midorigal!!

What dates will you be in Paris with your boyfriend? where are you staying? We will be in the 7eme district . From May 24th until MAY 29TH. Maybe we%26#39;ll see each other. I%26#39;ll waunder around Paris saying Midorial is that you?

HA HA. I%26#39;m sure we%26#39;ll all have fun LUCKY YOU FOR THE APT.

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Hey Springtravler,

You are too funny!!! We are going to be in Paris from May 25-June 1, looks like we will just miss each other on the plane! I%26#39;ll be on the look-out for you at all the picnic areas!!! A baguette, some salami, cheese, maybe rillette with a bottle of wine is all I need! I%26#39;m intrigued by the roasted chicken with potatoes too! So in Paris, one can drink wine in public?

Staying in the 7th, how posh! We got a week rental apartment in Montmartre and will report how it is. I do think the company has a couple of places in the 7th as well, for your next trip of course!

I like the way you count down the weeks. This is a graduation present to myself. I will graduate on May 20 and 4 days later will be on the plane!!

It will also be my 4 year anniversary with my boyfriend and neither of us have been to Paris...it%26#39;s a whole bunch of gifts rolled into one!!!

There just seem to be so much to do until then!!!

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Midorigal I%26#39;m ready to pack now. Actually we%26#39;re leaving May 20th for London, take the Eurostart to Paris on May 24th.

I sooooooooooooo can%26#39;t wait!!!!!!

You%26#39;ll love Paris I%26#39;m sure. I haven%26#39;t been in 20 years wait to eat the FOOD!!!!!!

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It looks like I%26#39;ll just miss both of you! My husband and I will be in Paris from May 18th to the 24th and then we%26#39;ll travel to Bruges.

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Springtraveler, Midorigirl, and anyone else!

My hubby and I will be in Paris from May 23 - 29th, then off to London. We%26#39;re staying in the 6th!

Perhaps we could try a Berthillon get together like others have done before us? Let me know what you think?

Finalement

Eiffel Tower lights

Does anyone know of a cafe,brasserie, or restaurant where they have a great view of the EIffel tower. My husband and I would love to have dinner and just watch the beauty of it all.

Thank you

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I%26#39;m certain someone else more knowledgeable on this subject will chime in here, but I think I remember Alex saying that the Maison Blanche had a beatiful view of the ET.

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I think there%26#39;s a restaurant on top of the Montparnasse tower, although I could be wrong.

If you approach the Eiffel Tower from the Invalides area, there are some nice bistros that have a nice view from an interesting angle.

Also, there is a restaurant near Place de L%26#39;Alma, where Ave. George V ends at the Seine that%26#39;s got a nice view. It%26#39;s called Chez Francis.

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springtraveler, if you do a search, I think this question has been asked and answered before

hope this helps

Chocolate Souffle

We will be dining at Le Train Bleu during our stay, which serves this. However, if anyone has suggestions for any restaurants which serve the best (or nearly) in all of Paris, do tell.

Thank you.

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Le Train Bleu has the BEST dark chocolate ice cream in Paris.

There is a restaurant called Le Souffle that was rated as having the best choc. souffle by the Figaro recently. Sorry, but I can%26#39;t remember where it is.

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Thank you, Phread.

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People,

There%26#39;s a wonderful website here to find your Paris restaurants:

eatinparis.com/cgi-bin/…3.0.3.3.1

It%26#39;s all in French though, so you must spell %26quot;Le Souffle%26quot; correctly, that is with an accent aigu on the final e.

It says that Le Souffle is at:

36, rue du Mont Thabor

1er - Louvre - Les Halles

tel: 01.42.60.27.19

There%26#39;s photographs on the website.

In the meanwhile, I%26#39;m heading over to Train Bleu for some of that dark chocolate ice cream...

Does no one else like to dance?

I will appreciate any cafes, bars/disco, caberet, or anything that anyone can recommend. I have been living in Germany for about 5 months now but other than my town, I have not seen any other part of Europe. So I have no idea where to go when my boyfriend and I go to Paris other than the tourist sites. Thanks so much for your help!

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Some of the Seine dinner cruises have dancing. Some people think that%26#39;s kind of special.

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A real touristy but fun place to go is the Buddha Bar. There is a bar on the top floor and a restaurant on the bottom floor. Very expensive but a fun place to people watch. I do NOT recommend the food. A drink can cost about 13 euro. There%26#39;s also Man Ray. I%26#39;m not sure if you%26#39;re looking for something touristy like this. You can find bars, cafes, etc in any good guidebook. You can easily and quickly find out about the best and/or most popular places. I like the Unofficial Guide to Paris by David Applefield. Good luck!

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thank you for your help!

Separate entrances for museum pass holders

So far, I gather that the Louvre and Versailles each have a separate entrance for pass holders. I would like to go to the Arc de Triomphe, Musee D%26#39;Orsay, Sacre Couer, and Musee Cluny. Do they have separate entrances as well?

Thank you.

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Hello there - Musee D%26#39;orsay does and when we were there in early March (when there weren%26#39;t many other tourists around) the queue was still pretty long to get in through the main entrance. We had passes so went in through the side entrance to the right of the building - took about 3 minutes - security check, checked in the coats and off we went. The Arc didn%26#39;t have a seperate entrance (at that time). Can%26#39;t tell you about Musee Cluny - didn%26#39;t get there. The passes are well worth it, even if you don%26#39;t get to all of the places you plan cos you save so much time. The passes don%26#39;t give you entrance to Sacre Coeur or Notre Dame, so you do have to queue there..

Sandra

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For the most part NO. You enter through regular entrances--and pass through security--nut you simply don%26#39;t have to stand in ticket lines first. This speeds up entry at most places.

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Alot of the places I went to did not have a seperate line/entrance for pass holders. The entrance and the ticket counter were the same thing.. so I had to wait in line just to show them my pass. Louvre, D%26#39;Orsay and Versailles were the only places I went to where the ticket counter %26amp; entrance were seperate. I didn%26#39;t get to go up the Arc as their was a strike the day I went.

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Hollywood do you remember the names and location of these places?

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Hi, Pantheon was one.

And hmm, now that I%26#39;m trying to recalculate all the places I went to on the pass--- I might have only entered those 4 places (including louvre, versailles and d%26#39;orsay)

But I%26#39;m recalling having general problems %26quot;jumping the queue%26quot; with the passes, as I experienced problems in London. I was turned away and told to wait in line despite having the London pass.

Seperate note: The pass didn%26#39;t work for me at Notre Dame. I%26#39;m unsure off the top of my head what exactly the pass was suppose to do for you in Notre Dame, but while I was walking around inside, I saw a seperate area where they charged for admission and I tried to use the pass but they said it was not good there.

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Holly I must go to a meeting right now but I will be back, to investigate some more. There is something very wrong if you were not allow to use the coupe-file as we call it in French. Always work for me.

Metro "Paris Visite" Zone question

I%26#39;m pretty sure I want to get a 5-day pass, but I don%26#39;t know how many zones I want to buy for.

I plan on taking Taxis to and from CDA, so I won%26#39;t need the pass for that.

So if that%26#39;s the case, can someone tell me what%26#39;s the benefit of going to the further out zones? 1-8? 1-5? 1-3?

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I would say get the 1-3. Btw, if you are asking general questions like that, its a good idea to use the search feature in the message board. Thre is plenty of good information already that you can just read.

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Hi Kirk - it all depends on what you want to do. For example, if you plan to visit Versailles, then the further out zones are necessary - however I read somwhere that a 1 - 5 will get you to Versailles. Don%26#39;t know about 8 - perhaps KDKSAIL can help here - he has all of the facts....??

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If all you plan to do is travel around within the City of Paris, then all you need is a pass good for Zone 1-2. ALL of the City of Paris (and a bit beyond) are within Zones 1-2. If you plan to venture out to Versailles (Zone 4) for a daytrip, you will still be better of with a Zone 1-2 pass and purchasing a separate round-trip RER ticket.

Depending on the days of the week of your visit, the alternative to the PARIS VISITE pass is the CARTE ORANGE pass. Unlike the PARIS VISITE pass which is good for certain numbers of consecutive calendar days (not 24 hrs); the CARTE ORANGE is a weekly pass, valid from FIRST TRAIN Monday AM until LAST TRAIN Sunday PM. You can purchase a CO, valid for the CURRENT week through Wednesday.

Given the brief description of your plans, it doesn%26#39;t sound as if a Zone 1-5 is at all necessary and certainly not a Zone 1-8 pass.

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Thank you all for your responses. I found the answer I was looking for.

Phone Number? for Hotel Henri IV at 25 Place Dauphin Paris

Does anyone know the number to Hotel Henri IV located at 25 Place Dauphine in Paris? I have been looking for days. Thanks.

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The Paris Yellow Pages has it:

H��tel Henri IV

25 pl Dauphine 75001 PARIS

+33 1 43 54 44 53

http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/pj.cgi

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Hi Jennifer,

I made responses in the other post about Hotel Henri IV. If you wanna check that out.

