John in Georgia

Our first visit to Paris, interested in major sites, shopping, eating. Best place to stay?

Rex

John,<BR><BR>Let me put this gently - - get a book. Go to the library and get several. I wouldn't think of coming to Georgia without reading a book or two on the major attractions in the state. But maybe you already have.<BR><BR>&lt;&lt;Best place to stay?&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>This is one time that our hosts Fodors have actually provided the opportunity to easily review a lot of info, including that provided by ordinary forum visitors like yourself.<BR><BR>I have re-arranged several top-rated places according to price range. the rankings are on a scale from 1 (worst) to 5 (best).<BR><BR>Over 267 euros<BR><BR>BRISTOL - - avg ranking 4.9, 4 reports<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/rants/rrread.cfm?destination=paris@117&class=Hotels@2000 3&entity_id=51315<BR><BR>GEORGE V - - avg ranking 4.8, 16 reports<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/rants/rrread.cfm?destination=paris@117&class=Hotels@2000 3entity_id=43358<BR><BR>RITZ, avg ranking 4.7, 16 reports<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/rants/rrread.cfm?destination=paris@117&class=Hotels@2000 3&entity_id=51276<BR><BR>152 to 267 euros<BR><BR>SQUARE - - avg ranking 4.8, 2 reports<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/rants/rrread.cfm?destination=paris@117&class=Hotels@2000 3&entity_id=51277<BR><BR>H&Ocirc;TEL DE L'ABBAYE - - avg ranking 4.7, 6 reports<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/rants/rrread.cfm?destination=paris@117&class=Hotels@2000 3&entity_id=51298<BR><BR>91 to 152 euros<BR><BR>H&Ocirc;TEL DU CADRAN, avg ranking 4.6, 8 reports<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/rants/rrread.cfm?destination=paris@117&class=Hotels@2000 3&entity_id=51310<BR><BR>Under 91 euros<BR><BR>GRANDES &Eacute;COLES - - avg ranking 4.8, 11 reports<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/rants/rrread.cfm?destination=paris@117&class=Hotels@2000 3&entity_id=51295<BR><BR>Maybe tomorrow I will do the same for the restaurant listings.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Betty

Dear John in Georgia,<BR><BR>As Rex suggests, your question is not getting much response because it is far too broad and vague. It's almost like "Tell me about Paris"! We would at least need to know something about your budget. Also, there have been literally hundreds of discussions here about Paris hotels, restaurants and sights.<BR><BR>I haven't checked all of Rex's links, but the ones I have checked seem to be referring you to Fodor's "Rants and Raves," (hotels and restaurants) which can be accessed from their home page. You could also just type in "Paris hotels" or "Paris restaurants" in the text search box, click on Find, and get many more recommendations.<BR><BR>And I second Rex's suggestion to go to your library and check out a few books on Paris, especially ones with lots of pictures. It would help you figure out what interests you the most in Paris. The most "difficult" thing about Paris is the huge range of choices you have.<BR><BR>Since this is your first trip to Paris I am going to e-mail you a few pages that I put together for a friend who went to Paris for the first time this past December about things to see and do in Paris. It is pretty basic but maybe it will provide you with a starting point for your research. <BR>Feel free to reply to my e-mail if I can help further. Wherever you stay, whatever you do in Paris, I know you will love it!<BR><BR>Betty (in SC)

Ron

This is some excellent advice. I suggest you get yourself a copy ot the DK Eyewitness Guide for Paris.

Rex

To Betty,<BR><BR>Excerpting this from an earlier posting (on the "Who visits..." thread)<BR><BR>Author: Betty ([email protected])<BR>Date: 02/11/2002, 10:55 am<BR><BR>Message: I do, probably much too frequently! It's a good thing I didn't discover this site until after I had retired from teaching. <BR><BR>======================================<BR> <BR>I take it this means you are not constrained to travel only in summer now? I am so interested in doing a trip to France this fall - - perhaps "Fodorites' II"? Any interest? Co-leader?<BR><BR>Non-commercial, no profit to anyone - - the same as the September trip to Italy.<BR>

Betty

Verrry tempting, Rex! You're right in thinking that I can now travel outside of summertime. In fact I did so in Sept.-Oct. 2000. It was wonderful to be able to avoid the crowds. However, I'm not yet sure of my plans for this fall. In a few weeks I'm going to be teaching a "French for Travelers" course at UNCA's (Asheville, NC) College for Seniors and that may also involve planning a trip to France for fall of 2002 or spring of 2003. But, keep me in mind. If my fall trip doesn't materialize, I might well be interested in a collaborative effort. In any case, I would be glad to offer any help I could.<BR>

john in Georgia

Thanks Rex and Betty, We are just beginning to plan our trip for early May. Have acquired map and looking at a few books. Our first trip to Europe, so a little apprehensive. We are looking for a hotel off the normal path, but still with American type facilities, like AC, private bath, good size, and perhaps a balcony. We don't waste money, but we can afford this trip. This will probably be the only 40th anniversary we ever get to celebrate, so we want to really enjoy it. thank you so much for your input. Betty, we are almost neighbors. Ashville and Gainesville, GA are about 200 miles apart.

Betty

Actually, John, we're even closer than that. Although I will be teaching in Asheville, I live in Spartanburg, SC. It will be about an hour and half commute for me, but I'm looking forward to it. Again, let me know if I can help further.

Sue

Rex and Betty, keep me apprised. Sounds interesting.

