Where am I ?

Going to Paris for one week in May via my husband%26#39;s employer (yes - lucky us!). First time for both of us so I have a few questions.

I have no problem with the hotel (it%26#39;s paid for), but know it%26#39;s off the beaten path and not conveniently located with respect to the heart of Paris. I am trying to figure out just how far - time wise - it is from everything. It%26#39;s the Pullman Paris Rive Gauche 8-12 Rue Louis Armand. I understand it%26#39;s approx. 3 blocks from the nearest metro.

I have my must do/see list and will probably do the bus tour (getting on/off at our leisure to enjoy what we can, when we can). Can we take the metro to hook up with the bus?

I would plan to do some sight-seeing on my own while the hubby is doing his conference thing - is this a relatively safe area between the hotel and the metro should I venture on my own (I%26#39;m pretty independent, resourceful and not easily intimidated).

Any other recommendations (restaurants, etc.) and advice GREATLY appreciated. We are a casual couple and, while we enjoy fine dining and great food, we would not be looking for formal dress dining (business casual tops).

Thank you in advance for any help/advice.

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You are right beside the Periphique, in the SW corner of Paris about 400 yards from metro station Balard, which is the terminus of line 8.

I hope this link will give you a map.

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Here are a couple of good restaurants, right next door to each other :

La Chèvre et le Chou

235 Bis, rue Saint Charles

Maï Lan

235, rue Saint-Charles

The area will be fine and not too far from anything by métro or bus. Look at the RATP site for all the lines and connections. The hop on/off buses can be kind of a pain; with the buses, métro and walking you can do better and also save some money, in my opinion. Bus lines 39 and 42 are right there :

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/cartebus.php

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Sleeepy, you might want to try the free Paris walking tours if you end up wanting some company while your husband is working. They start at 11 am and 1 pm each day, and last 3.5 hours. There%26#39;s also an evening tour of Montmartre that starts at 6 and lasts 2 hours. I can%26#39;t remember the name of the tours, but you could google it and find it quickly. Or search these boards - it%26#39;s on here somewhere.

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Sleeepy, if you purchase a StreetWise Paris map (available at Barnes and Nobles)it has a map of the metro system and each Metro/RER stop is clearly marked on the street map. I like this map because it is laminated and fits into a small handbag. Having it at hand as you plan your itinereary is a great reference.

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You need to go out and purchase a good Paris streetmap...if for no other reason than to begin to acquaint and orient yourself to Paris..it%26#39;s general layout and the relative locations of the sites and attractions that interest you....and it%26#39;s not as if you aren%26#39;t going to need one once you%26#39;ve arrived.

In the meantime you can use some of the on-line mapping sites. The PAGES JAUNES site will generate detailed street maps of specific places and general location. The site will also provide Photos of addresses and allow you to take %26#39;virtual strolls%26#39; through neighborhoods in photos. As an exercise, use your hotel as an example--%26#39;Nom%26#39;--%26#39;..Pullman Paris Rive Gauche..%26#39;...%26#39;..Localité..%26#39;--%26#39;.Paris..%26#39;

In addition to this, you can %26#39;..tinker..%26#39; with the numerous features of RATP web site for public transportation information and routes in the immediate vicinity/area of your hotel...as well as throughout the rest of Paris. As an example: both the BALARD Metro station for the #8 ligne and the PORTE de VERSAILLES Metro station for the #12 ligne are both within easy strolling distances of your hotel, to provide you with two Metro routing options. There are also several bus routes (#39 just outside your door...and one of the most scenic bus routes in Paris--#42 from Balard Metro) that pass through or nearby your location.

RATP--

http://www.ratp.fr/

#39 Bus Route PLAN--

www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan.php…

#42 Bus Route PLAN--

www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan.php…

This stuff--and a lot more--is all readily available to you if you invest a bit of personal time and energy.

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Thank you all very much - this is helpful. I like the %26quot;virtual tour%26quot; idea too - I am a visual person(love maps) which is why I needed the boot on where the hotel actually was. I will definitely pick up a good handy pocket map. I%26#39;m sure I%26#39;ll have other questions as it gets closer and I have 4 friends who have been to Paris so I can pick their brains too.

Thanks again!

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You%26#39;ll get more out of Paris with a good guidebook, and this will have a map section.

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You can go to Google Earth and download the free software that gives you a real time recent satellite view of not only Paris, but individual addresses, shops,and other areas as well. It%26#39;s really easy to use. You can select to see hotels, restaurants, metro stations, streets, points of interest--all or any combination of the above. If you select all of them it gets cluttered but you can zoom in from the satellite camera to street level if you want. Amazing stuff to orient yourself but you will also need a street map for when you arrive. We also take a little compass for those wandering strolls down side streets in many cities, where time and directions can go by the wayside.

Your hotel is in the 15th arrondisement and it comes right up on Google earth. Not all that far from the Eiffel tower and close to several metro stations.

oprah44

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As noted above, it can be beneficial to %26#39;..tinker..%26#39; with the features of these sites. As one example: if there are particular shops, restaurants, etc. that you think you might like to visit, you can call up the detailed street map for the address and Print it out and paste it into your Travel Notes to assist you in finding the place once you are in the immediate neighborhood.