Questions about Paris....
 

Has anyone ever stayed in the Hotel Atlier Monparnasse? It is in the St. Germain area. I have reservations there after reading excellent reviews from a few sources? But I wanted some REAL opionins. <BR>Also...has anyone ever taken the train from Paris to Strasbourg? I was wondering if anyone had any feedback / tips about this particular train ride. I am also concerned about the "pick pockets" in Paris. What is the best way to carry my camera, wallet, etc...? THANKS :)

I can answer the pickpocket question. <BR>I was boarding a Metro (subway) car when a young man, who was pretending to read the route map over the doorway, bumped me. As he made contact, he also squeezed out the closing door. As I was standing there a fellow passenger asked me if everything was still in my pockets. It was. But he told me that the "bumper" had fingered my wallet. <BR>It was just about empty, so he might have decided that taking it was beneath his dignity. Or the fact that I had it in a zippered pocket might have caught him by surprise. (I don't know how skilled those guys are at opening zippers.) <BR>On the issue of the best way to safeguard valuables, let me suggest you do a search on "money belts" That subject has been beaten to death on this forum. <BR>The pros and cons are many.

Don't carry a wallet (leave it home). Keep your credit cards, cash and other valuable in an under your clothing security pouch (there are many styles, including a tiny one just large enough for a couple of cards, some cash, and a copy of your passport that snaps to your bra straps and is not noticeable). Safest place for your camera is around your neck.

I have taken the train the other way: Strasbourg to Paris. I believe the train ride was about 4-41/2 hours. You might check one the rail websites such as Rail Europe's for current schedules.

Thanks everyone....Steve -how was the train ride? Crowded, comfortable, etc...???

It was fine. The train was not one of the super nice TGV trains but it was just a standard train. The first class car was one of the compartmentalized type. On our particular trip the train was fairly crowded but not full. I don't believe it was a train where reservations are required.

Thanks again.....I guess no one has ever heard of the hotel that I asked about? Hopefully it's a nice place :)

Check www.paris.org <BR>You will find the Atelier Montparnasse under the 6th arrondissement. Though it is in the 6th, I wouldn't really call this the Saint-Germain area. It is quite a distance south of the Boulevard Saint-Germain. However, the one person who evaluated the hotel seemed to like the location. Boots