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.

Vaccinations?

Do you need any sort of vaccinations for a trip from US to France?

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If you are carrying a US Passport....NO