Wednesday, April 25, 2012

11th district/Grand Hotel Amelot

Hi. Ill be staying at the Grand Hotel Amelot in the 11 district. Has anybody heard of/stayed there? Also, how is the 11 district. safe? plenty to do? i keep researching it and i dont find out much..




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I know where your hotel is on the rue Amelot, but that is about all I can say. I%26#39;ve never stayed there nor even looked inside it...





The rue Amelot is a pleasant enough and fairly quiet street running more or less parallel to the main boulevard between the place de la Bastille and the place de la Republique.





Cross this boulevard to the west and you will be in the Marais, one of my favorite areas in paris. Fascinating architecture, interesting shops, good cafes and retaurants by the ton, and several excellent museums.





About a quarter mile to the north of your hotel is the Oberkampf district, widely rumored to be the most happening part of paris nightlife-wise. Plenty of good places to eat and/or sit here too...





A quarter mile south is the Bastille which is also lively and interesting with more restaurant and cafe choices...





To the east there are a whole slew of very typical Paris neighborhoods, some more iimmediately attractive than others, but with plenty of interest. And a bit further east is the Pere Lachaise cemetery.





And finally you are very close to the Canal St Martin which is worth investiagating...





All these areas are safe, generally speaking, as is most of central Paris, provided you exercise ordinary common sense, and are aware of what is going on around you.





By the way, there is a restaurant on the same street as your hotel, C%26#39;Amelot (punny, no?) which I have looked at a few times but never tried. If you should happen to go there I%26#39;d love to hear what you thought of it...




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I%26#39;m not sure if you have already gone on your trip but I wanted to let you know that I have stayed at this hotel and it is very nice. Good prices and in a great location. As IrishRovr said you are one block off of Blvd. Beaumarchais which is the separating street between the 4th and the 11th. Hope you enjoy it!!




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I just came back from Europe and had stayed at the Grand Hotel Amelot. My feedback might be a little late for you since it%26#39;s mid-August already, but it might help the next person.


The Grand Hotel Amelot is okay, definitely not great, very basic.


I picked this hotel because it%26#39;s difficult to find an inexpensive hotel with air-conditioning for 4 people. The room is very small as expected, beds are low and one bed with dead spring and the other is foam. I did not sleep well the three nights I stayed there. There is a small TV mounted near the ceiling, the coat cabinet is old with one handle missing. The room has 2 wooden chairs and one full length mirror, no peep hole on door and no %26quot;privacy please%26quot; door hanger. Air-conditioning is the portable type and it worked fine. Wall paper are peeling at several places and cracked paint on ceiling.


Bathroom is very small and no place to hang anything, even the towels. you are given plastic cups and one tiny bar of soap for each person. Lights are dim and there wasn%26#39;t any water pressure when taking shower. Took a long time for hot water to kick in and fade in and and out during shower. I did not wash my hair the whole time there because the water was very weak and just felt like small stream of water drippling down.


The elevator was out-of-order the whole time we were there and the banging of repairing the elevator started around 9 in the morning.


The location is not bad, close to at least 3 metro. 15 to 20 minutes walk to Bastill plaza. A tiny grocery store just up the block and 2 supermarkets nearby. A spanish restaurant next store but was closed the time we were there, a Chinese takeout was opened and just next to this spanish restaurant. The neighborhood is okay but a lot of stores were closed the time we were there (early August), I also noticed some homeless people.


Overall, the place is okay but next time I think I would rather spend a little more and stay at a more pleasant hotel. The staff was okay, did not seem to speak much English but definitely not rude. The internet near the reception was broken and a vending machine at the lobby. Did not take the breakfast option so no comment. The hotel also lets you leave the luggage with them after checkout.




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Don%26#39;t know the hotel but it sounds pretty bad even by cheap standards. We have stayed in 2 and 3 star hotels around the Gare du Nord and always had better rooms than that.




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I meant to stay at this hotel myself and a couple of days before i and 5 other people in our group were due to leave, 4 of them cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances out of our control. We booked through another website and for this reason the Grand Hotel Amelot refused to amend to price of our bookings. Which meant that although only one out of the 3 rooms we%26#39;d booked would be occupied for the 4 nights we were to stay, the three of them would be billed for the entire stay. Not only did they refuse to change the price because they %26quot;had to pay a charge to the website that(we) used%26quot; but as I tried to negociate, the personnel was very rude to me. I spoke to them in French as I am French and they didn%26#39;t speak English, and I thought we could find a deal but no. So we had to do a no-show not to waste so much money.



I don%26#39;t what the hotel quality is like but with such a rude personnel, they can be sure I will never stay one second in this hotel.

Paris during Easter - too crowded?

Hi





I have read somewhere that Paris can be pretty crowded during Easter. How bad is it really? I have been there before in April and in June and I have always found it crowded by tourists :-) Do things (museums, attractions) close down during Easter? Here in Norway the whole country basically shuts down in the Easter period. Will it be hard to find a hotel at a decent price if we plan to go there during Easter 2006?





Regards



Gard




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Nothing will be closed for Easter here, but it can get a bit crowded, less though than july and august which are much worse.




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Hi





Thanks for the reply. I have been to Paris a couple of times before and I had a great time there. I hope to go there again and make a new and update trip report with lots and lots of pictures :-) Now we just need to find an affordable hotel :-)





Regards



Gard

Train or bus to get to Savona from Nice Airport?

Thank you (yymca6) for your prompt reply.





I appreciate your advice very much. I%26#39;ll check into the hotel you suggested. I think I%26#39;ll have to buy the train ticket at the station. I can%26#39;t seem to buy the tickets ahead of time..at least not on online right now through Scnf. Perhaps I can when it gets closer to March.





MSUspartan








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You should be able to buy your tickets through SNCF if you are within 60 days of your trip. It will ask you the country wher tickets will be delivered, answer France so you will be able to print the tickets on your printer. Be aware that some tickets can%26#39;t be printed on your printer because of certain restrictions, so read carefully. If you have problems with wording in French, let me know, I will translate for you. Just remember that I leave for Nice on March 1, so I will be offline for some time since i still don%26#39;t know if I will carry my laptop with me this time.

Getting to the vineyards

We are travelling to Beaune in June. Presently, I don%26#39;t plan to rent a car. Are there tours or transportation to the vineyards/wineries. Thanks in advance for your help.




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There are different tours available departing from the Beaune tourist office as well as another company in Nuits St Georges run by French/American couple which offers private tours. All will give overall view of the vineyards, villages + wine tastings. For visiting specific wineries you will need private arrangements.

Paris in January

My husband and I will be in Paris from 21st to 26th January- what kind of weather should we be prepared for? I%26#39;ve heard it%26#39;s bitterly cold and it rains most days this time of the year! Is it really a bad time to visit Paris?





Any suggestions on what kind of things we can do in Paris considering the weather? We%26#39;ve been before (in the summer) and done most sights- this time just want to soak in the place




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It is cold, but it is also a nice, quiet time of year to come, with the art exhibits and theater season in full swing and most tourist somewhere else. I am a big art fan and I am generally to be found soaking up the various exhibits at the Beaubourg, Grand Palais, and throughout the city. Sitting at the window of a local cafe and watching the city go by is another fun activity.



Also, It may rain everyday, but you will often have entire weeks where it rains just for a few hours each day, making touring quite pleasant.




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if you want to do some shopping January is a good time . The sales start on 12/1 and run till late in February . The main department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps resemble a rugby scrum most of the time . I prefer to go to the department store on the left bank Le Bon Marche - nearest metro is Sevres Babylone




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Paris anytime of year is wonderful. I think every season has it%26#39;s advantages. You will enjoy fewer crowds and the the winter sky and perhaps a few snow flakes make for enchanting scenery in Paris. Although it is cold, I like to look at the bright side that winter evening lows (30s?) are really somewhat mild in climate! It won%26#39;t warm up much from that during the day, but it is tolerable if you bring a good scarf, gloves and a good coat! The best passtime in Paris, walking, will warm you up too!





How much do telecartes run now?

Just wondering how much they are now for the various unites...





Merci





Les




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I got a couple last year to call the US at 7.50 each.




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As far as I can find :


50 unités: 8.92 or 11,19 euro


120 unités: 16.25 or 18.52 euro


(cards with 5 or 25 unités also exist)



www.telecarte.tm.fr




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thanks!





L

Righ Bankt vs. Left Bank

5 of us (semi-mature adult friends) are off to Paris next Thanksgiving. We%26#39;re trying to decide between apartment rentals on the Right Bank (Palais Royal Garden view) or on the Rue du Four in St. Germain. Pros and Cons, anyone?




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Both areas are great, but if you have the Palais Royal. garden view, I%26#39;d go for that.




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I love the rue du four. Very central, lots of character.



You can%26#39;t go wrong with either I think...





Les

Boutique Hotel

Any suggestions for a small boutique hotel in Paris?




