I have been reading all posts for a while, have read books from Fodors, Frommers, Rick Steve's and others...I've tried to do my homework. I do have some questions that I'd love to get some information on if possible.<BR><BR>My wife and I are going to Paris for a week to ten days around June of next year. We'll try to stay at the Hilton using Hilton points. We've never been to a country where we don't speak the language, and have only traveled once internationally. We both in our early (though advancing!) 30's and enjoy seeing history, seeing art, watching people and just exploring.<BR><BR>1. Language. How much of a problem will our inability to speak French be? I intend to pick up a few of the key phrases, but we'll be lost... I just know it. Where will we have the biggest problem, and will we be able to get by with little to no French?<BR><BR>2. Hotel. Given that the hotel is free, any comments on the hotel I've chosen? Any suggestions for the surrounding area or for making reservations at the hotel in general?<BR><BR>3. Dining. Food in Paris...yes! But I have to admit I'm a bit confused on how to dine. Hours seem odd, different prices for getting served at the bar as opposed to a table, and the prices. What is prix fixe (sp?)? Is it a set price vs. an a la carte meal? If so, which is typically a better deal or more enjoyable experience?<BR><BR>4. Nightlife. We're not clubbers, and we'll likely not go to theater due to our language barriers. Are there other suggestions for what to do in the evening? In London we loved going to pubs. Is the Paris equivalent a brasserie, or are there other such establishments? We're more beer people than wine, though I'll imbibe my share of vino as well.<BR><BR>5. Train. In London, we took the tube everywhere and loved it. Are the trains comparable in Paris in terms of convenience, ease, safety and cost?<BR><BR>6. Day Trip/Overnight. What are the must do's for a day trip away from Paris, or perhaps an overnight trip from Paris? If so, would it be train transportation? Any websites that would display cost and times for the trains?<BR><BR>7. Websites. I've scoured and have compiled quite a list of websites on France, and Paris in general. Can you provide your favorites?<BR><BR>Phew...Thank you!

1) Language: Although the French are very proud of their language (aren't we all?), even a polite Bonjour or Bonsoir is always well regarded. You might not meet a lot of people who speak English but a lot do. I can't really explain it. But don't let someone's inability to speak impede you. <BR><BR>2) Dining. Most restaurants and brasseries don't begin dinner service until at least 7pm -- this can change in some areas but the French normally won't begin dinner until at least 7pm. When you stand at the bar in a cafe and order a coffee, for example, the tax is less than if you were sitting. Example: an espresso might cost 2 Euro standing at the bar; it might cost 7 Euro or more for sitting down. By law, every cafe must have a sign with the prices of each item plus standing or sitting (bar = comptoir; sitting = en salle). The sign is usually in white and orange. Yes. Prix fixe is set price. A la carte is always more expensive. More enjoyable experience? That depends on what you like to eat. Something on the prix fixe menu might not appeal to you, in which case you'll have to go a la carte. Unless you're eating a sandwich at the bar,

