Announcement of First-Time Visitors' Guide

[hughw]

But now a request.  Several new members, often going/coming to Paris for the first time have requested a resource that would essentially tell you all you need to know about such a trip.  Such a resource exists on the Italy Forum and is/was quite well done.  While we are a food not a travel site, I think we may presume that serious eaters need a place to stay, guidebooks to consult, maps to read and dictionaries (especially food ones) to carry.  So, I would be most grateful if all you old hands and some new ones who are asking the questions, would submit suggestions as to both print and on line resources and I'll put them together into something that will hopefully be of some use to the first-timer.

John,

I assume I'm one of those new members your referred to so I think its only right that I be the first to give you an on-line resource that I've found very helpful. It sections on France also lag behing their sections on Italy, but its still worthwhile. The site is SlowTravel where there are trip reports, hotel reviews, and even stuff about how to order in a cafe. There's another part of the site that's a user forum (like this one) which is also useful: SlowTravel User Forum

Edited 1/17/07 by John Talbott to add request quote that prompted this post

Edited January 17, 2007 by John Talbott (log)

[PatyGirl]

John,

I have been using "Paris e-guide", which is both a book and a website, www.eparis.dk.com.

There's a lot of info on restaurants, streetlife, art and architecture, hotels, bars, clubs, etc. I found it very helpful.

I've also been using the TimeOut Paris guide, but found that the information isn't always that accurate. I heard TimeOut has a weekly column in the Pariscope with good tips too.

Good luck!

[hshiau]

John,

The index that you've put together is amazing! Kudos on the great work.

As one of the new members that has requested information, these are the sites that I've been using:

The Paris convention and business bureau - incomplete but some great links and a good place to start

Heather's Secrets of Paris!

Provence Beyond - Great info for travelling all around France, not just Paris. I use it mainly for the maps and dictionary.

Paris Net - cheap apartments & hotels

TripAdvisor - lots of information and reviews. Take all reviews with a grain of salt.

Best Restaurants of Paris - again, incomplete but you can make reservations online

Chic shopping blog

Cheers!

Howard

[John Talbott]

John,

I have been using "Paris e-guide", which is both a book and a website, www.eparis.dk.com.

There's a lot of info on restaurants, streetlife, art and architecture, hotels, bars, clubs, etc. I found it very helpful.

I've also been using the TimeOut Paris guide, but found that the information isn't always that accurate. I heard TimeOut has a weekly column in the Pariscope with good tips too.

←

Thanks much to you and Howard and FoodMuse who started this whole idea off.

As for TimeOut in Pariscope, it was terrific but ceased publishing (in Pariscope,) last year.

[hshiau]

I have been using "Paris e-guide", which is both a book and a website, www.eparis.dk.com.

It looks like the website requires a password login from the book.

[John Talbott]

Several of us have been working on a First Timer's Guide: a sort of "What you always wanted to know, but were too……" etc.

If you have any comments or additions, please post them here.

Thank you.

The Direction

[Dave Hatfield]

Several of us have been working on a First Timer's Guide: a sort of "What you always wanted to know, but were too……" etc.

If you have any comments or additions, please post them here.

Thank you.

The Direction

←

Can we try to not be too Paricentric? Please. I know that Paris is THE place and deserves lots of attention, there's a whole country out there.

Meanwhile, here's a link I'm sure that Felice knows, but deserves to be in a guide.

France Festivals

Lots more where that came from.

[hjshorter]

We spent a week based in St-Remy-de-Provence this summer and found Provence Beyond very informative, along with Via Michelin website, and the green Michelin guide for Provence. The Cadogan guide was thorough and I enjoyed some of the tart observations.

[John Talbott]

Host's Note

Thanks for the new input. I will be incorporating your suggestions and won't thank each of you each time, so consider this as very grateful thanks before the fact.

John

[FoodMuse]

Months ago I promised John Talbot I would add my list websites that were indispensable to me as a first time visitor to Paris. Some are food related, some not.

Anyone else have urls?

Grace

Here they are, I hope they help you as much as they did me.

Paris Online Resources

www.Mappy.com for planning your walking or driving route through Paris and France

http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/index.php Door to Door directions for Paris. Type in your starting and ending address and get detailed metro and bus directions. This was invaluable on my trip.

http://www.ratp.fr/corpo/evenements/jfk/ buy Paris metro cards at JFK airport before your trip.

http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/pj.cgi?lang=en Yellow and White pages for France, type in your address and see photos of the street. Click A proximité under the listing to find nearby restaurants, boulangeries, patisseries

www.viamichelin.co.uk. Michelin guide online

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/cv_en/cartenoctilien.php Night time bus info

http://www.xe.com/ucc/ money converter

http://babel.altavista.com/tr for translating entire websites from French to English, translations are always spot on, but you can at least get the gist of it.

http://www.learner.org/resources/series83....398156&pid=758# Free videos to help you learn to speak French

http://www.dininginfrance.com/online_restaurant_guides.htm list of dining resources

http://parismarkets.net/ description of a few Paris markets

http://www.bonjourparis.com for everything else!!

[Jean Blanchard]

Really great information here. Can anyone tell me where I can find information on the kinds of things that I can bring back the the states? I know I can't bring cheese but are any non-refrigerated, packaged foods restricted?

[David Lebovitz]

Really great information here.  Can anyone tell me where I can find information on the kinds of things that I can bring back the the states?  I know I can't bring cheese but are any non-refrigerated, packaged foods restricted?

←

There was an excellent article by Janet Fletcher entitled Take It Or Leave It, which outlined some of the foods that can and can't be taken back to the United States. It's pretty complete, although since the rules change, it's best to check with the US government's various websites just to be sure (although it can still be a crapshoot.)

Definitely no fresh meats, fruit or vegetables.

Anything canned is generally okay, but I've heard a few reports of things in jars being confiscated, even though they're sealed. Still, if you're going to buy foie gras, it's best to get the stuff in the jar since you can check it out first.

I would check everything in a suitcase whenever possible. There's been second-hand reports about chocolates and other confections being taken away, but I think if that's true, those are the exceptions rather than the rule. Still, that would be an unpleasant surprise, to say the least.

[John Talbott]

Really great information here.

Eating, Shopping Staying is another place to routinely check aside from The First Time Visitor's Guide.

There, you'll find this compendium, especially this thread on customs/food regs.

[Jean Blanchard]

Thanks David and John. These sites are just what I was looking for.