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There a lots of them. What%26#39;s your budget and when will you travel? Small boutique hotels tend to fill up months ahead and they usually have a regular clientèle.





Here are just some (but there are many more). All ***:



Millésime, 6th



De l%26#39;Abbaye, 6th



Le Sénat, 6th



Fleurie, 6th



Sainte-Beuve, 6th



Relais Bosquet, 7th




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you might also read these recommendations...



www.patriciawells.com/paris/photels.htm





I%26#39;ll be staying at one of the hotels that Coco mentions, L%26#39;Abbaye, later this week and will post a report when I return. It gets glowing reviews from most quarters.




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Also, lala, there%26#39;s the Small Charming Hotels: Paris guide that you may want to browse through or get (Borders usually has it, and Waterstones probably does too). Every hotel I%26#39;ve booked from it has been lovely. Many of the hotels in the book can also be found here: www.smallandeleganthotels.com/Paris/index.htm - it%26#39;s worth matching some of the descriptions against TA user reviews for a good overview.




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This web page has a very good selection as well. Just click where it says %26#39;charming boutique hotels%26#39;.





http://www.hotels-exclusive.com/paris.htm




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What usually pass for %26#39;..boutique hotels..%26#39; in the US are usually %26#39;..run-of-the-list..%26#39; hotels in Paris. So with that in mind, you really need to provide some frame of personal reference--perhaps MOST importantly--PRICE range per night....then personal preferences for amenities, location, etc.




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Price is not an issue..nice and clean are important. If %26quot;boutique%26quot; in Paris is different from the USA meaning..then what should I be looking for in Paris?





Many Thanks.




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Hotel Bel Ami



Hotel Lancaster



Hotel St. Gregoire



Hotel Montalembert





If price isn%26#39;t a problem I love the Lancaster and the Montalembert...





Les




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If nice and clean are criteria, then check out the HENRI IV RIVE GAUCHE, a lovely 3-star located in the north part of the Latin Quarter only a block or so from the Seine and Notre Dame. We stayed there in September. It%26#39;s listed as #28 out of 1529 Paris hotels on the Trip Advisor hotel reviews. It%26#39;s a new hotel in an old building, only about 25 rooms, and everything is very fresh and clean. We paid 162 euros per night for a twin-bedded room overlooking the street with a great view of St. Severin church directly across from us.





www.hotel-henri4.com




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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Price is not an issue..nice and clean are important. If %26quot;boutique%26quot; in Paris is different from the USA meaning..then what should I be looking for in Paris? %26lt;%26lt;%26lt;





Price not being %26quot;..an issue..%26quot;....and in the absence of any other personal preferences, priorities, locations, check out any of these %26#39;..boutique..%26#39; hotels in Paris.





L%26#39;HÔTEL--



http://www.l-hotel.com/





RELAIS CHRISTINE--



http://www.relais-christine.com





HÔTEL d%26#39;AUBUSSON--



http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/





RELAIS HÔTEL DU VIEUX PARIS--



http://www.paris-hotel-vieuxparis.com





HÔTEL La VILLA SAINT GERMAIN--



http://www.villa-saintgermain.com/





HÔTEL BEL AMI--



http://www.hotel-bel-ami.com/





ARTUS HÔTEL--



http://www.artushotel.com/fr/



HÔTEL COSTES K--





HÔTEL MURANO URBAN RESORT--



http://www.muranoresort.com/murano.html





HÔTEL du PETIT MOULIN--



http://www.paris-hotel-petitmoulin.com/




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Hotel Monna Lisa, 97 Rue la Boétie (5 minutes walk from Champs Elysées) is lovely, with a good italian restaurant.



Hotel Square near maison de la Radio in the 16th area, with a trendy restaurant, Zebra Square



Hotel Murano Resort, close to Bastille and Republique, with a great bar.



Hotel Le A, close to rue la Boétie and Champs Elysées.

Please clear this one up for me...


Can you actually walk all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower using the stairs? I was under the distinct impression that you could only climb to the second floor using the stairs, and to reach the very top you had to get a lift. I have visited the Eiffel Tower about five times




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...sorry - I had to join half way through writing, and while I was off joining up it posted!!





Was saying that I%26#39;ve visited about five times, and never seen an option to pay to climb the stairs to the top, only first and second floors.





Has anyone EVER actually climbed the stairs to the summit?




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You CANNOT anymore climb up to the top, you can just climb to the 1st and 2nd floors. For the 3rd you have to take a lift, buy the difference in the small booth they have on the 2nd floor but it is not always open. The booth on the ground floor is different whether you buy for stairs or for lift so you cannot buy both options at the same booth.




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Thank you so much Raphy!





The more I read about Paris on various websites, the more annoyed I started to get whenever I saw - %26#39;it%26#39;s nearly 1,800 steps if you want to walk to the top, but we decided to get the lift...%26#39; as I was CERTAIN walking to the top wasn%26#39;t an option. I have no desire to walk to the top - I%26#39;m not mad! But have tried a couple of times to walk down (you may have heard of the Ealing Comedy %26#39;The Lavender Hill Mob%26#39; where at the end they run down the old spiral staircase at the tower), and found the stairways locked.







Thanks again for clearing it up - was just one of those annoying things!




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Is the old spiral staircase still there? I watched the Lavender Hill Mob before I went to Paris last summer, and the movie made me decide that I did NOT want to take the stairs. When I actually saw the stairs, I couldn%26#39;t figure out why they%26#39;d looked so scary in the movie. Your post is the first I%26#39;ve read that indicated those were the old stairs.




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The old staircase was cut up during a campaign of restauration in 1983 i think, a part is exhibited on the 1st floor of the tower, some other bits were sold on auction sales, i guess if i remember well there is one bit in the united states and another one in Japan, at least...




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I can%26#39;t add anything to Raphy%26#39;s perfect response Mimmy!




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I am unaccountably pleased to know about the old staircase. Thanks.

Ajaccio to Porto Vecchio?

Hi - my husband and I are thinking of going to Corsica this June. He is a keen diver and I am a keen photographer, snorkeller and beach bum. Not knowing the island - can anyone offer us any feedback on where is best to go for good beaches and diving? I thought Porto Vecchio would be good to be near beaches and Bonifacio for diving. All feedback would be welcome. If we were to go there - what is the best way of getting there from Ajaccio airport? Hire a car? Any ideas how long it would take?? Thanks!




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Are you set on Ajaccio for your arrival airport? Figari is much closer to Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio about 30 mins compared with about 2.5 hours from Ajaccio. This is the most expensive and crowded part of the island.





There are beaches and diving opportunities along the north west coast between Calvi and L%26#39;Ille Rousse, 3.5 hrs from Ajaccio but only 2.5 from Bastia. Calvi airport is obviously the closest. Plenty of photo opportunities everywhere on Corsica. Good beaches all the way between the two towns and great scenery inland in the Balagne district.





Public transport is widespread but very infrequent, on many routes only one or two buses a day, so car hire is all but essential, and is great fun as long as you don%26#39;t mind narrow roads, dizzying drops and endless bends!





I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll have a great time wherever you go on Corsica!




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I agree with Aardvark. The Balagne in the north west of Corsica will give you good diving (I know there are diving centres in Galeria and Calvi) and some wonderful beaches. Most of the scheduled flights from Britain land at Bastia, and it is only an hour and a half by car from Bastia to Calvi. You%26#39;ll see much more if you hire a car wherever you go in Corsica, but an additional advantage of the Balagne is the little coastal train that connects all the beaches in the region.




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Thank yo both so much for your very helpful advice. We%26#39;lltake your advice and head for the Calvi/Ile Rousse area. Any advice on beat flight deals from the UK? Any recommended accomodation? Thank you! Can%26#39;t wait to book it - we need something to look forward to after Christmas!




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Sure - here is some info as requested... There are scheduled flights from Gatwick from BA (Sunday, Tues, Thurs) and Excel (Sundays) in June. You could also look at Thomson flights and if you are travelling from a regional airport, check out Westernair. You can Google these or get the links on my website Corsicaholiday.com, or the website Corsica Isula. You%26#39;ll love the Balagne!




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There are few cheap flights to Corsica. It may be best to book up on BA Gatwick-Bastia flight well in advance, or try the tour operators for a fly drive deal.





There are plenty of hotels etc in Calvi and L%26#39;ille Rousse and you might also like to consider Algajola, which is a very small resort midway between the two, but it does have a great beach, a railway station and a couple of hotels directly on the beach (which is properly known as Aregno Plage).





The (so-called) train between Calvi and L%26#39;ille Rousse stops at Ajgajola and all the beaches along the way. In summer there is a relatively frequent service so you could explore the whole of the area and choose the beach that suits you. Just don%26#39;t expect the Orient Express!!!





If you do fly to Bastia, the drive to the Balagne is an ideal introduction to driving in Corsica, being along main roads which are relatively easy and also have some good scenery. Because Bastia airport is south of the town you do not need to pass through the town itself. You may notice a few miles after Ponte Leccia (a road and rail junction about half way)a left turn to Asco. The drive along the river valley here to Asco is absolutely superb and you can find endless quiet spots by the river for a picnic, although the road is very narrow in places and parking is not too easy. Recommended for a day trip and very photogenic!





