Leaving in a few months for a week in this <BR>wonderful city for the first time... <BR>We are staying in area 8....sounds like it <BR>is around big shopping centers. <BR>I know this is not the most desirable area, <BR>but timing, money and availability has gotten <BR>us there.... <BR>Any info on how hard it will be to get to the <BR>action of the latin quarter, or any other hot spots! <BR>Any info on this area,,,,,,,( area 8)? <BR>We are staying by the Lazare station on <BR>Amsterdam. Apparently the metro station by our hotel closes at 8pm and on sundays,,,,!!!! <BR>Does this pose a serious problem or are these stations close enough for walking? <BR>And does anyone know of any good places for latin dancing?

The great thing about Paris is that metro stations abound. If the one nearest to your hotel isn't the best option you'll find another just a couple of blocks away. That said St. Lazare will most likely be your best bet anyway considering it's a hub for multiple lines. Getting to the latin quarter is pretty easy. You would probably want to hop on line 12 towards Marie d'Issy getting off at Sevres Babylone. From there catch the line 10 towards Gare d'Austerlitz getting off at say Maubert. It'll likely take 15 plus minutes considering the change, but it's pretty simple. The stations are well marked above ground, and once you get below ground line platforms (directions of trains, etc.) are also clearly marked. Getting around Paris via the metro is really a peice of cake. Sounds like you'd benefit from studying a metro map in a guide book. I'd suggest taking a look at places you want to visit and find the closest station to each, planning each day accordingly. Also I'd suggest riding the bus a time or two to get a look at the city above ground once and a while as you travel (only a couple metro lines have segments above ground). Good luck! Sorry I don't have any clubs to suggest. Paris is wonderful!

Mike <BR>I can't help you with the clubs either, but I have a file on Paris with other info; if you'd like to see it, email me. <BR>You mention that you have a few months before your trip; unless you have non-changeable hotel reservations, it is not too late to consider staying in another area. Timing, money, and availability can still put you in other locations, even locations in the 8th that are closer to the center. If you can't, don't worry. Paris is so wonderful that a little extra travel time can't ruin it, particularly since you will have a whole week. <BR>enjoy your trip

Metro stations are usu. open until 12-1 am except for special occasions or renovation, etc., so I would double-check that info as I just find it somewhat questionable that a major station like Lazare (which is a rail center) would be closed on Sun or at 8 pm. The RATP web site lists a few closings or reduced hours to due work being done (eg, Edgar Quinet is closed for a couple months), but says nothing unusual about that stop. In any case, there will be a couple other choices within a few blocks if that is true. I don't know of any shopping center over there, I think you may have heard there are large dept stores nearby <BR>and a lot of shopping opportunities (ie, Galeries Lafayette etc), and that is true so if you wish to do shopping in the main stores it will be close. The Opera Garnier isn't too far, either. However, that is not a very good location; areas around train stations usu are not and that area is right next to one of the main red light/prostitution/sex shop centers of Paris (rue de Budapest); your street is right next to that one, I believe. The metro system is excellent and there are many stops throughout the center city, so it will not be difficult for you to get places. As far as Latin dancing, that is hot, hot, hot in Paris, so you are in luck. I don't know much about tango stuff (I have a little info), but salsa etc is common--Latin Qtr and Bastille area your best bets. There are a lot of clubs around rue de Lappe in the 11th arr, you could just go over there and walk around and check things out--there is salsa at Balajo and Chapelle des Lombards, both on that street (near Bastille metro stop). La Java has salsa at 105 rue du Fbg du Temple in the 10th. On the Left Bank, a couple popular clubs are the Mambo Club, 20 rue Cujas and L'Escale at 15 rue Monsieur le Prince; both these are heavy Afro-Cuban flavor, I think, so there is merengue and Cuban music. I subscribe to a Parisian dance club org. that emails me newsletters and discounts on clubs, events, etc and they have mentioned a new salsa club called Los Mexicanos at 10 rue Papillon in the 9th arr. (which wouldn't be too far from your hotel), but I know nothing of it. These dance clubs get going pretty late, usually aren't even open till 10:30-11; I know the Mambo Club is open at 11:30. Cover may be around 60-100F. If you have more specific Latin dancing questions, let me know, I might be able to help.

Just one other thing. When I stayed in Paris (for a period of 5 weeks) I was in a more remote area, less accessable to hot spots than what you indicated about where you'll be. It really was a snap getting to and from places even though I was not in the best location. Transportation in Paris makes everything accessable. But with the time you still have to plan, it wouldn't hurt to scout around for a similar deal in a better area, otherwise don't worry!

