February Cologne-Paris trip

[WillTravel]

This trip came up really suddenly. We already had an August trip planned, and I didn't expect to go to Europe in February.

But Continental had a special on Cologne via frequent flyer miles, and my 15-year-old daughter and I had just enough for a SEA-CGN trip, so we're going Feb. 3-11. We had to pay $40 taxes per ticket, plus a $15 ticket agent fee per ticket (because I couldn't do it online).

I just bought roundtrip tickets for Cologne to Paris, Feb. 5-10, on Thalys.com for 116 Euros total for both of us. This is a huge reduction from the standard ticket price, and a huge reduction from what RailEurope offers.

So now I just have to figure out where we are going to stay in Cologne (one night on each side), and where we are going to stay in Paris.

Either hostels or hotels are fine - we just want a private room, and a good location. For Paris, I think I want to stay on the Right Bank this time.

Any suggestions welcome. I haven't been to Cologne before. I've been to Paris before, but suggestions are still welcome!

[pointofnoreturn]

Where did you stay in Paris the last time you were there? Did you like it or not? (Just curious because I haven't decided on a hostel/hotel yet!)

[WillTravel]

It was summer, and I was traveling with my son so wanted more space than I would necessarily need with my daughter, plus I wanted air conditioning. So for us, it was a real splurge, and I used Priceline to get the Le Meridien Montparnasse - a 4* hotel - for about 95 Euros per night. It was a good deal so far as that goes, and a nice hotel, particularly given how many not so great hotels cost 100 Euros per night or even more, but it still strikes me as one of my greatest splurges ever. On this trip we don't need air conditioning, and I'm traveling with my daughter, so I hope we can do something cheaper.

[madamtrashheap]

Hi WT, that's great news that the flights were so good that you can go so soon - I'm so jealous!

I've often stayed in the Timhotel (www.timhotel.com) hotels around Paris, depending on what my itinerary was. They are scattered around the city, but I'm partial to the ones in Montmartre, Montparnass and the Jardine des Plantes locations. You might get lucky with their prices if they have special offers (if Le Meridien doesn't come through for you again!) at one of their sites.

Here's a site that also might help - www.france-hotel-guide.com/parishotels.htm. I often check the hotel's own website for their specials in case there is a better in-house offer.

For Cologne, it's been years (and years!) since I stayed there, but try Callas am Dom (had to Google it - been that long I couldn't remember name!). Otherwise, I'm sure you'll find a bargain as February is the coldest, darkest month so hotels often have specials to attract visitors.

Have fun! ;D

[WillTravel]

Thanks MHT - I should update. I went for this place, which is 75 Euros per night prepaid:
www.mercure.com/mercure/fichehotel/gb/mer/0981/fiche_hotel.shtml

There are places as cheap as about 60 Euros that would have been OK, I think, but I liked this location better. Most of the places that were less than that seemed like places I didn't want to stay, for one reason or another. The TimHotel prices on their web site weren't too attractive, but I did find a third party consolidator that offered a 75 Euro rate for a room and breakfast at Timhotel Opera Madeleine and I was definitely considering that one. But the reviews of the breakfast and the rooms weren't that great (although nothing life-threatening or anything). I found that rate through www.hrs.de . Another site with good rates is www.fastbooking.com .

In Cologne, because we are coming and going from the train station, and have such a brief stay there, I wanted a place very close by. I found this hotel:
www.laterooms.com/en/hotel-reservations/89233_hotel-breslauer-hof-am-dom-koln-centrum.aspx
(I used to have the direct hotel site, but I can't find it right now. I booked it through Laterooms, though.) This is 69 Euros including breakfast for the first night of our trip, and 78 Euros for the last night (14-day cancellation policy). I found places a little cheaper that were a lot less convenient.

The Callas am Dom is 90 Euros (prepaid) for our dates. Sometimes prices go up for business events, and I wonder if that's the case for these dates in February.

Now I have to figure out what we are going to do all day in Cologne on Sunday, Feb. 4, because it appears that it shuts down a lot more than most cities I'm accustomed to. I'll definitely visit the cathedral (I presume at least there will be services).

[herrbert]

February ... You will be in Cologne, when the city is getting prepared for Carnaval. (one weekend later), that might be the reason prices are higher.

[madamtrashheap]

You'll like the Mercure (I often stay in the Accor group of hotels) and it's in a good location in terms of public transport and walking (to the Opera Garnier, Madeleine, Les Halles, etc). Timhotel rooms are small but clean, that's probably what the reviews were referring too. As for breakfast, I never choose to have it, preferring to go out to a cafe and be all French with my cafe e croissant reading the paper! Their breakfasts are usually breads, some fruit, coffee/tea and sometimes juice, so not a lot to get you through the day.

