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Subject: France

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ChillyWino User is Offline

Barrel Racker
Posts:1697

01/29/2007 9:42 PM
I just found some great prices for tickets to Paris, 2/12-2/20. We haven't taken a real trip in a while and France is on our list. First off, how is it out there that time of year? We speak NO French at all, is that going to be a serious problem? How much time do you need to see the major attractions of Paris? I'm thinking of spending the 13th-17th in Paris, and then the last night, with the other days for trips to the Rhone? Any hotel recs in Paris or elsewhere? What is the best area to stay in Paris?

JonesWineNo1 User is Offline

Sommelier
Posts:8568

01/29/2007 9:43 PM
The Lancaster in Paris.

juggernt

Tampa, FL, USA

Wine Bottler
Posts:3407

01/30/2007 12:19 AM
Paris will be chilly that time of year. I speak a little more than tourist French, and I have had few problems. Mostly, it's the "thanks for trying" look, and then they speak English back. Once in a great while, I get the "who are you to butcher our language so?" look, and then they speak English back. Occasionally, I've actually had conversations in French with French people. I've never tried starting out in English to see what would happen. I think if you're suitably apologetic about not speaking the language, you're OK in Paris. They still want your tourist dollars, after all.

Visit The Butcher Block at http://www.butcherblocktampa.com/

Serge Dracula Slayer User is Offline

South Florida

Grape Fermenter
Posts:663

01/30/2007 1:25 AM
Paris??? http://frommers.com/cgi-bin/WebX?13@171.s5DIakIqJQC^1@.ef31cf7 piece of cake, lots of good advice there

http://NothingControversial.com

Winetex

Austin, Texas

Master of Wine
Posts:10751

01/30/2007 1:53 AM
The Rhone is too far for a day trip from Paris IMHO. Champagne and/or the Loire is a shorter trip if you like the wines.

wineismylife User is Offline

Arlington, TX

Master of Wine
Posts:12211

01/30/2007 2:41 AM
Quote: Champagne and/or the Loire is a shorter trip if you like the wines. Does a bear expectorate in the woods?

Joe ----- Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone.

Eric White User is Offline

San Ramon, CA

Advanced Sommelier
Posts:9210

01/30/2007 2:50 AM
The Rhone is WAY, way too far for a day trip! Go to Champagne, you absolutely will not be disappointed! Loire is also a great option, but if your time is limited my money is on Champagne - and I'm not a Champagne slut! Easy, short drive from Paris, plenty to see and do, you just can't do any better imo.

wino4ever

Grape Fermenter
Posts:578

01/30/2007 4:49 PM
We have always enjoyed staying on the Ile St. Louis. It is affordable, charming, and very fairly priced and strategically located. We likeHotel Lutece.

mountainman User is Offline

Mammoth Mountain

Wine Bottler
Posts:3147

01/30/2007 5:12 PM
We liked being on the river/next to the Latin Quarter/Notre Dame area so we stayed at Rives de Notre Dame. Nice little boutique place.

MikeW

Fremont, CA

Grape Sorter
Posts:353

01/30/2007 6:05 PM
In February, Paris will likely be cold, damp and grey. You won't find many tables on the sidewalk, and if you do, you'll probably want to sit inside anyway. But, the upside is you'll be in Paris, and I'll always take a dreary day in Paris over a beautiful day anywhere else. I agree with the comments about visiting the Rhone. For an eight day trip, I'd concentrate on Paris and the nearby areas - like Champagne (1 hour by car) and Loire (2 hours by car). The Rhone is only about 3-4 hours by train - but when you factor the time spent checking out and hiking to the train station, you pretty much lose most of the day. As for places to stay, because money is an issue for me, I'd concentrate on location, rather than a specific hotel. My preference is for a small (3 or 4 star) place in St. Germain (in the 6th), or near Rue Cler (in the 7th). For me, I really like these neighborhood - classic Parisian and close to almost everything you want to see. If you want something more upscale, then pick a hotel in the 8th. (As a tourist, I prefer the 6th, 7th, and 8th Arrondissements because I think its more convenient to Metro, the tourist sites, and restaurants.) If you have some places in mind and want an opinion about the location, please feel free to PM me. To help ensure you have a smooth stay, I'd recommend following up with the hotel by email confirming the details of your reservation - like date and price. I thought that was silly advice before, but it has helped me more than once. If there are some restaurants you definitely want to try, you should call now. The 2 and 3 star places are usually fully booked weeks in advance. (If you want a "sure thing," you can almost always get a reservation at L'Atelier - Joel Robuchon's popular restaurant in the 7th. They only take reservations for the 6:30 pm seating. Since the French never eat that early, even though it is a very popular restaurant, I've always been able to get a reservation by calling the day before.) If you plan to visit the museums in Paris, I'd definitely recommend investing in a museum "Pass." These are multi-day passes and are a little pricey; however, you can bypass the long ticket lines. The time saved by avoiding the long lines is worth the extra cost.

Fredric

Grape Truck Driver
Posts:26

01/30/2007 8:26 PM
Quote: What is the best area to stay in Paris? The "Quartier latin" in 7th Arr and "Le Marais" between 3rd and 4th Arr are nice areas for staying. And as mountainman wrote there are some charming hotels in the top part of the Latin quarters where you can get a room overlooking the islands and the Notre-Dame. But by using the Metro (subway), you can buy a pass for as many days as you are staying, it's easy to get around in Paris no matter where you stay. Quote: How much time do you need to see the major attractions of Paris? Depends on what you want to see your definition of “major attractions”. The Eiffel tower could be one but if You are a huge Jim Morrisson or Oscar Wild fan maybe Père-Lachaise cemetery is the place? In February there won’t be any waiting lines to go up in the Eiffel tower and the “Arc de Triomphe” is quite close, with a stroll down the Champs Elysée, thats half a day. Notre-Dame will take a couple of hours. If you are planning on going to the museum du Louvre, a tip is to pick an area of interest before because you can walk through for days (It’s huge). Montmartre, The opera, Lafayette (good place to buy some nice foie gras unless you find a small nice deli in Le Marais) and the boulevards another day. And if you’re into art there are tons of galleries and museums to visit. Musée d’Orsay would take half to a whole day. Just keep in mind that most Museums in Paris are closed on Mondays, except du Louvre which is closed on Tuesdays. My advice is to maybe pick maybe three “attractions” during your stay and leave the rest of the time to just walk around and discover Paris on your own. One of my favourite spots is the Passages Couverts/Jouffroy of the Montmartre Boulevard. Nice indoor (it’s February) gallery with old fashion shops from 1799. I hope you'll have a nice stay, Paris is a lovely city! Here’s a link to some wine shops in Paris. Wine shops in Paris

Edward Bowers User is Offline

Palm Beach Gardens

Barrel Sampler
Posts:2072

01/30/2007 8:30 PM
My advice is to maybe pick maybe three “attractions” during your stay and leave the rest of the time to just walk around and discover Paris on your own. One of my favourite spots is the Passages Couverts/Jouffroy of the Montmartre Boulevard. Nice indoor (it’s February) gallery with old fashion shops from 1799. What we have done in a few major cities is take a bus tour the first day, hit the highlights. Then go back and hit the places you would like to spend more time at, or just wander the city. As for Paris cab drivers, they are the worst, and real crooks on the fare. Try to have EXACT Euros for fares, as they will never give any change back except under duress.

Fredric

Grape Truck Driver
Posts:26

01/30/2007 8:47 PM
Quote: As for Paris cab drivers, they are the worst, and real crooks on the fare. Try to have EXACT Euros for fares, as they will never give any change back except under duress. Yes, use the Metro and your feet.

MikeW

Fremont, CA

Grape Sorter
Posts:353

01/30/2007 9:55 PM
Quote: As for Paris cab drivers, they are the worst, and real crooks on the fare. Try to have EXACT Euros for fares, as they will never give any change back except under duress. I've never had a single bad experience in a Parisian cab. I've taken my share of cabs - and have never felt as if I was being taken for a ride or stiffed on change. (My only complaints were that they gave attitude if we had 4 people, charged double if we had 5 people, and wouldn't let my labrador in the cab.) Nonetheless, I still prefer the metro and walking. IMO, Paris is the best "walking" city in the world.

Wineaux

New Orleans, LA

Barrel Filler
Posts:1414

01/31/2007 3:29 AM
We also prefer the Left Bank and the 6th. I recommend the ** art deco Hotel Lutecia (ask for an upper floor streetview room for a view of the Eiffel Tower) and the * Hotel du Danube depending on your budget. Both are very well located. I've booked both of these hotels over the internet with both corresponding with me in English. Hotel Lutecia:http://www.lutetia-paris.com/index_f.html Hotel Danube:http://www.hoteldanube.fr/ Other tips: - Make sure to bring 100 or so Euro with you for your arrival at Charles de Gaulle. The lines at the exchange window there can be outrageously long. You'll need 50-70 euro for a cab into the center of Paris. - Along the same lines, leave the travelers checks at home. Money machines are located on just about every block in Paris and will allow you to withdraw euros on your debit card or credit card. - Buy the 7 day Metro pass and forget about taxis. The Metro is a breeze to use to get anywhere in town and enjoyable to boot. - Use your hotel concierge to make your dinner reservations if you're serious about getting in the better restaurants. Ask him or her to make your dinner reservations when you book your room. - Speaking even the most basic French with a smile can be a great help, even if it is just "bon jour, monsieur" followed up by "parlez vous Anglais?" Most Parisiens, especially those in the hospitality/service industry will respond in English. And despite those old movies, don't call out "garcon" to get your waiter's attention. It means "boy" and will likely only piss him off. Other cool Paris websites: Interactive map of Paris:http://www.hot-maps.de/europe/france/paris/homeen.html Pictures of all Paris buildings by street address:http://photos.pagesjaunes.fr/ A cool French photographer's wine website with articles on Paris wine bars:http://www.wineterroirs.com/

rjs3

Barrel Filler
Posts:1124

01/31/2007 5:09 PM
My parents stayed at the Hotel Odeon, which is near the Jardins du Luxembourg, Notre Dame, St. Germain, etc., when I was in college and took a semester in Paris - that was more than 20 yrs. ago. It's basic and clean and well-located. Don't know about now, but pictures on the internet look pretty good. Yahoo travel has it now at $168.