Rue Saint Louis en l'Ile (4th) or 154 Rue du Temple (3rd)?

Promise, last question for me regarding location. Locals...which would you personally choose?

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I%26#39;m not a local, but without hesitation I%26#39;d pick the rue St-Louis-en-l%26#39;Ile, all other things being equal. It is right in the middle of the Ile St. Louis, as filled with charm as almost any street in Paris, and very central to everything.

The other address is much less central, and in a less interesting area. Its only advantage that I can think of is that it is closer to the Oberkampf nightlife scene...

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I second Irish%26#39;s recommendation.

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Marais for young, fun, full of energy... especially for the Jewish and gay crowd.

The Ile for the quaint, romantic, charming, %26quot;Parisian%26quot; feel.

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I would agree with the Rue Saint Louis en I%26#39;lle enthusiasts. I have stayed in all but one of the hotels on that street and am staying at the third one this summer. I wouldn%26#39;t stay in any other part of Paris!

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i would stay rue du temple because it%26#39;s not too far from rue des francs bourgeois (i mean the 154 rue du temple) and all the little streets in the marais. i don%26#39;t know really rue du temple, more the streets near francs-bourgeois, but i suppose it%26#39;s the same style. ile st louis is really beautiful also, but not many shops like in the marais, less restaurants (i love place du marche st catherine but during the summer, when some people come tomake spectacles). if you are young, rue du temple, if you are less young ile st louis.

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phread -

I think 154 rue du Temple is fairly far north in the 3rd, about where the rue du Temple and rue de Turenne intersect.

Correct me if I am wrong, but that is a bit away from the lively parts of the Marais, is it not?

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Just a note of thanks to everyone for their help we really appreciate your individual input. We have decided the rue saint louis was probably the best way to go because we are on our honeymoon, even though the Rue du Temple apartment was tempting. If you are interested here are the links to the 2 diff apartments....

Temple:

paristay.com/fiche/…VSS_paris_apartment.html

St Louis: paristay.com/fiche/…VSS_paris_apartment.html

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Irishrover,

The idea of being a bit far away from the action of the Marais is relative... two blocks from some of the best contemporary art gallery hopping in the city and four from the crowds of the Marais. I prefer being near the thick of the things, but not to the point where I open my door to the masses, so it would suit me, but I know that it is not for everyone.

Bambino,

The Ile St Louis is the perfect choice for honeymoon.

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As all the Parisians, I say rue du Temple is better. You can find a lot of restaurants, museums, jewish and gay areas,...

But, just a small tip : go to Rue st Louis en L%26#39;ile and taste the Most wonderful ice cream of Paris : Glaces Berthillon. You can find it everywhere in the street and it is very very delicious !

Regards

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I absolutely understand why all the resident Parisians are voting for the rue du Temple, while the visitors are tending to vote for the rue St-Louis-en-l%26#39;Ile.

phread explained it exactly when she said that she liked being close to a lively area but not right in the middle of it. I think many visitors think of this perhaps a little differently. We are thinking only in the short term. We will be there only a week or two perhaps, and so stepping out of our hotel (providing that it is at least quiet) into a busy, lively scene is exciting. To someone who thinks in terms of living there that would probably quickly get on one%26#39;s nerves.

My thinking was that the Ile is almost as close to the Marais as the upper end of the rue du Temple (I know it is not quite...) and I love the walk between the two and across the Marais. But I certainly understand the other point of view.

And now that Bambino has finally come clean and told us that this is a honeymoon trip, I think the rue saint-Louis is the PERFECT choice!

Have a wonderfully happy honeymoon, bambino, and an even happier marriage!!

Hotel Muguet

Planning our first trip to Paris in August and having read forums will book at the Hotel Muguet. Have been told no rooms available with views of Eiffel Tower left. Is there another %26quot;good%26quot; room to ask if available or alternatively a %26quot;bad%26quot; one to avoid or are they all okay? Also is there a lift (elevator) at the hotel. Thanks for any assistance available.

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I don%26#39;t know about %26quot;good%26quot; and %26quot;bad%26quot; rooms. My single room looked out into a courtyard surrounded by lots of other apt. buildings. It was really nice.

There is an elevator, but it is small - fits 1 person and a suitcase quite uncomfortably. As a side note, one day when I was there, the elevator was broken, but they got it fixed immediately. It%26#39;s a great hotel.

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The %26#39;..trophy..%26#39; room to score at the HOTEL MUGUET is supposed to be #51, with spectacular views of th Eiffel Tower...but from all reports, rooms are assigned on a %26#39;..run-of-the-house..%26#39; basis. But it never hurts to ask.

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We just returned from Paris and stayed at the Hotel Muguet for 5 nights. We enjoyed it very much. The rooms are small (not for Paris) and immaculate (large fresh soft towels every day). Our room was on the third floor and overlooked rue Chevert. I loved being able to open the windows and look out onto the street. It was very quiet and centrally located to all sites. They had internet access in the lobby (2euro per 1/2 hour) and a great iron (I called it an iron on steroids) that was available for use in the basement. We didn%26#39;t partake in breakfast as we always got an early start on the day and found many places for coffee and pastry close by. We tried a number of nearby cafes for dinner and found a couple worth mentioning. Cafe Constant (located not far from the hotel and near the Eiffel Tower) was great and was less than 100 euro for a complete meal for two including wine. There was another place that was pretty lively at night and one could tell that it was popular with the local young professional crowd starting at around 9pm. The menu was limited but the food was good and inexpensive. I don%26#39;t remember the name but it is very close to the hotel and right outside the ecole militaire metro stop. It has %26quot;7 emme%26quot; in the name on the red awning and is located directly across the street from the gourmet cheese and chocolate shop and the grocery market) We ate outside as it was always very crowded inside and the music was pretty loud. This is not a good place if you are looking for a quiet dinner. Hope this information helps and that you enjoy Paris as much as we did.

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If you are really looking for rooms with view the Eiffel Tower. Why don%26#39;t you try the Hotel les jardins d%26#39;eiffel, http://www.hotel-jardinseiffel.com. This hotel is a nice 3 stars hotel with rooms with balcony with view to the Eiffel tower.It is located near the Rue saint Dominique, where there are lots of samll typical restaurants.

Enjoy paris

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Thanks everyone - your comments and help are much appreciated.

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Is it best to ask for non-smoking room if they have one available - or is this not a problem

Romantic spots in Paris to propose ?

I am heading to Paris over the July holiday and will be proposing - any suggestions on good spots ?

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Take the tour boat from Pont Nuef, it%26#39;s an hour long.

Near the end of the boat ride, the guide explains how the boat is about to go under a certain bridge and the custom is to close your eyes and make a wish as you go under and kiss the person next to you and your wish will come true. Then your wish will come true. Pop the question then. If she says no you%26#39;re only stuck on the boat another 5 minutes.

I don%26#39;t know if other, more romantic, boats tell the legend of wishing when going under the bridge. The boat above is not terribly romantic.

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Is an engagement ring involved? I%26#39;d be worried about ways to lose the thing, on a boat, off the Eiffel Tower, etc. Don%26#39;t forget property insurance.

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How about on the ramparts of the dome of the Basilique de Sacre Coeur? That%26#39;s a pretty place that%26#39;s more private than a boat tour if privacy %26amp; reflection are more in your characters than public spotlight. Climb up into there to see the sunset.

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I would say make sure you are seeing the Eiffel tower during the first ten minutes of each hour : after dark like from ten to ten past ten, i think the most romantic is to be on Pont (bridge) Alexandre III, very decorated, very romantic and from there you have a view to the Eiffel tower. Congratualtions!

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Hello!!

How EXCITING!

Well, I think the best plan is to HAVE a PLAN. And my plan suggestion for YOU is to have several places/locations lined up for the day, as any tourist would, naturally. What SHE does not know is that each and every spot you take her to, on THE day, will have been hand chosen by you as potential proposal spots. If for whatever reason you are overwhelmed with nerves at one spot, or the timing is wrong, or too many people, etc...you can just take a deep breath and move along to the NEXT fabulous proposal site! You know, don%26#39;t box yourself into a corner, thinking thoughts such as: Well, I just have to propose NOW because THIS was the spot I planned on! (panic panic!!) Plan a day full of proposal sites and feel like the confident man you know yourself to be. (Dang I%26#39;m good!)

I%26#39;ll put in my two cents for a proposal spot...lunch at the restaurant Le Charles Des Illes in the park Bois De Boulogne (on an island on the lake, named %26quot;Lac Inferieur%26quot;) Then after dinner take her on a stroll around the perimiter of the lake, heading south. You will find a small waterfall there, and a bench and perhaps you will feel that THIS is the perfect place to drop on a knee and ask for her hand!

Start gathering everyones %26quot;spots%26quot; and make an itenerary for the day!

lasscass

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The name of the restaurant in Bois de Boulogne is %26quot;Chalet des iles%26quot; actuallly (sorry to correct you Lascass).

I agree with Raphy that the most romantic place to propose is Alexandre III bridge. When you will see it, you will know that this is THE place!!

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What a lovely reply, Lasscass. Truly.

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Are/were you perhaps in the Military? My brother-in-law is an

Annapolis Grad and flew an F14 in the Gulf War. He took my

sister to Paris for Valentine%26#39;s Day and surprised her with a ring on top of the Arch du Triomphe. They said it was so romantic.

