<i>I do not want to spend too time on the metro.I want to try and walk as much as possible. </i>

I don't know how you define &quot;as much as possible&quot;. But we use the metro/bus extensively and still put on a lot of walking miles. Last trip my brother-in-law wore a pedometer for 3 days. We averaged 11.7 miles. Top day was 13.6 miles. And that was with my sister's bad knee! On other trips we probably average at least 18-20 miles a day.

The metro only gets you in the neighborhood of where you're headed. It's often a long walk to/from each station. (You may even put on a few miles in the stations themselves!) The bus is much better for getting close to your destination and you get to enjoy the scenery along the way. But, even with the bus, you'll still find yourself doing a lot of walking.

I, too, would encourage you to stay in central Paris for your first trip. Since you're going there in February, you won't encounter the same kind of crowds that you would in high season anyway. I've been to Paris during high season and haven't found the throngs of tourists to be that big of a deal, at least not as far my hotel is concerned. For me, it's more of an issue at certain tourist attractions, like Notre Dame, the d'Orsay, etc. That said, I'm looking forward to having the city a bit more to myself for my upcoming trip in February.

For my two trips in Paris, I've stayed in the Odeon area of the 6eme. I'm planning on staying there again in February. Yes, it' fairly crowded, but a good portion of the crowd is &quot;local.&quot; There are lots of students in that area and it's very lively. I'm staying, for a second time, at the Hotel Saint Pierre, which is about two blocks from the Odeon Metro station. It's nothing fancy, but at 75 Euro a night for a small double/private bath, it's not a bad deal for the location.

Have fun!

Stay in central Paris. You won't regret it as being located in Paris itself will save you alot of time shuttling back and forth on the metro to a suburb. What you save in euro you will pay for with your time. As mentioned already it's all a matter of personal choice, but to me, being able to stay in the center where I can walk out from my hotel to most sights is a good thing.

I think saying &quot;what you save in euro you will pay for with your time&quot; overstates the case badly. Once you have exhausted the sights within a few minutes' walk of your lodging, you will ride a bus or M&eacute;tro to somewhere else - so where you stay doesn't matter much from the commuting time point of view.

Just as an example of what I'm talking about: it takes 20 minutes to get from St-Michel Notre-Dame station to &Eacute;cole Militaire out in the VIIe, where a decent double will cost &euro;100-&euro;125.

It takes the same time to get to Antony, where the same accommodation goes for &euro;60.

As I said before, to each his own - but don't be misled by people who suggest that sleeping outside the central zone takes hours and hours out of your itinerary. It's just not true.

When I'm in a city, I enjoy going back to my hotel or apartment several times a day. I may want to change clothes (if in the summer and I've sweated profusely). We might like to go back and rest for a while after lunch, or change for lunch if we're going to a really special place. We certainly like to take a breather in the afternoon, and I always take a shower before dressing to go out for the evening if we've been walking in the heat all day. These are things that are more difficult and certainly more time consuming when you are away from the area where you plan to spend most of your time. Of course we could plan for a full day's outing from our distant digs, and give up the rests, the changing, and even the shower, but then I wouldn't like it as much. We do that a lot when we do daytrips out to other towns and cities. I much prefer having a home base I can pop back to several times a day.
By the way, in our 10 days in Paris last summer we did a ton of walking and visited a lot of places -- but many days we just walked rather than take the metro or a bus. We enjoy doing that.

I think you're spending too much time in your room and going back and forth to it, rather than taking in the sights. Except for returning to change for a night at the theatre or opera, we never go back to our digs.

But that's just me.

You miss my point. When the Louvre or Notre Dame is a five minute walk away from our apartment (or hotel) it's not such a bad thing to go back and shower and change when I'm dripping wet in July before I go sit at the cafe and have a glass of wine. But of course, I realize not everyone cares how they smell on the metro!

Yes. To each his/her own. I'm not going to risk being temporarily banned again for arguing unnecessarily.

&quot;I realize not everyone cares how they smell on the metro!&quot;

If one showers daily, one smells fine wherever one goes. It's bacteria, not sweat, that cause body odor, and they don't grow instantaneously.

NeoPatrick,

I prefer a central location as well. If I've shopped and have a few packages I prefer to walk back to the room and leave them, leave my camera if I've taken the pics I want, or pick up my camera if the weather's cleared, get an umbrella, leave an umbrella or get a sweater or leave a sweater, brush my teeth if I've eaten lunch etc. etc. etc.

For me, it's just more convenient, but as others say -- to each his/her own.

I stayed in the Latin Quarter (St Mich Blvd near Sorbonne) and only took the Metro 1 time (we went all the way out to the Eiffel Tower and then worked our way back on foot the rest of the day). Every place else we just walked.

Take a look here:
www.warwickwestminsteropera.com/

Lovely hotel in great area..away the the real touristy area of 5/6/7.

