Alexth82...your opinion please

Hello Alexth, You seem to be right on with your restaurant recommendations and I am looking to branch out from my regular favorites. What are your favorite little neighborhood places? Where do you go for great ethnic cooking?

Looking forward to trying something new. Thanks!

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well, something that is funny, is that when i am with a friend, and we wonder where to go dinner, we never have any idea lol! even if we went to hundreds of restaurants. well, restaurants i went and i liked, are of course le 1728 for a really romantic dinner, very personnal.

when i dont have any special idea, we go to la grande armee or any costes restaurants (avenue, murat etc), they serve late, it%26#39;s ok and not too slow. georges also is nice, on the top of baubourg, a bit fashion with modern decor, but if you have a table near the view it%26#39;s great. king is also fashion, and nice decoration (but if you can the 2nd floor is better, better view, it%26#39;s near la samaritaine). in the first, near colette there is a place, place du marche st honore and there are some restaurants there, i had dinner in 2, barlotti which is an italian chic restaurant, and another one outside but dont remember the name.

one day i went to an african restaurant, very very small, something like 3 tables, but it was fun i think it was la jungle in the 2nd, i%26#39;m sure it was in the 2nd so i suppose it was this one, it was very colored.

in the marais, i like place ste catherine, there are some restaurants there, the food is not wonderful, but in the summer when the weather is nice, there are people doing things in the streets, %26#39;spectacles%26#39;, and it%26#39;s very nice. this is a little place near bastille. in the marais we went also one time to caves st gille, nice ambiance spanish food. and many nice restaurants also in le marais, i like sometimes just walking and to stop in a little restaurant.

i like walking around 5th or 6th district, there are many little restaurants there, near rue de buci, rue st andre des arts, between st germain and odeon. there are some little restaurants also rue des cannettes or just near, and a creperie les etoiles, with lots and lots of choice, rue princesse.

in the 7th, when we dont know where we want to go, we often go to 7eme sud it%26#39;s a nice little restaurant, i like the food, it%26#39;s simple but ok.

i went in many restaurants in the 8th, because i lived next (in the 16th) and there are many restaurants, i used to go out a lot also and that%26#39;s where all the nighclubs are. i like buddha bar, it%26#39;s a mix of asian french food, fashion restaurants to have a drink also. for japanese food i went 3 times to lo sushi, rue de berri, nice food. in front of it there is a great chinese restaurant, with fishes on the floor, very exotic decoration lol and big restaurant. l%26#39;appart is a restaurant that looks like an appartment, the food is ok but we waited very long to seat. market is another fashion restaurant, with nice world food, like nirvana that serves indian food, a bit expensive but nice decor very kitsch. i went 2 times to asian in the 8th also, asian food big restaurant it was good. i used to go often to have a drink at tanjia, a marocan fashion restaurant-night club, dont know if it still works, but downstair the decor was nice, i liked it a lot.

i like spoon also it%26#39;s good, world food but a bit expensive. i like la maison blanche also, it is expensive but the food is greeeat and the view also. for libanese pastries i go to al diwan or noura, in the 8th, they do restaurant also. a great chinese restaurant is diep, it%26#39;s not cheap but the food is nice. la cantine du faubourg is a fashion restaurant, the decor is modern, the food nice. when i go out i eat at doobies because we stay there after, they have a great brunch on sunday.

one day i was in a russian restaurant, near bastille, i think it was kazaki, we ended singing with the owner of the restaurant, everyone was drunk it was very funny. i was also one time to la favela chic, it%26#39;s a bresilian restaurant, nice ambiance but you have to know that you will seat at the same table than people you dont know, on a bank, and the menu was not huge but nice place.

if you like chinese food you can go to 13th, it%26#39;s not beautiful but you will have hundreds of restaurants, some japanese but mostly chinese restaurants, in a funny ambiance beecause some are like %26#39;cantines%26#39;, and you eat between only chinese people, it%26#39;s noisy, but it%26#39;s fun and not expensive. but they also have more chic restaurants.

i went one time to la butte aux cailles, there are little streets with many restaurants or bars, it can be nice during the summer, lots of people were walking in the streets.

in the 16th, i liked le petit pergolese a nice little restaurants, great food but not cheap but ok. i would like to try chalet des iles because my friends told me it%26#39;s really great, it%26#39;s in bois de boulogne on an %26#39;island%26#39;. i used to live almost in front of la gare, which is an old metro station, now a big restaurant. i would like to try also cristal room baccarat, it seems so beautiful. i went also to casa tina, a really smal spanish restaurants, with tapas etc in the 16th also. i often go to coffee parisien, an american restaurant with great hamburgers, pancakes etc. often lots of people. to have a great pastry, when i am in the 16 i always fo to the cool. you MUST try the starlette lol, they only have the receip and no one can do it as they do it. it%26#39;s 0%, so good and non caloric.

in montmatre well like lots of people i like walking place du tertre, with all its little restaurant, or in the descending streets around. i prefer it in the summer, when you can eat outside.

i was one time in the 14th to palais de vandan, an indian restaurant, it%26#39;s not beautiful inside, but the food was nice and really not expensive.

i live near rue monge, i mean by car it%26#39;s not too far so sometimes we go rue mouffetard, there are many restaurants, near or rue mouffetard, creperies also, greek restaurants, some with %26#39;fondues and raclette%26#39;.

well i dont know if this helped you lol, but that%26#39;s some of the restaurants or places i go to have dinner, but i went to many others but probably dont remember them. so my favourite neighborhood places to have dinner in little restaurants are st germain-odeon, marais and near rue mouffetard, but i often go in the 8th in fashion restaurants also (some i wrote but many other one like barfly, man ray etc).

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kong not king for the restaurant near samaritaine.

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What is the address of that restaurant 1728? And do they have a website?

Merci

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www.galerie-1728.com/old_pages/flash.html

they are rue d%26#39;anjou in the 8th, near concorde and madeleine.

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Thank you Alex. Will be visiting Paris end of May. Looking forward to it. 16 more weeks to go.

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I went to 1728 website and they don%26#39;t have a menu and a price list, how much would I figure it would cost avec un bouteille de vin rouge pour diner.

Thank you

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it%26#39;s not cheap but it%26#39;s not too expensive, for two with one plate each one, wine, cheese, a dessert and 2 teas it cost us something like 100-120 euros. the food is good, the meals are not huge lol but if you take cheese dessert you will have your belly full.

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Thanks Alexth. I%26#39;ve been to Chalet aux Iles, it was fun but the food was just ok. Looking forward to trying La Jungle.

London to Paris

Any suggestions as to getting to Paris from London? I am studying in the UK and have friends coming to visit. We%26#39;d like to travel to Paris but we are on a limited budget and want to see as much as possible. We have been invited to visit friends in Germany and Poland also. I don%26#39;t have time to do much investigating...

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YOu have 2 options, either take the train (eurostar.com) or fly (Easyjet.com)

I%26#39;d bet that it%26#39;ll be much cheaper to fly but takes longer (checking in at least 1 hour in advance, 4 minutes to get to airport and getting train into London afterwards).

Train will maybe be up to twice as expensive ($100) but you lerave from central Paris and 3 hours later, step out in central London.

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Not much difference in the costs of flying or train, if you book in advance train can be as low as 60 quid return.

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%26quot;40 minutes to get to the airport%26quot; is what I meant.

So check out the sits that people here suggest with your dates (different dates can often throw up very different prices)

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If you are a student, there are cheaper rates for you on the train, so the Eurostar may not be that much more than the plane. I usually get my tix for 70 Euros r/t, and I%26#39;m not a student.

RyanAir

Easyjet

VirginExpress are all airlines that may have cheap flights for your trip.

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You would have to check with EUROSTAR to find out but several years ago,they used to offer some sort of %26#39;..student stand-by..%26#39; fare, which allowed students to purchase tickets but did not guarantee them a reserved seat on any particular train (all seats are reserved on Eurostar). If there was a seat available 30 minutes or so before the train left, the student could take it; if not they had to wait and take their chances on the next, Since trains left every hour,this was never a great hardship. But as I said this student stand-by fare was offered perhaps 10 years ago. Today???

In Need of Some Romantic Travelling Advice Please!

Hi All,

I am going to Paris for 4 nights over Valentine%26#39;s W/e and I am intending to propose to him whilst we are out on Valentines Night,

But where??

Can anyone give me some nice romantic areas, ideas, estaurants near my hotel?

After reading the reviews for every hotel on this site! It%26#39;s just so great to get to read about real experiences, instead of some glamourised %26#39;puff%26#39; peice in the brochure.

We have 4 nights here: Best Western Plaza Elysees, so anything not too far from the hotel would be great, but any advice would be really appreciated.

Many Thanks

SM

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Sorrry. No full moon for Valentine%26#39;s Day this year...but almost anywhere the mood strikes will work---it%26#39;s PARIS for pete%26#39;s sake !! How much MORE romantic do ya%26#39; need. But if you%26#39;re stuck, the Eiffel Tower is probably the most frequented spot. But the Pont des Arts works nicely....or during a stroll along the Left Bank quais, down beside the Seine, from Pont de Sully, under the bridges, past the illuminated south facade of Notre Dame to Pont des Arts, between the illuminated facades of Institute Francais and Louvre. This stretch of the Seine made even Woddy Allen look like a %26#39;..romantic leading man..%26#39;.

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As always, KDKSAIL has given some great ideas. Let me see if I can propose a couple more. Consider a proposal while on a sunset cruise on the River Seine. Perhaps wait until the boat travels down towards the Tour Eiffel.

