The Traveller’s Notebook: Exploring France(Part-2)-Best cuisine and budget hotels.
Hello, Travellers! How’s your stay going in France? Let’s get out of your cosy bedrooms, eat something and start with our explorations! While reading this post, don’t forget to turn on your radio. Play this song while reading the post and trust me you’ll literally roll down the lanes of Paris!
Delicious Cuisine that is a must try:
1. Street-stand crêpes:
Walking around Paris, you’ll see street stands selling crêpes everywhere. One of the few truly native street foods, the crêpe is indeed a lovely treat to indulge in when it’s time for an afternoon snack. Be sure to pick a stand that cooks crêpes to order rather than reheating them from a pile cooked earlier, makes them thin and is kept spotlessly clean.
2. Macarons:
The delicate pastry, consisting of two almond meringue shells glued together with buttercream or ganache, has taken the world by storm but its birthplace is resolutely Paris. Available in all sorts of flavours and just as many colours, macarons are two-bite delights, but it is worth seeking them out from reputable pastry shops that actually make their own. Also, and go easy on the rainbow-style food colourings.
3. Croissants:
Walk past any bakery in the wee hours of the morning and you’ll be instantly spellbound by the warm buttery smell of fresh croissants escaping from the air vents at pavement level. This is your cue to step in and get your golden prize, which you can tuck into and savour on your morning walk as the city awakens.
4. Raw-milk artisanal cheeses:
Paris is truly the gastronomic hub of France, and nowhere is it more apparent than in cheese shops, where you can buy the makings of a cheesy Tour de France and taste your way through each region’s stars, from the mildest to the sharpest. Always favour raw-milk cheeses (unless you have a compromised immunity) and ask the vendor what’s best right now, as the production of artisanal cheeses is a seasonal affair.
5. Jambon-beurre:
Like all city dwellers, Parisians often need to eat on the go, and the jambon-beurre is the most Parisian of sandwiches. You can buy it from corner bakeries or order it from the counter at most cafés; in both cases, it will come as a fresh half-baguette, its insides smeared with cool butter and garnished with ‘jambon de Paris’, a pink-hued cooked ham, with optional cornichons.
6. Duck confit:
Originally devised to preserve fresh duck meat for future consumption, the confit method consists of cooking duck thighs in their own fat, until the meat is spectacularly moist and fork-tender. Few Parisian bistros make their own, but they pride themselves in selecting the best producer, typically from the southwest of France, and serve them seared until the skin turns golden and crisp. The classic side is pommes sarladaises, heavenly garlicky potatoes sautéed in duck fat.
7. Croque-monsieur:
Most brasseries and cafés in Paris offer non-stop service, and a staple of their menu is the croque-monsieur, an oozy and crisp grilled ham and cheese sandwich usually moistened by a touch of béchamel sauce. If you’re extra hungry, get the croque-madame, which adds a fried egg on top.
8. Baguette:
It is safe to say that Paris is the place on Earth with the highest density of top-quality, artisanal baguettes. Each year a competition is held to elect the ‘Meilleure Baguette de Paris’, and the list of best-baguette awardees is a good resource to select your provider. Don’t forget to tear off the crusty, still-warm tip and nibble on it as you walk away, as any self-respecting Parisian does.
Best budget hotels in France to have a lavish stay:
1. Okko Hotels Paris Porte De Versailles:
Okko Hotels Paris Porte De Versailles is located 700 m from Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre and 2.8 km from Parc des Princes It offers air-conditioned accommodation with free WiFi throughout. The Eiffel Tower is 3.6 km far from the property.
Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. You will find a Nespresso machine as well as an iPod dock in the rooms. They have a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer.
Guests have access to several extra services. A buffet breakfast including some organic products is served daily, while snacks are available throughout the day. Appetizers are served in the evening, including local cheeses, meats, soups, and pies. A bar is also available on site. It is a great choice for travellers interested in Disneyland, romance, and tours.
2. hotelF1 Paris Porte de Châtillon:
Situated in the 14th district in Paris, 4 km from the Luxembourg Gardens, hotelF1 Paris Porte de Châtillon boasts air-conditioned rooms and free WiFi throughout the property.
Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV. You will have access to a shared bathroom. Guests can purchase large microfibre towels at the hotel at an extra cost of EUR 3 each.
There is a 24-hour front desk at the property. A buffet breakfast is served daily, with an additional cost, and vending machines are available in the lobby.
Notre Dame Cathedral is 5.7 km from hotelF1 Paris Porte de Châtillon, while the Eiffel Tower is 6.2 km away. Orly Airport is 12 km from the property.
