FranceFavorite discoveries or tips: Near the Cluny Sorbonne, within a couple of "blocks", there were several little art cinemas. We went to The Filmo, on a little alley off the Place du Sorbonne. It was a fun parisian non touristy experience. It was delightful to see the people waiting in line to enter the theatre leaning against the wall reading books! The theatre is tiny, with two movies showing, one in the Blue room, one in the Red. The ticket sellers are nice, happy to give senior discounts, and the seats are comfy. No food sold, no previews, no ads! Just go in, sit, and the movie starts just about on time. A second addition might be, and sorry, I don't have actual names or addresses, but along St. Germain and St. Michel there are some small take out sandwich places which are more reasonably prices than the cafes. The Monoprix store also has a small grocery section with prepackaged baked goods, salads etc. if someone is looking for a better deal. The cafes charge 19% higher for the food if you are sitting down! We found the cafes quite expensive and the food wasn't very special. (although the atmosphere was good). Ildi Varga in Vancouver, BC Canada 08/25/2008 Near the Cluny Sorbonne, within a couple of "blocks", there were several little art cinemas. We went to The Filmo, on a little alley off the Place du Sorbonne. It was a fun parisian non touristy experience. It was delightful to see the people waiting in line to enter the theatre leaning against the wall reading books! The theatre is tiny, with two movies showing, one in the Blue room, one in the Red. The ticket sellers are nice, happy to give senior discounts, and the seats are comfy. No food sold, no previews, no ads! Just go in, sit, and the movie starts just about on time. A second addition might be, and sorry, I don't have actual names or addresses, but along St. Germain and St. Michel there are some small take out sandwich places which are more reasonably prices than the cafes. The Monoprix store also has a small grocery section with prepackaged baked goods, salads etc. if someone is looking for a better deal. The cafes charge 19% higher for the food if you are sitting down! We found the cafes quite expensive and the food wasn't very special. (although the atmosphere was good). Ildi Varga in Vancouver, BC Canada 08/25/2008 If you buy a round trip ticket from Paris to Versailles on the RER, be SURE to keep your RER ticket. You have to pass it through the machine at both the entrance and exit. ALSO, the SAME ticket is your return ticket. Keep your metro tickets also until you exit. Occassionally someone asks for your ticket before the exit. There is a fine if you don't have it. Thomas Strayhorn in Snyder, TX USA 08/14/2008 Most places would allow you to share food which was good since the prices were so high. Also important to watch were you walked so as not to step on doggie merde! C. Haller in Longwood, FL USA 08/08/2008 Nimes: Look at A la Table de Clair as a restaurant addition... Place des Esclafidous, (04 66 67 55 61)just around the corner from New Hotel La Baume. Excellent dinner and lunch, eclectic decor excellent staff. ALso, consider including more (or anything) on Toulouse. Had a wonderful four-day stay there, used it as a home base to go to Albi and Carcasonne (hour by train, numerous connections). Found the city to be very accessible, lots of energy thanks to the universities and Airbus. Stayed at Hotel Castellane -- typical French hotel rooms, but with great staff and an owner who's happy to have some English-speakers to brush up his skills. Found a number of good restaurants and a nice place to wander. Ken Gooderham in Fort Myers, FL USA 08/07/2008 We had a great experience at a restaurant which is not listed in the Azay le Rideau section of the France guidebook. We looked at the recommended restaurant but the menu offered very few vegetarian entrees and the place was completely empty - not a great sign for a busy town in July. We kept walking just a bit further and found La Crêperie du Roy at 24, rue Nationale. Although all the family tables were already reserved, the proprietor and server rearranged two smaller tables to accomodate us. The menu had a wide variety of galettes (the buckwheat crepes) and sweet crepes to satisfy all our tastes. Service was fast and friendly, and the food was freshly made. As a bonus the prices were reasonable and they put up with our rough French with good humour - neither one to be taken for granted in the Loire! If you have a chance please check them out. Sailen Black in Vancouver, BC Canada 07/31/2008 Many French unmanned credit card machines (for instance, at gas pumps) are now only taking credit cards with "smart chips"--European credit cards have these, but US ones don't. So we found ourselves low on gas in rural France one Sunday, trying gas station after gas station that was closed (no live people there) but that had the "pay at the pump" feature, only to find they wouldn't take our credit card. So fill up when you see a manned gas station! Similarly, we couldn't use the RER ticket machines at Charles de Gaulle airport. Christy in Seattle, WA USA 07/23/2008 L’Assiette Champenoise * * * * 40, Avenue Paul-Vaillant-Couturier 51430 - Tinqueux - Champagne - France MaryEllen Brenneis in Fremont, CA USA 07/14/2008 My husband and I survived the French train strike of 2008!!!! Tip-carry lots of coins, as on some days the trains run, but all ticket ofices are closed. If you have coins, you can buy your ticket from the vending machines. Sheila in Albuquerque, NM USA 07/14/2008 My family are huge fans of Rick Steves and big believers in following the accommodations recommendations in Rick's Guidebooks and have never been steered wrong. However on a recent trip to Normandy France we did not follow Rick's recommendations but rather selected a B&B that received glowing recommendations on Tripadvisor.com. The name of the B&B is Le Manoir de Herouville which is located about 20KM from Bayeau in the beautiful Normandie countryside. There were six of us in our family group and although our stay was two days we wished we could have stayed for a week! It was exactly as described on their website - charming, spotless, warm, cozy, welcoming, great hosts, wonderful food, tremendous location and it is even prettier than the pictures on their website. I highly recommend that Rick and/or his staff review the Le Manoir de Herouville and decide for themselves if this establishment is worthy to be added to the list of recommended accommodations. Randy Barthel in Orland Park, IL USA 07/09/2008 The Amercian World War 1 battle in Chateau Thierry,battle of Belaux Woods, France should be mentioned in the France book. You have Verdun. My father was wounded there in July, 1918. It is near the Champagne road. We visited there in 2003. It was very touching and there is a great monument with France and US holding hands, stating friends forever. Although I was born in 1935, my father never fully recovered from his wounds and died in 1945. You can see how the Americans had to fight their way uphill just as in Normandy. I believe recognition should be given to th where the Americans fought for france in the 1st World War. Thank you, Ellen Martin antalmartin@comcast.net. It was while using your France 2000 book going to Reims that I noticed the Chateau Thierry train stop. I swore that if I ever returned to France again that I would go to Chateau Thierry to honor my father and all his companions. In 2003, I did. Ellen Martin in Southampton, PA USA 06/30/2008 Yes! If you are going from Beaune to Lyon, stop in Ozenay (off the exit for Tournus) and stay at Chateau de Messey (www.demessey.com). I hesitate to recommend as the place was so wonderful, I don't want crowds. The chateau is a working winery with cottages and a few guestrooms in the chateau. Family run, friendly and reasonably priced. We had breakfast outside looking over a brook with rolling hills in the background. Wine everywhere! Huge breakfast so you don't need to spend much money on lunch. If you stay there, make sure to have dinner at a small and charming restaurant in Ozenay called Le Relais d'Ozenay. Excellent food and not expensive. The chateau is perfectly located for doing the Brancion and Cluny tour. gail argenbright in beaverdam, va USA 06/28/2008 Marian Ziegler 173 Sand Springs Drive Drums, PA 18222-2027 (570) 926-1157 marian555@epix.net Marian Ziegler in Drums, PA USA 06/26/2008 Hotel Astoria, Carcassonne My sister and I stayed in this hotel on our trip through Languedoc last month. (We stayed in the "annex", across the street from the main building and office.) Your review was right-on. This was a pleasant and inexpensive hotel. However, we realized the beds were uncomfortably soft (a common problem with inexpensive hotel rooms, I have found). I remarked to my sister that a good bed-board would fix the problem. She noticed that there were some removable plywood shelves in the little closet area, so we pulled them out and put them on the slats under the mattresses. Worked like a charm! Wouldn't it be great if all hotel rooms had removable closet shelves just the right size for bed-boards? We put the shelves back in the closet before the maid came to clean the next morning. We thought the management might not approve of our little fix. Susan Hauser in Rochester, NY USA 06/11/2008 Commarque, near Les Eyzies and Sarlat If you're in the area, this magical medieval site is a must. Even the parking lot is secluded, and once you're in the lot it's a long walk through woods straight out of a fairy tale. Then suddenly there's a clearing, and the partially ruined castle is before you. When we arrived, there were a total of 3 people on site: a friendly teenager selling admissions, and us! (A few more visitors did arrive while we were there.) More than anywhere else we've been, this site evokes the Middle Ages. You're free to climb through it at will. Also in the site are troglodyte dwellings, which are millenia older. After your visit, there's the same long walk back to your car, and unfortunately this time it's uphill; but you'll be so mesmerized by the experience that you'll hardly notice. One final note: it's family owned, and the owners have ambitious plans that may rob it of some of its charm. You need to see it before that happens. Bob and Suzanne in Wilder, KY USA 06/11/2008 L'Atre Fleuri - Balleroy FR - very comfortable and welcoming country house. We were especially impressed with their knowledge of the area which made our stay perfect from restaurants to local sights as well as day trips... their advice couldn't have been better. The accommodations were comfortable and breakfast was as promised - excellent. Contact: The Stephenson Family; L'Atre Fleuri - 011-33-231 51 03 20 www.nighty-night.net The Smith's in Montrose, PA USA 06/09/2008 Paris Museum Pass is the only way to go! Avoid the lines and get the quick "pass through." At Versailles, even arriving before it opened, there was a line. However, showing the pass to the security person resulted in a personal escort to the shortest line. Bob in Norem, AZ USA 06/05/2008 We recently spent time in the Dordogne area of France. We selected a B&B near Salignac which is a short drive from Sarlat. There is a wonderful restaurant out in the countryside in Salignac, La Meynardi that is well worth finding. Our meals were five courses, Perigourd specialties, that were in the 65 euro range( for two ) which is impressive for this quality food. It may be mentioned in Michelin Guide. Susan Jennings in Atlanta, Ga USA 05/31/2008 Chenonceaux- Hotel Roseraie Laurant and Sophie really do an amazing job of making each guest feel special. The property is special due to its history and proximity to the chateau. The restaurant is wonderful and one of the best cuisine in town. They served the best breakfast in their cheery breakfast room. We wish we had stayed more than 2 nights. This was without a doubt the best value, best service of the three weeks. These two warm, wonderful, and hardworking people deserve to be booked solid every night. Laurant even had Internet service available. By the way, Laurant speaks multiple languages. Free parking. Hotel Rigourdaine, Brittany. You are absolutely right in recommending this location if you have a car. We stayed two days and found the hotel comfortable, the owners very caring, fair, and professional. The breakfast was good and made it easy to get ready for a day of rocky cliffs. The owner used nothing but first quality materials to restore a historic farmhouse and barn. Free parking, Free Internet. Chinon Best Western – hard to find and no elevator. The location on the plaza is charming and easy to find a good meal. Parking is around the back. Du Casino, Omaha Beach – These folks were not friendly and not easy to deal with. Breakfast was not memorable. The view of Omaha beach is dramatic but their lack of hospitality and high price tag would make us think twice about staying there again. Hotel du Dauphin, Honfleur – Travelers should be aware that the parking is quite far from the hotel and not free. Also that there is no lift. We found these people to be misleading and a bit low integrity in their dealings. For instance, we emailed two days ahead to let them know that we would have 2 travelers rather than 3. When we arrived I confirmed that he had received our email. We had originally confirmed three normal beds, and now would need only two. The nightly rate should have been adjusted. When we went to check out they said that since we had a king size bed (not requested) that it would be the same cost. The room they gave us was also on the 3rd floor, no lift, right on the street with much street noise in the evening and then again in the am when the garbage trucks came. Even though both sides had all the documentation, and we would have settled for two mornings of free breakfast, they did not comply. We would recommend that travelers avoid this one. Versailles- Hotel d’angleterre – You should clarify the parking situation. There is no free parking by the hotel. The parking and the Versailles Palace has no charge if you get into the lot after 7pm and leave before 8am. Paris- Our son brought us to a great restaurant that one would not recognize from the street. The onion soup, beef burgundy, fish, steak, and desserts were all fantastic and a very reasonable price. We went back twice. L’Imperial, 240 Rue de Rivoli, 75001. Thank you for your research and your books. We hope you will reward the owners of Hotel Roseraie and Hotel Rigourdaine for their fine service and value. CAthy graves in galena, il USA 05/25/2008 The Air and Space Museum.--Paris Le Bourget Airport. Lots of Airplanes including 2 Concordes and some rockets. Lots of visual airplane history. Early aviation and WWII aircraft. We totally enjoyed it. Takes a bit more effort to get there: Take the Metro to GARE Nord and then switch to Bus 350 . That is also the cheapest way if you are using an orange card. Phyllis Smith in Minneapolis, MN USA 05/20/2008 Battlebus Tours. The guides are very knowledgable (and funny). The tours are small (6-8 people) and go where the big bus tours only dream about. To stand at Brecourt Manor and look at the field where Dick Winters and the men of Easy Company took out the four German guns pounding Utah beach was a once in life time experience that I will never forget. Robert Schiffner in Moses Lake, WA USA 05/11/2008 In Bayeux - along the canal there is a nice walking path - it goes along houses/apartments, - nice path with trees along the canal/river. Very pleasant and safe walk.