During a stroll in the Jardin de Tuileries isn%26#39;t a bad idea. I really like the Left Bank idea. Perhaps if you are going to Versailles, a proposal in the gardens there? During an evening stroll in the quieter end of the Champs Elysees, away from the Arc de Triomphe isn%26#39;t a bad idea. If you are willing to shell out the money, a proposal at Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower is a possibility.

Under a bridge over the Seine, as KDKSAIL already suggested is also a great idea, but so is over the bridge looking down the Seine as well.

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I think the common thread that%26#39;s running through these ideas is the inherent romance of the SEINE--over, on, around...it makes little difference. The Eiffel Tower always stikes me as just a bit too prosaic and over-used. But for a bit more %26#39;gravitas%26#39;, though not usually associated with %26#39;..romance..%26#39;. Paris has some absolutely beautiful churches--Saint Etienne du Mont and many others--which add a certain degree of %26#39;solemnity%26#39; to the occasion of proposing marraige vows.

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The most romantic picninc that I%26#39;ve seen in Paris was on the Pont des Arts. Someone had thought to bring candles and about three dozen roses, which they had placed in between the slats of the bridge to make a little %26quot;fence.%26quot;

The paths along the Seine are romantic in the abstract, but I find the smell of urine to be overwhelming.

The western tip of the Ile de la Cite has a prime view of the city at sunset and you have the Seine rushing by at your feet.

The top of the Tour Montparnasse would have you prosposing with the world at your feet.

You could find out where Ren�� Miller%26#39;s Wedding Band will be playing (they are a street band and play at various landmarks) and ask while dancing to some great jazz.

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The Pont des Arts certainly gets more than it%26#39;s fair share of interesting events. Though I%26#39;ve never seen the roses along the rail, I have seen impromptu picnics on blankets (a loaf of bread, a jug of wine and thou) on the decking and even bridal shower with 15 or so young women celebrating, a long folding table, decorated cake, party hats, gifts, music, the works. But the most romantic %26#39;dinner%26#39; I%26#39;ve ever seen was a young-ish couple having dinner on the Pont with table-for-two set with crisp linens, silver, glassware, china, candles, flowers, champagne chilling in a bucket, dinner music coming from somewhere, (pretty much the way it might be set-up in a better restaurant), with uniformed waiters shuttling back and forth, serving the couple from a mini-van parked along the quai. Occcasionally I wonder what l%26#39;addition was for that dinner?..and then I think....who cares??

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Virtually anywhere in Paris will be romantic. I would keep in mind the personality of who you are proposing TO. Would they feel embarrassed or shy to have such an important personal moment be on display of so many people rushing by? etc etc. Keep their wishes foremost in the plan and you can%26#39;t go wrong.

disneyland paris.

i%26#39;m off to disneyland paris in february.there will be four of us.

please can i have advice re getting to disney from charles de gaulle airport.would it be cheaper to get a taxi than a bus or train and where does the train or bus drop off at disney.On our return our flight is at 1000 so we will have to be at the airport by 0830.what times to the trains etc start going to the airport. we are staying at the newport bay club hotel if anybody has any tips/advice i would be most grateful.my children%26#39;s ages are 5 and 6 if that helps. thanks

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IMHO it%26#39;ll always be more expensive to take a taxi than a train. You%26#39;re paying for the extra confort.

A shuttle will set you back about 100euro though for a family for 4. It%26#39;s your choice is you really want to pay that much.

The trains start at 5:30am or so but I%26#39;m pretty sure that you%26#39;ll have to pass through Paris to get to Disneyland which is a pity as CDG and disneyland are both in the east of the city.

I%26#39;m sure someone will be around later with better info :)

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You can get a Vea shuttle from CDG which runs seven days a week at regular intervals to DLP tel +33(0)149644708 - check on Disneyland Paris Website for details under How to Get There. We are going in March and staying at the Newport Bay also, so will be interested to see what you thought of it, if you can post something when you get back - enjoy.

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As has already been suggested, the VEA airport shuttle from CDG directly to your DP hotel (and others) will be your best, most direct and most economic way to make the transfer. The VEA shuttle (http://www.disneylandparis.com/uk/good_to_know/access_and_times/paris_airports.htm ) is 14 Euro per person. There really are no direct or convenient public/rail connections between CDG and MARNE-la-VALLEE (RER B-3 from CDG to CHATELET-Les HALLES (30 mins--8 Euro) then switch to RER A-4 to MARNE-la-VALLEE (40 mins--6,20 Euro) would probably be 100 or more Euro--approx twice the cost of the VEA shuttle--with very little more speed or convenience.

Small, quiet and romantic restaurant needed

Our %26quot;big blowout%26quot; dinner at La Tour d%26#39;Argent is going to happen the evening after our anniversary (it was booked solid the day of) so we are still in need of something special for the actual night. Looking for something lovely, but not super expensive, as we%26#39;ll be spending a fortune the next day. So many small places i Paris seem to be full of noise and bustle, and we want something serene, beautiful and quiet, and not too expensive. (Maybe about 100-150e for 2, or thereabouts.) Any ideas??

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L%26#39;Ambroisie - 9 pl. des Vosges - 01-42-78-51-45

This may not be within your budget, can%26#39;t recall.

Claude Colliot Le Bamboche 15 rue de Babylone 75007

01 45.49.14.40 M��tro: S��vres-Babylone

VERY small and quiet and should meet the budget.

La Fontaine Gaillon (la) - Place Gaillon - 75002

01 47 42 63 22 M��tro Op��ra (Depardieu owns this one and Carole Bouquet is responsible for the elegant decor)

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We had an amazing dinner at Le Coupe Chou. One of the most romantic and wonderful dinners I have ever had. The address is 9, rue de Lanneau in the 5th. Telephone is 01 46 33 68 69. Metro is Mabuert-Mutualite. Web site is www.lecoupechou.com.

Ask to be seated in one of the back rooms - built in the 14th century. Amazing place - amazing food.

Crowds and lines in February

Are the crowds much less in February? How about the lines at the Louvre? It%26#39;s winter and hear that Paris is not too crowded during this time of the year. Someone I know visited Paris in Nov 2002 (also winter time) and told me that there were no lines at all at the Louvre. What should I expect?

Thanks.

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No lines at the Lourve last Sunday at about 3pm.

Or course there%26#39;ll be less lines than usual (it%26#39;s Very cold out there today), but I wouldn%26#39;t expect to wait for more than a few minutes.

In saying that, if you intend to visit something that%26#39;s on for a limited amount of time and it%26#39;s heading towards it%26#39;s last days then things are different. Last week I waited 90 minutes to see the Turner, Whistler %26amp; Monet expo.

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We just got back yesterday and there were NO lines anywhere. Not at the Louvre or D%26#39;Orsay. Restaurants had less than a 5 minute wait. It was wonderful...cold but not freezing. Rained only at night (late). All the museums had coat checks - no charge - which we used as they were quite warm and comfortable inside. Have a great time. We are already planning a trip back.

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Oh.. what a relief! Thanks for the info.. I will be leaving for Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam next week for 2 weeks. I guess I shouldn%26#39;t worry about that anymore.

7th district laundromats?

We%26#39;ll be staying at the Hotel De Varenne I don%26#39;t want to pack much, does anyone know if this hotel has laundry services, or are their any laundromats around that area?

Thank you

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Yes, the hotel has laundry service. There is also a laundry and dry-cleaning service nearby (used by the hotel). Send them an email and they will confirm the address.

You%26#39;ll find that this is a very nice hotel to deal with.

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Thank you Robert looking forward to our trip !!!!!!!! This website is awesome to ask questions and get info.

rue cler area hotel or st. germain area apartment?

I%26#39;m having trouble deciding between the 2 areas. They are both about the same amount of money and the apartment is still quite small. My Husband and I will want to eat breakfast and dinner in the area we are staying in (most likely) and will often be doing picnic lunches as well. What area do you think is better for us. We also like to shop unique stores but nothing that what we can find in the states. Any ideas would be welcome.

Thanks-

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I stayed at the Hotel Prince near Rue Cler in November. I think it is a wonderful neighborhood and I really liked the hotel. There are a variety of reasonably priced restaurants and groceries for picnic supplies, from the very basic to gourmet. It is also very convenient for getting to all the tourist sites.

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No question...the 6th--Saint Germain des Pres. With the exception of the rue Cler, most of the neighborhood surrounding this pleasant enough %26#39;enclave%26#39; will be very quiet residentiial/institutional/commercial. Perhaps the most frequented spot in this neighborhood will be the Ecole Militaire Metro station---with people either leaving for or returning from %26#39;..somewhere else..%26#39; in Paris. In Saint Germain, you will be closer (within easy/comfortable strolling/walking distances) to more sights and attractions; more good cafes, bistrots and rstaurants to suit almost any taste, appetite or budget; more interesting shopping (grand magazins, smaller stores and interesting little shops), and have excellent Metro %26amp; bus connections to antwhere else that you might want to get to in Paris.

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The Rue Cler is two blocks long, closed off to vechicle traffic.

There are some shops and many vendors. It intersects with

La Motte Picquet where you will find some nice shops.

On the other hand -

St Germain des Pres is a very vibrant and dynamic

area with many unique stores, restaurants and cafes.

Having stayed on Rue Cler and visited St Germain des Pres

regularly when staying in the Latin Quarter, from what you

wrote, my sense is that you would most enjoy St Germain des Pres.