14th arr. is a great choice for travellers interested in theatre, convenient public transportation and promenades.
3. citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon:
Unique and popular with guests: Buffet-style RestaurantOne of our top picks in Paris. The citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon is set in the 12th district of Paris. It offers breathtaking views of the Seine and is located near to Gare de Lyon train station.
Each room is fitted with large beds, a power rain shower, free movies and Ipads that control the entire room. Rooms are also equipped with a mini fridge, hairdryers and custom-made amenities. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel.
It is a great choice for travellers interested in tennis, live music and theatre.
4. Oceania Paris Porte De Versailles:
In Paris next to the , Parc des Expos and the Palais des Sports , this hotel features an indoor pool and with hammam.
Each air-conditioned and soundproof room at the Oceania Paris Porte De Versailles is elegantly decorated. They have a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and free Wi-Fi.
The Oceania comes with hydro jets and a counter-current swimming area, and guests have access to the spa with hot tub and a fitness centre.
A buffet breakfast is served in the spacious dining room or on the outdoor terrace overlooking the garden. Guests can enjoy a drink at the hotel’s bar.
Porte de Versailles is 302 m from the Oceania Paris Porte De Versailles, allowing guests to explore Paris.
It is a great choice for travellers interested in Disneyland, romance and tours.
5. Holiday Inn Paris Gare de Lyon Bastille:
Holiday Inn Paris Gare de Lyon Bastille is ideally located in the centre, 260 m from Gare de Lyon Station. It features stylish air-conditioned accommodation with flat-screen satellite TV.
The rooms and suite at the Holiday Inn Paris Gare de Lyon Bastille are all equipped with a minibar, desk and telephone. The private bathrooms feature a hairdryer and a bathtub.
A buffet breakfast is provided daily at the Holiday Inn Paris Gare de Lyon Bastille and either served in the lovely dining area or in the comfort of your own room. There is also a lounge bar which combines modern furniture and Belle-Epoque décor.
The front desk is open 24 hours, and free WiFi access is available in the entire Holiday Inn Paris Gare de Lyon Bastille.
Gare de Lyon Metro and RER Station provide direct access to Disneyland, the Champs Elysées, the Louvre Museum and La Defense business district. This hotel is 700 m from the trendy district of Bastille and a 15-minute walk from AccorHotels Arena.
It is a great choice for travellers interested in tennis, live music and theatre.
6. Porte de Versailles Hotel:
Porte de Versailles Hotel is a 5-minute walk from Parc des Expositions, and it has designer rooms just under half a kilometre from Balard Metro Station.
The rooms are air-conditioned and have free Wi-Fi and an LCD TV with satellite channels. Each has a minibar and a private bathroom with a bathtub or a shower. Massages are available upon request.
Guests can enjoy a continental breakfast, for an extra fee, including fresh croissants, juice and fruit. The bar serves aperitifs and the furnished inner courtyard provides a nice place to sit and relax.
The hotel is ideally located, next to local public transportation which provides connections to central Paris in 25 minutes. Place de la Concorde, Opéra and the Sacré-Coeur Basilica can be reached directly. Parking is available at a location nearby.
It is a great choice for travellers interested in Disneyland, romance and tours.
7. Aparthotel Adagio Paris XV:
Aparthotel Adagio Paris XV is located in Paris’ 15th arrondissement opposite the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre and 3 km from the Parc des Princes Stadium. It offers a 24-hour reception, studios and apartments with free optic WiFi access and the possibility of private parking (upon availability and with an extra cost).
Apartments here have satellite TV, a telephone and a private bathroom. Each apartment has a fully-equipped kitchen with hotplates, a microwave, a refrigerator and freezer for making homemade meals.
Aparthotel Adagio Paris XV offers a buffet breakfast in the breakfast room and children from 4 to 11 years old can enjoy it at a reduced rate. Additional facilities include vending machines dispensing snacks and a dry cleaning service. The residence’s lift serves all of the apartments.
The aparthotel is a 10-minutes walk from André Citroën Park and 600 m from Porte de Versailles Metro and tram station. They lead directly to sights such as Place de le Concorde and the Sacré-Coeur Basilica.
It is a great choice for travellers interested in Disneyland, romance and tours.
So, here we are! Done with exploring France and its connoisseurs. We will come up with Exploring another country tomorrow. Have a good time till then. Thank you so much for taking out time from your busy schedules everybody. Cheers!
citation from: https://www.booking.com.