(I just stayed there last month)

-Holly

Where to leave luggage - here's the web

I saw somewhere on this site recently that someone wanted to know where to leave luggage now that the ariports wont do it. If your hotel doesn%26#39;t offer the service, here%26#39;s the site of the ParisInfo web that lists all the large train stations which do it. Here%26#39;s hoping this doesn%26#39;t change!

parisinfo.com/guide_paris/…6481

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We will be coming from Barcelona Sants into Paris Austerlitz. Do you know a service like this in Barcelona? I%26#39;ve posted the question on that forum but thought I%26#39;d try you! Thanks!

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Sorry KAK, I%26#39;m no travel expert! I found the Paris site through extensive googling. However, my guess, to get you started on your search, is to start by looking at the major railway stations, especially the stations for the big trans Europe lines. They seem more likely than airports to provide these services. If no luck there try the tourist office web sites.

C

Cafe au lait

1. Do all of the cafe%26#39;s in Paris offer this delicious drink? Any place better than another?

2. I am interested in buying some authentic cafe au lait bowls in Paris as a gift. Any suggestions that would carry them that would be good quality, not break the bank? Would any of the antique stores/puces flea market carry something like that? Vintage sometimes makes a nice and original gift

Thanks

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Generally, they%26#39;re called %26quot;un creme%26quot; or %26quot;un grand creme%26quot; (large size) in Paris. I think the oversized cup are more of a New Orleans thing. The serving sizes of coffee in Paris are miniscule.

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Ask for a cafe au lait in Paris and the waiter will serve you a cafe creme but charge you twice as much.

The bowls are mostly used in peoples homes for breakfast coffee. Loads of shops sell them including the touristy places. You can buy them with old French adverts on them such as the laughing cow and banania trust me you can get them everywhere.

Paris sites at nite

Well, Paris is the city of light! Sometimes I find that some things actually look better at nite than during daylight. What sites/places/monuments are on your must see at nite list?

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Well....there%26#39;s this rather tall, oddly shaped, cast iron construction located along the banks of the river which is illuminated in the evenings---but it appears to have faulty wiring because every hour-on-the-hour it begins to flicker and flash (it%26#39;s really quite remarkable) for ten minutes.The effect is quite startling. Surprisingly, this has become something of a novelty and thousands-upon-thousands of people will stop whatever they%26#39;re doing to stare, transfixed by the event. Even when you can%26#39;t actually see the sight itself, you can hear the sound of the collective %26#39;..ooooohs %26amp; aaaaaahs..%26#39; from those who can, all over the city. You can pretty much set your watch by it.

But for illumination, the most %26#39;..lumens-for-the-euro%26#39; will be one of the evening bateau-mouche, sightseeing cruises along the Seine.

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The view from the steps of the Socre Coeur is also very nice at night.

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I%26#39;m actually seriously considering the Paris at night Segway tour. As I said in another post, it%26#39;s 70 euros for a 4-5 hour tour... but I%26#39;m thinking the fun factor (on a Segway!) and the oooh factor (all the lights!). It%26#39;s rather expensive, and I tend to be cheap... but I%26#39;m leaning toward thinking it%26#39;s worth it.

Search for Fat Tire Bike Tours on here - it%26#39;s run through them.

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Notre Dame at night! You can get some beautiful pics from across the river.

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KDKSAIL-

regarding the large cast iron monument...i think you mean the eiffel tower...but that is just a hunch, I am very intuitive....what time does that light show start(obviously after dark, but what time does it get dark there in May) and until how late does the light show run. Is that an every nite occurrance?

Thanks

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I often think it gives a different vibe at night as well.

As for what looks better at night well i would chose Notre Dame it just looks somehow more gothic in the night. Nightime is the only time worth going to Pigalle and i also think the Patheon looks better at night.

Its a great time do a boat trip on the Seine.

Directions from Paris Austerlitz station to Paris Hilton...

What is the best way to get from Austerlitz train station to the Paris Hilton hotel? We have Paris visite passes good for zones 1-5 and hope to use it when we need to get to Charles Degaulle to fly home later that week.

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Take the RER ligne C to champ des mars then its about a6 minute walk, or just take a taxi.

2 Days in Paris & We want to see as much as possible! Any...

We will be arriving in Paris via the train (Talgo Night-Elipsos) from Barcelona for a 2 day stay. We have reservations at the Paris Hilton and have already purchased the Paris Museum Pass and Paris-Visite. We would like to see as much as we can in our short stay. Any suggestions on sites,resturants are appreciated.

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You should probably answer a few questions before people start giving you ideas. Paris is an overload. 2 days is almost nothing so you%26#39;ll need to prioritize. What are your interests? clubbing, drinking, live performances, cabaret, outdoor, indoor, shopping, sculptures, paintings, art genre, history, adventure, 4 miles walking per day?, 15 miles walking per day?, 25 miles walking per day?, unusual, famous stuff? What kind of food do you like? uniquely French, familiar (meat %26amp; potatos?), daring (organ meats, strange animals), street eats, seafood, vegetarian, dessert all the time every place, budget, unforgettable splurges??? Will you plan to sleep?

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We are open to any suggestions due to our limited time. We are trying to find out about the %26quot;don%26#39;t miss%26quot; sites. We would like to see some museums while getting a taste of the city and it%26#39;s culture. We don%26#39;t have to go clubbing but would like to know where a good dinner spot would be or place to have a few drinks. From what I%26#39;ve read, lunch is pretty easy with the cafes and markets.

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You%26#39;ve got the Museum Pass and Paris-Visite Pass. I%26#39;d feel obliged to go crazy on them or save them for a later trip. I imagine the museum pass is for a single day. To go crazy on your Museum pass in one day:

Here%26#39;s what your passes cover. http://www.paris.org/Maps/MM/MMF.html

Plan your day well so you don%26#39;t go back and forth like a hamster in a Habitrail.

If you%26#39;ve never been to Paris, I suggest one or both of two climbs for a nice aerial views of the city. (1) Go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower at night time. (2) Go to the Basilique de Sacre Coeur in the Montmartre area and meander up into the dome during the day (It%26#39;s closed at night!). You%26#39;ll have to first go down into the basement to catch the stairs to the top. (3) Montparnasse tower is not covered by your passes nor is it as sexy an experience as the first two so skip it. Take the Metro if you have to jaunt across the city. Walking%26#39;s nice, but your time is short. Hopefully, the Metro won%26#39;t be on strike.

The Louvre is a must, but its main section is also open one or two evenings of the week. If you can catch that on an evening, that%26#39;ll free the rest of the day%26#39;s use of your pass on other museums--d%26#39;Orsay, Napoleon%26#39;s Tomb, Musee de l%26#39;Armee (connected to Tomb), Pompidou museum, St Chapelle (bring binoculars if you want to see details on the stained glass windows). After the last museum closes at night, walk down the Champs Elysees and give your pass one more fling. Climb to the top of l%26#39;Arc de Triomphe and watch all of the crazy French drivers drive around you in the dark.

Opera Garnier is kind of cool.

St Chapelle may not be covered by your passes so put it aside for your NEXT trip. Your pass covers Cathedrale de Notre Dame, probably the towers and the treasury; but the sanctuary%26#39;s free so you decide...do this on the NEXT trip or...

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French dinners are late at night, by American standards. In fact, the restaurants seldom turn on their lights or serve before 730 or 8pm.

Plan your day, figure out what neighborhood you%26#39;ll be in when you%26#39;re ready for dinner and then re-query the forum for a suggestion.

Dinner prices

Man I keep hearing about 200.00 Euro dinners. I really don%26#39;t want to spend a fortune eating dinner. Brasseries and Bistros have good food right? And not too expensive?

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Walk down the Mouffetard which is packed with decent restaurants. They%26#39;ve all got fixed priced lunch/dinner menus (eg fondue dinner) of 10-20E or so complete with wine...not too different from your US Denny%26#39;s or Olive Garden excursion. However, in the US, you%26#39;re not going to find any good French dinners for less than 20E! That%26#39;s for sure.

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BTW, my wife and I had a ~50E fixed menu _lunch_ at Jules Vernes, plus 60E in drinks :-) We were so full we didn%26#39;t eat dinner that night.

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On the flipside, when I was a poor student, I%26#39;d get ten yoplait cups for 7FF (about 1E), or have rice, quenelles and a bottle of good wine in the dorm kitchen for all of 20FF (3E), or a full rotisserie chicken with potatos (from street vendor) and a full bottle of wine for about 35FF (5E). You can get good bottles of wine for 2-3E easily at the grocery stores. Cost of living in France is actually relatively low. However, in recent years, they%26#39;ve had a pretty good climb in inflation...about 10% per year on housing.

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Well 30 to 50 euros each is okay. We%26#39;ll be staying in the 7eme arrondissment, which I%26#39;m sure they really don%26#39;t have those prices. Hopefully we%26#39;ll find a Bistro and Brasserie .

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Spring,

You%26#39;ll find all sorts of good meals in the 20-30 euro range. You%26#39;ll find very good meals in the 30-50 euro range. And you%26#39;ll find meals you%26#39;ll remember for a lifetime in the 100-200 euro range.

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On an average Sat evening I and my girlfriend will spend 70euro max between two people for main courses, dessert, a bottle of wine and coffee.

This isn%26#39;t a comprimise but most often great food that doesn%26#39;t cost much.

being honest, I personally haven%26#39;t visited a lot of the places mentioned on this forum that are expenisve. A lot of tourists here seem to be willing to spend $$$ to enjoy something that maybe they can%26#39;t find at home and will enhance their overall holiday.

