Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Some more questions search answers.

Hi,again.


I think i have some more questions to ask.


1)Is it easy to find public phones in Paris?


2)What card should i buy in order to make a phone call?What about the price?


3)I will need to phone my family in Greece,so i think i will have to buy an international phone card in order to make these phone calls.


Do you know any card of this type?And its price?


4)I can imagine that in order to make a phone call to Greece from a public phone in Paris,i will need a typical phone card so that the phone functions and another for cheap international phone calls.Am i right?


5)And something totally irrelevant...Should i take the bus number 350 from a specific bus stop (only one)in CDG or this bus-it goes to the city of Paris-moves from one terminal to another -at certain gates-and it will be less difficult to find?I will be at terminal 2D,you know...I searched the map of the terminal 2 and i couldn%26#39;t find any hint of where the bus stop for this bus is.If someone knows which gate i have to find in order to locate the 350,i will be grateful.


ooo...and there is no problem i guess if i buy the regular,typical tickets(three in number)from the bus driver...I hope so...


So many questions.I hope the answers that you may give,help not only me but others too who will visit the city of lights.


Thank you in advance.


Antonis,


Athens,Greece.




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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;5)Should i take the bus number 350 from a specific bus stop (only one)in CDG or this bus-it goes to the city of Paris-moves from one terminal to another -at certain gates-and it will be less difficult to find?I will be at terminal 2D,you know...I searched the map of the terminal 2 and i couldn%26#39;t find any hint of where the bus stop for this bus is.If someone knows which gate i have to find in order to locate the 350,i will be grateful.%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;





The #350 and #351 buses are not really intended as a viable airport transfer alternative. The #350 has a stop out in front of CDG #2-B (next to #2-D) and makes somewhere between 20-30 stops between CDG and its terminus at GARE d%26#39;EST. If you are using individual tickets, this route would require four(4) tickets (@ 1,40 € eac=5,60 €). and would not include any onward travel from there. There are NO FREE TRANSFERS with public buses. So you would need another ticket to go onward from Gare d%26#39;Est via Metro or bus.





Perhaps the better, faster, more efficient modes of airport transfer for you will be the RER %26#39;B-3%26#39; ligne--ROISSYRAIL--train from the RER station attached to CDG #2 to GARE du NORD (fare 8 €--travel time approx 30 mins). Included within this fare is onward travel on the Metro (but not the bus) from Gare du Nord to anywhere else in Paris.





For specific RATP--public bus route map and individual route information--



http://www.ratp.info/orienter/bus.php




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Antonis,



You can buy a phone card for use in public phones in pretty much any Tabac in Paris. There are public phone booths all over Paris, and you can usually always find one either outside and/or INSIDE a Metro Station.



There are two different phone cards you can buy, with different denominations. The cost of the phone cards is is appox. 7.50 euros and (I think?) 16 euros. You can call internationally using these cards on the public phones, you just dial the country code and area code and numbers. The credits on the cards do get used up faster when calling outside of France but they do work. I%26#39;ve used them many times.




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KDKSAIL,you said that i have to insert four tickets into the machine in the bus so that i could go from the airport to central Paris with 350.I just thought that i shall need three tickets(=4,20 euros).Have i missed anything?If something has changed please tell me.


Thanks.




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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; i have to insert four tickets into the machine in the bus so that i could go from the airport to central Paris with 350.I just thought that i shall need three tickets(=4,20 euros).%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;





By my count the trip covers five(5) transportation zones CDG-Zone 5...Gare d%26#39;Est-Zone 1), so that%26#39;s four(4) tickets....but it%26#39;s been so long since I%26#39;ve ridden a bus that far in Paris that I%26#39;m not really sure. But since you will be purchasing your tickets directly from the bus driver at CDG, he will certainly know how many tickets the trip requires and how to validate them.





In any event, once at Gare d%26#39;Est, unless you plan to walk from the bus stop to your final destination within Paris, you%26#39;re going to need another ticket. Waliking may be a fine and healthy idea in fair weather...but may not be quite so fine an idea in foul weather. So even at three tickets for the #350 bus plus a fourth for transportation within Paris onward from Gare d%26#39;Est, that%26#39;s still a loooong public bus ride and 5,60 € vs. 8 € for the RER %26#39;B%26#39;train --ROISSYRAIL--which includes onward Metro travel.






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I found out from the RATP site that i %26#39;ll need three tickets.Also from discoverfrance site that is...http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Transportation/Air/airports_Paris1.shtml


i found out the same things.


But i thank you so much about all the information you have given me.

Restaurant Suggestions, including by the Louvre

We will be staying on Rue Saint Honore for 5 nights in mid-May. I would love some restaurant and cafe suggestions in the area, if possible. Also, what would you suggest for a real %26quot;treat%26quot; dinner, without going broke?



thank you so much!




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Two good restaurants on the Rue du Mont-Thabor are L%26#39;Ardoise and Le Soufflé (which has dishes other than soufflés). For a café we like Le Pain Quotidien, on the Place du Marché St-Honoré, a bakery/café with great breads (breakfast there is a treat), sandwiches, soups, and desserts.





Right at the Louvre is the Café Marly, as well as two or three others situated in various parts of the museum.





For a real %26quot;treat%26quot; dinner, try either Au Petit Marguery, in the 13th, or the Bistro de Breteuil, in the 7th. Both have excellent three-course meals for prices under 40 Euros each. The one at the BdeB includes an appéritif, a bottle of wine per couple, and after-dinner coffee.




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Thank you, Underhill. I will write those down!

Special places to visit in Paris - other than the big...

Do anyone know where to go in Paris if you already have seen the most famous places? I%26#39;m for example interested in places like %26quot;the oldest pub/winebar/café%26quot;, a nice jazzrestaurant/place, a different kind of museum or a beautiful place where you can have a picnic... / Nina





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Hi Ninis





If you are there on a weekend I like the markets at Porte de Vanves - flea markets that are nice and relaxed - but get there in mid morning as they pack up around lunch time.





Have you been to the Parc des Buttes Chaumont in the 19th? Very beautiful.





Also consider exploring the Batignolles area - there is a lovely park in the square and it is an interesting area out of the common run in the less expensive part of the 17th,




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There are many special guides written on this subject.


Paris secret, Paris insolite...


One of the oldest cafes is le Procope and it is bound to be full of tourists.


My best advice would be to go to the less visited arrondissements. The 13th around Buttes aux Cailles or Cite des fleurs. The 9th around Place Saint Georges and then walk to Montmartre.


The 14th around Denfert Rochereau etc.




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Thank you very much! Now I have a few places to choose from. I%26#39;m going to Paris in may for 4 days. I%26#39;m really looking forward to it! Does anyone of you know about where you can get a nice cheese fondue? I have been to a place in Montmartre before, and i was very nice and cosy, but it%26#39;s nice to try something new!





/ Nina




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Go to the Latin Quarter, St Michel metro stop, for places selling cheese fondue, as well as another good dish, raclette.



I think the Art %26amp; Metiers Museum is very different as well as the Cluny, more intimate and not so over-whelming.




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Two of my favorites




Walk around the Canal St Martin



Congac-Jay Museum in the Marais




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Ninis,





See my post and Kasthor%26#39;s to you in your fondue thread. I believe the LUX bar on r Lepic in Montmartre is one of the oldest bars in Paris. Read the info in the fondue thread, as the restaurant we mention is very close to this bar. Both adjacent to the BLANCHE metro station.

The beach along the river in Paris

Hi all



Well my next Europe trip is the wonderful city of Paris. I have head that in the summer a stretch of the river is turned into a beach (much like the one in Rome).



Does anyone know when this is? I am visiting paris from the 17th to the 20th August and am hoping it is still there. Also is there an entracnce fee I am imagining there will be.



Many thanks



Jo x




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It%26#39;s free and it%26#39;s usually during the entire Month of August!




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It%26#39;s free, how fantastic





Thanks for your reply





Jo x




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Paris-Plage 2006 will run from July 20 to August 20.



Dates to be confirmed though.




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Entirely free, should be finishing around the 20th August so go there as soon as you arrive to take advantege of the last days




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I will do, I am planning to go on the 18th which is my birthday, should be a fun day. Am also hoping to take in a river cruise





thanks





Jo




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Hello Kookjet,



It is more like a promenade at the beach. For maybe a mile on the right bank of the Seine the city closes a two lane highway, moves in palm trees, grass, sand, beach chairs, hammocks, picnic tables etc., local cafes set up, bands play and the people show up! There are adult and childrens games, even a pool, but no swimming in the river!.....



You will love it.



We will just miss it if the opening date stays the same.......darn it! We have to leave on the 18th..........




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Hi kookie,





If you go to http://Parisdailyphoto.blogspot.com/



You can see pictures of the Paris Plage. It looks neat and fun!





You will have to go back once you get to the site as the pictures were a little while ago.





But, you will find them! Good luck.