I hope you will return from Corsica as a converted fan of this beautiful island.




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Thank you both so much for your great advice, sounds like you go there quite often! I have found two return flights to Bastia for £190 on the BA site and will book those tonight. Then we%26#39;ll look at the accomodation. I can%26#39;t wait, the way you%26#39;ve described it sounds great! We usually go away further afield and it%26#39;ll be great to find a holiday spot we like a few hours flight from home. The website was bery helpful too, I%26#39;ll have a proper look at it tonight.



Bye for now!




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I wonder if you would like to consider something a little different?





That is staying for at least part of your holiday in a mountain village.



The village of Lama, about 30 minutes from L%26#39;ille Rousse, has lots of gites for hire. It is a true Corsican village but has been carefully adapted for holiday makers. There is the huge advantage of a very nice free swimming pool in the village, and there are a few shops bars and restaurants. There are several walks and the village has lots of photo opportunities. You can find more information on:-



corsica.net/corsica/…lama02.htm





The corsica.net site is a real treat since it has obviously translated from the French by electronic means, so the language used is very entertaining.



There is the most amusing mis-spelling in the Lama section - have fun looking for it!

Boules / Petanque in Paris

I have recenlty started playing Petanque here in the states. Is ist accessible to play in Paris? Do the %26quot;locals%26quot; let others join? Do most parks have courts for Petanque? Are some parks better than others?



Thanks!






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I have seen a special area in the jardins du Luxembourg but have not seen very often people playing. Just today i saw many people play on Place de la Nation but i don%26#39;t know if they play there all the time or just occasionnally. I am sure they will be happy for you to join in %26quot;plus on est de fous plus on rit%26quot;, the more you are, the more you laugh as we say in French, but i guess you need to bring your boules de pétanque, because each person brings their own set of balls, they might have a spare one but not sure.




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It%26#39;s a great game. The French take it very seriously. You may find more played outside of Paris. I am sure that all my friends in the burbs are not the types to allow anyone to join in unless it was preplanned. You might try looking for a society that will let you have a short term membership. Good luck. Or just look on craigslist for some partners. Hpe this helps.




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Raphey%26#39;s post could be more accurate than mine. But do look on Craigslist. Those ballas are way to heavy to tavel with though.




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sorry...Balls. Can%26#39;t type today.




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I remember someyears ago a boulodrome with people playing near the house of Tristan Tzara in Montmartre. Perhaps it still exists...




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Yes the balls can be bought in Paris : le vieux campeur, Decathlon... I have some that i never use if you want to borrow them when you come here, i need to look for them though!! I have never played, i got them from people who were playing. I am sure the guys i saw today would let you play but it may not be the case everywhere. Although the people who play are usually laid back and relaxed...




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I see people play on bd Richard Lenoir or bd Jules Ferry, but only in summer, this is the reason why I was surprised at Raphy%26#39;s post. But , after all, there must be genuine aficionados who play rain or shine. There is a complete %26quot;boulodrome%26quot; on rue Cardinet next to Pont Cardinet station. I think it %26quot;belongs%26quot; to a bona fide pétanque club. By googling Paris + Pétanque, I am sure you%26#39;ll get more info.





Speaking of info, do you know where the word %26quot;pétanque%26quot; comes from? It means %26quot;closed feet%26quot; in Provençal (a dialect/now almost extinct regional language of the South of France), because, as you know, when you throw the ball, your feet are snuggly next to each other! %26quot;Tancat%26quot; still means %26quot;closed%26quot; in Catalan, a real currently spoken language this one, this is the sign you see on Barcelona stores when they are... closed!




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thanks so much for all the info. I am not travelling until the summer so I suspect I will see a number of players. thank you Raphy for offering your boules. Maybe I%26#39;ll take you up on it.




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Everytime I walk past the Square du Temple, I see people playing--even women!!




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I%26#39;m a boules champ. No kidding, I won a championship w/ a french friend in the Drome. It was, of course, %26quot;petanque%26quot; down there.



Anyway...I have seen it played on the Place Dauphine on the Ile de la Cite weekend nights in the summer....





Les

Paul?

Today for lunch, I finally followed the delicious smell on rue Montorgueil into Paul(a sandwich place of sorts?). I enjoyed the formule, with a sandwich, drink, and dessert for just 6 euros, but I%26#39;m wondering if anyone else has tried the other locations, how many there are, and if the Parisiennes consider them like I (a New Yorker) consider Starbucks.





Thanks, and also thank you for the suggestions for raclette--we%26#39;re going next week!




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I%26#39;m not a fan of Paul myself. They%26#39;re much like the other bakeries that are supplied from factory operations outside Paris. I think the breads are bland but I have had a couple of nice sandwiches from the store on Av de la Opera and some memorable macaroons at Hotel de Ville.



I%26#39;m kinda biased too because I live on the same block as a truly great bakery. Paul isn%26#39;t bad but it doesn%26#39;t compare to a good artisan boulangerie.




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Funnny enough, Paul recently was honored with %26quot;one of the top 10 croissants in Paris%26#39; by Figaro magazine (I think it was Figaro who did it....it was a major french publication). So who knows???





Les




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Paul is just another sandwich chain (posing as a bakery), just as Pomme de Pain or Brioche Dorée, not better, not worse. They%26#39;ve got plenty of franchises in airports, stations, autoroutes rest stops etc. which tells it all. I even saw one in London.

Restaurant advice please

Hi, me and my husband are visiting Paris for the first time in late February and are staying at : Best Western Le Nouvel Orleans



25, Avenue Du General Leclerc Paris.





We would like to eat near the hotel on our first night (Saturday) and would welcome any suggestions for good restaurants to eat at, also suggestions for bars/winebars for after our meal.





Also what is the best way to get to the hotel from CDG airport ?





Any help greatly appreciated




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Are you looking for restaurants and bars near the hotel or anywhere?





Also in my opinion, the best way to CDG is to ask your hotel to reserve a taxi.




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There is rail service from CDG to within a couple blocks of Nouvel Orleans, but I really don%26#39;t advise it for first-time visitors. There are plenty of threads on this forum with the information, if you wish to persue it... (RER line B from CDG to Denfert Rochereau station). If you don%26#39;t have a lot of luggage, you can perhaps minimize taxi expense by taking the Air France coach to Gare Montparnasse, then a taxi onward to the hotel. The AF bus will cost about13€ per person, then the taxi will cost roughly 10€ or so. A taxi from CDG will most likely cost 50-55€, but it is the most convenient method.





There are any number of cafes, restaurants and a couple wine bars on rue Daguerre. Check your map - if you go %26#39;north%26#39; on ave du Gen Leclerc toward Denfert Rochereau, you will see rue Daguerre on the left. It%26#39;s a market street, busy most every evening. Also, Cafe le Rendezvous at the place Denfert Rochereau is fine (has a more casual area streetside and a bit nicer room toward the back). We%26#39;ve eaten roast chicken/frites, moules, veal in mushroom sauce there...The wine bar is le Rallye Peret, just on the right side of rue Daguerre as you start walking down it. They also have a cafe next door (Peret)... we%26#39;ve eaten at Cafe d%26#39;Enfer further down as well. You can stop in for a drink at most any %26#39;corner cafe%26#39; you see. Just look around and see if other people are having only drinks or if they are eating only full meals.



Also, the Amorino gelato place (rue Daguerre on the left side) is nice for a frosty dessert.




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I just mentioned this to Jerseyguy in his post for a romantic evening, but my husband and I had a fantastic meal at Georges, on top of the Pompidou, at sunset.



It was so beautiful and the food was GREAT!



have a nice trip!




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I suggest you book the airport shuttle from the internet before you leave. Since it%26#39;s your first time in Paris, it would save you a lot of trouble if you just leave the airport and arrive in your hotel without worry plus it%26#39;s cheaper (just 19 euros per person). It would be hard finding your hotel, looking at your map and taking care of your luggages all at the same time.




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Forget about the shuttle thing, it%26#39;s a recipe for disaster and long waiting time: look at your hotel on a map, it%26#39;s at the %26quot;bottom%26quot; of Paris in relation with CDG, which means that all the other hotels will be served before you. So, given your location, RER from CDG to Denfert-Rochereau, then métro 4 to Porte d%26#39;Orléans is the best option if you have reasonable luggage. Otherwise, RER to Luxembourg + taxi (about €10).





Sorry to rain on your parade, but the area you are staying in is not particularly exciting, plus it%26#39;s total chaos at the moment due to the construction of the tram line. So if you can change, please do. But if you are stuck there, the closest oasis of civilisation is the Alésia métro stop, within walking distance. There, Le Zeller is a good, classic Parisian brasserie.




|||



Sorry, Bob but you are incorrect in your information. We have been staying around the corner from Nouvel Orleans for 2 years, last time Sept %26#39;05.