But it doesn%26#39;t mean that you can%26#39;t get great food at good prices if you%26#39;re not that type of tourist...

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Well I feel better. We do plan to have lunch at Les Crayers in Reims for a special lunch for our wedding anniversary. I keep hearing what a wonderful place that is and have already made reservations.

Thank you all

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You%26#39;ll find places from 7-8-9 euors per plate all the way up and past the price you mentioned. There are more restaurants in Paris at all price ranges than you can even imagine. There are also a number of taiteurs (delis), or butchers, or take-away places where you can get anything from a roasted free range chicken, to cheese, to plain old sandwiches- And the quality is usually first rate.... Street markets provide another good source for high quality cooked food as well as just about everything else.

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I live in the 7th and I am with ptegan... dinner for two with plenty of wine generally runs us 70E total. These are really good restaurants with great food, but they tend to be off the guidebook radars.

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Hey Phread,

You live in the 7th. What do you think of Cafe Constant?

Cheaper clothing stores in Paris ?

My wife would like to do some shopping - we know the prices are high - but aren%26#39;t there some stores / areas that one could buy clothes for a good value? Each city has some - the question is where in Paris ?

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Zara has great European styles at affordable prices.

Cyrllus is more conservative but equally affordable.

I do this kind of shopping along the rue de Rennes, where there is also an H%26amp;M Dept. store.

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I was just in Paris last week, and I shopped at Celio and H%26amp;M. Celio had trendy, stylish, and young looking eropean designs. Bought some nice clubbing shirts (3 for E60). If you are looking for something more refined, those two stores aren%26#39;t for you.

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Hi UConn,

Say there is an area around St.Denis (arch)and Metro Sentier which has less expensive wholesale Paris made clothing....factories right there. While most of the shops are %26quot;wholesale only%26quot; some do sell to the public. Bought the cutest jacket for our daughter (who is a tiny woman)...everyting in the store 5E...a neat buy, and a beautiful huge scarf for 2E in another shop. Tis an interesting area to wander around, narrow streets with racks of clothing being moved back and forth from large trucks which block the rues.

You might not find anything but it is a neat adventure.

Have fun....

Bea

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There are several books on shopping in Paris. Go to Amazon or Barnes %26amp; Noble online store and do a search for %26quot;paris shopping%26quot; or something similar. You%26#39;ll find many books on this subject.

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i second the vote for Celio... i don%26#39;t know if they have women%26#39;s but for men its pretty comparable to express or something...

H%26amp;M is good (oftern referred to as the IKEA of clothes), but they have these in america (and are growing fast)... Also, their prices are no better in Euros than they are in dollars.. i went in to 2 H%26amp;M%26#39;s there thinking i might find something %26quot;more european%26quot; but it was exactly the same stuff...

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It%26#39;s worth checking the consignment stores (depot-ventes). Americans sometimes find this distasteful, but MANY Parisians buy at these stores. With a little patient looking you can find clothing that was only worn for a fashion show. I recently bought a suit for 300 euros that originally retailed for more than 1000 euros--and it looks fantastic, if I do say so myself ;) Try Reciproque on rue de la Pompe in the 16th, and Depot-Vente du 17eme on the rue de Courcelles in the 17th. You can find Kelly bags for less than $2K, Hermes scarves for $100, Chanel, Dior, Galliano, etc.

Motor scooter hire in France

I posted a query earlier in the week regarding the possibility of hiring motor scooters in France to travel the country roads but cannot see it on the forum.

Can anyone tell me if there is somewhere near Paris that we can hire motor scooters for a day? (2 Aussie couples 50yo)

We would like to collect them outside the Paris City with no particular destination in mind.

Would we require a special license to hire/ride these in France?

We are travelling to France last week in May.

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Have a look at

parisinfo.com/paris_map/…listeSITI

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For the driving license have a look at

…franceguide.com/infospratiques/rubrique.asp…

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There is a scooter rental shop in Vernon, near Monet%26#39;s Giverney and an easy train ride from Paris, conveniently near the Normand country roads.

We rented scooters last summer and only had our California driver%26#39;s licenses.

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;There is a scooter rental shop in Vernon, near Monet%26#39;s Giverney and an easy train ride from Paris, conveniently near the Normand country roads.

We rented scooters last summer and only had our California driver%26#39;s licenses.%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

Do you happen to remember any of the details of this motorscooter rental livery in (or around) Vernon?...Name? Location? approx. daily rate?

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Can anyone tell me if there is somewhere near Paris that we can hire motor scooters for a day? (2 Aussie couples 50yo)%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

Try these as frames of reference--

www.holiday-bikes.com/tarif/tarif_paris.htm

http://www.freescoot.com/

http://www.motorail.fr/

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Thank you everyone, that%26#39;s a great help. I%26#39;ll get onto the sites you recommend and look into it. I am hoping we can use them on our Aussie licenses (although these are for cars not scooters or bikes). I%26#39;ll let you know how I fare. Really looking forward to this adventure in the Northern Hemisphere!

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Wow! What a great lot of info. Thank you. I have trouble with the French, but will make sure I have it translated to understand.

The fellas will not want to know anything more than the model and size of the scooter - they can understand that in any language being the motor crazed fanatics they are.

In fact they are likely very disappointed us girls would not be able to handle a big banger like a harley or honda 1100cc etc

Never mind we are all looking forward to this trip and your help is most appreciated.

Cheers

Where to visit in France?

I am going to Paris for about 10-12 days at the end of May. We are renting an apartment so we have the leisure of coming home whenever we want. I know there is a lot to see in Paris but I am sure all of France is beautiful. What are the best places to visit in France that wouldn%26#39;t cost much money or a considerable amount of travel time? Are there any big festivities around May 21? What was your favorite thing you did outside of Paris? Any romantic or adventurous ideas are a plus.

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If you are a Van Gogh fan, I would recommend a visit to Auvers sur Oise where he is interred in the town%26#39;s cemetery beside his brother Theo (very humble graves), also you can visit the apartment where he died. Another interesting aspect is that several buildings and houses in Auvers sur Oise have a reproduction of Van Gogh paintings of those buildings so you can see that some have not changed very much since the 1880s. Visiting this town is a nice complement after seeing some of Van Gogh masterpieces in the Musee d%26#39;Orsay. If you drive there, the whole visit should not take more than half a day.

If you are into wines and champagne, then you might want to consider a day trip to Reims to visit the Cathedral where the French kings where crowned and also take a tour of the champagne caves.

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It%26#39;s spring time. Mt St Michel, Normandie %26amp; Brittany would all be kind of neat to visit and see. Bike tours around chateaux country. These both require a few hours of travel in each direction. You might consider a night or two in the localities of each.

Here%26#39;s a website with some ideas. Do it cheaper. Rent a bike, pack a picnic, hop on a train and go.

…viator.com/brochure/product_show.jsp…

With a little bit of more money...

Hop on the train to London. It%26#39;s three hours door to door.

Hot air ballooning...wine tasting tours...

With much more money and more time...

Adventure? How about mountaineering in the Alps. Mt Blanc%26#39;s a favorite climb. Chamonix%26#39;s got some good climbs too. Pyrenees have got some nice hiking.

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Wow I didn%26#39;t think London would only be 3 hours travel. A few hours to and from I wouldn%26#39;t mind. What is the best way to get around the country side? Can you actually go and stomp grapes? Do I ask a lot a questions or what? Lol.

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Yep. Bullet trains are fast and convenient. And Europe%26#39;s small. Remember that Madrid to Moscow would fit easily between Philadelphia and Denver.

Eurostar goes to London. United Airlines used to let you cash in 10000 UA miles for a roundtrip Eurostar ticket. don%26#39;t know if the deal still exists...

Thalys goes to Brussels. door to door in about 1.5 hours? If you miss that stop, you%26#39;ll be in Cologne or Amsterdam in no time.

Normandy/Brittany aren%26#39;t so fast. maybe 4-5+ hours each way.

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I have to say Darth after reading post after post, I think you are one of the most helpful people in this forum. You%26#39;ve got great ideas. Thanks.

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Frankly, I%26#39;m spending way too much time on this forum.

I wish some of the Paris/France traffic would get over to Alaska, China, Taiwan, etc. There doesn%26#39;t seem to be enough input over there.

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Hi Darth - I agree with you in that most input seems to be from you very helpful Americans. When I was in Paris in March, I was talking with two lovely ladies in a restauranct and they told me it%26#39;s only an 8 hour flight from USA to Faris - obviosuly depends on where in the USA, too,,,,However, it%26#39;s 24 hours of flying one way and 36 hours of %26quot;travel time%26quot; from Oz....which does knock you around a bit - and probably contributes to why there%26#39;s more Americans there than most...also your prices are much cheaper - $2000 for 2, return trip and accom - yeeks - thats only $2600 AUD - my airfare was $1500 AUD which was really cheap, in the off season.. wish we had a Priceline!

I too echo previous sentiments and thank you for your replies. I%26#39;m heading back next April - Paris is addictive! (Meanwhile, I%26#39;m saving!) Planning to do a couple of day trips including Normandy, so really appreciate your info..