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Near the Rue Clerc, try the hotel Saint Dominique, http://www.saintdominique.com/ it is a great and confortable 2 stars hotel newly renovated. This area is a residential and calm area.You can discover the parisian way of life in this area and do shopping.

I hope it will be helpfull

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i rent an apartment on rue cler@ grenelle, check parisperfect.com.

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Thank you so much for your input...I love all the responses and can%26#39;t wait to go!!!

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Last summer I stayed in the Rue Cler for 10 days..Londress Eiffel and Eber Mars. Londress was on a little side street about 1/2 way between Rue Cler and Eiffel Tower. Laundry, cafes, shops on this street, Rue Augereau. Rooms were small but cute, free internet in lobby and helpful staff. Eber Mars is on avenue de la Bourdonnais, busier shop-lined street closer to Eiffel tower and metro. Rooms were larger, staff was also helpful and friendly. I was planning to return to this neighborhood this summer but am now intrigued by what I am reading about St. Germain. Would this be a easy/safe area for solo women traveler? Any hotel recommendations in the 80 to 90 euro range? Thanks!

Best place to get souvenirs?

Where is the best place to get souvenirs at great prices? thanks!

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If you are talking about tacky (no offense, I like them too) little Eiffel Towers, berets and T shirts there were some shops along the Rue Mouffetard on the West Bank, near the Pantheon. There are also some shops between the Anvers metro stop and the Finicular to Sacre Couer.

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Try the little super markets..........great stuff. Cookies, French chocolate bars, candy, cheeze, French mustard, packaged French sauces, canned pate...........lotsa neat stuff that friends might really like. Many street markets will have little trinkets, scarves, French records...........Also some of the guys who spread out their blankets when the police aren%26#39;t looking have some good prices.............

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Paris%26#39; %26#39;..Souvenir Central..%26#39; will be along the rue de Rivoli, near the Louvre

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The bouquinists along the Seine are a fun place to shop for suovenirs... you can find antique menus and other fun stuff among the more traditional gifts... Last year my daughter brought back bookmarks for all of her friends, each one was hand watercolored with three or four scenes of Paris.

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I like a couple of the shops on the north side of Notre Dame.

Also Monoprix... some nice shops underneath the Louvre, but more expensive.

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I liked the souvenirs at Galeries Lafayette. I got a cute little Eiffel Tower and a key chain.

www.galerieslafayette.com/magasin/home.do…

As well, across the street from Galeries Lafayette, I bought a white t-shirt (with embroidered %26quot;Paris%26quot; logo) and black beret at a stand on a street corner.

Sincerely,

Diana

any reason to purchase rail tickets before I go?

I%26#39;m spending a week in Paris with a side trip overnight to Strasbourg. I can order tickets through RailEurope in advance which means a $15 s/h fee. Is there any good reason to do that as opposed to just buying them at the station?

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You%26#39;ll need reservations in advance for the train to Strasbourg, but the tickets can be picked up when you arrive in Paris.

No need to use RailEurope. You can purchase your tickets on-line through the SNCF web site (http://www.sncf.com/indexe.htm). Just make sure that you have the same credit card with you that you use to purchase the tickets with when you go to pick them up.

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You%26#39;ll need reservations in advance for the train to Strasbourg, but the tickets can be picked up when you arrive in Paris.

No need to use RailEurope. You can purchase your tickets on-line through the SNCF web site (http://www.sncf.com/indexe.htm). Just make sure that you have the same credit card with you that you use to purchase the tickets with when you go to pick them up.

Need some help in Paris? Read this

Hi,

i%26#39;m alex, i%26#39;m living in Paris, France. If you%26#39;re looking for any information, i%26#39;ll be pleased to help you.

And, why not having some kind of %26quot;exchange%26quot;. I%26#39;m currently student and i%26#39;m thinking of going in the US to study.

You can answer me on this forum or contact me directly by email or msn:

alexandre_paris@hotmail.com

I hope you%26#39;ll enjoy your stay in Paris and if you need any guide, just ask.

Alex.

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Hi Alex! Have you thought about where you might want to study here in the U.S. ? Come on down to Univesity of Miami here if you are looking for fun and nearby beaches (and I%26#39;LL show YOU around! :o) ), or try an Ivy League school (top notch academics) like Harvard, Yale, Columbia (in New York City!), or University of Pennsylvania (where I went!), or a gorgeous small womens%26#39; college in the very posh Virginia horse country, like Sweet Briar www.sbc.edu, where I spent my first two college years, and where they also have a well known and highly touted exchange program with a year in Paris, I believe at the Sorbonne. http://www.jyf.sbc.edu/ Alternatively, you may enjoy the California exoerience...there is Stanford (excellent academics), and UCLA (right in Los Angeles). Let me know if I can help at all with your decision.

Regards, El

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hey el :)

thanks for your help, i%26#39;ve already been to UCLA, for a basketball camp during summer. It was gorgeous :)

But, i%26#39;ve never been to miami, i must to go, i think it%26#39;s also a nice city to live. For the Universities, i must choose a good one but there%26#39;re some problems about the prices, finding a place to stay, i think it%26#39;s quite expensive...

I%26#39;m studying %26quot;data processing%26quot; and i%26#39;d like to improve myself in marketing or management, a kind of last year specialisation.

The 2 options are to go by myself or use the ERASMUS exchange.

It%26#39;s quite difficult to choose which way is the best. I think the best idea is to come and see american universities directly and speak with the %26quot;boss%26quot; lol :) (i don%26#39;t know how to call him)

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you rpobably want to speak with the %26quot;Director of Admissions%26quot; or if the school has a set up exchange program like Sweet Briar%26#39;s, there is probably a direcotr of the program. Check out the website I sent you for Sweet Briar...you can%26#39;t find a more GORGEOUS spot. However for management or exposure to business (and also great on your resume for job hunting), you cannot beat the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. I have an MBA from there, but their undergraduate program is just as impressive in the job market. Wharton is a division of the University of Pennsylvania, in Phildalphia, a large Ive League University. I%26#39;m certain that they have set up exchange programs as well. check out http://www.upenn.edu/

As far as what I would choose, I guess I would choose Harvard, because it is the #1 university in the U.S., it is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts (right near LOTS of other great universities and colleges), and their business school is tops too, but I am not sure that they have a well known undergraduate business program like Wharton does.

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re Wharton: http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/

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thanks for your help, but do you have msn messenger? it would be much better to talk directly.

here is my address : alexandre_paris@hotmail.com

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up

Affordable hotel in Latin Quarter

We would like to stay in the Latin quarter close to a metro. Have you stayed anywhere that you liked? It doesn%26#39;t have to be fancy, just clean and safe. We won%26#39;t be in the room other than to sleep. Our budget is around 90 to 130 euros a night if possible. Someone recommended Hotel Cluny?

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The Familia Hotel (review in Trip Advisor) should meet your needs.

The Hotel Des Grandes Ecolies is also extremely popular.

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I am staying at the Hotel du College de France next month. It%26#39;s defintely located where you want to be and it%26#39;s ranked #18 in popularity on TA.

Here is their website: http://www.hotel-collegedefrance.com/

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We stayed at Hotel St. Thomas D%26#39;Aquine and loved it for the price ($110E/night for a double); the location (just across the river from the Louvre, down the street from the D%26#39;Orsay, next to the bustling St. Germain area but in a quiet area of town (more residential), a few minutes walk to the Notre Dame, a 20-30 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower (depending on how side-tracked you get!); the cleanliness; the typical Parisian feel to it; the helpfulness of the staff (every restaurant they recommended to us was great); and the nice showers. I also stayed at Hotel St. Andre D%26#39;Arts which was fun and not too pricey, definately Parisian and with a very historical feel to it, but also quite noisy at night (right in the middle of all the action).

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I think the Hotel Rive Gauche, http://www.hotelrivegauche.com is your hotel, it is located in the center of Saint germain des pres, near the Metro Saint germain des pres. It is a nice and clean hotel with good prices. The man in the hotel is a really nice person.

Enjoy Paris

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I just got back from 4 days at the Saint Christophe in the LATIN QUARTER. We paid 91E nite. They are less than half block walk from Place Monge Metro - very convenient. The rooms are small, but immaculate, the beds comfortable - the bathrooms are great, the staff delightful and eager to please...and everyone speaks English.

I strongly recommend it. You can get to them via e-mail at saintchristophe@wanadoo.fr and the web-site www.charm-hotel-paris.com.

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what is the R.E.R.???

What is the RER? Can you drive to suburbs of paris and ride this into the central area of paris and where are the stations.

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The RER rail network are essentially regional/surburban trains which service Paris--as opposed to the METRO which are essentially the city%26#39;s local %26#39;subway%26#39; system.

Depending on which surburb your stay in, the RER provides regular service to most of the greater Ile de France areas surrounding Paris. For more information on routes and the locations of their surburban station:

http://www.ratp.fr/ %26gt;%26gt; PLANS de LIGNES %26gt;%26gt; RER tab %26gt;%26gt; Map

Apartment near fun spot in Paris

Will be in Paris July 2005 and want to stay in a suite/apartment near the fun spots in central Paris so we dont have to travel too far. Can you please recommend a hotel?

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slowtrav.com has vacation rental recommendations.

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Can%26#39;t recommend something, but the Virgin travel site has an apartment building listed and does reviews on hotels in Paris. Try www.virgin.net/travel/resortfinder/

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try

http://www.my-apartment-in-paris.com/

good luck

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Try www.vrbo.com

I rented from there for April....lots to choose from.