The tram line is south of Porte d%26#39;Orleans, well below the location of the BW hotel at 25 ave du Gen Leclerc (at the corner of rue Sophie Germain).



If Wilfie should decide to take the RER, station Denfert Rochereau is about 3 blocks north of the hotel. The nearest metro is Mouton Duvernet (NOT Porte d%26#39;Orleans!). I think it would be about the same time to just come out of the RER and walk to the hotel (400 meters or so).



The Air France coach I mentioned goes only to 2 stops in Paris, and would be quicker and cheaper than the hired shuttle services. From Gare Montparnasse (one of the 2 stops), one can take the metro, line 4 to Mouton Duvernet, or one can take a taxi.



The immediate area around the hotel does not have any %26#39;sights%26#39; other than the Catacombs, but it is comparatively quiet at night, and is well-maintained (no graffiti, boarded-up buildings), and is safe to walk to restaurants and back. there is nothing wrong with it, other than the true statement that Wilfie will need to take the bus/metro to reach many places of interest for sightseeing.




|||



The area is quite good for shopping. For restaurants i think also the Wepler at Alésia, other than that there are a few at Denfert Rochereau, more like brasseries than proper restaurants. The area is safe, i walk there regularly at night. The chaos is still going on but it looks like the tracks for the tramway have been placed so i guess the noisy works must be over, and it shouldn%26#39;t affect your stay. You will indeed the metro to go to the sightseeing places but the line 4 of the metro is very convenient.




|||



..as are bus lines # 38 and 68 which have a stop right in front of the hotel.





http://www.parisnotes.com/NewFiles/bus.pdf




|||



Thank you all for your help and suggestions, we are looking forward to our first time in Paris! Wilfie

Price changes in paris

Anyone know when hotels tend to change their rates? Is it April?



What about monuments/museums...is there a typical time they change rates, or is it random?





Thanks.





Les




|||



I believe the low season goes through March so beginning in April rates will be higher usually.




|||



To the best of my knowledge, there is no single time of the year that regular prices/rates change for Paris. As has been mentioned hotels have an un-official %26#39;..off seasons..%26#39; from December through early-March when many may offer special promotions and discounts. The %26#39;..off season..%26#39; for Paris used to be the month of August, when regular hotel rates dropped...but that period probably now extends from mid-July through the end of August.





For other things, the SNCF usually re-aligns their schedules and fares arounf April 1st and the RATP usually makes fare increases in August. I%26#39;m not sure of the usual timing of national and city museum entrance fee changes. But for the most part, these price changes really don%26#39;t amount to significant increases whenever they do occur. As examples, last year, the roud-trip RER fare out to Versailles was 5,20 €; this year it has been raised to 5,30 €. A Carnet of Metro tickets used to cost 10,05 €; now it costs 10,70 €.




|||



Prices for museums and entrance to monuments stay the same.



Hotels have a low season in the summer and a high season around fashion shows or other trade shows.




|||



I heard that the prices for the Eiffel tower have gone up a bit, and that Versailles price may change in the near future for the Grands Appartements.




|||



I think I wasn%26#39;t clear on what I meant...



I mean the annual changes, annual rate hikes. Not seasonal. The yearly rate hikes that make this year%26#39;s hotel rates more than last year%26#39;s, for example.



I had heard this occurs in April for the most part. Is that so, or is it January, or does each hotel change its rates (not seasonal, all the rates) on its own??





L




|||



%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;I mean the annual changes, annual rate hikes. Not seasonal. The yearly rate hikes that make this year%26#39;s hotel rates more than last year%26#39;s, for example.



I had heard this occurs in April for the most part. Is that so, or is it January, or does each hotel change its rates (not seasonal, all the rates) on its own??%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;





There is no widespread %26#39;..changing of the rates..%26#39; date. It might be reasonable to assume that SOME hotels MIGHT raise their regular %26#39;rack rates%26#39; with the beginning of a new %26#39;season%26#39; (only in that the winter months tend to be an un-official %26#39;..off season..%26#39;. I suspect that what you%26#39;ve heard has more to do with old tourism perceptions of the airline industry changing fare pricing on fixed dates. There was just a multi-million €uro fine assessed against six of the %26#39;premier%26#39; hotels in Paris for %26#39;..price fixing..%26#39; but this doen%26#39;t extend to the industry in general.




|||



Ok, thanks. I guess what I heard wasn%26#39;t accurate.





Les




|||



Some companies raise their prices in January, others in April, others at different times so it is a hard question!!

Spring Blooms

Ah, Printemps! It is just around the corner! I am arriving late March in Paris and would like to know what I can expect will be in bloom around March 22-30. I am guessing tulips and daffidils? I love Jardin Luxembourg and when I went in November I was surprised how many fall blooms I saw, thanks to mild PM temps. I hope I am in for a delight in the spring!




|||



Here are some of the flowers that come full bloom in April, so you should be able to see at least the beginnings of them the end of March.





Tulips, pansies, forget-me-nots, narcissi, aubrietas, cherry and crab-apple blossom, fritillaries and daffodils.





Have a great trip!




|||



That sounds delightful! Thanks! I hope I am not too early to see a good display.




|||



waytogogirl,



We will be in Paris at the same time!




|||



An other very beautiful area in the Jardin du Palais Royal. Very well maintained.

Where to go in Versailles

I am going to Paris on my honeymoon from Jan 26th to feb 3rd (8days). I was planning to take a day trip to versailles. Any ideas how to go and where to go in Versailles or if you suggest anything other than Versailles which might be a better option during that period?




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You can spend the majority of your day at the Chateau of Versailles and the gardens. There are several different tours offered...mostly independant, which is nice because it allows you to go at your own pace. The grounds are huge...tons of gardens and quiet places for picnics and you can rent bikes.



The easiest way to get without a car is the RER C line. It takes about 30 minutes from the center of Paris.




|||



It is doubtful you can rent bikes during the winter season... we couldn%26#39;t get anyone to open the kiosk in October one year, but we were successful this past September.





Only the grassy area by the canal is open for picnics - all the formal gardens are %26#39;pelouse interdit%26#39; (keep off).





The Chateau is very large and the grounds are extensive. There are two more %26#39;mansions%26#39; in the back of the property (Grand Trianon and Petite Trianon) and also Marie Antoinette%26#39;s %26quot;farm%26quot; (hameau). I think there is a tram you can take to reach those parts, and last time we saw golf carts (which kicked up too much dust for my likes). There may not be any/many flowers in the beds - not sure what they plant for cold weather.





The town itself has a nice area with lots of shops and cafes - if you are facing the plaza going up to the front of the chateau, then I%26#39;m referring to the neighborhood off to your right.




|||



I doubt there will be any flowers at all behind the chateau, and also the statues will be covered for their protection, but it is still worth, esp if you walk to the back to the hamlet. The train only goes from the chateau to the grand and petit trianon, NOT to the hamlet.




|||



Season of the year and uncertain weather will be the determining factors. Most of the gardens and grounds will be dormant.





Your best bet for going from Paris will be simply taking the RER %26#39;C-5%26#39; trains (any train with a %26#39;..V xxx..%26#39; designator) from any of the %26#39;C%26#39; lignes Left Bank stations, to the end-of-the-line, at VERSAILLES-Rive Gauche (RER fare-5,30 € round-trip..approx travel time 35 mins RER; 10 mins stroll to chateau))







VERSAILLE OFFICE of TOURISME--



www.versailles-tourisme.com/index_a.html





VILLE VERSAILLES--



www.mairie-versailles.fr/newspage.php…




|||



actually i would not recommend going to versaille in winter. if you do, keep in mind the following: the garden parterres of flowers (best enjoyed from the palace) will not be there... the main palace is empty - just the halls with mirrors, no furnishings. if you book a tour from paris - make sure they buy you a separate ticket to royal appartments, which do have furniture. we could not go - long ticket line and there was just 30 min time left from the tour - real bummer! i was really mad at the tour company for such mis-guidance. also the gardens themselves are mostly hedges and trees, formal and kinda boring in my view..most paths are large gravel - do not wear you good shoes! the fountains probably will not be on in winter. so you%26#39;ll kill a day that could be spend much better in the city. i am a garden fanatic and visit ALL gardens everywhere and expected a lot,...but i guess it was just my ignorance to blame after all...

Mobile Phone query

Can anyone tell me how much it costs (approx) to send a text message from France to U.K. - Vodafone network. Ta!





|||



Wouldn%26#39;t Vodafone have a website with their rates?

Champs Elysee Area??

Is the Champs Elysee area a good area to stay in? I know all about its location etc but what I am wondering is it too commerical an area? Are there lots of nice restuarants about the %26#39;Arc de Triomphe%26#39; or is it all chains?



Any thoughts?



Many thanks.



p.s I am thinking of staying in the Best Western Elysee. I will be 24weeks pregnant so being in a good location near a metro is essential.