However, he later said he picked there as it is a memorial to the Fallen Soldier!

As others have pointed out, the weather and time of day would

be a factor; I would have one indoor spot planned.

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Go inside Palais Royal. There is a lovely garden there with benches. Sit there and then pop the question. I know someone else who did this, and they are married today. A very romantic place without a ton of tourists.

However, Ron Steward proposed to his fiance on top of the Eiffel Tower on bended knee (number 4?), so this is pretty romantic. You will have to stand in line quite a while, unless you have a reservation at Jules Verne, which he did.

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The top of the Eiffel tower!!!

easy jet

we are planning to go to barchlona using the easy jet. we havent used it before. How is it !! I am sure alot of you have used it. What are your feedbacks ? Or you think i have to use another airlines like air france.

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It%26#39;s just a normal lowcost airline, either the biggest or second biggest in Europe.

You pay to get a seat on the plane but no drinks/food...

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I used it to fly from London to Amsterdam. I had absolutely no problems. It was incredibly cheap airfare, plane left on time, etc.

Something to be mindful of though is the weight restrictions on luggage. Its not as bad as other low cost airlines though. I believe it is 20kg for checked luggage. And their carry-on size is really small. So I had to check in my backpack and I just carried on my purse-- no problems!

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Just beware of checking baggage. If they do not get the baggage to you before you return home, you can expect no support from them.

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easyJet let you carry-on the usual size bag (usually 22%26quot;x14%26quot;x9%26quot;, but check dimensions with their website to be sure!) without any weight restrictions recently. Or they say %26#39;within reason%26#39;. V.useful for those who travel light/just off for the weekend.

Do be *very* careful about the weight of checked luggage as already advised.

I find them fine. Turn up with plenty of time at the airport. Take some food and drink that suits you onto the plane. Pack light and you%26#39;ll have a bargain.

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Following on from TahoeSue%26#39;s comment, they are a point-to-point airline. If you have to connect with another flight they will accept no responsibility if you miss a connecting flight for any reason. If you just going to Barcelona this shouldn%26#39;t be an issue.

I know TahoeSue has had a really bad time with missing luggage from another thread - so jusy carry-on would be a plus here too.

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Thanks all for your replies. I didnt thought of the weight. Though its a big issue. I will be coming from london, staying in paris then going to spain. I am sure i will be having some more extra ....opppppppps and i wont be back to paris ,,i will be going to geneva ...what can i do !!!!! 20 kg is too little .

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The good news is that EasyJet has no weight restriction on cabin baggage, only a size restriction. The bad news is that their excess baggage charge, at 6.50 Euros per kilo, can add up fast. So packing all your heaviest items in your carry-on would make sense...

Here is a link to their baggage regulations:

www.easyjet.com/EN/Planning/baggage.html

Good luck!

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I%26#39;ve used Easyjet to Spain a bunch - it%26#39;s fine.... check Iberia also for low fares.... depending on when you leave and come back the fares are at times similar.....

Marais or Rue Cler

Where to stay for 4 nights? Torn between these two areas. In Rue Cler area I%26#39;ve heard good reviews about Hotel Muguet. And in Marais I think I would like to try MIJE hostel.

My first priority is safety, able to walk alone at night. My second preference is beauty - I hope the area is rewardingly cute.

Please advise. Thanks in advance.

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Hello-

Not to be offensive or anything- but I may answer differently depending on your age, activity level and what things you like to do. I just got back last week and visited both area%26#39;s. I met some fellow travellers about age 30, who stayed on the rue cler and did not like it. They said nothing really going on to speak of- just the street market. There you are pretty far removed from things if you wanted to explore.

The Marias, IMO, is a bit more lively, and has more to do in the general area.

So, if you want far removed and quiet..I%26#39;d say the rue cler. If you are looking for a bit more activity, I%26#39;d vote for the marias.

Hope this helps!

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I agree with RPL67. Definitely the Marais! A MUCH more interesting and lively area, as safe at night as the rue Cler area. (Paris is a VERY safe city. Just use ordinary common sense wherever you are.)

If you stay in the Marais you will be in an area with a real neighborhood feel to it, with lots of shops and cafes and restaurants in every price bracket. There are street markets and neighborhood shops to buy your picnic goodies at. The Aligre market in the 12th arrondissement, one of the liveliest in Paris, is only a short distance away.

You will be just a few minutes walk from the islands, the Centre Pompidou, the Canal St. Martin, Notre Dame, the Sainte Chapelle, and the Latin Quarter. Plenty of other places, including the Louvre and the Jardin du Luxembourg, are just a little farther to walk.

There are museums (the Carnavalet, Picasso, Cognacq-Jay etc.) in the Marais itself. And some of the oldest and most interesting architecture in Paris, including the Place des Vosges, perhaps the loveliest square in the whole city.

And the liveliest after dark areas are an easy walk away.

Rue Cler? Quieter, certainly. But other than the street market and its immediate environs, there is not much happening, and not many places within walking distance.

If you decide on the Marais, here are two good inexpensive neighborhood restaurants: Le Temps des Cerises on the rue de la Cerisaie (lunch only), and the cafe de la Poste on the rue Castex.

Have a great trip whatever you decide!

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Where to stay for 4 nights? Torn between these two areas. In Rue Cler area I%26#39;ve heard good reviews about Hotel Muguet. And in Marais I think I would like to try MIJE hostel.

My first priority is safety, able to walk alone at night. My second preference is beauty - I hope the area is rewardingly cute.%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

For the most part just about ANY neighborhood in central Paris will be safe enough to stroll about at most hours of day or night. It%26#39;s when you get out toward the fringes of the city that some neighborhood get %26#39;iffy%26#39;. But both the 7th--Invalides/Ecole Militaire and the 3rd-Marias will be perfectly safe---though you run the risk of being %26#39;..bored to death..%26#39; at night in the 7th.

Of the two areas, the 3rd-Marais will be the most interesting and active--both day and night. There are several interesting museums--Centre Pompidou (with the Fountain Igor Stravinski and its wonderfully whimsical Sainte Phalle %26amp; Jean Tinguely sculptures)-, Musees Picasso, Arts et Metiers Carnavalet, Cognacq-Jay--lots of interesting shops of all types and descriptions (rue des Francs Bourgeois, rue Vielle du Temple, rue Charlot, rue des Quartre Fils) and plenty of good cafes and restaurants to suit almost any taste, appetite or budget. The area also has many good hotels tto choose from.

There are many who absolutely love the 7th for it%26#39;s quiet in the evenings and wouldn%26#39;t stay anywhere else. It%26#39;s probably a great place for those who subscribe to %26#39;..early to bed, early to rise..%26#39;. The area also has a few good hotels and a few good restaurants. But, it%26#39;s no accident that the busiest spot in the 7th (especially in the evenings) is the Ecole Militaire Metro station, buzzing with people either returning from or leaving for %26#39;..somewhere else..%26#39; in Paris. But apart from the rue Cler %26#39;..enclave..%26#39; there isn%26#39;t much happennin%26#39; in the 7th after 6 PM.

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i personnaly as a tourist would choose the marais, but to live the 7th. anyway there are more restaurants in the marais, but there are also lots and lots in the 7th, i don%26#39;t know where the people have been there but for ex near the invalides there is a street called rue de grenelle where for ex there is l%26#39;esplanade, 7eme sud, just next to this place a very lively place called toumieux rue de la comete, where all the young nice parisians go to have vodkas shots (they have something like 60 differents tastes). in rue de grenelle there are many other restaurants, and in many other places in the 7th. but the marais is nicer, more exhibits in the streets when the weather is nice, the 7th is more dead and residential at night, and well i don%26#39;t know any night club there. so the marais or st germain are the best for me, i%26#39;m not a fan of the 10-13 districts, but i like the 1-8 and 16th.

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rue Cler is boring, go for the Marais, which has much more going on, and is more centrally located to just about everything.

Be sure to try the falafel sandwiches at the Ace du Falafel on the rue des Rosiers.

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I would say go for the Marais, as for the cute area you are looking for, well basically 80% of the apprtments there date back to the 17th and 18th century, beautiful decorations and wrought iron balconies, this is the area where all the nobles used to live at the time and it still shows. It is also more interesting and more lively, closer to the main monuments. I have lived in Paris for seven years, and before that forum, i had never heard of the Rue Cler!

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I liked Rue Cler. Great neighborhood. Easy walk to the tower. Several great restaraunts too.

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The Marais. More lively, more diverse.

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I found the Marais to be lively and entertaining with plenty to see and do within walking distance. Rue Cler has a very nice street market but I thought that that area was somewhat boring a little disappointing. Of course, this is in comparison to the other great places in Paris. You will have a great time no matter where you stay, but I would opt for the Marais over Rue Cler. J%26#39;Adore Paris.

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If you are looking for quiet, stay in rue cler.

If you are looking for a place where things

are happening, stay in the Marais.

musee de rodin?

do you recommend us to go musee de Rodin and Jardins de Louxembourg?and can we go there easily from Opera?

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Musee de Rodin was my best museum experience. It is in a villa Rodin lived in (and threw Isadora Duncan out of), and he was there during the designing of it. It is small, so not overwhelming, and the gardens are lovely.