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July in Paris can be VERY hot. make sure that your apartment or hotel will have air contitioning.

telephones at CDG

I have pre-bought tranportation from expedia and will be required to call when I arrive. Does anyone know if I%26#39;ll need a phone card for a telephone # beginning with 0800??

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Hmmm, I have no idea. I work for the national telephone company so maybe I should know ;)

If no one comes up with an answer then I%26#39;ll check outside later today but I know that when I put my creditcard into a phone it gives me a dialtone and I can access freephone numbers without being charged for it.

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IF by %26quot;..pre-bought transportation..%26quot; you mean you have a voucher for one of the various Paris airport shuttle services, then most probably not. There will be the equivalent of a toll-free number to call to notify tyhe shuttle company that you have arrived and at which terminal. They will hen tell you where to go outside of the terminal exits to meet your van and dispatch a driver to meet you there. Most airport shuttle service have several vans circulating around the airport at any given time.

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I had prepaid my shuttle also - No you don%26#39;t need a phone card - Just pick up the phone and dial....It was a breeze...

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I had prepaid my shuttle also - No you don%26#39;t need a phone card - Just pick up the phone and dial....It was a breeze...

|||

I%26#39;m not sure my reply went through - You don%26#39;t need a phone card for 0800...Just pick up the phone and dial - it was a breeze.

phones at CDG

Does anyone know whether you need a phone card or not at airport dialing a number starting with 0800?

|||

No, we had to call paris shuttile with an 0800....Just pick up phone and dial. Very easy. Enjoy your trip.

|||

thank you for the response. you made my day

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Have a great trip - Paris was amazing...it was warmer in paris than in Tallahassee when we were there this past week!

ATM/Debit Card for purchases (exchange rate)

Does anyone know if using your ATM/Debit card for purchases, provide excellent exchange rates as it does for credit cards??

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I went to England last year and I used my credit card as often as I could for the following reasons:

1) The bank institution will (most likely) give you the official exchange rate without any service fees. This is better than the rate you will get at the exchange booths.

2) Your statement will indicate what you spent, good way to trace how and where you spent your money.

3) Safe - carry just minimum cash with you for a quick lunch or some refreshments. If you get robbed or loose your purse you can simply call your credit card company (remember to bring the customer service number in the country where you are) and cacel the card. Also, a good idea to gring 2 or 3 cards on the trip and keep them in seperate places. I hope this helps.

|||

YES...and depending on your bank, may not charge the same fixed fees that it will for an ATM cash withdrawal. But be prepared with an alternate card. Occasionally, card readers will not accept ATM/Debit cards for some reason.

|||

I found that my MBNA master card credit card gave me the best exchange rate (MBNA did not add a surcharage onto the transaction).

From what I have read Master card and Visa have a very low exchange rate (some wholesale rate or something) and they add an additional 1% profit for themselves.

The bank then may add a % as well, my MBNA card doesn%26#39;t but my Chase Visa adds 2% (making a 3% mark up).

I have emailed my ATM/Debit card to see what sort of transaction charges are applied by the bank but they haven%26#39;t responded yet (to two enquiries).

I would contact your credit card bank and your ATM bank and see what their rates are.

Bank America does not charge if you use Barclay ATMs

|||

Just check my bank on line Returned yesterday. We pulled 60E on Saturday and we were charged by our bank 79.02...So about 1.32 Credit card charge converted at about the same rate - actually 1.30.

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Thanks so much for your responses. As for the Bank of America ATM/Debit card, I checked with them and you don%26#39;t have to pay addt%26#39;l fees using B.N.P. Paribas ATMS. They didn%26#39;t mention Barclays. I%26#39;m so glad I could use my check card (Citibank) now and not have to pay those additional %26quot;conversion fees%26quot; as some call it using credit cards, which is the additional 2-3% on all purchases made. Citibank is good, they don%26#39;t charge additional for purchases. Only the exchange rate, and if you%26#39;re using a non-citibank ATM a fee of $1.50 applies. I heard there are a few Citibanks locations in Paris. YAY!!

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Please pardon my ignorance, I%26#39;m trying to understand this same issue about using a debit/bank ATM card vs. using a regular Visa/Mastercard credit card. So---it is more economical to use a debit/bank ATM card rather than a Visa/Mastercard to pay for purchases while in Europe? If someone could clarify this for me I%26#39;d appreciate it!

|||

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;I%26#39;m trying to understand this same issue about using a debit/bank ATM card vs. using a regular Visa/Mastercard credit card. So---it is more economical to use a debit/bank ATM card rather than a Visa/Mastercard to pay for purchases while in Europe? If someone could clarify this for me I%26#39;d appreciate it!%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

With either an ATM/Debit card or a major credit card, you will get the best %26#39;..interbank..%26#39; exchange rate. What no on here can tell you is dpedinging upon the Terms %26amp; Conditions of your specific bank%26#39;s ATM policies and procedures and the specific major credit card issuing company, what additional fees and charges are applied to each use of either ATM/Debit or credit card. For this, the ONLY reliable source of infornmation will be to contact your local bank and credit card issuer and find out for yourself. As a general rule MOST (but not all) local banks (not the foreign bank) charge a fixed, flat for all ATM cash withdrawals. SOME (but not all banks will process ATM/Debit purchases or goods %26amp; services without any fees. ALL major credit card issuers charge a MINIMUM of 1% transaction for foreign currency purchased of goods %26amp; services and then the individual card issuer may (almost all do) add their own percentage (from 1% to 6%) on top of this. So, you MUST check your own sources.

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I just spoke to Wells Fargo and this is what I was told with regards to using an ATM/debit/check card. If you use your card at an ATM machine the following fees will be incurred:

-fee from European bank you use (KDKsail....I vaguely remember you mentioning that European banks do not charge ATM withdrawal fees...is this true?)

-a $3.00 withdrawal fee from Wells Fargo

-a 2% %26quot;conversion%26quot; fee from Wells Fargo

If you use it for purchases (as a VISA, etc.) you will have the $3.00 fee and the 2% %26quot;conversion%26quot; fee.

Are these ATM charges par for the course from most banks? Or is Wells Fargo ripping us off?

|||

I have wells fargo too, and would be interested in knowing that too

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We withdrew funds via ATM at a Credit Lyonnais machine and there was no extra fee. In addition, if offered you the option of doing your transaction in English - This was the only ATM we used so I don%26#39;t know if the others are as %26quot;friendly%26quot;.

Menton vacation in March

We are staying a week at the Hotel Prince de Galles in Menton. I would love to know of any suggestions for restaurants within walking distance of this hotel. Any suggestions for a great meal in town anywhere would also be appreciated. Thank you.

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We had a lovely meal at Au Pistou down by the marina.

Paris Pass?

Is there a pass in Paris that includes admission to the major attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, etc.?

Thanks!

|||

there is a paris museum pass or carte musees et monuments for admission to 65 museums

i think a one day pass is about 15 euro

3 day 30 euro

5 day 45 euro

sites NOT included in this pass are: eiffel tower, montparnasse tower, marmottan museum, garnier opera, notredame treasury, jewish art and history museum, catacombs, chateaux of versailles, chantilly, fontainebleau, and maybe a few others but i think i got the big ones

sites covered include: louvre, orsay, sainte chapelle, arc de triomphe, les invalides museum, pantheon, napoleons tomb, pompidou center, rodin museum, picasson museum, palace of versailles

ok now im getting tired, so someone correct me if im wrong about any of those. but its a good deal if you wanna go to about 3 of the ones that it includes

Bastille day

We will be arriving in Paris on the 13th of July~ Has anyone ever been to Paris during this time??? I would like to know where to go to get the best pics of the fireworks behind the Effiel Tower~ or where to hang out during the festivities and during the parade~

Sue

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Yes I was in Paris last year for Bastille Day, and I had such a fabulous time I%26#39;m doing it again this year.

For starters, last year on July 13-14 most arrondisements were hosting Les Bals de Pompiers which is a lot of fun if you like drinking and dancing in the streets/courtyards with a young crowd. If I recall correctly they were from about 10 pm- 4am. The one I went to last year was on the rue du Vieux Colombier near St Sulpice. Check out the France tourism website for more details when the fete approaches.

The parade was also a great time. Get there EARLY! And expect long lines for security.

The fireworks were the best I%26#39;ve ever seen anywhere. Just pick a spot in the Champ de Mars and look up, you can%26#39;t miss %26#39;em.

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For photos of the tower/with the works you may want to place yourself at the Palais de Chaillot across the Seine. Or maybe the Ile des Cygnes.

|||

Bastille day is a fun party. Not only big fireworks, dances at the firehouses all night on the 13th, parade on the Champs but picnics everywhere....music....free concerts. You can view the fireworks from many areas around town. We watched them from in front of the Pantheon last year. The parade has a huge, huge crowd and only goes from the Arc to Concord along the Champs. Jet fighters fly overhead and the French militiary dominates the marching in the parade....The only way to see it well would be to get along the route very, very early, or watch it on TV. They close the metro stops near the route and few buses run. Some people even bring step ladders to see over the crowds.........

Then the Parisians of the city pack up and go on vacation and the tourists arrive. Traffic is much lighter, some stores are closed and the beaches are jammed.

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luveurope~

You said you were there last year on Bastille day~ Could you possible e-mail me at susanaq27@aol.com so I can ask you some specific questions about that day?

Thanks Sue

|||

Susan, sure I could email you, but why not just ask your questions here?

Since you have AOL, you also might want to check out the AOL Paris board.

Hotel des Batignolles ??

Anyone stayed at this hotel? I%26#39;ll be in Paris in May (on honeymoon) and lloking for clean, safe, budget accomodations. Any advice?

