First trip to Paris in September

Hello,

First I would like to say THANK YOU for all of the information on this site. I have learned so much by reading this forum.

We leave on Sept. 19 and return Sept. 27, 2009. Super excited for my first trip to Paris!!!

My question is this. We are staying at Sofitel Arc de Triomphe. The address is: 14, Rue Beaujon

75008. This trip was planned quite sometime ago, and I would probably stay in a different area now. That said, are there any cafes and bistros a few blocks off the main area? After reading a lot, I wish we were staying in the Marais, Latin Quarter or St. Germaine. Any recommendations for that area (or close by) would be appreciated.

Thank you for your help!!!

Michelle

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This hotel is located next to the Champs Elysees you will find cafes, bistros, but a little more than usual! However I advise you to take a taxi or the subway easier to walk in the Latin Quarter or St. Germain. You have a pleasant street at metro Place Monge called Rue Mouffetard or otherwise in place saint michel (métro saint michel) this area is very touristy.

nice trip to paris!

Krys

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Krys...

Thank you very much for the info! Yes, I am beginning to realize that this area is touristy. It%26#39;s worrying me, but at least I will be in Paris! What about the the 17th and 9th? Will those areas be close and less touristy?

Can%26#39;t wait to be there.

Thank you!

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I wouldn%26#39;t worry about being in a %26quot;touristy%26quot; area - Paris is so easy to get around that you can easily get to %26quot;non-touristy%26quot; areas!

Enjoy your trip and please post a trip report!

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Paris 17, you have a lot of nice place, everything depends on your taste! montmatre you that you can visit both the day or night it is beautiful because you have the whole view of Paris. Paris 9 and you have Moulin Rouge, Museum Grévin ...

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Actually, this part of the 8th is less touristy than the Latin Quarter or Saint-Germain des Prés, because it is actually what we call the %26quot;golden triangle%26quot;, ie the prime business district, so you%26#39;ll see more people coming to work than tourists. The only issue is that because precisely of its prime real estate status, it is not really a fun area, hence, yes, the need to travel further east to get a %26quot;real%26quot; sense of the city. But remember that from a métro station to the next it%26#39;s only 80 seconds, so you do the math and realize that you%26#39;ll only be minutes away from Châtelet or Bastille.

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Thank you all for your help. This is giving me more of an idea of what to expect! Will there be cafes close by to grab breakfast? Or will our best bet be the hotel breakfast? We will definitely be using the metro!

Thanks again!

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We stayed in the 7th on our first trip, then the 6th then the 5th, then..... It really doesn%26#39;t matter. The metro or just walking will get you to so many places that you have learned about all of your life. Enjoy where you are and check out the daily Sunday or weekly markets to take full advantage of your trip. Bastille is on Sundays and you can get horse meat sausages and other esoteric stuff. We stayed in St. Germain and Hotel des balcones, a block from Odeon and 2-3 blocks from the Seine. Get up early --Paris merchants are up early as well -- and savor every minute of every day. You might try Paris walks, google it, and you can take a walk with a Parisian, free, but we made a good donation prior to our walk.

Caution--you will never be the same after Paris.....

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Big huge smile on my face!!! Thank you for the info. I just can%26#39;t wait. I have been wanting to go for sometime now. I told my husband, I have a feeling this won%26#39;t be my only trip to Paris. I am so absorbed in the details of this trip. Trying to learn a little of the culture (will try hard not to offend), a little French (my tongue doesn%26#39;t always cooperate), making lists, reservations, etc. Am just SUPER excited!

Thanks,

Michelle

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If you take the subway to Place Monge. When you come out of the station find Rue Monge and walk slightly north-ish [as if going towards the Seine. On your left in about 50 feet is Rue Lacepede. Turn left on Lacepede and just follow it till you arrive a large-ish square called Place De Contrescarpe. This is a great area. Rue Mouffetard run off the west edge. Masses of great restaurants in the space of about 200 metres. Lots around the Place as well.

Great area for people watching in the evening. We stayed in this area last year and enjoyed it immensely. Plus you are only about a 15 minute walk to Notre Dame

Hope this might help

Pete

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Re your question about breakfast... I never eat breakfast in a Paris hotel!

Most times they are vastly overpriced (last year the Hilton wanted almost 30 euros for breakfast!).

Another oddity is French hoteliers don%26#39;t want to waste valuable space so breakfast is often served in an underground cavern of a basement. While I will admit they often do them up quite nicely, the fact remains you are in a windowless cave without a view.

In Paris I much prefer to sit outdoors and have a double express and a croissant while watching Paris pass before me...

Just my opinion...

Rob