travelfan in Washington, DC USA 05/10/2008 We hired a guide to take us around Avignon and the hill towns. This added so much to our trip. We were able to relax and enjoy what we saw without worrying about logistics. She helped us find good restaurants, recommended stores, and even let us know which were the best markets to go to. We went to places not mentioned in guidebooks, we felt that we got the most out of our trip. Her name and website:Laurence Minard-Amalou http://www.provence-exclusive.com/ She also helped us with translations. We have always wanted to go to the Pope's Palace in Avignon, and we really felt that we got the most out of it with Laurence Kathy and Mark Kelsey in Santa Clara, CA USA 05/02/2008 In Sarlat France: free wifi with a tea or coffee purchase at very central 5 Place de la Liberte, a place called TCompany. Better deal than recommendation in the 2008 France book. Harold Erath in New Orleans, LA USA 04/26/2008 Restaurant La Buissoniere, in Caracassonne, had the best cassoulet we're ever tasted anywhere. Recommended by Nicole at Chambres le Grand Puits. Open only for lunch. Harold Erath in New Orleans, LA USA 04/23/2008 Domaine de Moulin Mer 34 route de Moulin Mer 29460 Logonna-Daoulas France www.domaine-moulin-mer.com Kevin in Limercik, Ireland 04/23/2008 Dune de Pyla, Cote D'Argent, France. We were staying in St. Emilion, and drove an hour with no problem to this amazing naturally occurring sand dune, which must have been 20 stories tall. We climbed to the top, and the views were magnificent. My husband ran down for fun; I chose the steps. It was a fascinating sight to see and a fun day trip. Barbara Ricciardi in Denville, NJ USA 04/21/2008 Your guidebooks and TV series really do help out when visiting France. They don't make it easy for people who don't speak flawless French, and we were well bolstered by your information when things started getting weird - which they did! Elizabeth in San Francisco, CA USA 04/16/2008 We took the Chunnel from St. Pancras London to Paris. We checked our bags in the left-luggage in Gare du Nord: that worked out well. But be careful with the computerized screen which tells you which locker you paid for..I lost 10 euros in the machine and had to do it a second time to lock the proper locker. Our favorite non-guidebook sight in Paris (our second trip) was visiting the grave of the Marquis de Lafayette in Picpus Cemetery at 35, Rue Picpus (we took the metro to Nation and walked). (We stopped at a little grocery store to pick up some pre-made sandwiches and drinks and picnicked at the park at Nation. This was a necessity since the dollar has dropped, I don't feel like spending $40 for lunch. ) My son is an American history buff. However strangely the Picpus Cemetery was almost like visiting a holocaust sight. It was originally the field in which 1300 victims of the French Terror were buried. It was then converted to a private cemetery for nobility. It is only open on Saturday from 2-4 pm. You have to talk to the caretaker to unlock the gate. He told us to let Americans know that they need help caring for the grave. There is an old chapel, built by the Marquis, which holds a celebrated statue of Mary, apparently famous in the Catholic world, St. Marie-de-Paix, which was named as the icon for peace during WWI. Picpus was a quiet retreat after a tiring pounding visit to the Louvre, and Disney-like lines at Notre Dame cathedral. I suppose it would be appreciated by American and French history buffs. Once we were done with Bayeux, we wanted to get to Mont St. Michel. We had used only public transportation up til then but it was either rent a car or hire a car. We hired a car and guide from Normandy Sightseeing Tours which I found from the link on the Churchill hotel website. Our guide was David , and he was very good. He picked us up at the Hotel Churchill(we were able to keep our bags in the trunk), brought us to Mont St. Michel, then we had lunch in Cancale (by the sea)(Brittany), French oyster capital, for oysters, crepes, and cidre, then he drove us to the train station in Rennes to take the train to Tours. Elaine Cheng in Downers Grove, IL USA 04/05/2008 Le Mas Normand 8, Impasse de la Riviere 14114 Ver sur Mer Mylene Gilles and Christian Meriel Lorrie in Cincinnati, Oh USA 04/03/2008 Imagine Tours provides us with a wonderful way of seeing the historic sites near Avignon. They took us to to see the well known sites but also little known Roman bridges scattered around the countryside. David, who was our tour guide, is originaly from Texas so speaks English perfectly as well as Fench and several other languages. He always knew where to get the best photo. The first day we went to the Roman theatre at Orange, the Roman sites at Vaison la Romaine and we also explored the medieval village there. The on to other Roman bridges and Crestet for photos, and still time left to explore Gordes, and Rousillon. On the way back we passed by Bonnieux and the Castle of the Marquis de Sade. The second day David led us around the Pont du Gard for great photos, followed by short stops at Tarascon and Beaucaire for pics of the castles there. Then on to Glanum and Les Baux de Provence. The third day of our tours we explored Aigues Mortes and the Roman sites at Nimes. Imagine Tours took us where we wanted to go and gave us the time to explore sites we wanted to. Our itinerary could have been done much faster, in 2 days had we not wanted to explore the places we visited on foot and get a feel of what the place was like. I am a mother who took 2 teens to explore the Roman and medieval sites of southern France. They were enthralled, loved every minute of it, and want to return. Elizabeth in Sable River, NS Canada 03/31/2008 Dennis Simpson dbs228@comcast.net Dennis Simpson in Redmond, WA USA 03/30/2008 My teen son, friend, and I had a wonderful time exploring the walls and towers of Aigues Mortes. There are even medieval toilets built into the walls which I had read about but never seen. The medieval fortifications and perched villages of southern France are great placs for teens who love historical and medieval X-Box or computer games, to explore. They are thrilled by anything medieval or Roman. Elizabeth Benham in Sable River, NS Canada 03/28/2008 We booked Imagine Tours to explore the Roman sites near Avignon, the Luberon perched villages, Les Baux and Aigues Mortes. We had a great time exploring the area. Loved especially Vaison la Romaine, Aigues Mortes, and before we arrrived in Avignon, we had just the best time exploring Annot and Entrevaux , taking the Train des Pignes to get there. These are both medieval villages. Entrevaux has a castle perched at the top of numerous switchbacks that you hike up. Our favourite hotel was Hotel Beausejour in Annot. Myself, my teen son and a friend had a large room with 3 comfortable beds in a room that had the quaint medieval French atmosphere we were looking for. The bathroom was large and modern. Our favourite restaurant was Le Mathys Cafe in Avignon, 52 rue des Lices. We had wonderful inexpensive meals and good wine there in a quiet french ambiance. David of Imagine tours recommended the restaurant, and of all the resaurants we ate in throughout Paris and southern France, this was our favourite. Elizabeth Benham in Sable River, NS Canada 03/28/2008 New discovery, Restaurant du Terrior La Ferme Saint-Michel outside of Mont St. Michel. Newly opened Restaurant and owner (Annick) knows Rick and Steve. She formerly owned/operated the Hotel Notre Dame in Bayeux. Food was outstanding and restaurant is beautiful. You should review for France 2009. Whit in Wilkerson, NC USA 03/26/2008 We just returned from Paris and visited Musee Nissim de Camondo - and it was a hightlight for its amazing art collection, the chance to actually walk through a 20th Century home, and for the family history. Another plus - right around the corner from the museum / home is Park Monceau - an absolute delight. I think both should be added recommendations in your upcoming France / Paris book editions. Bridget Zappa in Mendota Heights, MN USA 03/24/2008 Lourdes Yvonne Jahnke in Oconomowoc, WI USA 03/24/2008 Paris Museum Pass rocks! We didn't save any money, but we were able to see twice as many museums because we didn't waste time in line! Helene Segura TX USA 03/11/2008 When visiting Bayeux, Hotel Tardif (www.hoteltardif.com) is a beautiful B&B located very close to the tapestry and the cathedral. When we stayed in February, they had a special for discounted subsequent nights which made it very affordable. Also the small grocery store that Rick mentions has great bottles of Bayeaux cider for just a few euros--a delightful souvenir! Geri Foster in Wassenaar, Netherlands 03/10/2008 Paris day pass for travel from Versailles to Paris and all metro rides is 9.3 euros. Good deal if staying in Versailles (we stayed at Hotel d'Angleterre which was very good). Jon T. Haugen in VANCOUVER, WA USA 03/06/2008 On a rainy January night in Strasbourg, we ducked into a tiny pub called Brasserie La Lanterne (5, Rue de la Lanterne, Tel: 03 88 32 10 10). It's clearly a beloved local hang-out for students and locals -- and a couple of friendly dogs as well! We were tickled to discover that, since it was a Wednesday, all of the fantastic local Alsatian beer was cheap. We even ordered one in the local style, with a shot of an orange extract in it (begins with "P" but can't remember the name). Be forewarned that this isn't a swishy place; you rub elbows with the table next to you, it's not quiet, and you order your own drinks at the bar. And the only food, as far as we could tell, was the pflaumkuchen so beloved in Alsace, brought out on huge wooden boards. But the cheerful and cozy crowds make this place special, and ee still treasure this accidental find as our fondest memory in Strasbourg. Erika in Santa Barbara, CA USA 02/18/2008 Hi, I came across a very B&B in France, it is not listed in your guides but I think it would be worth you have a look at it. It's called Domaine de Moulin Mer in Brittany. All the best, Sam Sam in New York, USA 02/15/2008 For France: If at all possible, the small maps on each area need to be a little more detailed. Some 'addresses' were only "Rue de Fluer", for example, a complete address would be more helpful and eleviate frustration. A MUST stay is 'La ferme de tayac', 24620 Les Eyzies de Tayac, in the Dordogne. It is run by Suzanne and Mike Lamars, with help from their son Paul. Accomodations are a renovated monastary, beautifully done, peaceful, absolutely wonderful people, we even walked to the local pub with them to watch the final game of the Rugby Cup. They provide a good breakfast and offer dinner which was fantastic! And the most adorable dog! Their website is www.fermedetayac.com, they deserve your business. Please check them out, you won't regret it! We could have spent a month there. In Nice, for a great dinner, 'Le pain quotidien'. The wonderful host is Stefano Romero, with a gorgeous waiter, Nicholas. Address is 1, Rue Saint Francois de Paule, 06300, Nice, telephone: 04-93-62-94-32. Liz Thompson in Ridgefield, wa USA 02/04/2008 L'Ermitage- Crestet France near Vaison-la-Romaine www.lermitage.net