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Post by joan1 on May 11, 2008 14:46:53 GMT -5
Hello, I just cancelled my reservation at Hotel Eugenie and rebooked at Hotel Claude Bernard on Rue Des Ecoles. I had been trying to contact Hotel Eugenie for at least the last 3 weeks, I went through the booking site, and through the offcial website, and I have never heard back. I was getting really pissed off since I think I tried at least 6 or 7 times by various methods to get a reconfirmation of my reservation( remember they had phoned me at 3 am a few months ago because the clerk was " confused about my booking" ) by email. I wrote in french and english, and was very polite .
But frankly since I am arriving in high season ( july) with a child I am not farting around with reservations not being confirmed and in writing.. So I cancelled and booked at Hotel Claude Bernard which was TWO whole euros cheaper,, LOL, BUT included breakfast which other hotel didn't so for two of us I value that at about 5 euros each if I did it on my own.
Hotel looks nice enough for us too!
And bonus, hotel reservation service confirmed immediatly, then the actual hotel reconfirmed, and answered a question I had personally ( thank you Paul) which reassured me , plus I just like the personal contact.
Looking forward to arriving in Paris in 55 more days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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grndma
Full Member
55 days to go, (7 weeks 5days 1hours 240minutes on 21st may 2008 08.05hrs)
Posts: 181
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Post by grndma on May 11, 2008 15:17:25 GMT -5
:)Joan, Love the language!! you express you frustration perfectly.LOL ;D It's really disappointing when you've spent ages choosing a hotel and then they don't respond efficiently, But if they are not that eager to confirm your booking it makes you wonder about their attitude to really important things like customer service or dealing with compaints. My motto is, if they don't deal with your booking and inquiries properly, cancel and take your business elsewhere. Anyway the hotel Claud Bernard looks very nice and I'm sure will suit you perfectly. We stayed not far from there last year and we really liked the area. You can buy an extra baguette with the euros you save! Hope you have a wonderful time. Denise Love from England
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Post by GitteK on May 11, 2008 16:49:57 GMT -5
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Post by Shoesy on May 11, 2008 22:37:33 GMT -5
Good for you, Joan! That ought to be a lesson to any hotel that thinks they can mess around with our Canadian poster, who doesn't take crap from anybody!!!
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Post by joan1 on May 11, 2008 23:58:58 GMT -5
OOPs. sorry Denise, ( and all) for salty language,, didn't even realize how " spicy" that post was,, I guess I was in a bit of a fizz over the whole issue.
Gitte, I got the twin room with breakfast for 118 euros, which I thought was not bad considering the regular rates. I read the reviews on TA and other then the one poster who was furious about not having her bags carried and the small ekevator( which I think then set her against the hotel completely) I thought the reviews were ok. I don't mind " tatty" furniture as long as it is clean. LOL
Shoesy, I have never heard you post like that before, I think I am a bad influence,, LOL
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Post by mez on May 12, 2008 0:44:31 GMT -5
I read the reviews on TA and other then the one poster who was furious about not having her bags carried and the small ekevator( which I think then set her against the hotel completely) Well, naturally controversy compelled me to go and read her review. Now, while she did have some valid points, the entire post came across as a 'Don't you know who I am?' tirade. And if that's the best language and grammar a supposed travel writer can come up with then the English lanuage is doomed... 'anyways' - what kind of writer uses that word? Sheesh. Thanks for the laugh Joan.
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Post by Shoesy on May 12, 2008 0:55:37 GMT -5
Do not blame yourself, Joan, for I take full responsibility for my own actions. Perhaps I'm a bit feisty this morning after chatting in the chatroom 'till almost 3:30 A.M in the morning (wow - that was fun! ;D) and then waking up at the usual 5:30 A.M.
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Post by joan1 on May 12, 2008 1:42:01 GMT -5
Shoesy, you are a dark horse,, what the heck goes on in that " chat room" , I really must get a computer that can get on it.. I am under strict instructions not to down load even one more thing on this dinosaur or it will explode( ha, my husband must think I am really dumb, I know it will not explode, it will just fizzle and die, LOL)
Mez I agree with some of her points, but I did not like her snotty tone, and really , so what if the hotel DARED to employ ( and even only as a night clerk ) an employee who ONLY speaks French, like thats a crime, in France.. LOL The wiring would concern me, but she noted the manager apoligized and gave her wine, ( which frankly always makes me happy, LOL ) but at that point I think she was just unhappy with her hotel not being very luxurious, I mean she EXPECTED a bell man, and I know that many hotels in Paris do not have such staff , especially the hotels in the under 200 euros a night catergory. Since I am only paying 118 I only expect a decent location, clean bed and toilet, and an added bonus is the A/ C .
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grndma
Full Member
55 days to go, (7 weeks 5days 1hours 240minutes on 21st may 2008 08.05hrs)
Posts: 181
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Post by grndma on May 12, 2008 5:35:57 GMT -5
;D No apology needed Joan, we all have to let off steam from time to time. LOL ;D ;D ;D As to the dissatisfied traveler, I wouldn't take much notice of her, she is obviously used to staying in MUCH more upmarket places! All the other posters can't be wrong. You can't please everyone. There will always be one who finds fault. I usually take a consensus of the reviews and go with that. If there were reoccurring themes of dangerous wiring etc I would be concerned, but it sounds like a one off and the rooms were due for renovation the next week anyway. Denise Love from England
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Post by Anne on May 12, 2008 5:43:05 GMT -5
Joan, I thought that you had already booked at Hotel des Grands Hommes long ago ?
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Post by geordy on May 12, 2008 8:50:53 GMT -5
And bear in mind Joan that the reviewer was there during the Rugby World Cup when rooms were scarce! We had a problem with our hotel during that time, eventually handled by the Manager, and my S/O checked some other hotels who were fully booked. So indeed she may have been given one of their "last resort" rooms!