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Both are very much worth visiting in fine weather.

Many of the sculptures in the Rodin museum are dotted around the gardens, which as the previous poster said, are lovely. There is a good cafe in the grounds also - a good place for a drink or a light meal.

The Jardin du Luxembourg is also a lovely place to stroll round and people watch. A great place to take a picnic also.

To reach the Jardin du Luxembourg from Opera your best bet would be the number 27 bus, taking it in the direction Porte de Vitry. In the same area is the Cluny Museum, and the Sainte Chapelle, and Notre Dame and the islands are close by.

The Musee Rodin can be reached most easily by taking Line 8 of the Metro, Direction Balard, to the Invalides station (third stop). Or you could walk from the Opera to the Madeleine Church, through the Place de la Concorde and across the river to the museum which is on the rue de Varenne at the blvd des Invalides. This would be a very worthwhile walk, and not too long, about 2.5km at a guess. Nearby is the Invalides military museum, Napoleon%26#39;s tomb, and not far beyond it the Eiffel Tower. In the other direction, St. Germain des Pres is about 1km away.

Do you have a decent street map of Paris? If not, you should get one, along with a good guidebook. You will need them anyway, and the sooner you start using them to plan your trip, the less %26quot;lost%26quot; you will feel when you arrive.

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Luxembourg Garden was perhaps one of my favourite experiences in Paris. The day we went the weather was perfect and so there were all kinds of people sitting by the pond and kids playing. It was a great change of pace from doing the museum thing. You can take a picnic lunch with you as there is a designated lawn area where this is allowed. The Rodin museum was worth it because it doesn%26#39;t take very much time and the garden is peaceful. I enjoyed the garden more than the actual museum, but that%26#39;s just me. The Rodin museum is also just across from the war museum and Dome Church where Napolean%26#39;s tomb is, so you can do both places if that%26#39;s of interest to you.

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thanks for your help.i think and ihope the weather will be good as we are coming at the end of june.so i guess we will visit both:)

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Just got back from visiting both of these wonderful spots in Paris! My recommendation would be to go! If the weather is nice- try to pick a sunny day- and if you go to the Luxemborg around lunch time- you will see all the locals eating their delicious picnic lunches.

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DEFINATELY SEE THEM

thats all i shall say

bye

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Musee de Rodin is one of my favorite places in Paris,

particularly the sculpture garden. Aside from my work

there as a photographer, it is peaceful, serene and

generally uncrowded. You are provided with opportunities

to enjoy Rodin%26#39;s work in a natural setting. The outdoor

cafe is most welcome.

paris guidebook in spanish

Does anybody know a good Paris guidebook in Spanish? My fiancee doesn%26#39;t speak English and I%26#39;ve looked at the Frommer%26#39;s, Fodor%26#39;s and Lonely Planet%26#39;s websites but didn%26#39;t find what I was looking for...

Ana

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Try this:

Go to www.amazon.com. Go to their Books section. Click on %26quot;Advanced Search.%26quot; Type in Paris as the title and select Spanish as the language. There are several guidebooks listed there, but I do not know enough about the authors, publishers, etc. to make a recommendation.

Hope this helps!

Have a great trip!

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I%26#39;m sure the the MICHELIN Green Guide-PARIS and the D.K EYEWITNESS-PARIS guidebooks are available in several languages, Spanish among them. I%26#39;m not so sure about the ACCESS--PARIS but I think it too may be available in a Spanish language edition. (I do know that it%26#39;s published by Harper-Collins, which has a fairly large catalog of Spanish-language editions).

if you need any help for your reservation or anything else

Hello,

My name is Julie. I%26#39;m from Paris.

If you need any help for a reservation in French or anything else. you can contact me.

I%26#39;ll be very happy to help you to discover Paris.

See U

Julie

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Merci, Julie!

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Thank you Julie - I am trying to re-learn french again...

I will be in paris from june 25-28 :)

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C%26#39;est gentil, ca! Merci beaucoup d%26#39;avance, Julie.

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Hello Julie,

How would we contact you in Paris? I do not suppose you want to post your phone number for everyone to see. If you wish you can e-mail it to me at irony150@yahoo.com. I do not anticipate any urgent needs, but just in case it is cool to have a native Parisian that could help in an emergency. We will be in Paris in August for 10 days and are very excited.

P.S. If you are planning to come to New York, you can e-mail me at my e-mail address and I can return the favor :-)

Thanks.

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what part of brooklyn :)

im from marine park

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Manhattan Beach,

Atlanta? Must be a culture shock :-)

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allen074 - I%26#39;m in Sheapshead Bay, close to you !

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Hi Julie I am taking my daughter to Paris July 13-Jul 18 we have reservatins at the Luxenbourg Parc hotel. My questions are: do I need to make dinner reservations now and which restaurants do you reccommed. Also I would like to take tours of the city and need a recommendation on a good tour company. Thank you so much!

Donna

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Q train in the hizouse :)

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;what part of brooklyn.....marine park....Sheapshead Bay%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

I grew up in Crown Heights--Eastern Pkwy %26amp; Rogers Ave and East Flatbush--Schnectady %26amp; Foster...before trekking East River to Manhattan and then the wide Hudson to the New Jersey %26#39;wilderness%26#39; and beyond into the %26#39;frontier%26#39; to the untamed Amish country. Spent summers riding the bus acorss the bridge past Floyd Bennett Field and past Fort Hamilton to Riis Park. I dated a girl from Sheepshead Bay...once....but after the train ride home back to upper Manhattan at night, that was the last time. You can%26#39;t exactly see %26#39;..the end of the world..%26#39; from Sheepshead Bay, but if you climb up onto the flying bridge of any fishing boat tied up out there, you can just make out the edge.

Train help

I%26#39;ve been trying to make a reservation from Paris to Rennes in July. I choose a PREM option, then a form comes up for me to fill out. Does anyone know what answer I%26#39;m supposed to put in the block that says %26quot;translation%26quot;? I%26#39;ve tried yes, I%26#39;ve tried no, I%26#39;ve tried English. Yet when I click on %26quot;confirm,%26quot; I always get a message from Microsoft that says, %26quot;to be translated%26quot; and I can%26#39;t go any further. Thanks for any and all help.

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Mimmy -

I%26#39;m guessing a bit here, but what I THINK you are talking about is something that *may* show up on the English language server in the box immediately after the box where you enter your email. Is that correct? Does it say %26quot;to be translated%26quot; at that point?

If it does, then what I think it *should* say there is %26quot;Confirm your email.%26quot; try that at any rate and see if it works. If it does not, you should ahve been through the process enough times by now that you could probably handle doing the same thing on the French language server. The process is identical, and all the pages are laid out the same way. So if you are still having difficulty, pay close attention to what you did in English and then do the same things in French.

I hope this makes sense - and that it helps....

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IrishRovr,

Merci beaucoup! The form was indeed looking for a repeat of my email address. I now have my printed tickets in hand. I was a little concerned after I requested my tickets when one of the pages showed July 25 as a Sunday and July 26 as a Monday, but I notice that on the actual tickets only the date is displayed and not the day of the week.

I can't believe I read the whole thing....

yep, I%26#39;ve scanned every page of this forum. (I must have 500 websites bookmarked by now.) I also did a search and didn%26#39;t find much so I feel ok asking this question: I%26#39;m wondering about the 13e arron. Yes, I know it%26#39;s a bit removed from the center of things and yes, I know it%26#39;s not the usual quaint/charming/latin quarter type area. What I want to know is what IS there... and what folks - visitors and locals alike - think of it. Thanks!

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In the 13th arron. you will find tapestry manufacturing,

Chinatown and the National Library of France.

Congratulations (I think) on having read every

page of the Paris Forum. I hope you are going

to narrow down the websites you bookmarked

from 500 to ????

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well there is nothing to do in the 13th i%26#39;m sorry to tell you that. i live just next, and apart the many chinese restaurants, there is really nothing to do. the 13th is retired from paris i think because when i want to order food, they deliver everywhere but not in the 13th, or if you order min 200 euros.

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JustGrace,

The 13th arrondissement is becoming a very trendy arrondissement. I know you must all think that I am snobbish as I always talk about trendy places, trendy clothes,... but I cannot help it, it%26#39;s fun!!

Do not hesitate to visit quai Francois Mauriac and Quai de la rapee overlooking the Seine in the evening : you have plenty of bars and restaurants inside boats, with a lot of music and sometimes the music is so loud that peole dance and drink on the Quai (the wharf). So much fun!!!

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Thanks Randy, Alex and Anne. I appreciate the info...

and yes, Randy, it%26#39;s a dubious achievement. *LOL* Took a few weeks but I found little jewels of info here and there that I wouldn%26#39;t have known to search for.

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Anne, isn%26#39;t there some discussion about re-opening the river that runs through the 13th (I can%26#39;t remember the name) and creating a lot of gardens along its banks? That should really help property values!

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The 13th is already getting more and more expensive each day. The only thing I heard about is building a huge floating swimming pool in 2006 and the Institut de la Mode in 2008. Both will take place on Port de la Gare, overlooking the Seine.