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Have a look at the Hotel Beausejour Montmartre, a 2 star hotel near Place de Clichy, a very clean and nice hotel. Staff is wonderful and prices really affordable. If you are going to thisd hotel in May, I guess you will benefit from the sweet terrasse to have your breakfast, a beautiful place in the hotel.

http://www.hbeausejour.com

Have a good trip!

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The best romantic I have ever seen is the Hotel Ville fenelon, http://www.villa-fenelon.com/ it is a nice 2 stars hotel located not too far from the opera. There is a Metro nearby the hotel; it is in a small and calm street.Have a look at the webiste to discover the nice decoration of this hotel.

Enjoy Paris

traveling to paris march 3 -8 need somme advice

My husband and I will be traveling to Paris March 3-8. We are planning on staying at Victoria Palace. This is our first trip to Paris and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on getting from the airport to hotel, any good restaurants in the area where we will be staying.Does anyone know the area where Victoria Palace is ? Is it a good choice?Any advice would be helpful. I would like our trip to be very romantic!!!

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Hi, I haven%26#39;t been to paris myself. but i am going in march and i have done some research.

Your hotel location is fine, I think you didnt make any mistake there.

If you want to go by train from airport to hotel I think the best way mighttttttt be:

RER B from CDG airport to St Michel

Then at the St Michel stop transfer to the Metro Line 4 to the St-Placide stop, and this should be close to your airport.

Hopefully someone can back me up, or maybe recommend a better way, I%26#39;m not sure if the stop is a convienient one or notl.

or if you have lots of money then you can arrange for an airport shuttle thing, but i am a poor college student so all i know about is trains.

I got the stop information from:

www.parisby.com/victoria/pages/reach.htm

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Yes, but before you get on the train station to get to the RER, you need to find the shuttle bus to get you to the train station.

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Hello rockland,

Say you might want to consider just taking an airport shuttle right to the door of your hotel. Its about 15/18 euros each for 2 travelling together, door to door. You can also make arrangements for them to pick you up for return trip to CDG. It%26#39;s quite easy when worn out from the long trip over and no dragging luggage. While we have never taken a taxi I understand that they are between 45 and 65euros into Paris...be sure to get a licenced cab, from the cab station.

I just got a special of 14.50 euros per person, each way from blueshuttle.fr...for our March trip. Have taken them before and they are quite good although sometimes you might have to wait a little while for them, but not always. You can call them toll free when you arrive, they will tell you where the van will be and it is easy to find........right outside where the pickups are....taxis etc. It is an 8 passenger van and sometimes you have a little tour of Paris when dropping off the other passengers.......with whom you might strike up a nice conversation.

Bonne chance...........you will love Paris............Bea

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Yes, I%26#39;ve just booked Blue Shuttle for my trip from the airport into Paris in March, after shopping around, they are the cheapest - very easy to do online http://www.bluvan.fr/. Costing me 58 euros for two people return trip. Sorry don%26#39;t know about the area you%26#39;re staying in, this will be my first trip to Paris since I was 5!

Parisi & Ski

We are planning to go to paris this Feb, andn at the same time we want to take the chance to do some skiing. Any close area to paris where we can ski. Please let us know.

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There are one or two replies to this question which was only asked a few days ago.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k45123…

Provence to Prague

How difficult would it be to fly from Boston Ma to the Provence Region of France and then take a train to the Prague area?

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I think that you%26#39;d have to go to either Milan or Paris to get to a major train station. You might be able to get a good flight on a discount airline from Nice. Try EasyJet or Ryan Air.

|||

For your train connection go to -- www.SNCF.com -- or -- www.Bahn.de --.

I think you can get a roundtrip flight from Marseille to Prague from 340 USD at -- www.Czech-Airlines.com --.

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Instead of a train, consider a low cost airline. Looks like easyjet can fly you from Marseille to Prague (with a change in London). Believe it or not, this would be faster and a whole lot cheaper than taking the train.

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There are easyjet flights from Nice to Berlin.

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Or try -- www.RyanAir.com --. There are flights from Nimes to London and then you can take another flight to Berlin.

RER/Metro tickets

Hi, I%26#39;m coming from Charles de Gualle into the city. I%26#39;ve been advised to take an RER train to Gare Du Nord and then the metro to a closer stop.

Will I have to get separate tickets for the journey, or can I get a carnet and use two of them?

Many thanks.

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The ticket that you get at the airport is valid until you get out of the underground transport system. So you can get the RER to Gare de Nord and then use the same ticket to take the metro to your hotel.

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Wonderful! Thanks for your help. :)

Which District/Quarter/Area is better to stay?

Hi, I am a young male taking my mother to Paris and London for her birthday in March. Have been to Paris before when I was 13 so don%26#39;t remember much. I am looking for a reasonably priced hotel (about 90-100 EUR) with breakfast included. I have been browsing the travel sites but I go back and forth between Opera and Latin Quarter. I noticed that hotels in other areas are cheaper. Could anyone provide some helpfull information as which area would be better to stay. Ideally we want a real parisian area that is safe but yet lively and with nearby restaurants and cafes. Thanks!

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The Baron Haussman was really able to dig his claws into the Opera area, destroying the densely populated tenements, installing beautiful large apartment buildings and creating vast tree lined boulevards, where as the latin quarter was left more or less alone, with its more compact streets and quaint neighborhoods.

It comes down to a question of taste, as both neighborhoods are well served by public transportation and are equally well located for sight seeing. My personal vote goes for the Latin Quarter, although I ultimately prefer the nearby St Germain area.

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Thanks Good2Go. I will concentrate my hotel search in the Latin Quarter and St Germain as you recomended. From what I have researched and from what you described it is ultimatly what I am looking for. Any HOTEL suggestions in those 2 areas?

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A clean, well located, and affordable place is the Lindbergh on the rue Chomel www.hotellindbergh.com. Nothing fancy, but walking distance to St Germain des Pres where all the action is, while still on a quiet neighborhood street. Nice of you to take your Mom to Paris.

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Good2Go, I checked out your hotel recomendation and its a little beyond my budget, even though it looks like a nice hotel. Do you have any other suggestions in St. Germain or Latin Quarter? Anybody?? Thanks!

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try a short term apartment rental - then you can cook your own meals (or at least some of them) - a huge saving! try

http://www.my-apartment-in-paris.com

good luck

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just a thought - you could try a short term apartment rental, that way you could make some of your own meals - a huge saving.

try http://www.my-apartment-in-paris.com

good luck!

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Try looking up Hotel Claude Bernard in the 5th.

I have stay there twice, a good hotel for a

reasonable price.

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Try the Hotel Rive Gauche, http://www.hotelrivegauche.com , anice 2 stars hotel located in teh famous Saint Germain des pres, in the rue des saint peres.

Enjoy Paris

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Another area which is not far from anywhere is %26quot;les marais%26quot; 75004. Pretty, restos and bars and most shops open on a Sunday.

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We just returned from a stay in the Latin Quarter at the Hotel Sainte Christophe. It was perfect. About 15 steps from the Metro and convenient to everything. We loved the area - great place to walk - wonderful market just at the Metro. Everything was very convenient and the people at Saint Christophe were delightful.

sleeping pills?

someone mentioned in a post that the pharmacies in France will sell you sleeping pills without a prescription. Does that mean stuff like Ambien and Soma?

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While I dont know about your particular items, we buy many of our prescription drugs in France, without a doctors order. Really a good bargain.....better than Canada, and state controlled. Often as little as 25 percent of what we pay here....

Take them with you and try a pharmacy, cant loose.............Natural items, vitamins etc., on the other hand, we have not found to be less expensive.

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thanks Bea.Will drop in with my bottle and ask.

V.A.T. refunds - how it works?

I understand you need a min. purchase of 164 euros and passport, do we have to also go somewhere at the airport? Also, any tips/ins-and-outs appreciated. Thanks

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The minimum purchase per store is 175E - Most stores will give you a form %26amp; envelope which must be stamped at the Airport. There are signs directing you to the VAT or TAX Refund desk. After it is stamped, put 1 copy in the envelope and mail from airport, no stamp needed on the envelopes I rec%26#39;d. At the time of purchase they will ask you how you want your refund - via credit card is the easiest and fastest way. They will often ask to see some or all of the merchandise. I bought a suit for my husband - they did not want to see it, but we kept it out of suitcase just in case. He had purchased an Hermes scarf and necklace for my birthday - that they did want to see, so we recommend going to the desk BEFORE you check your luggage.

Yes, you will need your passport. I was told that the lines can be very long - we walked right up to the window,but it was a Monday morning.

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Good explanation above. I%26#39;m just confirming for you that, yes, the lines can be very long, an hour or even more, so get to the airport early if you plan on getting the refund.

The other thing to note is that if you are visiting more than one city/country while on your trip, you don%26#39;t need to go to get your refund at each airport along the way if you are flying from country to country. You just have to go at your final departure city when you leave the European Union.

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I was unable to get my VAT form stamped while at CDG due to time constraints... is it worthwhile to mail my form to try to get my refund?

|||

As far as I know it must be stamped at the airport in order for it to be valid.

night train florence to paris

We are planning to take the %26quot;Artesia%26quot; night train from Florence to Paris this July. We are having trouble finding good information about this or how to purchase tickets. Does anyone have any information? Anything would be helpful!

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The same question was asked last week :)

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k41279…

You can use either RailEurope

www.raileurope.co.uk/artesia/artesia.asp

or

http://www.sncf.com/indexe.htm

What about a "progressive dinner" ???