Mike, it sounds as if you have not yet bought a good guidebook on Paris. <BR>I urge you to do so. Assuming you are based in the USA, I recommend going to either a Barnes & Noble or Borders book store. They will each have at least 4 guidebooks to choose from. <BR>Nothing takes the place of a guide book..trust me! <BR>In the meantime, here's a website describing the different arrondissments (districts) of Paris along with current events: <BR> <BR>http://www.webscapades.com/france/paris/paripict.htm

for nightlife you can also check websites like <BR>www.timeout.com/paris <BR>www.pariscope.fr

I think Mike is referring to the Liege metro station. I stayed a few blocks from this station, and he is correct that this station does close early and is closed on Sundays. It is somewhat inconvenient, but there are other stations within easy walking distance. I used to use the Place de Clichy station when Liege was closed. <BR> <BR>This area is not the most touristy area in the city, but if you are locked into staying there, I wouldn't worry about it. As Christina mentioned, you are within walking distance of the department stores on Boulevard Haussmann in one direction, and also within walking distance of Montmartre in the opposite direction. By metro, you can easily reach the Latin Quarter and other tourist areas of the city.

Fodors <BR> <BR>I'm sure Christina is right that metro stations don't close at eight. Especially not St Lazar, at a main station. If you mean Liege or Place de Clichy, then it is true that there are other metro stations a few hundred yards away. <BR> <BR>I don't know that about the rue de Budapest, but in fact it runs only two hundred yards, and your street may be fine north of there. <BR> <BR>As in London, and as Shannon says, if you get a free bus map from the RATP kiosk in front of St Lazare station, and sort them out, busses give good views as they travel -- and I think are less jammed than London busses at rush hours. Bus number 21 goes from in front of St Lazare station over the Pont St Michel to the Quartier Latin. Bus number 95 runs right along the rue d'Amsterdam, and crosses at the Pont de la Concorde to the western end of the Latin Quarter. The one day and one week metro cards cover busses too. <BR> <BR>You'll get an idea of likely places for your music if you open http://www.pariscope.fr, then look under "Musique". <BR> <BR>Please write if I can help further. Welcome to Europe. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR>

When the French say the Metro closes at 12:45 a.m., they mean it STOPS at 12:45. <BR> <BR>Last night, me and 50 others, mostly French people, got dumped off the 5 line at Place de Italie in the cold rain because the train driver decided it was quitting time. <BR> <BR>Instead of continuing to the end of the line, Nations station, he stopped and made an anouncement that the Metro was now closed. He switched over to the other track, parked the train, got off and walked away leaving everyone screaming and yelling at him. <BR> <BR>In dis-belief, half of us waited for another train to come but none came. <BR> <BR>Then it was out in the cold rain with nothing but a Metro map (try navigating Paris without a street map after losing your sense of direction from being underground). <BR> <BR>Fortunately, there were French people to follow, but a few of them looked as if they would just as soon mug you for taxi money as look at you. <BR> <BR>But there were NO taxis around at that time of night! So I guess they thought 'what's the point in mugging this guy!' <BR> <BR>After that, I decided to get out of town, so I headed over to Gare de Nord for a morning train over to Amsterdam. <BR> <BR>But a 45 minute bomb scare kept some of us from getting to the trains. <BR> <BR>The French officials assured me that the trains would not depart on time due to this threat and partial evacuation - they told me I would make my train - 'do not worry...' <BR> <BR>But the moron was wrong - the train left ON TIME. <BR> <BR>Paris has it's charms dispite its crappy workers and poor attitude. Still, I couldn't wait to leave - so I took the next train out of there and it happened to be going to London where I'm writing this from. <BR> <BR>I can't tell you how nice it is to be back in a CIVILIZED country...a country where even the taxi cab drivers are PROFESSIONALS. <BR>

Some metro stops have 3 or 4 entrances (like on opposite corners of the street) and one might be closed early or on Sundays (usually the one without a ticket booth), but the other ones are open.<BR>There are buses that run at night, after the metro closes. Information on all the trains and buses is on<BR>http://www.ratp.fr/<BR>I've never done this, but a friend from Paris says that at taxi stands there is a telephone that you use to call a cab. You can also get cabs at any railway station.

Interesting to read that you're worried about the 8th. I lived close to Gare St Lazare for nearly 5 years (Place St Augustin)--initially, I was reluctant about the area because I am a St Germain native, but I fell in love with a rooftop apartment with goldious terrasse and views! Well, 5 years on, I love the 8th! Sure, you're not right in the action = you're away from the tourist tracks which is not a bad thing. But you're so close to everything, anyway, Montmartre, the Champs Elysees, the department stores of Boulevard Haussmann, Opera, Concorde, le Louvre, etc. Paris is a fairly compact city and you can walk almost everywhere! <BR> <BR>Bus connections are excellent at Gare St Lazare and, as other Fodorites recommended, you should definitely get a bus map (free at any metro station): there are direct bus lines to St Germain, Quartier Latin, the Marais and Bastille, Arc de Triomphe, etc. It will take you longer than the metro because of the traffic but it will be a delightful experience crossing Paris and watching the "Paris bus society". <BR> <BR>The 8th is a good choice, after all . <BR>Bienvenue dans le 8e!