Rex

Sue, Betty:<BR><BR>Have you seen the thread Galicia to Bretagne? That's from Mari, a stockbroker in San Diego - - she has written me separately, saying that she might really be interested in such an itinerary. Does that mean we have four parties of possible interest? My wife would want to go this time, if at all possible. We've never been to either "end" of this itinerary; she's never been to Spain at all.<BR><BR>Any other interested parties?<BR>

Lori

John in Georgia:<BR>99% of the hotels in Paris have private bathrooms so you can put your mind at ease there. As a person who has visited Paris a lot and who has relatives living there I will suggest as others have that you get some good guide books and start doing some reading.<BR><BR>As for places to stay -- you need to state your budget, i.e. $100/$200/$300 or anything inbetween or above .. but no one can recommend hotels unless you say what you are interested in paying.<BR>There are a zillion hotels in Paris, some good, some not so, like everyplace else. Most hotel rooms are smaller then what you would get in the U.S. Personally we like the 7th Arr (near the Eiffel Tower) but we've stayed in other areas too and loved them all. Just do a web search on Paris hotels .. you will get lots of ideas. Another idea is look at Best Western International. BW is NOT a motel chain in Europe, they are individual hotels who market via the BW system making it very easy to make reservations either on-line or via 800 number. <BR><BR>Last year we stayed at the Relais Bosquet in the 7th Arr. Nice hotel, in the $150 range for a "superior room" , i.e. a larger room - still not huge by any standards but large enough to move about in unlike others I've been in We had a view of the Eiffel Tower from our window. <BR><BR>Shopping: the entire city!! The major dept. stores, i.e. Galleries Lafayette, Au Printemps, Samarataine, Bon Marche plus thousands of small shops all over the place.<BR><BR>Site: what interests you? Again, read some guide books. The city abounds in sites.<BR><BR>Eating: Again, a matter of budget. Everything from hundreds of dollars meals to McDonald's. Take your pick. If you are non-smokers be prepared to not see large non-smoking sections tho, usually they are smack against the smokers and consist of a few tables. To avoid smoke we usually go to dinner a bit earlier (or eat with our relatives who are non-smokers, yes, some French do not smoke). <BR><BR>After you have done some reading up post some more questions, but a little more specific in nature and you will get an abundance of responses. <BR><BR>Enjoy your anniversary planning .. you are going to a marvelous place. Plan on the Eiffel Tower at twilight. Being up there watching the city lights come on is magical.

ttt

to the top<BR>

Christina

I would also reiterate the above advice, most hotels in paris will have private bathrooms; AC comes with all 4* hotels, and in Paris due to tourist demand, I guess, probably about 50-66% of 3* hotels, at least those in the tourist quartiers. The balcony is tough, and will be a limiting criteria, most do not have balconies and only a few rooms may have them in hotels that do. But, there are some hotels with them. You really need to state your budget because what you want is not cheap or common (ie, AC, balcony, "good size" rooms). If you want a 4* or deluxe hotel, you'd better state that so people don't recommend 2*s (which won't have goodsize rooms).<BR><BR>The best place to stay for first-timers is near the city center. There have been a few posts on here in the last year or so with people wanting that balcony, so you might search just for the word "balcony" in the search tool and see what you get. Here are a few suggestions from memory that might work: Hotel Madison (has AC, central St-Germain location, balconies on some rooms, reasonable price, I suppose most expensive rooms might be large enough; Hotel Claude Bernard in the Latin Qtr has a corner or end room that is largeish with 1-2 balconies http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75005claudebernard.htm<BR>but it doesn't have AC and is not a deluxe hotel. Neither of those hotels are off the normal path, though, they are right in it (which I would think good for a first-timer).<BR><BR>I think you should read up a little more to narrow things down, also, regarding an area that might appeal to you. You'd better make up your mind quickly as that isn't that far away, and there are a lot of holidays in May and tourists to Paris, and you may have trouble getting your first choice.

Betty No. 2

With regard to Betty's offer to email John's some info regarding Paris, I would love to have this info emailed to me also if at all possible. My husband and I are also planning our first trip to Paris/Europe this summer for our 30th anniversary. Could use any help. Thanks.

Jim Rosenberg

You've got mail. Happy Contrails.

Betty

Betty,(wouldn't dare refer to you as no. 2!)I'll be happy to mail you my little document, but remember, it was written for a friend who knew ZIP about Paris.

Barbara

Just to stick my oar in, it is highly unlucky that you will need AC in Paris in May as May is relatively cool, not like Georgia in May! Naturally my prediction could be defeated by an unusual heat wave of a few days. I would also not give too much importance to the balcony as there is too much to see in Paris to count on getting your enjoyment from a balcony.<BR><BR>Location is the main thing in choosing a hotel, but it helps to know ahead of time what sort of location appeals to you. For me, it is definitely the Left Bank and the 6th or 7th Arr. One can get back and forth to the Right Bank sites and sights quite easily, but St. Germain area is where the charm is -- and of course hotel should be within walking distance of the Seine and, hopefully, Luxembourg Gardens also. That location also takes in Musee d'Orsay and Cluny, rue Jacob and Bon Marche Grand Epicerie, Rodin Museum, Les Invalides and so much more!!<BR><BR>Par example, try Hotel Duc de Saint Simon on rue Saint Simon in the 7th Arr.<BR>or Relais St. Germain in the 6th. There are many, many others.<BR><BR>Bonne chance!