Contact@lermitage.net Beverly Clauser in Ramona, CA USA 01/31/2008 Hi, After several months of renovation, I have recently opened a luxurious B&B in a pretty manor on a peninsula by the sea in Brittany, France. I think the Domaine could be of interest for your readers. I would be delighted to welcome you here or send you information about us. You can find out more about the Domaine de Moulin Mer on our website: www.domaine-moulin-mer.com I look forward to hearing from you, Kind regards Stéphane Stéphane in Logonna-Daoulas, France 01/24/2008 I am surprised that the France guidebook highlights Beaune in Burgundy, but virtually ignores Dijon. Dijon is the "capital" of Burgundy and a terrific city for food, transportation (TGV to/from Paris, many local trains including several to Beaune which makes a good daytrip, and free visitor buses throughout the city). Dijon is steeped in history, has many days' worth of fascinating sights and museums, the best self-guided city tour I've ever run across, and one of the best market days anywhere. I recommend a great, moderately priced, fully-equipped apartment right across the street from the Ducal Palace in the center of town. Coco, the owner, is wonderful and the apartment can be booked through www.myhomeindijon.com. Charlene Hottel in Westerville, OH USA 01/03/2008 Rick I like your books. My wife and I have used them on our trips to Rome and Ireland. We plan to travel to France in 2008 and were given your France 2008 book as a gift. But I was rather surprised to find no informaion on Lourdes. Do you have any available and can you put it in the book? Gilbert Cisneros in Pico Rivera, CA USA 01/01/2008 Be sure to make a dinner reservation if you want to eat at a restaurant (as opposed to a cafe). It's considered the polite thing to do--especially in smaller restaurants, the chef/owners appreciate knowing how many they will be serving that night, and people that don't make reservations might not be told about certain specials that the chef has limited quanitites of. Since French restaurants don't expect to turn the tables over--your table is yours for the night--having a reservation also means you won't be turned away from a seemingly empty restaurant at 7:00, since the tables have all been reserved for a later time. You can ask your hotel clerk to phone for you, if you don't speak french. Chris in Seattle, WA USA 11/17/2007 Victory Tours - France 2007, page 245 -- Roel give a great tour! My son and I had a D-Day tour with Roel/Victory Tours last month. He was very informative. When we made our reservation I asked if he could point out the specific places a particular unit passed through. He did this with a person touch, he instinctively understood, and rearranged and personalized the day. He give a very good tour. Quentin Kenney in Germantown, TN USA 11/10/2007 Le Chat Gourmand in Avignon. My husband and I loved this place so much we ate there both nights in Avignon (and so did another German tour group we befriended). Great food. Very cozy atmosphere with kitschy cat paraphenalia (and we're dog people). Friendly, hard-working staff. Worth a visit. 84 rue de la Bonneterie. Kristin Dow in Shawnee, KS USA 11/09/2007 My recommendations are for a couple of countries since we traveled and camped for two months. Susan Gibb in Santa Ana, CA USA 11/02/2007 I had a great trip! There was one major discovery I had on my trip to France that wasn't in the guidebook but I would suggest you may want to consider. I visited France 10/11/07-10/26/07, and got caught for a day in the French rail strikes. As a result, I had to take a bus to Pontorson that arrived at 10:30am. That day the next scheduled bus to Mont St Michel wasn't til 3:30pm, so I decided to walk it. Thankfully I bumped into a Scottish couple that pointed out that there is a wonderful little bike/hike path that leaves from Pontorson and traces the Couesnon River to Mont St Michel. It was a bit h ard to find from the road leaving Pontorson to the north, but when I did, it made for an AMAZING walk. I had the path essentially to myself, and it was great walking over dew-covered grass, with the river on one side and farmland on the other, with the Mont slowly growing in front of me as I approached! It's a 2 hour walk, but, since the sites at Mont St Michel can be seen fairly quickly, and the time between buses can be big, I think it can be a great addition to a trip. in Cambridge, MA USA 10/29/2007 We recently returned from a trip to France (Paris, Normandy and Provence). We used your books on France and Provence extensively. All advice was worthwhile, especially the walking self tour around Notre Dame in Paris. One special tale: We scheduled a car to take us to the airport with Golden Air Luxury Transport which was listed in your France guide (Paris section). Unfortuately, they lost our reservation and we had to call a cab at the last minute. While we were en route to De Gaulle, our cell phone rang and it was someone from Golden Air apologizing for the mishap and offering to refund us the cab fare when we got back to the states. True to their word, that's just what they did. Even though we didn't get a chance to use their service, their honesty and willingness to make things right with us was very impressive. Jan and Bob Taylor, Mequon, Wisconsin Jan McFarland in Mequon, WI USA 10/22/2007 Using the guidebook increased the enjoyment of my France experience at least 100%. Thanks as always. Jim Reid in San Diego, Ca USA 10/20/2007 If you have space, give some history of the old hotels, like the Hotel du Musee in Arles. David Rohlader in Eagar, AZ USA 10/18/2007 Amboise was our favorite destination in France. We found the people friendly, food delicious and as Rick recommends a great place to stay a few nights and use as a base for day trips. Amboise Chateau was wonderful and Da Vinci's home fascinating and well worth the price of admission. Hotel Clos D'Amboise was perfectly located and reasonably priced. We had a spacious room with a large window overlooking the garden. Another favorite discovery was the use of the website viamichelin.com prior to the trip for planning our route. I won't consider driving, even in the USA without using this website. Susan Tucker in Ashland , VA USA 10/08/2007 In Vieux Nice, When Acchiardo is closed Sat.and Sun you can get a very good meal at a reasonable price nearby at La Villa - 14, Rue de l'Abbaye, Tel. 04 93 55 45 62 Joanna Olmstead in Anacortes, WA USA 10/07/2007 Restaurant Le Cottage 78 Rue du Petit Fort 22100 Dinan Great restaurant in the old port area - owned by the brother of one of your recommended restaurants and recommended to us by the proprietor of Le Manoir du Rigordaine (one of your suggested inns in the book) Laurie McCulley in Winter Park, FL USA 10/05/2007 Tip: Find a debit/check card with no fees. My local bank charges 3% foreign transaction fees but local credit union has no fees. Tip: Found the salads throughout France were among the best meals. Great variety and less chance of getting the unknown/mystery meat Recommendation: Stay at Saint Pierre du Mont in Normandy. Located adjacent to Pointe-du-Hoc. You can locate this and other B&Bs at www.likhom.com Albert in Clanton, AL USA 10/02/2007 We spent a Saturday afternoon on the Ile Saint Louis and that was great. We wandered into the Galerie DDG and met Nathalie and ended up buying a painting by Jose Salvaggio and several watercolors by Isabelle Auge. My "tip" is to spend more time at less venues and really enjoy those that you visit. Leave the "check-list" mentality at home. Russell Smart in Greenville, SC USA 09/11/2007 When visiting churches - take your binoculars! In large churches like Chartres it is hard to see all the details of the windows. I borrowed someone's binoculars and could get a really good look at the windows, especially those high up. It made all the difference to appreciating the images. M. Weber in Merion, PA USA 09/05/2007 Rick, we loved all your recommendation in France. We were in Paris, Aix-en-Provence, and Nice. Following your recommended sights - perfect. We used our time wisely because of your travel book. Sharon & Leo Marty in Olympia, WA USA 08/21/2007 Add a paragraph about Troyes to the France guidebook - Champagne region. We are living temporarily in Leiden, Netherlands and did a week driving trip following many of Rick's recommendations (Normandy down to Mt. Saint Michel and over through the Loire Valley for chateaus, Beaune as a base for Cote D'Or). Leaving Beaune, we stopped in Troyes for lunch on our way to Reims where we stayed the night. Troyes is a wonderful place -- old half-timbered buildings and a nice walking tour mapped out by the local TI. We had a lovely relaxing late morning and lunch and we delighted we stopped. The Champagne area doesn't have all that much to write home about but certainly a mention of Troyes -- especially if you are headed by car from Burgurdy to Reims might be worthwhile. If we hadn't had a neighbor's copy of an old BT guide tossed in the car, we might have missed a wonderful stop. Carol Emmett in Windermere, FL USA 08/13/2007 L'Isle Sur La Sorgue - As you walk out of the train station and get to the main street, turn right and walk along that street for a bit. There is a cute park with a church and waterwheel. It is very peaceful. The crowds at Versailles are terrible. As a result, I highly recommend the tour, which is of the private apartments of the kings. You get 90 minutes of no crowds! Having a car in Provence would be helpful. Relying on public transportation negatively impacted the number of towns we could visit. Arles - The bathroom in the Arlaten Folk Museum is very good. Heather Wills in Dallas, TX USA 07/18/2007 I found a really cool little bike tour company in Paris- Bike About Tours. The two owners, Christian & Paul showed me and 4 friends around the city on bikes in June, and we saw all the coolest areas. We stayed away from the touristy spots, and they gave us great recommendations on the best local hangouts. We stopped at a great local bakery for lunch as well and got a great deal! This little company would be perfect for your book. Derrek Jones in Wellington, New Zealand 07/02/2007 Please add La Roche-Guyon! We had lunch in a town near Paris with a strange building/castle cut into the side of the hill. We ventured up and found out that the place is called La Roche-Guyon and it dates back to the end of the 12th century. It had a huge look out tower accessible by climbing 250 stairs cut through the limestone in the cliff and virtually straight up! The kids were thrilled with the adventure and while the Chateau has little remaining art work or furniture, it still gave and idea of what castle life would have been like. The buildings were later used by Rommel Marshal during WWII as his head quarters. There was one amazing nook in the building which had over 1,000 cubbies used to hold pigeons! We are stunned that this is not written up in any of the guide books and are suggesting it as an improvement to Rick Steves book. Holly Moore in Marietta, Ga USA 06/28/2007 In our month long trip to Europe, we planned several nights in the South of France. We chose the town of Montpellier because it had good rail