More info on : mairie13.paris.fr/mairie13/jsp/Portail.jsp…

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JustGrace,

i use to stay there for 10 days time in the hotel. there is a morning market along the place d%26#39;italie metro station. many things selling and i bought the cherry and melon. very nice fruit. lol

perhaps you will found many %26#39;TAN shop%26#39;. is a chinese surname of the supermarket there. very famous. they really have 13 branch shops in Paris. Many ppl buy foods from there.

i agree with Anneparis saying that things from there are getting more and more expensive. simply is because more ppl moving in there now specially chinese.

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I live in the 14 th arrondissement (student at the cit�� universitaire) and go to the 13 th often, because:

- the BNF, my favorite place in the world, is there :-D

- the archives I go to at rue Tolbiac are also there.

My impression is that for the parisians, it is the quartier chinois (chinatown) and that more recently the BNF has opened and there is a very big urbanistic program for the requalification of the eastern side of town. So %26quot;Paris-Rive Gauche%26quot; program is really about the requalification of the Seine near Tolbiac, 13th arrondissement. Which, finaly, means there is a recent trend over this new area where everything is happening. However, I would say there are now 2 different 13th arrondissements, the quartier chinois, a HLM area (wellfare social housing), a bit poor and not trendy but quite liveable (not at all dangerous) and the trendy new BNF area, by the river (where they%26#39;re also programing the new pool someone talked about). This new area, programmed acording to the new urbanisme trends, is a mixed use area, with new equipements (like the MK2 cinemas), University buildings, a lot of workplaces and offices, but mostly housing.

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To answer Truffaut, there is actually a project to discover the river Bievre (same latin root as Beaver) that has been covered since the 19th century , but they don%26#39;t know yet where it is going to be exactly.

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There is the Frigo in the 13th, which is a fascinating artists%26#39; squat that has been purchased by th ecity of Paris, providing legitimate lodgings to scores of very good artists... they were putting in an art gallery last time I was there.

And The Pirate Guinguette... a modern wooden junk where you can go at night for drinks and music.

Some of the best vietnamese food outside of Vietnam, too!

We like the Sunday Market near the Place d%26#39;Italie...Parisians of all shapes and colors are gathered there for a taste of Paris off the beaten path.

Tour d'Argent?

Has anyone tried this restaurant? I%26#39;m looking for a nice restaurant for a night away from kids!

Thanks!

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With three michelin stars you are pretty much guaranteed that it will be nice.

The view over looking the back of Notre Dame is pretty spectacular, too.

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Not yet! But we have reservations for a tableside seat for the evening of June 8! I am beyond excited. Do know that this meal will be a break-the-bank kind of thing. (My mother is helping to bankroll our dinner! It%26#39;s for our 20th anniversary...and she ate there in 1958 and loved it then and has raved about it ever since!!) You will definitely have a great time away from the kids.

P.S. I hate to correct Phread, one of our wonderful local experts who has helped me so much through my many months of planning, but La Tour d%26#39;Argent lost its 3rd star somewhere along the way. From everything I%26#39;ve read, it was because they hadn%26#39;t %26quot;progressed with the times.%26quot; My reaction to that is %26quot;so what?%26quot; They still are an institution in Paris, and worthy of a once-in-a lifetime visit. Enjoy!!!!!

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The atmosphere , views and ambiance are splendid and fantastic... but IMO for the same money there are better meals to be had in Paris.......not that Tour d%26#39;Argent is not good.....Some people would say that I%26#39;m picky, but for less or the same price, 200-300 dollars a head with wine, I%26#39;d splurg at a restaurant like Michel Rostangs or a few others.....

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I do agree with wrb. It is an institution, renowned all around the globe, but is not at the level of excellence that anynone could expect from such a place anymore.

The view over Notre-Dame? You have exactly the same from the Institut du Monde Arabe, one block away, a very nice restaurant with oriental specialities being on top of it.

The service and the building? There is the same in let%26#39;s say 50 other places such as this one. Just go to Ducasse or Le Doyen, it%26#39;s even more comfortable and sophisticated IMNSHO.

The food? Let%26#39;s be serious, it%26#39;s ok for a biz talk where you have to impress the partners from a country that is not hot for gastronomy, but it%26#39;s way out of what the haute cuisine is today. The menu hasn%26#39;t change for 50 years, they keep focusing on the canard au sang, that was set up in 1880.

Tour d%26#39;Argent, just like Maxim%26#39;s, are icons from the past.

If you have dreamt of it as an icon of french haute cuisine, then go there you will not be disappointed. It is like wishing to be in the postcard, like having high tea in the Savoy in London or staying at hotel Pierre of New York.

If you are into architecture, puffy/comfy seats, sophistication of the service, go to Lasserre, Le Doyen, Espadon-Ritz too, or Taillevent.

If you go for food, my personnal top three in Paris is these days Pierre Gagnaire (rue Balzac), Alain Ducasse (avenue Poincare) and the REstaurant des Ambasadeurs at the Crillon hotel. A special mention to L%26#39;atelier de Joel Robuchon, who for me is the real genius of gastronomy still alive.

But that%26#39;s my opinion only of course!

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Thank you!

We are renting an apartment in the same building, so we will already have the view. We were told this is one of the best rest. in Paris. I was wondering if it waas really worth it and if there are others that are better. Your suggestions sound better. I prefer good food to stuffy.

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I know this sounds annoying, but I cringe when I hear someone saying %26quot;high tea%26quot; at the savoy. Its called LOW TEA, the more sophisticated of the two. high tea is used by working class families and includes breads and stews rather than pastries and scones with lemon curd.

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La Tour d%26#39;Argent is a Paris institution...and with two(2) Michelin stars (they don%26#39;t exactly pass these distinctions out like free samples on street corners) the food is pretty good. That it lost its third star several years ago because it%26#39;s menu wasn%26#39;t %26#39;..fresh..%26#39; enough doesn%26#39;t mean that it%26#39;s cuisine is any less good. They simply prefers to adhere to the %26#39;classic%26#39; preparations and presentations. Every grreat restaurant has it%26#39;s %26#39;..signature dish..%26#39; and La Tour d%26#39;Argent%26#39;s is its famous pressed duck preparation. But the rest of the menu is wonderful too. For those who still know and enjoy the classic dishes and preparations, it is still a grand dining experience (to say nothing about the views, which are simply spectacular)--if not quite as %26#39;..hip..%26#39; as others.

La TOUR d%26#39;ARGENT--

http://www.latourdargent.com/

Sample menu selections--

www.reservethebest.com/_en_/restaurant.php…

Where to stay for 4 driving days in Brittany?

I%26#39;ll be exploring Brittany, by car, for four days or maybe five in mid June. Where is a good spot to stay, conveniently located so I can visit various towns? My wife and I love the beach and wonder if it will be warm enough in the region in mid June. We prefer to stay in towns with restaurants and shops rather than in remote locations. Also, can we find tennis courts in any Brittany towns?

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Dear Christopher

We stay at a hotel (also has campsite %26amp; golf course in another part of the facility) once a year for the last few years. It is situated about 30 minutes or so from St Malo %26amp; not far from Mont St Michel (30 minutes), Combourg %26amp; Rennes within driving distance. Staff fluent in English if language an issue %26amp; SUPERB meals very reasonably priced. Web address as follows:

http://www.lesormes.com/

Tennis court on site the last I looked. Lovely restaurants in town but the hotel one we found to be very good. In fact we are headed there once again this weekend. Temperature in JUne upper teens to lower twenties (celsius). Good luck with the search for your holiday.

Sean Ryan

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Try Mur de Bretagne in Central Brittany.

1 hour from beaches in the North, 1 hour from beaches in the South, 90 minutes from beaches in the West, 5 minutes from beaches at the Lac du Guerledan.

Mur has a Tennis club which welcomes visitors, and various locations to play boules and petanque, bike hire, woodland walks.

Mur has 4 restaurants: 2 creperies - Creperie Chapelle St Suzanne, Creperie Bles d%26#39;Or; 1 Gourmet restaurant - Auberge Gran%26#39;Maison; several bars one of which is a bar/restaurant - Hotel La Perriere.

Mur is 10 minutes from the mediaeval ruins of Abbey Bon Repos; 10 minutes from St Aignan and its Electricity Museum; 15 minutes from Pontivy with its chateau, Monday Market; 20 mins from Loudeac with its shops and swimming pool; 15 minutes from Gouarec with its Crazy Golf and Swimming Pool; 20 minutes from Corlay with its chateau and horse racing.

For Bed and Breakfast accommodation I recommend %26quot;Pear Blossom House%26quot; - http://www.pearblossomhouse.com

Hope that helps.

Friendly (and Good) Restaurants OK with Kids?

I%26#39;m taking our 3 children (15, 12, and 6) to Paris for the first time. They really are the one%26#39;s who want to go. I%26#39;ve been to Paris a number of times, but always on business and always hosted by local business people.

I understand French but can%26#39;t really speak. So language may also be a problem.

Our Children are so excited about the trip, I want them to have really good food experiences. I want to take them to authentic Paris restaurants, but I don%26#39;t want them to have bad expriences. More than anything, I%26#39;d like to take them to many restaurants where there won%26#39;t be bad attitudes and welcoming staff.

We are there for a week, so we need lots of suggestions. If you could suggest any friendly restaurants (easy to find), it would really make their first visit memorable.