Sandra

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Hi Picture,

Well you ask for favorite places outside Paris.....

The Normandy coast is only a 2 hour train ride from Paris to Deauville/Trouville (side by side beach towns). We go there often in summers and really enjoy a few days there. Trouville has lovely old Edwardian homes and a wide family beach with restaruants down on the sand and along the tidal river there separating the two towns.......just great. Deauville is classier and is where Coco Channel started (I think). Honfleu is a picture perfect little harbor town a bit to the north. There are gambling casinos for adult fun and entertainment, great food and entertainment in the bars and cafes. From there you go can go south and you will be along beautiful beaches, little villages and hills along the channel and the D Day landing sites. It is a little early for full season at the beaches, but that can be nice too. Also not too long a trip south of Paris, is not only the Loire valley, but Lyon and Orleans. Lyon is sorta like Paris, lovely and has some great food. Orleans is a neat town too. I think both had to be rebuilt after the war.

I love Les sables d%26quot;Olonne on the Atlantic north of Bourdeau, just love it. Rented an apartment there a couple of years ago. Huge wide beach, wonderful food, on the north are cliffs and crashing sea that would give Big Sur a run for it%26#39;s money. (If I remember rightly thats a direct train ride from Paris) Also really like St Baritz%26#39;s beach and that area, south of Bourdeau. A couple of summers ago we went to the tip of Brittany and then down the Atlantic side to wonderful beaches and villages along there........Every one, just outstanding.....great food, friendly people, exciting art, lovely countryside.

And if you dont care for beaches, Provence is amazing from the Roman ruins in Arles and Nimes to the Pope%26#39;s palace in Avigon and the wonderful old town of Aix in Provence...among others.

The boarder of Spain in the Pyrennes is different and Lourdes, an interesting place to visit. Have never stayed over towards the Alps in France, but understand that is great too. If you go toward Germany you get a different feeling of France. Strasborg is a mix of the two cultures and has a neat old French section.

Well I guess I could go on and on. I just love France and the fantastic variety it has to offer all over. We often rent a car and just head out, discovering exiting, interesting places.

You might want to read up on the country and try to figure out what you would enjoy seeing. The train system is great and renting a car is easy (as is traveling their highways), though neither especially cheap.

If you stay in Paris for the entire time, you will do just fine. If you head out to any distination, you will surely enjoy it.

Bonne chance,

Bea

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I agree with your sentiments Stur3128. the preponderance of americans and canadians in the forum give me the impression paris is a regular destination for them. It must be so easy from the US and Canada! Does anyone else visit Paris? Let%26#39;s hear from you.

Spare a thought for us Aussies having to fork out $2,500 Aus dollars for the privelige of spending 24 hours in a plane. This is my first O/S trip. At the age of 50 I%26#39;ve waited a long time for this trip so my anticipation is building. Only 3 weeks to go.

Can I start getting excited now?

I realise now how far Australia is from the rest of the world:)

It might explain why there aren%26#39;t many French expats in Australia.

Any Aussies want to meet in Paris during the first 2 weeks in May?

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Hi there Artful Aussie - good to see your post! There%26#39;s a previous post on jet lag and travel aids - do visit it cos there%26#39;s some really helpful info.

The best thing I found were airline socks - long, tight elastic things that were SO hard to get on, but I had no probs at all with retained fluid or sore legs.

The trip back is a horror - if you can, get a stop over for a sleep. I didn%26#39;t sleep at all on the plane so went from Friday morning til Sunday night - it took me a week to recover. Next time I%26#39;ll take sleeping pills.

I%26#39;d love to catch up with you in May - but I won%26#39;t be there til next April. As for planning in advance - I%26#39;m already starting for next year - it%26#39;s one of the best parts of the trip!

Reservations at Hotel Henri IV on Dauphine in arr. 5

I have been searching the web for a while now and it looks like there is no online reservations for this particular hotel. Has anyone ever booked this online or do I have to track down their phone number? I have heard mixed things about their reservation process, but am willing to give it a shot.

Any other suggestions for cheap but clean places to stay in the latin quarter are also greatly appreciated!

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Try this: http://www.residencehenry4.com/

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trvlbuff: I too, came across that link and was really excited, but that is the hotel %26quot;residence%26quot;, they are totally different things unfortunately. I think there are actually 3 %26quot;henri iv%26quot; named hotels in central Paris, and the one I am looking for is at 25 place Dauphine. The review site is

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here:

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d220002…

Thanks for your help anyway! =)

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Hi-

When are you going- I was thinking of staying here myself. I was planning for May. Maybe we can meet up if we are going at the same time

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Ah, we are going April first =)

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Maybe next time-

I can tell you there is no website, email or fax#. You have too call directly to the hotel. This is so they can keep the cost of the rooms down. Try looking on the fodors or frommers websites- they list the hotel in their guidebooks.

If you have trouble finding it- I know I have the number at home. post a response if you can%26#39;t find it and I will send it back to you. Also- if you do stay there- I was wondering if you would send me an email with your opinion of the hotel when you come back..

Have a great trip

Robin

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Hey, on my last trip in February, I checked this place out. I walked in the front door and checked out some rooms. The place has quite a bit of %26quot;character%26quot; and you have to be a special kind of traveler to stay there and if you are, I am sure you will have a lot of fun and have a lot to talk about when your trip is over.

For instance, I found it interesting is that in some rooms, you actually have to walk outside to use the rest rooms. So don%26#39;t forget to bring your umbrella.

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did you ever get the phone number to Hotel Henri IV on Dauphine in Paris? If so....can you pass it along. I am trying to book a room in June 2005.

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Hi, Do you mean Hotel Henri IV on Place Dauphine on Ile de la Cite? Its not in Arr 5, its Arr 1.

I just stayed there last month. No, there is no online reservation process. Its very %26#39;old school%26#39;.. no credit cards either. I left a long review on this site. If you can get a reservation, its worth it. It definitely has alot of character and you can%26#39;t beat the price or the location. I couldn%26#39;t imagine a better location.

In my case, I called and got ahold of a woman who spoke some english (I was not so lucky on other phone calls as another woman doesn%26#39;t speak any at all). She took my reservation and told me to send a check for the first nite%26#39;s fee to reserve the room (28 Euros for a single). I sent an international money order payable in Euro%26#39;s, which was difficult to get. But apparently they couldn%26#39;t cash it as the check needs to come from a French bank.. not any European bank. But they still held my reservation for me. (Maybe you could send cash if you can%26#39;t get a French check to them?)

I don%26#39;t have the phone number.. but you should be able to find it if you do a Google search. It might help if you put in the address too- 25 Place Dauphine.

If you can%26#39;t find the phone number, post back and I can find it for you...

Good luck

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Try www.pagesjaunes.fr

I just did it to find the phone number for my hotel so that I could make a tour reservation. It even has pictures!

Nightlife in the Latin Quarter/St. Germain areas

What kinds of activities are there after dark in these areas, i.e. dance clubs, etc.?? We will be staying on Rue des Ecoles at the Hotel Claude Bernard.

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Well Monk, the are plenty of churches around so after dark that would be...Vespers?

|||

Thanks for the chuckle Jack but these monks are looking for real nightlife that%26#39;s not so holy.

|||

Any suggestions?

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I seem to remember that on the Blvd. Saint Germain there are a couple or more bars that are open late. I can%26#39;t recall the names but one was very close to and on the same side of the street as the Deux Magots. You may want to check a travel guide book. This may sound funny but %26quot;Paris for Dummies%26quot; has a section on nightlife.

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I%26#39;m not sure that monks should have any interest in such things, but...

Actually the Latin Q/St. Germain area is not particularly noted for its dance clubs. I think you%26#39;ll find more happening places on the other side of the river, particularly in the 11th and 13th arrondissements.

There is a great joint - kind of a combination piano bar upstairs and jazz club/cabaret in the cellar on the rue Galande just a few steps from the river near Notre Dame called Aux Trois Mailletz. I%26#39;ve been knwn to walk home from there with the dawn chorus...

And there is the perennial Caveau de la Huchette on the rue de la Huchette - again a jazz club rather than a dance club. And there are a few other places in the rue St-Benoit very close to the Eglise St. Germain whose exact names are now lost in a fog somewhere but they are all more jazz clubs than dance clubs. If you want me to I%26#39;ll go scour around the unused parts of my brain and see if I can dredge any of them up.

I think there are a couple of big dance club type places near the Montparnasse station which is not far away but others may be able to tell you more about those. One I think is called Amnesia - which seems somehow appropriate...

Marseille restaurants

I%26#39;d love recommendations for the best restaurants to have bouillabaisse or other seafood

|||

If you haven%26#39;t already done so, check the post from mzani in the thread %26quot;Only 1 Thing%26quot; for some recommendations.

Bon appetit!

Air France CDG Questions

Returning from CDG to Boston on AF, which of the many terminals at CDG does one check in?

Another question: While the 22 inch roll-aboard has become standard carry-on luggage in the US, I have often been asked to check this on intra-European flights. Will I have any issues trying to take this aboard a trans-Atlantic Air France flight? We will be in Biz class, if that matters.

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AF 332 and AF 322 dept CDG Terminal 2C and arrive at Logan Terminal E. Are either of these your flight?

Whoever you booked with should give you this info.