(cont'd)<BR>you won't want to eat standing up. By law, items and prices both for standing and sitting are posted on a chart, usually orange and white, at the top of which are the words &quot;Prix des consommations&quot; by the bar on a wall next to it.<BR><BR>If you eat out, do not be in a rush. You will probably spend more than 1 to 1.5 hours in a place as the French do not hurry with meals. Meals consist of an ap&eacute;rtif, then an entr&eacute;e and then a plat, followed by cheese, dessert and coffee. Many Americans drink coffee with milk after dinner; not so in France. Just espresso (dairy in coffee after dinner is not understood).<BR><BR>Drinks, cocktails, coffee, etc. you can have in any caf&eacute; or wine bar (enoth&egrave;que). Any caf&eacute; will also have wine and beer and spirits. Look for concerts in churches or other places that are advertized all over the city on posters; sometimes the City of Paris subsidizes the tickets. If you sit in a caf&eacute;, you can sit there literally for hours and you won't be asked to leave. The waiter will bring a receipt with the drinks and place it on the table. If he quits his shift before you want to leave, he'll come by and ask you to pay up. Sometimes he'll ask you to pay right away. It depends. Just leave the money on the table if you have exact change. If the service is good, leave 1 Euro but in any case, he's already got his gratuity in the price of your drink. At the bar, I do not tip (I'm standing up!). And don't call him &quot;Gar&ccedil;on.&quot; Say &quot;Monsieur&quot; instead.<BR><BR>For trains: www.sncf.com (French national railroads - English flag on upper left hand side of home page). For Paris subway and times, maps, etc.: www.ratp.com (English language feature on top right of home page).<BR><BR>Day trip: I like to go to Versailles (weather permitting) just because the grounds are so awesome once you get out of the palace). It's a 15 minute walk or so through Versailles to the actually palace. Versailles IS a day in itself. It's huge. Versailles is a nice, upscale town and the train goes regularly right from the left bank. Overnight, you might want to go to somewhere in the Loire Valley, like Blois (take the TGV train and you're there very quickly). Or take the train to Fontainebleau, visit the ch&acirc;teau there and overnight it. Vaux-le-Vicomte (remember James Bond and Mr. Drax in &quot;Moonraker&quot; - that's Vaux-le-Vicomte) is also a day trip, but it's hard to get to without a car and the entrance fee is EXHORBITANT.<BR><BR>Have a great trip. Don't worry about the language; you'll be fine. The French are getting much better at bilingual signage in the train stations, m&eacute;tro, etc.<BR>

Paris City Hall: www.mairie-paris.fr<BR>Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport: www.adp.fr<BR>Louvre: www.louvre.fr<BR>Ch&acirc;teau de Versailles (awesome website): http://www.chateauversailles.fr/<BR>Ch&acirc;teau de Fontainebleau (awesome website): http://www.musee-chateau-fontainebleau.fr/<BR>Mus&eacute;e d'Orsay: www.musee-orsay.fr<BR>

Lastly, for Vaux-le-Vicomte:<BR><BR>http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/eng/vv_image.htm<BR><BR>Hope this all helps you with your vacation.

If you've read all those books and done so much research, I wouldn't worry so much, you shouldn't have any major problems. I'm sure you will find it comfortable once you get there and there will be lots of others around in a similar situation. <BR><BR>As for the language, you should be able to get by without any major problems in central Paris, especially in tourist areas where you will probably be. You won't have any problem at the hotel. I would say that the biggest problem you might likely have in language would be with taxi drivers or service personnel, neither of whom are generally highly educated, just as in any country, and may not speak English fluently. There shouldn't be any problems except if you don't understand things and have complicated questions, need detailed directions, have special demands, or things like that. I went to France once before I learned French and had problems making phone calls when I'd get a recording in French I didn't understand, asking for directions about trains and things like how to use the telephone or how much a local call would cost from clerks in train stations, and I didn't understand some things people were telling me when I went to a movie once and they were yelling at me to do something I didn't understand(apparently I was supposed to wait in a particular spot). I also think once I had a problem in a restaurant with some order, but that wasn't in the main tourist area. I had some problems in train stations if the train was moved to another platform and I couldn't understand the loudspeaker announcement -- little things like that.<BR>For taxis, just have the name and address of your hotel written down clearly to show the driver.<BR><BR>The metro system is easy to use, cheap, and convenient. I don't know about comfortable--some trains are a lot newer than others and it can get bad when it's crowded, just like London. In general, I think it's a little better than London, though, in quality and convenience.<BR><BR>A cafe would be the equivalent of your London pub activities.<BR><BR>As for evening activities, what do you like to do in any big city, regardless of language? Maybe somebody could recommend something. I guess you don't like performing arts, concerts, etc., or you would have asked about that, and any big city has those, of course. Aside from hanging out in cafes, you could go to a jazz club or piano bar, you could take a night cruise on the Seine to see the lit-up buildings (pretty cheap if you don't take the dinner cruise), go to a museum that has night hours, go to a movie (in central Paris, there are many American movies in the original English with French subtitles, they are labelled V.O. at the box office). It sounds like you'll be satisfied just walking around and sitting in cafes, it will be very lively in many areas at night. In June, it will be light very late, so you can even spend time walking in parks in the evenings, it can be pleasant to do that.<BR><BR>I imagine there might be more than one Hilton in Paris, so I presume you will be staying at the one right next to the Eiffel Tower. That's a good location, fairly convenient for getting around and I've heard it's a perfectly comfortable hotel (great if you can get a room with view of the Eiffel Tower, I suppose). I read somewhere that it has one of the best Sunday brunches in Paris, if that's of interest. There is one Seine cruise boat company that docks right near there. I don't know restaurants in that area very well, though, so can't comment on that.<BR><BR>YOu've done a lot of homework, as you said, so I'm sure you'll get by just fine and have a great time. Be sure to carry a good map around with you and a small French travelers' phrasebook might be good.