connections, and we found a non-smoking hotel - Hotel D'Aragon. We expected it to just be a base city to explore the region, but what a delightful find. We fell in love with Montpellier, and now include it on or list of favorite cities in Europe. It has a large town square (Place de la Comdedie)that bustles with activity, some remnants of medieval times, a pedestrianized zone and a lovely tree lined promenade. "Crepes de la Comedie" has a good menu of salads and crepe dishes, and they even place a carafe of cold water on the table. Montpellier was a delightful find. Paul and Karen in El Sobrante, CA USA 06/24/2007 Please include Toulouse, France in your future guide books. It is an amazingly beautiful city with much to see. www.toulouse.fr and Toulouse Travel Guide-Toulouse Vacations-Virtual Tourist.com Sincerely, Daniel Kolb Daniel Kolb in The Villages, Fl USA 06/22/2007 We had chosen Le Moulin de L'Enea near Sarlat, France for a six day stay because of its price (50 euros for a double room) and its visual appeal per this site: http://www.best-of-perigord.tm.fr/heberge/manoirs/enea/hotesuk.html. We were not in the least disappointed; in fact, the accommodations and pastoral setting more than greatly exceeded our expectations. We had an entire wing of the farmhouse to ourselves, and were lulled to sleep by a rushing stream that actually flowed right under our room (the L'Enea River.) The stone walls of the moulin kept us cool in very hot weather. The breakfasts, served in the garden, were tasty and ample. Our hosts spoke English and provided excellent tour advice for our stay in the region. Bottom line, when we finally had to leave, it was like saying good-bye to dear friends, even family. Best news of all,it is literally across the street (country lane, really) from your highly recommended (and justly so) foie gras farm Elevage du Bouysson. You would do your readers a favor by adding it to your list. It's out of the hustle and bustle and parking hassles of Sarlat, but only ten minutes away, right on the Dordogne River-castle route. Check it out. John Trainer in Nashville, TN USA 06/21/2007 The Rue Rozier in the Jewish Quarter of Paris is a great Pedestrian street with great food and shops. Eric Sorensen USA 06/18/2007 In Sarlat, we called the Allo Philippe Taxi to take us to the caves. Philippe was a entertaining guide and even managed to get us tickets to Font de Gaume caves without prior reservation. He speaks English, and will do individual tours if you would like. He knows where to go, where to eat, and what to see. Merci Philippe Julie Nelson in Calgary, AB Canada 06/17/2007 Hotel-Restaurant Le Cheval Rouge, 37510 Villandry 02 47 50 02 07 www.lecheval-rouge.com Carolyn & Daniel Manrique in Tucson, AZ USA 06/17/2007 Use the Metro in Paris...it is so user friendly! Kaye Peloquin in Lititz, PA USA 06/08/2007 We spent a wonderful week in Vaison la Romaine, exploring the Roman excavations and the Mont Ventoux. Our landlady recommended Barbara's cooking class www.cuisinedeprovence.com - we had great fun in her beautiful Provencal kitchen and learned some delicious recipes and also took a very informative guided visit to vineyards and wineries in Gigondas and Vacqueras with Olivier of www.wine-uncovered.com To be recommended! Nuggi Muller in London, UK 06/01/2007 Imagine Tours (David) Avignon, France imagine.tours@gmail.com Pam Rogers in Atlanta, Ga USA 05/20/2007 Au Chien Qui Fume Bar Restaurant, 33 rue du Pont Neuf, 75001 Paris. Great atmosphere, beverages and the best frites in Paris. Lovely service too. Next to Les Halles on a pedestrian street. Judy L. in Oklahoma City, OK USA 05/17/2007 Found a converted monastary right next to the cathedral in Chartres: Maison Saint-Yves. Offers free gated parking, nice views and elevator. A double with shower was 53.00 euro. Rooms were fresh, clean and basic. Maison Saint-Yves http://www.maison-st-yves.com h1 rue St Eman tel: +33 2 37 88 37 40 fax: +33 2 37 88 37 49 hotellerie@maison-st-yves.com Judy A. Vosburgh in Atascadero, CA United States 05/15/2007 Found a great historic abbey closer than the parking lot in Carcassonne: Notre Dame de L'Abbaye. It is just outside the Narbonne gate and offers bed and breakfast for only 17 euro/person for double with gated free parking! Basic room, but fine and nice people. http://www.eglisecatho-aude.cef.fr/maccueil/index.html ndaa@wanadoo.fr Judy A. Vosburgh in Atascadero, CA United States 05/15/2007 We rented an apartment in Marais for 6 nights (using vacationinparis.com) and absolutely loved having the extra space and living in a real neighborhood. Melissa in Maryville, TN USA 05/10/2007 We took the full day Victory Tour of the D Day Beaches with Roel Klinkhamer. You had recommended it in your guidebooks. It was absolutely great! It was the highlight of our trip. Roel gives lots of information and despite conducting many tours, he is still emotional about the loss of life and the brutal fighting. Mary Hamilton in Brownfield, TX USA 05/09/2007 Our favorite discovery was meeting Steve Smith at the Relais Medicis in Paris. Later, we with our friends, Betty and Joe Pullam, met him again on the grounds at Versailles. He was most kind and interested in our experiences. It was only later that we had an experience at the Relais Medicis would have loved to share with him. Three of us were trapped in the elevator for forty minutes. They called their repair man but he had trouble in the Paris traffic. Hopefully, you can pass this on to Steve. Overall, we were greatly impressed with the friendly and helpfull Parisians. Thanks, Frank and Linda Barry Frank Barry in Little Rock, AR USA 05/09/2007 For get the Paris Visite! If a Carte Orange isn't the best pass for you Paris visit (doesn't fall nicely between M-Su), it looks like the Mobilis pass might be a better option: Zones 1-2 5,50 Euros per day. For Versailles: Zome 1-4 9,15 Euros. Susan Steiner in Lake Elsinore, CA USA 05/08/2007 BEAUNE, in the Burgundy area of France held a special surprise for us as we discovered a charming Stone Lord House owned by Fabienne and Bruno, Le Clos des Saunières - www.bed-and-breakfast-beaune.com. This lovely family made us feel at home and spoke perfect English. Considerate, Fabienne, took care of our every need, prepared delicious meals, made a party with cake and sparklers for my daughters 30th birthday celebration, drove us to town, to restaurants and confirmed continuing reservations. The property is beautiful with the vines, pool and white horse. We enjoyed Cheese, bread, and sipped wine at a table in the grassy gardens with colorful flowers by our side. The rooms are very clean, decorated with antiques and modern baths in every room. We felt the price was more than reasonable at $150.00 a night for 4 people, including breakfast. An excerpt from my journal: We girls are planning our picnic dinner on the grounds of the Lord House. Afterward were invited for desert with Fabienne and her family. It is to be a celebration of Alissa's Birthday and the Anniversary of Cynthia's nine year kidney transplant. We toast to Alissa's 30th birthday and Cynthia and Fabienne's nine years of sharing life and a kidney. Their little son, Allan, plays the piano as we share tales and laughter. We are thankful to be together with those we love. Elaine Allison University Place, Washington 253 565-5665 Elaine in University Place, wa USA 05/06/2007 Tip, instead of a GPS I brought a hand held compass which provided a quick check of our direction. It is too easy to get turned around. I wish I had thought of this when in Rome. Ed Lien in Victoria, BC Canada 05/05/2007 This is a discovery - a gorgeous rural gite in Aude run by an expat English couple - Gilli and Mike. Gilli's an amazing cook, and they raise sheep, forage for wild foods, and have an extensive veg. garden. Mike is an avid cyclist, and they're happy to help people plan walks, cycling, or sightseeing. They've got a gite, as well as rooms in the main house. They're completely off the beaten path (with views of the Pyrenees from their paddock!) but close to Limoux, and Carcassonne. http://www.french-vacation.com. Gilli is my Aunt, in the interest of full-disclosure, and I've taken multiple people to stay there - all of whom had a gorgeous time, and all plan on returning. Joanne Richardson in Oakdale, MN USA 05/03/2007 Le Bistro Du Port, 14 Quai de la Quarantaine, Honfleur (next to the recommended Hotel l'Absinthe) Cosy Grill, 11 rue de la Poissonnerie, Dinan Richard Frank in Toronto, On Canada 04/26/2007 The afternoon tour with Bike About Tours was the most fun I had during my whole trip. I saw so much of Paris in one afternoon, and areas I never would have discovered. I loved Rue Daguerre in the 14th and the whole Pernety area, a quintessential Parisian neighborhood, much like the Rue Cler area, recommended to me by the guys at BIKE ABOUT TOURS. Danielle in Bloomfield Hills, MI USA 04/16/2007 Just returned from week-long trip to Paris and Reims. I speak enough French to get by (as well as fluent Spanish). 1) To fit in while riding Paris Metro and to head off pickpockets, I suggest that a woman wear a scarf. Almost every female has some kind of scarf, at least in cooler weather. Also, avoid speaking English, at least not loudly. The French themselves speak softly and keep a low profile, as mentioned in the book. 2) Carnets of 10 metro cards may be unavailable at smaller Metro stations that don't have attendants. I found the machine at Censier not willing to sell me more than a single ticket. Would not take bills or my credit card. Perhaps the machine was simply broken temporarily. In any event, the obvious solution is to buy the single ticket to get to a larger station, where you can buy the carnet.
3) If you miss a train from Reims to Paris, you usually can just take the next one -- but sit in unreserved seats (which will not have the ticket stubs placed overhead). We missed a morning train because we were unaware that the clocks had moved ahead an hour. Also, you can change your train ticket by machine, but NOT if you already have validated it in the yellow box. Even though I had validated ours before I was aware of the time error, we just used our old tickets for the next train and were able to stay on in our unreserved second class seats without paying any extra.
4) If you buy train tickets at Gare du Nord for a trip that is NOT same day, you must do so in the interior room. I got a special discount for staying over a Saturday night in Reims. Well, my French was good enough to find out the train pointers from the locals and train personnel.
5) We ate at both recommended restaurants in Montmartre in Paris. At the inexpensive one, L'Ete En Pente Douce, the quiche bleu was delicious -- much better than the quiche vegeterienne aux champignons. One might want to choose a covered table on the patio, as it started to rain and we had to move while we were there. At the more expensive restaurant (Chez Plumeaux?), I did not think that the service was indifferent but simply thought that the single waiter was extremely busy since he was handling both inside and outside.
6) To save money on wine, buy it at the grocery where the locals do -- not in the expensive touristy wine shops.
