Hi everyone. Poor me--I'm taking a tour of France and am "banished" to the 15e for my hotel. Any advice on restaurants (in the area) and transportation--we may be far afield but have to eat too! Thanks for any help/advice.

Well maybe you'll get a view of the tower and/or the river.<BR><BR>Others can give you a clearer idea of what's around there. There are 2 metro stops [Charles Micheis & Bir Hakeim] and a RER line C stop [Javel]-- The word I have heard is to avoid B.H. <BR><BR>Line 10 [C.M.] enables you to change to several convenient lines at La Motte-Piquet/Grenelle -- I changed at that station several times last month and, while it wasn't sparkling, I didn't feel uncomfortable. You might want to go to a site such as paris.org and look for restaurants in that neighborhood. In any case you're just a few stops from the Invalides area with plenty to eat and see.

Thanks A. Fowler--your advise about metro etc. is very helpful--we're used to the NYC subway system and easily accept less than "pristine". Will go to the website you suggested on restaurants.

Well you already know the 15th isn't a choice arrondissement. The Bir Hakeim m&eacute;tro stop is fine during the day - I wouldn't be there after dark or in the vicinity (it's an elevated station and the street underneath is not one you'd want to stroll in the dark). But...this is Paris, after all, and there are good restaurants all over. Le Bistro d'Andr&eacute; on 232 rue Saint-Charles, is a favorite with locals. The Restaurant le Petit Auberge, 13, rue du Hameau, is a gathering place for rugby fans, and the hearty cuisine attests. Otherwise, walk over across the Champs du Mars to the 7me, where you can have a much better selection of caf&eacute;s and restaurants. It's only about a 7-minute hike.

Bir Hakeim is an above-ground station - frequented it in 1997 and 2001, but we don't hang out very late at night. Didn't seem ominous back then, but maybe things have changed. We also stayed 'way back in 15e, M:Convention in 1997. Every neighborhood we've been in (also 17e) have local cafes and restaurants around. There will be a metro stop nearby to get you to any restaurant in town you have designs on. Sometimes staying out of the thick of things makes you feel like you're going 'home'when you return for the evening, kind of back to the neighborhood sort of thing. You'll be fine there...

Susan, don't write off the 15th too quickly! Friends of ours live on the Ave. Suffren which is on the 15th side of the Champ de Mars and it's a wonderful street--just as pretty as the avenues on the 7th with a fraction of the tourists--even in mid-summer. I had lunch recently at Le Suffren (on Ave. Suffren near the La Motte Piquet metro stop) and the meal was excellent, as was the service and atmosphere. It's now one of my favorite places to eat in Paris. The Parc Andre-Citroen is a wonderful place to picnic and to ride the hot air balloon that gives you a great view of Paris. <BR>On my last trip to Paris, about two weeks ago, I spent more time in the 15th than I usually do and was pleasantly surprised. Get away from the crowds in the Bir Hakeim area and explore the Suffren/Swiss Village area a little more. Also, ride the buses instead of taking the metro. Instead of taking the metro back to the Gare du Nord for the Thalys, I rode the 42 bus and it goes past many of the top sights in Paris. <BR>BTilke (Brussels)

I posted several times on shops and restaurants in that area as I rented an apartment around there once. There are some advantages to that area, it's just a little farther out. You could probably do a search for prior info on info (I know my favorite restaurant in that area is Bistro Champetre on rue St Charles). <BR><BR>I don't know why people are talking about Bir Hakeim metro stop, that isn't where that hotel is. There are lots of good shops and restaurants on rue St Charles and on ave Emile Zola. The Tire Bouchon at 62 rue des Entrepeneurs is quite good and there are others (a very good Vietnamese is around there) such as my favorite above--a traditional French bistro with great profiteroles, a very friendly staff and terrific prix fixe menus for only about 30 euro including wine and dessert and aperitif--which is at 107 rue St. Charles. I'd suggest you look at Zagats online guide for that area.<BR><BR>My main objection would be the hotel itself, not the neighborhood--it's a very large, business chain hotel. Transportation is no problem due to the metro. I used station Charles Michels all the time and it's small and convenient and safe, and that line goes directly into St-Germain.

Many thanks to you who have replied in this "string". You've generally turned a "negative" right into a "positive" and given me such very good advice--I've written it all down and look forward to enjoying the 15e, and all of Paris, on this, my first trip to France (don't know why it took so long to get there). I really appreciate your time and thought.<BR><BR>Susan

Just wondering - did you take your trip already? Going there in early Sept and wondering how you found it?

thanks!