Last Minute Paris ???
 

I am leaving tonight for Paris, and no, I have not planned anything. Hey, maybe I'll finish that trip report from last year that went wayward and abandoned.

Anyhoo, am traveling with iphone, is there a map of Paris wifi hotspots that anyone can direct me to?

Thanks!

Also, any new or old restaurants/wine bars of note would be appreciated--right bank only--3rd, 10th, 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th, 20th arr. only please. I find the Rive Gauche, well, gauche. LOLZ!

Thanks!!

The easiest way to get WiFi is to navigate to the nearest McDonalds. All free, all the time.

If you haven't experienced Montparnasse or the Latin Quarter, it ain't the bank that's gauche.

The McDonalds is not an option, just looking for a hotspot map, not making a trip to a place I wouldn't go for it...

Yes, I have experienced both, I do find the areas gauche, esp. the Latin Quarter. To each their own.

Anyone?

Yeah, the Champs Élysées and Louvre-Rivoli are soooo sophisticated. None for me, thanks.

The only &quot;open&quot; hotspots I know of are on the left bank. <i>Tant pis!</i>

http://www.wififreespot.com/europe.html

http://www.paris.fr/portail/Economie...rtlet_id=18027

thanks shellio!

robesp.: please note I did not include the 1st or 8th as areas of note. Also, sense of humor please.

Wine Bars in 11th-

Bistrot Melac
42, rue Leon-Frot
Metro: Charonne
Tel: 1 40 09 93 37
Call before you go, as the hours can be erratic

La Muse Vin
101, rue de Charonne
Metro: Charonne
Tel: 1 40 09 93 05

<i>Also, sense of humor please.</i>

Okay, you start - by not bad-mouthing other peoples' favorite precincts. It makes you look like a snob - who wants free WiFi. A cheapskate snob.

It was a play on words.

I'm sure you are a fun person off the interwebs, but please, give the chip on the keyboard a rest.

Thanks YK! I missed La Muse Vin last year!

And yes, I am a cheapskate--it allows me to spend money on travel, and clothes.

&quot;Right bank only&quot; is a play on words, too? What if I said I thought it was the wrong bank?

Then you would be entitled to your opinion on where you wanted to spend your time, I don't care -- your time and money, spend it in a way that makes you happy.

You seem to be fixated on your preferences, and feeling slighted that I don't share them, not sure why. I don't berate other posters who do things I don't care for or tell them they are wrong on *their* posts, not sure why do you feel compelled to

As I stated, I am looking for suggestions in specific areas. The biggest complaint is that posters are too vague with their questions, I'm not being vague and am weeding out what I don't need info on.

Now, please give it a rest.

Restaurant des Quatres Fr&egrave;res
127, Boulevard de Menilmontant,
11th Arrondissement,
Couscous to die for.

L'Ecluse is a pretty good wine bar in the 11th, one rue de la Roquette, just a bit NE of the Bastille square.

I don't understand what you mean about the entire Left Bank being &quot;gauche&quot;, or how that can even apply to an area of geography, unless you mean it is too left-wing politically for you. And yet you want to hang out in the 10-12th, 18th-20th? huh? gauche means left-wing or for a person, clumsy or awkward.

also means crude.

Am I the only one that got the joke? I thought it was funny, Cherry.

The Paris.fr site gives all the public areas where you can surf for free on the City of Paris' dime. We took our mini-pc to the nearest 'pocket park' this month, and voila! the Internet.

I love people who prefer the Right Bank, as the Left is crowded enough already.

jesus--finally!

<i>You seem to be fixated on your preferences, and feeling slighted that I don't share them, not sure why. I don't berate other posters who do things I don't care for...</i>

Of course you do. Saying that you find the Left Bank gauche certainly qualifies. It denigrates the taste of a great many people. I didn't find your reference the least bit clever, LOLZ notwithstanding. If you had left out your take on the Rive Gauche, I would have found nothing offensive about your post at all.