With all the restaurants I%26#39;d love to try, and knowing I won%26#39;t be able to get to all of them, my husband thought maybe we could do a %26quot;progressive dinner%26quot; one night, where we have appetizers at one place, main course at another, dessert at another, coffee and more dessert at another. We%26#39;ve done that kind of thing here in the States a couple of times, and it was a lot of fun. However, wasn%26#39;t sure if it is frowned upon to go into Parisian restaurants and just order one course. Of course, we wouldn%26#39;t be going to the 3-star places for this! Anyway, if anyone has pulled this off in Paris or has any thoughts/suggestions, I%26#39;d love to hear about it.

Thanks,

Nina

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I%26#39;m not sure how well that idea would be received by most Paris restaurants. They do not work on the basis of %26#39;..turn-over..%26#39;--expecting to %26#39;turn%26#39; tables two or three times per evening. Unlike many/most US restaurants, when you reserve a table in a Paris restaurant it is %26#39;yours%26#39; for the evening and waiters won%26#39;t be rushing you through your meal, leaving the check after the appetizer, rolling the dessert cart up during your meal or asking you to leave because they need the table for another reservation. But I suppose you could do it....but if you do, I wouldn%26#39;t be making plans to return to any of those restaurants any time soon.

It%26#39;s also worth bearing in mind the %26#39;protocols%26#39; of Paris cafes around luncheon or in the evenings. If you walk up to a cafe or restaurant and see tables set-up with linens and place settings, these tables are for patrons who plan to dine. So if all you want is a drink or just coffee and dessert, either wait to be seated or take a table that is NOT set.

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you can do it for sure. many restaurants dont like to give a table to people during 2 hours especially if they dont order a lot. i went to lots of restaurants where there are many services, like 8, then 9, then 10, and some like the clients to eat quick. what you can do is go to a bar for the appetizers, then a restaurant for the main course, and to a salon de the for the dessert (like laduree for ex, or others), and then to another salon de the. salons de the dont expect you to have 3 desserts each one, but a dessert with something to drink, and for restaurants i often go to restaurants and just have one plate, with wine, eat fast when i dont want to stay hours, and i return there with no pb at all. you know in paris lots of people dont have time to eat during hours during lunch time, so many restaurants know that, and dont expect you to order 3 plates. and anyway, you will not return to the restaurants, so just do it!

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i meant like 8pm, 9pm, 10pm. lots of restaurants do that, somewhere i go when i dont want to stay for hours is la grande armee or any costes restaurants (except hotel costes, more expensive), they do many services, all day long, the prices are correct, the food also, and it%26#39;s not too long.

All you can eat restaurant?

I visited Paris in 1974, and was taken out to a restaurant where we had unlimited appetizer, salad and side dishes, and one main course. A great place to take teen age boys. Now that I am traveling with two of them, I was wondering if such a place still exists.

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%26quot;All You Can Eat%26quot; (AYCE) isn%26#39;t all that popular here in France. The entire concept of people eating as much as they possible can for as little cash as possible gives some of the French people I know shivers down their back!

I know af about 5 Asian restaurants that offer this in various parts of town for about 10euro per person.

There are also the odd restaurant that may have either a first or second course (main) that%26#39;ll be %26#39;all-you-can-eat%26#39; but there are rare. Pizza Hut has this offer at lunch for example and the Bistro Romain chain has a Beef Carpaccio that%26#39;s AYCE.

FLAMS (www.flams.f) have an AYCE buffet, but you have to actually like those German style pancakes first :)

FLUNCH (www.flunch.fr) is more of a canteen style restaurant which is cheap and has all you can eat veg (fries count as a veg!).

The term in French is %26quot;restaurant �� volonte%26quot; so happy eating !

Hop On Hop Off Tours

Anyone know anything about the tour operators who offer Hop On Hop Off tours in Paris? Which is the best? How do I secure tickets? Things to avoid???

Thanks!

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We%26#39;ve only taken the L%26#39;Open Tour buses. I believe they%26#39;re about 27 Euros for a 2 day pass -- much less for children -- and they have about 40 stops. They%26#39;re the yellow double decker buses, and you can pay for the ticket on the bus. Some places they stop are Notre Dame, Le Madeleine, and Saint Germain des Pr��s. They go to Montmartre, all the way out to Bercy, down to Montparnasse to the Place Denfert Rochereau, etc. I checked another hop on hop off tour bus, and they only had a few stops in comparison, for about 6 Euros less. Those were the red tour buses. I believe that L%26#39;Open Tour is run by the RATP. Here%26#39;s their website... have a look:

http://www.paris-opentour.com/index_eng.htm

Their office is located near the Opera Garnier:

13, rue Auber 75009 Paris

T��l : +33 (0)1 42 66 56 56

Fax : +33 (0)1 42 66 56 57

M��tro : Havre-Caumartin / Op��ra - RER : Auber

e-mail : information@paris-opentour.com

Sandy

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Of the two (3 sorta%26#39;) hop-on/hop-off tour bus companies operating within Paris, the PARIS L%26#39; OPEN TOURS offers the best/broadest coverage of the city---with four(4) overlapping, inter-connected (free transfers) circuits/routes to choose from

PARIS L%26#39; OPEN TOURS-- http://www.paris-opentour.com/index_eng.htm

Les CARS ROUGES-- http://www.carsrouges.com/uk/index.html

BATOBUS-- http://www.batobus.com/

Beer in La Defense

Can anyone recommend a lively bar in la Defense for a beer after work?

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No

Lively and La D��f after dark do not mix. THere are a couple of places you can get a drink sure but the peoeple who live there don%26#39;t work there and vice versa, the majority of people want to leave the place and get home as quickly as possible after work.

That said if you want a drink you should try Le Bistro �� Vins or Caf�� Malongo which are in the middle of the pedestrianized %26#39;parvis%26#39; area near the fountains and the distinctive EDF tower. (The Starbucks is there too.)

Because the transport links are so good don%26#39;t feel you have to stay in La D��f in the evening though. I think there%26#39;s an Irish pub in Neuilly a couple of metro stops away and if you take the RER, 2 euros one way, you can be in the %26#39;op��ra area in 10 minutes (the station is called Auber, all trains stop there and going home all trains stop at La D��f). and the service runs till about 1am. Once you%26#39;re at Op��ra you%26#39;re surrounded by bars, restaurants and cineams - head up Blvd. Des Capicines.

For more of a tourist trip get the metro or RER to Charles de Gaulles Etoile which is the Arc de Triomphe end of the CHamps Elys��es.

By the way - I say La D��f %26#39;cos I%26#39;m lazy when I%26#39;m writing, no one will understand if you say it ;-)

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PS my French %26#39;e%26#39; with an accent came up as%26#39;??%26#39;, sorry.

Stade de France

Stade de France, where is it? Is this a good place to park when driving to paris and use the RER to get to the central area?

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If I had a choice of surburban parking locations, with RER connections to Paris, the area around the Stade de France up near Saint Denis would probably be at thew very BOTTOM of my list. Areas out along the north-western extentions (Saint Germain En Laye) of the RER A-1 or A-3 (Cergy) lignes or the north-western extentions of the RER C-1 (Pontoise) or south-western C-5 (versailles-Rive Gauche) lignes would be at the top of my list.

For ligne routes and station details:

http://www.ratp.fr/ %26gt;%26gt; PLAN de LIGNES %26gt;%26gt; RER tab %26gt;%26gt; MAP

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What about the hotels out near CDG airport?

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CDG hotels are an option but since the RER B-3, AIR FRANCE COACH and ROISSYBUS all depart from stations/places within CDG airport. You would probably have to take a shuttle across to CDG to the stations.

Carte Orange cost for a week

What is the cost of the Carte Orange one week pass? Also can you use it for buses like the Paris Viste can? Thanks!!

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15.40 Euros zone 1-2 (Paris) Valid for metro, buses, tram and rer. Not valid for tourist buses. Visit www.ratp.fr

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...and just in case you are not aware, the C.O. is valid for use starting Monday going through Sunday. I believe you can buy one starting Sunday (for Mon%26#39;s use) through Wednesday. Compare these restrictions to your schedule.

Also, it is easiest (and cheapest) to bring your own tiny photo for the id card - just cut out a head shot (or take one with someone%26#39;s digital camera and print it) that is about 1x1 inches (like the ones from those photo booths).

Finally, once you have the id card w/photo and the ticket, there is one more thing to do: find the # on the id card and write it in on the ticket. This completes your acquisition of the card, and will please any transportation official who requests proof of your ticket or pass.

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I read on another website that CO is only available to residents of Ille de France - is this correct? I can%26#39;t speak french so it will be impossible for me to pretend I am one :)

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No. The CO is available to anyone who wants it.

When you ask for the little wallet for the CO where you stick your photo, the person isn%26#39;t going to ask you what your address is :)

You can buy a CO from a machine but you have to ask for the little wallet from someone working in the metro station. Just stick your photo on it and write the number that%26#39;s by your photo on your CO card.

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BTW, what website did you read this on?

I know that other sites can%26#39;t always have accurate info 100% of the time but saying that not even French people who live outside of the Paris subarbs can have the card is crazy !

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Thanks for fast reply!

One more question - previous post said CO is only Mon to Sunday - is that true?

I am going on Friday and coming back on Monday. If the above is correct I will need 2 weekly passes... Might be better to go with Card Visite?

