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Started By
Message
Europe Hotels/Neighborhoods Recommendations
Posted on 3/16/16 at 9:41 pm
Posted on 3/16/16 at 9:41 pm
I'm going to Europe for the first time this summer with two friends. I've done a little research so far for hotels but I realized I have no idea what neighborhoods/part of town to stay in. We are in our mid 20s looking to stay in a happenen area.
Anyone have any good recs on neighborhoods and hotels/hostels to stay in for any of these cities?
Amsterdam
Brussels
Frankfurt
Paris
Budgeting about $50 a night per person.
Also if you have any suggestions on restaurants that'd be great too.
TIA.
Anyone have any good recs on neighborhoods and hotels/hostels to stay in for any of these cities?
Amsterdam
Brussels
Frankfurt
Paris
Budgeting about $50 a night per person.
Also if you have any suggestions on restaurants that'd be great too.
TIA.
This post was edited on 4/13/16 at 7:57 am
10
Posted on 3/16/16 at 9:59 pm to Bearded_Chow25
What kind of "happenin" area do you mean? Lively tourist area, or lively social scene for residents? I've no clue about Amsterdam, Brussels, or Frankfurt, but I can let you know about Paris.
Posted on 3/16/16 at 10:00 pm to Bearded_Chow25
quote:
Amsterdam
Bulldog
Posted on 3/16/16 at 10:14 pm to cupchu1
quote:.
What kind of "happenin" area do you mean? Lively tourist area, or lively social scene for residents? I've no clue about Amsterdam, Brussels, or Frankfurt, but I can let you know about Paris.
Really either would be great. Ideally a lively area with with good restaurants, entertainment and nightlife.
Posted on 3/16/16 at 10:42 pm to Bearded_Chow25
So Paris is divided into neighborhoods, or arrondissements, that are set up like a snail's shell, spiraling out from the islands. (see below)
I've been out plenty of times in the 6th arrondissement near Blvd St-Germain and enjoyed myself. That's a pretty popular spot for students. A lot of international students, but also a healthy dose of French. Blvd St-Germain is popular with the tourists, but I didn't notice many in side street bars. I do not know of any hostels in this area, however.
Another popular area for students is the rue Mouffetard, located in the 5th arrondissement (near the Pantheon). There are also tourists that come here, but a healthy dose of them are young ones that are staying at the hostel, Young & Happy. Since rue Mouffetard is only a 10 minute walk from the bars in the 6th and pretty well placed for tourist activities during the day, I think you'd enjoy staying here.
For food, honestly most of the time I either had cafeteria style food from school/work, a kebab, a crêpe, or a combination of cheeses, meats, and bread from the market. So I don't really have great recommendations here. That being said...
I wouldn't recommend eating on rue Mouffetard. Not because the food is terrible (it's average), but because it's expensive. Exceptions are the crêperies; I believe Le p'tit grec is one of Paris's highest rated. There are also some good kebab shops here. General rule: where there are students, there are kebabs.
I'm not sure of the pricing, but dinner cruises on the Seine are fun. I think you get unlimited wine and the food isn't bad.
There's a restaurant I went to on Île St-Louis called something like "Nos ancêtres galois" that was an all you can eat and drink (wine only) place. The cooked food wasn't that good, nor the cheese, but you get tons of fresh vegetables and cured meats. And really drunk. In Paris the table is yours for the night, so you could sit there until closing time drinking if you wanted.
Also keep in mind that the Paris metro is easy and efficient. That, combined with the relatively small city size, makes getting around no problem.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask specifics.
edit: In case you don't take my suggestion to stay in the 5th, don't stay in an outer arrondissement, because they're residential (for the most part). Some people will tell you they're also dangerous, but I don't think so. 10/11 has an area called Oberkampf which is lively and friendly to young people, but I'm not sure if it's accommodating to tourists. The Marais area is in the 3rd-4th, a traditional Jewish quarter that was never renovated, so there are plenty of rustic looking streets. A fine place, but lacking in underground transportation.
I've been out plenty of times in the 6th arrondissement near Blvd St-Germain and enjoyed myself. That's a pretty popular spot for students. A lot of international students, but also a healthy dose of French. Blvd St-Germain is popular with the tourists, but I didn't notice many in side street bars. I do not know of any hostels in this area, however.
Another popular area for students is the rue Mouffetard, located in the 5th arrondissement (near the Pantheon). There are also tourists that come here, but a healthy dose of them are young ones that are staying at the hostel, Young & Happy. Since rue Mouffetard is only a 10 minute walk from the bars in the 6th and pretty well placed for tourist activities during the day, I think you'd enjoy staying here.
For food, honestly most of the time I either had cafeteria style food from school/work, a kebab, a crêpe, or a combination of cheeses, meats, and bread from the market. So I don't really have great recommendations here. That being said...
I wouldn't recommend eating on rue Mouffetard. Not because the food is terrible (it's average), but because it's expensive. Exceptions are the crêperies; I believe Le p'tit grec is one of Paris's highest rated. There are also some good kebab shops here. General rule: where there are students, there are kebabs.
I'm not sure of the pricing, but dinner cruises on the Seine are fun. I think you get unlimited wine and the food isn't bad.
There's a restaurant I went to on Île St-Louis called something like "Nos ancêtres galois" that was an all you can eat and drink (wine only) place. The cooked food wasn't that good, nor the cheese, but you get tons of fresh vegetables and cured meats. And really drunk. In Paris the table is yours for the night, so you could sit there until closing time drinking if you wanted.