Then I suggested that you might use the free bandwidth offered by McDonald's, and you dismissed my offering with &quot;not making a trip to a place I wouldn't go for it...&quot; - in spite of the fact that the restaurants are ubiquitous all over Paris. But if you'd rather march another km or two just to find a Mairie de Paris site, knock yourself out.

You're 0 for 2 in my book.

By the way, I wouldn't consider an iPhone. I can do more for far less money without buying into the Apple mystique.

get over yourself.

I own an iphone as my husband had to get one for work (testing web apps,) it was cheaper to move to the iphone than keep my treo, yes I am a cheapskate. I own no other mac products.

you are batting a high average for having no life in my book at this point.

Oh, my dog. I'm lifeless in cherrybomb's book. Oh, woe. Boo, hoo.

my opinion seems to matter somewhat to you or you wouldn't have gotten so worked up to begin with and just can not keep yourself from posting here.

&quot;am leaving tonight for Paris, and no, I have not planned anything&quot;

Planning ahead when one travels is the least you could have done. I was surprised that one of the most informed Fodorites did respond to offer some advice.

Best you plan earlier next time.

Changing the subject from your berating of other posters and then denying it - to my critique of your character.

Nice try.

huh? Good thing I can surf the interwebs on my inferior iPhone. I'd have no clue that you were still beating a dead horse while delayed on my flight otherwise.

Not having a plan means not what it sounds... Plan is to walk drink wine eat walk bar repeat. No firm day by day itenerary is all.

We all have different styles. Too bad tmobile sidekick doesn't get it

Thanks to those who posted about wifi hotspots. After years of refusing to lug my heavy laptop to Europe, I'm buying a netbook for my upcoming trip.

And I have absolutely no compunction in going to Mickey D's for free wifi if I'm near one. Thanks for reminding me of that!

<i>Good thing I can surf the interwebs on my inferior iPhone.</i>

So, tell me: do you have the early version that doesn't have GPS at all, or the latest one with the GPS that can't be used in Europe without ruinously expensive data charges?

I've been using all my T-Mobile devices (never owned a Sidekick) with GPS apps in Europe - since 2003.

Cherrybomb, have fun! I hope you do finish your trip report, as that is what got me onto Fodor's in the fist place. And then I followed you right into the Lounge! Not sure if I should thank you for that.

Can't really direct you to any places, as I am such a Left Bank gal, except for our other favorite but that is in the 15th, also not on your list. No worries!

But do let me know how your iPhone works. I brought mine last month but only used it for texting. Did you need to pay extra for internet or is there no charge as long as it is wifi? We are going back in May so I'd really like to know.

thanks cat I am on wifi right now it's free. You just turn off the data roaming so you don't hit AT&amp;Ts network and it's all free. If you don't turn it off you could end up on their network and paying. I also have my phone on airplane mode since I don't need to get any texts or calls at the moment. That will save in charges. Hope that helps. I actually went kicking and screaming into this phone because of the touchscreen pad but warmed up pretty quick -- certainly does more than the treo and is faster for web.

Oh the hotspot guide doesn't seem to matter too much, I've been able to get an open wifi without trouble everywhere so far. CDG excluded on that front.

Wait, so if you have WiFi, you can do internet stuff?

And if it is on airplane mode you use the internet, too. I didn't know that! I could have used that when I was there!

cat - yes, WiFi is a way to connect to the internet.

cat - airplane mode means the radios are turned off. This includes the cell phone, radio, WiFi, and Bluetooth. So in airplane mode, you are incommunicado.

Since you can't use iPhone's stupid GPS app without a data connection, I assume airplane mode turns it off, too.

To avoid exorbitant charges in Europe, turn off Data Roaming.

It all starts on Page 24 of your <u>User's Guide</u>

seamus, I know what wifi does but thanks anyways!

When we went in October, I used my iPhone just for calling home and text messaging. I was afraid to use the internet because I thought it would cost a gazillion in roaming. I didn't realize that I could use wifi for free. That will help when we go back in May.

