I remember turning on the TV and seeing some samples of a pay for view porno channel that were really graphic.

Since we have 2 teenaged sons we called the front desk right away to have the ads blocked in both of our rooms.

Yes, but were they in English? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

No offense, but why would the fact that you were given mattresses with many miles on them, please you on an award stay?

I stayed at the Renaissance Paris for 5 nights, February 19-24, 2003. The first two nights were on an award stay (PW25), and the remaining 3 nights were paid (99E).

There were two channels in english, BBC and CNN. I'm really sure about this, because my travelling partner did not speak any french and refused to watch/listen TV if it was not in English. We had the two twin beds in a larger than average Paris hotel room. Actually it would have been a good sized room by US standards. The mattresses were a little soft for me, but my partner thought they were great! I did sleep very well, and we had wonderful down comforters. They were remodeling the 8th floor, and there were construction sounds during the day. I stayed in room 209.

I would definitely stay at the Renaissance Paris again. The metro stop is a short walk away, and there is a supermarket (Auchan) and a 250 store shopping mall next to the stop. There were hardly ANY tourists in the area, the staff at the Renaissance was excellent, and it was quiet in the evenings. I would prefer to stay away from downtown Paris, with the hawkers, tour scams and inconsiderate people. I'm not into bars and meat markets.

When I arrived to check in, I did not bring my PW25 certificate. The check-in clerk had me sign an authorization paper which stated that I would have 10 days from check-out to send in the certificate or they would charge 199E/night for the two nights. I checked out on the 24th, the hotel called me in Oregon on the 26th to remind me to send the certificate. I appreciate these little gestures.

Linda

quote:
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The two single-size beds pushed together to make a King/Queen had regular mattresses with many miles on them . But, since it was an award stay, we were pleased.
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No offense, but why would the fact that you were given mattresses with many miles on them, please you on an award stay?

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Because they were "free" (was my original thought), but now that you raised my awareness, I DO realize that I paid for that room, just as surely as if I'd spent $$$.

Paris- Category 5 Courtyard or Renaissance
 

Planning a trip to Europe next summer and will only have enough points for a stay up to a category 5 hotel. Any input into rooms and location for these 2 hotels.
Thanks
Howard

Just search on "Paris" and you'll find lots of information on Marriott-family hotels there.

Bruce

We did the Paris trip just over a year ago and stayed at the Renaissance in the La Defense area. Its close but still a long walk from the Metro to the hotel..... but you walk past the very impressive ulra modern La Defense Office structure you see in all the magazines.

We loved the area and the hotel, but it was inconvient to most tourist activities.

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AA member since 1981.

Renaissance la Defense, Paris
 

The hotel info on marriott.com mentions neither a club floor nor a club lounge, so does anyone know if this hotel has either? And, if it does have a lounge, any idea of the hours it keeps?

It definitely has a Club Floor and a Club Lounge. I can't really recall the hours.

If you search on "Paris" in this forum, you will find lots of old threads comparing various aspects of all the Marriott-family hotels in the area.

Bruce

I stayed in this hotel a few weeks ago and yes it has a club floor and club lounge. I do not remember the hours.

Two interesting and unexpected things happened while I was there.

First we were on an award stay for one night and a pre-paid non-refundable stay the second. There were no standard or stay-anytime awards available for the second night because of the Paris Airshow at Le Bourget. I happened to have a 2 day standard level award certificate and when I presented it at the desk they accepted it. Later they called my room and asked for my credit card so they could credit the 'non-refundable' stay!

Second I had some sodas from the mini bar while the club lounge was closed. I told them about it at checkout and they said it would be no charge since I was on the club floor and therefore entitled to free sodas anyway. I don't recall that happening in any other Marriott property.

It is certainly not in an ideal location unless you have business at la Defense. On the other hand it is close to the Metro and as an award stay for me the price was right.

If only they had STSN or other high speed access in the rooms.

Bruce - Javaman:

How is the smoking in this hotel?

Do they have a non smoking area in the dining room? Is the club room non smoking? How about the open areas in the lobby?

We were in Paris last fall for a food show and stayed at a hotel recommended by the person we were traveling with...and there was smoking everywhere! And I mean everywhere.

Can anyone tell me the approximate cost of a taxi (or a shuttle) from the hotel to CDG? Have a lot of luggage so public transport isn't an option.

I really didn't notice any problem with smokers any of the times I was there. I just can't answer those questions because the smoking issue never came up for me.

My wife and I took a taxi from the hotel to CDG in 2000, and the cost was a bit over $50 (at the conversion rate from francs then). It ain't cheap!

Bruce

To save a few $$ from La Defense to CDG, take a taxi from the hotel to the Air France bus terminal at Porte Maillot (probably no more than $10-15), then the Air France coach to CDG. The coach runs every 10-15 minutes, and there are baggage handlers at both Porte Maillot and CDG.