First timer in October!

I%26#39;m so excited about visiting Pais for the 1st time this October!! I am ready to learn as much as I need to know prior to visiting so that I can make the most out of my trip. I am still in the planning stages, of course.

So, right now, my biggest question is, what area/neighborhood should I look to book my hotel in? Any other advice one could give me would be greatly appreciated. I have read some tips from Frommer%26#39;s but, I%26#39;d really like some tips from some of you as well.

I also have a few questions about the Euro-rail. How fast may a trip to Madrid be via train?

Thanks so much for any assistance!!!

Scott

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Hi Scott,

Let me sugest that you consider

hotel in the 4th (Marais), 5th (Latin Quarter)

or 6th (San Germain de Pres).

%26quot;Paris%26quot; will be right outside or

very near your front door.

Many sightseeing opportunities

and excellent restaurants, cafes

and brasseries.

Best Wishes

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I heartily second Randy_Silver_Photo%26#39;s suggestions as to the best places to stay. In the 5th and 6th, the closer you are to the river, the more you will be able to walk to places you want to see - and Paris is a city which invites, even demands, walking, because there is so much of interest on almost any street. The 4th is arguably a little less central, but is perhaps a little less %26quot;touristy%26quot; too. For that reason it has become my favorite area to stay in central Paris. I like being in places where there are likely to be many more Parisians than tourists.

Paris to Madrid is a VERY long train journey. Daytime trains take at least 13 hours and involve at least one connection. The only direct train is the overnight train and that takes 13.5 hours to make the trip. You might want toi consider flying. EasyJet, oned of Europe%26#39;s biggest budget airlines, flies from Orly to Madrid.

www.easyjet.com

You could also look at Air France and Iberia who *may* have competitive fares, especially if you are returning to Paris.

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It%26#39;s so exciting to plan a first trip to Paris! My husband and I started planning our trip last November and we had our glorious week at the beginning of June.

We chose to stay in a B%26amp;B instead of a hotel and it was a fabulous experience. If you%26#39;re interested in exploring that option, check out www.bed-and-breakfast-in-Paris.com. If you want more details about our experience, email me at wyf4lyf@wichman.org. We stayed on the Ile St. Louis (part of the 4th arr.) and was a perfect location, 5 minute walk from Notre Dame, 1 minute or less from the Seine.

There is so much to share about Paris, so please feel free to ask specific questions as things come up in your planning. There are lots of wonderful people on this board who give excellent advice!

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Why don%26#39;t you go to the Latin quarter, it is a great area, there are lots of restaurants and bars. It is really central and animated area.And i can recommend you a nice 2 stars hotel located in this area called the hotel vendome saint Germain, http://www.paris-hotelvendome.com/ .The hotel is clean and nice, Well situated from steps to the Pantheon. It has good prices for Paris

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We just came back from seeing the end of the Tour de France, it was our second trip and we loved it so much we are thinking of getting a flat there full time.

First, learn a few key phrases...bonjour, bonsoir, merci, etc. You will find saying these with a smile will usually prompt some pretty good English from them. I%26#39;m sure you already know this, but NEVER enter a restaurant/store etc. and speak English without asking the storekeeper if they even speak our language. It would be like a German coming into your store and asking you question in German...it%26#39;s like, %26quot;what about me makes you think I speak German?%26quot;

To learn some key phrases, check out Michel Thomas French cd%26#39;s, you only need the 2 disc set, unless you want to be fluent. They sell them used on Amazon.com for $20 or so, and my husband does a great job thanks to them.

Rest assured, the Frenchies are extremely kind and helpful people, and they don%26#39;t hate us anymore than the next guy, despite what you have heard.

Try the 1st or 8th Arrondisment. We%26#39;ve done the Latin Quarter and it is pretty fun, but most recently we stayed at the Duminy Vendome in the 1st and it was fantastic. It was about 115 euro a night, with a great breakfast, clean rooms, big baths, TREMENDOUS location. Check out www.venere.com to find other rooms and you can narrow it by arrondisment.

Don%26#39;t get a shuttle or a taxi from Charles de Gaulle, you don%26#39;t need it. For 8 Euro, you can get the RER A directly into Paris. Their Metro system ROCKS!!

From Madrid to Paris is about 13 hours, check out www.raileurope.com to find out schedules.

email if you need anything, we%26#39;re getting pretty good at Paris and I%26#39;m going back in October with my mom, too.