We will probably be staying near Av. George V or near the Tuileries.

Thank you so much.

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Dear Caian,

You should make a search on this forum with key words %26quot;kids%26quot; and %26quot;restaurants%26quot;. You will find lots of answers on this topic.

Also, if you are staying near the Tuileries, you should go to Dame Tartine restaurant which is inside the Tuileries garden. They have good salads, good %26quot;tartine%26quot; plates (hot bread with lots of good things on top), and the children can enjoy the garden while eating.

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Two other thoughts: Many of the stylish hotels have very nice %26quot;more casual restaurants%26quot;. Because they are affiliated with the hotel they are more accustomed to childeren and also tend to have better hours for kids (earlier). Also, you might try one of the famous brasseries (Bofinger, La Capoule etc). They are active, used to families and have good traditional Parisian food.

You should not have too many issues with your kid%26#39;s ages. One our last trip my two year did what two year old%26#39;s do and everything worked out just fine.

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There are lots of very special restaurants for families in this city. Some of the highlights include Le Train Bleu, Altitude 95, Le Chalet en Ile, La Coupole and the pavillon at the Parc Montsouris, the name of which escapes me for the moment.

For special treats we head to Berthillon for ice cream and Laduree for teeth clenchingly rich hot chocolate, although many visitors opt for the more famous Angelina.

Another kid pleaser is to go to a market and pick out the treats for a picnic dinner that can be enjoyed at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, on the Pont des Arts, at the tip of the Ile de la Cite or among the ruins of the Roman Arena in the 5th, just to name a few outstanding locations.

BTW, I have never had a bad restaurant experience with my kids here in Paris. Well, at least not one that was caused by somebody who was not a member of the immediate family.lol

Good Nice hotel????

I want to go to Nice for a few days at the beginning of June. I just want to relax, be comfortable and spend all day laying in the sun.

Can anyone suggest a nice and cheap hotel???

I would like to be close to water and would love to find a place with a balcony and view........but a reasonable price.

Please suggest.....

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what is reasonable rate for you?

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If I can find something about 50euros a night I%26#39;ll be happy

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Try Kyriad Vieux port (close to the Old Port).

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BTW they have a website through the www.accorhotels.com

seine river cruises

Would anyone recommend a particular company for either a regular cruise, or a lunch/dinner cruise? Has anyone tried it out? I wondered if they are spoilt by overcrowding.

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The two that have been recommended to me are the Bateaux Mouche which do regular hour long cruises and also lunch and dinner cruises (www.bateaux-mouches.fr/) or the Vedettes De Pont Neuf, which do a very similar Hour long cruise ( not sure whether they do dinner cruises though)! I don%26#39;t know about overcrowding, when are you going? The lunch/dinner cruises have to be booked in advance!

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I took the Bateaux Mouche cruise when I was in Paris at the end of April. Just the regular cruise not the dinner cruise. I thought it was a great value for the 7 Euro. I took the cruise at about 8:30 p.m. (it was stil light out). The sun set around 9 p.m. so I got to see the sights of Paris in the daylight, at dusk and at night. There are other companies that run cruises and I am sure they are all good. I would recommend Bateaux Mouche. Do it in the early evening. Paris is spectacular when it is lit up.

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I also recommend the Bateaux-Mouches, they last 15 minutes more and are cheaper than the others. I am not sure you will get a night cruise though, as these days the suns sets at about 10pm, the last cruise being i think at ten pm; maybe 10h30

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Do a search for previous posts regarding %26quot;Bateaux Parisiens.%26quot; I%26#39;ve left some information for others on recommendations for specific boats, etc. If you go during a calm before a storm, that is a few days before a major event like Valentine%26#39;s Day, the Seine River is nearly empty and there%26#39;s no crowds at all. You can phone in a reservation merely hours before dinner. If you go during a storm, like Valentine%26#39;s Day, the Seine River is a traffic jam of cruise boats--bumper to bumper standstill. [no exagerration here...]

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We did the Bateaux Parisiens Dinner Cruise for our 25th Anniversary 10 days ago, and were very pleased with everything.

I know that the logic thing to do is to go to a fine restaurant and then take a one hour cruise afterwards, but I decided on the cruise for the %26quot;ROMANTIC%26quot; factor, and I hate to admit it (since I%26#39;m a tough guy...) but I had to hold my my tears more than once and hide behind my camera while taking a few shots.

The ambiance, the live entertainment, the sights, the mood and with a little help of the %26quot;booze%26quot; and of course %26quot;the company%26quot; made it an unforgettable night.

To our surprise the food was actually pretty good, and very well presented, the service was outstanding. No conplaints, and no regrets.

Check their Web site, they have three services (sorry I don%26#39;%26#39;t have the names with me now) but we picked the one in the middle. We had a table for two by the glass. The less expensive service is in the center of the boat, but taking into consideration that your are seated on a raised platform and the boat actually has all glass walls and ceilings, it is not bad at all. I only noticed that people were seated closer together and did not see tables for two like we had.

Finally, if you don%26#39;%26#39;t mind expending a few more Euros, try their top service. You are seated in a private area in the front of the boat and you get a lot more personal attention (same food) better wine. If this is a special occasion... go for it!

By the way they included Royal Kirks and Two bottles of wine.

The cruise concludes in perfect timing for the Eiffel tower light show. After the cruise we walked under the tower and made a promise to come back (as soon as possible...) Tres romantic.

Sorry for the long post, but hope this will help you out.

OEC57

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oec57, sounds like you had a wonderfully romantic 25th anniversary trip, congratulations! How refreshing to see a man expressing his emotions!

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Thank you Helking, but... don%26#39;t tell anyone!!!!! (LOL)

OEC57

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We like the Le Calife dinner cruises. Less expensive, more charming boat and not such a traditional French menu.

Poet Going to Paris w/Questions

I will be arriving in Paris 2 July after a writer%26#39;s conference in Greece (Skiathos). I have read through several posts and have absorbed lots of practical information. Thanks to all who posted their questions and answers.

I will be staying in the 6th at Hotel Aramis St. Germaine on rue Rennes. Has anyone stayed here? I have read mixed reviews in other places.

How convenient is the 6th to the major sites? I%26#39;m also a jazz lover and have copied quite a few locations for this, but am wondering how safe the 6th is for a woman alone at night.

I%26#39;m still confused about the currency situation. How do I get Euros before leaving? I will be using a bank card for most transactions, is this practical in Paris? (I do have a 4-digit code).

Thanks for your help.

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Nearly forgot to ask about the poetry scene in Paris. I know there is a conference going on during the time I will be there. Are open mics popular in Paris. If so, where will I find them?

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How convenient is the 6th to the major sites? I%26#39;m also a jazz lover and have copied quite a few locations for this, but am wondering how safe the 6th is for a woman alone at night.

While Paris isn%26#39;t a dangerous city and if the weather is nice you%26#39;ll see that even at middnight there will be loads of people aroud the 6th. Some people go to the cinema at 10pm and go for food afterwards !

The 6th is as safe as they come.

I%26#39;m still confused about the currency situation. How do I get Euros before leaving?

In Greece? Just get them from any ATM.

%26gt; I will be using a bank card for most transactions, is this practical in Paris? (I do have a 4-digit code).

Believe it or not but in a lot of the wtores I shop in for computer parts, some of the counters don%26#39;t take cash, only card. It%26#39;s the best and easiest way to pay for goods in Paris.

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The 6th district is as safe as can be for a woman, also it is good you picked it up if you love jazz, as it was here that it appeared during the WWII in Paris, in many of the gothic caves underground. The 6th district is quite central, there is also Montaparnasse not very far, which is also very lively. If your card is a visa/Mastercard, then you will have no problem paying basically everywhere and getting euros from ATM%26#39;s.

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As far as poetry goes, there are some readings and open mics around, but they are not projected into July yet. One source is Heather Stimmler-Hall%26#39;s site and calendar:

www.secretsofparis.com/calendar.htm

Heather often has poetry readings and open mic nights noted.

Also, the Centre Culturel Irlandais, near the Pantheon in the 5th, often has writers and poets in for discusson and readings:

www.centreculturelirlandais.com

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To be read with a broad Irish accent: Sure and why wouldn%26#39;t the Centre Culturel Irlandais have visiting writers and poets and such? Isn%26#39;t it ourselves are the most cultured people on the face of the planet and didn%26#39;t we save civilization for the rest of you?

And isn%26#39;t the greatest living poet in the English language an Irishman? And wasn%26#39;t the greatest French writer of the 20th century stage an Irishman too? And wasn%26#39;t the greatest novelist ever to live in France Irish too?

:%26gt;)

rmward1-

If you are thinking of buying a ton of Euros before you go to Greece, don%26#39;t. Just use your ATM card to withdraw cash from your checking account as you would at home. You will be charged a small but invisible commission, and your bank will probably impose a small fee for each withdrawal, so you may want to withdraw more than you normally would in a single transaction if you have a secure place (e.g. a hotel room safe) to store the surplus above your minimum daily %26quot;walking about%26quot; money.

And use credit cards for most of your purchases as the rates on them are slightly better.

But BOTH will be better than buying Euros ahead of time or using Traveler%26#39;s Cheques or anything else.