You could call

Air France Logan Int%26#39;l Airport

21 Logan Airport, Boston, MA 02128

(617) 569-8414

or

Air France Sales Office

151 Harborside Drive, Boston, MA 02128

(617) 567-1302

to ask about Business class hand baggage allowances.

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I will be flying Air France Business class out of Logan in late May -- the new Business will NOT be set up by then -- I was told it will take several months.

The only gateways that now have these new seats are Philly and Newark.

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I too am concerned about your baggage question. I have a 22 inch that I was going to use as a carryon, but in coach. I called Air France to ask and they told me the bag must be 26 lbs or less and have a total measurement- height+ length +width of 45 inches. I tryed mine and I think it is a few inches too large. I guess I am just going to check it to avoid a hassle at the airport first thing off the bat. You can also visit their website- I think they had the same info on the website.

If you make a call and find out anything different- post and let me know..Thanks

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I use a carry-on that is definitely pushing the limit. I%26#39;ve never had a problem with it on any trans-Atlantic flight. It does fit comfortably in the overhead and is narrow enough to make it down the aisles without difficulty. I just let the counter clerk see the bag without particularly drawing attention to it, and inform her/him that I am not checking any baggage. And I fly economy these days (sigh!).

I don%26#39;t think you will have a problem with your roll-aboard, especially flying Biz class.

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My experience of several airlines over the past year is that they have become more picky about carry-on.

Not only size - mine is well with the limits - but weight. So be prepared to have your carry-on weighed. BA is the worst. And only allow a measly 6 kg in coach/economy. I%26#39;ll be flyng Air France in May (London to Paris) and only for 3 nights so will be travelling very light. I%26#39;ll report back on what I observe if this of any use to you anyone?

I have to say I find the whole situation annoying and inconsistent. Have been made to check exactly the same bag in one direction but not the other. Have watched someone check-in ahead of me with numerous bags - including a carry-on far larger than mine - bit not made to have that bag weighed and there they were on my flight while my little bag was %26#39;down below%26#39;!

The check-in staff seem suspicious of those of us who %26#39;travel light%26#39; without huge bags in the hold. If you check in a bag they don%26#39;t seem to bother checking what you are taking in the cabin.

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According to the Air France schedule (you confirm this information yourself at the AF web site-- http://www.airfrance.com/ --or call AF directly) their BOS/CDG flights depart from and return to Logan (BOS) Terminal %26#39;E%26#39; and arrive at and depart from CDG Terminal #2-C--

CDG #2 Terminal Diagram--http://www.adp.fr/webadp/a_cont01_an.nsf/0/A806156E4C6A964CC1256ABE004858F6/$File/cdg2gran.gif

Though you describe your bag as a %26quot;..22 inch roll-aboard..%26quot;, not all 22%26quot; bags are equal--especially ones which expand. Also, apart from dimensions of the bag, there is also a restriction on weight. Beyond this, how any individual check-in agent interprets these requirement, at any given time, any given day, is a %26#39;mystery%26#39;.

Air France Carry-on baggage limitations---

�� Quantity: 1 baggage + 1 accessory (e.g. handbag, laptop computer, or camera).

�� Total weight: 26.4 lbs (12 kg) maximum

�� Dimensions: 45.2 in. (115 cm) ��� length + width + height = 45.2 in. (115 cm). These dimensions include wheels and handles.

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We flew Air France in March and a roll aboard that has made it on every airline in the US and British Airways did not make it. They didn%26#39;t measure it--had a container that it had to fit in--was smaller one way but about 1.5 inches too long the other way--about half the wheel height. Some others had larger bags--seemed random to me. I had to unpack the bag so i could get medicines out of it. Very annoying and the Air France lady seemed to take delight in me unpacking in the middle of the airport.

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Very annoying and the Air France lady seemed to take delight in me unpacking in the middle of the airport.%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

More than %26#39;..very annoying..%26quot; especially when you%26#39;re standing in line behind one of these people who%26#39;re trying to %26#39;beat%26#39; luggage check-in requirements and fill up the overhead storage comparments on board the aircraft with a mini-steamer trunks...all the while whining, complaining and re-packing what should have been packed properly to begin with. Now THAT%26#39;s really annoying.

|||

Can%26#39;t we all just get along!

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Quite!

Louvre area hotels 1st district

How is the Louvre area for staying? Shops? Restaurants? Late night ?

I am specifically looking at Hotel Des Tuileries just a couple blocks north of the Tuileries metro / Jardin Tuileries - Rue de Rivoli .

All responses greatly appreciated.

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Very convenient area for the Louvre, river trips etc. Good metro links but bars and cafes are very expensive.

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Hi! Just returned last night - stayed at the Hotel Intercontinental, which is right on Rue de Rivoli (intersection with Rue de Castiglione). The area is FANTASTIC if you are looking to do all the touristy things. We could walk to EVERYTHING - Notre Dame, Louvre, Eiffel tower, Orsay museum, etc. - except we did take a cab to Montemartre (about 11 euros). It is a bit expensive, and most of the cafes/etc. were closed up earlier than we expected. We had to walk up to the Opera district (about 5-10 minute walk) to find a few more restaurants %26amp; bars. Email me if you%26#39;d like more specifics!

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I%26#39;d also appreciate any tips on reasonably priced restaurants and cafes in the Louvre area.

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It can be a good area to stay in Paris...it is very central and very liveful....!!

I never heard about this hotel but I stayed once in Hotel du Continent, a beautiful 3 star hotel where I really appreciated my stay. It was quite calm even in this area, the staff really take care of you. Rates are affordable for an hotel located in this area and with that range of services.

http://www.hotel-du-continent.com is the website if you want to have a look at it.

Personnally, I enjoyed the area, there is a lot of things to see at walking distance and that%26#39;s why it is great!

Have a nice trip!

2-3 star hotel in Paris

Hi

looking for a budget but nice hotel close to sites, good food and bus stop in order to get from the airport and to other sites.

Any recommendations.

|||

I%26#39;ve stayed at the Timhotel chain before. They are good, clean hotels in great locations. The rooms are small, but so are most rooms in Paris. Check out www.timhotel.com

|||

Hi!

I agree with the last post...Timhotel chain has different hotels in Paris and they are generallyl well-located..My favourite is Timhotel Tour Eiffel...It is in a lively area and not too far from the Eiffel Tower...The hotel is very nice...If I have good memories it is a 2 star hotel..I really enjoy my stay there! Rates are really affordable...

You can see it on http://www.h-tour-eiffel.com

have a wonderful trip!!!

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Try the Prince Albert Wagram, a nice 2 stars hotel located near the Champs Elysees. The hotel is clean and nice. There are nice restaurants around the hotel. It has nice price, have a look at http://www.princealbert-wagram.com/ . I can really recommend it to you.

Enjoy Paris

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thank you the informationis very helpful.

couple travelling with a child, so would prefer a hotel that is close to a bus stop and budget cafes.

have a choice between

H��tel Les Jardins d���Al��sia

34 rue d���Al��sia

75014 Paris

or

Timhotel Opera Madeline

113 rue Saint Lazare

Paris 75008

Thanks for helping

|||

Gasp,

Try these:

Hotel de Fleurie - ***

Hotel du College de France - **

Hotel St. Jacques - **

Hotel St. Pierre - **

All near the Odeon metro stop

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I really like Le Relais du Louvre. It%26#39;s in an AWESOME location - literally right across the street from the Louvre and amongst many many cafes, shops, parks and it%26#39;s 2 blocks from the underground, which is extremely convienient. The room I had was very clean and nicely decorated. What I liked best is that the staff is very very nice and speak good english. I would definitely recommend!

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My daughter and I are going to Paris in August for 1 week and have booked BW folkstone opera for 99 Euros a night, includes a breakfast buffet. It is ARR 8 not far from the Champs Elysees.

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We love the Hotel Royal Cardinal, Rue de Les Ecoles, rive gauche - Cardinal Lemoine metro stop. Great neighborhood, and in line with much pricier hotels. All rooms are en suite with marble bathrooms. We got a 5th floor room with a balcony!

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I actually stayed at the Timhotel Opera Madeline about 5 years ago. It was in a great location, right above one of the main train stations. Not sure about bus stops though, I only used the train to get around. There were heaps of restaruants and cafes in the Opera area.

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Hotel Les jardins d%26#39;Aelsia is also a very good deal...Rates are really interesting and the area of Alesia is very lively, a lot of buses are passing through this zone. It is great to have shopping in this area..I really ernjoy it...

The hotel is a 2 star ..When I stayed there last time, the breakfast room was newly renovated and it is really sweet...very nice atmosphere. Staff at the reception are smiling and helpful!

You can see picture of the hotel on http://www.hoteljardinsalesia.com

Have a nice trip and good luck for your choice!

Other places to visit in France

We are going to Paris during the beginning of June. We figured since we had over 8 days in Paris it may be good to spend two of those elsewhere. Nice was a thought. What would be the cheapest way to travel there. Also recommendations for places other than Nice for the 2 days are welcome - Cannes/Marseilles/Avignon/Provence/Loire Valley. Pls. help!!

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Nice.

Easyjet (European equivalent of Southwest) provides great priced direct flights between Paris and Nice. It%26#39;s both cheaper and quicker than the bullet trains. They%26#39;ve got a good website.