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The Champs Elysee area is my favorite area in Paris. It is in the 8th district and in my opinion the best district. You won%26#39;t be disappointed by the restaurants or the shops. You will be a stone%26#39;s throw from rue Faubourg St. Honore. That street has the best shops in the world!! You%26#39;ll also be close to the 9th district which has the great department stores, Au Printemps, Galeries LaFayette, C %26amp; A, etc. The Arc de Triompe, Tour Eiffel, and Louvre are very close to the area. Also take a short walk to the Madeleine area and visit Fauchon and Hediard gourmet shops. I%26#39;m trying to find a reasonably priced hotel in the area right now. I was in Paris in Dec. 2005 and stayed at Hotel d%26#39;Elysees just off rue Faubourg St Honore in the 8th district. I want to be closer to the Champs Elysees. Oh, check out the famous restaurant, Maxim%26#39;s.




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I don%26#39;t have the shopping gene that lindilou has :-) so I%26#39;m not very fond of the CE. It IS too commercial and it%26#39;s too much like any city%26#39;s average shopping mall (except for the prices). The most interesting places to shop in Paris are the little boutiques in my opinion. I agree that it%26#39;s a great district but I think there%26#39;s a lot less to do there after you%26#39;ve seen the Arch, visited the grand stores, and walked the boulevard. You%26#39;d have a much richer experience in Paris if you pick something within a half mile of Ile St. Louis, the east end of the 1st, the 4th, 5th or 6th Arr.




|||



I%26#39;m with Metromole on this one. I think the Champs is great for a visit, but %26quot;I wouldn%26#39;t want to live there%26quot; so to say. It%26#39;s busy, it lacks the charm that so many other areas of Paris are brimming with....





Also, it%26#39;s really not central. You can walk to the other side of town from here, but it will take a while...





But if you like opulence, the area around the Champs is for you. I enjoy visiting, as I said.





I enjoy staying in the 4th, 6th or even the 7th...





Les




|||



the only thing that i liked around that area - window shopping the designer shops and staring at posh building/hotels in side streets . the boulevard is a gigantic (12 lanes?6 and 6?) highway with a lot of trafic. closer to the arc - one side has some local restaurants, the other - chains like hard rock and mcdonald with lots of americans hanging out - not the parisian charm i was after;). there%26#39;s not much to see on foot, except shops and just wondering around. to walk to louvre area is VERY FAR. and towards that end is a park end with no shops or much to see. best area i liked was st.germaine de pres(spelling?)on the left bank. it%26#39;s quiet and lined with trees. we stayed near louvre which was very good for everything, but not as residential.




|||



We are going to be in Paris during Bastille Day, what would be the best area to stay in then? I have the shopping gene but would would like to experience the %26quot;charm%26quot; of paris not just department stores as well as capture as much of the bastille day celebrations as possible!




|||



You can see the Bastille Day celebrations, you just have to go to where they are.





I would stay central....4th, 5th, 6th, 7th arrondissement perhaps. The sixth is very popular and loaded w/ charm.





Les

Victoria Palace Hotel

We are planning a trip to Paris in


April, and are looking at the Victoria Palace Hotel in the 6th. Has anyone stayed there? Is this a good location, covenient to major attractions? Are there restaurants nearby? Is it a safe area? We would appreciate your thoughts.




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Have you already checked for comments here at Trip Advisor? There have been many recent comments. It seems like a very good hotel. However, I personally find the rates to be much more than I can afford and the location is not that convenient although it%26#39;s technically located in the 6th district.




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We stayed there in 2002 and we loved it. We were on the top floor and the newly refurbished rooms were charming and elegant. The location is great. Its%26#39;s near Gare Montparnasse in a very lively district but just off the boulevard so it was relatively quiet at night. Great staff and excellent service.

ferries from Nice to the Italian Riviera?

I must be blind, but I can only find ferries from Nice to Corsica. What about Genoa or Portofino? Does anyone know if there are ferries or small boats, skippered, which can transport us?



Thanks



Diane




|||



I know boats leave Nice for Corsica but noyt to other Italian destinations.



Try their website



www.nice.port.fr/Display.aspx…





I have seen in Cannes that lots of ferries go to various destinations.

Air France sale

http://us.franceguide.com/





Maison de la France%26#39;s newsletter came out today with information on upcoming activities thruout France with some specials and information on the January sales in Paris. The link to the Web Site is above.



Air France is having an air fare sale til January 10th. Some fares are



$165 one way.




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If You book Air France (I never will again no matter how cheap it is) and You have a connecting flight at CDG make sure You have at least 2 hours between connecting flights. Also be prepared to be waiting inline at customs for at least 30 minutes, bumped, treated rudely, run from one end of CDG to the other to catch next flight, standing in customer service line to change your tickets and listen to others complaning too, and be able to sit around for hours waiting on your new flight. Just alittle advise to help keep your vacation stress free.




|||



Hello Paris,





I made a reservation on AF (rt from Miami) for $165 or so each way a couple of months ago, for Feb/March.........but that does NOT include the heavy taxes........still a good price though. I later found other airlines had the same sale from an airport closer to my home.......but!





If anyone runs into a good priced flight over at the end of May or in June, would you post it please?





TY

le lavoisier

Has anyone stayed at the le lavoisier? We are considering a basic room and was hoping someone could give us their opinion




|||



Are you referring to the hotel%26#39;s superior room? the lowest category. Do you need to know how large the room is, for example. That%26#39;s If you have read the Trip Advisor reviews already and still didn%26#39;t find your answer, perhaps you can email the hotel to get more information.

Restaurant with finicky eater in the 7th???????

My 11yr old daughter and I will be in Paris Sept 06.Can anyone suggest a few restaurants in the 7th district where I will not be greeted with a look of horror when I request a bowl of steamed vegies -no butter,or pasta with NOTHING ,for my daughter.I on the other hand will and do eat everything and anything and so would like to keep my options open.Obviously I do not want the exercise to send me broke.Would appreciate all suggestions.




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This is sort of off-topic, but since you are not going to Paris for 10 months, have you considered booking a hotel with a kitchenette? That way you can buy food from the wonderful and plentiful markets and cook for your daughter. Then you can go to restaurants and perhaps order her DESSERT while you have dinner. This will also save $$ and I think it would be fun to take your daughter to the various markets and let her pick out her own food.





This may make things much easier for you, as I have found that some restaurants can be a bit %26quot;cranky%26quot; about special requests.





Just a thought. If you are interested in a place with a kitchenette, post a thread here and ask. There are many of them!




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The 7th arr. is particularly rich with wonderful small French bistrots. I don%26#39;t know how old your daughter is, but you may want to get her a French cookbook with photos and prepare her a little to what to expect. She may like things you%26#39;ve never thought about before. I%26#39;ve read quite some comments here saying how much kids love hot goat cheese, omelettes, not to forget the crêpes, either salted or sweet.





While steamed veggies (with just a little olive oil) are possible to get for a starter (it%26#39;s even very hip, but be prepared that the veggies are slightly undercooked for your taste), you will find it almost impossible to get just a plate of pasta other than if you go to an Italian restaurant. Pasta isn%26#39;t that easy to get in a French restaurant. We are a lot more into potatoes prepared wonderfully and in lots of different recipes. Pasta may come as a side dish with some stewed meat dishes, but not very often.





Lots of places do have children%26#39;s menus that are very affordable, this is especially true for chains such as Le Clément.





In case you%26#39;ll be staying in a hotel, your concierge may have some good suggestions. If you are staying at an appartment, you will discover the wonderful market and shops in the Rue Cler area. Take your daughter there and let her pick her favourites.




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i like 7eme sud a nice little restaurant, cheap, but like coco said to have just pasta with nothing...but they do nice things, salads, plates, pasta etc original ones. you have also l%26#39;esplanade but it%26#39;s not my favourite, more %26#39;trendy%26#39; but less charm. off topic but if you like vodka, go to le toumieux rue de la comete they have dozens of flavours of vodka shots like strawberry, white chocolate, mint, coffee etc etc. it%26#39;s near rue de grenelle where le 7eme sud is.




|||



Oh, just re-read your post, dancermissa, and see your daughter is 11 years old. So, really, I%26#39;d get her some information about French food. Maybe, she%26#39;s more adventurous than you think...




|||



Bistro B on Av. Bosquet





La Terrasse, also on Av. Bosquet





I had some great veggies at Altitude 95 AND the most tender baked chicken I have eever eaten.





Cafe du Marche on (near) Rue Cler- I feel they cater to American tastes.





Le Diplomat on Rue Cler.





Don%26#39;t worry--- I am the pickiest eater in the world and I have never starved in France.




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We just returned last night late and stayed in the 7th. Loved this area.





We had two teens and they were fairly selective but we managed to get them to try some things from the Rue Cler open market area such as foie gras.





I do suggest having an apartment with young people...that way you can shop at the markets (which she will love) and buy a roasted chicken, some fresh vegies, even some pasta, some cheese and bread and enjoy a few evenings in after a long day of site seeing.





