[brucebanner]

Hi, All,

Thinking of going to Paris for an extended weekend trip in mid-March; Thursday, 14th to the Monday, 18th. Not too concerned about the weather, anything above 10 degrees is good. Something mid-budget.

- Where shall I stay? Location and, if you got a good apartment/hotel then that's good as well.
- I could possibly stay a bit longer ... what days of the week are good?

Everything else is secondary.

I will post back once I have it sorted.

[Grontor]

Its already warm there this time of year, pleasant walking weather.

Purchase a "Tourist Pass" ticket for unlimited metro/bus/RER trips for a few days.

Also, make sure you have a few Euros on hand at the airport so you can buy transport. Currency exchange at airports is always bad, but its especially bad in Paris( 15 Euro comission on a 60 Euro purchase on top of a low exchange rate).

Final tip, avoid the multiple africans attempting to tie a piece of string to your finger. I had to run away from them...I assume its some sort of scam.

Enjoy Paris.

[T and A Man]

Staying depends on what you like to do.

If you like food, stay in the latin quarter, there are a ton of great priced eateries between Bld St.germain and the river. They are all set menu, but you'll pass over 50 restaurants in 20 minutes, you'll find something. That's like the 5th and 6th arrondissements of paris.

I had a good vibe with the 11th as well.

Night life is sort of diffused aroundthe city, the sleazy bit is between the 9th and 18th, and some night venues inthe 11th as well.

Avoid the African gangs, particularly around the 18th, the bascillica and stuff.

For the metro I found the best was to ask for 'Dix-Billet'. [Dis...bill-ey] 10 tickets, the best way to travel around paris by far No building inthe periphique is more than 500m from a metro station. I would assert you don't require the tourist pass. You can walk from any metro, and there is plenty to do wthin the city you won't travel anywhere via RER.

My favourite city to relax, according to the city, there is over 100 museums and art galleries. The Louvre is amazing value for 10 euro.

[brucebanner]

I want to stay in a normal part of town with normal people. No hipsters, or weird people. Now, I see a problem here. In London, people in their early 20s tend to live in these hip areas and these hip areas tend to be full of hipsters - think Shoreditch - and are very dirty. Some place mid-budget.
Mind you, I am traveling from London.

I am still not sure where to stay, which is the most important thing, food is secondary. Wine isn't.

[T and A Man]

Wine can be picked up everywhere. I come from Western Australia, which is a premium wine growing region, and I also get it free or for pretty cheap. i can assert even the low end stuff of french wine ahs a lot of good ones. When I stayed in Montreuil, the super market had bottles starting at €1.50, and was drinkable.

You do not have to concern yourself with wine in Paris. Montreuil didn't have a lot of good food choices mind you, and make no mistake, it doesn't rain good food everywhere.

Now hipsters... well paris is kind of the original hipster town. The populace does view itself as having greater intellect, and pays scant regard to physical prowess.

You think of guys with assymetric haircuts, soul patches or goatees, skinny jeans and carrying a book of Boudelaire poetry while bashing Ameriacn imperialism.... it was invented there.

Sure, the copy in the anglospehre doesn't look the same, I would put that down to poor literacy and f*cked nutrition, but it is a diluted copy of the paris original.

I love Paris because I can get lost in a 100 museums, see architectual beauty and eat a 3 course meal + wine for €18.

Unless you're making pick up a focus and need paramount logistics for night game, I'd have a look at the 11th arr.