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Post by joan1 on May 12, 2008 9:18:56 GMT -5
Hi Anne,
Yes, I do have a reservaton at Hotel Des Grands Hommes, but that is for the second part of my trip. I am arriving in Paris July 7th, staying till the12th, then next two days in Lamorlaye with relatives, then on the 14th flying to Rome to join a Rick Steves Family tour of Italy , Germany etc then spending 5 more days in Paris before we leave.
I leave my home on July 6th and will be home again August 1st.. I am really looking forward to whole trip. I unfortunately have not been doing well in my Italian lessons. I hate Italian. It is too similar to French, which although should help me , confuses me. Instead of " che ora " I say "quelle ora" those sorts of mistakes all the time, all I know for sure is "mi dispiace non so lo" which I repeat in class serveral times a night( night school) LOL
Also someone told me if she does not know the Italian word for somethings she just uses the french one and adds " a" like word for door in Italian is porta , instead of porte, now that rule of course only works sometimes, but in class whenever I am stuck I think of french and that is not a good way to learn Italian!!
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Post by framboiseetrose on May 12, 2008 15:34:42 GMT -5
Joan,
We stayed at Hotel Claude Bernard in November 2007. Most of the rooms have been remodelled. They have double glazed windows so the rooms are really quiet. The people are nice and I enjoyed their breakfasts. The croissants are excellent (came from the boulangerie across the street). So maybe, the couches would need to be replaced but they are comfortable and it is a pleasant place to chat with the other guests - we met several who we had glasses of wine with. And I agree with you about the price of the rooms - summer and fall rates are good. September and October seem to be their highest rates. The elevator only goes to the 4th (our 5th floor). You have to walk the stairs to the top floor.
Say hello to Mahammed or Mahmoud who I thought were one and the same for a whole week. What a dummy! Enjoy!
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Post by joan1 on May 12, 2008 16:57:44 GMT -5
framboiseetrose, Thanks for the reveiw, see how lucky I am to " know" you through this forum , its like getting personal recommendations from friends. I am not a weird or picky person, ( ok , at least not picky) so I am sure I will be happy. As for stairs, I tend to take them anyways, elevators tend to be so slow, I am mildly claustrophobic( and secretly convinced that elevators are suspended by one fraying rope that could snap at any moment, so for a few flights I just take stairs. Plus bonus of working off all the cheese and wine!
Yes, I do see the rack rates are quite a bit different then the internet special rates.
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keylimejet
Full Member
"When good Americans die, they go to Paris." Oscar Wilde
Posts: 140
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Post by keylimejet on May 12, 2008 18:32:41 GMT -5
Okay, now I'm confused. I have a room reserved at the Hotel Beaubourg in the Marais, but the Claude looks equally nice, is 12 Euros cheaper per night, plus includes free breakfast. Are any of my "expert" forum friends familiar with both? I can cancel the Beaubourg without penalty. What do you all think? If it helps, we are a single mom and 12 year old daugher. We've stayed in St. Germaine before, and loved the area. However, I keep hearing about the Marais and thought it might be fun to try something new.
I'm also leaning towards the Claude because one of the main things I want to do this time is visit the Luxembourg Gardens.
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Post by framboiseetrose on May 12, 2008 18:54:00 GMT -5
KLJ, The Claude Bernard is very close to the Jardin du Luxembourg. In fact, we used it as our backyard on sunny days. A savings of 12 euros a day plus free breakfast adds up fast. And as I said a couple of posts above, it is a friendly place. Their breakfast room is very pleasant. A short wal to Boulmich (Blvd. Saint Michel) which your 12 year-old daughter might really enjoy. If you like light, the rooms overlooking the street get a lot of it. If you think my avatar looks delicious, it is not a long walk to Pierre Herme at 72 rue Bonaparte for one. It is called Ispahan (a rose macaron filled with litchi cream and raspberries with a real rose petal and more raspberries on top). That is not just YUM! but such a delicious confection - to die for! I've never stayed in the Marais although I like crossing the bridge to the Ile St. Louis and continuing on to the Place des Vosges and a stop at L'As du Falafel and let that good sauce drip into my arms and make a big mess. YUM.........
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Post by joan1 on May 13, 2008 3:02:10 GMT -5
Keylime, when are you going, if it is after me I will post my review on it, I notice you are travelling as I am , alone with 12 yr old daughter, so I am sure I will have similar concerns re safety, location convenience and decent (but not fancy) accomadations. I am going early July.
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keylimejet
Full Member
"When good Americans die, they go to Paris." Oscar Wilde
Posts: 140
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Post by keylimejet on May 13, 2008 19:51:25 GMT -5
Joan, we're going in late June. If I can, I'll post a review for you! However, we have a few stops after Paris and won't return to the US until July 11. I'll try though!
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keylimejet
Full Member
"When good Americans die, they go to Paris." Oscar Wilde
Posts: 140
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Post by keylimejet on May 13, 2008 19:54:46 GMT -5
Sorry - I forgot to thank framboise for the information and the excellent macaron recommendation. Your avatar does look delicious, and raspberry is my favorite, so that is definitely on my "must do" list. Thanks!
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Post by joan1 on May 14, 2008 0:38:19 GMT -5
Ah, we will miss each other for sure then, I arrive on the 6th and leave Paris for Lamorlaye on the 12th, so on the 11th I will be in Paris already!! Gosh, it is getting so exciting to even type out those words.
"I will be in Paris on the 11 th, already" hmm, saying it aloud is even more fun! LOL
I am sure we will both have a wonderful time, how can anyone not,?
No matter the weather, or whether the pillows are lumpy, when in Paris, I'll never be grumpy!
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