Good call on staying close to the train station in Cologne- hence my hotel suggestion. But you've found an even better one! The price hike will probably be related to Fasching (Karneval/Carnival). I'm not sure if your daughter will be interested, but it might be worth looking at the Cologne Opera House (Oper Koeln, tel: [phone] for box office; www.buehnenkoeln.de/root/index.html) for performances on that Sunday (4th Feb) for something to do. It's in German, but there's a production called "Vun Nix Kuett Nix" or in local dialect "From Nothing Comes Nothing", it follows the fate of 2 Cologne families over the last 50 years from the end of WWII. Don't know if you'd want to see it, but it's a suggestion. There is an event called "Festzelt auf dem Kettelerplatz" (Party Tent on Ketteler Place) in a town between Cologne and Bonn called Dransdorf. If you decided to take a Rhine cruise to Bonn for the day, that might be worth investigating. The Dom will be open, particularly for services, as it's open every day from around 6am to 7.30pm (from memory). There is also a museum on WWII Nazi occupation called EL-DE Haus ( www.museenkoeln.de/ns-dok_neu/homepage/fs_start.html ) if that's of any interest to you and your daughter. It's usually open every day except Mondays (following the European museum rule!), and I can't see anything to say it's closed on 4th Feb. I haven't been in myself, but friends tell me it's interesting for WWII info and history, it's it's only a few minutes walk from your hotel too. Here is a website for other museums in the city: www.museenkoeln.de/english/homepage/ that might help.

The Carnival (Karneval) in Cologne kicks of on 11th Feb (that's when you're back there, yes?) with a parade. Have a look at www.koeln.de/en/whatson/carnival/carnival-index.html if it matches your dates - it's a great time to be in Germany too, lots to see and a great party to gate-crash!

Sundays in Germany are notorious for being able to shoot a cannon down the main street and not hit anything as it's "ruhetag" or quiet day/family day so everyone goes out to eat lunch then goes walking for 3 hours! Always an option.

[WillTravel]

Thanks for those ideas, MHT. I think the WWII museum, and the cathedral, and lunch, and a walk, that will probably be enough, considering we're coming off of 16 hours of travel. I also saw a matinee production of "We Will Rock You" at the Musical Dome, which is really close to the train station, but my daughter wasn't interested in that, although she likes many retro bands. I like those opera ideas too, and if I'm still awake by that time, maybe I'll try to get last-minute tickets.

We have to leave the morning of the 11th, so unfortunately we'll miss any Carnaval celebrations.

[madamtrashheap]

Such a shame you leave that day - ah well, excuse to go back! You might find people wandering the streets on the evening of the 10th "practising" with their costumes, you never know your luck.

I'm looking forward to reading about the trip and I hope your daughter enjoys herself - I'm sure she will.

[WillTravel]

Thanks MHT - my only concern is that we'll get winter cold viruses before or during the trip. I'm thinking of all sorts of prevention remedies, and I've sternly warned against sharing utensils, drinks, etc.

I discovered Cologne also has a Hard Rock Cafe. This will occupy at least a couple hours! (We'll be going to the one in Paris too. We've been to the Hard Rock Cafes in Amsterdam, Berlin, San Diego, and La Jolla, and my daughter always enjoys them.)

[herrbert]

willtravel said:

Thanks for those ideas, MHT. I think the WWII museum, and the cathedral, and lunch, and a walk, that will probably be enough, considering we're coming off of 16 hours of travel. I also saw a matinee production of "We Will Rock You" at the Musical Dome, which is really close to the train station, but my daughter wasn't interested in that, although she likes many retro bands. I like those opera ideas too, and if I'm still awake by that time, maybe I'll try to get last-minute tickets.

We have to leave the morning of the 11th, so unfortunately we'll miss any Carnaval celebrations.

Just a few remarks:

Make sure that 'We will rock you' is not a German translation, and don't expect anything from the story, but just enjoy the music.

The Hardrock Café is a small one, but very good, to get you out of the cold for a while.

In this part of the Netherlands they also celibrate Carnaval, which I always try to avoid by planning a trip.

[WillTravel]

I came across this neat site:
www.museenkoeln.de/english/homepage/

It looks like we would really like the modern art museum.

[madamtrashheap]

Clearly I wrote too much as that site was one I recommended in one of the posts above! Glad it's helpful to you though. Haven't been to the Modern Art Musuem in Cologne, but by the sounds of things you'll enjoy it.

As far as getting colds, etc while you're there, as well as your prevention methods, maybe consider taking just a few medicines/remedies with you from home to get you through in case the lurgies find you, especially since some of the days you're there will be holidays/Sundays and not too many pharmacies (Apotheke in German) will be open those days.

[WillTravel]

Oh my goodness, MTH. Believe me, my mind is like a sieve these days.
Obviously we'll be in Cologne only a short time, but if you had the opportunity for a longer visit, would you consider it worth it?

[madamtrashheap]

I'm right there with you on the sieve thing - I have lists, then post-it notes on lists just to remind me! The Germans have a saying for this, "zu viel im Kopf" or "too much in the head" (sounds better than a lot on your mind!).

Hmmm, not sure that I'd spend more than a day or two in Cologne as I'm a bigger fan of other German cities. There is a lot to see and visit in the region around it, but it depends on your interests and time-frame. Perhaps I'd include it as part of a northern-ish Germany itinerary (Rhein valley, Bremen, Munster, Hamburg, Black Forest), but again only for a few days, and I'd definitely include a cruise on the Rhein (day or overnight).