We%26#39;ll be in Paris in November and we got this hotel (Sofitel Paris Porte de S��vres) through priceline and then realized that it is pretty far from the city center. Not that we have a choice anymore, but is anyone familiar with the hotel or the surrounding area? What%26#39;s the best way to get there from CDG? Can we take the RER, or is it combination of that and the metro? Is there anything to do in the area? How far away are we from the shopping and good eating areas? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
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Just to to clarify, the hotel name is: Sofitel Paris Porte de Sevres
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As you say you are stuck with this hotel, which is just outside the Periphique (ring road around the 20 arrondisements) near the Paris Expo site in the 15th, then the best thing is to get on with it and plan your days around an early metro trip into Paris.
The Tripadvisor reviews suggest people get into this hotel through a %26quot;good deal%26quot; on Priceline. It is said to be a 4 star hotel, which the reviews on Tripadvisor suggest is very questionable and shows how dodgy the star system can be as a guide to picking a nice hotel. Read those reviews so you are not shocked as well as disappointed, as you will discover that the hotel pool is run by another company and you can only wear certain types (%26quot;clingy%26quot;) swimsuits in it. One consolation is that staff of the hotel itself are apparently helpful and friendly.
The closest metro is Balard at the south western end of Metro line 8 (in the direction of Creteil Prefecture on the way out and directin Balard on way home), just inside the Periphique. That line will take you quickly to Metro stops near the Eiffel Tower, and also at Place de Concorde %26amp; Opera, from which you can join up with most other metro lines, or walk to the Louvre, the Latin Quarter or the Marais areas in a very short time. The hotel is also walkable to Metro line 12 station Porte de Versailles which is also just iside the Periphique and near the end of that line in th edirection Mairie d%26#39;Issy (catch metros on this line into the centre pf Paris in direction Pte de la Chapelle).
Remember that the metro stops at 12.30 and make sure you find out the time of the last metro to Balard or Porte de Versailles and where you need to be to catch it. Otherwise, if there is no suitable night bus route available, plan on a longish taxi ride.
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Thanks Faux. Based on what you said, it seems very far from the action. Do you know how I would get to the hotel from the CDG airport? Do you also know how long it takes to go from the hotel via the metro to the Eiffel Tower or Latin Quarter?
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The SOFITEL PARIS PORTE de SEVRE is just barely inside the Paris city limits, on a %26#39;technicality%26#39;. You have a few choices for getting from CDG to the hotel. The first is to simply take a taxi from the regular rank outside of your CDG arrival terminal building---don%26#39;t accept rides from drivers trolling through the terminal offering %26#39;deals%26#39;. Almost every airport taxi %26#39;horror story I%26#39;ve ever heard began that way. The cost should be somewhere between 50-60 Euro (depending on traffic and luggage--travel time will be approx. 45-60 mins).
You other alternatives are:
---Take the ROISSYBUS from outside of your CDG Arrival terminal to its stop at Place de la Opera and then take the #8 Metro ligne, in the direction of BALLARD, to the end-of-the-ligne at BALLARD station and then either walkor take a taxi the several blocks to the hotel.(travel time approx.60-75 mins)
---Take the RER B-3 train from its stations at CDG to GARE du NORD, then take the # 8 Metro ligne, in the direction of BALLARD, to the end-of-the-ligne at BALLARD station, then walk or taxi. (travel time approx 60-75 mins)
---Pre-arrange to take one of the airport shuttele services from CDG directly to your hotel. The airport shuttles that we%26#39;ve used without problem or complaint are:
BLUE VANS-- http://www.bluvan.fr/
PARIS AIRPORT SHUTTLE-- http://www.paris-airport-shuttle.com/
You must telephone shuttle services to let them know you%26#39;ve arrived and need at pick-up, at which CDG terminal building. They almost always have vans at the airport waiting for clients. Travel time will be approx. 50 75 mins-depending on traffic and other drop-offs alonf the way)
For information, fares, details on various CDG airport transfers: http://www.adp.fr/webadp/a_cont01_an.nsf/$$Affich@ReadForm%26amp;cle=X500520521.html
AIR FARNCE COACH--http://www.airfrance.com/double6/passage2.nsf/(LookupPublishedWeb)/en-EXCDG-CarsAF?OpenDocument#
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I stayed at Sofitel Paris Porte de Sevres 2 years ago and found the metro to be very convenient for visiting the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and other sights. The metro is about a 3 block walk from the hotel. On our first day in Paris we did actually walk to the Eiffel Tower from the hotel and back again. A long walk but it was a beautiful day! The hotel also has a very nice bar and restaurant located on the premises. We ate at the restaurant once during our stay when they were able to fit us on New Year%26#39;s Eve after we failed to make reservations for dinner that evening. We had an early dinner and then left the hotel to enjoy the NYE celebration closer in the city center.I have read the reviews on Tripadvisor as well and was surprised by the complaints. Maybe we were lucky with our room and beautiful bathroom. The only downside we found at the hotel was its location but the metro was convenient. I have traveled in Europe extensively and found no reason to complain about my stay at Sofitel Paris Porte de Sevres.
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I just booked a trip with priceline and now I%26#39;m nervous. I don%26#39;t want to have a bad time and now I don%26#39;t want to go based on all of these reviews. Can anyone help? Is it as bad as it seems?
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I feel the exact same way!! Oh my God what did I do?? However, one coment from a member put everything in perspective.....%26quot;Its a great deal%26quot;. I can make the most of it. I will let you know though because my trip is planned fro Sept 21. Wish me luck :%26gt;)
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If we%26#39;re still talking Porte de Sevres here, IT%26#39;S NOT A BAD PLACE! The Metro ride into central Paris is the real downside. That area is as safe as any in Paris and the hotel is nice. I%26#39;ve done a lot of pleasant urban-hiking around there and I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll be disappointed. Really.
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It is possible though to get a hotel in Paris and still be further from the tower than Porte de Sevres!
The metro should get you into %26#39;town%26#39; in about 20 minutes and is easier to use than the NYC subway so I wouldn%26#39;t worry about not being in the heart of the action.
As another poster mentioned, it%26#39;s possible to leave the hotel, walk for about 15 minutes and be surrounded by Paris leaving you in no doubt about where you are. The only downside is the metro ending at 12:30 so making a list of places that you could walk home from would be useful.
Not that you%26#39;d really want to, but at an easy stroll, stoping to take in the views, you could walk from the hotel to Notre Dame in the center of town in about 2 hours (4 miles). Paris isn%26#39;t all that big really so that fact that you%26#39;re on the edge isn%26#39;t a disaster :)
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