Meg

Have almost settled on a hotel for Paris. Le Regent on rue Dauphine. If you know about the surrounding area, please advise. Looking for convenience to metro/bus, restaurants, markets, museums. Any suggestions on a better location. Thanks

Patrick

It is my favorite area and I have stayed at Le Regent as well as several other hotels within a couple of blocks. It is a great area, and for the money, my favorite hotel in the area. We had been worried about Rue Dauphine being a bit noisy, but our room at Le Regent (facing the street) was a deluxe room, well worth the extra money for its size and decor as well as its very nice bathroom. The windows were double glazed so noise was never a problem. <BR>It is just one block to the metro stop at Odeon on St. Germain, very convenient, or about three blocks to St. Michel for RER or other Metro line. There used to be a nice morning market on Rue Buci just a few steps from Le Regent, but this summer that seemed to have disappeared. That street has several nice bistros and cafes as well as pastry shops and the street pretty much closes to traffic at night when the cafes spill out onto Buci. There is even a nice laundromat just a block from Le Regent if that becomes a necessity. It is a short, busy, and pleasant stroll to Notre Dame or even to the Louvre. We are walkers and it is amazing how little we end up using the metro from that location. We have always walked to the Eiffel Tower and to Arc de Triomphe at least once each trip from there, but that is a pretty major walk. Within say five blocks in every direction there are maybe a total of 150 very good restaurants. I don't think that is an exaggeration. I personally don't think you can do better location wise (and I have stayed in three other areas of Paris as well).

Meg

Wow Patrick! thanks for the prompt and detailed reply. Do you know anything about the ease of bus transportation from that area? While I can walk distances, I have knee trouble which makes it difficult using the metro stairs (in some stops). <BR> <BR>I think we'll stay at Le REgent. <BR> <BR>Really appreciate your post.

Kathy

Regarding bus lines around the St. Germain Blvd. area, there are several lines. I can't remember any of the numbers, but I know that one will take you from the Odeon metro stop to the Champs de Mars, and there is another than runs in the opposite direction towards Place de Bastille. Just go towards the Odeon stop on Blvd. St. Germain (from the Regent you will have to cross St. Germain to get to the bus to Champ de Mars) and look for the glass-boxed bus stops, there will be a map of the route for each bus with all the stops indicated. Major stops are also listed along the side of the bus. I loved taking the bus over the metro because it allowed me to see more of the city. However, most buses do stop running pretty early (around 10pm), so you might have to take the metro late at night. Bon Voyage!

carol

Hi Meg-- <BR> <BR>The Paris bus system is great--you can get anywhere using it, and it is the nicest way to see the city. As for the Metro, I'm a New Yorker who must take the subway to and from work, and I can testify that the only thing good about it is its speed. Take your time and enjoy the Paris buses. There's also a great little book called Paris Par Arrondisement, which lists all the bus stops on each route.

Meg

Carol <BR>Thanks for your help. However, I can't find "Paris Par Arrondisement" from Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. Have any suggestions where I can purchase? <BR> <BR>Thanks again.

elaine

Meg <BR>You can buy a Paris par Arrond. <BR>at news stands and in tabac stores, including at the airports. <BR>I am also quite fond of the <BR>Paris Mapguide (by Middleditch) which is a booklet with complete maps, a street finder, sightseeing info, <BR>bus and metro maps, etc <BR>Amazon has that one <BR> <BR>

Meg

Thanks everyone, you've been a big help!