I've decided on the Hotel de Notre Dame. Now I'm concerned about what to do in the short time that I have. I arrive in Paris on Feb 16 at 8:00 a.m. and I figure I won't arrive at the hotel until about 11:00 a.m.(if there are no flight delays) So I really have only 2.5 days to explore what I can of Paris before heading back home on the 19th.

If you are looking to save money, you can find many excellent options in all categories near Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est, which are extremely well connected to all transportation by metro or bus. www.pagesjaunes.fr is very useful for checking for hotels by arrondissement (for example for the area I mentioned, you ask for hotels in &quot;paris 10&quot;. Hotels with their own websites appear on the list first. Of course, this works for any arrondissement.

For those people who think that the Gare du Nord area is sleazy, you should see the result of the complete renovation of the area in front of the train station. It has all been repaved and reorganized, and it makes quite a difference in one's impression.

&quot;I've decided on the Hotel de Notre Dame.&quot;

Drop your luggage in your room and head toward the Seine to see Notre Dame. Walk around inside, and if you feel up to it, walk up the apprx. 400 stairs to the top and take photos. If you don't feel up to it, just walk for a while. Cross the bridge to Ile St. Louis and get a gelato at Amorino and go down the stairs and walk along the quay beside the Seine. Make a visit to the Deportation Memorial on the way back to the hotel. Rest a bit and unpack then head out again.
If you turn left when you leave the hotel, Blvd St Germain is just around the corner. You could stop in a cafe for coffee and check your map and make your plans.
If you're interested in museums, the Cluny isn't far and is doable in an hour or two. The Luxembourg Gardens aren't too far away either, you could stop at a bakery or grocery and pick up a sandwich and cold dring and picnic in the gardens. Not knowing your interests I don't know what else to recommend. I always walk to Shakespeare &amp; Company bookstore on the left bank across from Notre Dame. It's interesting and has a fabulous of N.D. at night.
You can take a metro to rue Cler and see the Eiffel Tower the same morning or afternoon. Evening may be even better.
Ste Chapelle is beautiful and is within a short walk of your hotel, as is the flower market. If you like music try for a concert in Ste Chapelle.

Don't try to do too much, allow some time to just wander and also to do some cafe sitting. Just have fun and enjoy your days in Paris. It's an easy city to return to.

Luisah:

I was halfway through your post before I realized I hadn't written it! LOL! You hit all the same points I do when recommending this hotel.

Iboh: There's a nice street market at Place Maubert---around the corner to the left---3 days a week. There's also a good bakery on the other side of Saint Germain. We didn't take the hotel breakfast, went to a cafe instead.

I hear the pizzaria across the street is good. We stopped at his sidewalk tables for a nightcap or cappucino each night, but didn't eat. (I wouldn't do this the first time if the place is busy. Our 1st visit was late, we let him know we would be &quot;regulars&quot; if that was OK, and left a nice tip. After that, he looked for us each night.)

The bistro Le Reminet nearby is verrrry good, reasonably priced, open lunch and dinner Thurs - Sunday. 3 Rue des Grands-Degres, 1 4407 0424.

Thanks Luisah and JeanneB for the great advice. It's Christmas Day and all I can think about is this gift I'm finally giving myself.

We stayed at an apartment just around the corner from the Trocadero. It was amazing that when you turned that corner it was a very residential street, kids on their way to school, people in the Picard. I think if you consider double digit arrondisement addresses you may hit the best of both worlds.

I'm now searching for an apartment in the Quail Hill area of the 13th with minimal luck, but I will persevere. This looked like a great neighborhood to
&quot;come home to.&quot;

Good luck!

Hi lboh,

I think you'll enjoy the neighborhood. I stayed in the 7th one year and missed it. There are little streets that go off at angles, lots to explore. There is also a small grocery on rue des Anglais, just off of Blvd. St Germain. You could buy drinks, wine or other snacks and cheese and crackers, yogurt etc. and keep your cheese and yogurt in the mini bar.

Jeanne, I think we've walked the same streets. My daughter and I ate our first lunch in Paris at Le Reminet, I'd never heard of it but saw it listed in a &quot;Best Bistrots in Paris&quot; book when I came home. I had a stew that had a lot of meat but my vegetarian daughter had a wonderful soup.

I never ate at the pizza place but did have breakfast and evening wine at the cafe at Place Maubert -- a good people-watching spot. Also at a cafe on St. Michel right by the metro station. It was fun sitting by the window watching the crowd go by and seeing people emerge from the Rer stop hauling their luggage.

lboh, bring warm clothes (gloves, hat) for your evening walks along the Seine. Have a great time and post when you return.

Oh, I need a trip to Paris.

Thanks,Luisah. More good tips. I live in Miami so I'm looking forward to the cold. I used to live in NYC, so I have an idea of what to expect weather wise. I was in Madrid one winter and found it chilly in most homes and hotels. Is it the same way in Paris? Will I need warm pajamas and extra blankets?