If you've read all those books and done so much research as it appears, I wouldn't worry, you shouldn't have any major problems. I'm sure you'll find it comfortable once you get there and there will be lots of others around in a similar situation. <BR><BR>As for the language, you should be able to get by without any major problems in central Paris, especially in tourist areas where you will probably be. You won't have any problem at the hotel. I would say that the biggest problem you might likely have in language would be with taxi drivers or service personnel, neither of whom are generally highly educated, just as in any country, and may not speak English fluently. There shouldn't be any problems except if you don't understand things and have complicated questions, need detailed directions, have special demands, or things like that. I went to France once before I learned French and had problems making phone calls when I'd get a recording in French I didn't understand, asking for directions about trains and things like how to use the telephone or how much a local call would cost from clerks in train stations, and I didn't understand some things people were telling me when I went to a movie once and they were yelling at me to do something I didn't understand(apparently I was supposed to wait in a particular spot). I also think once I had a problem in a restaurant with some order, but that wasn't in the main tourist area. I had some problems in train stations if the train was moved to another platform and I couldn't understand the loudspeaker announcement -- little things like that.<BR>For taxis, just have the name and address of your hotel written down clearly to show the driver.<BR><BR>The metro system is easy to use, cheap, and convenient. I don't know about comfortable--some trains are a lot newer than others and it can get bad when it's crowded, just like London. In general, I think it's a little better than London, though, in quality and convenience.<BR><BR>A cafe would be the equivalent of your London pub activities.<BR><BR>As for evening activities, what do you like to do in any big city, regardless of language? Maybe somebody could recommend something. I guess you don't like performing arts, concerts, etc., or you would have asked about that, and any big city has those, of course. Aside from hanging out in cafes, you could go to a jazz club or piano bar, you could take a night cruise on the Seine to see the lit-up buildings (pretty cheap if you don't take the dinner cruise), go to a museum that has night hours, go to a movie (in central Paris, there are many American movies in the original English with French subtitles, they are labelled V.O. at the box office). It sounds like you'll be satisfied just walking around and sitting in cafes, it will be very lively in many areas at night. In June, it will be light very late, so you can even spend time walking in parks in the evenings, it can be pleasant to do that.<BR><BR>I imagine there might be more than one Hilton in Paris, so I presume you will be staying at the one right next to the Eiffel Tower. That's a good location, fairly convenient for getting around and I've heard it's a perfectly comfortable hotel (great if you can get a room with view of the Eiffel Tower, I suppose). I read somewhere that it has one of the best Sunday brunches in Paris, if that's of interest. There is one Seine cruise boat company that docks right near there. I don't know restaurants in that area very well, though, so can't comment on that.

