After a short stay in Amsterdam, we took the Thalys to Paris. It was a pleasant journey that took a little over 3 hours.
Thankfully, we took the train on that particular day as just a few days later, a gunman boarded the same train and planned to shoot innocent passengers as the train sped through Belgium! Good thing there were 3 men – 2 Americans and a French national who stopped him! It’s still a running joke that if it were Alvin and me on that train, God knows what would have happened. :)) But I digress.
Getting there
We arrived at Garre du Nord station where we were able take the Metro to where our hotel was.
We were lugging around big suitcases and one thing I should tell you is that Paris Metro stations are not that conducive for people with humungous trolleys with them.
I knew this already and I know I should have packed less but we were staying in Europe for 3 effing weeks! I’m not the backpacker type of traveller either – I need my hair products and I will never sacrifice my clothing choices. So I pulled and huffed my way to the other side of Garre du Nord.
Alvin tried to help me but I was too proud. I did let a couple of French guys help me carry my suitcase up a few flights of stairs in two separate incidents. For two good reasons – 1, my suitcase was indeed heavy and 2, I just want show Alvin that I still got ‘it’. 😛 Whoever started the rumour that the French are snobs, I really have no idea whom you’ve met. The last time I was in Paris in 2013 and on this recent visit as well, I’ve only met kind and helpful Parisians!
We got off at Plaisance where the hotel was a good 10-minute walk from. It’s not too far, to be honest. But with heavy luggage, it did feel like forever.
Location
Hotel Home Moderne is located in the 15th arrondissement so it’s not too near the city centre and all the attractions. However, with the Paris Metro line, everything in the city and its outskirts are always easily accessible.
It’s more of a residential area where there are quaint cafés and small restaurants. If you want to see actual Parisians (even in the summer!), I suggest you stay here. You also get the feel of actually ‘living’ in Paris because of the neighbourhood.
It’s a tourist-friendly area but not touristy – you get what I’m saying? There’s an abundance of small grocery stores which also makes everything easier.
The hotel is accessible via 3 Metro stations. You can either get off at Plaisance, Porte de Vanves (both from line 13), or at Convention (line 12). Plaisance is the nearest while Porte de Vanves offers a scenic walk and a wider range of restaurants and cafés.
There’s a nearby park called Parc Georges Brassens. We arrived at 11 in the morning and since check-in was still 3 hours away, we decided to explore the park first before having lunch at a nearby restaurant called Aux Cent Kilos.
The Hotel
You are actually getting more than what you’re paying for, in my humble opinion. If you’ve ever tried booking a hotel in Paris (especially in the summer),? you’ll know that it can be a nightmare for your wallet!
We got a great deal from Hotel Home Moderne – for a 5-stay, we only paid EUR282 (MYR1227.55, Php14,600, USD316.67). That’s considered a steal especially for the season which were coming in. Oh, and did I mention that it’s air conditioned? It’s hard to find a cheap hotel with air conditioning in Paris! And you need air conditioning if you’re going in the summer. It’s as hot and as humid there (like Southeast Asia! I kid you not.) during this season!
By the way, we booked through Agoda.
Also, I need to stress that everything tends to be a lot more expensive in Paris. So if you’re planning to go on vacation there, do bring some extra cash and plan your expenses wisely.
The lobby is bright and welcoming with English-speaking and very helpful staff. I must mention the elderly guy who mans the reception at night. He is sweet and goes out of his way to help the guests!
The rooms are quite small but you will have enough space to open your large suitcase on the floor.
You get a big window that lets enough light filter in to make the room bright and sunny. Though this photo is ‘against-the-light’ so you don’t really see what I mean here. 😛 But do take my word for it. 😉
You also get a TV with local channels.
You’ll also get extra pillows and a closet! It’s pretty narrow but there’s enough room for all our stuff. There’s also a safety deposit box which I love! For the price of the room, I actually didn’t expect to get one since most hotels that offer cheaper rates don’t have this in every room. 😀
The wash room is pretty small but I won’t call it cramped. The shower area can fit only one person just fine (if you want to shower with someone, then that may be a problem!) and they provide you with a hair and body wash which smells pretty good. However, I did stick to the products I brought with me for preference’s sake.
They also provide you with a hair dryer and the shower’s heater works perfectly well! That’s always a requirement for me because showering with cold water is such a sacrifice for someone like me who gets cold quite easily!
I really do recommend this hotel for anyone who wants to visit Paris. Though it’s not located centrally, it will only take you a few Metro stops to get to the Eiffel Tower and other places of interest! It’s really worth your money and do explore the neighbourhood as there are lots of quirky shops and restaurants.
Oh, and before I forget. During weekends, there’s also a flea market of sorts for antique and used books just a stone’s throw away from the hotel! It’s located at a covered area (which used to be a horse market, from what I heard!) right next to the Parc Georges-Brassens.
Hotel Home Moderne
Address: 61, rue Brancion 75015 Paris
Telephone: 33(0)1 53 68 03 00
E-mail: homemoderne@wanadoo.fr
Website: http://www.homemoderne.com
More later!
Love,
Carol
*Trip is not sponsored by any country’s tourism department, company, or brand but by my side of the family living in Europe. 😊