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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Paris-Plage 2006 will run from July 20 to August 20.



Dates to be confirmed though.%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;





I saw the official dates not too long ago...somewhere...but can%26#39;t find them again...but like you, I recall on or about July 20th-thru-August 20th.





One of the place that is often overlooked (perhaps because it is so dam obvious) for GREAT information and ideas on all sorts of on-going and up-coming events and activities in Paris is the official web site of the PARIS TOURISM OFFICE---





http://www.parisinfo.com/





This site always has interesting information on all sorts of events and activities going on in and around Paris...quite often with direct links to more specific and detailed information and descriptions. It%26#39;s well worth adding to your FAVORITES LIST and checking on a regular basis.




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We were there last summer and I agree with the dates. There was a bridge on which people were having picnic dinners or just wine and cheese spread on a blanket. Does anyone know the name of the bridge? Thanks, JA

Experience form our recent stay in Paris

Hi,



We’ve just returned from our 4-day stay in Paris and I thought to share my experience.





Our first night was in the Atel Relais Medicis Hotel,very close to Odeon..The choice of this hotel was based on tripadvisors reviews. Unfortunately our specific request for a quite room (my wife is almost hypochondriac) didn’t come through travelnow reservation system to the very friendly Hotel staff and we ended up with a room on the street side. However anyone liking romantic, floral stile, will enjoy staying at this hotel.



We could find a quite room in the Hotel Le Senat, which is a modern hotel providing fairly good standards (in a deluxe room).



Following suggestions from the tripadvisor forum we had diner in Le Temps Perdu, Rue de Seine. It’s a typical french bistro with good atmosphere friendly staff, good food in reasonable prices.



The other day we had diner in Bouillon de Racine, (Racinie Str.) The décor of this restaurant is amazing and the atmosphere excellent thanks to the friendly and amusing waiter. The food was rather poor and overpriced.



The next evening we were in Chez Paul, near Place d’Italie. It is an excellent restaurant with very good French traditional food. We had fois gras as a starter and then my wife onglet very nicely grilled and myself andouilletes. The dessert – choc pastry and a cirton sorbet were also good. I definitely recommend this restaurant.



The last evening we went to our favourite restaurant in Paris , Chez Andre, Rue Marbeuf 12 (every time we visit Paris we have dinner there). It is a very typical Parisian bistro with excellent atmosphere and food. And rather good prices for this neighborhood. The only minus this time is that is has become popular with tourists (from U.S. mainly) But we are tourists as well.





We had a wonderfull time, good weather, enjoyed walking in Marais, Notre Dame –Ils St. Louis and St Germain and visiting the Bonnard Exhibition (what a great painter) in the Museum of Modern Art. Can’t wait the time to visit again.






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Sounds like you had a good trip. Thanks for the restaurant tips...already pasted them in my Paris notes for trials on my next visit.


Short and sweet trip report. Thanks!

Altitude 95

I have a confirmed reservation for dinner at Altitude 95, but I can%26#39;t figure out the price they have written down. It says, %26quot;4,20%26quot; Euros pp. Does anyone know what that converts to in dollars? What does the coma mean? Thanks.




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mycody ~%26gt; You need a reliable exchange rate which changes daily. http://www.x-rates.com/





They put the coma where we put a decimal.

First Trip to Paris and am considering the 12e, bad choice?

Help! I think I%26#39;ve been reading too much! I was all set with a hotel for our family of four in the 6e for our first trip to Paris. THEN, I read a bad review, read a few other threads about other options and now I%26#39;m reconsidering. I love the idea of being in a nice little Parisian neighborhood, but we are coming in on the TGV from Annecy so maybe the 12e wouldn%26#39;t be such a bad choice. I%26#39;m looking at the Novotel which should be nice enough, although generic. It would be awfully convenient to the station. And, it should be easy to get to the airport 1 1/2 days later.





How difficult will it be to get to the major sites? Would I lose a lot of atmosphere by staying in the 12th? Are there nice places to eat nearby? What would you do for your first visit with two young children? All advice welcome!





Thanks in advance.




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Having lived in the 12th for more than 10 years, I cannot really recommend it as a great area to stay when visiting Paris for a few days.





Although it is a fairly nice area, it is a bit off the beaten tracks. Being near the train station is a convenience, but it also is a disturbance as far as street traffic, hustle and bustle and all.





I would rate the 6th much higher, even though it is much more touristy and hotel are more expensive too. I%26#39;d say that the 6th is more child friendly too as you have everything at your doorstep: restaurants, cafes, some little gardens and you will be able to walk to many monuments and museums.





The 12th has great connection to the center of Paris however and you can be at the Louvre in less than 15 minutes with the metro.





If you decide to stay in the 12th I very highly recommend A La Biche au Bois A La Biche Au Bois (address: 45 avenue Ledru Rollin 75012 PARIS; telephone: 01 43 43 34 38). Advance reservations are necessary.





About the hotel in the 6th: I would not necessarily change all my plans for one bad review. A lot of reviews are subjective and unless there is a strong trend for negative reviews on that hotel you were considering it might be worth trying it for yourself. You can also email the hotel and ask whether you should be concerned about the negatives you read in that review.




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Hi:



I have to agree with the previous poster - for such a short trip it would be best to be a bit more centrally located. Of course you can take the metro or bus, but with kids I%26#39;d say the less traveling, the better. Stick to the 6th if you can and try to walk everywhere. Bon voyage!




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Hello,





From the outside the Novotel at gare de Lyon looks as if it is a nice place to stay..........right in the gare neighborhood. If you walk just a short way, there are several nice restaurants, cafes etc., and some very near the hotel.





I second the suggestion for A La Biche des Bois, only they are closed Sat and Sunday. There are some other good ones on avenue Daumesnil, about a block away.......





While you are not on top of some big tourist attractions, you wont be on top of some in the 6th either. Tis a quick and easy bus (of which there are many) or metro to them from the gare area just over the Seine. You might even decide to walk across the bridge to the left bank....... Its not very far to Ile St.Louis and Notre Dame.





You can take the Air France bus to the airport from right there in front of the gare when you leave too...convenient.

British Legion pilgrimage to Ypres 1928

In August 1928 my late mother as mascot of the Maidenhead British Legion band was invited to sign her name in the archives of the Town Hall. I wish to visit in May to see if I can find her signature.


Do you have a historian I can contact to arrange to visit the Town Hall records?




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As Ypres is in Belgium, you might stand a better chance of getting a reply on the Belgium forum.





However, there is a tourist information office in Ypres and I%26#39;m sure they could help.

Finally watched Emelie

We finally found Emelie to watch. What fun. When we saw the first %26quot;S-X%26quot; scene my wife about pissed herself laughing. All of the scenary makes us want to go back even more.




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Hi Rob!





Isn%26#39;t Amelie the greatest movie!! I watched it again last week, actually. The movie has so many lovely little vignettes going on. It%26#39;s like a masterpiece, really, in my opinion. I love her old neighbor who paints the Renoirs. And the jealous boyfriend in the cafe with his little tape recorder. He cracks me up! And the part where she is so heartbroken she turns to water and splashes the floor, I could totally relate! (had those moments myself!)





Glad you finaly saw the movie!





lasscass




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Wow, I just watched Amelie again this past weekend -- the planets must be aligned! I love the garden gnome traveling all over the world, while her father stays at home scratching his head, getting one photo after another...saying, I don%26#39;t understand. It%26#39;s a fun movie.




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We are really new to films not made here in the US. They are very different. Most of the ones we have seen we liked. Emelie is our favorite so far. We plan to watch it again because we missed alot the first time trying to read all the captions. My French is no where near good enough to keep up with conversational French. But I am picking up more of it by watching the movies.





Shelley has a habit of punching me and saying %26quot;We were there!!!!%26quot;.

Where to stay in Paris??

We are planning to be in Paris the beginning of June and need all the advice we can get as to where to stay.





Does anyone have recommendations as to a good area and hotel that is accessible to all the sights(and safe - with the protests we%26#39;ve been hearing about). We are walkers, so would love to explore!





Thanks for any help you can give us!!





Cheers




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I like staying either on Ile St. Louis in the 4th district or in St. Germain des Pres in the 6th district. Although you express concern about the protests I doubt you will need to worry in June about them. They were mostly in the 5th district (Latin Quarter) and that%26#39;s another neighborhood that I like to stay in sometimes. Paris is very walkable and pretty much you can get around on foot to most areas.




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I stayed in the 5th, four years in a row.



Last year I stayed in the 6th and would do



so again - an excellent location.





As a photographer I walked 8-10 miles a day



for 10 days. I could reach almost anywhere



between the metro and walking.





Get a good map ie. STREETWISE - PARIS and



locate the major sites.





Obtain a good book on Paris or check TA or



the web with hotels in the area you decide



upon. By a process of elimination you will



narrow it down to 3 or 4.





Then get back to us for our thoughts and



experience.




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Try the Hotel Central Saint Germain, http://www.centralstgermain.com/ a nice 3 stars hotel located near Notre Dame de Paris and the river Seine.The hotel is nicely decorated and clean. It was recently newly renovated. It is a great hotel with nice staff. There are restaurants and cafes nearby the hotel. Prices are really good for Paris and this area.


I hope you will enjoy Paris




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check out www.parisleftbankrental.com. they have beautiful apartments but they are often booked.





good luck.

are beret hats fashionable?

if so, what do parisian girls wear beret hats with? pinstripes? stockings?





i%26#39;m curious :-)








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You might want to re-ask your question in the current %26quot;hats%26quot; thread. I think all the millinery energy is probably being burned up there!





:%26gt;)




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eclectic --





Probably a warm coat and scarf - I have seen hats on girls in Paris only in cold weather. The rest of the time they like to show off their fabulous haircuts.




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You can see girls with a béret, but i wouldn%26#39;t call it %26quot;fashionable%26quot;




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awww, come on, raphy, girls are fashionable no matter what they wear... the fashion is in how they wear it, eh? *grin*



M




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Unless your a small girl, named Madeline traveling with a group of uniformed school children or an old man pedaling an rusty old bicycle with a fresh baguette and bottle of wine in the basket--NO.




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I understand that the locals were wearing berets alot during the most recent wintertime so I guess it was in fashion for that time.




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You see them a lot on elderly gentlemen in the countryside playing petanque.





Les




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KDKSAIL - I saw loads of Parisians in berrets this winter. Presumaby because it was damn cold !





First time I%26#39;ve ever seen them notably though apart from on old men playing Petanque in the countryside




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A woman who moved to study in Paris temporarily corresponds with me and she%26#39;s the one who told me that berets were worn exceptionally this past winter by the locals. She said it was very cold so as well as a fashion statement the beret seems to be worn for practicality also.




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I have been in France twice these two years.


I was in Paris twice and in Bordeaux.when there i only saw people wearing Berets twice.


Iwas in the Avenue de Mars i think its called


beside the Eiffle Tower there was three Paramilitary Police in Military Fatiques with


machine guns and one with Radio on back and they had berets.When i was down in Bordeaux


there was four or five old men with biggish


floppy berets and badges i think they were old


Soldiers celebrating the 11 world war.I have


never seen anybody else in france with Berets.


The only people i have seen are in old STYLE


Movies set in france,featuring Audry Hephburn


usually.When i visited Brussels recently at


the Tomb of the unknown soldier on Rue Royal


there was some old Soldiers wearing Berets.


Apart from the odd girl in Ireland or England


wearing Berets or some old person the Fashion


has died out,only reserved for national holidays,or Telivision Shows like Allo ALLO


lampooning the French,English,Germans,in the


Second world war,they still show re runs of this very funny show.

Eight Days a Week?

In perusing our Barron%26#39;s French Visual Language Guide, I came across the following in the footer (on the bottom) of page 17: %26quot;In French two weeks or fourteen days is expressed as 15 (quinze) jours. One week consists of %26#39;8 (huit) days.%26#39;%26quot;





A more thorough explanation would certainly be appreciated.





Merci beaucoup!




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I understand that for a fortnight its %26quot;un quinzaine%26quot; because you add the extra sunday onto it. So you have sunday to sat 7 days, sun to sat 7 days and the last sunday off work 1 day makes 15.





No idea bout the 8 days to a week business though.




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I understand that for a fortnight its %26quot;un quinzaine%26quot; because you add the extra sunday onto it. So you have sunday to sat 7 days, sun to sat 7 days and the last sunday off work 1 day makes 15.





No idea bout the 8 days to a week business though.




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heleup -



If 15 days works for a fortnight because of the extra Sunday, then 8 days works for a week for the same reason - Sunday to Saturday plus the extra Sunday = 8 days...




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huh! now that could get confusing... wouldn%26#39;t the next week only have 6? You%26#39;ve already accounted for its Sunday...




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I can confirm that we do say 8 jours and quize jours, and i have always wondered why.



I doubt any French will have an explanation for that? Not me...




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It%26#39;s a question of language, not math.



When you go away on vacation (example) for 1 week you say 8 jours and if you go got 2 weeks you say 15 jours!



I had never thought of it till you mentioned it!




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Yes this really confused me when I first learned French! 8 days, yes in a week, I thought you said 8 days , yes right, one week. lol.




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Thank you all for clearing that up! Apparently, it is one of those idiomatic phrases--look at it as language, not math. Myles and I were looking at it from a math point, and so we were quite confused!





This also expands on the meaning of the Beatles%26#39; %26quot;Eight Days a Week.%26quot; :-)




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Miss ~%26gt; You and Myles come up with the cutest questions. It sounds like it is like for us saying %26quot;a few%26quot; or %26quot;several%26quot;. To us a few may mean slightly more than a couple, but to a person who is learning english that might be pretty confusing as well. It doesn%26#39;t literally mean 15 days but there abouts.





Up here in Cowtown it%26#39;s still one week or two weeks.





Sounds like you might have an extra day on your vacation that way, eh?




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Oh, if only it worked that way--to give us an extra day or so!





Differences in language can be quite confusing--even English speakers have differences, not only among countries (US, Canada, England, Ireland), but even within the country sometimes--well, within the US, anyway.

How to order coffee in Paris

I will be travelling to Paris in June, and as I love my coffee, was excited to be able to experience ordering a cafe au lait in a Parisian cafe! Well last week I met a couple from Paris (born and bred) and they both looked at me very strangely when I mentioned the words %26quot;cafe au lait%26quot;. They said they had never heard of coffee being ordered that way and that you just ask for cafe, then add cream if you want it. Is this true or are they just out of touch?




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L%26#39;ve been ordering %26quot;cafe au lait%26quot; in Paris for more years than I%26#39;d care to admit.


Perhaps your friends are more familiar with the term %26quot;cafe creme%26quot; or more specifically %26quot;un grand creme%26quot; which is what I usually ask for.




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Here%26#39;s the deal at the bar next door to our apt::



---Café - Also known as an %26quot;express%26quot;, a single shot of French roast espresso.



---Café allongé (sp) (pronounced all-on-jay) - more like a Starbucks %26quot;Americano%26quot;. One part espresso to 2 parts hot water.



___Café Noisette - a single shot of French roast espresso with either a small pitcher of hot milk on the side or a larger cup of espresso and milk already mixed.



___Café Creme (cah-feh-krem), a single shot of French roast espresso in a small cup filled with steamed milk (un petit creme), or a larger cup with more milk (un grand creme).



---Un double carmel machiato, extra hot - will get you a blank stare and immediately demand your best French language skills :-}.




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A café crème is the usual term. We in Montréal use %26quot;café au lait%26quot; to describe a bowl of strong coffe mixed with lots of warm milk (that is what is drunk with breakfast). What you guys in the States call a %26quot;latte%26quot; at Starbucks




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Cafe au Lait is more commonly used in the South of France.




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Thank you all. I feel confident I will be able to order my coffee now!




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When i hear café au lait i imagine a large bowl of coffee with a lot of hot milk, that people drink at thome for breakfast




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I noticed the last time I was in Paris (last month!) that when I ordered a Cafe Creme, the waiter called back %26quot;cafe au lait%26quot;! So, next time I just ordered a Cafe au lait and that waiter called back %26quot;cafe creme%26quot;. I just couldn%26#39;t win that day...



They%26#39;ll know what you mean if you order cafe au lait.




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RedSavage, I have had the same experience, going back and forth between cafe au lait and un creme or un grand creme. The same with ordering a beer -- un demi or un pint or whatever. No matter how I order it, the waiter usually corrects me.





I mentioned this to someone who used to live in Paris, and he said he would order something one way, and the waiter would correct him. So the next time, he ordered it the other way, and the same waiter corrected him back to the original! Go figure...




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You may find this thread interesting to read:





tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k53430…





Anyway, café au lait is truly a breakfast beverage. Ways too heavy after a meal.

I've never been to Paris...where's the best place/area to...

Hi all



I%26#39;m planning on bringing my mum to Paris in June for a weekend. Neither of us have ever been to Paris and haven%26#39;t a clue where to start looking for accomodation and which areas are ok to stay in and which are dodgy.



Any recommendations would be great!



Thanks



Niamh




|||



When will you travel?



What%26#39;s your budget?





The standard, but necessary question, sorry.




|||



We will be travelling on June 23rd. It%26#39;s only for the weekend. Budget is open, it really depends on how close to the attractions we would be etc. As I%26#39;m bringing my mum I%26#39;d like it to be fairly decent but it doesn%26#39;t have to be 5 star




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If this is your first time, I would suggest you to stay in St. Germain des Pres area (6 and 7th arrondissement). It%26#39;s very center, and it%26#39;s close to everything. But one backside: it%26#39;s one of the most expensive area in Paris.




|||



I disagree that St. Germain De Pres is is one of the most expensive parts of Paris. I have stayed in that area a number of times in 3 star hotels with very reasonable rates. try the Hotel Moderne St. Germain on Rue de Escoles. I agree that this area is the place to stay. it%26#39;s vibrant, with many good restaurants.

How far in advance to book TGV ticket?

My friends and I will be traveling from Paris to Amsterdam via TGV train. I wasn%26#39;t certain how far in advance to book the tickets. Normally, if it were a regular train, I would just get a ticket at the terminal. But, since it%26#39;s TGV, I thought I might want to get them ahead of time. Also, somewhere in all the research, forum posts, etc. I think I read if I purchased Eurorail tix from the States (in advance) there was an additional tax, fee, or something. So, if it was necessary to get them in advance, I was going to wait til I got to Europe (Geneva) and buy them online then (about a week ahead of time). Or, if you guys say it%26#39;s okay...I can just get them at the station!! What%26#39;s your advice?




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IF you want the best price book well in advance. 90 days for the Thalys. Many fares are printable so you can print the tickets at home. You can book at www.thalys.com or www.voyages-sncf.com.





I have typed up a guide that might help you will booking. Here is a link:





http://tinyurl.com/n2yzx

Paris on Labor Day - what to expect?

Never been to Paris before, but will be there on Labor Day (May 1) this year. Any idea what to expect, given the current protests over changes to the French labor law? We%26#39;re not going to change our plans -- just curious as to what to expect, particularly if anyone has heard of protests/actions scheduled for that day, and whether it would be wise to avoid them -- or not. Any advice or comments from local experts or frequent visitors is much appreciated.




|||



It is really hard to know what the mood will be a month from now. I recommend that you keep an eye on what happens over the next few weeks and post again a few days before your departure.




|||



Hello,





Even if no protests, many, I think maybe all, of the museums will be closed, which you may already know. People will be wandering around, in the parks and restaurants are opened. Much like our 4th of July........ a holiday.




|||



Hey SunshineDaydream, Have a Jerry Day and enjoy your trip...Paris is excellent!




|||



Hard to predict the mood at this point.



You have to keep in mind that demonstrations are loud but really well organized and escorted by the police, they are easy to spot and to avoid (or join!)



More and more stores and museums are open as it is a big travel dates for other European countries.



You can go to Montmartre, take a river cruise, go to the beautiful gardens, visit the churches and Notre Dame. There is always a lot to do even if many places are closed.




|||



Looks like the strikes may be ending...? I%26#39;m going over Labor Day also - is the Place du Tertre %26#39;open%26#39; - I mean will the artists be out? I%26#39;m travelling with 2 friends who have not seen Paris, and am worried about what to do on Sunday and holiday-Monday - also will the restaurants on Ile-St-Louis be open? I%26#39;d very much appreciate any suggestions.

Paris Nightlife

My husband and I have BOTH been to Paris, but never at the same time. In May we will be going together. We are looking for great places to go for %26#39;nightlife%26#39;. I have been to the Moulin Rouge and one of the many jazz cellars (I really can%26#39;t remember which one, but I LOVED it!!). Is there anyother type of nightlife that we can experience? Does anyone have any good recommendations? Our hotel is directly opposite the Pantheon.





Thank you for your time and expertise.




|||



it depends on what kind of night life you want.





shows? night clubs? trendy restaurants and bars? hotel bars? there are plenty nice places in Paris for a night out!




|||



We are not big on %26#39;clubbing%26#39; BUT we do like shows (not movies), bars. Aside from the Moulin Rough, is there any shows, bars, entertainment unique to Paris?




|||



Hi,



Check out:



http://www.paris-zoom.com/Default.asp?LNG=us



and have a look at some video snippets of a variety of bars and clubs with entertainment.



Best wishes




|||



Hi,





Check out:





http://www.paris-zoom.com/Default.asp?LNG=us





and have a look at some video snippets of a variety of bars and clubs with entertainment.





Best wishes

Car Rental in Nice Near Hotel Mercure Grimaldi

My wife and I will be traveling to Nice at the very end of August to attend a wedding near Nimes. Our plan is to fly into Nice and spend on night and then rent a car and drive out to Nimes for the wedding and return back to Nice and spend a few days touring Nice by foot/public transport. I think we will be staying at Mercure Grimaldi and was wondering what car rental agencies are close to this hotel so I can just walk to it and pick up the car? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!




|||



LUTAM, 8 rue Grimaldi, phone +33 493 879 928.



For locations, use e.g. www.mappy.fr




|||



LUTAM, 8 rue Grimaldi, phone +33 493 879 928.



For locations, use e.g. www.mappy.fr




|||



Thanks for the quick reply!

Nice alone

Im going to nice next week by myself im female 25,Where is good fun and safe to stay


,I was swayed toward that converted monestry hostel,but the reviews are realy conflicting,..??@Ãã$% im confused.com )


xxBelle




|||



Nice is safe and female friendly - no reason for any concern - provided youre sensible of course. (Wish we could say that about many of our cities!)





If you are looking for seriously inexpensive hostel accommodation there is this place Auberge Les Camelias









www.fuaj.org/fra/auberges/aj_fiche.php…





Really ideal safe location centre of Nice, easy access to the funside of old Nice.





The young set gravitate to places like Waynes





http://www.waynes.fr/start.htm





To figure what else to see visit VirtualTourist.com for lots of ideas. To learn what to avoid in Nice, you could do worse than visit visit my %26quot;What to avoid in Nice%26quot; page?





members.virtualtourist.com/m/6cdeb/188b0/8/





Cheers



Andrew

choice between lufthansa or united from dfw to paris

there are only two reasonable flights from dallas to paris - lufthansa or united. i have not had great experiences with united. does anyone else have a preference between the two airlines?




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I have flown with both airlines. Before this I read many negative comments about Lufthansa, but my experience was much better than I%26#39;ve had with other airlines including UAL and Air France. I found the flight attendants to be much more attentive to the passengers%26#39; needs. Meals in economy are as average as other airlines%26#39;, but they gave free wine. I believe UAL makes you pay $5 for the wine nowadays. During the movies the flight attendants came around to offer either orange juice or water (water was offered throughout the flight by the attendants), and snacks such as chips and those wonderful Milka chocolate bars. The aircraft seemed to be fairly new and the bathrooms were very clean. Seating to me was more comfortable than on UAL (and on other airlines).





In fact, the last time I flew with Lufthansa was in 2002, and I am considering my next travels with them. Recently I%26#39;ve flown on Air France out of convenience as I wanted a nonstop flight. But I%26#39;m not pleased these days with CDG so I won%26#39;t mind connecting in Germany via if I fly with Lufthansa. Besides I found Munich%26#39;s Franz Josef Airport to be much nicer than CDG.




|||



As a very general rule, to which there are many exceptions from flight to flight, service on the major European airlines has not yet deteriorated to the point it has on the US airlines. (Come to think of it, the concept has essentially disappeared on US airlines...)



There is another reason for flying with a European carrier. When you fly on an EU carrier to an EU destination, your rights to meals, hotel rooms, etc. in the event of delays or cancellation are clearly spelled out, and in general much more generous than what you are likely to get from a US carier, whose compensation, if any, for delays or cancellations will be quite arbitrary.



The downside is that a US carrier *may* have more options available for re-routing you if necessary. Of course, whether they will actually make the effort to find and use those options is about as predictable as the winner of next year%26#39;s Kentucky Derby. The most brilliant piece of creative re-routing I ever saw was pulled off by KLM when my original booking wasn%26#39;t even with them - but that%26#39;s another story...




|||



I fly Chicago-CDG on United 7-10 times a year and have had very few problems. Even a late flight is a rarity, bags come fine, business class makes it easier, too. The flight attendants are fine. With all the code sharing that goes on, you might check to see that your two options are not actually the same flight.




|||



I agree with M. Giroux.





I%26#39;ll bet any amount of money that the DFW to CDG flight on United is also the Lufthansa (codeshare) flight.




|||



Hey life --





When I have a choice, I will travel on a European carrier rather than a US flag one.





My reason is simple, the Europeans have more respect for security, and in the interests of it are perfectly willing to inconvenience their passengers. I%26#39;m very happy to deplane and claim my checked luggage so that the airline (and I) can be sure there is no unattached baggage on the plane.





The European carriers have a longer history of paying attention to tight security requirements, and it is my experience that they do it better and on a more consistent basis.





Beyond that, while I dread having to deal with Lufthansa%26#39;s counter staff in Frankfurt, I find their flight crews to be friendly and helpful. And, other than security delays, their on time record has been terrific, in my experience.




|||



We have travelled to Paris from DFW several times, but much prefer American. Their non-stop gets into Paris at a reasonable hour, so that we don%26#39;t have to wait for our hotel rooms. Service is also good. Why stick to Lufthansa or United when AA is available?




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I%26#39;d take BA, AA or Lufthansa over UAL. We decided to try UAL in January after dumping them completely in 2003 for a list of reasons. We were [a little] surprised to see the slightly tread-worn, scruffy aircraft, the same gruff service that made us dump them in the first place, and now their $5/4€ charge for wine on a trans-Atlantic flight. Yes, I know they%26#39;re in financial trouble but I somehow expected them to have cleaned up their act a little since 03. The US carriers are gasping for breath. I%26#39;ve read that some are now charging for pillows and blankets. Sounds like a real profit center given THEIR control of the thermostat.




|||



gene4655 -



I don%26#39;t know how recent your experience with AA long-haul flights is. I have made several trans-Atlantic trips on AA over the least couple of years, via both Chicago and JFK. I have noticed a VERY marked deterioration in both their on-ground and in-flight service over the last 15 months or so.



Their food has also become a joke. Wheat Thins for breakfast?? Oreo cookies and Pringles chips for an afternoon snack??? (No, I%26#39;m not kidding...)





The code-sharing thing raises an interesting legal question. If you booked a flight with an EU carrier and then found when you arrived at the airport that it was actually operated by a US carrer, would you be entitled to the benefits of the EU compensation rules covering delays and cancellations? I suspect not, but if I%26#39;m wrong then booking via the EU codeshare airline would make a lot of sense if the price was the same.




|||



Irish, we went three months ago, over christmas holidays, and found the food to be about the same as always, typical airline food, no better or worse than before. Maybe you hit a bad day. (But then we don%26#39;t evaluate our trips by airline food, that%26#39;s for sure!)




|||



I%26#39;ve flown both and will take Lufthansa over United in heart beat!





If you have United mileage, they are mileage partners and you can use the miles from Lufthansa towards your United card.

Eurostar to hotel

We%26#39;re family of four-two forties, two teenagers-arriving late afternoon on Eurostar in Paris from London right after transatlantic flight to London; we%26#39;ll have 8 days of luggage. Since we can%26#39;t use a regular taxi-I read they only take three people,max-what%26#39;s the best way to get to hotel, considering fatigue and luggage?



thanks.




|||



Your options are:





1) to take two taxis





2) to pre-book a shuttle





3) to let 2 or 3 people take a taxi with the luggage while the other(s) take the metro.





Without knowing where your hotel is, it%26#39;s a bit difficult to say which is your best option.



I would eliminate option 2, simply because it is likely to be no cheaper than two taxis and there have been too many stories of shuttles arriving late or not showing up at all.



The other imponderable is whether a single taxi will be able to take all your luggage even with only three people.



Me? I%26#39;d just decide two taxis is a small price to pay when you will all be very tired and quite sufficiently stressed already from - what? Sixteen hours travellling from your home? More?




|||



thanks for your advice.




|||



Your best bet will probably be to take a mini-van type TAXI PARISIEN from the regular taxi rank just outside of Gare du Nord to your hotel. You may have to wait a few minutes for a mini-van taxi to become available at the queue.





These mini-van type taxis should carry your party of four(4) and luggage without difficulty. You should be aware that there will be regular, official surcharges, in addition to the metered fare--2,70 €uro surcharge for the 4th passenger and a 1 €uro surcharge for every bag after the first. No tip for the driver is included within the fare or surcharges.




|||



We have never had a problem getting a taxi from Gare du Nord with two adults, two teenagers plus luggage. The queue is managed (very effectively)and a suitable Taxi Parisien will be found for you.

Signothetimes53 and opera fans: Best seats in Opéra Garnier...

I would be willing to spend 110 euros for the %26quot;yellow%26quot; seat-category in Palais Garnier, but I would like to hear from anyone in this forum who has been there:



what is the view from the %26quot;baignoires%26quot; and the %26quot;loges de côté%26quot;. Would the 3%26#39;eme loge de face be to high up (that is too far) from the scene ?



operadeparis.fr/ToutSavoir/…PrixEtPlans.asp





Oh !! such worry and burdens we tourists have to carry.....




|||



Opera Garnier is quite small.



Loges et baignoires. yes but first row only.




|||



Gitte - I see you%26#39;re really passionate about the opera performance that you%26#39;re planning to attend. I hope you manage to purchase the perfect ticket. Good luck!!!




|||



I%26#39;m sorry, I can%26#39;t say what the view would be like from those seats. I%26#39;ve only been to Opera Garnier once, and we had seats in the second level, they were very good. But I don%26#39;t know for sure how the view will be elsewhere, though the Opera Garnier is a small theatre, so the view for most seats should be good, too.




|||



Loges de face are ok, even if it%26#39;s not first row. But for the loges de côté, I%26#39;d definitely accept only first row.



Personally, I don%26#39;t like the baignoires.





It%26#39;s quite likely you%26#39;ll be proposed different tickets, if you haven%26#39;t logged in for a couple of days now. Tickets go first come, first serve, always within the chosen price category.




|||



We recently bought tickets to the ballet on the Opera de Paris website with the help of CocoChanel. We got orchestra seats for 63e each. There was a place on the website to click to view your seats, but what you actually see is the view of the stage from your seats. After you see your view, you can decide if you want to buy the tickets.




|||



Questions for CocoChanel and iaatf:


This is luckily not relevant for me untill 14th of February next year, but I want to be the first on the internet at 9H00 to secure a ticket for La Traviata next summer 2007.



By what principle are the tickets within a given seat-category sold: Randomly ? Best tickets in the seat-category given to those who are first in line to book ? (internet, phone, personally).



Iaatf: you write that you were shown the view from the seats chosen - I suppose this facility is only given in the course of actually buying the ticket ?




|||



Coco and iaatf:



I %26quot;faked%26quot; a reservation and found out for myself - what a great facility !





You actually get a colour photo showing the exact view of the scene from the seat chosen - and you get 10 minutes to finish off the reservation.





Super !




|||



Thought you%26#39;d like it. So much better than a seating chart. Good luck obtaining your tickets.




|||



Good luck, Gitte.



I believe, the bookings online come first, as stated on the webpage.



You shouldn%26#39;t have a problem on February 14. Just note that date somewhere, so you won%26#39;t forget! ;o)




|||



You will need to be quick off the mark with your booking! My daughter has been working in Paris and was only able to obtain tickets for Don Giovanni in February by queuing in person for five hours, having been unseccessful with internet or telephone booking. Availability was then very restricted - we got loge de face on 1st level, but 3rd row seats. At crucial moments we had to stand to fully appreciate the action on stage. Still worth it - it was a memorable evening, and I highlight of my trip.



Good luck!

Paris Beauvais Airport location

I will be flying into Paris Beauvais Airport in May. I was wondering if anyone knows how far this airport is from the city. I will be staying at Hotel Le Clement. Thank you for any information.




|||



It%26#39;s far out, but you%26#39;ll have a shuttle taking you to the Porte Maillot from where I highly recommend a taxi to the Clément in the 6th. Shouldn%26#39;t be more than some 15€.





For information about Beauvais airport and the shuttle, here%26#39;s the web page:





www.aeroportbeauvais.com/index.php?lang=eng

best place to rent a lounge chair in Cannes

Where can I rent a lounge chair in Cannes close to a good restaurant for lunch?




|||



Plage Z of the Hotel Martinez looks like being this seasons most stylish private beach, with bar/ restaurant on the beach.



Each of the four %26quot;grande dames%26quot; - the big hotels - has its own associated beach with restauant, and there are loads of others all along the Croisette.





This is out of my league but they are all very pricy, and you will pay through the nose for drinks, and the food is not anything special.





You could do worse than stroll down and choose any you like the look of?





Cheers




|||



%26quot;Nicelife%26quot; Where would you recommend renting a lounge chair and a wonderful reasonable priced lunch and a few drinks? Thanks for you input about Hotel Martinez. We are staying in Mougins and know nothing about Cannes or Mougins.




|||



After several years of looking for value and quality in Cannes, quizzing regular visitors and locals, I have concluded: there isn%26#39;t any.





Its too expensive, there is no return on quality, no one else offers it, it doesn%26#39;t fit with the Cannois lifestyle, so I gave up.





La Pizza run by the wizard of pizza from Nice, Mr Cresci, an the harbour opposite the old town is the only place I can actually recommend.





I have written up more detail of what to see and do in Cannes if that is of more help, here





members.virtualtourist.com/m/6cdeb/2039c/





Mougin has really top restaurants Michelin starred, but I have not been yet myself





cheers




|||



Argee ~ you could have a great lunch at Le Voilier, it%26#39;s smack in the middle/on the Croisette blvd, with good service a lovely view; it is reasonable and very good value. Their omelettes %26amp; salads are fabulous, as is the fish. We%26#39;ve been going for years and have never been disappointed. That is true also of Vesuvio, a little more casual (they also have wonderful pizzas) just one block up. Both of these are just a few blocks down from the Martinez and the Carlton (which, if dining on the %26quot;beach itself%26quot; is my personal preference).





I just thought I%26#39;d mention that you can buy a folding beach chair, (I%26#39;ve gotten several of the nice %26quot;low%26quot; ones) at most Tabacs for about €15, if all you would like is a an hour or two on the beach. Just walk down to # 82 Croisette and you%26#39;ll see a very nice free public one. We stay in that area and go every day.





If you really want your %26quot;lounge %26amp; umbrella %26amp; towel and lunch %26quot;with drinks%26quot; at one of the hotels, I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll enjoy it. But it will cost you a pretty penny.




|||



Can%26#39;t you simply take your beach towel a picnic and plant yourself on a free public beach?

Train from Nice to Marseilles

Hello, I just found out today that my air agenda changed for my honeymoon in Provence. So instead of flying into Marseilles airport we will be flying into Nice airport and then we will have to take a train into Aix. So what I would like to know is how confusing will it be for us to find the train once we get off the airplane? Any advice for us?




|||



Unless (1) you are really keen on Aix for your honeymoon for some reason or (2) you cannot cancel your Aix reservations, you might want to consider staying in the Nice area. If you did that, you would not need to rent a car, as most of the place along the coast (Cannes, Monte Carlo, Menton, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Antibes, Eze, and so on) are actually probably easier to access by train/bus than by car.



There is much to see and do along the coast as well as in Nice itself, and you won%26#39;t have the problem of having to figure out the geography or the roads etc. Aix is not actually the most central location from which to explore Provence, though it is quite %26quot;doable.%26quot;



In any case, the Nice rail station is easily reached by bus from the airport. It%26#39;s a fairly short ride. You can research train timetables to Aix at



www.voyages-sncf.com



If you do decide to stick with Aix, you should get a copy of both the Michelin Green Guide to Provence and the one for the Riviera/Côte d%26#39;Azur. The Eyewitness Guide might be useful too as it is profusely illustrated and would give you a better idea of where you might want to go. I think there is a single Eyewitness Guide covering both areas.



You will also need a good map of the Provence/Côte d%26#39;Azur region, preferably the Michelin 1:200,000 scale, as many of the places you will want to go to can only be accessed by getting off the Autoroutes and main roads. Getting this well before you leave would also be a good idea, since having a picture in your head of the lay of the land will mean that you are less likely to get completely lost - which is easy to do in the hills of the Luberon for example.



Last, if you are renting a car in any case, why not pick it up at the airport in Nice and drive to Aix? It%26#39;s less than a two hour drive by the autoroute, a bit more if you take any of several possible interesting routes off the Autoroute.

shopping for 'normal people'

In all my visits, I%26#39;ve never really found where one shops for branded toiletries and perfumes etc. Obviously places like Samaritaines and Printemps etc, are never discounted and are like our Selfridges and Harrods. What is the Boots or Superdrug equivalent?




|||



%26#39;What is the Boots or Superdrug equivalent?%26#39; --%26gt; There is no special place for discounted perfumes in Paris. (Normal) people shop at Marrionnaud or Sephora, or in smaller stores. Good prices can be found at the airport sometimes.




|||



There are no normal people in Paris!!!




|||



You could try monoprix - there%26#39;s one in the Champs Elysee they usually have a section for cosmetics and toiletries etc.




|||



Kasthor, that is one of the main reason I want to move there!




|||



Hehehe but remember it is much easier when you are rich which means also you%26#39;re not normal anyway! ;)




|||



For perfumes it%26#39;s definitely Marrionnaud or Sephora and then there is Nocibe.



Unless you hit the supermarkets like Cora or Carrefour for toiletries ,but it is also possible to go in the drug stores or what they call para-pharmacies which are relatively cheaper.





And there are millions upon millions of normal French people sterotypes don%26#39;t apply to french lifestyles .There are the Rich which are know as Jet set .





The middle class who go shoppping at Galeriie Lafayette etc.





And the average jo who buy wise and go to shop at Galerie Lafayette when there is sale and everything is dog cheap.



Then the poor who live in the cities and live off of welfare.



Then the homeless and the Gitans (gypsies)



They are called the SDF%26#39;s Sans Domicile Fixed



Which is the saddest think to see.





Other than that everyone just buys there supplies here and there .




|||



Galeries Lafayette is rather on the expensive side like Printemps and Le Bon Marché.



Middle class goes to BHV.




|||



Parisiens also go to %26quot;Pharmacies%26quot; for skin care products and perfumes. There is one on rue du four (75006) and they carry a lot of brands with very good prices.





Otherwise, you may also go to %26quot;de-tax%26quot; shops in town, and if you know how to ask, you could get 30 to 50% off (provide you pay cash).




|||



Luc,



You can%26#39;t move to Paris. We need you on this side of the deep blue!




|||



Truffaut, as-tu reçu le colis?

Le Grimaldi or Hotel Suisse in Nice

Planning a trip in July for my husband and I. Based on the reviews, we are trying to decide between these 2 hotels. Any input would be appreciated.




|||



Suisse is famed for its sensational position and view of the full sweep of the Baie des Anges. You pay but its hard to beat.





The Grimaldi is a pleasant low key central location - a nice rooftops view in the city, reliable Mercur/ Accor group service.A good choice if you are not fussed about the sea view.





Personally I,d have no hesitation - the Suisse.





Cheers




|||



I agree. I would definitely stay at the Suisse. It has been over a year since my husband and I stayed at the Suisse, but I still have the beautiful view of the Mediterranean in my head. I think that memory will live with me forever! (and it can be had by looking out your window from the Suisse.) You can also climb above the hotel for an even more breathtaking view! You will never regret staying here!




|||



I had the same decision to make last year and chose the Suisse. I had helpful advice from this forum and virtual tourist. And really, I figured that since I was going to the French Riviera, I absolutely should have a view of the sea. But it all comes down to personal preference.




|||



Thanks so much for everyone%26#39;s advice. We decided to stay at the Suisse. Does anyone know an email address or phone number for this hotel?




|||



You can get an email address and phone number from this site.



hotels-exclusive.com/hotels/…index_en.htm

apartments/hotels with kitchentte

Im looking to stay in paris for 5 or 6 nights in june with my partner but am having trouble fidning a decent apartment or even a hotel with a kitchenette-our budget is max 100 euro per night but for that price ive not really seen anywhere that we fancy yet.



Can anyone help?




|||



Your price is too low for an efficiency/kitchenette, at least in the most central locations. The only thing I can think of that is at a low rate is in the 13th arr.. Hotel le Vert Galant, I believe...





http://www.vertgalant.com/



%26quot;some rooms with kitchenette%26quot;





Oh, maybe Hotel Marignan in the 5th - I think it%26#39;s a communal kitchen, though..



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



%26quot;Kitchen (free access till 9h30pm)%26quot;




|||



For your budget, try www.lodgis.com.





We got our apartment from there with a small kitchenette for only 770 euros for 12 nights and that%26#39;s with the agency fee included in the cost! :)





We%26#39;re also in the central part of Paris in the 2nd Arrondisement.





We haven%26#39;t taken our trip yet but will give a review of the place when we come back.




|||



I think we got our apt. for something close to that, if not under, but I think a week is minimum stay for many of those.



M




|||



SASGIRL !



What a fantastic web-site (the lodgis) ! So much to choose from and with precise locations, photos and in all price-levels !



Next year I will for sure consider a studio in stead of a hotel room.




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Thanks GitteK! Yes, do definitely get a studio, it%26#39;s cheaper and you can cook your own meals if you don%26#39;t feel like eating out.



We can%26#39;t wait to start living like a Parisian! Only two more weeks!!



And like travelnutty mentioned, the minimum stay for most apartments is a week. But then again you need at spend at least a week in beautiful Paris!




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A lot of people really like the Citadines too.




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The OP stated a maximum of 100€/night.. Citadines is quite a bit above that.

Looking for yarn shops in Paris

I%26#39;ll be in Paris thru Thursday and am looking for intersting yarn shops. I found one on the internet-La Droguerie - 9/11, rue du Jour - 75001 PARIS. I heard there is one on rue Franc Bourgeoise, but can%26#39;t find the name or exact address. Is there something similar to the the yellow page listings of specific types of shops/retailers as in the US? Any help would be greatly appreciated.




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This is one of those %26#39;specialty%26#39; topics that works well with the %26#39;..SEARCH IN:..%26#39; feature of this TA Forum. Try using %26quot;Yarn Shops..%26quot;, %26#39;..Knitting..%26#39;, %26#39;..Needlepoint..%26#39; or %26#39;..Fabric Sewing..%26#39; as your basic search criteria to get a LOT (perhaps all there is) of information in a hurry.




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Thanks KDKSAIL. I found what I needed. I knew that but forgot to try searching first.



Telecartes.

Hi.


Does anyone know the price of a telecarte 50 UT i saw at Francetelecom(i can%26#39;t find the price)?


Will i be able to make some phone calls to Greece while in Paris?


Thanks.


P.S.I suppose this UT means units...am i so wrong?





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Antonis,



I already replied to your other post about this question.

New Non-Smoking Law

Don%26#39;t get excited....yet! The Minister of Health will introduce anti-smoking regulations for all public places tomorrow. It is unclear whether it will be in the form of a directive or whether it will be in the form of proposed legislation that the Assemblée will have to debate. The union representing hospitality workers has already announced their opposition and has said there will be %26quot;reprisals%26quot; if any action is taken. Here we go again......! I hope the Chirac/dV government has learned their lesson about a more effective way to go about social change.




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The most restrictive smoking ban in the USA was passed here a few months ago. I am not a smoker (reformed!) but the law was written extremely poorly. Here, even smoking on private property is not allowed! Its crazy, you go to downtown Seattle and you see people literally standing in the gutters smoking because they have to be a certain distance away from buildings. One city near Seattle even went so far as to purchase a portable %26quot;smoking%26quot; building for people to use on breaks - and have it situated in a parking lot near city hall!





Again, I%26#39;m not a smoker but these things can be taken TOO FAR.




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Let%26#39;s keep the conversation focused on smoking laws in France, not in the US! Otherwise, the dicussion will quickly spin out of control!




|||



Davis, CA has had similar legislation for several years. So far no problems--people have to smoke no closer than 20 feet from building entrances, and no outside seated smoking allowed. I love it.




|||



Aux Arms les Citoyens!!!!!!




|||



What sure they hoping to accomplish here??? Is their any possibility that Parisians would follow a law forbidding them to smoke in public places? Would more protests be anticipated on either of the above %26quot;porposals%26quot;???




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Allons enfants de la patrie,



Le jour de non-fumeur est arrivé!



Contre nous de la tyrannie



Les étendards des tabacs sont levés!



Entendez-vous dans les cafés,



Tousser ces féroces fumeurs?



Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras



Piquer nos yeux, nos sinus!





Aux armes, citoyens!



Formez vos bataillons!



Fumons pas! Fumons pas!



Qu%26#39;un haleine impur



Ne remplir nos restos!





OK, OK, so I%26#39;m not much of a poet!




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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; no outside seated smoking allowed %26lt;%26lt;%26lt;





You can%26#39;t be serious? I%26#39;m also a reformed smoker, and even if I weren%26#39;t I%26#39;d support making all buildings other than private homes smoke free - but telling peole they can%26#39;t sit down while they smoke??? What if I were to LIE down???





As for the French refusing to obey any anti-smoking law, I happened to be in Rome when the Italian anti-smoking law went into effect. It was amazing how immediate and complete compliance was, even though it was January and a very cold one for Rome. Italians are IMO no more keen on obeying laws they regard as infringing on their freedom than the French are.



The same 100% compliance appears to be happening in Ireland. Could have to do with the fact that anyone smoking in a bar or restaurant can be fined up to 1500€ while the pub or restaurant can be fined up to 3000€. (Nope, those are not typos!)



Meanwhile I understand consumption of cigarettes fell by almost 10% in Ireland in the first year of the ban. A good thing, no?



Let%26#39;s hope, as Truffaut says, that the French government handles this one better than it did the CPE - or we might find all the cafes/restaurants locked and shuttered on our next visit.




|||



%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; OK, OK, so I%26#39;m not much of a poet! %26lt;%26lt;%26lt;





Au contraire, Truffaut. Chapeau!




|||



Truffaut -





Firstly - thank you so much for your generosity of spirit in answering so many questions, so many times.





Secondly - Do I not remember a law passed several years ago that forbad smoking in cafes and/or restaurants? I seem to remember signs on the doors of cafes announcing that they were %26quot;Salons de fumer%26quot;.





The food service folks were going nuts because they said non smokers didn%26#39;t tip as well as smokers, and that they would order one drink and occupy a table forever, tearing paper napkins or bottle lables into tiny pieces that took forever to clean up (mostly because they would stick to the table surface).





I was amused because when I worked as a waitress lo these many years ago, we said the same things about non-smokers.




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The loi Evin, passed in 1991, stipulated that public places have to provide a non-smoking environment. The law is full of complex regulations such as the suction power of the ventilation system expressed as a ratio to the volume of the premises--things that are completely unenforceable. The loopholes are numerous--%26quot;separate%26quot; fumeur and non-fumeur areas can be %26quot;separated%26quot; by a row of potted plants. There is great non-smoking momentum building in Europe, and if this law/decree sticks it will likely be successful as is has in the other countries (see Irish%26#39;s comments).

Cartes Oranges--metro passes?

I usually buy cartes oranges for the students I accompany to Paris. However, last summer some of the emplyoees at the metro sites did not want to sell them for me. I finally found one who would. Are these week metro passes no longer sold to people who do not live in Paris? Thanks, JA






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They still are. But at some métro stations, they may rather want to sell the more expensive Paris Visite passes. Just insist and use preferably a small stop.




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If you look at the www.ratp.fr website +



Titres de transport + %26quot;Achetez vos titres de transport près de chez vous%26quot; - you will get a drop-down list of arrondissments to choose from. Latest thing is, that some kiosques and tobacco-shops sell metro-tickets and cards.



Maybe they are more fortcoming than what you have experienced.



I have had no trouble buying the Carte Orange on Gare du Nord and on Gare de l%26#39;Est




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The CARTE ORANGE was always %26quot;..intended..%26quot; for Paris residents....but the %26#39;loophole%26#39; within the %26#39;intention%26#39; was that there has never really been any practicable way of determining who is a Paris resident and who is not. There are some RATP ticket clerks who simply don%26#39;t want to be bothered and may refuse to sell these passes to those who are quite obviously %26#39;foreign tourists%26#39;. This happens occasionally. More often than not, RATP ticket agents simply don%26#39;t want to be bothered explaining (or are too busy)----the way the CARTE ORANGE works to tourists. I%26#39;ve heard it rumored that there are a few %26#39;cranky%26#39; RATP ticket clerks. It%26#39;s happenned. In your case, I suspect the latter. The agent simply didn%26#39;t want to go through the hassle of preparing CARTE ORANGE passes for a group of tourists. But obviously, you got them at a different Metro ticket kiosk from a different agent....so the CARTE ORANGE is available to tourists.





Unfortunately, the %26#39;tourist loophole%26#39; in the CARTE ORANGE system will be closing in the foreseeable future, as the RATP system completes the adoption and system-wide installation of the relatively new NAVIGO RFID-embedded %26#39;smart chip%26#39; card system. These new re-loadable %26#39;smart cards%26#39; are only be available by mail to French addresses and will eventually replace the existing CARTE ORANGE pass system-wide within a year or two.





For the time being the old CARTE ORANGE system is still in operation and the %26#39;tourist loophole%26#39; still exists.




|||



KDKSAIL:





(I know that this issue has been discussed before) - what interest would the French railway authorities have in charging tourists with extra high prices for métro-tickets (other than the obvious higher income) ?





Offering cheap transport for tourists is supposed to be one of the %26quot;selling points%26quot; for a city, IMHO.





It sounds as if France/ratp/Paris/Government/Ministry of transports (or whoever) is almost morbidly intent on closing the %26quot;tourist loophole%26quot; as you call it - as if tourists were a plague that Paris would be glad to get rid of - the sooner the better ?




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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;(I know that this issue has been discussed before) - what interest would the French railway authorities have in charging tourists with extra high prices for métro-tickets (other than the obvious higher income) ? %26lt;%26lt;%26lt;





You%26#39;re forgetting that the loyalties and allegiances of any government agency should be first and foremost to the citizens of that place. Parisian pay a hefty premium in direct and indirect taxes to their goivernments. Subsidizing tourist transportation with their taxes is seldom very high on any local resident%26#39;s list of priorities.





We use the public transportaion system for a few days....local residents use it EVERY day. To tourists, it%26#39;s part of their disposable %26#39;..vacation budget..%26#39;; to local residents it is a part of their remarkably high daily %26#39;..cost of living..%26#39;. Why not lower tolls on the Indiana Turnpike for out-of-state registered automobiles...or lower hunting and fishing license fees for out-of-state outdoorsmen?

museum fees for teens

I%26#39;ll be traveling to Paris next week with my two teenaged neices (one is 17, the other is 14 going on 15). I%26#39;m thinking of getting the Museum Pass for myself -- do I need to get one for the girls as well? I think I read somewhere that most museums in Paris are free to children/students.





We%26#39;ll be there a bit longer than a week -- we%26#39;re planning on spending most of the time in the city, but will be also heading out to Versailles and Chartres too. Any suggestions on the best (least expensive) travel passes for city transit. I was thinking of a 2 day pass on the hop-on hop-off buses to get acquainted and then a 5-day Visite pass for zones 1-3 to cover the rest of the week.