If you've read all those books and done so much research as it appears, I wouldn't worry, you shouldn't have any major problems. I'm sure you'll find it comfortable once you get there and there will be lots of others around in a similar situation. <BR><BR>As for the language, you should be able to get by without any major problems in central Paris, especially in tourist areas where you will probably be. You won't have any problem at the hotel. I would say that the biggest problem you might likely have in language would be with taxi drivers or service personnel, neither of whom are generally highly educated, just as in any country, and may not speak English fluently. There shouldn't be any problems except if you don't understand things and have complicated questions, need detailed directions, have special demands, or things like that. I went to France once before I learned French and had problems making phone calls when I'd get a recording in French I didn't understand, asking for directions about trains and things like how to use the telephone or how much a local call would cost from clerks in train stations, and I didn't understand some things people were telling me when I went to a movie once and they were yelling at me to do something I didn't understand(apparently I was supposed to wait in a particular spot). I also think once I had a problem in a restaurant with some order, but that wasn't in the main tourist area. I had some problems in train stations if the train was moved to another platform and I couldn't understand the loudspeaker announcement -- little things like that.<BR>For taxis, just have the name and address of your hotel written down clearly to show the driver.<BR><BR>The metro system is easy to use, cheap, and convenient. I don't know about comfortable--some trains are a lot newer than others and it can get bad when it's crowded, just like London. In general, I think it's a little better than London, though, in quality and convenience.<BR><BR>A cafe would be the equivalent of your London pub activities.<BR><BR>As for evening activities, what do you like to do in any big city, regardless of language? Maybe somebody could recommend something. I guess you don't like performing arts, concerts, etc., or you would have asked about that, and any big city has those, of course. Aside from hanging out in cafes, you could go to a jazz club or piano bar, you could take a night cruise on the Seine to see the lit-up buildings (pretty cheap if you don't take the dinner cruise), go to a museum that has night hours, go to a movie (in central Paris, there are many American movies in the original English with French subtitles, they are labelled V.O. at the box office). It sounds like you'll be satisfied just walking around and sitting in cafes, it will be very lively in many areas at night. In June, it will be light very late, so you can even spend time walking in parks in the evenings, it can be pleasant to do that.<BR><BR>I presume you will be staying at the Hilton next to the Eiffel Tower. That's a good location, fairly convenient for getting around and I've heard it's a perfectly comfortable hotel (great if you can get a room with view of the Eiffel Tower, I suppose). I read somewhere that it has one of the best Sunday brunches in Paris, if that's of interest. There is one Seine cruise boat company that docks right near there. I don't know restaurants in that area very well, though, so can't comment on that.

If you've read those books and done so much research as it appears, I wouldn't worry, you shouldn't have any major problems. I'm sure you'll find it comfortable once you get there and there will be lots of others around in a similar situation. <BR><BR>As for the language, you should be able to get by without any major problems in central Paris, especially in tourist areas where you will probably be. You won't have any problem at the hotel. I would say that the biggest problem you might likely have in language would be with taxi drivers or service personnel, neither of whom are generally highly educated, just as in any country, and may not speak English fluently. There shouldn't be any problems except if you don't understand things and have complicated questions, need detailed directions, have special demands, or things like that. I went to France once before I learned French and had problems making phone calls when I'd get a recording in French I didn't understand, asking for directions about trains and things like how to use the telephone or how much a local call would cost from clerks in train stations, and I didn't understand some things people were telling me when I went to a movie once and they were yelling at me to do something I didn't understand(apparently I was supposed to wait in a particular spot). I also think once I had a problem in a restaurant with some order, but that wasn't in the main tourist area. I had some problems in train stations if the train was moved to another platform and I couldn't understand the loudspeaker announcement -- little things like that.<BR>For taxis, just have the name and address of your hotel written down clearly to show the driver.<BR><BR>The metro system is easy to use, cheap, and convenient. I don't know about comfortable--some trains are a lot newer than others and it can get bad when it's crowded, just like London. In general, I think it's a little better than London, though, in quality and convenience.<BR><BR>A cafe would be the equivalent of your London pub activities.<BR><BR>As for evening activities, what do you like to do in any big city, regardless of language? Maybe somebody could recommend something. I guess you don't like performing arts, concerts, etc., or you would have asked about that, and any big city has those, of course. Aside from hanging out in cafes, you could go to a jazz club or piano bar, you could take a night cruise on the Seine to see the lit-up buildings (pretty cheap if you don't take the dinner cruise), go to a museum that has night hours, go to a movie (in central Paris, there are many American movies in the original English with French subtitles, they are labelled V.O. at the box office). It sounds like you'll be satisfied just walking around and sitting in cafes, it will be very lively in many areas at night. In June, it will be light very late, so you can even spend time walking in parks in the evenings, it can be pleasant to do that.<BR><BR>I presume you will be staying at the Hilton next to the Eiffel Tower. That's a good location, fairly convenient for getting around and I've heard it's a perfectly comfortable hotel (great if you can get a room with view of the Eiffel Tower, I suppose). I read somewhere that it has one of the best Sunday brunches in Paris, if that's of interest. There is one Seine cruise boat company that docks right near there. I don't know restaurants in that area very well, though, so can't comment on that.

