Bonaparte is very often recommended here. St Jacques also.

Place du Tertre is, on a first visit a bit away from the main sites, but could be OK if it is a budget issue (Metro is everywhere)

M_P Definitely, a budget issue. This one is also offered through virgin, Best Western Richard Lenoir
36 Blvd Richard Lenoir, 75011

BTW, am definitely directionally challenged. Probably, one of few who does not understand maps but I can read the color coded dots on local metro line. Yesterday, I read purchasing a copy of Paris Pratique would be a good investment once I arrive in Paris. Appears to be a book in map form of Paris?

I've traveled solo on many occasions and actually prefer it. There's a whole lot to be said for being able to set your own pace and itinerary. Go and enjoy!

And don't worry about getting lost -- in fact in a few cities like Venice, it's pretty much inevitable and part of the fun. And in most European cities, it's tough to wander into a bad area, as they're usually not near where tourists go. Bringing a guidebook with a decent map is always useful.

Hello

Can any one tell me if it's better to stay on right or left bank? I was all set with my hotel choice on left bank when representative at virgin.. told me I should stay in right bank.

She suggested I stay at best western ronceray opera but to me it isn't as close to as many attractions as my earlier pic, the mouffetard. Is she right? Thanks.

It's not a matter of better or worse imo - I've stayed on both sides - in my eight trips. Neither of those two are really in the center. I stayed near rue Mouffetard last year and found it convenient to getting around on the Metro and buses. I don't really know what your plans are but I would think the Mouffetard to be a bit more Parisian.....the Opera hotel is on a big street. You can check out the addresses on maps.google and look at the street photos if that helps.

I've been doing Paris alone, on over 90% of my trips, and almost annually since I was around 21 and I'm in my 50s now. As the Nike ad goes, "Just Do It!".

Paris is an easy city to get around in. Just get a good travel book, read a lot, use the forums, do some research and get organized. I definitely wouldn't wait until someone could come along. I have had enough of people occasionally popping up on my Paris trips and having to deal with their drama. And several have brought a lot of drama along. LOL! Happy Travels!

Forgot to add that I have a hotel thread. Just type in the SEARCH box, "Paris Hotels Left Bank Thread" and it'll pop up. The Right Bank thread is linked to it. I don't have time to read all of the other comments right now, so it might have already been posted. Happy Travels!

Thanks Mara and Guenmai. And yes, Guenmai I have been directed to your thread by an earlier post. It too was very informative.

I vastly prefer the Left Bank, though anywhere in Paris is actually just fine with me. I don't know where the Ronceray Opéra is, but if it's right on or near the Opéra, it wouldn't be my choice. That's in the heart of "downtown," and not as "atmospheric" as being in more of a neighborhood.

Chyonip:

Do not worry about getting lost...it is nearly impossible to get lost in central Paris, as long as you have a transport pass.

Just hop on ANY bus! Within a stop or two, you will see a Metro sign where you can get off the bus.

Once in the Metro system, just look at the map to get back to your "home" stop (which you should always remember).

SS

PS: Actually getting lost in Paris is lots of fun!

Chyonip: As far as Thailand goes, and I assume you meant Bangkok and the skytrain. In Bangkok it's always best to take the skytrain over a taxi if there's a lot of traffic. I've been going to Bangkok, almost annually since the 1990s, and rent a serviced apartment, take the skytrain regularly, and plan to live there, part of the year, in the future. So, I've been doing Bangkok for years and long before the very convenient skytrain or MRT (subway) were even built. The skytrain opened in the early 2000s and the MRT after that.

As for Paris, which I've been doing almost annually since the mid 1970s, it's not that easy to really get lost in Paris. Paris isn't that big. And all you have to do is get to a metro station to get back on track. You don't really even need to get a cab. Plus, in Paris there's metro and bus that are both easy to navigate. And as for getting lost, I don't mind getting lost or off track in places. I usually discover something interesting that way.

In Bangkok, there's the skytrain and also the MRT (subway), but the systems are separate. Plus, the MRT goes to more outlying areas that aren't in the central areas of Bangkok. The first time I even needed to take the MRT was in November 2009. So, a Thai friend and I took the skytrain, one stop, from my apartment building at Prom Phong stop, to Asoke stop, and then got off and walked over to the area where the MRT picked up and bought another ticket, as the two systems aren't linked, and then took the MRT a few stops to where I needed to go. In Paris, the tickets/passes for the metro and bus system are linked. I get a metro pass and use also use it on the bus.