You can also go to a neat market called Picard...its amazing...frozen foods galore...and all so wonderful. I am not a frozen food person at all, but they had little yummy appetizers, soups, etc. that you can easily make at the apartment.





Then, there are french fries....yum, yum, yum. If you daughter likes them, she will not be dissappointed in Paris or in our neighborhood.





A great brasserie that has a non smoking section (important to me as it can get overwhelming after a while) is Le Bosquet...its so great....you can sit and watch everyone go by and they speak great english and have simple dishes like chicken and vegetables, and ofcourse great fries.





Then there is this great little place called Baguettes de Tradition on Rue. St. Dominque. We had ham and cheese sandwiches with mayo on a fresh baguette everyday for only about 4 euros....and they have bottle Orangina which was a big hit with our teens.





Cafe du Marche is also a good place to have a simple meal at the end of the Rue cler marketplace. They even have club sandwiches and my daughter had a simple pasta there with fresh vegetables mid afternoon one day.





Another place you must go with her is Angelina%26#39;s...its near the Louvre (not in our neighborhood), but assumming you will go to the Louvre and also take a long walk in the Tuleries Garden. Its right across the street on Rue de Rivoli. Its an old tea room that was established in 1903...gorgeous. They make the absolute best hot chocolate in the world...its so wonderful....and the pastries are beautiful...they also have a great salad and other light lunch offerings. We had been told the service was pretentious, but it wasn%26#39;t at all and its a fun thing to do with your daughter.





On most menus, I do remember vegetarian dishes and some pastas that I am sure you could order plain.





You will have no worries about having an opportunity to try new foods...be aware though that the sausage is quite strong...its made of pig intestines and has a distinct smell and taste that was not to our liking at all.





The cheeses are fabulous...the best ever.....go to oliviers %26amp; Co. and get the citus olive oil...its the most flavorful I have ever tried...its a lovely shop on Rue Cler and if you do have an apartment you can by pasta there for your daughter.





Do you have a list of restaurants in the neighborhood you are interested in? I did try a lot of them...so if you want to post again with your list I can certainly tell you what they are like.




|||



Thanks all.Travelwritter any suggestions would be great .i do not actually have a list of restaurants.Because I was travelling with my daughter I need them to be child friendly.Love to hear from you




|||



I used to have two picky eaters. When we came to Paris I used the foreign aspect of the country to explain to my kids that here they just don%26#39;t respect picky eaters and special requests are not an option (OK, I lied). They had to find something that they would eat on each menu (most places have roast chicken or steak) and that was that.



I can tell you that after a day or two the survival instinct kicks in and they begin to eat. Yes, it is a pain having grumpy kids the first day or so, but they are grumpy from the jetlag anyway and afterwards you discover that you have a kid who is willing to try some new foods. My daughters tried sea snails (ok), snails (yuck) and discovered a love for ccooked spinach. The best part is this souvenir is free and you%26#39;ll have it forever.

travel passed. which one is best?

hello,


I am arriving in paris on saturday 7th jan and will be saying until tue 10th. I am planning on taking the RER from CDG airport to central paris. I will be visiting disneyland on sunday again by the RER. The rest of my time will be spent visiting the sites in central paris. I am a bit unsure on which travel pass to get. I have looked at the paris viste but not sure if it will include the airport and disney, (zones ect). I basically want to find out which will be the best and cheapest pass to allow me to do all the above things.




|||



Do the math--





2- one-way CDG RER %26#39;B%26#39;(Zone 5)----16,00 €



1- r.t. Paris/Versailles (Zone4)---5,30 €



1- r.t. Paris/DLP (Zone 5)--------12,20 €



...........................TOTAL--33,50 €





RATP TICKET %26amp; PASS PRICING--



ratp.info/informer/titres_de_transport.php






|||



Thanks KDKSAIL.



I just want to check that i have understood this correctly. the 2 one way tickets to and from the airport are the ticket %26#39;T%26#39;. and so is the return ticket to disney. Do I just purchase this one ticket for each of these journeys at the station.




|||



%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;I just want to check that i have understood this correctly. the 2 one way tickets to and from the airport are the ticket %26#39;T%26#39;. and so is the return ticket to disney. Do I just purchase this one ticket for each of these journeys at the station%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;





Pretty much NO on both counts. The tickets you purchase for the RER %26#39;B%26#39; train link between CDG and Paris are special ROISSYRAIL RER tickets for this route---NOT %26#39;T%26#39; tickets. They are only available for this route...at 8 €uro each, one-way (no round-trips available--unless you purchase two one-way tickets at the same time--use one now; the other upon departure). When you purchase these special RER tickets at one of the two(2) RER stations at CDG, they include the RER fare to any of the %26#39;B%26#39; ligne stops within Paris (Gare du Nord, Chatelet-Les Halles, Saint Michel-Notre Dame, Luxembourg, Port Royal, Denfert-Rochereau, Cité Universitaire) AND onward connecting Metro fare (provided you do not leave the gate/turnstile controlled portions of any Metro or RER station). When you purchase this special RER ticket at any Metro or RER station in Paris for your return to CDG, the same 8 €uro fare includes regular Metro transportation to a RER %26#39;B%26#39; ligne station and then onward RER transportation out to CDG.





The tickets you purchase for the round-trips to DLP work pretty much the same way, except that instead of having to purchase two(2) one-way tickets, you may purchase a round-trip ticket for 12,40 €




|||



thanks for all the help KDKSAIL

Anniversary dinner near Eiffel Tower

Have decided against a dinner cruise for our anniversary dinner since finding out it wouldn%26#39;t be getting dark until the cruise was almost over. Will do a river cruise one night after dinner. We are now thinking of having dinner near the Eiffel Tower and then going up in it afterwards. Would like a nice, romantic place where we would spend about 200e. A view of the Eiffel Tower would be a big plus. Does anyplace like this exist?




|||



If the darkness is the issue, have you seen the Bateaux Parisiens cruise? It starts at 8 and ends at 11. I had the same intent, looking for a nighttime event to see The City of Lights lit up! If that%26#39;s the sticking point, check out this cruise:





bateauxparisiens.com/english/fr_diner.html




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why not eat in the Tour Effel itself, you have a great view of the city and a wonderfull meal. not sure how much tho been a while since I did this.




|||



I%26#39;d go to Cafe de l%26#39;Homme... lovely decor, splendid view of the ET.



The Jules Vernes and Altitude 95 are restaurants on the Eiffel Tower. JV is much nicer than Alt. 95, but is probably beyond your budget for dinner (although perhaps not for lunch time). There is something incredibly special about dining with all of Paris at your feet.

Your Paris

Ok, I%26#39;ve previously posted a similar thread on the London and New York forums so thought all you Paris lovers might like a go.





Every Friday, you can get the ES magazine free when you buy London%26#39;s Evening Standard newspaper. My favourite section in this magazine is called My London and they ask famous people the same questions each week.





So, I thought I would give you the opportunity to be a celeb for a few minutes and answer the questions (and I hope I%26#39;m not breaking any copyright). I%26#39;m only going to list the ones that are Paris or travel related and have adapted the questions to be relevant to Paris. So, here goes:





1. What do you miss most when you%26#39;re out of Paris?





2. What is your earliest London Paris?





3. What advice would you give to a tourist?





4. What would you do if you were Mayor for a day?





5. What has been your most memorable Paris meals?





6. What was the last play or musical you saw in Paris and did you enjoy it?





7. Where were the last 3 places you went on holiday?





8. Do you have a favourite pub/bar/cafe (basically somewhere you can get a drink)?




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Great!!!



1. Nothing, i live here.



2. Are you asking when i first went to London from Paris?



3. Come to Paris at once! Avoid the Paris Visite and buy a mobilis or a carte orange if possible.Tax is included in the bill at cafés and restaurants.



4. I would have all Paris free of cars!!!!



5. Le Boeuf sur le toit, la Coupole. Dessert at Le Rocher de Cancale rue de Montorgueil



6. I saw a concert of Bevinda, modernised Fado, great!!



7.Vietnam, South Africa, Australia



8. Next to the Picasso museum, on the right i think it is called l%26#39;appartement, you can play monopoly, trivial pursuit there.




|||



Oops sorry.





Question 2 should be:





2. What is your earliest Paris memory?




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1. Walking the streets and daily way of life.



2. ?



3. Take time to savor the flavor! Don%26#39;t rush around too much- walk, talk, sit and observe.



4. ?



5. This is hard to believe, but my ritualistic croissant (this is one of the other things I miss when I leave) and cafe creme each morning while I sit and watch Paris walk by.



6. Joyeaux- George Ballenchine Ballet at the Opera Garnier, November 05.



7. Hawaii, Caribbean Cruise, New Orleans Jazzfest (besides Paris).



8. La Caveau de la Huchette- Latin Quarter Jazz cellar.




|||



1. What do you miss most when you%26#39;re out of Paris?



The city, the people.