Wow! Thanks Eye Spy and Christina for all the information.<BR><BR>I imagine that we'll take the cruise on the Seine. Any companies that anyone would recommend? Times we could go that would more likely have fewer folks intruding on our attempt at romance?<BR><BR>I don't want to incur any wrath or criticism, but are the trains listed in English by chance?

If you click on the English flag at the upper left-hand corner of www.sncf.com, you can look up train times, etc. in English. It's all there.

I've stayed at the Paris Hilton several times, also using Hilton points. It is a nice hotel, not luxurious but definitely upscale. The rooms are large by Paris standards, and those facing the front of the hotel do have a view of the Eiffel Tower. I'm not sure if you can specify a front-facing room when you make your reservation through Hilton Honors, but its worth asking. The breakfast buffet is very good, but a little on the expensive side when its not included with the room. The price may not matter to you, though, since you're getting the room for free. <BR><BR>The neighborhood around the hotel is an mainly an upscale residential area. I like it, but it is a bit quiet in the evenings. You are very close to both a metro station and an RER station, though, so transportation is easy.

Hi Mike,<BR>Dining out: You don't have to have the full aperitif ..... digestif dinner. Most restaurants will offer a prix fixe that gives you a choice of appetizer or dessert and main course.<BR><BR>There are no must do's for trips outside Paris. Versaille, Fontainbleau, Chartres, Bruges in Belgium, are all nice, but Paris is an adventure in itself.<BR><BR>I think that you will find that a lovely Sunday can be spent with a visit to the Jacquemart Andre' Museum for Brunch, tour the museum after bkfst and take a walk in the nearby Parque Monceau.

There are lots of pubs and bars that you can go to in Paris if you feel the need for a pint of beer. You're not restricted to just the caf&eacute;s!<BR>A useful guide that you might want to get hold of is the Time Out guide to eating and drinking in Paris. It can be purchased from many bookshops and newsagents (such as WHSmith on Rue de Rivoli or Brentanos on Avenue de l'Opera, both excellent English language bookshops) and it costs around 8 euros I think. It's got extensive listings of restaurants, pubs, cafes and the like for every area in Paris. I've found their reviews to be very reliable. <BR>If you like jazz music you could try going to the Caveau des Oubliettes, Rue Galande, in the 5th arrondissement. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 10pm they have a great live jam session in their cellar bar. It used to be part of an old prison and you can actually go and visit the old medieval dungeons downstairs, or shudder at the real Guillotine they have standing in the bar!<BR>If you like gardens you might like to take a trip to Chaumont in the Loire valley, where every summer there is a garden festival in the grounds of the beautiful chateau there, featuring fantastic creations by different landscape gardeners. There's an outdoor restaurant, gift shop and ice cream stall there, plus you can visit the castle or stroll down to the banks of the Loire river. It makes an excellent trip from Paris. The train journey takes about 2 hours 20 min. There's some information about the festival here: http://www.lvo.com/GB/MAG/JARDIN/CHAU.HTML.<BR>

