Hello all,
I will come back to my how to ride the Paris metro when I find the photos I was looking for. In the meantime, I just had a request from a previous tour member for my favorite hotels and restaurants. As you might realize, there are ALOT of wonderful places but I thought I would list my two favorites near the two hotels that I like. If someone wants to add to the list, I would love it.
Near my hotel in the 3rd Arr.
Le Pamphlet, 38 rue Debelleyme
I adore this wonderful restaurant. If you are looking for French haute cuisine without the price and without the stuffiness and rude waiters, this is it. The first time I went there it was decorated in traditional reds, very old French looking. They had a fire and completely redecorated the place and now very modern and the food is still to die for but for a fixed menu for 35 euro you are in for a treat. Be willing to try something different and you will not be disappointed. I have taken many folks here and they have all walked away in awe.
Near my hotel in the Latin Quarter
Le Pre Verre, 8, rue Thenard
Again, a focus on absolutely unique cuisine at fantastic prices. This one is really young hip and plan to stand in line if you are going at the normal dinner hour(8pm or later). I try to go when the first open and take whatever the special menu is. The wine menu is superb and not the traditional offerings. The chef incorportates Asian types of spices like cinnamon into French cooking so that they are not overwhelming but really unique and bring out the flavors of the fresh fish,veggies especially. Everything with fresh local flavors with a unique combination of sweet and savory and all with wine for 35 euro. A must go.
Happy eating in Paris and I will bring photos next time.
The Eiffel tower at night - easy to get to on the metro.
Paris is a beautiful city and one of my favorites, but it is a big city and you need to be able to get around to see its wonders. Taking a bus tour is really only good for an intro. To see it and experience it, you need to walk and take the local transportation; metro and bus. After talking with Don and Judy from my last tour (who were going on to Paris on their own), I thought it was time to write down some tips for getting around on the Paris metro like a local. The metro in Paris is easy, fast and pretty safe(only just a few pickpockets to be wise to).
First is buying the ticket. There are several options but I think only 2 are a good value for the average tourist; a carnet(”car-nay”) of 10 single rides and a Mobilis(”mo-bil-ee”) day pass. The Paris office pushes the Paris Visite pass but I do not think it is a good deal or very useful. Here are the prices as of now:
single ticket: €1.60
carnet of 10 single tickets: €11.40
Mobilis for zone 1-2: €5.40
If you plan on using the metro or a bus more than 3 times in one day, buy a Mobilis, otherwise buy a carnet. You can buy them in any Metro station. For the most part, the attendants do not speak English but the French is so easy you will have no problem. For the carnet “un carnet, s’il vous plait.”. (”oon car-nay seel vou play”) which means “one carnet please”. You give them €11.40 and they will give you a stack of 10 individual tickets. For the Mobilis, “un Mobilis pour Paris, s’il vous plait” (”oon mo-bil-ee pewr Par-ee seel vou play”) which means “one Mobilis for Paris please”. You give them €5.40 and they will give you 1 orange/white ticket that you can use all day. I specify the “pour Paris” part because the day passes are based on zones of Paris. You will most likely need only zone 1-2 which covers most all of the biggy sites of Paris and a lot of lovely wandering.
Next post - I will save the riding it for the next post as I have some great instructional photos and I think even a video.
I am starting this blog to exchange travel tips on getting around Europe and having a great time.
On Saturday I gave a class at PCC called 10 tips for a great trip to Europe. The purpose of the class was just to share advice on all aspects of planning a great trip. I think it went well and I got great feedback from all that joined me. I wanted to use that class to kick off this blog. Even though I run a small company, European Discovery (www.eurodiscov.com), I want this blog to be content where users can go to get and share travel tips to Europe. I have given this presentation at several travel shows, libraries, travel fairs, etc and it has been very well received as not pushing my tours but just sharing my love for travel and how to get around Europe both efficiently and with passion.
I head back to Europe giving tours in Aug and Sept and hope that folks will be interested in following my little groups travel adventures on this blog but for now I will go through the tips.
I will list them now and the proceed with separate blogs on each.
1) Where, when and how long?
2) Have a skeleton of a written plan
3) How to make the best of your international flight
4) How should you get around in Europe - Car, train, bus, etc?
5) Book ahead any “biggies” that may sell out before you get there
6) Plan in “free days” and resist cramming in too much
7) How to find the best place to rest your head
Finding great food
9) Pack light - Just do it!
10) Once you get there - ease up, enjoy and do something out of your comfort zone
The questions that I got from the class were great so I encourage the same online and I look forward to hearing from you.
–Ellie
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