7) Chez Maitre Paul was a wonderful restaurant in Paris. Near Odeon metro. Try the free range chicken in cream sauce. Mary B. White in Alexandria, VA USA 04/06/2007 My husband and I are in our twenties and could not afford to do any traveling out of the country till this year. Though I had seen Rick Steves on PBS many times while channel surfing, I never really thought to watch...he was for older folks, I thought. When we began to research our trip to France we looked into several more “modern” and “younger” travel guides but were not compelled to purchase any. Your guide was in every bookstore we went, and in every one we ignored it till finally we had to pick it up and leaf thru it because our selections were running out. I have to say, you had me at “IPOD audio guides”. We were instantly hooked and ravished the whole guide in a few of days. Our trip for two turned into an adventure for four as another couple friend decided our itinerary was too good to pass up. Our ten day trip took us to Paris, the Loire Valley, Mont. St. Michelle and along the coast of Normandy. Your audio guides were d’bomb!! Each of us had our own IPod and enjoyed listening to you all along the way. When we got to the Louvre, our batteries were low and thought we could do it on our own. But alas, we started on the wrong wing, learned nothing about the important artwork we were seeing and got to the Mona Lisa tired of walking, tired of the crowds, and at our wits end. We did not head out to Versailles till we powered our IPods the next day. Afterwards, we lamented paying up to 10 euros apiece for a dry audio tour of a Chateau or some other museum or landmark. You HAVE to make more of these!!!! Sell them if you have to. We all agreed that we would have gladly paid for the audio tours. Two days after our return, I was once again channel surfing and suddenly, there you were…in France, walking where we had been and eating where we had sat. Thank you so much for helping us young folk have a very grown up adventure!!!!! Ana Martinez in Miami, FL USA 04/03/2007 Best Italian Coffee and Gelato in Paris (and also in my life!!):POZZETTO in the Marais, run by real neat Italians www.pozzetto.biz lucy andrew in st. paul, mi USA 03/11/2007 As you publish travelling guide books, I thought that this special World Heritage project would interest you. A free night in a UNESCO’s classified city’s youth hostel is part of a special program for citizens from a member city of the Organisation of World Heritage Cities, in collaboration with Hostelling International. Free nights in Youth Hostels! You are interested in world heritage cities? Youth Hostels, a Passport to World Heritage Cities is a new project made for a better understanding of our universal Heritage. Please click here http://www.hihostels.com/web/heritage and learn more about a 2nd night free in youth hostels. The programme Youth Hostels - A passport to World Heritage Cities is an initiative of Hostelling International (HI) and the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC). Spread the word in your books! Participating youth hostels so far : Cancale, Strasbourg, Carcassonne, Paris-Clichy, Lyon, Lübeck, Namur, Mexico, Sucre, Québec. antoine gauthier in Québec, QC Canada 03/05/2007 B&B Ferme de Tayac, Voted the nicest Bed & Breakfast (B&B) in the Dordogne 2 years running. B&B "Ferme de Tayac". http://fermedetayac.com The most loved and talked about B&B in the Dordogne. "Ferme de Tayac", a beautiful 12th century former farmhouse / monastery situated next to St. Martin, the fortified church of the lovely peaceful village Tayac, and 1km from Les Eyzies known as the "Prehistoric Capital" of the world. For hundreds of years "Ferme de Tayac" was worked by the Monks, and with all of it's authentic buildings,ruins, rooms carved into the rock, meter thick fortified walls and original oak beam construction, it's no wonder that "Ferme de Tayac" is a much loved and talked about B&B. The bedrooms at "Ferme de Tayac" are former Monks quarters, all with lovely peaceful views of the valley and the many Prehistoric dwellings in the cliffs rock face. The Vezere valley in the "Black Perigord",where "Ferme de Tayac" is situated is known to be the most beautiful region of France,and with more than 250 UNESCO sites, has earned title of being the Prehistoric Capital of the World. B&B "Ferme de Tayac" is the ideal place to stay whilst exploring and enjoying everything this amazingly beautiful area has to offer. All the main attractions (and there are LOTS of them) are within 20 minutes from "Ferme de Tayac", some are even in walking distance, and one of them is "Ferme de Tayac". http://fermedetayac.com
Paul in Boca Raton, FL USA 03/04/2007 I highly recommend the 90-minute English language as the first thing to do tour of the Louvre (which is downplayed in the book). The museum is so big that we found a guide leading us around to be a great way to make sure that we saw all of the "essential" works. The also have a great system where the guide wears a microphone and the groups wears headphones, so you can hear the guide even if you're in the back or the museum is crowded. I usually suffer from museum fatigue after several hours in a place, but we devoted 6 hours to the Louvre and at the end, I still wanted more! Seth Resler in Providence, RI USA 02/25/2007 B & B - Château Andelot: We discovered this lovely B&B while driving through the French countryside on our way from the Burgundy region to Geneva, Switzerland. It’s a refurbished 12th century château that sits on a hilltop in the Jura Mountains. This part of France is a bit off the beaten path, but we enjoyed this quiet and romantic little gem so much, we ended up spending an extra couple of days before continuing on to Switzerland. Our room had views of Mont Blanc in the distance and Geneva was only an hour and a half away. It would also be an excellent place to stay if touring the “Routes des Vins” in Burgundy/Beaujolais or if you wanted to break up your trip while driving to the south of France. Lisa Kluck in Chicago, IL USA 02/18/2007 Pozzetto Gelato beats Amorino's sweet tooth-aching stuff. If you eat with your eyes you may be impressed by the construction of your cone but if you want to feel the smell (yes, the smell) and taste of a white peach...well Pozzetto in rue du Roi de Sicile is the king. PS: don't miss the coffee either. Wish I could get some of that in Detroit. Ricky Cunningham in Detroit, MI USA 01/12/2007 If you are travelling to Colmar, look into The Rapp hotel. Great location, wonderful rooms, delicious breakfast buffet, and such a fun recreation area in the basement...pool, steam room and sauna. One of our favorite places we stayed on our two week trip to England and France! Smith Family in rancho cucamonga, ca USA 01/07/2007 D-Day beach travellers...check out OVERLORD TOURS! We had the most wonderful Band of Brothers/D-Day beach tour over the Thanksgiving holiday week. For 430 euros, their tour guide, Oliver, picked up our family of 7 (5 children, 2 adults) up from our hotel in a wonderfully comfortable van and gave us the most WONDERFUL tour from 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. It was an unforgetable experience and I would highly recommend their tours. Thank you, Oliver, and Overlord Tours! Smith Family in rancho cucamonga, ca USA 01/07/2007 Megaliths of Carnac, the "French Stonehenge," located on the south coast of Brittany (NW France, between Brest and Nantes). Calvin Hilton in Jacksonville, FL USA 12/26/2006 The Museum Pass is an absolute must! Unless you are young and very fit,...do not try to use the Metro with a lot of luggage....some of the transfer points require a great amount of walking and stair climbing. Musee des Arts Decoratifs was phenomenal. Furnishings from medieval times to the present. L'Orangerie deserves a higher rating than given in the guide....excellent!!!!! Hotel du Palais Bourbon Rue de Bourgogne ...absolutely perfect location in the 7th and reasonably priced, friendly and very helpful staff. suzanne krueger USA 12/07/2006 In Arles, the Restaurant Pizzeria L'Ecrin has the best wood-oven pizza we've ever had. It's located just across the street from the northeast corner of the Arena. Roger McClurg in Portland, OR USA 12/07/2006 When we stayed outside Bordeaux, we drove down to the Archachon Basin. Les Bateliers du Archachon is a great place for birders. The Basin has small villages with beaches and fishing boats. Along the Dordogne River, Les Jardin de Marqueyssac (near Beynac) is lovely, good walking and views. Tip: If you use a wash cloth, take one. None available at any hotel. Also, if you want a room with a shower, ask for a room with a "douche". Tubs are fine but no grab bars for older folks and no place to hang the hose up on the wall. Sally Griffin in Chevy Chase, MD USA 11/21/2006 If you plan on staying at Hotel Mercure in Nice which we found in the Guidebook, please note that there are 7 Hotel Mercures. It is a chain. We went to the wrong one. Be sure you get good directions. Also, Hotel Bristol in Avignon was great! 44, Cours Jean Jaures, tel 0490164848, email: contact@bristol-avignon.com. $107.00 Euros for 2 persons with a lovely room and a very helpful staff. I would highly recommend it. The hotel was very nice, right across from the water and close to Cours Saleya. Rosemary Gomez in Sunnyvale, CA USA 11/16/2006 We stayed at Le Chateau d'Etoges in Etoges-just outside Epernay and just loved it. Lovely chateau, lovely restaurant and georgeous scenery all around. Kathy Gabin in Natrona Heights, PA USA 11/15/2006 I recommend hotel de digoine in ardeche rhone valley Francenear the ardeche river canyon which tells the journey of a french merchant by the siklroads. You should visit the website at www.digoine.com Smith in LOndon , UK 11/08/2006 In Arles at the big roundpoint by the Monoprix store that you pass to get from the rail station to Le Calendal, there is a monument to 2 American pilots from the USAAF. The monument was erected on 8 May 2002 in grateful recognition from the people of Arles to the two pilots who were killed in the battle for the liberation of Arles. The pilots, Lt William J. Tippett and Lt Walter C. McConnell Jr were killed in action on 14 August 1944. We are Canadian but we found the monument to be a very touching tribute that would likely be of great interest to many of your American travellers. By the way, the guidebook (France 2006)is great and we had a super time following your recommendations! RAd and Ada Arthur in North Saanich, BC Canada 11/03/2006 About: Château de Belcastel was built 1000 years ago on a gigantic rock overlooking the Aveyron region of France. The rich history of the Château Belcastel begins with a ninth century chapel, and it stands today as a tribute to the vision of renowned architect Fernand Pouillon, who worked for eight full years on the restoration of this enchanting historical landmark. This fortress is open to the public. Superb views and a medieval stone sanctuary in a garden above the moat provide a wonderful vantage point from which to see afar, and the tremendous carp in the medieval moat system that encircles the Château below. Visit the numerous galleries (curated by ANIMAZING GALLERY in SoHo,) now at the Château Belcastel. Current exhibits include original works by Dr. Seuss & Charles Schulz, as well as Original animation art from “Asterix Conquers America”. For visitors to see: Historical architecture, sophisticated animation and illustration art galleries, and guided Château tours. Available for: private events, tower suite, print photography, and film & commercial shoots.
