We are a couple in our early sixties. We have just returned from a five night/six day holiday in Paris, staying at Residhome, Carrieres sur Seine and we had a lovely time and thoroughly recommend this accommodation to others. It is very reasonably priced and an excellent base for a holiday in Paris, especially for people who like to have independence. The whole building is spotlessly clean and comfortable and the reception staff very friendly and helpful. We do speak a little French, but it wouldn't have mattered if we didn't, as their English is good. We did have one problem with our room, in that bulbs in two of the lights packed in during our stay. We reported this, but it wasn't sorted the first day, much to our disappointment. However, the reception staff apologised profusely and got it all sorted for us the day afterwards.
The restaurant looked nice, but to keep costs down we made our own breakfasts, which was easy, because the neat little kitchen area in our bedroom/studio contained everything we needed. There isn't a kettle, but we managed perfectly well for all our teas and coffees by boiling water in a jug, in the mircrowave. There was a good table and a comfortable chair each, so our meal times were enjoyable. There is a small area near the hotel reception where essentials can be purchased if wished and lots of local pizza businesses etc. who will deliver orders to the hotel. On arrival you are given leaflets to facilitate this if you wish. There is a Lidl supermarket one bus stop away, but we didn't need this as we went to smaller shops near the train station for what we needed to buy. We only bought one meal out each day, - in the evening. One evening we went to a Moroccan restaurant not far from the hotel and this was very good.. Other evenings we ate out down at restaurants near the railway station, before we got the bus back to the hotel, or ate in the area of the ciy where we had spent the day, just as it worked out.
Going back to the hotel, the beds are very comfortable and warm and we slept like logs! The hotel itself is quiet and peaceful. We watched TV for an hour or two each evening, but be warned! If it matters to you to have English speaking channels, there aren't any at this hotel! This didn't bother us, as we don't watch much TV when we are away on holiday and in fact watching the French programmes was a change for us, - and a linguistic challenge! We did watch a football match on the TV and enjoyed that as we didn't need to understand the commentary of course..
The hotel fitness suite, swimming pool and jacuzzi are absolutely lovely and the pool much bigger than we have enjoyed before at any hotel we have stayed. There are no extra costs for using these facilities and again, it is all spotlessly clean. The shallowest part of the pool is about 3 foot nine inches deep, so it wouldn't be suitable for young children unless carefully supervised by an adult. In fact, the pool area is not staffed, so if we had had any youngsters or teenagers with us we would have made sure we supervised them the whole time in the pool area.
We arrived in Paris by Eurostar train to Gare du Nord. We asked for a transport map of Paris, free, and bought a weekly pass each for the bus and rail system, - a pass called Navigo decouverte, for Zone 5, which we had read about on the internet before we left home. We had each taken with us a small photo of the requisite size, and these passes proved brilliant value for our sight seeing holiday. When travelling from Gard du Nord, we first took the underground to Chatillon Les Halles and then changed to the A line, in the direction of Cergy, getting off 5 stations later at Houilles Carrieres sur Seine. There are lots of trains, a really excellent service. It was a 25 minute walk from the train station to the hotel, but there is no problem because the Number 19 bus is outside the station and only a few stops, - taking about 10 minutes at the most, take you right outside the the hotel. The transport pass we had bought covered all buses and trains. .The reception staff gave us the No 19 bus timetable on arrival, and it is a very good service, so it was easy going to and from the station and from there on to wherever we had planned to go that day. We had no trouble at all each day, travelling to Monmartre on day and later on to the Eiffel Tower. Another day, we had a wonderful day at the Palace of Versailles and gardens. Another day at Notre Dame etc.etc. Now we enjoyed this travelling about, changing underground trains, seeing how the French live and meeting and speaking with French people at bus stops and the like. However, we must admit for some other couples, especially those with a bigger budget than we had, it may be preferable to stay nearer to the city centre. and we would mention that the last number 19 bus runs soon after 10 pm, no problem for us but may be too early for some. (Without that bus, it would be a taxi or a 25 minute walk from the railway station).
We can honestly say that if we return to Paris one day, as we hope, then we shall book this same hotel. It is good value for money.
