Italy, Germany & France itinerary

[italia]

Originally Posted by BMW E90

For those that have been to Paris, is it better to stay near Champ Elysee or Montmartre?

If you plan to use the subway, it won't matter much as long as you stay somewhere within a few blocks of a station. If you're going to walk and take taxis, I'd stay in the 1st, 2nd, 8th or 9th Arrondissements.

The subway is really good and easy to use, and using it can be faster, cheaper and offer more flexibility.

On my last stay, my wife, daughter and I rented this condo on Rue de Grenelle in the 7th Arrondissement. http://www.vrbo.com/90672

It's walkable to the Eiffel Tower, Orsay Museum, and Invalides (WWI and WWII Museum), and a few blocks from Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche which is an awesome food market.

The beauty of renting a condo is that the price includes all taxes, whereas hotels have tremendous taxes. And you save money if you shop for some food at the market and bring it in the condo.

[BMW F22]

^ man those condos are super expensive!! We're looking at a few apartments right off Champs Elysee, few near the Louvre, and two in Montmartre. I was curious which one would be the most convenient for night time (just walking around, eat, grab a drink, etc.).

The 7th district looks good though. Just watched a travel video of Paris and Montmartre actually looks pretty fun! It has a small village feel to it with a nice square center.

[italia]

Originally Posted by BMW E90

^ man those condos are super expensive!!

Yeah, at $550/night it's expensive unless you're a family where your option is to get 2 rooms, as most Paris hotel rooms don't have sleeper sofas for kids to stay on. If you price 2 hotel rooms with taxes in a decent Arrondissement, you're over $550.

The 7th is kind of so-so for walking around at night (not great), and certainly not as lively or interesting as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, or lower 9th.

[BMW F22]

Great, thank you for the map! I'll probably end up booking either in 8 (off of Champs) or 1 and 2 (near the Louvre). 1 looks pretty cool because it's right next to the river.

[italia]

Best Arrondissement to Stay in:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...de_France.html

Paris by Arrondissement:
http://globetrooper.com/notes/arrondissements-paris/
http://youngadventuress.com/2013/02/...nts-guide.html
http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/arrondissements.htm
http://goparis.about.com/od/parisnei...ndissement.htm

Interractive Map of Arrondissement:
http://www.parisdigest.com/map_paris...dissements.htm

Frommer's Maps of Paris:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/paris/maps

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by italia

Best Arrondissement to Stay in:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...de_France.html
[/URL]

Frommer's Maps of Paris:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/paris/maps

Aww man. I was set to book an apartment in the 2nd arr but read tripadvisor most people seem to like the 6th. The only issue with that is there is nothing available...lol

The 2nd arr looks like it is within walking distances of the Louvre, Champs, and Notre Dame. You guys have mentioned that we could always take the Metro, right?

[RR-NYC]

I completely agree with trip advisor: 1st Arr and 6th arr are the two best in terms of staying in Paris.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by RR-NYC

I completely agree with trip advisor: 1st Arr and 6th arr are the two best in terms of staying in Paris.

Found a place in 5th and it looks pretty good. Of course it's a bit more expensive. Is it necessary to stay in 5th-7th? There is not many options in 1st.

[RR-NYC]

Originally Posted by BMW E90

Found a place in 5th and it looks pretty good. Of course it's a bit more expensive. Is it necessary to stay in 5th-7th? There is not many options in 1st.

You'll be fine in the 5th. You should be able to enjoy walking through Paris from there. I would also look at arr 8 as long as you aren't too close to the Champs Elysee - a total shit show that makes Times Square look mellow.

Arr 1 will be the most expensive on average. The Vendome area is definitely one of the most expensive parts of Paris

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by RR-NYC

You'll be fine in the 5th. You should be able to enjoy walking through Paris from there. I would also look at arr 8 as long as you aren't too close to the Champs Elysee - a total shit show that makes Times Square look mellow.

Arr 1 will be the most expensive on average. The Vendome area is definitely one of the most expensive parts of Paris

Thanks for that tip! Seriously, if I didn't post an update I would have just booked an apartment on Champs. I thought it would be nice to be close to the main street and walk around there.

What about 2nd? Found one that would be a better fit (room wise). It looks about a few blocks away from Arr 1.

[RR-NYC]

Originally Posted by BMW E90

Thanks for that tip! Seriously, if I didn't post an update I would have just booked an apartment on Champs. I thought it would be nice to be close to the main street and walk around there.