Château de Belcastel 12390 Belcastel FRANCE Phone: 33 (0)5 65 64 42 16 Email:info@ChateauBelcastel.com Website: www.chateaubelcastel.com Whitney Morris in New York, NY USA 11/02/2006 For all visiting Normandy for WWII sights, please realize that it is the American Commission that funds and maintains all the US WWII military cemeteries there. However, the French did give the land in perpetuity. I had been misinformed for years. I just spent two thought-provoking days there. JS USA 10/22/2006 Lyon:Eating: On the Presqu'ile: Le Bouchon aux Vins: I recommend checking out the toilets for their surprising view.go out of some big kettles at the Part Dieu Carfours supermarket. Gary Johnson in Livermore, CA USA 10/21/2006 Taxi Corrine, Beynac. Corrine is friendly, helpful and eager to provide service to tourists. She also speaks some english. Tel: 06 72 76 03 32 or Tel:05 53 29 42 07. e-mail: corrine.broqui@wanadoo.fr Jane 10/18/2006 At Amboise, we stayed at the recommended Manoir des Minimes. However, Rick does not indiate that there are actually two levels of rooms, with the less expensive rooms being converted attic spaces and thus, encumbered by the slanting roof. Consequently, as someone close to six feet tall, I found our room quite constraining. The Guidebook should indicate this information. Also, the Chateau de Prayeur is definitely the restaurant "to die for", not the one listed midway on the N152 road to Vouvray, which we found to be just "good". Laurence Landow in Rockville, MD USA 10/16/2006 When you rent a car and you're driving on the highways, be ready for toll booths. You need to have money (coins)and/or a credit card ready to go. People are very impatient. It's in Rick Steve's book, but it sure took me by surprise when we came accross one. Susan Rohde in Shoreline, Wa USA 10/15/2006 Fall is a fabulous time to visit France. We so enjoyed our three and a half week trip following Rick's route through Paris, Honfleur, Mont-St Michel, Chenonceaux, Sarlat, Caunes-Minervois, Arles, and Roussillon. Driving distances were farther than we thought and took longer at times than we were led to believe. (Rick was definitely right in suggesting that travel times be doubled.) The autoroute makes for great driving, but the small medieval roads of some of the towns can be terrifying. Rent a small car! Food is wonderful, but don't expect large pots of coffee with breakfast. Follow Rick's advice and don't try to see everything. It is so much better to stay at least 3 nights in each location and really get to know an area. You'll love meeting the other wonderful Rick Steves tourists and making many new friends. Hal and Karen Phillips in Edgewood, WA USA 10/13/2006 We thoroughly enjoyed the French people. We were especially appreciative of the hospitality and helpfulness of the owners of Hotel La Roseraie in Chenonceux, Residence Versailles in Beynac, and Fiancee du Pirate in Villefranche sur Mer. They made our visits enjoyable and memorable. Ron in DeWitt, MI USA 10/13/2006 A fun fact - we heard so many Americans in Paris and Dordogne mention "Rick" - mostly while we were standing in line and chatting with fellow tourists. I think everyone had your book and everyone was finding it very useful and fun as well. "Rick says" is a well-used phrase in France! Sally Wagaman in Glenside, PA USA 10/08/2006 In Avignon, late July 2006, we dined at Bistro des Arts, as suggested in your guidebook. The place had just changed management but was excellent and the service was wonderful, so it looks like it will still be a good place for you to recommend. Jim and Ann USA 10/07/2006 We loved the equestrian exhibition at Versailles. Fencing on horseback to classical music! What an amazing sight. Margaret Hansen in Silver Spring, MD USA 10/06/2006 I discovered Rick's books about 7 years ago & have been using them as my Bible around Europe. I once had his Russia/Moscow book which I lent our & never got back. This year was my kids' first trip to Europe & they thoroughly enjoyed it, thanks again to Rick. We were away for 5 glorious weeks. At Carcassonne, we saw a flyer to La Cite des Oiseaux (The City of Birds) & were recommended to take a taxi to get there. It is a very low key zoo of various birds. But what makes it different is that several times during the day, the birds are let loose, they perform some stunts for the audience, then they are allowed to fly for about 10 minutes. The vultures which are portrayed as ugly, mean birds are very magnificent in flight. They are trained to return & happily enter their cages. The peregrine falcon, fastest bird in flight, made a showing too, plus other birds. The only negative: the commentary is in French only. We walked back to town since it is only 900 meters away, which was a very pleasant walk. Very highly recommended for kids & adults. Sandy in Las Vegas, NV USA 09/26/2006 Just got back from France yesterday--as always your recommendations about the Rue Cler neighborhood right on--the restaurance Le Florimund was terrific. Le Bosquet was okay--we had been there last year--and as usual it was filled with American tourists. To eat with the locals, go the the Japanese place, Oniwa, we were the only non-locals. The food was very good, and the prices reasonable. Should be rated $. If you are in Paris on Sunday, there is a very interesting street market/food fair, with wine tasting along the Seine. Lots of free stuff to taste, great place to pick up picnic goodies. Barbara Almstedt in Morro Bay, CA USA 09/21/2006 Jane in Mankato MN: Paris is a friendly place, just like NYC. It's just that it is a big city. I was in Paris on 9/11 and trust me, the people there were out of the way helpful as I am sure they were in NYC on that day and days afterwards. Machine guns - get a grip. They've had those in public places in Southeast Asia for 30 years (I know). Overt public displays of guns by the police or military are a shock for most Americans, especially those from the midwest (yes, I am from Iowa). The thought is that overt displays are a deterent. Do not let your culture shock deprive you of all the beauty and knowledge that Paris, and Europe, have to offer. Marie in San Diego, CA USA 09/17/2006 I arrived at the small train station of Les Eyzies de Tayac, from Bergerac. I was planning on staying 1 night, 2 days to see some of the Prehistoric sites and national Prehistoric Museum. I accidently turned left at the train station, and walked into Tayac ( 5 minutes from the station). Opposite the beautiful fortified church of Tayac I found B&B "Ferme de Tayac". I ended up staying 4 nights at this B&B which is an ancient 12th century farm and monastery. The hosts Suzanne and Mike are the nicest host anyone could wish for. The rooms are spotless, (all in former monks quarters) the food was out of this world, and enough to feed a nation, they gave me information that saved me a lot of money, that no guidebooks mentions and are known only to locals. I would definately recommend Ferme de Tayac to everyone, even though I would like to keep it my little secret. CONTACT Suzanne and Mike Lamars "Ferme de Tayac" Les Eyzies de Tayac Dordogne ( sorry do not know the zip code) France www.vacationdordogne.com Deborah Dugan in Boca Raton, FL USA 09/11/2006 Every bit of Bayeux is beautiful! Best stop on a 3 week trip. Go straight to Bayeux. Do NOT stay in Caen. Sherry Elkins in La Mirada, CA USA 09/10/2006 Mont St Odile near the Route de Vin in Ottrott: Mountaintop (763 meters) Convent. They offer Family lodging at extremely reasonable prices. Three meals a day are offered and are inexpensive. The views are spectacular. I am so surprised its not in your French guidebook. I stayed two weeks during my three month stay in France. Their website is Richard Doremus in Newport, NH USA 09/05/2006 Paris is not a friendly place. The airport is dangerous and filthy. I would not go back. There were guards with machine guns at the train station. Rue Cler (sp) was OK but not that charming. Jane in North Mankato, MN USA 09/03/2006 The Hotel in Annecy Hotel Du Palais De L'isle is NOT a 3 star hotel. Carpet was old and musty, bed very mediocre to bad. Location is very good. To get to it park in the Hotel de Ville parking lot (easy to find, easy to access) and then walk (about 5 minutes) to hotel. Parking for night is covered by hotel.
In Beaune beside the laundry mentioned in book, there is a more convenient laundry across from the Hotel de Ville. Can start laundry and walk about 2 minutes to get breakfast or lunch.
In Beaune, stayed at le Cedre. Pricey, but no more so, and probably less so then Le Cep, rooms are large, modern hotel with very easy access from peripherique around Beaune Vieux. 4 stars and deserves it. David in Toronto, ON Canada 09/03/2006 I strongly recommend Rick's Paris Illumination Tour - We got a cab by our hotel and did the same route as in Rick's schedule, but modified it to begin and end at our Hotel L'Eveque. To make things easier, if you know ahead of time you want to begin and end from your hotel, take Rick's schedule and write it our neatly for the cab driver, with your revisions. We had a great cabbie who was from Lebanon originally. We agreed upon the price; if your stops or traffic makes you go over budget, just ask to return to the hotel a little sooner than you had originally planned. It was a fabulous way to see the city core from so many different vantage points you might not otherwise get to see; most impressive was seeing the Eiffel Tower at night from different locations! Andy in Andeck, CA USA 09/01/2006 Recommend to people staying in Mont St. Michel that they bring food for breakfast. Breakfasts are very expensive and the walk by food stands open late and only have yesterdays food available until later in the morning when it is delivered from the mainland. Bradley Nelson in Renton, WA USA 09/01/2006 In Amboise, I really enjoyed the bike trip from Amboise to Chenonceux to see the chateau. The chateau itself was good (not great) but the bike ride was a lot of fun. We rented bikes and got good service (in French not English) from Locacyle (recommended by Rick Steves). Summers Henderson in Somverville, MA USA 08/18/2006 Il était une fois... (Once upon a time...) a very charming toys store an expert and friendly advice (I bought a Meccano Eiffel Tower for my 8 years old son and a Petit Collin french doll for my daughter. They were delighted...Note that The Nain Bleu is closed and this store is equally nice and worth a visit ! It's located 1, rue Cassette in the 6th district of Paris. 00 33 01 45 48 21 10 ief@wanadoo.fr Christine USA 08/18/2006 We took our two grandchildren ages 8 & 13 with us to Paris and they loved the Thoiry wild game refuge a short side trip outside Paris. They also loved to clibthe Eifel tower. larry in shurtz, ca USA 08/16/2006 Rick recommends the town of Loches (south of the Loire) if you have time. I agree with his assessment; however, he mentions the main site being the royal palace on the hill top. While I found this mildly interesting, on the other side of the hill top (and can get a combo ticket with palace) is the Donjon. This is a tall midieval ruin. I found this much more interesting (with the english handout). There's actual dungeons, with things scratched in the walls, towers to climb, etc. Kids I think would like it too. Greg in San Francisco, CA USA 08/16/2006 I wanted to share this with you. We took an Overlord Tour of the D-Day beaches, cemetery, etc. It was very informative. I was, however, (as were a few other members of the tour) a bit put off by the amount of people swimming, sunbathing, laughing,etc. on the beaches. It almost seemed sacrilegious since so many men had died there. After a bit of thought, though, I realized, "That's the whole point of it! The men sacrificed their lives so the freedom in life to do things like this could continue." It was quite a revelation for me, and from that point on I knew it was the right thing to see. Deborah Mayer in Novato, CA USA 08/05/2006 The beach in Cannes is to die for! But be SURE to wear your #30 or higher sunscreen! Marsha Hudson in Seattle, WA USA 08/04/2006 My wife and I just returned from a visit to France and the low countries. The guidebooks were great!! However, I discovered that France (and perhaps the other EU countries as well) have a policy whereby American visitors will not be allowed to enter the country with a passport that expires in less than six months!!! My passport was valid but set to expire in August so I had to scramble around to get it renewed the day before my departure. This requirement ought to be mentioned (even highlighted!) in your guidebooks since it would be awful for someone with a valid passport to be denied access just because the passport will expire in less than six months. Thanks. Mark Straley in Tampa, FL USA 08/01/2006 A La Gallette d'Antan, creperie restaurant in Fougere, Brittany. We were passing through the town looking for a place to have crepes and cider (the local specialties of Brittany). We stumbled onto this small family owned cafe with the most delightful owners and cook. The cider was superb (we bought a bottle). The owner regaled us about stories of Brittany, a culinary lesson in crepes and cider, history & sights of Fougere and went out of his way to make us feel welcome. He is on a little side street in Fougere (sorry we didn't get the address) but he fits right in with the ETBD travel approach. The food was delicious and the service outstanding. He even shared a sip of his private reserve Calvados (not too much since we were driving) after our meal to 'aid in our digestion'. The afternoon spent in his creperie was one of the highlights of our 3 week trip. Laura in Vancouver, WA USA 07/18/2006 Arrived in Chenonceaux in early July, late in the day with no hotel. La Rosarie full for the night. 2 other hotels, 1 full, other just tooooo hot in the attic room. Found this on main road just past the chateau, on right, just past the gas station, easy to miss. 45 euro with a/c!!! a steal. cash only Chabres d'hotes, very nice separate building with 4 suites. Madame & Monsieur speak no English but I talked to them for hours with my high shool French. She said she was pretty full in July & August when the French vacation. Madame Rose, 65 rue de Chenonceaux 37150 tel:02.47.23.92.65 One room had 3 or 4 beds (families), +10euro/person over 2. Very nice, clean, modern rooms. Can walk almost across the street to chateau Chenonceau. monsite.wanadoo.fr/leclosdesroses Tell her Gregoire says "Bonjour" Greg in San Francisco, CA USA 07/17/2006 In April/May of this year, my wife and I spent three memorable weeks in France, making extensive use of your guidebook - France 2006 – for bed and breakfast accommodations and sights to see – all were very good. We started off in Paris for three nights at the Hotel des Grande Ecoles – a very nice hotel, and conveniently situated near the Sorbonne. After touring around southern France, we spent our last night there too. We do have the following comments on two of your accommodations, one in Amboise and one in Beynac, and also one of the sights near Carcassonne.