Hi Mike<BR>I hope you enjoy Paris as much as many of us do.<BR><BR>First, I have a file on Paris with lots of websites and some other information; if you'd like to see it, email me.<BR><BR>In restaurants, you may find that you can order both a la carte, choosing dishes from the whole listing, or<BR>prix fixe where for a set price your choices are usually more limited, but the food should be of equal quality.<BR>In French &quot;le menu&quot; refers to a set price, limited choices selection; sometimes also called table d'hote.<BR>The entire listing of dishes, which in English we call the menu, is referred to as &quot;la carte.&quot;<BR>Beware of places that have signs out front touting a &quot;tourist menu&quot;, especially when the sign is posted in 5 or so languages. With rare exception, you may be wandering into a tourist trap.<BR><BR>good luck

Elaine,<BR>I would love your file on Paris if you'd please send it to me! Thanks

I apologize for the multiple postings of my prior post -- when I did it, Fodors kept coming back without posting it, the box was blank so I kept trying.. oh well<BR><BR>The Timeout guide was an excellent suggestion, they have an online guidebook that is good for generalities www.timeout.com, such as places to go out, dine, etc. When in Paris, you can buy a weekly entertainment guide Pariscope which has all events in it (and one English section written by Timeout).<BR><BR>No, I don't think any train or metro info is listed in English in Paris. If you've used any large city metro system, you should know the basics; other than that, learn the words for exit (sortie) and the names of places you are going, that's about it--&quot;correspondence&quot; is the sign showing which way you go to transfer trains.<BR><BR>there are several Seine boat companies and they are listed in Pariscope, also. Bateaux Mouches (www.bateaux-mouches.fr) is the most well-known and has the largest boats, and they are the cheapest by a smidge. I haven't been on the others so can't compare, but there are also: www.bateauxparisiens.com (in front of Notre Dame on quai Montebello and also near the Eiffel Tower at port de la Bourdonnais) and www.vedettesdeparis.com, also near the Tour at Port de Suffren, and<BR>Vedettes du Pont-Neuf www.pontneuf.net<BR><BR>I don't think they are that different, the basic cruise is only about an hour. there are some boat size differences, as I said and I think the Bateaux Parisiens company has more music than commentary as the others do. I wouldn't count on any being private, they are always crowded in nice weather--in June, they will have only one departure when dark, I suppose, aside from the dinner cruises.<BR><BR>I'm sure all those guidebooks probably agree fairly closely on the top day trips from Paris, I'd go with those suggestions.<BR><BR>Some of my favorite Paris web sites (I know tons) are:<BR>www.paris.org<BR>www.jack-travel.com (has other places, also, but good Paris section)<BR>www.metropoleparis.com<BR>www.paris-touristoffice.com<BR>www.paris-anglo.com<BR>www.parisvoice.com<BR>wwww.bonjourpar is.com<BR>www.zingueurs.com (cafe and club info, including folk/world music)<BR>www.jazzvalley.com (good live music, espec jazz schedules)<BR>www.paris-france.org<BR>www.parisdigest.com<BR>www.paris-web.com<BR>www.paristempo.com<BR>www.parisfrancegu ide.com<BR>www.parissi.com<BR>www.viafrance.com<BR >www.france.com<BR>www.parisavenue.com<BR>www.nova planet.com<BR><BR>I know a lot specifically for classical music and concerts, also.<BR>

Christina, Parisavenue (by Le Figaro newspaper) has gone! <BR>It's a shame, it was very good and was updated weekly.

You can still check L'officiel des spectacles and Pariscope. They both have websites; those are weekly publications available at any kiosque or librairie. Check it out folks.<BR>

Eye Spye: Would you happen to have the web site of L'Officiel? So far, I have not found it.<BR><BR>And sure, it's the 'must have', when you arrive in Paris. Everything listed in there for just 0.40 Euro (Pariscope that is).<BR>I think, L'Officiel is slightly cheaper.<BR>