In the past, I used to like the night train from Paris to Nice. It saves the cost of hotel for a night. When you wake up, you%26#39;re at your destination...very efficient use of sleeping time!

Once you%26#39;re along the Cote d%26#39;Azur, everything else is in easy and very affordable striking range by train.

Nice is a good place to stay. There are reasonable accomodations and plenty of interesting night life. My favorite is finding great restaurant services for La Paella, a Spanish poorman%26#39;s seafood feast...Spanish rice, lobster, shellfish, etc. You%26#39;re along the Mediterranean now and such specialties are available. You%26#39;ll need help to eat it. It%26#39;s for two or more people only. If you want a more exotic location, you can check any number of tour books. I hear Cap d%26#39;Ail is kind of interesting...with a nice walking path to Monaco?

You can take a ferry to St Tropez or St Raphael. They%26#39;re kind of picturesque but you%26#39;d see everything within just a few hours each.

|||

I found the Dordogne to be most beautiful with

excellent restaurants and Lascaux II blew me

away.

Best Wishes

|||

Hi iloveeurope,

Say if you go to any of the areas you listed, except the Loire Valley it will take you a fair amount of time to get there and back....and in just two days....even if you were to fly.

The Loire is just loaded with wonderful old chateax, quaint villages and beautiful countryside. I think it is a good place to go for two days.

There has been information posted here, regarding the Normandy Coast which is only about two hours from Paris and is just beautiful. Lovely villages and towns along the coast and of course the D Day Beaches. Also Mount St Michel is a great 2 day trip and something very unique and interesting. Both these areas are best seen by car, could be done in two days, and can be traveled to on trains from Paris. If there are at least two of you, a car would be easier and less expensive.

The Provence area is fantastic, steeped in history and lovely, but with only two days you might have to limit your touring to a quick look at just a couple of towns.

While the Nice/Cannes area (Cote d%26#39;Azur) is something most people want to see it is generally speaking quite spread out and overbuilt. Tis beautiful in places but can be crowded and quite %26quot;Coney Islandish%26quot; (French style), in my opinion.

You can do the farther trips and have a good experience, just be aware that they are quite a trip from Paris.

I find all of France to be an outstanding. Steeped in history, wonderful, natural beauty, great food. No matter what you decide to do, I doubt if you can go wrong.

Bea

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I%26#39;ll second what Bea says here. If you choose the Loire valley, you can take the TGV to Tours, pick up a car and be at Chenonceau within two hours of leaving the center of Paris. If you decide on Nice you will still be at the airport waiting to board your plane to Nice.

And I also agreee about the Riviera. Yes there are some beautiful bits, and even still some lovely towns to stay. But the rewards of the Riviera are a bit less immediate than those of the chateaux country, in my opinion.

The Dordogne valley is another lovely area, but again the problem is that getting there and back will eat up a fair bit of your available time.

If you do eventually opt for the Loire, try and fit in a visit to Chartres on your way there or back. You could take the train to Tours, pick up a car there, and drop it off in Paris, with a visit to Chartres thrown in.

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Hi! There are loads of places in France! I guess it all depends on what you%26#39;d like to see....But because you only have 2 days,

I%26#39;d suggest the Loire Valley as it%26#39;s not very far from Paris - The TGV from Paris to Angers is only 1.5 hours.

However, if you do decide to spend more time in the countryside, I%26#39;d strongly recommend the Puy Du Fou in Vendee. Vendee is next to the Loire Valley (on the west). The put Du Fou is a medieval theme park - no, there are no rides, but they have fantastic shows, plus you have to stay on for the show at NIGHT.

Check out their website: www.puydufou.com

And a review on it: http://www.epinions.com/content_38228561540

I%26#39;ve been there 3 times and am going again this year. They%26#39;ve built a colosseum and now have chariot races - I haven%26#39;t seen this one yet, so am looking forward to this!

What makes this place so fantastic is that it%26#39;s run by VOLUNTEERS. This medieval theme park is only open from early Jun - August. Even Royalty go and watch this performance.

However, if you do check it out and decide that you want to go for it, then I%26#39;d advise you to Book NOW. I booked for my tickets in February for June 10th and they were sold out, so I have to take June 11th. That just gives you an idea of how popular it is!

|||

Another option would be Normandy. If you%26#39;re going there in early June, you might want to try to head for the D-Day beaches, and be there on D- Day, There%26#39;ll be loads of stuff going on - BUT be prepared to book now. I just booked my hotel over the weekend for Caen and our first choice was fuly booked (because we%26#39;ll be there on D-Day).

Mont St Michel (one of UNESCO%26#39;s World Heritage Sites) is nice to, as is Dinan(medieval town), St Malo (fortified seaside town), Giverny (Monet%26#39;s home and where he painted the Water Lilies).

Apart from that, you have Provins, a medieval town not far from Paris ( about an hour, I think, but I personally only found it so-so), Chartres - for it%26#39;s famous cathedral, Fontainbleau, etc...but those are more day trips.

|||

thanks for all the input. u guys are great. the loire valley is sounding really good. what are d day beaches and when is dday? where exactly is the place and how far from paris.

|||

where is dordogne? also i thought nice was 3 hrs from paris by tgv. am i wrong???

|||

Nice is about 6 hours from Paris by TGV. D-Day is the 6th June and it takes about around 3 hours from Paris to Cherbourg and tours are arranged by a number of companies.

Hotel Louvre Forum-bookings only 1 mth is advance? Seems...

Hi there,

My husband and I are going to Paris in Sept for the very first time and have decided on the Hotel Louvre Forum (after spending 2 days researching tripadvisor!)

I tired to book but they said they only take bookings 1 month before arival and they will see what they can do. I think this is strange, but could be just me...

Has anyone tried to book 1 month out with hotel full? I%26#39;m scard that will happen then I will have trouble trying to book somewhere else - nightmare!

Also, if you could pls recommend another place similar that would be great! I%26#39;m looking for cheap and cheerful (has to be clean) close to all the tourist sights.. we are only there for 3 days so want to be centralised.

Thanks!! From sunny Sydney

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That%26#39;s funny! I tried booking at Hotel Louvre Forum 4 months in advance and was also told that I couldn%26#39;t book that far in advance. I didn%26#39;t like that at all because I wanted to have my hotel secured well in advance. So I did more research and booked at Le Relais du Louvre, which is literally right across the street from the louvre. It got great reviews on this site and I had no troubles at all booking 4 months in advance. They are a little more expensive that Hotel Louvre Forum but atleast I have the peace of mind that a room is waiting for me.

Have fun!

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Hi!

That%26#39;s really strange that they said you that....

In the same area, I can strongly advice you on Timhotel Louvre, a 2 star hotel. It is nice and very clean, no matter about that! Rooms size is good and staff is also nice!

They regularly do discount on rooms rates, so maybe they will have some for September...

you can see it on http://www.h-louvre.com

Have a nice trip!

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You can always book a standby hotel and then try your luck at your first choice a month in advance, canceling the first reservation if it all works out.

Ambassador Hotel and Bvd Haussmann

Hello

I am visiting Paris for a few days next week, staying at the Ambassador Hotel on Boulevard Haussmann near the Opera - any advice on good, relatively cheap eating places in the area? Is there a supermarket nearby?

Although I have booked a non-smoking room with Eurostar, there is apparently no guarantee of getting one - any hints on how to ensure we get a non-smoking room on arrival?

Has anyone stayed at this hotel?

Thanks for any help.

Scorch

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Hi!

We stayed at the Ambassador 2 years ago. There is a good restaurant down the block - left when you leave the hotel called Bistro Romaine. It%26#39;s sort of the like the %26quot;Olive Garden%26quot; of Paris. Also nearby - across the street is a fast food Vietnamese restaurant, very good. I know it%26#39;s very American, but a few blocks away is the Hard Rock Cafe. That always provides decent meals at a fair price. Have fun!! On our last trip to Paris a few months ago we finally figured out where there are a TON a great reasonable restuarants - around the St. Michel area on the left bank. It%26#39;s worth the metro ride or long walk!

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Hi!

Don%26#39;t know if you went to Paris yet or not, but I looked thru my travel notes and realized that the %26quot;Olive Garden%26quot; of Paris restuaraht%26#39;s name is Del Arte - not what I wrote before - that%26#39;s another restaurant. Same location as I described though. Sorry for the mix up! Not so serious! Hope you have fun. Sleep7

fondue restaurant

Does anyone know the %26quot;famous%26quot; fondue restaurant in Paris and what is your opinion? My hairdresser was just there and loved it. She could only tell me it was near the artist and Sacred Heart (I think that is Sacre Coeur, but I%26#39;m not sure). It sounds interesting and something that a 13 year old would find interesting.

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I���m pretty sure you mean %26#39;Le Refuge des Fondues.%26#39;

bbc.co.uk/holiday/you_call_the_shots/paris_f…

It%26#39;s really popular but the group of 7 I was with got in fairly quickly for dinner without reservations. It%26#39;s a little scary stepping over bowls of scalding oil to get to the bench seats against either wall - but the manager will hold your hand so you keep your balance. I had my 12 year old brother with me and he just loved it. He%26#39;s still talking about it a year later; very festive and fun in a wonderful neighborhood. A walk up to the Sacre Coeur after dinner is perfect. But I%26#39;m still not sure why the wine was served in baby bottles.