Also keep in mind that the Paris metro is easy and efficient. That, combined with the relatively small city size, makes getting around no problem.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask specifics.
edit: In case you don't take my suggestion to stay in the 5th, don't stay in an outer arrondissement, because they're residential (for the most part). Some people will tell you they're also dangerous, but I don't think so. 10/11 has an area called Oberkampf which is lively and friendly to young people, but I'm not sure if it's accommodating to tourists. The Marais area is in the 3rd-4th, a traditional Jewish quarter that was never renovated, so there are plenty of rustic looking streets. A fine place, but lacking in underground transportation.
This post was edited on 3/16/16 at 10:49 pm
Posted on 3/16/16 at 10:49 pm to Bearded_Chow25
Not sure if you're willing to stay in hostels, but don't let the perception scare you. Go to Brugges for a day. I loved it. Cool little city. We stayed at the St. Christophers hostel there. It was great.
Stayed at the Bulldog hostel in Amsterdam,.. Definitely rent some bikes and get away from the red light. We really enjoyed th Heinikeen tour. It's an all around great city.
Look at AirBnB in all places. Stayed in a few of them and they were great. Did the Hotel Eiffel Turrin in Paris. Literally 100 yards from the Eiffel lawn. Buy some booze at a grocery store and just go sit on the lawn. I partied with a ton of Americans from Cali one night and had some of the most fun on my 2 month trip.
Stayed at the Bulldog hostel in Amsterdam,.. Definitely rent some bikes and get away from the red light. We really enjoyed th Heinikeen tour. It's an all around great city.
Look at AirBnB in all places. Stayed in a few of them and they were great. Did the Hotel Eiffel Turrin in Paris. Literally 100 yards from the Eiffel lawn. Buy some booze at a grocery store and just go sit on the lawn. I partied with a ton of Americans from Cali one night and had some of the most fun on my 2 month trip.
This post was edited on 3/16/16 at 10:50 pm
Posted on 3/16/16 at 10:57 pm to LSUShock
quote:
Not sure if you're willing to stay in hostels, but don't let the perception scare you
Yeah I should have emphasized this. Stay in hostels. Freebies/discounts on tourist and partying things. Easy to find people to go out with. And you might get to room with a group of Argentine females that have no qualms about walking out the shower in their birthday suit
Posted on 3/16/16 at 11:07 pm to Bearded_Chow25
All I know is don't stay in a 16 person hostel in Amsterdam. Not a fun experience
Posted on 3/16/16 at 11:09 pm to Bearded_Chow25
Paris - stayed in the Latin quarter in the 6th arrondissement and it was really convenient to get to everything since you're centrally located.
Amsterdam - stayed in a hotel near the Heineken factory. It was easy enough to get around the city but it was a spur of the moment decision to go so I didn't research if there were better areas to stay
Amsterdam - stayed in a hotel near the Heineken factory. It was easy enough to get around the city but it was a spur of the moment decision to go so I didn't research if there were better areas to stay
Posted on 3/17/16 at 12:44 am to Bearded_Chow25
Recommend Michelin Red or Green Guides for ratings on hotels, restaurants and places to see. One can find some freat places off the usual tourist haunts. BTW, I too recommend Brugge, one of our favorite small cities.
Posted on 3/17/16 at 12:44 am to Bearded_Chow25
Recommend Michelin Red or Green Guides for ratings on hotels, restaurants and places to see. One can find some great places off the usual tourist haunts. BTW, I too recommend Brugge, one of our favorite small cities.
This post was edited on 3/17/16 at 1:59 am
Posted on 3/17/16 at 9:41 am to cupchu1
Thanks for all the info on Paris. That map and description on the different neighborhoods is awesome. I'll have to look more into the neighborhoods and get back to you with any other questions.
Also we are going to try to hit up the French Open while we are there. Anyone ever been?
We orginally had a day planned for Brugges or Antrwerp but we were thinking another day in Paris or Frankfurt would be better but I may have to reconsider after hearing multiple people say it's a great small city.
I'm thinking hostels will be the best route for us too. Better chance to meet some ladies and other travelers. I checked out the Bulldog in Amsterdam, looks pretty sweet.
Also we are going to try to hit up the French Open while we are there. Anyone ever been?
We orginally had a day planned for Brugges or Antrwerp but we were thinking another day in Paris or Frankfurt would be better but I may have to reconsider after hearing multiple people say it's a great small city.
I'm thinking hostels will be the best route for us too. Better chance to meet some ladies and other travelers. I checked out the Bulldog in Amsterdam, looks pretty sweet.
Posted on 3/17/16 at 9:47 am to Bearded_Chow25
ahhhhh The EUROS will be going on this summer in France so that $50 a night is going to go up.....a lot. Plus I am not sure how far $50 in Paris will take you to begin with. It's a pricey place. Have fun! Paris is awesome.
Posted on 4/15/16 at 2:50 am to Bearded_Chow25
quote:
Amsterdam Brussels Frankfurt Paris
quote:
Budgeting about $50 a night per person
hostels it is
just go look on hostel world and look for places
Posted on 4/15/16 at 4:57 am to Bearded_Chow25
quote:
Brussels
I stayed at the Husa Presidential Park in the Business District. The hotel was actually really nice but a 25-minute walk to the city center. Hotel was fairly priced as I think I paid 75 bucks a day and apparently caught it at the right time.
I went to Cantillion, Moeder Lambic, Delirum and several other places for drinking.... Doubt you are going to want to do much of the sight-seeing and I did not go out partying late. I really sat at Delirum and A La Becausse at night and drank some beers and talked with locals.
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