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wordtravels.com/Cities/France/Paris/Basics

This is the link to the website, in Getting around it says:

%26quot;There is also the cheaper weekly or monthly Carte Orange (passport photo required), but this is technically only available for Ile de France residents.%26quot;

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The tricky thing about coming to Paris is that there are almost too many options when it comes to tickets and passes. CDG, Disneyland and Versailles all serve to make it even harder to figure out what to buy :)

A weekly CO works from Monday to Sunday.

If you buy one up to a Wednesday then it%26#39;ll be valid for that week. If you get one on a Friday then it%26#39;ll be valid for the following week.

I have no idea what happens on Thursdays :)

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I guess that the key word here is %26#39;technically%26#39;

The CO is a card used by those that work in Paris to make it easier to get around. Everyone I work with either has a monthly pass or a yearly one. If you get the monthly CO then your company are obliged to pay for half of the cost.

So %26#39;technically%26#39; it%26#39;s designed for those that work there. But there%26#39;s nothing stopping you from using it. In fact, if you compare the English and French versions of the RATP site you%26#39;ll see that the English version only offers metro tickets and the carte visite while the French version has carte orange and the day passes included.

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too many choices is the problem I agree, I guess I will just get Visite pass for 3 days zones 1-3 and just pay the return tickets to Versailles and CDG separately.

BTW do you know how much it costs (I mean return or single ticket to Versailles and CDG?)

Thanks

Steak-frites

Where have you had the best steak-frites in the city? I%26#39;m staying in the 6th, anywhere near there?

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I don%26#39;t know about steak-frites but if you want to have a fun, very Parisian, and very inexpensive meal, check out Chartiers.

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chartiers do they have a website? Where is it located?

|||

http://www.restaurant-chartier.com/www/visit/

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try L%26#39;Entrecote de Paris, at 29 r. de Marignan just off the Champs Elysees near Franklin Roosevelt metro. Steak is yummy with a very good seasoned buttery sauce. Frites are great. Pre-fix of salad, steak and frites for about 21E. This includes as much sauces and frites as you can eat.

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The Relais de l%26#39;Entrecote in St Germains des Pres (behind the Cafe de Flore) has nothing but steak frites, in fact there are no menus and waitresses ask how you%26#39;d like it cooked instead of offering to take your order. The tradition ends with dessert, when a pretty extensive seasonal menu is provided.

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Relais l%26#39;entrecote is OK, I think, but a bit of a commercialized factory. My favorite in town is at Chez Georges in the 2nd, a true Parisien bistro experience. If you want a further review, check it out on Patricia Wells%26#39;s website. She essentially reviews it every year, as it is one of her favorites as well.

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Does anyone know how I%26#39;d say In French that I wanted my steak well done?

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Bien Cuit

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Sorry, hit the post on accident. Bien Cuit is french for well done. It is pronounced be-in kwee.

Le Relais is a large place, but the steaks are aged to perfection, which is a rarity here and they are the tenderest I have ever had. We don%26#39;t go there for the charm, we go when we are in the mood for excellent steaks, good fries and mouth watering desserts served without fuss and without any risk of it being a two hour meal.

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How do you say %26quot;medium rare%26quot; and is it true the French standard is much more rare than American? If so, how do you say %26quot;medium%26quot;?

Thank you!

American Airlines or Air France?

I%26#39;ve been reading the posts here that with some carriers they don%26#39;t leave close to local transportation but rather you would have to take a shuttle.

I%26#39;m thinking of booking flights with American Airlines since its a bit cheaper than Air France, not by much though and Air France seems to have the times I%26#39;m looking for.

Any comments would be helpful.

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I%26#39;m not at all sure what you mean by %26quot;..some carriers they don%26#39;t leave close to local transportation but rather you would have to take a shuttle..%26quot;. Both American Airlines and Air France arrive and depart from different buildings of CDG Terminal #2--AA at #2-A and AF at either #2-C or #2-F (CDG #2 diagram-- http://www.adp.fr/webadp/a_cont01_an.nsf/0/A806156E4C6A964CC1256ABE004858F6/$File/cdg2gran.gif ) So BOTH airlines will be convenient to ALL forms of airport transfer into Paris.

I haven%26#39;t flown American Airlines lately but several friends and acquaintances have and confirm that AA does indeed have more legroom back in Coach--which can be a big deal on a six(6) hour trans-Atlantic. AF may have marginally better airline-food. But ultimately, since both fly direct out of both JFK and EWR, it will come down to two substantive factors--price and schedule.

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Hello NYC,

Maybe what you are referring to is that A.A., does not pull their planes up to the terminal at CDG as A.F. does. Instead you are bused into it from out on the field, but you end up at the same place....Tis a pain, however the seating in coach does seem to be a little more roomy. There are not private TV%26#39;s on our planes outta Florida on AA...dont know if AF has them or not. Not sure about this but I think AF still gives free booze on its flights.........AA charges.

In either case dont expect too much..........both are crowded and it%26#39;s a long ride!

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Bea: not in business class! and I%26#39;m sure First Class on Air France is TOTAL luxury and omfort!! I was pampered and spoiled on Air France%26#39;s business class out of Florida, and we definitely had private TV%26#39;s....enjoyed several movies on the trip, including the hilarious %26quot;Bringing Down the House%26quot; with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah......my Mom and I laughed so hard we were in tears! I%26#39;m sure that our reactrions were heightened by all the champagne and delicious food too. To me, and I have done this trip on American too, the French have us beat on transatlantic comfort.

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There are a handful of budget airlines that leave from some pretty inconveninetlly located airports, but with AA and AF you will be coming into Charles de Gaulle and will have no problems with transportation.

Between the two it is really a question of 6 of one and half a dozen of the other.

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Thanks for your response.

Yes, Bea I was referring of the bus to the terminal. While it sounds like a pain, I think I might do AA to get the miles.

Thanks again to all.

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Anyone knows if US Airways does the same thing? you know, do they take the plane all the way to the terminal or do we need to get on the bus?

Thanks.

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I flew on Air France December 29th, 2004. I don%26#39;t recommend flying coach on AF as the legroom is practically non-existent and the seats are pretty narrow.

Not true AF does not always pull up to the terminal as mentioned above. We were not told by the flight crew about this at all before we disembarked. It%26#39;s routine to the flight crew but do they think that it%26#39;s routine for all of the passengers? After coming from the warm plane to walk down some steps onto a tarmac with very cold temperatures and not knowing what is going on was just bad service in my opinion. There was only one bus for a full flight of an Airbus 340. Needless to say there was not enough room, people were pushing and shoving another, SRO on the bus, and there were people left on the tarmac by the plane as they didn%26#39;t get a space onto the bus.

United Airlines, which I flew last year, did pull right up to the CDG terminal-no problems at all!

First time I flew AF was in %26#39;99 and it was the worse flight ever: 747 that was practially falling apart and %26#39;food%26#39; that was inedible. I thought I%26#39;d give them another chance in 2004 but they still have problems.

I would go with either AA for the spacious legroom or UAL just because the planes pull up to the terminal (legroom is okay, not the best). Best of all is Lufthansa-lovely f.a.%26#39;s and newer aircrafts. Only problem is that you have to transfer planes in Germany.

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At different times of the day--depending on traffic ALL of the airlines which arrive or depart at CDG MAY use the %26#39;scissors-buses%26#39; to transport passengers from plane-to-gate and less often from gate-to-plane because of a lack of available Gates. I know that ALL of the trans-Atlantic air carriers arriving at CDG #2 (Air France, Continental, Delta, Continental, Alitalia) do at one time or another. I%26#39;ve only had to go through CDG #1 once with US Air and they used a %26#39;scissors bus%26#39; on that occasion.

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I don%26#39;t know about American but I can offer my 2 cents on Air France - they have outfitted their planes recently such that business and 1st class are quite luxurious and coach can actually be quite painful - the seats are stiff and hard and very small (and I%26#39;m not a big person by any stretch) and there is very little legroom. They did have the little movie screens which is a plus but it was incredibly uncomfortable.

BTW, I just returned from Paris and took USAir - much more comfortable; there was plently of legroom; the Phila. - Paris planes are Airbuses and have the little screens which really speed the trip along. I%26#39;d recommend USAIr if that would fit into your plans. (Arrives at a CDG gate and there were 2 doors for entereing the plane right at the terminal).

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P.S. - I just noticed one of the later posts. USAir has the 1 flight a day from Phila. which arrives at 9:20 AM if I remember correctly. I%26#39;ve never had to use the scissor buses with their flights.

Factory Tours/Fashion shows

My family enjoys going on factory tours . The only one I was able to find on line was the Gobelins Tapestry Tour. Does anyone know of any others?

Also, on a previous trip I was able to go to a fashion show, held at a department store. Can someone direct me to where I could get tickets to go to another one? We will be in PAris in late February.

Thanks in advance for your response.

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For free Fashion shows:

GALERIES LAFAYETTE-- FRIDAY%26#39;s at 3:00 PM (you can pre-book via e-mail link)

…galerieslafayette.com/vdm/…

PRINTEMPS-- TUESDAYs at 10:00 AM

printemps.com/international/…

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I%26#39;m not sure if you%26#39;re aware of it or not but the GOBELINS tours have odd days and even odder hours. They%26#39;re usually only offered on TUESDAYs, WEDNESDAYs %26amp; THURSDAYs at 2:00 PM and 2:45 PM. I%26#39;d suggest you telephone before heading down there to make sure of availability and the days and times.

www.museums-of-paris.com/musee_en.php…

The general area of Butte aux Cailles is difficult to describe. It is certainly a %26#39;working class%26#39; neighborhood but it has more of the %26#39;..feel..%26#39; of an entirely separate %26#39;village%26#39; than a part of Paris. It isn%26#39;t always %26#39;pretty%26#39; but it%26#39;s usually %26#39;interesting%26#39;.