Do not forget to let your bank and CC issuers know that you will be travelling, or they may block your cards because of the unusual activity. And ask your bank to increase your daily withdrawal limit temporarily.

If you want to have a hundred or two Euros for peace of mind to have when you arrive so you don%26#39;t have to immediately find an ATM your bank should be able to help. You%26#39;ll probably pay a lousy rate, but for a small amount it doesn%26#39;t matter much...

Your hotel location is perfect for you. All of central Paris is really very safe at night. Just use ordinary common sense and you won%26#39;t have any problems. The 6th is both lively and safe, and a great place from which to visit jazz clubs in the evening. Most of them will be within a quite short walk...

Where can we find some of your poetry?

Have a GREAT trip!

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Nearly forgot to ask about the poetry scene in Paris. I know there is a conference going on during the time I will be there. Are open mics popular in Paris. If so, where will I find them?%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

I%26#39;m not sure about how much poetry is read there but since you%26#39;re staying in the 6eme, one place you might want to drop by is the CAFE Les EDITEURS-- http://www.lesediteurs.fr/ --located near the ODEON Metro station. There%26#39;s usually always some sort of reading going on at the SHAKESPEARE %26amp; COMPANY book shop-- 37 rue de la Bucherie, 75005 (just in from the quai de Montabello)-- http://shakespeareco.org/ Even if there%26#39;s nothing going on at either, there will certainly be notices and bulletins of reading elsewhere.

As for strolling/walking around the 6eme, for a woman alone at night , you shouldn%26#39;t have any concerns at most hours of the night or day--providing of course that you exercise some basic ommon-sense.

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;To be read with a broad Irish accent: Sure and why wouldn%26#39;t the Centre Culturel Irlandais have visiting writers and poets and such? Isn%26#39;t it ourselves are the most cultured people on the face of the planet and didn%26#39;t we save civilization for the rest of you?%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

Oy, %26#39;tis true, %26#39;tis true...but%26#39;wasn%26#39;t it the blessed Lord himself who created the drink...to keep the Irish from rulin%26#39; the world?

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Thanks everyone for your information and suggestions, they will surely go a long way in ensuring a nicer vacation. I was really feeling lost about exchanging currency before I leave the states. Thanks a lot for those suggestions.

This is a wonderful site. Kudos to all of you who help so many with your expertise.

IrishRovr, you can read some of my poems here:

http://burningword.com/node/view/607

Market Days in Loire

Does anyone know market days for any villages within an hour drive of Le Mans. Specifically Saturday or Sunday. Thanks

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I read that La Fleche has markets on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. I%26#39;m not sure, but think it%26#39;s pretty close to Le Mans. You said specifically Saturday or Sunday. Unfortunately, the way the information reads, the best one is on Wednesdays, next best on Sunday, and the Saturday one seems much smaller. By the way, I live in Atlanta too!

Reasonable restaurants in St. Germain

Could anyone recommend some reasonably priced restaurants in the St. Germain area? We are staying at the Des Mines hotel. I appreciate that this is a touristy area and don%26#39;t want to be ripped off.

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define reasonably priced... it is relative to each of us.

I like going the La Palette cafe.

It is a touristy area, but plenty of locals live and eat here, too.

Stay away from the Deux Magots or La Flore for meals if you are watching your wallet.... the drinks there are expensive, too, but sometimes it is worth having your table there for the evening.

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Dear Maquto,

There are many good restaurants in St. Germain. A reasonably priced restaurant is Le Benoit, on the Rue Benoit. Yes, it is a bit touristy, but the prices and the food are good, although not haute cuisine.

I also like Le Petit Zinc and Le Procope. Don%26#39;t know if you would consider them reasonable, but the food and ambience are lovely.

I disagree with Phread about Le Deux Magots and the Cafe de Flore. If you order simple food, like salads or omelets, the price is not astronomical, and you are eating in historic cafes filled with interesting people!

Bon chance and bon voyage.

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Try some restaurants on rue des Canettes close to the St-Sulpice Church. Chez george is an old French restaurant while there is a nice Italian (forgot it%26#39;s name though=%26gt;it%26#39;s about 50m from the rue St-Sulpice on the left coming from the church). Both are reasonable price. Le Bilboquet, a block away from Les deux magots is a nice jzaay restaurant.

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I love La Palette. It%26#39;s my all-time favorite cafe in paris. One of those places that never seems to change, and never should...

Try Chez Paul, rue Monsieur-le-Prince. A warm and cosy place with delicious food.

Berkeleytraveler, is that Le Petit Saint-Benoit you are referring to? I haven%26#39;t been there in years...

I%26#39;m sure it can not be Benoit, which in any case is in the rue St-Martin. A seriously wonderful place to eat, but a bit on the expensive side. I wish I could eat there more often...

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Dear Irishrover,

I think you%26#39;re right. I goofed. The restaurant I am thinking of is on the rue St. Benoit, and is just around the corner from the Cafe de Flore. If the correct name is Le Petit St. Benoit, then that%26#39;s the one I%26#39;m recommending. Again, not haute cuisine by any stretch of the imagination, but friendly service and decent prices.

Merci

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La Pre Verre

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Les Editeurs in was delish. See the NYTimes review from eariler this year. Few tourists. Nice staff.

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Like phread, we%26#39;ve always enjoyed La PALETTE--43 rue de Seine (at rue Jacques Callot), 75006, Metro: Mabillon. We also like BISTROT MAZARINE--42 rue Mazarine (at the other end of rue Jacques Callot), 75006, Metro: Mabillon.

Other neighborhood restaurants are:

RESTAURANT Le CHRISTINE--1 rue Christine (at rue des Grands Augustines), 75006, Metro: Odeon

ROTISSSERIE d%26#39;EN FACE--2 rue Christine (at rue des Grands Augustines) 75006, Metro: Odeon--

http://www.jacquescagna.com/usardf.htm

RESTAURANT ALLARD--41 rue Saint Andre des Arts (at rue de l%26#39;Eperon) 75006, Metro: Odeon--

www.reservethebest.com/_en_/restaurant.php…

For lunches and light suppers--

CAFE les EDITEURS--4 Carrefour de l%26#39;Odeon (just in from Blvd. St. Germain), 75006, Metro: Odeon--

http://www.lesediteurs.fr/

CAFE MONDRIAN--148 Blvd. Saint Germain (at rue de Seine) 75006, Metro: Mabillon

Though not in the 6eme but not far away in the 5eme-Latin quarter--

RESTAURANT Le COUPE-CHOU--11 rue Lanneau (at Impasse Chartiere), 75005, Metro: Maubert-Mutualite--

http://www.lecoupechou.com/

RESTAURANT Au MOULIN a VENT--20 rue des Fosses-Saint Bernard, 75005, Metro: Cardinal Lemoine--

http://www.au-moulinavent.com/

If there is one restaurant in this list that we will try to dine at early in a visit..so that we can find time to return again before leaving, it is RESTAURANT ALLARD.

Walking = blisters = moleskin??

Have seen various posts regarding blisters and moleskin, so am eagerly anticipating getting some of my own. :-) So, where can I buy moleskin -- At my regular CVS pharmacy, grocery store, Target, where?? Does it have another name?

Thanks.

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moleskin%26#39;s readily available in US drug stores, Target et al. I%26#39;d doubt that they%26#39;d be in grocery stores unless a pharmacy%26#39;s attached to them. Look for namebrands like Dr Scholl%26#39;s etc. It%26#39;ll be in the same aisle as shoe soles, shoe horns, corn treatments, etc. They come in little boxes about the size of a non-business letter envelope, only about 0.25 in thick. There will be several self-adhering sheets in each.

You%26#39;ll need scissors or something to slice them.

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Monks -

I just posted a reply (much the same as DarthAnon%26#39;s with which I agree) in the thread with RPL67%26#39;s Trip Report Day 3...

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One way to minimize blisters, etc is to have good

walking shoes PLUS good socks (silk inners and

wool or blend outside). Do you have an REI

in Miami ? For me they are the best type of store

to meet my shoe needs. Maybe not the best

fashion statement (as seems to concern many)

but you will not leave Paris in pain. You want

to make sure your shoes are well broken in

before the trip.

If you can rotate 2 pair of shoes you should

be in great shape.

In September I will return to Paris again with

my trusty Mephistos (expensive but less expensive

than foot complications).

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Thanks all. Have good Merrell sneakers which are broken in but will look in better walking type of socks.

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you can buy COMPEED in a pharmacie or parapharmacie of Paris. It s very effective.

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I couldn%26#39;t agree more with R_S_P. Breaking in your shoes properly is far more important than how fashionable they are or even how much they cost.

Let%26#39;s be honest. Most of us, most of the time, walk very little and in short spurts. We get to Paris or Rome and walk six, eight miles a day and then we wonder why our feet protest??

Whatever kind of shoes you fancy, wear them a dozen or more times for an extended period before you leave. And at least a half dozen times walk no less than three or four miles in them. If they are still hurting your feet after this, buy another pair. And keep doing it until you find a pair that is right for you. Then save that pair for trips to places like Paris, and care for them like you%26#39;ve never cared for a pair of shoes in your life...

Good socks do help as R_S_P says. Go to your local outdoor outfitters and see what they have. And talk to one of their salespeople and seek his/her expert advice. You may even find a pair of shoes at an outfitters that will be great walking shoes without making you look like you are embarking on an Everest expedition...

