CailinDeas

All of the hotels suggested were great and there are definitely some I'd like to try next time but I had a very specific idea of what I wanted and the Hilton Paris Opera completely fitted that bill. We had already had a few nights in Paris staying in a friend's place so by the time we got to the hotel, the location close to the large department stores was ideal as we had done a considerable amount of sightseeing and I, for one, was ready for a little mooch in the shops.
Grand lobby/ bar tick, good size rooms tick, close ish location for Gare de L'Est tick. We were right to have some concerns about transportation. Traffic was a nightmare in Paris and it took us 1 hour to get from the hotel to the train station (2.6km). Another couple of the train had had their driver take them to the wrong train station . They missed the departure time of 16.10 and arrived in Gare de L'est at 16.30. Fortunately for them, there was a technical issue and departure had been delayed by 40 mins and they made it- just. They asked what would have happened had they not made it on time and were told that they would have been put on a TGV to catch up. They would have arrived on the train 6 hours later!! Anyway, it all worked out for everyone and we had the absolute best time.

KTtravel

Wonderful! Thank you for reporting back.

pepperment

Hi Callin Deas,
Just saw your post re a 'posh hotel' in Paris near Gare L'Est. Check out Hotel Mademoiselle.--we stayed there in 2022-and I'm very picky. It's neat, clean, very comfortable/not noisy (request a quiet room) and reasonable. The staff is courteous, speaks English fluently and helpful. Really it surprised me. The lady at the desk actually walked w/me to the corner store and helped me find toiletries (bc my French is only 'un peu'.)

Hotel Mademoiselle
https://www.google.com/search?client...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

SusanP

CailinDeas, I'd love to see a new thread where you would do a trip report on the Orient Express experience. 😀

TPAYT

Yes, please do a TR on the Orient Express.

CailinDeas

Yes indeed. I must do a trip report. I decided not to take notes or too many photos as I wanted to actually sit back and enjoy and engage with the experience but will definitely do something. Thanks again for all the help.