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Michel Cluizel has chocolate tours just outside the city.

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Thank you for your responses. Does anyone have any more information that might be useful, especially as to any factory tours?

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There is this tour of the Commercial Markets out at Rungis--http://www.rungisinternational.com/pages/gb/Com/visites.asp

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Would the champagne factory tour in Reims qualify?

There is not a lot of Mfg going on around here.

There are furniture ateliers in the 11th and you can visit those, or the clothing manufacturers in the sentier.

Another contributor asked to visit the kitchens of a local bakery and yesterday I got a visit of my new chocolatier%26#39;s laboratory.

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The Gobelins Tour is well worth the effort to organise -the only problem the day we were there was that the tour was only available in French.

Tourist season

My husband and I will be in Paris end of May, does anyone know if their are a ton of tourists? We also plan to go to Reims for Champagne tasting and really hope it won%26#39;t be too crowded. When does the big tourist season start?.

Thank you

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Paris in the spring is the dream of many, so you won%26#39;t be alone, but you should be fine, it is much worse in July and it gets better as yu leave the city. Many of the European tourists will be between spring break and summer holidays, so Reims won%26#39;t be as bad as early May when we are all off.

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Thank you so much good2go!!!!

Opera Garnier Tours in English

Does anyone know when the tours for Opera Garnier are given in English?

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While I do not know when the English tours are given at the Opera Garnier, I would like to suggest that you get a reasonably priced ticket and see not only the beautiful theatre, but a ballet and people attending as well, for about the same price as just a tour. Go to their ticket office any day and see what is available even for that nights performance...........You might easily get lucky especially if you tell them you will take a seat from which you may not be able to see well....that you will be fine just hearing the music...Once you are seated, you will probably be able to see ok anyway....people often are accomodating and will move so you can. Do try to get a seat in a side box/stall, (booth)..........tis wonderful even in the third row of them. Would suggest you take a seat with limited visability rather than in the top balcony since balcony seats are really tight and are not beautifully decorated and lined with red velvet as are the boxes.

If you go to the same ticket office at least an hour before the nights performance they sell tickets for that night....even for sold out performances.... some very cheap ones too. We have often gone for about 7 or 8 euros and see fairly well, often very well. Garnier usually has the ballets and Bastille the operas. It%26#39;s a treat even if you only see the building during a performance..............

Eurail

Is there a line between Paris and Rome? Thanks! How convienent is it?

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There%26#39;s a daily train that leaves Paris at 19:09 and gets into Rome the next day at 10am. I%26quot;m not sure how many stops it makes but I don%26#39;t think it changes trains.

Check www.raileurope.com for fares and sheduals for all over europe.

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The overnight trains usually make stops at the main cities along the way in the early part of the trip. Then you%26#39;ll end up stopping at the main Italian cities like Milan, Pisa, Florence and then Rome in the morning. More than likely, your train will terminate in Rome%26#39;s Termini station so you will know exactly that you%26#39;ve arrived. Make sure you reserve a %26quot;bed%26quot; (it%26#39;s an extra charge for Eurail pass holders).

Another way to head to Rome is to take a day on the TGV from Paris to Nice or another part of the Rivera. Then catch an Intercity train to Rome that will stop in Genova, Pisa and Rome. You%26#39;ll see the countryside/sites this way. Have fun!

Dinner for 10 in Paris

I am heading to Paris to celebrate my 40th birthday with 9 other friends in early April 2005. I%26#39;m looking for a restaurant which meets the following criteria:

1) reasonably affordable (I know it%26#39;s Paris so I expect the definition of %26#39;reasonable%26#39; to be open to interpretation)

2) Parisian atmosphere and charm

3) NOT a tourist trap

4) Can accommodate a group of 10

I know many Parisian restaurants are small and quaint. Will I need to sacrifice the charm in order to accommodate a larger group? Any and all suggestions welcome!

Thanks

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Le Pavillon Montsouris is a lovely restaurant. It is located by the park. I was very charmed by this restaurant that I found in the Eyewitness Paris guide. And I would have to say that it felt like the locals went to this restaurant. It was not a tourist trap. I was the only one with a camera when I went to this restaurant.

pavillon-montsouris.fr/anglais/etablissement…

Sincerely,

Diana

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le Vin Sobre in the 5th, 25 rue Feuillantines on the corner of rue St Jacques 01 43 29 00 23 is a quitessentially Paris place with a row of tables in the back that could easily accomodate your party. A great wine list and the location can%26#39;t be beat.

Le 7eme Sens...7, rue Cadet in the 9th 01 48 24 19 61 also has a row of tables that could be placed together for your party. The food is good, it is really off the beaten path and it is too new to have been discovered.

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Any of the better brasseries; Le Dome, Bofinger, La Coupole can do large groups easily. Menus are generally broad as well as wine lists, so everyone should be happy. The three above also have quite a bit of atmosphere.

LOpen Hop On Hop Off Tour

Is it possible to board this tour at the Gare Nord and tour around the city and then get dropped off at the same point?

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YES...sorta%26#39;....One of the four(4) interconected circuits/routes (Montmartre/Grand Boulevards) of the PARIS L%26#39; OPEN TOUR buses has a stop outside of Gare du Nord. But to get from Gare du Mord to say Arc de Triumph, Eiffel Tower or Musee du Louvre, you woulf have to transfer (free) to another bus for a different route/circuit. Check out the route maps for details at their web site-- http://www.paris-opentour.com/index_eng.htm

Lovely paris restaurant - any ideas?

Hello

I am going to Paris with my boyfriend for Valentines weekend and I just wondered if anyone had any tips on a lovely, romantic, French restaurant we could go to for dinner? Somewhere a bit special...

Are classic places like Bofinger or La Coupole our best bet or would you suggest Man Ray (I hear the food isnt that great there though)

Cost is not an issue, but somewhere really romantic and not too snotty or posh would be great.

THANKS!

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Le Coupe Chou, http://www.lecoupechou.com/ I can really recommend it to you , it is nice and good food. Have a look at the webiste, you can discover the decoration. Food is really good and prices are reasonables.

I hope you will enjoy Paris

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Le Voltaire

27 quai Voltaire

Ph: 01 42 61 17 49

Friends had their Valentine/Birthday celebration there and went back the next year. %26quot;The epitome of a French restaurant%26quot;

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Forget Bofinger or Man Ray for a romantic dinner. I haven%26#39;t been to La Coupole. If money really is not an issue, Ledoyen over the Champs Elysees gardens is lovely. It%26#39;s hard to go wrong at Taillevent or Tour d%26#39;Argent.

For a little scaled down, try Relais Louis XIII in the 6th or Jacques Cagna. For a true bistro experience, my favorite is Chez Georges in the 2nd.

And, of course, there%26#39;s always Jules Verne in the Tour Eiffel, but make sure to book early.

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man ray isn%26#39;t romantic, it%26#39;s fashion. i would not suggest you this restaurant, it%26#39;s too big. i suggest you the 1728, a really romantic and intimate restaurant, with a great decoration (i always feel i have dinner in a castle), very %26#39;secret%26#39; (the first time you%26#39;ll go there you will not speak too loud i am sure, it%26#39;s like everybody must whisper, but after a while you wont whisper anymore but it%26#39;s the feeling). it is also a galerie with huge paintings, asian people are serving french-asian food, great food at a correct budget (something like 50 euros/person more or less). great desserts from pierre herme, cheese, and thousands of tea (white, green, red, black etc) with a woman twho is just about the tea.

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We enjoyed La Fermette Marbeuf: www.fermettemarbeuf.com. Very good food and nice atmosphere. Check the website which gives pictures, menu, prices etc. Here%26#39;s another website of restaurants with pictures etc: http://www.blanc.net/blanc_/en/index.html

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Lucky Girl! Our favorite restaurant in the world (literally!) is the %26#39;Taverne du Sargent Recruiteur%26#39; on the isle St. Louis. It%26#39;s very easy to get to. It%26#39;s 400 years old (that%26#39;s old for us Americans!) and it%26#39;s about 35 Euro per person and includes everything. When you%26#39;re seated, they bring a large basket of fresh whole vegetables and brown boiled eggs, another basket of various sausages and salamis, a plate of country pate, lentils, baby gherkins and a basket of bread. All you want...and this is just the appetizer. You will then order your entree, after which you%26#39;ll have a dessert (the chocolate mousse is wonderful) and then a great cheese platter. Also included is all of the red or white wine you would like...their own label. We are making a trip to Paris from Venice in May JUST to go to this place! Have fun!

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Vikisfloyd, do you know the address of that 400 year old restaurant, it sounds wonderful!!!!!!! My husband and I are going to Paris the end of May.

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I%26#39;ll try to find the address of the restaurant. You will be thrilled that you visited this place. We%26#39;ll be in Paris May 25 - 28 and will eat there at least 2 of our 3 nights! If you will email me your email address - I%26#39;ll try to send you the restaurant address - my email is vickisfloyd@hotmail.com

I%26#39;ll also try to post the address here in the next day or so.

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We ate at La Coupole our last nite in Paris this past Sunday. I would not recommend it. It was beautiful, but the food was ordinary to fair.

I will second the recommendation of Le Coupe Chou - the staff was wonderful - the food amazing - the restaurant was romantic - historical and cozy.

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That%26#39;s funny Vickisfloyd my husband and I will be there the same time. Probably will see you at the restaurant.

IT sounds sooooo good.