Anerican in Paris
 

I am planning on a trip to London and Paris, maybe the first week of October. Spend half in London, the other in Paris. In Paris, what are the advantages of the certain sections and what do you like best, near something or great restaurants. A little about myself, I will be traveling alone, enjoy going to large cities and walk the streets, live for the subways, will do tourist things, but like to be around the locals. Oh Yea, my French is extremely limited. Any Hotels, restaurants in London or Paris are greatly appreciated. <BR>Thanks

with just 4 or 5 days maximum in each city: <BR>London: British Museum, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Imperial War Museum and the Cabinet War Rooms. Visit Harrod's, Selfridge's. If you're a cigar smoker, there are any number of great smoke shops near St James St. Spend time in pubs. Do a search for "london pubs". Wes Fowler posted a great list. Take one of the OfficialLondonWalks. There's a website of the different 'themes'. Get a ticket for the Ceremony of the Keys. Drink Guinness. <BR>Paris: Louvre, Musee d'Orsay,Picasso Museum, Les Invalides/military museum, Notre Dame and climb the towers (if they're open), flea market at Vanves, walk on the Left Bank along the Seine from the Boulevard St Michel east for the bouquinistes, then cross over and go west on the Right Bank - birds, flowers, rabbits for sale. There's a full blown bird market on Sundays, Eiffel Tower at night, the Montparnasse Tower during the day, Luxembourg Gardens and Square Gallieni; Shakespeare and Co book store. Shop for books and cool office supplies/pens in the 5th, cool paper/stationery in the Marais. If you want to spend a lot of money to see a Vegas show, then Crazy Horse or the Moulin Rouge - skip the dinner, just go for the show. There are jazz clubs dotted around the city; pick up a Pariscope or TimeOut (they have free stuff like that at Shakespeare & Co) for a list of events that week. Sit at a cafe and drink wine or pastis or lemonade; eat dinner at 9:00pm and order something unfamiliar, if you hate it, reward yourself with two desserts. Go into a wine shop in an neighborhood (like the 6th or the 7th) where they don't speak English and buy wine to take home. Wander around the 20th and visit Pere Lachaise. <BR> <BR>The subways in both cities are so efficient you just want to cry. buy carnets (10 tickets for the price of 6)and take the buses too.

Hi Bob <BR>In London I have most often stayed in the South Kensington area and I love it. <BR>The Sout Ken tube stop is on the Picadilly line, which makes it easy to get to most places. The area has a wide range of restaurants and feels <BR>"neighborhoody" to me. <BR>In Paris I most often stay on the right bank in the first arrondissment which I enjoy, but I have to admit it doesn't have a neighborhood feel the way the 5th and 6th arrondissments do on the left bank. In those areas there is also a wealth of restaurants, from inexpensive to sky high. <BR>

<BR>Sorry for the typo <BR>that should have been the South <BR>Ken (as in Kensington) tube stop

My wife and stayed at the Hotel Muguet in Paris last September and would highly recommend it. It is 2-star, but better than many 3-stars I've been it, probably because of a recent renovation - everything is new! <BR> <BR>It's less than an mile from the Eiffel Tower and the rates for a double were 540-580 francs. Check out pictures, etc. at www.hotel-muguet.com. Their email is [email protected] <BR> <BR>In London, we've stayed at The Oakley Hotel in Chelsea - lower end, but great for the money - 42 pounds for a double! Their number is 0171 3525599.

Thanks