Chateau de Nazelles near Amboise in the Loire valley. Excellent accommodations. Veronique and Olivier Fructus were gracious hosts, and were very helpful in recommending good restaurants. Just one comment about the stairs leading to our bedroom called Chambre Viele-Griffin - they are very steep! We had to go up and down sideways very carefully, holding onto the handrail. It was even more difficult carrying our suitcases up and down! We would not recommend this room for anyone with a physical handicap.
Residence Versailles in Beynac, Dordogne. Another excellent accommodation. Jean-Claude and Francoise Fleury made us very welcome. Francoise was a cook at a private club in Paris for 30+ years before she and J-C bought the Residence a few years ago. We agreed to have dinner on our first night there. Homemade aperitifs, ample good wine, fabulous 4-course meal, coffee – all for 20 Euro per person! This should definitely be recommended in your France 2007 guidebook. We ate dinner there every night for the rest of our stay, and met some very nice couples from Germany, Canada, and Ashland Oregon. The Canadian and US couples were both using your France guidebook. The couple from Ashland happened to be on their way north to the Chateau de Nazelles (where we had just left!) – they were booked into the Troglodyte Suite. We passed onto them the tricky directions to the Chateau, plus the tight squeeze to drive through the narrow archway into the courtyard!
Our visit to Carcassonne included a drive to the Castle of Peyrepertuse. Visitors should be advised that the climb to the castle is quite strenuous, up a rough unpaved/unfinished narrow rocky path following the contours of the mountain. After a rainy night the paths and rocks were very slippery, and we were holding onto trees as we made our way up. Some people turned back when they decided it was too much for them (hope they got their 5 Euro entrance fee returned). The descent was equally as difficult. But we made it there and back, and it was well worth the effort. Maybe you should mention the difficulty of this climb in your next guidebook update?
Roy and Betty Branson in Redmond, WA USA 07/09/2006 Please add Ou Gross Caillou cafe on De Grenelle and Ou Gross CAillou-excellent food! Diana Braaten in Chandler, AZ USA 07/09/2006 Talk more about Luxembourg Garden; it has so much to offer...and a picnic there was a great idea. sharon hussey in antioch, ca USA 07/09/2006 There are numerous hotels in various price ranges in the Roissy area close to CDG airport. We stayed at the Hilton, which had a free airport shuttle and a fantastic 109 euro weekend rate for a very nice room. Also close by and cheaper was an Ibis. The Hilton (along with the Ibis)is about a 2 minute walk from a CDG RER station, which at end of our trip allowed us to drop off luggage at the hotel, return the rental car at the airport, take the CDG shuttle to the RER station next to the hotel, and then take the RER for an inexpensive trip into Paris for the rest of the day and evening and back. We then didn't have to rush or pay a huge taxi fare to get to the airport the next morning to catch our flight. Les Share in Miami, FL USA 07/08/2006 Hotel Bonnet, Beynac (near Sarlat, Dordogne).
In early June 2006, the management and kitchen of this hotel and restaurant was taken over by Bruno Paquet and his girlfriend Yvonne. This young, charming and very talented couple have started to turn this Hotel into something quite special. Special note: Tina and I are not uppity gourmets, just people who like good food and to share it with friends. Arriving late in Beynac our first night, we were lucky to be served by Bruno. The first night's meal was just incredible, maybe the best we had ever had. And of course, we came back the next night: even better still. The truth is we discussed NOT telling others the storybook charm of the Dordogne and the Hotel Bonnet and the very special culinary talent of Bruno Paquet. Go soon; this young couple will make the Hotel Bonnet something special very soon! Shane McCamey in Clackamas, OR USA 07/06/2006 Auberge Castel Mireio in Cairanne en Provence. See website: www.castelmireio.fr/us.
Chef Bernard Kbaier speaks English and was the most gracious host. This restaurant was recommended to us by Madame Joyet of Domaine des Girasols, and it was a quintessential French dining experience. The cheese selection is fantastic. Highly recommend the menu which includes salad, entree, cheeses and desert. Carol Johnson in Phoenix, AZ USA 07/05/2006 You mentioned La Flanerie as a place to stay in the Loire Valley, just outside of Cheverny. Wonderful suggestion. The owners speak enough English to share their France discoveries and provide directions. They allowed us to use their telephone and internet service gratis. When we returned from cycling, they had fresh berries and juices for us. Each morning we were served fresh baked pastries. At my request, they helped me with my French-gently! Thank you for the great tip. Bernice in Hecker, WA USA 07/04/2006 Stayed at Le Grimaldi Hotel on 15 rue Grimaldi in Nice, France. This hotel was not listed in the guidebook. My husband had stayed at The Hotel Splendid during his business trip shortly before I arrived and moved to our reserved room in Le Grimaldi. He found the Splendid to be "Not So Splendid". Le Grimaldi is a charming (although not especially large) hotel located about a 5-min walk from the old city and beach areas. The rooms were beautifully decorated and well maintained. They served breakfast (8 Euro for cafe, croissant and juice or 14 Euro for a buffet including the above plus eggs, yogurt, fruit and meat/cheese selections). The staff were wonderful, helpful with all of our questions and very prompt service. As we left, they printed a map and directions from Mappy to help us navigate to Avignon. Nice place, great service and reasonable rates. Gayle Werner in Minneapolis, MN USA 06/30/2006 We stayed at the Bed and Breakfast Aggarthi in Bayeux that was outstanding. It was on the same street as the tapestry and had modern rooms. Breakfast was included. The owner Miriam and her family were great. Breakfast in the morning and a secure place to park off the road. Jim in Fort Lauderdale, FL USA 06/26/2006 For the Bayeux Tapestry, history buffs might like to know that the "Norman propaganda" you mention on page 209 is considered debatable today - read the popular book, 1066: The Hidden History by Andrew Bridgeford Catie in Boulder Creek, CA USA 06/11/2006 An addendum to my recommendation for Hotel Cecil in the 14th -- 1. The hotel is *not* air conditioned, so if that is really important to you, take that into consideration. 2. If you stay here, here are some restaurant/food recommendations from me! All of these places are in the 14th.
Paris Orleans - corner of Blvd Jourdan and avenue du Général Leclerc. This is a brasserie with decent food at decent prices. I haven't been blown away by anything except the aligot (if you like potatoes and cheese, you have to try this. It's a traditional side dish from Auvergne, a region in France known for its hearty cuisine.) They have English translations on their menu. Be sure to ask for "non fumeur" (no smoking) because it has a large smoking section. (Of course, if you like to smoke, never mind on that!) [Métro: Porte d'Orleans] TIP: if you want to get a crepe for dessert, don't order it in the restaurant. Instead, go to the outside stand at the corner. You'll get bigger crepes at a cheaper price. The menu is all in French, but the cooks often speak a little bit of English. You can also get quick meal crepes, sandwiches, and paninis at this corner stand. We often go there for lunch, and are never disappointed. Le Zever - supposed to be known for its fresh seafood and shellfish (my husband doesn't care for either, so I haven't been there). I have no idea what their prices are, but they are always busy with local traffic, which is a good sign. [Metro: Alésia]
La Campagnola - 122 avenue du Maine. This is within 20 minutes walking distance from Porte d'Orleans, or you can take the 28 bus to the stop called Mairie du XIV. This has excellent Italian food and some of the best mousse au chocolat I've had in Paris. Ask the waiter for his suggestion on what wine to get with dinner - they never get it wrong. They have English menus, too. Price range is somewhere from 20 to 30 €, depending upon how much food and drink you order.
Le Biniou - 3, avenue du Général Leclerc. Fantastic creperie! I've only been here once, but I'm definitely going to go back. The prices are reasonable, the whole restaurant is non-smoking, and the food is excellent. I believe they have English menus, too. The dessert crepe called "La Duchesse Anne" is gorgeous and tasty. [métro: Denfert Rochereau]
Le Sawa - If you're feeling adventurous, this place serves excellent Cameroonaise food. (We have a friend from Cameroon who gave us the thumbs up on the quality/authenticity of food here) 196 avenue du Maine (just down the street a few doors from La Campagnola).
For breakfast -- if you opt not to do the 15€ breakfast at your hotel, you have cheaper options. Thevenin is a patisserie/boulangerie just around the corner from your hotel on ave. Général Leclerc, between rue Beaunier and the bus stop for Porte d'Orleans. They have really yummy sweet treats that make a great breakfast, snack, dessert, whatever. If you like chocolate, try the pain au chocolat (square croissants with two bars of dark chocolate in them) or the rolls chocolat (flaky pastry, a layer of creme, and chocolate chips). Or, try the gateux basque if you like sweet but don't want chocolate.
If you cross the street and head towards métro Alésia, you'll walk past Champion, which is a big grocery store. You can get fruit, cereal, picnic fixings, whatever. They also have a little patisserie/boulangerie counter next door, where the prices are cheaper than Thevenin, but the food is slightly less yummy. [Note: if you buy fruit at Champion, you have to weigh it and print out a little label when you're still in the produce section. Watch other people around you.]