2. What is your earliest London Paris?



Incoherent question



3. What advice would you give to a tourist?



About what?



4. What would you do if you were Mayor for a day? Declare a civic holiday



5. What has been your most memorable Paris meals?



The one where I got food poisoning



6. What was the last play or musical you saw in Paris and did you enjoy it?



Too many other things to do.



7. Where were the last 3 places you went on holiday? Turkey, Rio, Spain



8. Do you have a favourite pub/bar/cafe (basically somewhere you can get a drink)?



Folies Bergeres.




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Raphy, if you read this again, could you talk more about the bar with Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit near the Musee Picasso. Not only was the museum of interest, but my girlfriend is a HUGE Monopoly fan! It would be a great little event to surprise her with as I%26#39;m planning her first trip to Paris.




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1. The Frenchmen.





2. ?





3. Bring twice as much money as you think you%26#39;ll need and half the clothes.





4. Tour the Palais de l%26#39;Elysee.





5. Drinks/snacks/lunches/dinners at some of the palace hotels.





6. Better things to do.





7. Tupelo, Miss., Paris, and Paris.





8. Too many to list.




|||



I wish I could go back and edit the original post. The second question is:





2. What is your earliest Paris memory?




|||



1. What do you miss most when you%26#39;re out of Paris?



Morning cafe with bagette or croissant and walking the streets.





2. What is your earliest memory of Paris?



Leaving my hotel after just arriving in Paris. Not knowing where I%26#39;m going I start walking, a few blocks along I look up to my left and there is the Tour Eiffel. I realize I really am in Paris!





3. What advice would you give to a tourist?



Bring your most comfortable shoes, 2 pairs.





4. What would you do if you were Mayor for a day? recall the VAT and keep shops and cafes open late.





5. What has been your most memorable Paris meals? Only had one bad restaurant meal so far. I enjoy the patisseries and street Kabob%26#39;s and ice cream that I can%26#39;t find in the US.





6. What was the last play or musical you saw in Paris and did you enjoy it? Paul McCartney - amazing.





7. Where were the last 3 places you went on holiday? Amsterdam, Paris, Budapest





8. Do you have a favourite pub/bar/cafe (basically somewhere you can get a drink)?



The one that%26#39;s on the corner near my hotel.




|||



1. What do you miss most when you%26#39;re out of Paris?



Not being able to have a sandwich jambon de pays standing at the bar with a glass of rosé at Le Danton whilst observing the patronne organising the ballet of waiters.





2. What is your earliest Paris [memory?]?



When I came to Paris to look for student accomodation in the early eighties, seeing Mitterrand at 8am coming out of ?? on the sidewalk of the rue Saint Benoît





3. What advice would you give to a tourist?



Not to overplan and not to be to an*l about the whole preparation business.





4. What would you do if you were Mayor for a day?



Don%26#39;t start unleashing the Pol Pot in me! I think I would deport all men caught peeing/spitting in the street to a life sentence in Montfermeil or Clichy sous Bois.





5. What has been your most memorable Paris meals?



On a plane back from Vietnam ten years ago, I -unusually for me! - chatted with the American girl sitting next to me who had been living in Cambodia and was about to meet her mother in Paris on her way back to the States. I gave her some general advice about visiting Paris, bla bla bla. To thank me, she invited me the next day to Le Bistrot de Michel Rostang! I thought that was really classy and nice.





6. What was the last play or musical you saw in Paris and did you enjoy it?



It must have been Le Malade Imaginaire at the Théâtre 14 this autumn. Was OK.





7. Where were the last 3 places you went on holiday?



Argentina, Valencia, California





8. Do you have a favourite pub/bar/cafe (basically somewhere you can get a drink)?



Le Carrefour, a nondescript café opposite the BHV. Nothing special about it, it just happens to be sitting in the right place when I need a drink/break




|||



1. What do you miss most when you%26#39;re out of Paris?





The athmosphere





2. What is your earliest Paris memory?





Waking up this morning :-/





3. What advice would you give to a tourist?





To bring lots of money!





4. What would you do if you were Mayor for a day?





Getting rid of the cars too.





5. What has been your most memorable Paris meals?





1kg tbone steak on my own in the 17th.





6. What was the last play or musical you saw in Paris and did you enjoy it?





Ben Harper, long time ago.





7. Where were the last 3 places you went on holiday?





Austria, Spain, Tunesia





8. Do you have a favourite pub/bar/cafe (basically somewhere you can get a drink)?





%26quot;Le Gros Caillou%26quot; in the 7th.

Arranging childcare for a night out

Hi, we%26#39;re heading to Paris with our 2 boys (8 and 11) in February. I%26#39;m trying to work out whether we can manage one dinner without the boys.





The two options are: hire a babysitter, or leave the boys by themselves and go somewhere extremely close (we are staying in the Marais area on rue de Montmorency). But option #2 will only work if I can manage to somehow procure a cell-phone for the evening so the boys can contact us if there%26#39;s a concern.





So I guess what I%26#39;m asking is -- has anyone else on the board with kids around the same age managed an evening out, and if so, how did you do it? Did you find a reliable babysitting service that your older kids were comfortable with? And is there a restaurant on rue de Montmorency that anyone would recommend -- something romantic and not remotely child-friendly :-)




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Removed on: 6:37 pm, January 05, 2006


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We do this pretty regularly at home in Paris, but also when we travel. Our girls are 8 and 11 and we started about 2 years ago. We now have a cell, but the phone in the hotel room can work, too. We just give the kids the restaurant%26#39;s number and then warn the restaurant staff upon arrival. We tend to stay in small hotels and the staff in Europe is usually very helpful, too.



There are two restaurants on your street, iknow nothing about them, other than the history of NF.



Pocha 50 r Montmorency 01 48 04 01 68



Auberge Nicolas Flamel 51 r Montmorency 01 42 71 77 78



On the next street over you will find L%26#39;Ambassade d%26#39;Auvergne



22, rue Grenier Saint Lazare this place is in the Lebey guide, so the food is sure to please. It is not fancy, but enjoying a three course French meal is always more fun without the kids. ambassade-auvergne.com/internet/c_inetpub/




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I went to Auberge Nicolas Flamel and it was very good, the staff was very nice. Also it is an old house, very historical character so i would recommend it.

l'appartement

Raphy mentioned this bar in an earlier post. I was hoping she or anyone else would expound on its location and its fare. It intrigues me because Raphy mentioned something abou playing Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit there...sounded like a quirk I must check out!




|||



Sorry, I was a bit unclear. If anyone is familiar with the bar named L%26#39;appartement near the Musee Picasso could you please let me know more about it?




|||



parishotels.com/restaurants/prs_list_rest_de…





I found this online: very cosy …deep sofas (into you can slumped, low tables surrounded with bookshelves. We nearly feel at home. Perfect for long afternoons between friends. ( parlour games at disposal ). 18 rue des coutures Saint Gervais (3°)M° Sébastien Froissart. Everyday until 2am except sunday until midnight. Cocktail : about 7,62 euros.




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Yes sorry it was l%26#39;apparemment, not l%26#39;appartement!! Similar names, silly me...Yes you can drink, eat there (they have salads ans you can choose the ingredients and dressing), and at the back they have a big stock of jeux de société in French like monopoly, trivial pursuit...and a lot more. It is on rue des Coutures St Gervais on the right along the musée Picasso.

Private minivan pickup at CDG to go to St.Lazare train...

We are 6 adults who want to hire a minivan with driver to transfer us from CDG to St.Lazare train station in early March. Does anyone know if this type of service exists and if so, what is the web-site? Thanks.




|||



Try parisconnection.fr. Airport pickup service with direct service to hotels. You can book on the internet. They track your arrival time and meet you at curb side.

Safety in Paris

I wanted to pose this question as a more general question than another post that addressed womens%26#39; safety.





Regarding Paris, and the city center arrondisements, how safe is the city? I%26#39;ve gotten a general sense that as long as you%26#39;re on the normal defensive (keep an eye on belongings, wear wallets and purses close, etc) it is a pretty safe to be.





I don%26#39;t want to start an alarmist thread but based on experience what has everyone felt/experienced?




|||



schmittyUVA wife and i were in Paris in Sept. of this year and Paris(France) and Japan were probely the 2 safest countries we have been to(in our opinion) and we have traveled alot...We walked @ night along the Siene and to the Eiffel Tower and never felt uncomfortable..Always felt safe on the Metro even late @ night...





Safe Travels ..Jimmy




|||



You said it yourself. Just take the normal precautions and you%26#39;ll be allright. It is no different than when you are at home actually.




|||



%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Regarding Paris, and the city center arrondisements, how safe is the city? I%26#39;ve gotten a general sense that as long as you%26#39;re on the normal defensive (keep an eye on belongings, wear wallets and purses close, etc) it is a pretty safe to be.%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;





Follow that plan (adding only: don%26#39;t get drunk and wander down any dark alleys, singing bawdy sae chanties in the wee small hours of the morning) and you%26#39;ll be safe as houses. The rule is: %26#39;..Don%26#39;t do anything STUPID..%26quot; What%26#39;s %26#39;..stupid..%26#39;? You%26#39;ll know...so, just don%26#39;t do it.




|||



I think your approach is very sensible no matter what city in the world you go.



