Difference between revisions of "CITCONEurope2009Lodging"

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Paris has lots of hotels, but they are not known to be budget-friendly. Here a few options that can help.
 
Paris has lots of hotels, but they are not known to be budget-friendly. Here a few options that can help.
 
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).
 
  
 
The conference is occurring at ISEP: [http://www.isep.fr/]
 
The conference is occurring at ISEP: [http://www.isep.fr/]
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* 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.
 
* 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]])
+
** not the ugliest part of Paris, but not great either; still, for the price, it has a reasonable good location -- [[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.
 
* 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]])
+
** 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
 
* 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] ~80 € -- you'll need to take the metro to get to ISEP
 
** the best might be Ibis Alesia-Montparnasse [http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-0959-ibis-paris-alesia-montparnasse-14eme/index.shtml] ~80 € -- you'll need to take the metro to get to ISEP
 +
*** this would probably be my choice -- [[Eric_Lefevre-Ardant|Eric]]
 
** also, check out the Mercure Montparnasse [http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-0905-mercure-paris-gare-montparnasse/index.shtml] (~115€) 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, but both are within 10 mins walking distance to ISEP.
 
** also, check out the Mercure Montparnasse [http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-0905-mercure-paris-gare-montparnasse/index.shtml] (~115€) 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, but both are within 10 mins walking distance to ISEP.
  
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* Holiday Inn Gare Montparnasse [http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/350/fr/hd/pargm]. ~250€
 
* 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/ -- link only partly in English).
 +
 +
The idea:
 +
* cheap, nominal fee (1€ for one day), then free usage up to 30 mins
 +
** after 30 mins, the price increases exponentially: 1€ for the following 30 mins, then 2€ for another 30 mins, then 4€
 +
* bikes are available at station, locked into stands a bit like shopping carts
 +
* they can be used 24/7
 +
* there is a *huge* number of those stations in Paris, enough to make it 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.

Revision as of 08:04, 3 June 2009

Lodging and accomodation information for participants to CITCON Paris 2009

Paris has lots of hotels, but they are not known to be budget-friendly. Here a few options that can help.

The conference is occurring at ISEP: [1]

  • Campings in Paris: [2]
    • 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)
  • Formule 1, Porte de Châtillon: [3]. 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
  • FIAP Jean Monnet [4] 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
  • Accor Hotels [5] has an excellent selection of hotels at medium prices in Paris
    • the best might be Ibis Alesia-Montparnasse [6] ~80 € -- you'll need to take the metro to get to ISEP
      • this would probably be my choice -- Eric
    • also, check out the Mercure Montparnasse [7] (~115€) and Mercure Raspail [8] (~100€), the latter is possibly the closest to ISEP you can get, but both are within 10 mins walking distance to ISEP.
  • those Marriott-inclined will have to go to the Marriott Rive Gauche [9], very close to FIAP Jean Monnet. Starts at 160€.
  • Holiday Inn Gare Montparnasse [10]. ~250€

Getting around

Plan your travels with the Paris public transportation system here: [11]. 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/ -- link only partly in English).

The idea:

  • cheap, nominal fee (1€ for one day), then free usage up to 30 mins
    • after 30 mins, the price increases exponentially: 1€ for the following 30 mins, then 2€ for another 30 mins, then 4€
  • bikes are available at station, locked into stands a bit like shopping carts
  • they can be used 24/7
  • there is a *huge* number of those stations in Paris, enough to make it 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.