Roughly across the street from Champion is Le Notre, God's gift to people who love desserts. You'll spend some real cash here, but the individual portions that they have for desserts are to DIE for. Absolutely amazing. Markets: if you want to do a picnic, the best place to go is to an open air market. This is truly the French way to live, and you'll get some of the best, freshest food you've ever had. Rue Daguerre (métro Denfert Rochereau) is more or less a daily market with permanent stores. This is a great place to buy wine if you want souvenirs to take home. There is also a twice weekly market at Place Jacques Demy (Tuesdays and Fridays from 7 am to noon) that I often go to. It's lots of fun to browse, even if you don't buy anything. Amy Roust in Paris, France 06/08/2006 Overlord Tours in Bayeux provides a great way to see and experience the D-Day beaches. Alain Chesnel is very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. He has great visual aids that add so much to overall understanding of the Normandy invasion. If choosing between the WWII Memorial in Caen and the D-Day Beach tour, choose the D-Day Beach tour. It's more informative. Kitty Kramer in Centennial, CO USA 06/06/2006 Carnac in Brittany: Not mentioned in France 2006 guide, but an excellent visit, a bit out of the way, near Vannes. Worth a special trip: 3,000 standing stones in precise alignments. (The signs leading to the site call them "Les alignements".) Best to arrive before visitors' center closes around 17:00. Angers Chateau, easy to find by auto due to excellent signage, imposing and interesting, with an enormous long tapestry of the Biblical apocalypse worth seeing, within chateau grounds; Hotel le Manoir St. Michel, some km. west of St. Malo and Cap Frehel (nice single room with bath for 50 Euros in April). French proprietor speaks English (also German), his wife is German. Caters to German clientele. Charming place, good views (wwww.hotel-bretagne.de). Duncan Ga;rdiner in Lakewood, OH USA 06/06/2006 Isabelle is fabulous! We wanted to rent bicycles and went to the rental place listed in the guide book(s) and they were CLOSED. At the tourist center we were given the phone number of Isabelle - she was so helpful - she delivered to us at the tourist bureau almost immediately two super bikes and great maps and locks and hellmets and the bestideas for routing for 4 days. She took our huge duffel bags along with her to her HOME for safe keeping until we returned. And it was very inexpensive.Isabelle speaks English and aims to please in her new business that is growing. provenceveloslocation@wanadoo.com And tell her Cindy and Linda sent you. Cindy Tozer in San Diego, CA USA 05/31/2006 The guidebook worked out well, but I almost invariably preferred one of the secondary recommendations because the larger cities were just too much for me. An example was Annecy. I was cursing Rick Steves for getting me to this hellish city. Way too crowded. I headed toward Albertville and about ten miles down Lake Annecy I found Jorioz. Lovely hotel and restaurant. Incredible beach on the lake with summer homes and boats. Quite an idyllic setting. I can't remember the name of the hotel, but it is visible from the Albertville road on the lake side of the road when you reach Jorioz. Definitely more of what I wanted from the French Alps! Offering less urban alternatives more often would be a good idea for those of us claustrophobs who don't want to stay in Annecy or Albi, but would prefer to be nearby. Thomas Chamberlin in Salem, OR USA 05/27/2006 I don't know if he recommends this hotel in the Paris book, but it's not in the France one. Hotel Cecil in the 14th is fabulous! It's in a residential neighborhood (I actually live two streets over, but my parents are staying in this hotel). You are right next to Porte d'Orleans, which is one end of the 4 line of the metro, as well as a bus stop for three major buses. (And, soon to be a tram stop!) The entire hotel is non-smoking. The staff is incredibly helpful and nice, and available 24 hours a day (someone sleeps on the couch in the lobby at night so that you have immediate on-sight assistance). The hotel itself is beautiful. They have a cute little garden patio where you are welcome to have picnic lunches (they will even offer you dishes to use if you want). The rooms are decorated in themes (my parents stayed in the "Cuba" room). Rick Steves & company, if you haven't visited this hotel, you really, really should, and then add it to your recommended list. Here is the website: http://cecilhotel.net/v2/. Amy in Paris, France 05/26/2006 Just spent 7 days in Normandy, and by far the best accommodations was the Domaine de l'Hostreiere Hotel just outside the American military cemetary in Colleville-sur-Mer. Altho not in Rick's guide book, it should be. A solid 3-star hotel we were charged 70 Euros for a nite plus 9 more per person for the continental breakfast. This 4 year old hotel includes an outdoor pool, game room and workout room. The friendly, English-speaking owners (Veronique and Patrick) go out of their way to make everyone welcome. The restaurant is reasonably priced and serves delicious meals all prepared by Veronique. She is very personable and converses with every guest in the restaurant. This lady does everything; she's there from 7am to 11pm, which explains why they close for a couple months in the winter. Easy to find, it's literally walking distance to the military cemetary and Omaha beach. See www.domainedelhostreiere.com Tom & Agnes Gale in San Diego, CA USA 05/15/2006 On a visit to the Loire region we stayed in Blere, not in your book. (My French cousin organized this for us. Blere seems to have few tourists and is therefore better value. We stayed at the Hotel Le Cheval Blanc in the town square. It is a two star hotel with an excellent three star restaurant. 59 Euros. The hotel's restaurent was excellent for dinner but the breakfasts at 9 Euros were disappointing. A local creperie called La Petite Bouffe was excellent but booking is advised. The bar/restaurent next door to the hotel, the Chalet, should be avoided at all costs - we were grossly overcharged. Derek Gardiner in Lexington,, MA USA 05/13/2006 Je adore Francais. The people were very friendly, beautiful scenery, art, history, nice weather, good food and wine. April 9 to 25th 2006 Annette & Norbert in San Francisco, CA USA 05/12/2006 We just returned from a trip that included a stay in Lille. This is a great city - beautiful, friendly, inexpensive and easy to navigate. I would strongly recommend this as a great "transition" city, especially if you fly into Brussels or London. Due to their proximity to England, most people speak English, but will graciously help if you wish to speak French. They see very few Americans and are excited when they realize you are from the USA.
This city is on the Chunnel route as well as the TGV. It's an hour from Paris. If you happen to go through this city, stop and visit! Patty O'Grady in Steilacoom, WA USA 05/08/2006 Making reservations by email is fantastic. Thanks for the idea. Prefer giving gredit card info by phone for security plus get a little preview which is fun and really puts me in the mood to travel. Nancy bloom in Pickerington, OH USA 05/06/2006 We had a fabulous meal at Hostellerie Le Phebus, a 1-star Michelin restaurant in Joucas (near Roussillon). The staff was even more gracious than similar restaurants we've been to, making it a truly memorable night. Stephanie Winters in New York, NY USA 04/22/2006 La Cave de L'os Moelle - I found this on a French website and it is a wonderful experience. You pay about $20.00 Euro per person. As you walk in there is an area with shelves of wine and prices for you to pick from - you pick a bottle and take it to your table. The place only has about 6 tables seats about 15-20 max. First course is 2 homemade Pates, Marinated Beets and Carrotts, Pickles and a wonderful brown crusty bread - served at lovely old wooden tables with mis matched china and silverware. 2nd course was a homemade Fish soup - it was out of this world! 3rd course was Roast Beef with Rice and other trimmings and there was a huge sideboard with about 10 different desserts. Did I mention it's all you can eat? We met Delightful French people and really cool American's here. The place is Cash Only - Absolutely the best meal we had and truly authentic! There are two restaurants across the Street from each other owned by the same guy - one is cheap one is expensive - they do not have a regular Menu - it's what ever they are serving that day...It ws my Husband's first time in France and he loved this place. We both gets big smiles on our faces every time we think about it. KDHJ in San Francisco, CA USA 04/20/2006 If you happen to be in the Perigord Noir / Dordogne region of France and plan to stay at a nice B&B, we would highly recommend staying at Les Charmes de Carlucet B&B. The rooms are clean at good value and the hosts are very warm, welcoming, and friendly. A nice family atmosphere. btw, the hosts do speak both French and English. The Gites & chambres d'hotes are available. http://www.carlucet.com/. This B&B in Carlucet is located between Sarlat and Salignac. A very small, quiet town of 400 people. Tram An in Houston, TX USA 04/19/2006 My mom, sister and I stayed at Chateau de la Villaine--website listed below. Although we used many of your recommendations, we just stumbled upon this Chateau in the Loire Valley and it was the highlight of our trip. Adrian and Joke Gips, a retired couple from Holland, bought this Chateau about a year and a half ago. They have carefully and lovingly restored the natural charm to this house. For example, they ripped up the original hardwood floors, put a floor heater in, and then put the original floors back. The home has modern updates and conveniences, but none of the original and natural charm has been taken away from this 19th Century Chateau. We felt like royalty while staying with Adrian and Joke. The moment we walked through the door, they offered us hot tea or coffee. Breakfast consisted of homeade jam, croissants, juice and yougurt. Dinner though was my favorite. We enjoyed the best 5 course meal of our lives. My sister is a vegetarian and I don't much meat. Joke fixed the best vegetarian meal either of us had ever eaten. Words can't even describe how wonderful this was. Adrian and Joke are the perfect hosts. They speak excellent English and are so easy to relate to. You must try their chateau. It is a most memorable experience. I want to go back to Europe just to visit Adrian and Joke.
www.chateau-de-la-villaine.com Sarah in Dallas, TX USA 02/11/2006 Restaurant Aux Vignes Rouges at 45, rue Maufoux, Beaune
I had the best meal of my life at this place. You must check it out. This place has about 4 tables and the owners do not speak English. It was fantastic. Matt in Somerville, MA USA 01/29/2006 Paris ORLY to the Marais allow at least two hours. Bus frequently misses the stop. Metro to paris is jammed and lots of stairs. This is route is meant for the twenty year old set with a budget. Once on the Metro you ain't going to get off without lots of NYC attitude. Take a taxi folks, saving twenty Euros is not worth the fall down the Metro stairs with your luggage. alexander in san francisco, ca USA 01/26/2006 If you visit Monet's Garden, etc. and need to stay the night in the area, chose the Hotel d'Evreux. The rooms are nice and reasonably priced. We had our second best meal at the hotel's restaurant, reasonably priced as well, during our two week visit to Bayeux, Chinon, and Paris with this one night in Vernon/Giverny.
Our best meal was at the Domaine de la Giraudiere in Villandry, near Chinon in the Loire Valley. Nikita is a very nice dog who will greet you when you come in. Don Groves in Topsham, ME USA 01/23/2006 Last year, I bought your book on French. If I had known that it didn't list the definite articles besides the nouns so that I would know how to use the nouns and adjectives, I wouldn't have touched it. Ron Rothnie in Victoria, BC Canada 01/11/2006 Hotel Cloitre@hotmail.com Arles, France--Agnes and Jean Francois are absolutely the most accomodating hosts-Fabulous home base that we stayed 4 nights,very reasonable, and good breakfast. Laura Newton in Pleasant Hill, CA USA 01/09/2006 |
