On 8 mar, 02:19, jones wrote:
> Hi! =C2=A0My husband and I will be in Paris for a week in May. =C2=A0Our =
first
> trip to Europe and I have LOTS of questions! =C2=A0ANY and ALL tips and
> information is WELCOME!!!!!! =C2=A0I live in US.
>
> 1. Currency - what is the easiest way to handle this? =C2=A0Take cash and
> convert it? =C2=A0Where would I do that? =C2=A0I called my CC company and=
they
> charge 3% on everything I charge!! =C2=A0If I take money from an ATM using
> my CC, I=E2=80=99m charged 3% as well, minimum charge of $10! =C2=A0If I =
take cash
> over then convert it, am I charged a fee?
Use ATMs.
> 2. Hotel transfer - Our hotel is in the 14th district, we are flying
> into De Gaulle airport. =C2=A0What would be the easiest, most cost
> effective way to get to hotel?
http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/aeroports.php clic on =C2=AB airport
access map =C2=BB or the blue in bold words or =C2=AB RER map =C2=BB then =
=C2=AB metro map
=C2=BB.
http://en.parisinfo.com/paris_hotels/&OTCP_st=3Davancee
> 3. =C2=A0Dinners - how much should I expect to pay for meals? =C2=A0Examp=
les
> would be great!! =C2=A0When we went to Hawaii, I was so shocked by meal
> prices, so I would like to have an idea before hand! :D
I already had lunch in self service restaurants for as few as about
15-20 =E2=82=AC near Chatelet but I don=E2=80=99t go often to restaurants...
> 4. =C2=A0What do people generally shop for in Paris? =C2=A0I have a frien=
d who
> bought over 20 pairs of shoes!!! =C2=A0Is designer apparel less expensive
> over there? =C2=A0Any suggestions on a nice momento to bring home?
For, clothes, tourist generally go to Bvd Haussmann departement stores
(Galeries Lafayette, Printemps notably) in which are conveniently
gathered several fashion boutiques, including tableware of china,
glass, etc=E2=80=A6 (Daum, Lalique ; S=C3=A8vres, Limoges porcelaine=E2=80=
=A6), unless they
can afford=E2=80=A6 to go directly to the designers shops, following the
typical track : Champs Elys=C3=A9es, avenue Montaigne, avenue Matignon, rue
du Faubourg Saint Honor=C3=A9, rue Royale, Madeleine (wines and food
catering), boulevard Haussmann, rue de la Paix (tableware), place
Vend=C3=B4me (jewellery), Carrousel du Louvre (where you can have lunch for
cheap at the =C2=AB multi-restaurant =C2=BB Universal), Carr=C3=A9 Rive Gau=
che
(antiques), boulevard Saint-Germain (from place St Germain des Pr=C3=A8s to
bvd Raspail, Bon March=C3=A9 dept store. There are as well many small shops
in the central districts notably on the left bank from St Michel to
rue du Bac or on the Left Bank from rue de Rivoli to the Marais near
the BHV dept store. Often in Paris the shops are gathered by
categories in the same area : jewellery place Vend=C3=B4me ; tableware rue
Royale ; decoration/curtains fabrics place de Furstemberg, rue du
Mail ; art craftsmen Viaduc des Arts ; furnitures rue du Fbg St
antoine (but disappearing) ; motorcycles and plumbery items bvd
Beaumarchais=E2=80=A6 :+) etc=E2=80=A6 There are as well some Paris souven=
irs tourist
shops=E2=80=A6 near Montmartre, Notre Dame, Beaubourg, etc=E2=80=A6
http://en.parisinfo.com/paris_shopping/rub5833.html
http://en.parisinfo.com/paris_shopping
> That=E2=80=99s all I can think of right now! =C2=A0I=E2=80=99m sure I=E2=
=80=99ll have more
> questions to come! =C2=A0I did purchase "Paris for Dummies" and a couple
> other books but have found conflicting info so not sure what to go by!
> Thank you!
Avoid those with too many subjective comments and prefer concise ones
(like for more heritage concerned guides : UK Eye Witness or french
Green Guide for ex.).
> Edited to add:
> Electricity convertor!! =C2=A0I need one!! =C2=A0Where do I go for these?=
=C2=A0Do
> they work well?
By chance, I=E2=80=99ve noticed some US/EU (220 V) convertors at the BHV
(underground level)
http://www.bhv.fr/Rivoli-75004.450.0.html
> Computer use. =C2=A0We will not be taking our laptop with us. =C2=A0Are t=
here
> places over there where I can check my email?
Virtually all Paris is now wifi accessible. I went only twice... in an
internet cafe (3 =E2=82=AC / hour) : the one near Beaubourg on Bvd de
Sebastopol at the angle of rue Berger which is central for me. There
is perhaps a list of the Paris ones somewhere but I never looked for
it on the net.
didier Meurgues
> Thanks again!
didier Meurgues
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