Sightsee on Your Own!
by jclymer
All sightseeing in Paris can be done on your own. There is a Hop-on/Hop-off Bus that takes you to all the "must see" sites.
Never take a bus tour. Your time is not your own, and you don't always hear what the guide is saying. If a site has an "self audio" tour like the Louvre or Palace of Versailles, pay for it.
Take the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower for the view above Paris, and use the Metro (subway system) for getting around below Paris, when not using the Hop-on/Hop-off Bus! Visit the Latin Quarter for its narrow cobblestone streets, colorful quaint old-world buildings, and delicious little greek cafes. You'll feel like you stepped back in time.
Toilets at Altitude 95
by ChicBaby
We were a bit disappointed by the toilets at Altitude 95. They were very dark, the paint color and lighting was dim, dirty and it smelled like urine. One of the toilets in the women’s room could not flush and the floor and counter by the sink was wet. I suppose no one was attending to the bathroom that day, but I was hoping for at least a clean floor or dry counter to change a diaper on my son.
Bargains in Paris
by jumpingnorman
The "soldes" or sale is what you have to look for...also important terms for the savvy shopper to know include stock (overstock), degriffes (when designer labels are cut out), and depot-vente (resale)...
Which arrondisments to go to for bargains? At the Right bank in 8e, 16e and 17 e is where you'll find the resales. And street stores are also nice to window-shop at or really get a bargain --- at 6e is the Rue St-Placide (Metro: Sevres-Babylone) for shoes, Rue Paradis at 10e (Metro: Poissonniere) for porcelain, and Rue d"Alesia (14e, for overstocks)
But then again, don't spend too much time shopping because you'll miss the other beautiful places to go to in Paris!
Privacy
by Hamster_Huey
One of the most stricking differences for overseas tourists, especially Anglo-Saxons is the conception and importance of privacy.
Paris is a very densly populated city. People are always surrounded by other people, and it is not rare in a restaurant or bar to have to share your table with a total stranger.
The Parisians will completly ignore you. This is often misunterpreted as being snob or snotty. For a Parisian, it is a mark of respect and politness. Privacy is very important, because there is so little of it...
On the other hand, if someone talks to you in a restaurant or bar, it means that he/she really means it!
Packing List
by Aragina
Depends on how you are travelling, but suitcases or rucksacks are fine, but they dont have a lot of porters anymore and you will be expected to carry your own stuff. Airports have luggage carriers though :-) Paris can vary in temprature but in Summer tops and shorts are fine in winter good warm clothing. BUT!! no matter what time of year, keep you eye on the weather forcasts and get an Umbrella, :-) it can appear even on a nice sunny day. Just use good common sense and you can't go far wrong. You can buy everything you need in Paris, but make sure you have enough prescriprion drugs with you to last, if you do not belong to the EU as Medical costs are high and a lot of meds can't be bought over the counter, Paris can deal with any of your Photographic needs it may be a little more expensive than the US and Canada though.
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Palais Luxembourg
Sacré-Coeur, Paris
the lower church
Swan and Cross.
