View source for CITCONEurope2009Lodging

== Lodging and accomodation information for participants to CITCON Paris 2009 ==

Map: [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=fr&msa=0&msid=101520646975215680763.00046ceda6bcae04f94bf&ll=48.851727,2.357769&spn=0.095786,0.264359&z=13].

Paris has a good number of hotels, but they are not known to be budget-friendly. Here a few options that can help.
Also, note that it seems that Paris is actually lacking hotel rooms (I heard there were around 5000 -- [[Eric_Lefevre-Ardant|Eric]]) so don't wait too long before making a reservation. September is still a busy month for tourists in Paris.
* I checked the hotel rates a month after the initial creation of this page; some had seriously increased. Don't wait too long before you book one. -- [[Eric_Lefevre-Ardant|Eric]]

=== Hotels ===

The conference is taking place at Institut Supérieur d'Electronique de Paris (ISEP): [http://www.isep.fr/]. ISEP is a college specializing in Electronics & Information Systems. They host the Paris Java User Group [http://www.parisjug.org/] every month.

ISEP is based in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, a very central location within easy reach by metro and suburban train. See the Google Map for a better view [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=fr&msa=0&msid=101520646975215680763.00046ceda6bcae04f94bf&ll=48.851727,2.357769&spn=0.095786,0.264359&z=13].

=== Hotels ===

A selection of hotels, more or less sorted by price.
Also, check out the Google Map of all these hotels here: [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=fr&msa=0&msid=101520646975215680763.00046ceda6bcae04f94bf&ll=48.851727,2.357769&spn=0.095786,0.264359&z=13].

* Campings in Paris: [http://www.campingparis.fr/indexuk.html]
** expect a good hour to get from the camping in the Bois de Boulogne to ISEP; also, while the area is well-known to families that want a walk in the woods, it can get quite dodgy at night, though I expect the camping to be just fine ([[Eric_Lefevre-Ardant|Eric]])

* Formule 1, Porte de Châtillon: [http://www.hotelformule1.com/fr/hotel-5010-formule-1-hotelf1-paris-porte-de-chatillon/index.shtml]. At 40-45€, probably the cheapest hotel you can get in the vicinity, a view on the highway included. 10-15 mins to get to metro station Porte d'Orléans, then 15 mins by metro.
** not the ugliest part of Paris, but not great either; still, for the price, it has a reasonable good location. -- [[Eric_Lefevre-Ardant|Eric]]

* Hôtel des voyageurs: [http://www.hoteldesvoyageursparis.com/]. Rooms are 55€. Excellent location (the nearby rue Daguerre is one of the most Parisian streets in Paris) and ~15 mins by public transportation to ISEP (pointed by [[Zouheir Cadi]]).
** this would probably be my choice -- [[Eric_Lefevre-Ardant|Eric]]

* FIAP Jean Monnet [http://www.fiap.asso.fr/] is another cheap option, especially for those willing to share rooms. From 57€ for a single room to 26€ in a room with 6 beds. ~20 mins by public transportation to ISEP.
** Looks like a youth hostel, though not sure they officially qualify as one. Lots of groups of foreign youngsters there. Very professional -- [[Eric_Lefevre-Ardant|Eric]]

* Accor Hotels [http://www.accorhotels.com/] has an excellent selection of hotels at medium prices in Paris
** the best might be Ibis Alesia-Montparnasse [http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-0959-ibis-paris-alesia-montparnasse-14eme/index.shtml] ~115 € -- you'll need to take the metro to get to ISEP
** also, check out the Mercure Montparnasse [http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-0905-mercure-paris-gare-montparnasse/index.shtml] (~180€) and Mercure Raspail [http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-0351-mercure-raspail/index.shtml] (~100€), the latter is possibly the closest to ISEP you can get, less than 5 mins walk

* in a similar category are the Comfort Hotels
** Comfort Hotel Montparnasse [http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-paris-france-FR173?sid=2wtKM.5wCGSgLMI.7] ~90€, 5 mins walk to ISEP
** Comfort Hotel Mouffetard/Latin Quarter [http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-paris-france-FR202?sid=2wtKM.5wCGSgLMI.7] ~140€, in one of the most Parisian area of Paris

* those Marriott-inclined will have to go to the Marriott Rive Gauche [http://www.marriott.fr/Channels/globalSites/propertyPage/FRANCE/PARST], very close to FIAP Jean Monnet. Starts at 160€.

* Holiday Inn Gare Montparnasse [http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/350/fr/hd/pargm]. ~250€

=== Getting around ===

Plan your travels with the Paris public transportation system here: [http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index.php?langue=en]. A good system, but it fails to tell you the price of the tickets (or the travel zones you are crossing).

==== Velib ====

A rather excellent bike rental system has been put in place a couple of years ago, called Velib [http://www.en.velib.paris.fr/].

The idea:
* cheap, nominal fee (1€ for one day), then free usage up to 30 mins, as many times as desired.
** after 30 mins of continual usage, the price increases exponentially: 1€ for the following 30 mins, then 2€ for another 30 mins, then 4€
* bikes can be used 24/7
* bikes are available at various stations, locked into stands a bit like shopping carts
* there is a *huge* number of those stations in Paris, enough to make the system a credible alternative to traditional public transportation

The problems:
* many bikes have been vandalized, so always double-check tires, chains, etc. *before* retrieving the bike
* it requires a bankcard with a chip, which would work for most European cards, and few US ones
* some stations are more popular at particular times, which can make it difficult to find a free slot for your bike (for example, many go to train stations using Velib and leave their bike near it) -- you can end up paying the usage fee
* if you take the day or week pass, you get a pin code that you'll need to use on the terminals to select a bike. This can be slow and not very convenient. Plus, those with yearly subscription have a touchcard that takes only seconds to use and they won't need the terminal. So they can even take the last available bike while you are still fumbling with the terminal.