Villa Paris (Pretty sure I would never leave)
http://www.la-villa-paris.com/index_en.html
* Hotel du Cadran & Hotel du Valadon (Neighbors and yum!)
http://www.cadranhotel.com/
http://www.hotelvaladon.com/pages/hotel.html
* The Five (Fun &n Funky - Would love to do FIVE & MAMA Shelter)
http://www.thefivehotel.com/
Hotel Hostellerie du Marais (great location - Marais and nice hotel)
http://hostelleriedumarais.com/
Hotel Perdrix Rouge (19th arrondissement)
http://hotel-perdrixrouge-paris.com/
Hotel Abbatial St Germain (5th arr.)
http://hotelabbatialsaintgermain.com/
Hotel Lyon Bastille (75 Euro)
http://www.hotellyonbastille.com/
Hotel Concortel & Hotel Belfast . Beautiful decoration
http://concortel-paris-hotel.com/
http://hotelbelfastparis.com/
* Hotel Elysees Union (Classy!)
http://www.elysees-union.com/
Hotel du Quai Voltaire (Seine just across from the Louvre)
http://www.quaivoltaire.fr/
Hotel du Petit Louvre (5-10 minutes from Eiffel Tower in the 15th)
http://hotel-paris-petitlouvre.com
Hotel Baldi (Between the Eiffel Tower and Montparnasse)
http://baldi-paris-hotel.com/
Hotel Elysee Etoile (minutes from the Arc de Triomphe)
http://elysee-etoile-paris-hotel.com/
Hotel Damremont (Montmartre area - way below 150 dollars)
http://damremont-paris-hotel.com/
Hotel Marciano and Hotel Saint Quentin (Gare du Nord)
http://www.marcianohotel-garedunord.com/
http://paris-hotel-saint-quentin.com/
Hotel Henri IV on Place Dauphine (Ile de la Cité, doubles from 60¬)
http://www.henri4hotel.fr/
Hotel Bellechasse (Next to Invalides and the Seine in the 7th)
www.lebellechasse.com
Timhotel Le Louvre (usually stay away from chains - but location!)
http://www.timhotel.com/en/touristic...-le-louvre.htm
This should get everyone started .. all under 100 Euro for almost every district, taste and style. In many cases toward the lower part of my list are properties under 70Euro.
I have stayed or had friends stay in all of these. The " * " means the most recent or frequent stays. Don't hesitate to ask questions.
Enjoy!
A Room in Paris (atmosphere & personal touch)
http://www.aroominparis.com/
Hotel de Sejour (location)
http://www.hoteldusejour.com/pages/rooms_1.html
* Hidden Hotel
http://www.hidden-hotel.com/
* Mama Shelter (Funky!)
http://mamashelter.com/
* St. Christopher (Quality Hostel)
http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldet...is/Paris/19865
Eldorado Hotel (Entry level Chic)
http://www.eldoradohotel.fr/
* Hotel Londres Eiffel (Location and sweeet)
http://www.hotel-paris-londres-eiffel.com/
Hotel des Deux Iles (Location and appeal)
http://www.deuxiles-paris-hotel.com/
* La Villa Paris (Pretty sure I would never leave)
http://www.la-villa-paris.com/index_en.html
* Hotel du Cadran & Hotel du Valadon (Neighbors and yum!)
http://www.cadranhotel.com/
http://www.hotelvaladon.com/pages/hotel.html
* The Five (Fun &n Funky - Would love to do FIVE & MAMA Shelter)
http://www.thefivehotel.com/
Hotel Hostellerie du Marais (great location - Marais and nice hotel)
http://hostelleriedumarais.com/
Hotel Perdrix Rouge (19th arrondissement)
http://hotel-perdrixrouge-paris.com/
Hotel Abbatial St Germain (5th arr.)
http://hotelabbatialsaintgermain.com/
Hotel Lyon Bastille (75 Euro)
http://www.hotellyonbastille.com/
Hotel Concortel & Hotel Belfast . Beautiful decoration
http://concortel-paris-hotel.com/
http://hotelbelfastparis.com/
* Hotel Elysees Union (Classy!)
http://www.elysees-union.com/
Hotel du Quai Voltaire (Seine just across from the Louvre)
http://www.quaivoltaire.fr/
Hotel du Petit Louvre (5-10 minutes from Eiffel Tower in the 15th)
http://hotel-paris-petitlouvre.com
Hotel Baldi (Between the Eiffel Tower and Montparnasse)
http://baldi-paris-hotel.com/
Hotel Elysee Etoile (minutes from the Arc de Triomphe)
http://elysee-etoile-paris-hotel.com/
Hotel Damremont (Montmartre area - way below 150 dollars)
http://damremont-paris-hotel.com/
Hotel Marciano and Hotel Saint Quentin (Gare du Nord)
http://www.marcianohotel-garedunord.com/
http://paris-hotel-saint-quentin.com/
Hotel Henri IV on Place Dauphine (Ile de la Cité, doubles from 60¬)
http://www.henri4hotel.fr/
Hotel Bellechasse (Next to Invalides and the Seine in the 7th)
www.lebellechasse.com
Timhotel Le Louvre (usually stay away from chains - but location!)
http://www.timhotel.com/en/touristic...-le-louvre.htm
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Thailand - Cambodia Border Crossing (Aran / Poipet)
Much has been said about this crossing over the years and through my experience, I can put some of the myth and older posts to rest . . .