What about 2nd? Found one that would be a better fit (room wise).

I should be careful with my suggestions... There isn't anything wrong with the Champs Elysee but it is a packed street with tons of people walking around and mall-type stores. Its like Times square without all the lights. If you like that type of thing, then you will enjoy it. I find the quaint streets of Paris to be more appealing.

I stayed at the Marriott Champs Elysee for work a couple years ago. The person who booked it thought I wanted the Marriott when I requested the Westin Vendome (arr 1) which has amazing views of Jardin des Tuileries, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre.

From what I recall, arr 2 near the opera house. Lots of good walking and close to the north end of arr 1

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by RR-NYC

I should be careful with my suggestions... There isn't anything wrong with the Champs Elysee but it is a packed street with tons of people walking around and mall-type stores. Its like Times square without all the lights. If you like that type of thing, then you will enjoy it. I find the quaint streets of Paris to be more appealing.

I stayed at the Marriott Champs Elysee for work a couple years ago. The person who booked it thought I wanted the Marriott when I requested the Westin Vendome (arr 1) which has amazing views of Jardin des Tuileries, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre.

From what I recall, arr 2 near the opera house. Lots of good walking and close to the north end of arr 1

No worries- I appreciate your comments. I don't care much for the crowd on Champs. I just thought it would be more convenient considering it's the main street and Arc de Triomphe is just down the street.

I was wondering about the 2nd arr since no one seems to mention it (usually 4th-7th).

[RR-NYC]

Originally Posted by BMW E90

No worries- I appreciate your comments. I don't care much for the crowd on Champs. I just thought it would be more convenient considering it's the main street and Arc de Triomphe is just down the street.

I was wondering about the 2nd arr since no one seems to mention it (usually 4th-7th).

The 2nd is further away from most of the tourist spots you'll want to hit. Its a nice walk to get there but its still quite a walk. If you look at a map, 4-7 surrounds most.

The place you found in the 5th, is it near rue Mouffetard?

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by RR-NYC

The 2nd is further away from most of the tourist spots you'll want to hit. Its a nice walk to get there but its still quite a walk. If you look at a map, 4-7 surrounds most.

The place you found in the 5th, is it near rue Mouffetard?

It is in Rue Descartes, few minutes from the Pantheon- looks to be about a 7 minute walk to rue Mouffetard according to Google maps.

The one in 2nd looks to be about 900m from the Louvre (about .6 mile or so).

[RR-NYC]

Originally Posted by BMW E90

It is in Rue Descartes, few minutes from the Pantheon- looks to be about a 7 minute walk to rue Mouffetard according to Google maps.

The one in 2nd looks to be about 900m from the Louvre (about .6 mile or so).

Thats not bad at all. I don't think you can go wrong with either so go with the one that looks nicer

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by RR-NYC

Thats not bad at all. I don't think you can go wrong with either so go with the one that looks nicer

Yeah, for sure. I think the one in the 2nd arr is best. We might have a few more people tagging along so it would better accommodate us.

I just Google mapped it and from the 2nd to rue Mouffetard or Rue Descartes in 5th would take 45 minutes. Boy, that's a long walk...

[HFW003]

Paris is a very spread out city!

I remember the first time we went there we had some difficulty buying a "billet" for the Metro as we found the historical Frenchman who did not want to help us and thought we were Yanks (sorry).

My wife said "let's just walk, look it's just near the Eiffel Tower", two hours later we got where we wanted to go. Be careful!

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by HFW003

Paris is a very spread out city!

I remember the first time we went there we had some difficulty buying a "billet" for the Metro as we found the historical Frenchman who did not want to help us and thought we were Yanks (sorry).

My wife said "let's just walk, look it's just near the Eiffel Tower", two hours later we got where we wanted to go. Be careful!

Yeah, no kidding. On the map everything looks close until I Google mapped it. For example, walking from 2nd arr to 5th arr takes 45 minutes!! Sheesh...

[Soorena]

I wish i saw this thread earlier. Is there anything i could help you with?

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by Soorena

I wish i saw this thread earlier. Is there anything i could help you with?

I think we pretty much have our itinerary planned out already. If you have any tips for Salzburg/Hallstatt, Strasbourg and Paris please do post.

PS- should we go see the Residenz in Munich or Nymphenburg? We plan on seeing versailles.