Lyon Travel Forum

Hello I'm looking for a hotel recomendation for the fêtes de lumières, something with a nice location and also at a good price.

Other question is the festival only on the 8th of December or all the weekend will be things happening.


Thank you

Hi from Lyon!
the 2008 edition of "la fete des Lumieres" will take place from dec 05 till dec 08th; this last day is of course the most proeminent with hundred of thousands people crawling the streets of our city.
It is still possible to book a hotel right now, but do not expect something cheap..rates are rising during this period due to under capacity..groups are even lodging far from the city itself!
here is the link to the website made by tourism office (in french only)
http://www.lumieres.lyon.fr/fetedeslumieres/sections/fr

forget about lodging in downtown! better focus on a hotel close to metro or tram station (all network will be free that day)
either contact tourism office or webste like www.booking.com or other to book
wish you a nice stay !
kind regards
Plancarpin

Thank you for your reply. What should be the best area to stay near the center of Lyon? What should I avoid?
Best time going to Lyon...

down town is basically what we call "Presqu'ile", so meaning the area between Rhone and Saone river (2nd quarter (arrondissement, in french) of city, and also first quarter (close to City hall); all hotels in this area are booked, almost 1 year in advance
you can still be lucky picking hotel in the third quarter (close to part Dieu train station); also 7th and 8th quarters are sill very convenient as good linked with downtown
4th and 5th quarter are old town and maybe also already booked( anyhow you will be right in the action, so maybe difficult to sleep! hehehe)
avoid 9th as far from downtown (but still linked with metro)
so need to have a car
about the season, this is of ciourse not the best time (weather's wise) but still this festival is very unique..so prepare to pack warm clothes, hat and gloves!!
give me a choice of hotels you find on the net, I will advice the one to choose
cheers
Plancarpin

I'm seeing:

- Hotel La Residence in the center, rue Victor Hugo, they still have availability.

- Hotel Des Congres near the Park de La Tete.

and cheaper
- Hotel Ariana on Cours Emile Zola, Villeurbanne, its far but the metro is very near.


I'm guessing La Residence would be pretty nice, is a okay hotel?

ok if budget fits, then that the one on Rue Victor Hugo! it is a pedestrian street, right in city centre, close to the biggest square in town, Place Belelcour, and also close to train station Perrache and metro
hotel close to Tete d'Or has an excellent restaurant but area is a bit unsafe and quite far from any metro... Villeurbanne is much farther...

one major point of the fetes des lumieres is a lot of buildings are decorated with small candles which are put in colored glasses..around rue Victor Hugo (very traditionnal area) you will see realy a lot of them..
do not hesitate any more!!
enjoy your stay!
Plancarpin