OT - Anyone been, or know anything about Paris?

Fab, thanks.

I lived in Paris for a year, am so jealous as it's a fab city.

You've had great advice already, and I can't help with hotels as didn't really stay in any.

My 'insider' tips would be:

 - Go to Chartier Restaurant (Metro Bonne Nouvelle) - very French, quite cheap and fabulous

 - Walk wherever you can as Paris is pretty small (I walked across the whole city from Nation in the East to CDG Etoile in the West in 2 hours). Some metro stops are literally 2 mins walk from each other

 - Walk from CDG Etoile (Arc de Triomphe) down the Champs Elysees, across Place de Concorde and through the Tuileries to the Louvre. It's a fab route that takes in loads of good sights (and shops!)

 - There's a fab spot to stop and chill in the Tuileries by one of the big ponds - you can see the Eiffel Tower AND the Arc de Triomphe

 - Go up to the roof terrace of the Samaritaine department store as they have a viewing platform and you can see all the best bits for free

 - Another great walk is from St Michel down to the Jardin de Luxembourg, out the other side and then down Boulevard St Germain - there are two amazing cafes at the end (Deux Magots and Cafe de Flore) where Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir used to hang out. Great for coffee and people watching

That's all I can remember for now, but whatever you do you'll have a fab time I'm sure.

sofa leopard:

Walk wherever you can as Paris is pretty small

Ah, she used my line!  SL is so right - Paris is much smaller than you think, and it's so beautiful that you just have to look around!  If you want an art gallery but don't want to deal with the size and queues of the Louvre, try the Musee d'Orsay.  MrMG came out to stay with me when I worked there for 6 months in 2005 - and I took him to a winetasting afternoon.  It was fab!  Really lighthearted and unpretentious, definitely no swilling and spitting - we were encouraged to drink all the wines   I'm teetotal and I was a terrible state - but very giggly

There are often some really good street entertainers around the Notre Dame queues - so if you're passing, stop and have a look.  You can get a good (free) view from the top of Galleries Lafayette - and big famous department store in a lovely building.

When it comes to addresses - Paris is divided into districts, and they're numbered in a spiral, from centre outwards.  So the 1st (which I think is Arc de Triomphe area?) is very central, as are some other low numbers - certainly the 5th and 6th (where I lived) are.  The higher the number the further out you are.

Most metro lines go through a station called Chatelet les Halles (shat-eh-lay lay-zalle).  This is a MASSIVE station, and at night isn't that safe.  In general, Paris (in 2005) was very safe, subject to the same warnings as any other big city re pickpockets etc.  Tbh though, the warnings I was given about les Halles was more because I was a single woman I think.

It really is a fab city - you'll love it!

Thanks for all the info. 

This hotel is near to the one previously suggested, but with much better reviews (the recent reviews for the other one were not good at all).

Is this a good area to stay in?

handbag:

Thanks for all the info. 

 This hotel is near to the one previously suggested, but with much better reviews (the recent reviews for the other one were not good at all).

 Is this a good area to stay in?

I'm confused!  Which one do you mean?  Still the one at Bercy on line 14?  This is a link to the metro map.  Look in bottom right hand corner for the 14 at the end of a purple line - one stop up is Cour St-Emilion which is where that Ibis hotel is.  pPersonally, I think that's a bit far out - although will only be about 20 mins on metro. 

You might find the map helps you get an idea for where other hotels are.

http://www.paris-tourist-information.co.uk/images/maps/paris-metro-map.pdf

We stayed in a lovely hotel called Le Banke on Rue La Fayette (by Opera):
http://www.derbyhotels.com/page.php?id=1012

Good rates on here:

http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/banke.h ... 40d2a0f7ed

It was the perfect location, close to everything but especially to the Metro. We bought 10 tickets(in a lump) each on the Metro and used them everywhere.

We went to the Louvre on a Friday evening(after 6pm as it is open until 10pm on Fridays) and there were no queues what so ever. I preferred Musee D'orsay though.

We went pretty much to (and up!) all the touristy places and enjoyed all of them: Sacre Cour, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Sainte Chapelle (loved this one, tiny, old, quiet, hardly any tourists) , Arc de Triomphe etc.

We loved this rustic looking restaurant. It has a well deserved reputation of being one of the best restaurants in Paris. Go for genuine and very well priced French country fare:

http://www.ambassade-auvergne.com/internet/c_inetpub/index.asp

Sorry I forgot to add the link! This is the hotel I've seen now and wondered if this was a good central area?

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d230486-Reviews-Ibis_Grands_Boulevards_Opera-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

Will be making a list of places to visit and restaurants you've all recommended. Will be much better than turning up clueless of where to go so thank you!

Sorry if I don't reply, now going away for the week, but will be looking on my phone.

Thanks for other hotel rec. will have a look at that one too.