Wednesday, April 25, 2012

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...




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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?




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




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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.




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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.




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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




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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!




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%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?




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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!




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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