Actually, in airplane mode you can still use data and wifi--you just will not be able to make telephone calls or send text. Turning it on airplane mode is good as you pay if someone calls you regardless of whether you answer so if you do not need phone/text access put it in airplane mode and also always turn off the data roaming so you don't use the att network and get charged.

Airplane mode does not turn off data capabilities, just phone.

So yes, you can use data, i.e. wifi, in airplane mode--mine has been in airplane mode the entire time as I haven't had a need for phone, I have been using wifi/web apps though.

As far as GPS, unless you want a turn by turn of walking directions, not sure why you would need it when walking around. I suppose some people may like that, just not really a necessity and kinda seems like a PIA as you would be looking at phone when walking rather than just walking.

<i>Author: cherrybomb
Date: 11/25/2008, 07:31 am

Actually, in airplane mode you can still use data and wifi--you just will not be able to make telephone calls or send text. Turning it on airplane mode is good as you pay if someone calls you regardless of whether you answer so if you do not need phone/text access put it in airplane mode and also always turn off the data roaming so you don't use the att network and get charged.</i>

Are you saying that you're right, and User's Guide is wrong? That's pretty arrogant. Page 91: <b>When airplane mode is on, the Airplane icon appears in status bar at top of screen, and no cell phone, radio, <u>Wi-Fi</u>, or Bluetooth signals are emitted from iPhone. You can’t make calls, send or receive text messages, stream YouTube videos, or get stock quotes, map locations, or weather reports.</b>

<i>Airplane mode does not turn off data capabilities, just phone.</i>

Page 26: Turning on airplane mode disables both Wi-Fi and cellular network access.

<i>So yes, you can use data, i.e. wifi, in airplane mode--mine has been in airplane mode the entire time as I haven't had a need for phone, I have been using wifi/web apps though.</i>

Page 116: <b>If you turn on airplane mode, you won’t be able to</b> make calls, send or receive text messages, <b>access the Internet</b>, or use Bluetooth devices with iPhone until you disconnect iPhone from the accessory or turn off airplane mode.

<i>As far as GPS, unless you want a turn by turn of walking directions, not sure why you would need it when walking around. I suppose some people may like that, just not really a necessity and kinda seems like a PIA as you would be looking at phone when walking rather than just walking.</i>

Who says you have to be looking at the phone when walking? Do you do that with a paper map? Or when driving? You look down, figure out which way you need to go, and go that way. When you get to the next corner, you check for on-course. Walking or driving. Got it?

Robe, what's your problem?

<i>Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.</i> I didn't RTF3GM.

&quot;Airplane mode turns off all the iPhone radio transmitters to avoid interfering with aircraft operation. In some regions, where allowed by the aircraft operator and applicable laws and regulations, <b>you can turn on Wi-Fi while airplane mode is on</b> to:

o Send and receive email
o Browse the Internet&quot;

So according to the revised manual, it's possible to turn off the phone and still have WiFi active.

<u>iPhone User's Guide</u>: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iphone_user_guide.pdf

<u>iPhone User Guide for iPhone and iPhone 3G</u>: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/...User_Guide.pdf

Oh goody! I have 3G so I'll be able to browse.

<i>Author: cat111719
Date: 11/25/2008, 01:12 pm

Oh goody! I have 3G so I'll be able to browse.</i>

You seem to be missing something here. <u>All</u> iPhones have WiFi, and are therefore capable of browsing without using the cellular system.

The first generation iPhones could also use internet and email over the low-speed GPRS/EDGE networks.

The iPhone 3G can do that, plus it also works with AT&amp;T's high-speed data network.

<b>If you use either GPRS/EDGE or 3G data for internet/email in Europe, it could cost you a bundle.</b> This is why it's so important to make sure data roaming is turned <u>off</u> before you set foot in Europe!

No, I know that. I thought that I had to pay internet charges even if I wasn't technically roaming. That is what I didn't realize before.

I knew my phone <i>could</i> do all that, but I didn't want to come home to a thousand dollar phone bill. Make sense?