Hotel location in CANNES

does anyone know the location of the hotel %26#39;TOP Hotel Palace%26#39; on 14 avenue de madrid. How far is this hotel from the beach and downtown. Are the beaches good in this area? Thanks

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Not sure where the hotel is but the beaches in Cannes are awesome. Look the hotel up on this site and it will prob have a map. What part of Canada, I am born in Edmonton, lived in Niagara

Versailles or Fountainebleau?

Help! I have heard that many people regard Fontainebleau as good or better than Versailles as a tourist site to visit? Could anybody comment on or compare the 2 places? If you had time to visit one which would you choose?

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I do only have time to do one, and I%26#39;m doing Versailles. For me, a lot of it stems from when I was there in %26#39;92... we got to spend most of a day at Fontainbleau and only a couple hours at Versailles. I also just remember Versailles as being more... %26quot;my thing%26quot;. Sorry that I can%26#39;t quantify it better.

If you can possibly work it in, do both. Or, do the other on your next trip!

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Versailles was a masterpiece of its time and remains one of the grandest Palaces in the world. Fountainbleau is perhaps more charming and the scale is certainly easier to digest with more manageable crowds.

If I had to see only one in my entire lifetime, well, seeing the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles was a breathtaking experience for me.

It really comes down to personal choice and you will never know until you have seen them both.

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I decided to go to Versailles as I can only see one myself. However, I did hear the hall of mirrors is under construction. They are leaving a small portion open to the public for viewing.

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Was in Versailles last week, yes the Hall of Mirrors is under major renovation (bummer).

Alex, Ptegan, Phread....anyone in Paris

Bonsoir,

Tomorrow night my traveling partner will be with her parents....and I will be on my own. Would any of you like to meet for dinner? It is always more fun to eat with people than alone. Just post here and I will check back.

Bon nuit,

KelBel

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Kelbel, I am off to Normandy tomorrow morning... but have a great evening! I am sorry that I missed you all at Chartiers, April has turned into a very busy month for surprise visits.

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hi yes we can meet for dinner if you want :) my number is 06 78 89 82 08 if you want to call

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Hello Alex,

That sounds like fun! We are going to Pere Lachaise tomorrow morning before Hong goes to meet her parents. I will try to call when we get back. If I don%26#39;t get a hold of you....just post where you would like to meet and the time....and I will be there. Or...if you like...you can just pick a place and post it....it is your turn. :-) I picked Chartier and it was not that good. :-) Looking forward to seeing you again.

Kellie

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if you want we can try 1728, it depends on your budget, and what kind of restaurant you like (more classic, fashion, cheap etc).

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hi pals! Wish I could join you for my b%26#39;day dinner at 1728!! I%26#39;m invited out for lunch and my dear French friends are making me a cocktail party too, so I won%26#39;t be alone, but dinner at 1728 sure sounds good!!! Have fun!

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Elliemae,

Bon Anniversaire! Je vous envoie mes meilleures voeux!

De l%26#39;un belier a une autre!

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Hi Alex--

They are working on the phone lines in the building so I will not be able to call. I would like to try 1728, but I%26#39;m afraid I do not have the appropriate clothes. All I have are my black cotton pants or a pair of DKNY jeans. As for shoes...only my Dansko clogs. I didn%26#39;t pack my nice black boots. They take up too much room. So a restaurant where you do not have to be dressed up would be perfect. It does not need to be cheap, but not Taillevent prices either. :-)

So if you could just post here the time, place, and metro stop....I will meet you. I will check back here in a couple of hours.

Kellie

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hi KelBel,

seems you got some information that you posted before that we can asked for about Paris.

Cause i found there are 2xx reply on there, and i think you are haven%26#39;t checked that right ?

would you mind send the information reference to me.

my email is acnyhk@yahoo.com.hk

Thankx in advance.

acny

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i think with a black pant and a correct top it will be ok, i will try to reserve at 1728, if not i%26#39;ll find another restaurant :)

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Acny--

I can send it to you when I return home. I don%26#39;t have access to the document from Paris. It is saved on my desktop at home.

KelBel

More food related questions from Paris....

Bonsoir tout le monde!

I already asked my cheese question...now I have a couple more. I tried some fois gras today for the first and loved it! I%26#39;d like to bring a small can home for my husband to try....but I have no idea where the best place to buy it would be. Any suggestions? And when I come back to the states...do I put %26#39;fois gras%26quot; on my claims form? Having never been through customs, I%26#39;m not sure how that works.

I would also like to bring home some Laduree macaroons for my Mom, but I won%26#39;t be seeing her for a week or so after my return. Does anyone know how long the macaroons stay fresh? I wouldn%26#39;t think very long....and I would probably eat them before I saw her anyway. But, curious as to how long I can store them.

Merci beaucoup!

QuelleBelle

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I have a feeling that fois gras is not allowed to be imported to the US, courtesy of the Department of Agriculture and the FDA. There is an online store which stocks fois gras and it is US grown so that it is certified. Check out on the Feds websites whether it%26#39;s a %26#39;verboten%26#39; food. It would be unfortunate to buy it only to have it confiscated coming into the US.

Of course, you could live dangerously and try to sneak it in! LOL

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Kel: like most baked goods, if you freeze them shortly after purchase (within a day or so), they should be good as new (well, maybe not so delicate and spectacular, but still delicious) when they are allowed to come to room temp before consumption. What a nice treat for your Mom!

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Kelbel,

My guess on the foie gras is that if it is canned or bottled, it probably won%26#39;t cause a problem. If it is fresh, then probably it wouldn%26#39;t fly (pun intended!).

Wouldn%26#39;t hurt to list it on your declaration, unless you%26#39;ve got a bunch of other more expensive items to list.

Happy smuggling!

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Canned (in bottles too) foods can all be brought back into the US with no problems, as long as it%26#39;s nothing illegal like black rhinocerous steak or something.

Head straight at Fauchon, make a sharp right before you head through its front door. Follow the sidewalk around the building. That next street over has a number of shops down its right side that sell premium foes gras, not as expensive as Fauchon.

You can get foie gras at any of the Monoprix%26#39;s, ED%26#39;s, Franprix%26#39;s too but I doubt if they%26#39;re premium. I sometimes run out of ideas and go into these stores to grab a big bottle of great mustard for 0.3E. There%26#39;s lots of other superb goodies like honey, nut spreads and jams galore.

In culinary terms, I think of goose liver along the lines as used oil filters, but one man%26#39;s garbage is always another%26#39;s treasure I suppose.

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Never had any problem bringing canned, sealed or bottled items back into USA. Don%26#39;t know what the problem would be and declare only if its really expensive as the chatka stuff does not need to be declared.

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There is a duty free shop at the airport. I buy all my goodies to take home there prior to boarding the plane. They have Fois gras and lots of other goodies there.

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I write souvenirs and a doller amount (under the taxable rate)on those forms for customs. Writing a big list of everything you bought only slows down the lines and invites trouble. I suppose if you spent thousands of dollars things might be different

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oooops, I stand corrected. I was only thinking of fresh rather than tinned.

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I%26#39;m not aware that duty free helps at all with food items unless you%26#39;re exceeding your $400pp limit (or whatever it was)?

Correct me if I%26#39;m wrong but TVA is only for non-food items.

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QuelleBell,

There is a special restriction on foie gras. It must be packed in a metal can and it must state on the label that it has been cooked in the can. Foie gras in glass or vacuum packaging will not pass muster. I%26#39;d avoid claiming it if possible just so you don%26#39;t have to wait in the stupid agriculture line at US customs. You could get very good foie gras at Fauchon or Hediard.

Short-term apartment rentals in Paris

Hey--

My friend and I are looking for a good source to rent an apartment from for a week. We are hoping to find one in le Marais (3e/4e). Can anyone tell me of good/bad experiences with companies that do this? Or can you offer any sources? We%26#39;re hoping to spend around 500 euros...

Thanks!

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We stayed with www.perfectlyparis.com in Feb. had a great experience in La Belle Epoque. For the price you are looking for try looking on www.craigslist.com under Paris, housing, vacation rentals. Or www.vrbo.com where there are lots of apartments in different price levels.

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I am currently booking with %26lt;%26lt;http://www.apartexchange.com/Paris/paris_apts.php?referenceno=3005%26gt;%26gt;

who have been good so far..... though I haven%26#39;t yet seen the apartment in the flesh. They seem pretty professional and have a good website and some affordable options in your price range.

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I am staying in a great one right NOW! I%26#39;m in the 3e...right near the Republique metro station. Very convenient. I found it on VRBO. It is #33312. Just picked up a great baguette sandwich before I head off to the Louvre.

Au revoir,

KelBel

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FYI, stay away from a company called Yourstay.com - see the London forum and search for the thread on this company - also see the website www.notyourstay.0catch.com for information. When booking an apartment, be sure that you have a fair cancellation policy, that you don%26#39;t have to pay everything upfront, and you check out several websites for reviews, pictures, etc.

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I would definitly second avoiding Your Stay for Paris apartment rentals. We used them for an apartment in the Marais in May of last year.