Particularly at night in known problem areas should be avoided, and I%26#39;m sure the locals can advise you about these as well as some of the travel guide books.



It seems from the news reports most of the recent riots were on the outer areas of Paris which I doubt you would vist anyway.The police seem to have a very obvious presence in central Paris which is comforting!



Yes, Paris is a wonderful and beautiful city, but one still needs to exercise some reasonable care.





Bon voyage!




|||



Hello Schmitty,





My experience with Paris is that it is really quite safe almost anywhere........very dark, empty streets at night excluded....not usually many in the %26quot;city center arrondisments%26quot;.





We often see women walking alone on rather quiet streets. They apparently dont think it is a problem. We often walk on the same streets, but there are always two of us and most are streets fairly well lighted.





I think you can %26quot;feel%26quot; if you are in a safe place or not.........Try to take a taxi or get a metro if you should find yourself feeling uncomfortable.....better safe than sorry.





The %26quot;normal defensive measures%26quot; you mentioned are really for %26quot;safe%26quot; areas where pick pockets sometimes do their nasty work....usually the more crowded areas and often in daytime. Sounds as if you are prepared for them!





Bonne chance........




|||



I feel very safe in Paris, being a woman and having traveled there before with my Mom and no Men along. I do feel that you will feel more safe in some areas of the city than others. I have always felt very safe in the Latin quarter even very late at night on back streets. But, in the Les Halles area, I have been nervous. Also, in the Eiffel tower area I have felt a little nervous about my purse, etc.





Of course it is a no brainer to take precautions, but I do wonder what it is we need to be afraid of. I never hear of serious crimes in Paris, it is always seems to be petty crimes such as robbery. So, that alone being said I would consider it very safe my list.




|||



I have almost always felt very safe in Paris.......safer than when we used to wander around NYC or New Orleans a few years ago. However, my son went to school in Paris and from what he said, it is NOT just petty crimes being committed. Tis a big city! Seems to me it is simply wise to always be aware of your surroundings........



..........especially at night.....as in any city.




|||



I have spent 5 Septembers in Paris



without any safety concerns. I take



common sense measures to protect my



money, credit cards and camera equipment.




|||



It feels safe, and there is always a police presence which is stark contrast to where we live (small coastal town in East Anglia).


Last year we took our grandson, 11, who wanted to see the Eiffel Tower at night. This involved two bus journeys from our hotel, and at no time did if feel unsafe or did we feel threatened by anyone in anyway - a great night out.


Such a trip I would undertake very reluctantly in London if at all (it%26#39;s somewhere we don%26#39;t often visit even though it is only a 90 min train ride away), and in some central city areas in the UK I would just never go there. Not because of a crime risk but the behaviour of other people - drunkenness in the street ending up late at night with vomiting, urinating, fights etc.


Of course in Paris there are areas as there are in all towns and cities that you avoid, any good guide book will tell you where and why. And don’t advertise that you are a tourist – you’ll know what I mean (well, I hope so!)




|||



I live city center. I often go to the movies alone and come home after midnight. I have never felt the slightest risk.



My 11 year old daughter and most of her peers are now expected to go to school and all of their extra-curricular activites on their own. This involves long walks, short bus rides and/or metro trips.



This should give you some indication of how safe we feel over here.

looking for a couple in paris

My husband and I would love to meet up with anther couple from Paris while we are there. We are in our 30%26#39;s and thought it would be quite fun to hook up and have some wine. Anyone? We will be there March 2-6..




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Look in the search box for TA Paris Forum.



There are several planned.



Also you might look for %26quot; meeting people in Paris%26quot;; there was a recent posts on that.




|||



leeleebug23, I will be in Paris the same dates, but solo. I do have a male friend who is on the fence about meeting me for a few days due to a work committment. If he does manage to make the trip, it would be great fun to meet up with you and your husband over a bottle of wine. Whether he tags along or not, I%26#39;m 99% sure I will be attending a wine tasting at o%26#39;chateau. If you are still planning on attending as well, maybe we could hook up there? Feel free to email me at thatgirldina@yahoo.com

What's up with Hotel Langlois?

Recently there have been 2 very negative reviews of this hotel (out of a myriad of excellent reviews). I%26#39;m booked there for June 2006, and I%26#39;m still fairly confident, but those negative reviews really unnerve me.





I know that the reviews are entirely open to being fabricated by anyone...no verification. I%26#39;ve seen this happen at a very popular Rome Trastevere Hotel highly recommended by several guide books as well as a wealth of positive reviews. Then, in a couple of weeks, negative after negative came rolling in. It really makes me think that some of the unscrupulous competing hoteliers may be in on this game.





Anyone have any comforting thoughts about Langlois?




|||



Hi, I just checked out of the Hotel Langlois yesterday and can honestly say I did not have any problems. I can understand people having a different opinion but for people to complain about it being noisy in the centre of Paris is a joke! The banging pipes were, admittedly, a bit of a pain but it%26#39;s an old hotel. The bed could have been bigger and the pillows more comfortable but all in all I loved the place. It was spotless, the staff were really helpful to us (maybe we displayed a good attitude towards them) and the location was fantastic. I%26#39;ve written my review and it should be up in the next couple of days.




|||



...and by the way, one of the people with complaints was moaning about the fact they had to get the Metro everywhere causing mounting transport costs. My 3 day Metro ticket cost me 18 Euros - 6 Euros a Day! This doesn%26#39;t sound like a person who can be taken seriously regarding travel advice!




|||



Ah, the joys of statistical rankings. One or two very low ratings will seriously and adversely impact a weighted averaging system. Now if they used a rating system like olympic scoring where the highest and lowest scores were dropped and them the remaining scores averaged there would be a more reliable metric of opinion but they don%26#39;t. Considering the significant period of time and number of reviews that did not mention or complain about the mattresses, I would disregard the complaint as an extraneous abberation in the stats




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badley104: I look forward to reading your review, and I appreciate the input on this subject. I%26#39;ve booked a suite for my family and suite for a family traveling with us...it%26#39;s there first time in Europe, and I think I would just want to crawl under a rock if we got to this hotel and it actually was bad. Personally I could handle it, but I would be embarrassed that I forced my friends into a bad experience :-)))





BTW, what is a 3-day metro ticket? Do you just buy them at any rail station?




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When we got to our first Metro station after being dropped off from the airport bus we just asked for a 3 day ticket. It cost 18.25 Euros and we used it constantly. The hotel is unbelievably close to a Metro Station which can take you to every Paris attraction within minutes. We loved zipping about the metro as it was so easy to use and never had to wait longer than 2 or 3 minutes for a train. I don%26#39;t understand why some people had to walk everywhere for the sake of 6 euros a day. You do enough walking in Paris so take advantage of the excellent transport system when you can.

Nightclubs

My soon to be fiance and I are 22, and I know I%26#39;ll be taking her to a jazz club in Paris. Can anyone recommend any nightclubs worth going to? Also, what%26#39;s the music scene in Paris like these days? I%26#39;d like to start getting in the spirit if I can find some artists/songs...




|||



Here%26#39;s some [streaming] Paris radio to listen to that may help you get into the spirit:





RadioCampus covers a wide range of music including jazz - http://www.radiocampusparis.org Here%26#39;s an example of a show from their archives from June - www.radiocampusparis.org/radio/real/ram.php3…





TSF 89.9 FM Jazz only. Web page - http://www.tsfjazz.com/ - live stream - http://217.71.208.36:8000/listen.pls





Radio France; FRANCE MUSIQUE is Jazz and Classical - …yacast.fr/V4/…





If you need to translate a page go to http://translate.google.com/translate_t and paste the URL into the %26quot;Translate a web page%26quot; field.




|||





As metromole said, the best thing for you to get %26quot;in the mood%26quot; is to hook up to some Paris based radio stations:





Radio Nova is my favorite: it%26#39;s cool, eclectic, inventive, kinda intellectual. Not francophone at all though.



http://www.novaplanet.com/radio-nova/





FIP is more or less its equivalent, but smoother, commercial and almost talk free (it%26#39;s a public radio). Also more air time devoted to francophone songs.



www.radiofrance.fr/chaines/fip/endirect/





Two good rock stations: one public (Le Mouv%26#39;), the other private (Ouï FM). Le Mouv%26#39; also plays some more traditional contemporary chanson française, both are open to French rock



http://www.ouifm.fr/



radiofrance.fr/chaines/…index_noflash.php



h





And finally, to know what middle of the road France listens to, here is NRJ, the number one radio network in the country. Heavy FM stuff à la française.



http://www.nrj.fr/onair/