And, as for the local buses in Bangkok, I've yet to take one. They are confusing, jam packed, and not air conditioned. But,in Paris, I take the bus regularly as I much prefer it over the metro. I'm just not one who is fond of subways as I can't see anything, along the way, to where I'm going. That's why I love the Slytrain system, in Bangkok, as it's above the ground, similar to the Monorail system at Disneyland, and one can see everything. Plus, a lot of buildings, along the way, are attached to it, so super convenient.

And as for taxis, Parisian taxi drivers will sit in traffic. Taxis are very expensive in Paris however. It's not like in Bangkok where the meter starts at 30 baht (around 95 cents). In Paris they start at around the equivalent of $6.00, I think it was. I'm sure someone will jump in and correct me. And, yes, Bangkok taxi drivers will sometimes, if they desire, not drive certain routes if the traffic is bumper-to-bumper. I've had that happen to me which is why I then either walk to a skytrain station or jump on a river taxi if I'm in the area of the river. Those areas that are really traffic congested usually have a skytrain running above or near them, which is why the skytrain was built. So, a taxi isn't really necessary. I usually only use taxis if I have packages to carry or am just exhausted. Happy Travels!

Correction: "Skytrain", not "Slytrain". My typing just gets worse. But at least it's consistent! LOL! Happy Travels!

Ronceray Opera (Best Western?) is not a bad location, near Grand Magasins, Right Bank.

Mouffetard may have a bit more of a Paris vibe to it, but if price ir right that location would work too.

As for whether to stay on the Right Bank or the Left Bank, that's a real personal choice. Although I've stayed all over Paris, I'm a very Left Bank person except for the 10th and 19th on the Right Bank which I've stayed in, over the decades, and liked. But, when I stay in the 10th and the 19th, I know that I'll have to commute more to the places I go to while in Paris.

However, if I were to ever buy an apartment in Paris, then it would either be in the 6th, Left Bank, or the 10th or 19th, on the Right Bank. But, for my weekly trips, I personally like the Left Bank. Happy Travels!

the website www.journeywoman.com is all about travel advise for women - by women. You will find lots of tips and encouragement for solo travel around the world, with much information regarding Paris. Bon Voyage!

Paris taxi meters do not start at 6 euro, it's 2.20 euro, I believe. I think they have a minimum charge of about 6 euro, but it's not what the meters starts at.

Again, all of you have helped me tremendously and I have really learned a lot. Can't wait for my trip and to report how well it went!

Guenmai, I stayed in so many hotels until it makes me dizzy to recall them off hand but the last one was Salil Hotel near Thonglor BTS station. I caught the train from The Siam Paragon and some how took a wrong turn. And yes, the skyline does offer beautiful views of the city. I also spent some time in Hua Hin on the beaches where my children enjoyed themselves.

bdgirls, thanks for the link.

Christina: I didn't say, in my above post, that I thought that Paris taxis meters started at 6 EUROS. I said that I thought it was about the equivalent of around $6.00. And I don't remember the euro equivalent for that time that I took a taxi. I remember glancing at the meter on that trip and commenting to my elderly parent about the cost. It could have been less. However, it was costly.

In 2009, getting from CDG to the north end of the 10th cost my Parisian friend and me over 50 Euros. Not cheap. Happy Travels!

Chyonijp: About you staying in so many hotels that it makes you dizzy, LOL! I know the area that you stayed in, Thonglor, as it's only one skytrain stop east of me. I remember having to meet some friends at Face restaurant at Sukhumvit, soi 38, Thonglor BTS, and I walked out of my apartment at 5:40PM for a 6:00PM meet and got to the restaurant with extra time to spare. That's the magic of the skytrain.

Plus, my serviced apartment building (www.emporiumsuites.com) is connected to the Emporium office complex and the Emporium Mall and the Emporium mall is connected to the Prom Phong skytrain station. Had I taken a taxi, it could have taken 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

I do hope that you went to Face restaurant for a meal. It's less than a 5-minute walk from the Thonglor skytrain station. But, it's south of the skytrain station area. Your hotel was north of it.

There's also the Face spa, on the premises, and a lot of people have a massage session before their meal. The restaurant is a series of old, Thai wooden houses, that were taken apart and moved to the new location and then reassembled. Nice dining experience. I've been both at lunch time and in the evening.

As for you getting lost going back to Thonglor, you probably just took the wrong exit out of the skytrain station and possibly ended up south of Sukhumvit. From Siam BTS to Thonglor BTS is a straight east/west line. I take it all the time to get back to my serviced apartment building. Smiles.

Have a great time exploring Paris! Happy Travels!