Hi, <BR> <BR>Interested in what hotel you stayed at, comments on it. Also, any restaurant recommendations? Lastly, any sites you would recommend...I have been a few times and seen the major sites but would be interested in your faves..... <BR> <BR>Merci!

We are staying in Paris for Christmas and were connsidering Ar #7 - where did you stay. Any hotel suggestions? Restaurants that are a must? Sights that you would visit again? <BR>THANKS! <BR>Brian

I stayed at the Familia hotel within the <BR>latin quarter. It is a two star hotel that <BR>came highly recommended by Fodors. <BR>Its about 3 to 4 blocks from Notre Dame on the Rue des Ecoles. The rooms are very small but comfortable. I was orginally going to stay in the 7th ard, I am glad I didn't. I would try to stay within the 5th or 6th. Close to everything, <BR>Aside from the major monuments and museums, I really enjoyed exploring the city, finding wonderful streets with <BR>galleries, boutiques etc. sitting in an outdoor cafe just people watching. <BR>If you need specifics, send me an email. Bryan <BR>

Hi Bryan, <BR> <BR>How much was the Hotel Familia per night? (taxes included?) Did the room come with a private bathroom? If so, was the bathroom a decent size?

The Hotel Familia ran 410 francs per <BR>night or $68. This included breakfast <BR>and taxes. My room looked into an inner courtyard, if you do book a room <BR>try to get one with a balcony facing the street. The bathroom was fine, it had a sink, toilet and shower with a door. If you have any more questiions <BR>let me know. <BR>B <BR>

Hello Bryan: <BR> <BR>I too have been thinking about staying at the Familia Hotel, largely because of the strong recommendation in Fodor's. Do you feel that the hotel lived up to its reputation? Were the innkeepers as accomodating as Fodor's described? How did you book your hotel reservations? Did you contact the hotel directly or use an agent. I ask because I was quoted higher prices than you mentioned. Was your room a single or a double? <BR>

Hello Bryan: <BR> <BR>I too have been thinking about staying at the Familia Hotel, largely because of the strong recommendation in Fodor's. Do you feel that the hotel lived up to its reputation? Were the innkeepers as accomodating as Fodor's described? How did you book your hotel reservations? Did you contact the hotel directly or use an agent. I ask because I was quoted higher prices than you mentioned. Was your room a single or a double? <BR>

I'd be interested in knowing what king of currency you brought and found easy to use. I've been told I may want to bring American Traveller's cheques (but I'm Canadian and would rather not have to buy really expensive American money), I've been told most stores don't accept anything but francs, I've also been told that many places don't accept credit cards. Any suggestions. <BR>

Well, I'll leave Brian to comment on Hotel <BR>Familia, except to note that in many European <BR>hotels, there is a variety of prices because the <BR>size and quality of rooms tends to vary <BR>more than in, say, US--so there will be a <BR>range of rates for a double room, for example. <BR> Jessica: I've traveled many times to <BR>Paris, and can only say that, although <BR>I'm not Canadian, I can't comprehend what <BR>purpose buying Am travelers' cheques would <BR>do--you would then pay a conversion rate <BR>twice (Can $ to Am TC, then Am TC to French $). <BR>You can't use Am travelers' cheques directly <BR>for payment in France, either. So, just take <BR>Canadian TCs. (if there is some peculiar reason <BR>that tip makes sense, a Canadian would have <BR>to tell you). Anyway, certainly stores don't <BR>take any currency other than francs, but <BR>most DO take credit cards--whoever told you <BR>that is dead wrong. Unless you're talking <BR>about buying a newspaper or one drink or <BR>something--just like anywhere, you prob. can't <BR>use a credit card except for a purchase of <BR>at least about US$15 or more. Also, if you're <BR>going VERY cheap (ie, hostels, one-star hotels, <BR>cheap restaurants, etc.) you probably can't use credit cards as <BR>much, but even there you sometimes can. <BR>So, use a CC whenever possible, take an <BR>ATM card if you have one and try it (but <BR>it may not work), and take your Canadian <BR>$ TCs also. Unlike some cities, rates in <BR>bureaux de change are slightly better than <BR>in banks in Paris, but avoid Chequepoint <BR>brand change bureaux and Thomas Cook. <BR>Know going rates so you can judge change <BR>rates when you see them--there are sev <BR>places that give VERY good exchange rates <BR>in Paris for TCs in major tourist areas near <BR>Louvre (rue Rivoli), Garnier Opera (go into ParisVision <BR>office), and on Champs-Elysees (on south <BR>side 1-2 blocks east of Fouquet's cafe). <BR>among other places. <BR> <BR> <BR>

You can book the Familia Hotel thru the internet. I will try to find the address at home. I ended up going to <BR>my travel agent with the Familia hotels <BR>phone number and had her make the <BR>arrangements. You could call them direct, everyone I dealt with spoke english. I stayed in a single room, I did <BR>try for a room with a balcony it was an extra 100 francs. Unfortunately the hotel was completely booked. The majority of the guests were from the united states. <BR>To the other message, I carried American Express traveler checks, I changed a one at the airport (low exchange rate) I found the best rate at a money exchange office at Place de St. Michel across from the fountain. <BR>I found most stores accepted all major <BR>credit cards, visa/mastercard more so <BR>than american express. <BR>If you need more info, feel free to send me an email. <BR>B

To Jessica, <BR> <BR>I no longer take travelers cheques to Europe. It is very easy to use your ATM card and withdraw directly from your bank account. The exchange rate is good and ATMs seem to be everywhere. Look for the green BNP signs. Next month my husband and I will return to Paris. We will each carry a different credit card and ATM card (in case one of us should have them lost or stolen). We make sure we have enough funds in both bank accounts before we leave. It is so much easier than travelers cheques which I found years ago had to be exchanged at a bank if they weren't in francs. <BR>

<BR>Jessica, perhaps the person really meant to tell you to take American EXpress TC's as opposed to another brand. We always bring plenty of TC's, at least three different credit cards, and use the cards the most, except in small places as the other poster mentions.