Villa Royale, Paris

Advantages: Very close to restaurants and bars in Montparnasse area and very quiet situation so you get a good nights sleep
Disadvantages: None

...We arrived at Gare du Nord, Paris during the afternoon of March 26th 2006 and took the No. 4 metro line towards the Vavin stop. This hotel is part of the Best Western Group and is about a five minute walk from the metro and is situated in a side street. We asked for a non smoking room and got a non smoking room. Our twin room was on the fifth floor, accessed by a small lift. It wasn't very big but as we were only staying for a couple of nights it didn't matter too much. There was a small table next to my bed and there wasn't much room between it and the bathroom door which opened out into the room. We had a television and a mini bar although we didn't use it because the drinks were too expensive. The bathroom was clean and modern, but the shower head took a little time to get used to. We had lovely fluffy white towels... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Lots to see and do, the metro,
Disadvantages: Eating out can be expensive, everyone else is there too (everyone loves Paris)

...A short summary This trip report will focus on the trip that my wife Nikki and I took to Paris in the period from April 8th - 15th 2006. Please get in touch with me on gardkarlsen@hotmail.com if you have any questions or comments. You can also see the trip report with pictures and links on my homepage gardkarlsen.com . So is this trip report the ultimate Paris guide? The answer is of course "no". But I hope that this guide together with guidebooks, other trip reports on the net and internet forums can help you to prepare so that you can have an ultimate Paris experience. Prelude I went to Paris for the first time in 1994 and it was my first visit to a major European city. I was completely blown away but the monuments, buildings, bridges, the history etc. In 1999 my wife Nikki and I went there together as our first get away after... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Fantastic Position.
Disadvantages: A bit of a walk to get there.

...I first visited Villa Balbianello back in 2005 and wow it left a mark in my head. The villa is situated in the small village of Lenno about half way up the lake from Como Itself, Villa Balbianello was built in the 1500's and holds a fantastic position with views up and down the lake, with its gardens that are extraordinarily beautiful with its holm-oaks, magnolias, cyclamen, azaleas and cypresses. to spend a day there is as if to be in another world! It wasn't till my most resent visit a couple of weeks ago that I was informed that parts of the more recent Star Wars films were filmed in the grounds and as I write this there is filming taking place for the Bond remake of Casino Royale. The Villa was originally constructed by Cardinal Angelo Durini where a small Franciscan monastery had originally stood, following the death... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful