Friday, March 30, 2012

Car hire Theft

Hi, be careful where you park your hire car within Biarritz as ours got stolen while on holiday. The police never traced it either. We were gutted as we visited loads of places while we were there in the car but actually realised how good the bus service is in the area after the car was stolen.




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Hi Lisa R77


Thanks for the advice.


I wasn%26#39;t sure on whether to hire a car or not and wanted to know about bus service.



You said it was good. Can you tell me where you went on the bus, how much it was and how frequent was the service please or just any general bus advice would be helpful.



Ta.




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Hi Lisa, We will be there this August. Where did your car get stolen from? We have been there before!





Is there any secure parking?





Did you get charged alot for stolen the car?





We are renting for 49 days and doing a tour!





Thanks for sharing!

advice

hope someone can assist. I have been threatening to holiday in france for sometime now, but have been put off by never really knowing where to stay in terms of location. We are looking to go sometime in the summer probably to the south. looking for a few things to do canoeing, nice towns etc. Can anyone offer any suggestions?





Many thanks





Lisa






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Nice is a convenient place to stay. Big city with plenty of restaurants, night life and maximum transportation connections to smaller towns and anywhere else in Cote d%26#39;Azur.




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Darth -



My sense is that Nice is not what Lisa is looking for. I%26#39;m thinking she wants something a bit less crowded, and with more small town/village and country scenery feeling to it.



When I put that together with the request for canoeing I come up with somewhere like the Cévennes or perhaps the Tarn Gorges.



The other area that seems to me to have the right feel for what you are looking for, Lisa, would be the Dordogne.



Both the Tarn and the Dordogne are pretty busy with tourists in the summer months, but it%26#39;s still possible to find charming, quiet places close enough to the %26quot;action%26quot; especially if you are looking for a self-catering place rather than a hotel.



If I might, I%26#39;d suggest that you take a look at these two areas in a good guide book, and then, if they look appealing to you, come back with more specific questions.



The south of France is a wionderful place to holiday, especially with kids. That%26#39;s why so many people do it (unfortyunately). :%26gt;)

MILK...Lait Ribot? Whole Milk...

What is Lait Ribot? The bottle says..Lait Ribot Tradition Bretonne.





What is it used for?





I had thought it was whole milk but it is sour tasting.





What is the best whole milk to buy in Paris? I want the fat content and good taste...





I%26#39;ve tried a couple of different bottles but still haven%26#39;t hit on what I want yet.




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Lait Ribot is a traditional fermented milkform Bretonne.



Try looking fro the lait ecreme




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The milk bottles with red tops are full fat though are only half-fat compared to some other European countries so good luck with your fat hunt !





Oh, I%26#39;ve found that some of the bio milks seem to taste creamier than the normal full-fat milks in France.




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Thanks to you both for your input.





What do they use the soured milk for in Bretonne? Any specific dishes?




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Do not go for lait écrémé, go for lait entier, still has fat in it.



I saw lait ribot was included in a recipe for a cake, i didn%26#39;t try it.




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Yes there are specific dishes they are used for I use it to make crepes and in some soups .



It is similar to butter milk ,there are some uses in breads adn tarts.But it is a tast you have to like. It is very rich in nutrients.



I have friends from Africa who use it and Greek frends who just gave me a dish with it inside .mmm yummy




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Can one buy a small box of milk that does not have to be fridged for use on am cereal?





What is the name of it?




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UHT





Read all 5 pages about it here !





tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k52578…




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I had bought-





Lait Frais entier (microfiltre) from Monoprix Gourmet.





Tasted like colored water!





It does have a red lid but isn%26#39;t at all what I would term %26quot;whole%26quot; milk.




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I tried that web site but TA won%26#39;t let me access it it keeps coming up saying there is a problem with that request. Do you have another way to access the web site ? Thank you




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Also I get very ill on un-pasterized milk what is the name of it so I can avoid it?

Taxi from Train

Taking train to Bayeux. Can you get a taxi at the station to go to hotel




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Hi, there are taxis available from the station and the town is about a mile away depending on your hotel maximum distance 2 miles to Novotel on opposite side of town. If you felt very energetic it is possible to walk.



Hope this helps.

Help me remembert his Hote

Several years ago, my BF and I stayed at a wonderful budget hotel in Bayeaux and I would love to recommend it but can%26#39;t remember the name. It was recommended in Rick Steves book, and was different because the walls of each roon were covered with carpeting ( for sound control) They had a restaurant which served breakfast and a wonderful dinner and were not far from the Tapestry. I would so love to suggest it, but can%26#39;t recall the name - does anyone know what it was called and if it is still in business?





For any of you planning to go to Bayeaux and touring he sites- do it! We loved it all, but I must say that what I will always remember is the German Cemetary, being lovingly tended to by German soldiers - a real monument to the futility of war- it made more of an impression on me that the American Cemetary- but all of it was mind boggling- we had just seen Private Ryanand the whole experience really hit home- we were there on June 7 and lots of British war veternas will still there, after a reenactment they had attended- it was very touching to see them.




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Hi Lulutoo, could it of been The Churchill, in rue St. Jean, Bayeux, sited on narrow street to front near waterwheel feature and through hotel to carpark at rear and across to Tapestry. If you look on www.france.com hotels you may recognise the photos. Hope you come back to visit soon.

Can one rent GPS systems in rental cars in France (Nice)?

After renting GPS systems (Global Positioning) in the US from Hertz, etc, while on vacations I am completely hooked. They have mostly eliminated the frustration of map reading and made it easy to cover lots of new territory in a day. A real boon for the family driver.





Can GPS units be rented in France? I have not seen the option listed on the major car rental sites. Are their outside vendors that rent the units (hopefully for one-way trips: Pick up in Nice, drop off in Paris).





Any experience or suggestions most welcome!






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I know for a fact that Europcar does provide the option of a GPS system, though you won%26#39;t see it on the splash page of their French web site. Since they do, I%26#39;d be exceedingly surprised if the other %26quot;biggies%26quot; did not. I think there may be an occasional issue with units not being available in a particular location, but if you are booking far enough ahead this should not be an issue.



I wouldn%26#39;t regard a GPS system as a substitute for a map and a good navigator, though, rather an adjunct. You never know when you%26#39;re going to have to figure out a quick ad hoc detour to avoid some unforeseen problem.



I%26#39;d be inclined to book through an agency such as autoeurope.com rather than direct with the rental company, but check the rates for both. Europcar is currently offering a promotion with a 20% discount for drivers over 55 (No, I%26#39;m not suggesting for a moment that you look that old ;%26gt;)) and they do not charge extra for an additional driver with that option.



Bonne route!




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Avis offers it%26#39;s at the Nice airport location. Prices are as follows:





- location de 1 à 5 jours : 10 € / jour



- location de 6 ou 7 jours : 50 €



- location de 7 à 27 jours : 7 € / jour



- location supérieures à 28 jours : 148 €





Not sure if its available on one way rentals however. Its on the avis.fr website.

Sardinia to Corsica? Corsica to Sicily?

We are travelling to Sardinia in May and then going to Sicily. We would like to add a side trip from Sardinia to Corsica inbetween. Is there a ferry from Sardinia to Corsica that runs fairly regularly in May? And, can we go from Corsica to Sicily without too much trouble by air. Also, recommendations for a nice hotel in Corsica would be appreciated.




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Corsica Ferries has service which may be of interest to you:





http://www.corsicaferries.com/Pcorsica.srv

Paris Quad Rooms

Looking for comfortable, affordable and preferably spacious quad room to sleep 4 women travelling to Paris. Any recommendations?




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A search of the forum using %26quot;quad%26quot; will give you all these previous posts:





http://tinyurl.com/mx83y





- you%26#39;ll have to bypass the ones about %26#39;quad band phones%26#39;...




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Me and three friends are staying at the Best Western Le Nouvel Orleans. We have a suite that sleeps 4.

Best Western Le Nouvel Orleans - travel directions

Hi. I will be in Paris for four days in May, staying at the BW Le Nouvel Orleans. I likely will be buying a carte orange travel pass as I arrive on a Monday. I am arriving on the Eurostar and will be leaving on the Thalys. I%26#39;ve looked at the RATP website, but would still appreciate some insight on the easiest route to and from the trains, as I will of course be carrying luggage. Is the RER my best option (it seems to involve more walking - tough with luggage) or the metro? Any other suggestions/comments about the area I am staying in are welcome as well. Thank you in advance for your assistance!




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Your hotel is located at 25, Avenue Du General Leclerc, in the 14th arrondissement. The closes metro stop is Mouton-Duvernet (about 150 m).



However, for your connection to the Gare du Nord, you might as well take the metro/RER station Denfert-Rochereau, which is just 200 m further down the road. There is a straight connection from Denfert-Rochereau to Gare du Nord - which makes it very convenient.




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You can either take metro line 4 from GdNord to Mouton Duvernet, and cross the street to your hotel...



or you can take the RER to Denfert and walk 2-3 blocks with your luggage.



The metro takes a few minutes longer but less walking.



There are a few stops on the RER between GdNord and Denfert, so it isn%26#39;t anymore a %26#39;straight shot%26#39; than is the metro.



p.s. I stay in this area and have done this at least 5 times.




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Thank you for your advice, JanToo and Travelnutty. I presume there is no problem taking luggage onto either the metro or the RER? Do I just keep the luggage with me? Travelling by train will be a completely new experience for me.



Travelnutty, I know I have read some of your other posts about the area in which I am staying. If you have any specific advice or recommendations, particularly for food/pubs/restaurants, it would be much appreciated.



A little over three weeks until I travel (first to London) and I am getting very excited!




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The only issue with either is you will most likely encounter stairs. We only pack 1 carryon + 1 bookbag each, so we can handle our own bags and go up stairs with no trouble.



Coming out of Mouton Duvernet, you can choose stairs or escalator(the furthest over, past the stairs). The escalator only comes up, not down. We always use metro from GdNord to Mouton Duvernet.





We only use the RER between hotel and the airport. There is an elevator in the Denfert station - we%26#39;ve used it and the stairs, different times, no problem.





We are still exploring the area, but have eaten at Café le Rendezvous, cafe d%26#39;Enfer, a couple boulangeries and the Pizza Hut (!). Planning to try L%26#39;Art des Mets, just across from cemetery. Honestly, though, just take a brief walk in the area and choose your own places. There are several cafes on avenue du Gen Leclerc, b/t Denfert and Porte d%26#39;Orleans.





Two well-recommended restaurants in the broader general area are Le Regelade and l%26#39;Avant Gout (13th). (no personal experience but a quick google will tell you these are well-regarded).





Bus#38 stops in front of the hotel (I think - I get the taxi stand and the bus stand mixed up) and goes along Jardin de Luxembourg, St Michel, Cité, Chatelet, and G.du Nord.




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Oops, as far as luggage on the trains, yes they are just commuter trains - keep your bag at your feet and try not to sit by the doorway (precaution to avoid bag-snatch and run). Simple awareness should be sufficient.





Also, in Gare du Nord, ignore strangers who approach and offer to %26#39;help%26#39; you with buying tickets and such. Just %26#39;non%26#39; and keep walking.




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Thanks Travelnutty. As I will be in Europe for four weeks [and because I am female :)], I will have a large suitcase as well as a carry-on, but I will manage. I suspect the train might be easier than the bus as far as that goes. Your tips/advice are much appreciated.




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Yeah, I threw that bus info in for sightseeing more than transport with luggage. Buses can be crowded at times during commuter hours.

Hotel Champs Elysees Plaza paris

During my internet search I have found a hotel...called Hotel Champs Elysees Plaza in district 8. I would be very gratefull for your comments if you have stayed there. It does not seem to come up on alot of sights. I realize it is expensive but the picture of the suite looks so good. Thanks




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I am looking at this hotel also. There are many reviews of the hotel on this site. If you google the name of the hotel, you%26#39;ll find other sites with information and a few reviews.





My only concern is that it%26#39;s in the western part of Paris (8th arr?), and many of the posters urge that a visitor (esp. first-timer) stay in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th arrondisements. We%26#39;re willing to walk, so that helps. You%26#39;re right, the rates for this hotel are good, and the suites look fun.





When will you be there?





We%26#39;re traveling first to Rome and then to Paris, with five full days in each place, at the end of September.




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I beg your pardon - at closer review I see that I assumed you were talking about the Hotel Elysees Regencia, and I think I%26#39;m wrong about that!





Good luck with your search.

For Underhill please

I read of your kind offer of an email to be sent to another TA Paris poster regarding an article written by your husband on driving in France. Would it be possible for you to send it to me also? Thanks!




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Of course, but you%26#39;ll need to write me at





jean@multiwareinc.com





so I have your e-mail address.

Best place to drop off rental car coming from the Loire...

Three of us will be arriving at CDG on June 4th. We%26#39;ve rented a car to drive to the Loire Valley so we can have it for exploring. We want to drive the car back towards Paris, but would rather not drive in the city. We%26#39;re staying at Hotel Eiffel Rive Gauche in the 7th arrondisement. Any ideas on the best place to drop off the car? We%26#39;d like the least costly, yet least complicated option. One idea is to drop off the car at Orly airport and take a taxi to the door of our hotel. Another option would be dropping the rental at Gare Montparnasse and taking the train. Though it would probably be cheaper, I%26#39;m worried that it%26#39;s too far inside the city and might be a difficult drive. A Paris suberb might be another good option. Please help!




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You don%26#39;t say which rental company you%26#39;re using so its difficult to truly help you...I think there are some rental dropoff%26#39;s near Invalides...However, the issue ssems to be driving inside the pheripherique, and so, I would say check the sncf website and consider dropping the car in the Loire and taking the TGV back to Montparnasse..You%26#39;d still have a short cab ride to your hotel in the 7th...It might be the most restful of all...and perhaps only a smidge more in $...




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We have dropped off at both Orly and Versaille for the very reason that we did not want to drive into Paris. In 2004 we rented from Hertz and dropped off at Versaille and took a cab to our hotel in the 7th. There were 4 of us and the price was about 42 euros plus tip.




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From the Loire, Orly is your best drop off. The stretch from Orly back to CDG is best avoided. Trust me........





Just be aware youll probably be charged a one way suppliment. Your other option may be somewhere like Chartres (If youre using one of the big firms that will be no problem- a smaller hire firm may not have an ofice there)




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Another vote for Orly if you dont want to drive in the city center. The Montparnasse station is very large and it could be confusing to find the drop off location.





Another option would be to drop the car off at the Tours TGV train station (St Pierre des Corps). The TGV will wisk you to Gare Montparnasse in about an hour. I checked June 7th (not sure of your date) and there are multiple trains with %26quot;Prems%26quot; fares still available in 2nd for 20 euros per person. You would need to book ahead online at http://www.voyages-sncf.com (look for the british flag for english) and print your tickets at home.




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Here%26#39;s another vote for somewhere further out of town. The Tours (St. Pierre des Corps) TGV station is great since it is pretty easy to find, and the car rental offices are very handy to the station.



If you want to see Orléans - which is worth a couple of hours of your time, IMO - you could drop your car off there. It would take you about the same time to get to Paris from Orléans as from Tours. If you do decide to drop your car off there, take your luggage and two of your party to the station first. I know Europcar%26#39;s offices are a bit away from the station (less than a mile) and I%26#39;m not sure about the other places. Europcar will drop the driver back at the station - at least they did for me. The name of the station you would want is Orléans les Aubrais.



Orly would be my third choice. It won%26#39;t save you much (if any) money once you%26#39;ve paid for a taxi, and the Autoroute system round Orly is not that easy to navigate and traffic can get pretty busy at times. But I would agree that it is preferable to Montparnasse if you%26#39;ve never driven in Paris.




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We too will be picking up a rental from CDG to drive to the Loire Valley. We%26#39;re scheduled to return the car at Montparnasse, but after reading that it%26#39;s a large confusing place, I%26#39;ve decided to take the recommendation of those of you who are in favor of dropping the car off at Orly. Thanks a lot for the tip...and thanks to you, 3generations, for your post.




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Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions. I%26#39;d prefer not to give up the car in Tours. We%26#39;d like to tour at least one chateau on our way to Paris on June 6th. We could drop the car off at Orleans, but since there are three of us, I thought it would be less expensive if we get closer to Paris before buying individual transportation tickets. This is why I thought Orly might be the better option. Air France coaches seem to be about 8 euros each which will only get us to Montparnasse. The taxi looks like it will cost around $30-$35 euros and will take us to the door of our hotel. This seems to be the least expensive and least time consuming option. If anyone has an idea of how much money and trouble it would be to drop off the car at Orleans and buy train tickets for the three of us to get to our hotel, I%26#39;d love your opinion. Another cost consideration might be the very expensive fuel and tolls. This could also add to our overall cost taking the car to Orly. It%26#39;s my understanding that there is no additional cost from the rental car company to drop the car at a different location from where we picked it up. It%26#39;s so hard to compare everything. I%26#39;d love to hear from anyone who can help me figure this out. We%26#39;d love to save every euro so that we can have more for dining out in Paris!




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One way fares from Orléans to Paris gare d%26#39;Austerlitz should be about 15€-16€. Trains run at least every hour, I think. Not sure where yur hotel is, but the RER will take you to e.g. Champ de Mars in the 7th for the price of a metro ticket. Or you could just take a taxi from the station for (at a wild guess) about 15€. Be sure to check where your rental compan%26#39;s drop off is. Some *may* be in the center of Orlean in which case Orleans gare would be better than Orl´áns les Aubrais. Orléans is no that big and I%26#39;ve never had any problem driving in it. And the cathedral and old town are worth a look. There are of course major historical connections, esp. with J. of A.



Check timetables and fares at



www.voyages-sncf.com



From Orly a taxi right to your hotel would be best. Connections from Orly to the center of Paris by public transport are not good.




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We rented from Auto Europ and dropped off the car Place d%26#39;italie (13 Er). It was not that difficult if someone looks for exit signs. The taxi or metro from there would be easy.





We did tour Orleans and it is neat place! I have never turned a car in there or gotten a train from there.

Last minute Paris trip for single gal - Apartment or hotel?

Hi all! I have the opportunity to take a week long last minute trip to Paris by myself, leaving in just 3 weeks (trying to take advantage of cheap flight). I am a single woman in her early 30%26#39;s and would like to stay in the 6th, 5th or 4th district (in that order). I%26#39;m looking to be as close to the Seine as possible, nearby cafes %26amp; restaurants, and definitely close to a metro.





Can you recommend a 2 1/2 or 3 star hotel? I would like to pay no more than 125 euro/night.





I had considered staying in a vacation apartment but since I don%26#39;t really need a kitchen since I%26#39;m alone and can live off bread, cheese %26amp; wine anyway (none of which need refrigeration), I%26#39;m thinking I might more enjoy a hotel better. However I also wouldn%26#39;t mind a more neighborhood feel so that it%26#39;s like I%26#39;m %26quot;living%26quot; in Paris for that week.





Any advice is very appreciated! Thanks.



Shauna




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Are you familiar with the Ile St. Louis? It%26#39;s one of the most charming places in Paris. It%26#39;s an island with 17th Cent architecture in the middle of the Seine attached by a small bridge to the Ile de la Cite where Notre Dame Cathedral sits. Very central and incredibly charming. It%26#39;s in the 4th Arr. and you can easily access both left and right banks from the island. All of the hotels and restaurants are small but quite lovely. The Hotel St. Louis, 75 rue-St.Louis-en-Ile, is a real find. (Tel. 01-46-34-04-80). Ask for a top floor room with balcony and you%26#39;ll have a fabulous vue. There is a breakfast room in the cellar with stone vaulting. Bon Voyage!




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Hi, Shauna. I%26#39;m sure you will have a fabulous time on your own! From my own personal experience going to Paris solo my first time, I would stay in a hotel. At least then you have someone at the front desk to ask questions to -- how to find the nearest ATM, recommendations for good restaurants, etc. You don%26#39;t feel so isolated.





I know there are advantages to an apartment, but you can still get that neighborhood feel in plenty of hotels -- you walk out the front door, and you have cafes and restaurants and shops and everything Parisian! I%26#39;ve stayed at both Hotel St-Jacques and Hotel du College de France in the 5e and liked them both. I think they%26#39;re in your price range. By the way, I have the same order of preference for neighborhoods (tie between 5e and 6e, then 4e). These are all great for someone in their 30s.





I%26#39;m not sure about keeping cheese unrefrigerated -- a lot of it is not pasteurized in France, so don%26#39;t know how well it keeps. But if you stay in the 4e, 5e or 6e (close to la Seine), you should have plenty of places nearby to grab fabulous food, as cheaply or as expensive as you%26#39;d like! If you stay near Place Maubert (where both the above hotels are located), there is a little charcuterie by the metro that sells mini-quiches to go each morning, a cheap and delicious breakfast.





And if you%26#39;re not shy, I would recommend exploring restaurants, brasseries and bars at night. Most of all, I would recommend walking through the beautiful neighborhoods. Being alone can be even more rewarding than going with other people because you can drop your intinerary and just explore.





Hope that helps. Bonne chance!




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I stayed at Hotel Delavigne 2 weeks ago. It is in the 6th district, one block south of Avenue St. Germain, the Odeon Metro stop and bus stop. It is 3 blocks north of the Jardin de Luxemburg which I strongly recommend visiting - perfect place to relax, eat a meal and people watch, enjoying beautiful surroundings. A room with a double bed and bath is 120 Euros per night. A room with a single bed and shower is 105 Euros/night. I stayed in the one with a bath and although small, it was comfortable and well furnished. I thought it was an excellent value for the area.





I agree with others that a hotel is best for a first visit.




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Finding a good moderately priced hotel with a room available for a week in May might not be easy, especially in the 4th, 5th or 6th. I%26#39;d suggest you go ASAP to one of the many online booking sites to see what you can find in the way of availability. (I%26#39;m not going to recommend one in particular since I don%26#39;t use them myself.)



If you see something you like check the reviews here, and ask specifically about that hotel. There%26#39;s not a lot of point getting recommendations for hotels that will most likely be fully booked. The couple I can think of in the 4th that meet your price and quality expectations are always booked at least two and sometimes three months ahead.



Also, many hotels will not have a single room so you will probably be paying for a double, but the price is per room not per person in any case.



Good luck!





PS: I will just mention this site which has only recently come to my notice:



http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/



I have no personal experience with it, and mention it only because it seems to have a few hotels that are not quite as well known.



Also check these two places which were recommended by a Forum member who lives in Paris and which are not as well known, therefore perhaps less likely to be full.





Hotel Chopin



http://www.hotelchopin.fr





Hotel Mayet



http:/www.mayet.com




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Definitely check availability ASAP.





Website addresses:



Hotel Delavigne



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





Next door neighbor hotel (2 star) - good reviews:



Grand Hotel de Balcons



http://paris-hotel-grandbalcons.com/





6th District about 2 blocks north of Jardins de Luxemburg a block from the hotels mentioned above (also good reviews)



Hotel Saint Paul Rive Gauche (3 star), 43 rue Monsieur le Prince



http://www.h-saintpaul.com/




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Hotel Beaubourg near Pompideau Center in the 4th has single rooms, a/c with shower for 112 Euros. I am booked to stay there in the summer. I%26#39;ve read good reviews on it, it was recommended in travel books, and seems to be close to the center area.





beaubourg-paris-hotel.com/English/TheHotel1.…

Seach ended in no results can someone help?

A few months ago someone posted the nmae and address of an English speaking druggist in Paris, I have run a search and cannot find it? I thought I had saved it but still can not find info.





I think it was a local in Paris who posted about a friend or husband to go to.





Could the person post it again. Thank you




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I suspect AnneParis%26#39; husband speaks very good English! But by googling, I found the website www.pariswoman.com which has a list of pharmacies where english is spoken (along with other resources - medical, counseling, etc.) I googled %26#39;pharmacist +paris +%26#39;english-speaking%26#39;%26#39;


There are several pharmacies and I believe at least one is open 24 hours.




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Hi Discover !



Yes it was probably my husband we were talking about. His pharmacy is in the 10th arrondissement, 217 rue lafayette (metro louis-blanc).




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I think I am not allowed to advertise for my husband so here is a list of english-speaking pharmacies :





PHARMACIES



Anglo-American Pharmacy (Swan)



6, rue de Castiglione



75001 Paris



Tel: 01-42-60-72-96





British and American Pharmacy



1, rue Auber



75009 Paris



Tel: 01-47-42-49-40





British Pharmacy (SNC)



62, Avenue des Champs-Elysées



75008 Paris



Tel: 01-43-59-22-52





Anglo-American Pharmacy (Cypel Evelyne)



37, avenue Marceau



75016 Paris



Tel: 01-47-20-57-37




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Kathyw - thanks for that website. I had never seen it before and found it really great. Good web links too.




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%26gt; 217 rue lafayette (metro louis-blanc).





Wow...I went ion there last week to get something for a headache (it%26#39;s right beside work). Can%26#39;t remember who served me though :)




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Anne can%26#39;t advertise her husband, but I can! I can also tell you that he is a great guy and very kind.



217 rue lafayette (metro louis-blanc)




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Thanks phread !



Ptegan, where do you work ? If you happen to go there again, hubby is in his early 40%26#39;s, black hair and hazelnut-colored (well we say %26quot;noisettes%26quot; in french so I just translated, lol!) eyes. Not the ugliest man on earth...




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Thanks Anneparis! Sorry it took me so long to respond I just got back from Las Vegas. Weather was great 78-86 degrees! Got home to the usual 46 degree weather here!





Annaparis: I have another question for you. Can one buy a buy a heating pad or the ice packs that one can break and they get cold to put on injuries at the drug store?





Irishrover: Had a drink toasted to you there!




|||



Most pharmacists in Paris will get along in English.




|||



Hey, thanks, Discover! I felt the warm glow clear across the country!

Sunday arrival in 8th arrondisement--where to eat, shop?

My husband and I are arriving for our first trip to Paris on the first Sunday in May. We%26#39;re celebrating our 30th anniversary the day after we arrive. My first question is where could we find a nearby market to buy water, bread, cheese, picnic supplies? We are staying at the Prince de Galle hotel on George V with starpoints, and we want to be somewhat careful with our money, balancing between some special dinners out and inexpensive picnics in beautiful, romantic areas. I understand a lot pf places will be closed on Sunday. Secondly, do you think Le Train Bleu is a sufficiently special and romantic rstaurant to celebrate our actual anniversary night in? Or do you have any recommendations for how to spend our actual anniversary day? Thanks!




|||



Congratulations!



If you get into Paris early enough, you%26#39;ll have many street markets to choose from:



www.v1.paris.fr/EN/Living/markets/default.asp



This could be the nicest possible way to load up on picnic supplies.



Le Train Bleu is special and romantic in its own way.



However, since you%26#39;ve never been in Paris before, I%26#39;d venture forth to recommend a Seine dinner cruise somewhere along the way. I left lots of details on previous posts regarding this. If you could do a little search on that topic, you%26#39;ll dig up a ton of information on that. For a nice dining experience, it can actually be quite a bargain at about US$100 for two. It%26#39;s classy and hard to beat when it comes to dinner cruises at scenic locations in the world.



How to spend the rest of that day? just wander around on foot and see the sights. The weather should be great.



On Sunday, some museums might be open but they might also be crushed with crowds. Some used to be free on those first Sundays of each month...




|||





DarthAnonymous,





Thanks very much for the fantastic link to Parisian markets! Our plane arrives at 7:35 a.m. at CDG, so I%26#39;m hoping we might be able to make it to one of the two markets open until 1 p.m.





I will definitely follow your advice to research a dinner on the Seine. I had hoped to end up that anniversary evening with a boat ride on the Seine after dinner anyway. Having dinner on the boat sounds much more relaxing and romantic...as for the rest of the day, I can%26#39;t think of anything better than to amble around Paris, maybe have a lunch picnic by the Eiffel Tower..or do you have any personal favorite places to picnic, enjoy the beautiful outdoors, and watch people go by?




|||



Directly beneath the Eiffel Tower on the %26quot;left%26quot; bank (rive gauche), that park extending to the Ecole Militaire does not permit people on the lawns. [Maybe I was kicked off because I was trying to take a nap before catching a train! No bums allowed.] There are benches and such. If you can cross the river to the Trocadero, those lawns are more inviting and often see many picnic%26#39;rs. The Trocadero lawn is also a popular spot from which to watch fireworks on those occasions.



Try a search for %26quot;picnic%26quot; on the forum. I remember other threads on this topic with lots of location ideas. I really don%26#39;t have any.




|||



I can%26#39;t think of any supermarkets around George V, apart maybe the Drugstore at the top of Champs Elysées where you could maybe buy something, but it is an expensive area.



As for the Train Bleu, it is very impressive but i wouldn%26#39;t call it romantic as when i went there it was busy and quite noisy




|||



trocodero rawks, had many a hippie pickanick basket there

Paris Movie Theatres - On Line Info? Da Vinci Code Film

Passing through Paris on the 18th of May. Would like to catch a showing of the Da Vinci Code. Any advice on theatres in Paris that show movies in the original language format? Thanks in advance for any info.




|||



You can visit allocine.fr/film/…54226.html



This website lists all movies that run in Paris. It%26#39;s in French but you%26#39;ll manage!



Da Vinci Code will start showing in Paris on 17 May when you arrive so expect big queues! Large theatres on Champs Elysees or near the Opera will also show the movie in English: look for %26quot;VO%26quot; (=version originale) after the movie title on the listings and avoid %26quot;VF%26quot; (=version francaise%26quot;).



Enjoy your stay.




|||



version originale dude- but i%26#39;d prefer a vintage cathy deneuve, any day o%26#39; the week

Montmartre: The guy in blue - Who is he?

Hi all,


We spent a wonderful week in Paris (returned couple of days ago). Too early to put all my impressions here - maybe later somehow. I want to thank all of you whose advices and information were very helpful for first-comers like us.


Walking around Place Tertre, I made a picture of a guy who really looked both exotic and %26quot;its own%26quot; in this place. I had a feeling that he was somebody who should be known by Parisiens and Paris experts.


If interested, please take a look at some of my Paris pictures (http://www.msnusers.com/ParisArt, picture #286 for %26quot;the guy in blue%26quot;). I would appreciate any information about this man.




|||



Yeah i%26#39;ve seen him on TV and his name escapes me. I think he has something to do with cabarets. Will get back to you with more info.




|||



OMG, it look%26#39;s like Karl Lagerfeld gone horribly, horribly wrong!!!




|||



Truffaut, I think you just made a joke, but after all, I%26#39;m amazed of how they are alike! Maybe, he IS Lagerfeld?!




|||



Its Michou. He does indeed have a cabaret in Montmartre.





http://www.michou.fr/




|||



Thanks Morgan! Alghough the website %26quot;is in progress... come back later%26quot;, I have a hope now that Lagerfeld hasn%26#39;t gone so bad! :-)



On the other hand, Truffaut gave me some hope that I saw the big man himself... :-)




|||



Your welcome! :) The french version works however.




|||



Yes, it does. Thanks!




|||



frommers.com/destinations/paris/N25175.html - Frommer about Michou.




|||



He also offers a free meal every week in his cabaret for people with no money. Generous!




|||



i think i knew that guy when i lived in berkeley

Calais to Carcassonne

We are travelling to our house just outside Carcassonne by car for the first time. We will be taking our dog and I DO NOT LIKE MOTORWAYS - does anyone have any ideas about a route and accommodation that is %26#39;dog and cigarette%26#39; friendly?





Many thanks Eve






|||



You want to take a route that avoids all motorways? That will take an eternity. Your route would be Rouen, Orleans , Limoges, Toulouse etc. Would probably take 20 hours? Just a guess. Its 1100 km via motorways. The Route Nationals all go through loads of towns.




|||



Hi Eve -



Morgan B is correct that getting to Carcassonne while (mostly) avoiding the Autoroutes will take longer than the most direct route, which is almost all Autoroute. Nevertheless, I think you should go for it. It would take you two days of about 6 hours driving to make it from Calais with any degree of comfort using the Autoroute. I%26#39;d allow three fairly relaxed days - perhaps 5-6 hours including a stop for a quick-ish lunch or a picnic - if you avoid the Autoroute for the most part.



Most of the towns along the way have bypass roads, and where they do not it is almost alwys possible to use the Autoroute for a few km just to get by the possible congestion. Usually the Autoroutes are toll-free close to the larger towns as well.



For overnight stops, Chartres would probably be a good first night, and somewhere south of Limoges would make a good second night choice - perhaps around Brive-la-Gaillarde.



Many of the towns along the way are worth seeing if you want to take the time, and some of the scenery is lovely too.



If you go to



www.viamichelin.com



you can get route suggestions. You can use the %26quot;customize your route%26quot; option to tell the site to give you a route that avoids tolls and most motorways. And you can use different stopover selections to find a different route home if you would like that. Heading up through the Auvergne and close to Clermont-Ferrand would be one option I can think of, and there are others.



I know quite a few people in the SE of England who have houses in southern France, and many of them (with dogs) do pretty much what you are thinking of. They think of the trip down and back as part of the holiday. Some of them stick to the same route and the same hotels every time. Some vary the route and so manage to explore a lot of France while travelling back and forth.



Most French hotels will not have a problem with a dog, provided it is not too big, and well-behaved. And (sadly) most French hotels and restaurants are all too tolerant of smokers. (I used to be one, and even if I were still, I would wish that France would ban cigarettes in its restaurants.)



Have a good trip and a great holiday!



And feel free to ask if you have any more questions.




|||



Thanks so much.





I also understand there are rules about returning to the UK with dogs and you have to find a vet - any ideas?

A question

From paris which is the eastiest way to go to the airport Charles de gaulle terminal 3?




|||



To answer your question, we need to know from WHERE in Paris...



Also whether you have heavy luggage and/or children matters...



Unless you want a generic answer which would be - take a taxi.




|||



Take a taxi!!




|||



lol!




|||



I mean, all cheekiness left aside, he/she was asking for the EASIEST way...




|||



nastya looks like you got a long strange trip aheada you....




|||



YES I KNOW.



a very long way nobody is willing to answer me.No I wont have heavy luggages, no children,me myself and I.



From paris monmarte area there is my hotel.




|||



There you go with more informations I can tell you that you might try and order a shuttle through the hotel, the price is ~25 Euros for 1 person and is the best deal in terms of price/quickness/comfort.



If comfort doesn%26#39;t matter then take bus n°30 from Pigalle to Gare du nord and then RER B to the airport, 10.40 Euros.




|||



merci!

Protests

Sorry I know this has been an annoying topic for some.





We go to Paris tommorrow morning, until saturday night. Does anyone know if there are any protests planned, just so that we know where to avoid.




|||



Nothing planned, it%26#39;s easter holiday for kids and so there is no point demonstrating...




|||



Thanks, that%26#39;s good.

Paris Hairdressers

Thought on my few days in Paris I might get a sassy new look, can any of you recommend a good ladies hair stylist, not too expensive, who could do a good job - ahhhh - 100Eu, should be able to get a great cut for this right?



x




|||



The best cut I have had in my life has been from the Jean Marc Maniatis salon on the rue de Sevres. I have now referred three others who have all come out raving.




|||



Hey Phread



Do I need to phone them to organise an appointment - which district / area are they in please, trying to organise my schedule on my way up from Marais.



Thanks



x




|||



Hi BJ, since phread is away, I googled and found this website with the salon phone No etc. I would definitely call to get an appointment since you are only there a few days or take a chance and go in on the first day of your first visit and try to get an appointment on that visit or the one when you return





http://www.maniatis.com/salon.htm





Or if you felt more comfortable composing an email in French (they probably speak English though) you could email on





infos@maniatis.com




|||



Has anyone got an idea about the price-level in Paris for a woman%26#39;s haircut + stripes/reflexes ? Is 100 euros enough ?




|||



Gitte, That%26#39;s a good question. I have never dared trust my French to convey what I want for a hair cut and have only had wash and blow wave. I assumed phread noticed the price range when she gave her reply to BJ but, as you suggest, it would be very prudent for BJ to check the price before she makes a booking so she doesn%26#39;t get any nasty surprises at the end.




|||



Phread, Anneparis or other ladies in Paris:





I would like to e-mail the salon for information about their prices and then book an appointment.



A haircut is a %26quot;coupe de cheveux%26quot; - but what would be the French hairdressers%26#39; expression for %26quot;stripes/reflexes%26quot; (I don%26#39;t even know if it%26#39;s called that in English) ??




|||



I%26#39;m guessing but I think you%26#39;re talking about Highlights. Am I right? Where you get lighter strips of colour in your hair.





In French it would be Mèches. I looked it up on a Paris hair salon%26#39;s website. :)




|||



Thanks Faux I just checked out their web site, unfortunately non english version. What I thought I would do is have a look at some of the pictures they have in their books and choose something appropriate. My French is almost non existent but I do know how to say no and gesture with my hands. Hope this will be enough.




|||



I too want a hair styled cut. I have 4 inch below the shoulder length hair. I know the french woman tend to have shorter hair.





Can anyone recommend a good salon that specializes in long hair?




|||



I%26#39;ve had good luck with a chain called Coiffirst. They have a store on Rue du Buci. I%26#39;ve had my hair done by several stylists there and always like it. They tend to layer when they cut so let them know if you don%26#39;t want that. Interestingly, the one time I made an appoinment I was kept waiting a long time. Several times I have gone in and been taken right then or a little later in the day. They only blow dry hair in France, as far as my experience goes, no curling irons, just those round metal brushes.



http://www.coiff1rst.com/

French Cigarettes

My friend has asked me to bring her back some long, thin French cigarettes from Paris, does anyone know what brand these may be.



x




|||



Vogue or Fine 120 I guess.




|||



I think she may mean Gauloise (sp?) - they used to come in black and pastel colours - well they did in my long past student days if my memory serves me right - which given the haze of student days it may not!




|||



Vogue, Fine or Gaulose(?) (coloured - this is good), OK this gives me a few ideas on cigarettes - any ideas on some great looking long thin cigars for women?




|||



nope, she is looking for long and slim cigarettes, the Gauloises you are talking about are thick and short ;)




|||



Most French cigarettes are now made in Spain - so help her get better and say there arent any ;)

english speaking.

i am visting nice next week and i am a bit concerned about the language barrier as i dont speak french can anyone recomend anywhere near the rue de liberte that is english speaking where we can go to eat we are a bit worried we could end up eating something we dont want to lol




|||



English, of some kind, is spoken in most restaurants.



Rue de la Liberté is very touristic.




|||



There%26#39;s always the %26quot;my finger speaks french%26quot; school of communication - point to what you want on the menu.It generally works.





Works too when it comes to asking for the bill - just kind of do a signature flourish in the air with an imaginary pen. Voila. The bill will appear.





Nice exists on tourism - a quarter million visitors in the last few days over Easter. Few will starve to death for lack of language skill.





Cheers




|||



thanks a lot its nice to know i wont be a total fish out of water lol thanks again




|||



Even if you speak French in restaurants, unless your accent is close to perfect the waiter will answer in English. This can be a little irritating but it does help to avoid confusion.




|||



As the above posters have said, you will manage fine in most circumstances without being able to speak French. However, being able to say a few phrases in French will go a long way towards enhancing your holiday experience. I would suggest getting a basic phrase book such as the one from the Lonely Planet series that includes a menu reader. This will make the issue of ordering a meal much less stressful.




|||



The previous post has very good advice. Without it you might be quite surprised at what appears on your plate. Frommers also has basic menu items translated in the back of the book. Enjoy your stay, say bon jour and merci, and smile a lot.




|||



As others have mentioned you shouldn%26#39;t have a problem. We found it most handy to greet everyone in French by saying bon jour if before 4pm (or around that sort of time) and bon soir in the evening... they will soon pick that you are not French and reply back to you in English, sometimes we were even greeted in English first up! We did not encounter too many people who didn%26#39;t speak English - or at least basic English A lot of menus are in both French and English anyway and I don%26#39;t think they mind translating for you - if you show courtesy and have a go at a little bit of French... and hey whatever you end up eating in France will be fabulous anyway!!!




|||



There%26#39;s a lot of good advice above. Also, might be worth mentioning - look out for the set meals at a set price, they offer good value to just choosing a la carte from a menu. Confusingly, the set menu is called %26#39;le menu%26#39; and consists often of 2 or 3 courses, sometimes a coffee or glass of wine and sometimes a small choice, 2-3 items per couse to select. The price is set and you can expect to pay anything from about 10 to 30 euros for the set menu. They are often displayed as an extra piece of paper attached to the printed menu or written up on a chalkboard outside the restaurant. If this is the option you want, you must tell the waiter you are having %26#39;le menu%26#39; or you will be charge per individual item and it will be much dearer. If you are happy to drink the free tap water with your meal, ask for a carafe of water. The %26#39;carafe%26#39; word is important, or the waiter will try and sell you bottled water. I often have the carafe, the tap water is fine to drink in Nice. If you just want one course to eat, going for the dish of the day offers good value and fresh food. It is called %26#39;plat du jour%26#39; again, usually scribbled up somewhere near the printed menus.



Don%26#39;t be at all worried about the english. You will recognise many of the dishes, there is a lot of pizza and pasta in Nice and many menus have english versions.



Regarding tipping, service is added automatically, written as %26#39;service compris%26#39; or sc on the menus, by law now I think, so there is no need to tip, if you do tip, don%26#39;t go mad, a bit of change or a couple of euros is fine. The sc is 17.5% of the bill! so it%26#39;s a big chunk without adding an extra 10% on top of it all. (Of course, tip whatever you want if you feel the extra is deserved)



If you are happy glugging house wine, look for the %26#39;vin maison%26#39;, blanc is white, rouge is red and rose is, well, rose, lol.



Don%26#39;t worry you%26#39;ll have a great time.




|||



Thank you so much to everyone who has offered me advice i am feeling a lot happier now knowing it wont be a total blur to me thanks cant wait to get there now



Thanks again

Where in Paris can one rent a walker or if needed a wheel...

Where does one go to rent such a thing!




|||



I don%26#39;t have an answer for you but you might try Office de Tourisme, 127 av.de Champs-Elysees. Tel. 01-49-52-53-54.




|||





I found this on the franceguide





Wheelchair rental: Three organisations in Paris rent out wheelchairs:





CRF ( 0033) 1 43 73 98 98



Integral ( 0033) 1 45 88 33 00



Material Para Medical ( 0033) 1 43 26 75 00




|||



Thank you both!




|||



You can also rent wheelchairs at pharmacies.




|||



Thanks Underhill





Can one rent a walker if needed?




|||



You can rent a walker in pharmacies too.But you have to tell the pharmacist at least one or two days in advance (same for the wheel-chair, I think).




|||



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Hi Discover, this is not exactly on topic but if you don%26#39;t already have them, here are a few sites with information for disabled people in Paris





access-able.com/tales/Paris-access-2003.html





www.ratp.info/informer/reseau_ferre.php





http://www.infomobi.com/page5.php

Anneparis - I have a question for you about drug stores.

Annaparis: I have another question for you. Can one buy a buy a heating pad or the ice packs that one can break and they get cold to put on injuries at the drug store?





Unfortunately, on my trip to Las Vegas ( last week) I was breaking in my shoes for Paris. I injured my foot! We were getting in all our walking and in shape for Paris.





I injured my foot and it is swollen and red. I have been putting heat and ice on and it feels better! But now I am concerned about where to buy and get these items when I am in Paris. Would department store only have the heat pads? I do not want to bring mine and have problems with the electrical.





Thank you for your help.




|||



sorry- I%26#39;m not Anneparis but I think I can help- if my memory is wrong on this hopefully someone else will correct me-





for a heating pad, I think you want a %26quot;drogerie%26quot;- which is a small appliance/sundries type of shop- you should be able to find one in any neighborhood. That%26#39;s where we go a curling iron for my Mom last year after she melted her hair off using one from home with the wrong converter. A %26quot;pharmacie%26quot; is only for toiletries and medications usually.





Monoprix will have them, too- this is often described as a French Target- but to my mind it%26#39;s really more of a big Walgreens/Eckerds/RiteAid/CVG type place.

Villefranche avec 2 kids and a car.

There are some clear experts out there on this little corner of the world.





That said, can any of you offer if any of the hotels bantered about on this site would offer a solution to the need for a room that sleeps four (two parents and their 5 and 7 year old) and also has a place to stash a rental car? Does the Welcome, or Patricia fit the bill?





Most appreciative of all comments and advice!




|||



hello there!


well, that depends on your budget!


Money-wise the Welcome and the Patricia stand on completely opposite ends.


I%26#39;ve stayed in both, and would recommend the Patricia, as it does a lot of good to your budget, unless you feel like splashing out at the Welcome! I think that at the Patricia they have a room for 4 situated in the garden, and they definitely have plenty of free and private parking, while the Welcome doesn%26#39;t have any free parking at all.

Good experiences wanted: Cote D'Azur & Provence with 2 kids...

As my handle suggests, we are planning 2 weeks in the south for this July with 2 kids (5 and 7), via rental car. We are landing in Nice and leaving via Paris.





I am new to this forum, so excuse these basic questions and unfamiliarity with previous posts. Thank you in advance for your patience if this is the hundredth time someone has asked this!





We are looking for an authentic Provencal experience, (not overly plush, but a/c would be nice), and not to be in chain hotels. Suggestions for nice villages in the south (for one week near the coast and another week inland) are greatly appreciated. (From Nice to Avignon). Small hotels within the village/town are preferred. Kitchens, villa living, etc not desired. Small hotels next to the boulangerie are what we%26#39;d rather experience.





This is a broad request, but your recommendations and experiences are greatly appreciated.






|||



I would look on www.guidesdecharme.com to find some very pretty smaller hotels.




|||



Biot for the glass-blowing, Carcassone, Avignon and Aix are all fun. You can%26#39;t go wrong. I would check out Alastair Sawday%26#39;s books %26quot;Special Places to Stay%26quot;. I would also check Karen Brown%26#39;s France guide. She has very good route and hotel recommendations. Have fun!

Paris May Day "Labour Day" 1st May

Hi - I have booked a weekend to Paris which includes may 1st. Will any of the large department stores be open on Monday 1st May? Will restaurants be open? Many thanks - Mae




|||



I am trying to find out the same thing....I am very sure the stores will be closed Sunday and Monday. My question is what will be open Saturday? Even museums are closed for the May 1st holiday.




|||



I finally woke up and called the concierge at my hotel. Pretty much everything is shut Monday May 1st. You should find some open restaurants, especially in or near hotels.

Airport to Hotel De France Invalides

I%26#39;m going to Paris tomorrow and trying to work out the best way to get from CDG airport to the Hotel De France Invalides, which is on the Boulevard de La-Tour-Maubourg. I would prefer to take the Air France bus if it goes near enough to the hotel. I would also like to know if the hotel is near the Arc de Triomphe, ie would it be possible to walk from the hotel from there?




|||



The Air France coach that makes it%26#39;s stop at Les Invalides comes from Orly, not CDG. You%26#39;re best bet for public transportation may be the Roissy bus (Approx 8,00E), which stops near the Opera Garnier, and would allow you to make a quick connection to the Metro by connecting to the Tour Maubourg station via Line 8. You can view a Metro map at ratp.fr



You could also opt for a Taxi from there to your hotel, or if you prefer to take the Air France coach, the closest stop would be the CDG-Etoile stop near the Arc de Triomphe, and you could take a Taxi from there.



Walking distance to the AdT from your hotel will be about 45 minutes.

painting and cooking classes in provence

Can anyone recommend a good full day or 1/2 day painting and cooking classes in Provence?





Any info would be helpful for our trip in early June.





Thanks






|||



when you get information about full day or 1/2 day cooking and art classes in Provence in early June, would you please let me know? thanks

R/T from Detroit to Paris in June for $440

Hello all,





I have been searching for several months pretty steady for airfare to Paris.. and with a few prayers to the Man upstairs, I came across this increadible fare on Expedia.com.





I think it is good until midnight tonight. So I thought I visit here to tripadvisor daily, maybe this can help somebody.





Detroit to Paris (the first week of June) for $440.00 (additoina $87.00 taxes and $10.00 booking fee)





Sailing...




|||



WOW! That is amazing. Is it with NWA?



I wish I could take advantage of it, but I don%26#39;t think I can. Have to think hard about this one though...



Lake Erie sailing?




|||



Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!



I owe you. See you on the lake?




|||



My Goodness... it%26#39;s only $621.00 from SFO-CDG early June..and it is a refundable ticket to boot!!!all other summer months are at least $1200.00!!





decisions, decisions..




|||



Irish and Silver!





Is there something wrong with NWA? I sure hope not lol! This is my first trip to Europe. Have either of you been there? Any recommendations? Irish.. I will not be on the lake much this summer :( Do you live near the lakes, I see you are from Ohio.





Kim




|||



Kim -



No there is nothing wrong with NWA, except insofar as service is a word that is foreign to just about all the major US airlines these days. I asked if it was NWA because if it was any other airline it would not have been a direct flight.



As for your question about where to go and what to do, my suggestion would be that you get a good guidebook or two for the places you are interested in, either from the library or amazon.com. Check the shelves of your local Border%26#39;s or B%26amp;N and find a guidebook that suits your age and interests. (Time Out, Access, DK Eyewitness and Michelin are some of the good ones.)



Then send another post, letting us know where you are thinking of going and asking any other questions you might have.



Meanwhile your first priority should be a hotel room if you are planning to stay in Paris. Popular hotels get booked up pretty far in advance in June.



Search the forums for threads on hotels and itineraries and arrondissements (districts) and you will get a lot of basic info. Then ask specific questions from there.



OK?



As for sailing, I race out of Edgewater. You?





And again many thanks to you!

Can someone help me with distances please - Ibis Gare Du...

Hi all





Well another hotel on my shotlist is the Ibis Gare Du Nord Chateau Landon, 197-199 rue La Fayette 75010





I realise this is on a major metro line but how long would the journey time be to the major attractions (Louvre, Eiffel etc) and would walking be possible?





Many thanks




|||



I would count between 20 and 40 minutes to the major sights by metro. Walking is not really an option, unless you are a very good urban walker.





Although it is close to where I live, you probably know that the gare du nord area is not the postcard Paris most tourists want to see.




|||



You can go to www.pagesjaunes.fr and get an exact fix on the hotel%26#39;s location. You can also find a photograph of the building there. If you play around you will be able to find photos of other buildings nearby, which will give you an idea of the area.



www.mappy.com will allow you to find pedestrian routes and times from your hotel to any other address in Paris.



www.ratp.fr is the officil Paris public transport site, and will give you routes and timings between any two places in Paris.




|||



If you are using the Metro, the RATP posts the time between the Louis Blanc metro station and Palais Royal (Mus du Louv) to be 12 minutes, with train freq at about every 5 minutes. The Louis Blanc metro station is about 100m from your hotel. You can look at other times and lines by visiting their website at ratp.fr.



Travel further on to the left bank or transfering to another line will add time more time.

Follow up Jim Morrisom thread

Shoesy -





While you are at Jim Morisson%26#39;s Grave in



Pere Lachaise Cemetery, you can think about



Pasty Cline death in March 1963, JFK%26#39;s



death in November 1963 and Jim Morrison%26#39;s



death in the summer of 1971.




|||



Since the cemetery is supposed to be such a beautiful place, I have a feeling I%26#39;m not going to be thinking of death at all. All the lovely greenery might make me think of life.




|||



Shoesy -



You will be overwhelmed by the tombs themselves, some of which are very beautiful, others fascinating and historically interesting..



Near the Mur des Fédérés there are some deeply moving Shoa memorials.




|||



Is a visit to this cemetery suitable for someone who is visiting Paris for only the second time? I realize that since it%26#39;s a large place, many hours can be spent walking around there. I%26#39;m having a hard time trying to figure out approximately how much time I need if I take into consideration traveling to and from the cemetery.




|||



I went on my 1st visit to Paris. I spent an afternoon with travel and lunch. All in all I think I spend 2 hours in the cemetary itself, but just like Paris ...you can never spend enough time....




|||



I think it%26#39;s worth it if it is your FIRST and only visit to Paris. It%26#39;s really hard to describe the fascination of this place. I mean, it%26#39;s just a cemetery, right? Well, yes and no. It is a cemetery, but it is also a repository of history and a place of serene beauty, and can have a truly romantic feeling.



When you go, make sure you get a map and have some idea what you want to see. I%26#39;d think you%26#39;d probably want to spend a couple of hours there. If you walk back to the center of Paris - mostly downhill - through the 11th it will give you a chance to explore a chunk of %26quot;real%26quot; Paris.



There%26#39;s a really good wine bar/bistro on rue Léon Frot fairly close to Père Lachaise, Jacques Mélac. Good place for lunch.



Oh, and wear really good walking shoes for the cemetery.




|||



Thanks, RPL67.




|||



Well, Irish...I%26#39;m definitely going there.




|||



Ditto on the comfy shoes- those uneven cobblestones and steep hills will kill your tootsies!




|||



Actually, I plan on wearing comfy shoes the whole time I%26#39;m in Paris. I plan to do a lot of walking.




|||



IR (that%26#39;s IrishRovr, not Infrared) -





To answer your question, there was no Cherie,



Bo or Marilyn Monroe but my spoon stood



straight up in my coffee cup.

main things to do in St. Malo in a day

What are the best things to do in St. Malo if you only have a day?




|||



Shopping - gifts, art etc. Eating! When the tide is out the beach is great as well.




|||



Find a good crêperie and consume a bottle of fine cider.




|||



Concerning the tide. Watch out it comes in PDQ. The whole bay has one of the highest tides in western europe and I%26#39;ve watched a number of tourist get stuck on the Fort National for several hours waiting for teh tide to let them off.



There%26#39;s a small aquarium built into the town wall just around the corner from the Castle (Also worth a visit) as well as the major aquarium on the outskirts of town (Follow the signs for Dinan)

St Malo Hotel with a family room?

Can anyone recommend a hotel in St Malo which has either a family room that will sleep four or adjoinng rooms so that the kids feel happy.





We%26#39;ll be staying for a night in August prior to catching the ferry home and would like to be near the port and in the old town if possible. Car parking would be great as the car will be full of stuff for two weeks hols.





Any suggestions would be fantastique! :o)






|||



I can highly recommend the Hotel L%26#39;Univers. We have been going to St Malo for over 20 years and have stayed here 10 times. It has the faded glory of an Art Decor and the Ball room is wonderful to look at.





I doesn%26#39;t have parking but its on the main square directly opposite the Castle/Hotel de Ville. PArking is in the main town car park just outside the walls and its free between 6pm and 8am and not much for all day.





There are a number of familly rooms /suites and some rooms for 2 which can be linked into a 4 person suite. If you can try for the front of teh hotel overlooking the square and its restaurants / bars.





It has a webpage with a couple of photo tours of the bar, room and breakfast area.





Well worth it. Also only 5mins drive to Port.

Versailles Tour or Self Guided Tours

Help:





Will be Paris again this year, but have not been to Versailles in 5 years... Plan to go weekend of 27 April.. should we book a tour in order to avoid the lines or large crowds I have read about.. If so what about Cityarama or a better suggestion?? We plan for a whole day for Versailles, but notice some of the tours say a half day.





Any suggestions will will be helpful. when I visited I remember a plesant experieince..



I am taking someone who has not been to Paris, we have quick 3 full days..Thanks




|||



You can buy a combined train ticket and château entrance (valid only for the state apartments) at the RER train stations.




|||



I hate to disagree with a Paris resident, but in fact the combined Versailles + RER pass includes ALL the %26quot;add-ons%26quot; in the price. I think the combined pass is a very good deal, and it will allow you to bypass the ticket lines. If you have been before and have a decent guidebook you%26#39;ll be fine on your own, IMO. No need to be herded round at some tour-guides idea of the proper pace!



Here arre all the details, in French only, I%26#39;m afraid:



http://www.transilien.com/FR/TouVers.htm

gifts

What are some good souvenirs to purchase in Brittany? Going to St. Malo, Lorient and Dinard.








|||



POTTERY - Brittany has a distinctive traditional pottery. It is, however, quite garish and may not be to everyone%26#39;s taste.





BRETON TOPS - The stripey sweaters originally worn by fishermen are available widely, I have definately seen them in shops in St Malo. They are cream with navy stripes, or similar variations and are unisex.





ART - There are several art shops / galleries in St Malo and a couple in Dinard. In th past I bought a very pretty little beach scene water colour in St Malo.





BISCUITS - Pont Aven (South Brittany) is the home of some traditional biscuits which you will find widely available in some pretty, traditional tins.





SEA SALT - The south of Brittany is also an area sea salt production, %26#39;foody%26#39; friends love it!





Have a great time - it%26#39;s my favourite place in the world!




|||



I agree with the suggestions made by Jane_C but would add Music to the list. Celtic music is as important in Brittany as it is in Ireland and pipe-bands (bagadou) are more numerous in Brittany than in Scotland! (The national pipe-band championships are held in Lorient each August).



For the best selection of CDs call in at Coop Breizh on Rue du Port in Lorient.




|||



Nobody mentioned Cider!





ALso try some of teh Caramel toffees very nice and they hardly wreck your teeth!





Agree about the music. There are loads of places selling Breton music.





If you get the chance look out for a Fez Noz that will give you a %26quot;hands on%26quot; experience of breton music and life.





Of the groups it depend on your choice. Modern/Tradional then look out for Dan Ar Braz especially one of his Festival of teh Celt CDs. I would also recommend some of the Bagad group Heavy Bagpipe/Bombard/drum combination will blow the cobwebs away.





Lookout of Sonariun Du, Blaiez Ru breton folk rock groups. Just so many to choose from.

Travel Guides - Advice Please

There are a bewildering aray of travel guides to this region of France.





Does anyone know which one is the best one? I am looking at the DK Eyewitness Guide, the Michelin Green Guide and the Rough Guide to Brittany (and includes Normandy too).





I am travelling with 4 kids, aged 3, 8, 15 and 45.





We love anything historical, castles, pretty villages, roman remains, scenery, etc. - and we are staying on a campsite near Vannes. We usually travel about by car quite a bit whenever we are on holiday, so getting around is not a problem. We are not beach people, we have the beautiful Gower Penninsular on our doorstep so look for something different when on holiday.





Any thoughts on guides/things to do would be much appreciated.





Thanks,




|||



I found the best guide to be from the AA series




|||



Swtmai





I have to say the Michlen Green guides are as good as you will get.





They cover all of Brittany and have fantastic Tours to follow, and great town guides.





I%26#39;m up the road from you , but I still would recommend a trip to some of the beaches, especially on the Quiberon penisular not to far from Vannes. Call into one just after the penisular widens into the island on the lefthands side!





On the south bay of teh Gulfe du Morhibion is teh Chateau in Sarazeau fantastic.





Theres a great Museam in a village called Malestroit on the French Resistance very moving as is a visit to the Fort of Penthievre and the tomb of the Breton citizens murdered by the Nazi%26#39;s.





If any of teh troup are into make up or Perfum take a trip to La Gacilly home to Yves Rocher. The village is an Artist Honey pot and there are 1000s of flowers to look and smell.





Finally the Zoo in Pont Scorff is well worth the visit heavily involved in Animal Breeding programme it is self financed and needs all the help it can get.

altitude 95 from UK

i keep coming up with an error when trying to fax altitude 95 from the UK despite following the international dialing codes.Am i getting the right number or am i going mad





is it





00 33 147 05 94 40





help please




|||



It should be ok. The access code is correct and when I dial 0147059440 I end up on a fax.





If you%26#39;re dialing from work you may need to add another digit (usually 9 in the UK) to access an outside line.





If you dial 00 33 147 05 94 40 from a normal phone you should hear the same beeps as me after 2 rings provinf that it is in fact a fax machine.




|||



ive just been informed we have international call barring.





what a divot





thanks for your help




|||



is there anyother way i can book this place? i cant do it from home as i would like it to be a suprise?





Are there any 3rd party websites that take emaill bookings





Fax is so last year!




|||



Do they not accept e-mails ?







Reservations:





Tel: 33 (0)1 45 55 20 04



Fax: 33 (0)1 47 05 94 40





Commercial Service Mail:tour.eiffel.rv@elior.com





Restaurant Mail:altitude-95.rv@elior.com









If you like you can email me the reservation and I can fax it from here.




|||



wow how kind



Can u give me ur email address and i will send you the reservation



They do not take email bookings



Thank you, i really apprecaite this




|||



No problem.





ptegan @ yahoo.com




|||



i have emailed you the details.





You have done a nice thing!





Thank you

paris

i have been reading some post%26#39;s about where to stay in paris ..to get the feel of it..could someone please name some places to stay..in the area of %26quot;round rue lepic%26quot; or rue des abbesses ..thanks this will be my first trip




|||



If you click on the Paris Hotels link on this page you can access a database which you can then search, using the filters provided, for hotels in Montmartre in your price range.



www.pagesjaunes.fr and www.mappy.com will help with location and distance from rue Lepic or rue des Abbesses of any hotel you are interested in.



When you have found a few that look good to you, come back if you have more specific questions.

very picky chocolate question

All the chocolate posts are great, but I need to triage and be selective during on our trip to Paris, since husband-the-chocolate-fiend will be working most days. He loves 70-85% cacao chocolate, is okay with milk chocolate provided it%26#39;s good, hates gooey fillings including truffle chocolates, but loves them with stuff he can chew, like nuts, caramel, blah blah. This is a late birthday present; price range: $200 more or less. Any suggestions?





Also, has anyone done this chocolate barge tour near the Bibliotheque Nationale? Is it worthwhile?





Thanks as usual.




|||



I%26#39;d go to any of the La Maison du Chocolat outlets, tell them exactly what you told us. Then I%26#39;d let them make a selection up to your price limit.





Actually, I wouldn%26#39;t do that. I%26#39;d go to Gerard Mulot and select my own favorites from them, but it%26#39;s not a place for leisurely shopping by and large. The place gets pretty crowded and the sales staff are usually very busy.





You can for the most part forget milk chocolate, I think. It%26#39;s not that common in France. (I suppose it could be more common than I think it is since I don%26#39;t like and never look for the stuff...)




|||



If you%26#39;re not going to go all out have have an 85% cocoa dark chocolate lifesized model of him made.......







I would go to





RICHART



258 bd St Germain



75007 PARIS



Tel 33/1 45 55 66 00



Metro : Solférino




|||



I%26#39;d vote La Maison du Chocolat as well, and was discussing it and other chocolate must do%26#39;s with a serious chocoholic just this week. Here in the US try Norman Love%26#39;s chocolate%26#39;s. He one of the best in the world.




|||



lamaisonduchocolat.com/services/…12.pdf





Take a look at this ! If not exactly cheap these arrangements look VERY interesting - have anybody in here participated ??




|||



Charles Rochoux in St Germain




|||



Jean Charles Rochoux (formerly of Michel Chaudin, another GREAT chocolatier) is one of the best chocolatiers in Paris today, and his products are less industrialized than Maison du Choco. Chocolate bars with figs, candied orange peels, carmelized nuts and the like.



He is on the rue d%26#39;Assass near the rue de Rennes



The best caramel in dark choco in the city is at Debauve et Gallais on the rue des St Peres (and yes, I have tried them all). It is called the duo.




|||



A little store in the 9eme, called l’Etoile d’Or - the Golden Star - operated by Denise Acabo. One of THE best places to buy the best caramels on the planet (from Le Roux in Quiberon) and the only place outside of Lyon to buy Bernachon. And one of the purveyors of Bonnat.





My friend who lives in Paris is a chocolate snob (he like to say expert ;-)) He swears that Bonnat is the best chocolate in the world and only consumes their 75% cocoa variety. Bonnat is one of the top few chocolatiers in the world today who creates its chocolate from the cocoa bean itself.





l’Etoile d’Or is on 30 rue Fontaine near the Pigalle metro stop.




|||



Thanks all. Now, if I could just find the perfect creme brulee....




|||



%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; Now, if I could just find the perfect creme brulee.... %26lt;%26lt;%26lt;





You can! You just have to devote the rest of your life to the search. Have faith!




|||



Ladurée does very good chocolates in addition to the wonderful pastries.

transport paris to bssy st georges

hia!


me and boyfriend are travelling to charles de gaulle airport and need to get to the holiday inn at bussy saint georges.! plannin on gettin a weekly pass, so for zones 1-5 do u think?


does anyone know what bus/train we%26#39;d need to get!? many thank!


x




|||



See if you can modify the information I gave someone else to fit your needs:





tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g227611-i5136-k574…

Hotel Royal Saint Michel??

Hello - I have looked at this hotel%26#39;s website and it looks great; however, there are no ratings for it on the TA website. I was wondering if anyone has any first hand experience with this hotel.





Thanks y%26#39;all!




|||



Nevermind, I guess I was having a moment.





I found the ratings and I think I am going to go ahead and book it.





Thanks again for everyone%26#39;s help!!

restaurants, bars, day trips

Have just booked a villa in Argeles-sur-Mer, has anyone got any recommendations for restaurants and bars and any ideas for days out, have heard there are some bargains to be had at the spanish border, is this true?




|||



The shopping is duty free in La Perthus On one side of the street is Spanish and the other side French. Don%26#39;t go on a weekend we did and it was manic. Queues to get into some of the shops. But there were bargains you will need quite a bit of time to see all what is available we zoomed in and out.




|||



A well worthwhile day trip is along the coast to Spain. The coastal villages of Colliure, Port Venres, Banyuls sur Mer and Cerbere are prettier than Argeles. The road goes over the Spanish Border to Port Bou which is a very pleasant little town, and even further Cadaques is very picturesque.





No shops on the border this way though.




|||



A restaurant that is a must is La Kemia pizzeria which is in the Centre Ville opposite the Cinema - looks nothing much from the outside but inside it%26#39;s typically french and the food is inexpensive plentiful and good, always full of french people(a good recommendation!).There are also plenty of places at the Plage, there is also a live webcam that show the weather at the plage at www.argeles-sur-mer.com which you may find useful.


A real must to visit, just outside Perpignan is also VILLEFRANCHE DE CONFLENT a small walled city - the Petite Yellow Train goes from there into the Mountains %26quot;WOW%26quot; what views.


The whole areas is a contrast of Mountains and Beaches what more could you want.....




|||



thank you for your response, will definately try your recommendations

which train station to get off to get to cour des loges...

Hi my family and I are traveling from Paris to Lyon for a weekend stay and we%26#39;ll be taking the TGV down. We weren%26#39;t sure which station (Part Dieu or Perrache) to get off? We%26#39;re staying at the Cour Des Loges hotel and the hotel website said either stop is fine. Just wondering if anyone knew which station was closer? Thanks!




|||



They really are about the same distance. All trains stop at Part Dieu first then continue to Perrache. I suppose a more important question is how you plan to get to the hotel from the station. If you are taking public transportation you would want to choose the one with the easiest link. One thing nice about Perrache is that since it is the end of the line you can take your time getting off the train. At Part Dieu you will have about 3 minutes to get off. Not sure if you are doing round trip but that would be the same case when boarding.




|||



MorganB thank you so much for your reply. That is great information and I think I will choose the Perrache station as I am taking my elderly parents with me and they will need more time to get on and off the train. Thanks!




|||



Glad to be of help! Another tip since you are traveling with your parents. You can board the train about 20 minutes before departure at Gare de Lyon in Paris. The trains can be very very long so there can be a bit of a walk on the platform depending on where your car is located.




|||



MorganB thanks again, that%26#39;s very helpful, much appreciated! We%26#39;re looking forward to our trip.

Damaged Luggage Airlines says it is not covered What to do?

Hi all !





I just returned from a trip and hubby luggage was badly damaged so badly that it will not survive another trip. We reported it right then.





The person said that the rollers and the extension handles are not covered!





The only thing damaged was the casing that holds the handles not the handles themselves! The top of the luggage will tear off!





What are my rights? If any? It was Alaska airlines




|||



Hi Discover... I just did a quick search on Alaska%26#39;s website and their information is vauge at best..





From personal experience the things they consider cosmetic (rollers, extensions even the handles and such) are generally not covered by the majority of airlines.. Nothing and I quote an airline representative %26#39;nothing that makes it easier for a passenger to carry or use a piece of luggage is covered%26#39; however, if anything like the zipper pocket (considered functional) is damaged, then you have a better chance of getting your bag repaired or replaced.





You stand the best chance by reporting it immediately (which you have)--they say you have a 48 hour window, call the airline, talk to a supervisor, and go back to the airline, make a rukus in person.





It is silly, I know, but the same thing happened to one of our bags on the way back last month. The Rep at United did not want to change our bag because the wheel had been torn right off, the handle was stuck and the seam was torn slightly open. She didn%26#39;t want to notice the torn seam until it was clear to her that neither one of us was budging---so finally she acknowledged that the torn seam was functional (no more so than the handle or wheel for me) and we got our bag replaced with another one on the spot.





So don%26#39;t give up!




|||



My husband and I bought 2 brand new suitcases for a long trip. They were by Samsonite, made of some new magic material and weighed almost nothing, and, most importantly, had 4 wheels. I love the ease of pushing the suitcase around that way. My husband%26#39;s was damaged first arriving with a huge punched in corner and worrying lines radiating out from it. The AA person wasn%26#39;t very impressed with the damage but gave us a form to get it checked, and either repaired or replaced, anyway. Then, the next flight, mine arrived with the wheel almost totally torn off, tearing off a corner of the whole suitcase. Got a form for that too then found out that in the States AA keeps your suitcase about a month before they decide if it can be repaired or not. We didn%26#39;t have a month so took them back to Paris with us all taped up. I was worried that we would get the run around in Paris but they took one look at the damage, said it couldn%26#39;t be repaired and gave us three new suitcases that they sold on the premises right there. Of course, they are much heavier than my samsonite. I hate having a suitcase be heavy before it is even packed but I%26#39;m sure we won%26#39;t have the damage problem we had before.




|||



As I said in another post, your rights in the US are (1) whatever the airline concerned decides they are and (2) the right to remain silent.



About the only thing you can do is kick, scream and holler all the way up the chain of command to the very top. If you can find the CEO%26#39;s email address - or even snail mail address - bombard him/her until you get some satisfaction.



Or just forget about it and get on with enjoying life...




|||



I think I will write that letter. I think we should get another 26 inch suitcase because I do not think we have time before we leave and I do not know how much one would cost in France if this one became un-servicable.





Does anyone know of a good brand that will survive those monkeys?




|||



My suggestion is to buy an Eddie Bauer rolling duffle bag. I have one that is almost ten years old and it%26#39;s indestructable. It has been all over Europe, to Russia (Siberia specifically), China, Iraq (twice) and plenty of other places and is still in one peice. It holds a lot of stuff and is easy to store when you%26#39;re not using it. Also EB stuff has a lifetime warranty. They are not cheap but they are worth every penny. Mine converts to a large backpack as well. The other thing I like about it is that it is large enough to pack the belongings of two people for most trips. Again, it%26#39;s expensive but worth the money if you do a lot of traveling.





http://www.eddiebauer.com/eb/product.asp?product_id=26345%26amp;nv=5|21474|214%26amp;lview=%26amp;cm_cg=C214%26amp;tid=%26amp;c=%26amp;sc=%26amp;lp=v1i002




|||



Samsonite has held up for me quite well.




|||



It%26#39;s expensive, but Mandarina Duck luggage claims to be sturdy and it is: my sister had a piece that an airline forgot to load onto the plane, and the aircraft literally ran over it on the tarmac. It had to be replaced, but my sister said that she was amazed to find that it wasn%26#39;t torn and didn%26#39;t fall apart.



By the way, Discover, you could consider writing to the travel ombudsman columns that some newspapers have (I think the Independent and Guardian do) to see if they can help.




|||



I know this will go against what others have written here, but I do the opposite and buy cheap luggage (from Target). You can get an entire 4-5 piece set for US60-70. It tends to be really light, and absolutely does NOT last forever. It has worked for me however because I don%26#39;t stress over the inevitable luggage bingle. A caveat: I don%26#39;t travel a huge amount, so I might change my ways if I had to buy this stuff over and over, but for my occasional trip this has worked really well.




|||



Welcome to the world of International Travel. We%26#39;ve been to Europe 5 times in the last 5 years, and each trip rewards us with at least 1 suitcase that is totally damaged beyond repair and use. Admittedly it would be nice to have a high-end, ultra-light, space-age suitcase, but there is absolutely no way I would ever buy another expensive piece of luggage. It%26#39;s almost guaranteed to be ruined by the time it gets home with you.




|||



Perhaps you should consider hard shell cases. They are not necessarily heavier than the soft ones. Mine last for 20+ trips.