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To Randy Silver Photo, what%26#39;s an REI?

To Monks - I bought Smart Wool socks at Jet Florida Outdoors, Bird Road and 97thAvenue. They also have a selection of hiking shoes, but for Paris, I found some great Born shoes at Sports Authority at Dadeland Station. Hope the First Communion was memorable! Have a geat trip.

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OK. This is the REAL DEAL. I have tried different socks.

HERE is what WORKS: after (or even during) your first day of walking, you may have tender spots that could become blisters.

Take a roll of sports tape (cloth-based, about an inch wide) and tear off a nice-sized piece. Cover the tender spot, put socks/shoes back on. Do this each morning. For the rest of your trip, no blisters! The tape is cheap and easy to buy, a roll lasts a long time - where the Dr Scholls, foot powder, etc is displayed at Wal-Mart etc.

Of course, this might not work as well with sandals where one could see the tape.

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REI is the name of a chain of outdoor outfitters stores.

www.rei.com

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iamwoman: Thanks for the tips. Since I%26#39;m on the north end, I%26#39;ll go to OUtdoor World off I95 in Dania. I also have some Born loafers that may make the trip as well.

The first communion was indeed very memorable thanks; all the little ones looked so grown up and special in their suits and dresses, it brought tears to my eyes.

Question for WingVictory re USBs in Europe for photo...

Hi WingVictory.

You mentioned in one of the previous post that the male usbs can;%26#39;t be used. If that the case for all computers across europe - do they only use female USB plugs?

If so my card reader won%26#39;t be working. I%26#39;m pretty sure mine is the male version as well

bummer - won%26#39;t be able to back up my photos!

Do you remember what the post about metro stations have machines that do data transfer if you have your own cd was about. I tried to do a search in TA but to no avail.

Thanks

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I can%26#39;t be sure about Paris but here in the UK our USB cables are the same as everyone elses. I think someone is trying to make things difficult for you!

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Universal Serial Bus

I think the %26#39;universal%26#39; bit implies that you shouldn%26#39;t have any trouble with connections.

http://www.ctgcom.com/miniusb2.jpg

This is what a USB camera cable %26#39;normally%26#39; looks like.

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Go to a FNAC store and don%26#39;t worry about the CD (You get one free with transfer and they charge 5 euros for the transfer). If you don%26#39;t any FNAC store there is one on the Champs Elysees, can%26#39;t miss it.

Got back Wednesday, had a great time!!

Hi all, got back late wednesday night had a wonderful time, can%26#39;t wait to go again,

afew of my observations were%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;stayed in the 17th on the borders of montmatre, hotel was ok but felt we were a bit out of it, if i went again(when!!) would choose somewhere a bit more central or in montmatre itself as wasn%26#39;t many places open after we got back to hotel, and wanted a last drink etc.

Montmatre was a favourite and the view from the sacre couer was amazing, never got back at night but would imagine it was fantastic, the moules and frite was wondeful and wasn%26#39;t as expensive as we thought it might be.

Eiffel tower was amazing, went to altitude 95 and had seafood platter between myself and my daughter and was wondeful, make sure you give yourself enough time to get there as we were about 20 mins late and were told we had to be finished by 9 although we were ok, as we only had main course (seafood) and dessert, it came to ��55 fo0r both of us including wine, which I thought was excellent, and the staff were really friendly, one thing to note you still have to pay to go up the tower even if you are eating in the restaurant, would have booked for the later sitting now with hindsight as the view when dark would have been fantastic, we had planned to go to Montmatre after, but we just sat and looked at the tower as on the hour, it is lit up with a strobe effect and is awe-inspiring.

The food all-in-all was brilliant and if you look around you can get some great bargains if you have the set meal menu. If you attempt a little bit of french all the staff are really helpful, and seem to appreciate it.

Everyone we spoke to in paris was really helpful, and someone even showed us to our hotel as she was going that way, some people even stopped when they saw us looking at the map and offered help which was great.

The boat trip down the river was worth the trip, we went 1st day and it gave us a good grounding for the trip.

Didn%26#39;t get bothered by beggers, etc, and felt really safe in most places, kept my hand on my bag on the metro when it was crowded, but didn%26#39;t feel under any threat at all even walking around late at night.

The metro was fine once you got used to it, also the buses.

Didn%26#39;t get to the louvre, as we went to go after 6 0 clock and it was the wrong day for late night, but ended up sitting chatting to people instead, which was fun.

One tip, if you are only going for a few days don%26#39;t try to cram it all in, we felt much more like we had experienced the real Paris, by wandering around, and watching etc, than, running around like headless chicken trying to fit everything in.

Didn%26#39;t see much dog sh** really, which was good, only rained once despite the 10 day forecast saying showers most day, in fact the last day we got sunburnt it was so hot,

Did the champs-elysses the last day, but unless you are into posh shops, would have rather used the time and gone somewhere else.

Plenty of toilets everywhere, (me and my daughter tend to need them urgently at times due to various reasons) but we either found them in all the eating places or just went in and asked for the toilets, my notoriuosly tempremental stomach behaved itself impeccably i%26#39;m glad to say, and i ate all sorts of things and drank quite a lot too, may I add.

Charles De Gaulle airport on the way back to england was a real dissapointment, lack of notices, nowhere to eat, bars closed etc, considering Paris is a major attraction for us english it was crap to be blunt.

anyway had a great time, if I can be of any help to anyone, as I have probably missed out a loads of stuff, I will be more than willing, as I found that this forum was invaluable and helped me plan a great trip,thanks everyone who answered my queries.If I think of anything else will post again, Bonsoir mes amis, janick

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Just thought a few more things, don%26#39;t worry about what anyone is wearing, there was everything and no one seemed to be haute couture, be comfortable and don%26#39;t take too much, we only really got dressed up the meal in the eiffel tower, also it is really worth wearing your shoes in, as the amount of walking you do, even on the metro up and down steps, is amazing, your feet do really feel like they have done a marathon at the end of the day. janick

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How far in advance did you make your reservation for Altitude 95? And do they only allow reservations at certain times (seatings)? Was there a special booth to pick up your Eiffel Tower tickets since you were eating at the restaurant, or did you have to stand in the regular line? You mentioned you were about 20 minutes late so I wondered if it was the line that held you up. Thanks for any info about this.

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I noticed that Altitude 95 caters alot to tour gruops so maybe that is why they schedule the way they do. We actually went with a tour group so our group was seated at 9PM and we took up the entire resturarnt.

I agree about the airport. We are spoiled by having good food and drinks in our airports. In October we were on a flight that had some sort of threat so they evacuated us and made us sit in the terminal for 6 hours. No food or water was offered and we were not allowed to leave the area where they unlaoaded us. It was really awful.

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Mimmy,

Altitude 95 does have two seatings, I think 7:30 and 9:00. We were told to arrive at the restaurant by 7:00 for the 7:30 seating. If you want a window seat, you need to ask for it when making a reservation and we were told you needed to reserve 2 months in advance for the window. Otherwise, I don%26#39;t know that you have to make reservations too early. We went to the early seating on a Saturday night and it was not packed (lots of tour groups, though). There is a special booth to purchase tickets to ascend for the restaurant, and you bypass the regular queue.

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Thanks. I had no idea one had to make a reservation for Altitude 95 that far in advance in order to get a window seat. Now I have to make up my mind quickly whether we want to do that.

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Hello, did I read correctly that the dinner was only 55 Euros? For two?

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Hi there, the dinner in altitude 45 cost us 55 british pound, roughly 79 euros, plus we left a tip, about 5 euros, the meal we had was the seafood platter between the both of us, and a dessert each and a bottle of rose wine, so i should imagine, it would be more if we had had a starter, maincourse, dessert each etc, but we found it was plenty.

I booked fairly early for the restaurant, but had to phone as they do not take bookings via email, and then we confirmed again when we got to paris via the hotel, who rang for us, I specified a window table, smoking, and it was a lovely spot looking over paris,

We didn%26#39;t have to queue to get into the restaurant, you go to a yellow kiosk, they mark your name off, and then you have to purchase tickets to go up the tower, but you go right to the front of the queue as there are people there waiting to take your ticket, then you have to wait to go on the lift, there are only sittings 7.00 and 9.00pm, so i make sure you allow plenty of time to get there, as the getting the tickets, waiting for the lift etc, can take a good 20 minutes or so.I f i was going again I would book for the 9 p.m sitting as it would be dark and you would get the full effect of the lights etc on the tower, the staff were extremely helpful and the service was good.after the meal you can stroll around the level you are on and look over Paris.Janick

Places to see for 2-3 hours near Gare du Nord

Hi,

We%26#39;ll be leaving Paris via a Eurostar train at 1pm at Gard du Nord. Since our hotel is pretty far (Monparnase) from the station, I think we%26#39;ll check out early in the morning, and take our luggages to Nord.

1. Are there luggage lockers at the Nord? I remember vaguely there were, from my trip to Paris years ago.

2. Any places we should see, that are not far from the Nord, during the 2-3 hours before we got on the train?

Thanks!