Lastly, any news on upcoming demonstrations/strikes/greves? We%26#39;ll be in town April 15-23. Any suggestions on how a tourist can avoid them would be appreciated.




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Your girls don%26#39;t need the museum passes and can benefit from your line skipping priviledges.



Personally, I don%26#39;t think the Hop on/off Buses are worth it for most visitors staying more than 2 days. You%26#39;ll be fine with just a one week carte orange.



No strikes/demos planned for those dates at this time.




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bobbis -





One of the things I do in Paris is use the Metro for travel going to an attraction, and then I take the bus back, at least a few times during my stay. It gives me the best of both worlds. I get to my destination in the quickest possible time, and I get to look at the neighbourhoods, too. Often on the bus ride, I identify places I would like to return to for a closer look.





I did the same thing with my teenaged nephew last year and he really enjoyed the fact that there were two ways to go. He said it kept the Metro from %26quot;getting stale%26quot;.




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Thanks to both of you for your advice and suggestions. We%26#39;re flying out tomorrow -- fingers crossed for a bon vonage!

Nice in Jan 2007/Good idea???

I am planning to take a trip to Nice with my hubby January 2006, the reason why we picked that time is because of the great deals we are getting on hotels and air. I wanted to know what to expect. We don%26#39;t want to spend a lot of money in food, we are just content eating in a bristro,cafe ect. Sit down dinner would be way out of control money wise, so we want to stay out of that. Any suggestions??? What%26#39;s to see in that area?? Can we take a train to Monaco?? Also weather wise, what can we expect?? Thanks...




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January is a fine month in Nice. The beach season is over. It%26#39;s rather cool. At night you want a jacket or an overcoat. Everything is open. The weather is fine.



Not many visitors. %26quot;Low season%26quot;. Not to worry about. IMO.




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We go over every year for new years eve - midnight on the beach, fireworks and champagne. If you can include that date in its a real bonus.





The early January weather has been terrific the last couple of years - crisp, sunny, obviously a little cool, but folks on the beach! But it was better this January then a few months later. November rains have all but gone, the air is clear and the sky was an astonishing sharp blue.





After new years day you can expect things to be pretty quiet - most shops and restaurants open, some closed. It takes a little while to restock after Christmas, and we noticed a lot of things had %26quot;run out%26quot;. Everything runs but the French want the holiday too.





Of course trains run to Monaco no problem. Its a great time to be on the Riviera.





Whats to see? Crikey - that questions been answered a few times you can imagine.You could explore from your desktop on VirtualTourist.com - loads of suggestions written up with pictures - Nice, Monaco, Cannes, Antibes etc etc. My own is here







members.virtualtourist.com/m/6cdeb/188b0/4/





but there are many others to explore.





Cheers



Andrew




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Menton (between Monaco and Italian border) has a citrus festival in these winter months too (usually February). February travel deals can be as good or better than January deals.




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The hotels are more expensive in Feb , while the Carnival is on.



I was in Nice this year Jan 11th for 4 days and ate at the beach bars every lunchtime. The sun was quite warm from 10am - 3 pm and i spent most afternoons on the terrace at Civette de Cours in the flower market witha bottle of Rose or two..heaven.

Paris in Jan 2007/Good idea??

I am planning to do a trip to Paris w/ my hubby and we where thinking on going in Jan/2007. The reason we picked that month is because of the great deals we are getting on hotels and also airfare. How is the weather during that time and how expensive could it get (food, transportation, ect)?? We want to be frugal on our speding and food we could take it or leave it. Any cheap places that are not going to break the bank? Bistros, cafe%26#39;s ect would be ok. I know that a seat down dinner is going to be too much for our pockets! Any suggestions??? We are staying in the Place Vendome area?? Thanks...






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January is a great time, in my opinion, to visit Paris. Actually anytime is a great time for Paris. It will be cold and rainy, maybe snowing a bit although that%26#39;s not common. Depending on what week you go the stores have annual sales.









As to food you can eat well for little if you want. Paris has a wide variety of restaurants and cafes. Lots of people favor eating crepes, sandwiches (made with baguettes), and falafels as examples. Restaurants offer prix fixe meals with either two or three courses for a good price.




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We always try to go in January or February. There are hardly any tourists, so you can visit the museums and other attractions more liesurely. The metro and other transportation isn%26#39;t as crowded. The sales are going on. People get all excited about the tiniest flurries of snow....




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I did all four seasons and I prefer winter in Paris. The theatre and opera season%26#39;s are on, the larger mass of tourist are home. Paris really feel parisian.




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lilybelle --





As Sabrina said, %26quot;Paris is always a good idea%26quot;.




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I visited Paris this January gone, the 7th - 11th, and I thought it was a great time to visit, although I haven%26#39;t anything to compare it to!


The majority of the time the weather was cold but with crisp clear blue skies, it was a pleasure to walk about as long as we were wrapped up warm. Only on the last day did it rain.


Also we virtually never has to queue for any of the tourist attractions - if I went back another time I don%26#39;t know if I%26#39;d have the patience to queue now! The Louvre was still busy inside so I dread to think what it%26#39;s like in Spring and Summer.


I%26#39;d say go for it!

Normandy or French Riviera

We are planning a trip to France for the end of May. We definitely want to go to Paris but then we aren%26#39;t sure if it%26#39;s best to go to Normandy or the French Riviera. We will have 9 days in France. Which would you suggest? Also is it best to rent a car or ride the trains in France?





Thanks!!




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End of May is perfect timing for either location so it%26#39;s a toss-up.



9 days could be a lot for Normandy. If you%26#39;re out that way, consider meandering into Brittany, Mont St Michel, etc. For this region, renting a car could get you around much better than the trains if you%26#39;re going to explore more than just a couple main places. Rental car becomes a no-brainer if there%26#39;s more than just two of you. The area also lends itself very well to taking bicycles onto the trains if you feel like bicycle tours.



For la Côte d%26#39;Azur (French Riviera), 9 days could be a lot also. However, in this region, train travel is super convenient and has a really good edge over rental car possibilities, unless you%26#39;re getting way off the beaten path.




|||



Thanks for the information. We will spend 3-4 days in Paris so that will leave about 5 for the other area we decide to explore. Thanks again for the suggestions.




|||



It will probably still be quite cool in Normandy at the end of May. The Riviera is likely to be a good bit warmer and sunnier.



Yhe downside is that it will take you almost 6 hours to get to Nice by TGV, and the same amount of time getting back to Paris. This pretty much wipes out two of your five days.



Nice or the immediate area is a good base for exploring some of the Riviera towns, and, as DarthAnonymous says, you can easily get to most places along the coast by train/bus.



Normandy is much closer to Paris so you will not waste as much time getting there and back. You might want to consider taking the train to Rouen (about an hour) and picking your car up there. This will avoid your having to navigate the Paris traffic, which can be a bit daunting the first time you try to do it.



On your return, you could probably arrange to drop your car at Porte Maillot on the edge of the central area - or drop it off at CDG in time to catch your flight home.



There are many interesting places to go in Normandy, and pleasant towns. Good food too!




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Consider Normandy, with a bit of Brittany thrown in--the region just west of Mont St-Michel. You%26#39;ll need a car (as you would for Provence) to see the lovely little villages, such as Lyons-le-Forêt in Normandy, and the small town of Dinan, in Brittany. You%26#39;ll have an easier time getting reservations for Normandy than for Provence, as the end of May is when things really start getting tight.

2 Qs: 1) Would you recommend Hotel Walt? 2) Smoking rooms...

We%26#39;re contemplating at Hotel Walt when we visit Paris this summer. Unfortunately, I believe the only non-smoking rooms available are on the lower floor.





I was wondering whether people recommend Hotel Walt and more generally, if smoking rooms are generally okay for non-smokers in Europe. We are not overly sensitive, but stale smoke is not an appealling room scent.





Thanks!




|||



HOtel le walt is an excellent hotel in the 7th. It%26#39;s very well decorated, clean, good service, etc.





As far as the smoking situation, that is a crap shoot. If the smoking rooms are being used and used and used as smoking rooms, especially before you arrive, then you might have to deal w/ the smoke smell. If fewer people are smoking there, you won%26#39;t. IT%26#39;s not really something that can be predicted.





Good hotel, though.





LEs




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Take some febreze fabric refresher and the febreze air effects air freshener.




|||



We arrived at the Le Walt this morning. We are on the 5th floor (of only 6) and there is no smell of smoke at all. Plus, all three large windows open if you are in need of fresh air. Hope this helps.




|||



Thank you everyone! It sounds like a great option and taking febreze is a good tip I never would have thought of.





How is the area? I have heard it is quite residential, would it be a good bet for someone new to Paris?





Also, Stace3 I would love to hear how your experience is.





Thanks again.