I would not bore you with the long sorry tale, but it was chaotic from beginning to end - we even had to move apartments for the last night, and we were only there 3 nights - if we didn%26#39;t speak French heaven knows how we would have managed. We not fussy people and we are well travelled but this really was a mess. A family of 4 cannot live without a working toilet and bathroom and zero electricity!!!!!! Although the lack of power was a blessing with all the bare wires hanging down from the lighting fittings!

I would agree that the Marais is the place to stay though.

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Look at craigslist.org

Go to the Europe/France/Paris locality and check under housing. Lots of good possibilities.

Aviatic on rue brezin reviews??

We (3 girls) are staying in 14e, Aviatic, 10, rue Br������zin - 75014 Paris in May for 4 nights. So, I need to find out if this is a good place to stay and whether the location is easily access by metro. Any reviews or recommendations please.

Many thanks!!

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I don%26#39;t know anything about the hotel, but you MUST eat at Restaurant Chez Charles-Victor, right on your street. It%26#39;s a lovely neighborhood spot for lunch or dinner.

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It is one block (or less!) from metro stop Mouton Duvernet on Line 4. Also, two bus lines run along ave du General Leclerc, a fun alternative to the metro. A very nice area to stay, although not near any major %26#39;sights%26#39;...

There is a Monoprix(grocer) at corner of rue Daguerre and ave du General Leclerc; Post Office, shops, several cafes along ave du General Leclerc and rue d%26#39;Alesia...Rue Daguerre is a market street, and a couple of days a week there is a market at Square Dunand at the other end of rue Brezin (a nice little square with small carousel and a Wallace fountain).

Reviews/comments:

cybevasion.com/hotels/france/paris/hotel_com…

www.venere.com/hotel/…

CDG airport to city

There will be three of us traveling and arriving at CDG airport on a Sunday around noon.

We will have 1 small piece of luggage on wheels each.

What do you recommend as best form of transportation between shuttle, taxi or RER.

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We were a group of 8 (4 adults and 4 children). We took the Metro. Unless your destination is in the same route as the Train that leaves CDG, you probably have to change at Chateau (which is a major junction for a lot of metro lines).

The only problem we ran into was, most of the metro stops have different exits to various roads. It would be really helpful to call your hotel and ask them which %26#39;road%26#39; exit to take from the Metro.

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As the convenience level drops, so does the price.

1. Taxi (35-55 Euro)

2. Shuttle (18-22 per person)

3. RER (7.80 Euro includes metro if you don%26#39;t leave the underground)

You can plot your RER-B / Metro route simply by looking at any metro map for a minute. You need to know which metro stop is closest to hotel. It%26#39;s true that the exit may come out on different sides of the street or block, a minor inconvenience. There will be signs indicating which stairwell comes up to which streets, look for the street your hotel is on perhaps.

On a map, follow RER-B into Paris. The first correspondence (opportunity to transfer to metro) is Gare du Nord, followed by Chatelet (not Chateau), St Michel and Denfert Rochereau.

See where %26quot;your%26quot; metro line intersects with RER correspondence locations - could be that you%26#39;ll have to take 2 different metro lines. See what I mean about convenience/price?

Alternately, you can ride RER to Gare du Nord, then go streetside for a taxi the rest of the way for about 10-14 Euro.

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With 3 people on a Sunday around noon, I would vote for taking a taxi. That said, I have paid close to 100 Euros taking taxis to hotel because of horrible traffic on weekdays during rush hour.

I am flying into terminal 2A (during rush hour) and am contemplating taking the RER. Is it pretty easy getting from 2A to 2C where the RER terminal is? I do not speak or read French, am I going to be lost?

Alternatively, I was thinking that I could take les Cars which stop in front of terminal 2A, then take the Metro once I get to Porte Maillot. Cost a few more Euros than taking RER, but it seems easier than first getting from 2A to 2C then transfer at the huge (sometimes confusing) Chatelet station. Any suggestions/advice?

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;1. Taxi (35-55 Euro)

2. Shuttle (18-22 per person)

3. RER (7.80 Euro includes metro if you don%26#39;t leave the underground)%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

In addition tot he thre options detailed above there are two other:

ROISSYBUS to its drop-off point near Place de La Opera (coorner of ru Scribe %26amp; rue Auber)--8,30 Euro

http://www.adp.fr/webadp/a_cont01_an.nsf/$$Affich@ReadForm%26amp;cle=X500520521103BDCBD07A4923FF4125687E006DB8F3.html

Two(2) routes of the AIR FRANCE COACH--#2 drops off at Porte Maillot (at Palais de Congres) and finally at Etoile/Arc de Triumph/ The # 4 route drops off across from Gare de Lyon and finally at Gare Montparnasse--12 Euro one-way; 18 Eiro round-trip

http://www.airfrance.com/double6/passage2.nsf/(LookupPublishedWeb)/en-EXCDG-CarsAF?OpenDocument#

Which one of the public transportation options you select and best suits your purpose depends largely on where your final destination (your hotel?) is within Paris. I%26#39;m a huge fan of the RER B-3 train from CDG...but this is in part because its routing serves our usual final destinations and particular purposes better than the others.

It%26#39;s also worth noting that only the taxi and the airport shuttle will provide you with door-to-door service.

Where is you final destination in Paris?

Is Louvre too crowded on the weekend?

Hello

Has anyone been to the Louvre on the weekend and is it any less crowded on a certain day of the week? Is the Musee D%26#39;orsay less crowded? And, does having a pass make any difference? We will also want guided tours. Do they sell out extremely early? Thank you!!

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Saturdays and Sundays are always busier than week days. Curiously enough, in addition to tourists, those darned Parisians, as well as those from the greater Ile de France, seem to feel that they too have a right to visit and enjoy their National Treasures on their days off. Go figga%26#39;? The Carte Musee et Monuments allows you to by-pass the regular ticket lines (but not security) so the pass does speed up entry.

Other busy days tends to be Mondays, when the Musee d%26#39;Orsay is regularly closed. The Musee d%26#39;Orsay tends to be busier on Tuesdays, when the Musee du Louvre is regularly closed. The one day of the month when you don%26#39;t want to go anywhere near either is on the Free First Sunday of the month (when having a museum pass does NO good at all)

Both the Musee du Louvre and d%26#39;Orsay have extended evening hours--until 9:45 PM during the week. Louvre on Wednesdays and Fridays and d%26#39;Orsay on Thursdays. These are great times to visit these museums from late afternoon through evening. They tend to be much quieter, with fewer people and clearer sight-lines.

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Imagine that.....Parisians wanting to visit the Louvre. They have some nerve......it%26#39;s no wonder that everyone thinks they are rude!! ~wink wink~

I can%26#39;t even imagine how wonderful it must be to have access to these amazing museums all the time. I wonder if you start taking these things for granted? Personally I would love to be able to look out my window and see the Eiffel tower every day....that would be my idea of heaven. I can see the Detroit/Windsor ambassador bridge every day, but somehow its just not the same thing.....

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Well...I get to see the Golden Gate Bridge every day, and that is pretty spectacular. Although, sometimes I forget and I take her for granted. I take for granted the very easy access to the beach, snow %26amp; skiing in Tahoe, and the beautiful redwood forests. We should all be proud of where we live.

KelBel

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Canuck-

I think it is that we take everything for granted. I live in the Hudson River Valley, in New York and I am always suprised and say that there is nothing to do where I live and that it is just ok. That is until I have friends or relatives visit and it forces me to come up with things to do. Then suddenly I can%26#39;t believe all the stuff there is. My Aunt and Uncle are WORLD and I do mean WORLD travellers, they have been to Tibet, Africa, Brazil, France etc and they always come to my area and say it is one of most beautiful area%26#39;s in the World....but yet to me who see%26#39;s it every day...it is just where I live. I went to Italy last year for 2 weeks and swore that if I could I would just pick up and move there, but as everyone reminds me..that too would eventually just become a place to live. Oh well- that is why we have travel.

Sorry for the tangent.

Robin

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No no....I love tangents. Makes me re-evaluate my surroundings. I guess we have some nice wineries.....and you can stand at Point Pelee at the southern most tip of Canada.....and we have a ton of strip clubs and bingo halls.

Anybody want to trade?? ~grin~

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To Canuck:

I realized most people who live in a great place take their surroundings for granted. When I lived in Russia and used to come to Moscow for visiting, I was shocked that my colleagues there seemed to be quite indifferent to the museums, art galleries, theatres with their routine lives, and probably had been dragged by their parents since their childhood. Talking to them I figured out that I visited places of interests more during one week they did during a year.

That%26#39;s why I do appreciate (so far over 8 years) the city I live in Canada, the mountains; the values - wine, fruit, warm lakes, just the views of my neibour province BC as well.

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The Louvre can be really packed on the weekends, especially the first Sunday of the month when it is free. You can avoid the crowds there by arriving as early as possible, 9 AM if possible. Head straight for the Mona Lisa and then see everything else. The pass can make a big difference if there are long lines to get in, as there are in the summer, as you go right in-go the the archway to the left of the pyramid for the quickest entrance with a pass. Wednesday and Thursday are the quietest days to go. Musee d%26#39;Orsay can have horrible lines as there is only one entrance-sometimes two- and long waits to get tickets. Going through the security makes it take longer there. A pass would really help here.