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Post by kiwigrandma on Sept 29, 2014 7:06:14 GMT
We doing globus tour next year in may. Have two nights in Paris before tour begins. Globus hotel expensive nz$200 each per night. Cuts into budget quite a bit. Don't know at this stage which hotel. Just looking for opinions on whether its better to stay in globus hotel or find something a bit cheaper or is this quite good price for paris. We also arrive at 7am after very long flight so will probably like an early checkin. Some thoughts would be nice. Also thanks to anyone who replies. I love looking at this site and usually have a look every day.
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Post by Oz-T on Sept 29, 2014 11:51:34 GMT
Hi Kiwigrandma, That does initially sound expensive, so some analysis will be necessary.
Firstly, to make it a bit easier for everyone, let's convert your NZ$ to euros, which is what you'll be paying if you arrange a hotel yourself. Using a retail exchange rate of 0.60, my rough guess is that NZ$200 is about €120.
I stayed in a far northern suburb of Paris for four days last June at what I considered a good value, budget hotel. It cost me €119 per night for the two of us - room only and no breakfast. If you can get something closer into the centre of Paris and not substandard you'll be doing well. We were paying around €70 a night in some of the French regional cities, but Paris is far more expensive.
There are two aspects to the price you're paying: the hotel price in euros and the exchange rate. Sometimes the exchange rate is the main culprit, although we end up incorrectly blaming the hotels. Just ask any South African and they know only too well that the low value of the Rand is making overseas travel very expensive. The NZ$ was somewhat higher against the euro several weeks ago, but it's now come off a bit.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but NZ$200 per night doesn't sound an exorbitant price in central Paris. Maybe other members can advise on cheaper hotels, but do remember that you might be getting an uncomfortable place if you go too cheap.
A 7am arrival will be almost impossible to get an early check-in without paying something extra, but you can at least ask. A better option is to skip the 'lie down' if that's what you wanted, leave your luggage and see a bit of Paris at a quiet pace until your room becomes available.
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Post by californian on Sept 29, 2014 15:40:30 GMT
We doing globus tour next year in may. Have two nights in Paris before tour begins. Globus hotel expensive nz$200 each per night. Cuts into budget quite a bit. Don't know at this stage which hotel. Just looking for opinions on whether its better to stay in globus hotel or find something a bit cheaper or is this quite good price for paris. We also arrive at 7am after very long flight so will probably like an early checkin. Some thoughts would be nice. Also thanks to anyone who replies. I love looking at this site and usually have a look every day. Kiwigrandma, I have found that the same hotel, if booked independently is much less expensive, no breakfast maybe, but the room has one price, avoiding to pay the tour charges for individual, and you won't have to transfer from hotel to hotel, check that,we recently booked out own room in Helsinki, saved a bundle, and I have done the same in Rome, London, etc. Enjoy Paris!!
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Post by Oz-T on Oct 1, 2014 1:07:41 GMT
For a self tour, you can certainly save money by not including the breakfast which is usually overpriced.
We prefer to stroll along the streets to find a cafe for breakfast - it's cheaper, better variety and we get to absorb the sights, sounds etc of the location. We would only pay for a hotel breakfast if it's not near local cafes.
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Post by Tulips on Oct 1, 2014 10:26:02 GMT
I've done the same as Californian and booked the tour hotel independently for less and then had the rooms linked by my travel agent. Then I don't have to switch rooms or worry about getting to the tour hotel on departure day.
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Post by Tulips on Oct 1, 2014 10:26:34 GMT
What is the hotel, if you don't mind saying?
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Post by kiwigrandma on Oct 1, 2014 11:43:10 GMT
Don't know hotel yet. Thought I'd wait to check out prices if i book mysel until a bit closer to time in case globus changes hotel. Thanks to everyone who replies. Great site. Oz-t I know what you mean about dropping bags and having look at city when we arrive early but it's such a long flight. I don't travel well and after 14 hours on top of 10 I just want to have a stretch out and a sleep before a full on tour. We going up to ypres in Belgium as well to have a look at First World War stuff and then driving around England for a couple weeks. Any recommendations on what not to miss outside of london. Not going until next April so bit of time to plan.
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Post by Oz-T on Oct 1, 2014 23:53:10 GMT
Yes, I do understand the need to lie down after a long-haul flight, Kiwigrandma. I try not to because I adapt faster to the different time zone that way, but everybody's system is different and what works for one can be awful for another. Unless you're good at sweet-talking or garnering a sympathetic treatment, hotels will probably try to charge you for a too early check-in. Your best bargaining position is when you're considering booking the hotel, so that means going direct to them via email. If the hotel isn't fully booked they can easily give you a vacant room if you ask nicely and make it clear that you're likely to stay at whatever hotel can do this for you. Good luck. I have some good news regarding Ypres and the Belgium WW1 battlefields - I was there in June. When I've caught up with the many tasks I've fallen behind in, I'll be writing my travel tale here so you can read a lot about Ypres and the other places I visited.
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Post by Tulips on Oct 2, 2014 2:06:34 GMT
I did a WWI and WWII Battlefields tour with Trafalgar last year. Ypres and area was included. There is a tour tale in the tales section if you are interested.
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Post by Oz-T on Oct 2, 2014 4:09:56 GMT
And what a splendid travel tale that was, Tulips - one of the most widely read on the Trafalgar Forum if I'm not mistaken. I took some printouts of it with me last June as it covered parts that I was seeing on a self-guided tour. It was very helpful! My own trip was a broad-based tour of Benelux and France and whilst it did cover Ypres, battlefields and war cemeteries, my travel tale won't deal with them as specifically as yours did. Kiwigrandma will indeed get plenty of information from your helpful summary.
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Post by Tulips on Oct 2, 2014 9:36:04 GMT
Wow Oz! I'm glad that you found my tale helpful!
I'm interested to read your take on the area when you have a chance to write it.
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Post by californian on Oct 2, 2014 14:39:43 GMT
Me too! Loved your tale and the pictures, Tulips. This tour is still in my list, looking forward to read Oz-T's, hopefully he has time soon.
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