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YES...there are Left Luggage lockers (Les Consignes) at Gare du Nord. Unless you have some predetermined sites or attraction that you want to see, you could simply exit the station and make your way to the south-east corner out front (to your left as you come out the doors) and take the #42 public bus line from Gare du Nord (the route begins at Gare du Nord), past the grand Garnier Opera House, past the Medeleine Church, though Place de la Concorde, along the lower portion of Champs Elysees, across the Seine and get off at the Eiffel Tower---and than start workin%26#39; your way back in the general direction of Gare du Nord.

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Yes, I%26#39;m pretty sure there is still a %26quot;consigne%26quot; at the Gare du Nord. If I am wrong I don%26#39;t doubt I will be swiftly corrected.

The closest %26quot;sights%26quot; to the Gare du Nord are the sacre Coeur and Place du tertre in Montmartre.

The RER will take you in two stops to St-Michel, with the Latin Quarter and the islands within a couple of minutes walk. (The Cluny museum is delightful if you think you will have enough time. It%26#39;s quite small...)

But what I think I would do is take a stroll a few blocks to the Canal St. Martin and then go for a wander along it. It%26#39;s worth exploring and you should find a pleasant cafe to have a last grand creme or un p%26#39;tit verre...

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The only place not so far from Gare du NOrd would be Montmartre hill, you take metro line number 2 from Gare du NOrd and get off at Anvers, then walk up the stairs or take the funicular with another metro ticket or metro pass. It should take you 45 minutes to reach the top of the hill.

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Thank you both for your great suggestions!

I think I%26#39;ll leave the Monmartre at last then. If I don%26#39;t have time to go, I%26#39;ll simply pop over there. Otherwise, I%26#39;ll do the bus thing.

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Ooops, I meant, thank you all 3 of you!

So confused...

I%26#39;m sure there have been 5million topics about this, but I don%26#39;t know where to begin

Location, pricing etc...

When I think I%26#39;ve chosen a hotel, someone tells me it%26#39;s best to stay here...there...everywhere..

Hotel near the Louvre or Elysees? Can anyone provide any insight to a female going to Paris solo for 5 days?(also on a hotel budget, saving for shopping:))

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If you want to be close to everything, stay in a single digit arrondisement. If you don%26#39;t mind traveling somewhat to get almost anywhere, then any of the 20 arrondisements will do.

I%26#39;m on a hotel budget too (because I%26#39;m cheap!), and I%26#39;m a single female traveling alone. I%26#39;ve chosen to stay at the Port Royal Hotel (do a search on this and you%26#39;ll find the website here), partly because it gets rave reviews, partly because it%26#39;s quite inexpensive (IMO - 46e a night for a single) while still being mostly central (it%26#39;s on the edge of the 5th near the 13th), and partly because it%26#39;s not a big chain hotel or hostel - I%26#39;m going to France for just 6 days, why would I want something that reminds me of home??

It%26#39;s all in what you%26#39;re after, really. A warning about the Port Royal - they don%26#39;t take credit cards, and they don%26#39;t take internet reservations. You must call them, then send a money order/traveller%26#39;s cheque for 100 euros to get them to hold your room. I didn%26#39;t have a problem with calling them, but I also speak French fluently... the fellow that answered the phone definitely didn%26#39;t speak English (my accent and grammar have suffered of late, although my vocab is still intact). When I sent the traveller%26#39;s cheque, I did it registered mail with a note asking them to e-mail when they received it... I got a reply within 10 days.

Have fun!

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I was having the same problem. I finally settled on Hotel Sainte Marie. I%26#39;ve heard great things about this hotel...I mean, it%26#39;s not a 5 star hotel, but it%26#39;s cheap and clean. You can read reviews on it here, and also check their website at: www.hotelsaintemarie.com

My single is costing me 48 euros and it includes a shower! It seems to be in the 2/3 a area, which is pretty close to the centre of town.

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The absolutely BEST hotel near the Louvre is the Hotel de Louvre. Recently redone, nice bar, great brasserie, WONDERFUL location. It is a 4-star so it should run you about $350-400 a night.

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Ummm, Pixfield - OP stated she is on a budget... that usually does not translate into 300-400 dollar hotel rooms... but thanks.

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LOL!! ^^ I thought the same thing! Silly Pix....

Carmela.....my last trip to Paris was a month ago, and I stayed at the hotel St. Jacques on rue des Ecoles (6th I think) with the metro station Maubert/Mutualite. While it was a great hotel, we found that we were always having to make at least 1 connection in the metro stations and decided that if we had stayed closer to the Louvre (main line) it might have been easier.

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Oh, I don%26#39;t know. I%26#39;m sure there are people for whom staying in a suite at the Lancaster instead of at the Bristol is what travelling on a budget means...

Savona(Italy) to Nice Airport by train?

Hi! Can someone please help me! I need to get to Nice Airport by 9:20am at the latest. I%26#39;ll be travelling from Savona-Italy, further along the Italian Riviera. I have heard that there is a bus from Genoa to Nice Airport but I am not sure of the details or even if it stops in Savona? I think by train may be the quickest option, but again I have no details, still looking on french and italian train websites.

Grateful for any suggestions, thanks!

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The earliest train I can find leaves savona at 06:10 and does not arrive in Nice, after a change at Ventimiglia, until 09:20, precisely the time you need to be at the airport.

There is a bus service between Savona and Nice airport, the same bus you are referring to. According to the timetable published on the Nice airport web site, there is a bus leaving Savona at 06:45 arriving at Nice airport at 09:10. A bit tight, since even a slight delay will create a problem, but it%26#39;s your only shot unless you can stay in Nice the night before your flight.

Go to the Nice airport website and you can find the timetable:

www.nice.aeroport.fr/include/default.asp

If I were you I would certainly want to verify this information. The service is apparently operated by Phoceens Cars. A web search should track them down.

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Thanks very much IrishRovr, I%26#39;m on the case now!! Going to contact Nice Airport and then maybe Phoceens Cars.

Thanks nini

Best Part of Nice to Stay

Does anyone have an opinion on the best area to stay at in Nice? I%26#39;m trying to decide between the Suisse Hotel, by the beach and old town and The Grimaldi which I understand is central. Looking forward to any and all opinions!

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All depnds on your way of life, your interest in a city,how you can deal with crowds, etc. The Suisse is in a more animated area while the Grimaldi is closer to a somewhat quieter area (more private residences in the area).

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yymca6, thank you for your answer. I was in Barcelona last year, same time and stayed at a hotel on the Ramblas. I did like that location because it was very central and lively. But my hotel itself was quiet. Just looking for opinions from people who know the city and the pros and cons of each location.

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The waterfront zone seems by far the best. Inland seems nondescript to me, and I walk everywhere including to those far inland/uphill museums. Don%26#39;t even like the central rail area, esp since the main road between there and the old town is all torn up due to about the most disruptive construction of it%26#39;s kind I%26#39;ve ever seen.

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Thank you daft! I really am looking for these types of opinions. Has anyone had a recent experience at the Suisse Hotel?

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eminem...

i%26#39;ll let you know how it goes.. leave for europe tomorrow... shoudl arrive in nice in about a week.. stayin at the suisse...

so far.. by what ive hear its a pretty kewl place.. we%26#39;ll just have to see...

all the best..

and i%26#39;ll keep u posted...

-chairmanmao-

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chairmanmao, have a great trip! I look forward to hearing about the Suisse and the rest of your trip. I leave at the end of June.

How to get from Gare de Lyon to Metro 12 (Porte de la...

I am travelling from Cannes to Paris to stay at the hotel Langlois.

I need help in How to get from Gare de Lyon to Metro 12 (Porte de la Chapelle - Mairie d%26#39;Issy), this is closest station to Hotel Langlois.

Any advice please.

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You simply go to

www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/index.php

and type in any 2 address in paris to get the best way to travel between them.

Take Metro 14 from: Gare de Lyonto Saint-Lazare (last stop)

At Saint-Lazare, grab the Line 12 to Porte de la Chapelle.

It%26#39;s a 30 minute trip. 1 metro ticket at 1.40euro

A longer but more direct way is bu bus. Number 65 takes you direct from one station to the other in about 40 minutes for the same price.

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I%26#39;m not trying to be a smart-a__ (I seldom have to make much effort at that) but why not use this occasion as an opportunity to develop a little self-sufficiency by learning to use the very useful research and planning %26#39;..tools..%26#39; that are readily available to you and relatively easy to operate.

To begin with, what is the address of the HOTEL LANGLOIS? (it%26#39;s not as if this information won%26#39;t be important to you). Now, go to the main RATP web site--

http://www.ratp.com

Use the PLAN de QUARIER feature of that site to find the nearest Metro station to the hotel. Having discovered this, use the PLAN de LIGNES feature on the same home page to call up a map of the entire metro system. First, find GARDE de LYON on the map. Then find the Metro station that is closest to the Hotel Langlois. Then, trace the various routes between the two locations and you%26#39;re pretty much all set. Jot down your own itineray between the two locations (making sure to add the direction of the trains you need to take. Et Voila !! you%26#39;re well on your way to becoming your own, self-sufficient, filly-qualified, Metro %26#39;expert%26#39;....and able to figure out how to get anywhere, from anywhere else in Paris with little or no difficulty. It%26#39;s not as if this information and ability isn%26#39;t going to be needed during your visit. This ain%26#39;t %26#39;..rocket science..%26#39;.