When you get in slightly after midnight, you can just rough it or stay in one of many low priced options near BKK. I use www.kayak.com (search one and done) under $30. Catch the 7:30AM bus from the BKK Bus Center to the Aran / Poipet border. 187 Bhat ($8.00). If you are going direct to Siem Reap upon arrival into BKK, don't screw around with bus to Morchit, transfers, or even the train. The 7:30AM bus is perfect and the seats recline to a spectacular degree that sleep should come fast and well. You will be in your hotel in time for a swim before supper.
When you get to the border, don't get off at the first stop, the driver will drop you closer to the checkpoint or at the Rong Kluea Market. If they take you to the market, snag a tuk tuk (moto taxi) right there to the checkpoint 30 Bhat ($1). Even it you get off at the first stop it is no biggie, snag a mototaxi and it may run 35-40 Bhat to the checkpoint.
Crossing is easy (get a Cambodian Visa online first $25) and always have a few extra passport photos hand just in case. Think Left. You pass through Thai border control & immigration (have your departure card filled out - back of your arrival card into BKK), walk past casinos and follow the signs to Cambodian immigration. They will look at your Visa, stamp stamp and off you go. No biggie if you don't get an e-visa, I noticed that if you did it expedited the matter substantially.
When you get past Cambodia immigration DO NOT get on the bus you will be shoved or "encouraged" to take, well unless you want a crammed mini-bus ride to REP or inflated taxi fare. Just ignore the offers, unless you are on a super tight budget. Some of the min-vans are decent and best if you luck out with some room. From my experience, they wait till full and I mean FULL. If you are on a tight budget, there are buses available to Siem Reap that will run you between $7-9US and like the min-vans, will wait until absolutely full before departing.
You exit onto what is a roundabout. Across from you is a grass (dirt) circle, on the opposite side are where taxis are parked to take you to Siem Reap ($30 US or less). Be sure that you are speaking with the driver, be adamant that you ALREADY have a hotel reservation, do not want to go to any other hotel, yada yada yada.
Just about every western face you see coming through passport control is headed to Siem Reap also. Chat it up with someone and you can share the taxi. It is $30 regardless if 1 - 3 passengers. For comfort and considering the cost is OK as is, just share with 1 other person, or 2 if someone sits in the front with the driver.
I did this process in reverse a few hours ago which was even easier. I left Siem Reap around 10AM'ish and arrived at the BKK airport around 6:30PM. The bus leaves from a market 2km (Rong Kluea Market) to the right of the checkpoint. Grab a mototaxi and say Bus to: SUVARNABHUMI Airport Bus (su-wahn-nah-phum). The 2:30PM departure to BKK is perfect.
Neither side is all that is was cracked up to be . . . at least now. The roads are great and with a little common sense, reading and right attitude, the experience is swift and forthright.
Air Aran Pattana Bus Company
Reservations: 089-8449624
www.ok-bus.com
When you get in slightly after midnight, you can just rough it or stay in one of many low priced options near BKK. I use www.kayak.com (search one and done) under $30. Catch the 7:30AM bus from the BKK Bus Center to the Aran / Poipet border. 187 Bhat ($8.00). If you are going direct to Siem Reap upon arrival into BKK, don't screw around with bus to Morchit, transfers, or even the train. The 7:30AM bus is perfect and the seats recline to a spectacular degree that sleep should come fast and well. You will be in your hotel in time for a swim before supper.
When you get to the border, don't get off at the first stop, the driver will drop you closer to the checkpoint or at the Rong Kluea Market. If they take you to the market, snag a tuk tuk (moto taxi) right there to the checkpoint 30 Bhat ($1). Even it you get off at the first stop it is no biggie, snag a mototaxi and it may run 35-40 Bhat to the checkpoint.
Crossing is easy (get a Cambodian Visa online first $25) and always have a few extra passport photos hand just in case. Think Left. You pass through Thai border control & immigration (have your departure card filled out - back of your arrival card into BKK), walk past casinos and follow the signs to Cambodian immigration. They will look at your Visa, stamp stamp and off you go. No biggie if you don't get an e-visa, I noticed that if you did it expedited the matter substantially.
When you get past Cambodia immigration DO NOT get on the bus you will be shoved or "encouraged" to take, well unless you want a crammed mini-bus ride to REP or inflated taxi fare. Just ignore the offers, unless you are on a super tight budget. Some of the min-vans are decent and best if you luck out with some room. From my experience, they wait till full and I mean FULL. If you are on a tight budget, there are buses available to Siem Reap that will run you between $7-9US and like the min-vans, will wait until absolutely full before departing.
You exit onto what is a roundabout. Across from you is a grass (dirt) circle, on the opposite side are where taxis are parked to take you to Siem Reap ($30 US or less). Be sure that you are speaking with the driver, be adamant that you ALREADY have a hotel reservation, do not want to go to any other hotel, yada yada yada.
Just about every western face you see coming through passport control is headed to Siem Reap also. Chat it up with someone and you can share the taxi. It is $30 regardless if 1 - 3 passengers. For comfort and considering the cost is OK as is, just share with 1 other person, or 2 if someone sits in the front with the driver.
I did this process in reverse a few hours ago which was even easier. I left Siem Reap around 10AM'ish and arrived at the BKK airport around 6:30PM. The bus leaves from a market 2km (Rong Kluea Market) to the right of the checkpoint. Grab a mototaxi and say Bus to: SUVARNABHUMI Airport Bus (su-wahn-nah-phum). The 2:30PM departure to BKK is perfect.
Neither side is all that is was cracked up to be . . . at least now. The roads are great and with a little common sense, reading and right attitude, the experience is swift and forthright.
Air Aran Pattana Bus Company
Reservations: 089-8449624
www.ok-bus.com
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