Hôtel Glasgow Monceau*** Paris, Charm & design, Champs-Elysées & Opéra

SURROUNDING AREA

"Lovers in Paris make love to my song. In Paris, lovers love each other in their own way. The tunes I sing to them, Are more beautiful than beautiful summer days. They make a whole lot of springtimes and springtime make love..." - Edith Piaf

An adventure in Paris

With the gracious cooperation of Paris Eiffel Tower News

Welcome to Paris! This page has been designed especially for those visiting Paris for the first time. We want to provide you with helpful advice to prepare for your arrival, and offer ideas about interesting walks to enjoy during your stay in the City of Lights. Happy reading!

Preparing to head out

Once you've relaxed after your stressful trip and settled into your comfortable room, you'll be ready for adventure in the city streets! But before heading outside, dress comfortably for the occasion.

Above all, choose comfortable shoes. Be prepared for a long walk, during which you'll often stop to savour all the amazing details. And you know how your legs feel after a long day's shopping … The constant stop and go… Without comfortable shoes, you'll really suffer.

Visitors to the Eiffel Tower generally wait in line for 30 minutes to purchase tickets, wait several more minutes for the lift, spend an hour exploring the Tower's different levels, and wait some more to head back down… So invest in a good pair of shoes, and never sacrifice comfort for fashion!

The weather in Paris can quickly change: a beautiful sunny morning suddenly gives way to a cloudy sky and a light, cool wind. For Canadian visitors accustomed to the weather in Montreal, Paris weather will seem mild in comparison. But for visitors from the south of France, remember that except for May to December, Paris does not enjoy a warm climate. Don't forget to pack a light wool sweater or a windbreaker.

And in any case, don't forget your umbrella, which at times will be your best friend as you walk through the streets. This is especially the case if you plan to take pictures, since rain and cameras don't mix.

• Avoid taxis during the day, especially in the morning until 11:00 am and in the late afternoon from 4 to 8. Traffic is bumper to bumper, and you'll helplessly watch the meter run while going nowhere. Taking the metro is easier, less expensive and quick. HERE IS A MAP OF THE PARIS METRO (click on the image).
• Prices for taxis: The taxi meter posts the cost of the trip and one of the following letters: A, B or C. If you are within Paris or on the Périphérique (ring road), rate A applies during the day from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, and rate B throughout the night until 6:00 in the morning. When you leave inner Paris, the driver will apply rate B during the day, then rate C from 8:00 pm onward. Outside of Paris, rate C applies at all times. You'll pay an additional charge for baggage loaded into the trunk of the car, or if you take the taxi from an airport. Do not try to catch a taxi in the street if you are less than 100 metres from a train station: Taxis may not load passengers near a train station; they are required to go to the tête de station (taxi rank) at the station itself. So move further from the train station or go to the taxi rank at the station.
• Restaurants fill up at around 12:15 pm and remain so until 1:30 pm. In the evening, diners start to arrive at 7:30 pm and restaurants do not generally empty before 10:00 pm. If you don't want to wait to eat, dine early between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Please note: restaurants rarely serve between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm.
• Order a drink on a café terrace and watch the Parisians and tourists pass by. What a wonderful way to pass the time! But be aware that it is typically more expensive to order on the terrace than inside the café.
• Waiters in Parisian cafés may sometimes seem impatient. They are not being rude, but are simply pressed for time. Don't take offense if they turn their back when you take too long to order. They are quickly serving their other customers, and will soon get back to your table.
• In Paris restaurants, the servers don't necessarily come back to the table to check whether everything is alright once you've been served. Don't feel like you're being ignored. They simply don't want to disturb you while you eat.
• Tipping: your cheque already includes a gratuity ("service compris") meaning there's no need to leave a tip. If you want to make your server happy, leave 1 euro at a café, or several euros at a restaurant. But you are not required to do so. For our Canadian visitors, the credit card receipt that you sign does not include a line for tipping.

Paris monuments and top attractions

The Eiffel Tower
	The "Grande Dame" of Paris was built for the 1889 World's Fair, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The Tower is 350 metres tall. Admission (lift to the second floor): €9 for adults, €5.30 for children under 12. Open from: 1 January - 13 June: Daily from 9:30 am to 11:00 pm. (for athletic types, the stairways are open from 9:30 am, to 6:00 pm); 14 June - 31 August: Daily from 9:00 am to midnight.
Notre Dame de Paris
http://www.tecnilog.com/cartes/cpa/montmartre/mont.htm
Church of the Invalides
	Construction of the Invalides hospice began in 1671 by the order of Louis XIV, who wanted to house indigent soldiers and seriously wounded French military veterans. The initial work was quickly completed, but a church was added soon thereafter. The work took a total of thirty years. You can visit the church, several museums and the tomb of Napoleon I, whose body was brought back from St. Helena in 1830. The admission fee is 6 euros, but is free for children under 12. Open from: October to 31 March, from 10:00 am – 4:45 pm, from April to 30 September from 10:00 am to 5:45 pm. www.invalides.org/
Sainte Chapelle
	Located on the Ile de la Cité within the Palais de Justice, this gothic building was built during the reign of Saint Louis, beginning in 1240, to house relics from Christ's Crown of Thorns and pieces of the Holy Cross. This remarkable church includes beautiful stained glass windows of impressive size. The admission fee is approximately 6 euros. Open from: 10:00 am -5:00 pm.
Place des Vosges
	Henri IV ordered the construction of this famous square, which was not completed until 1612, two years after Gascon's assassination by Ravaillac. Initially called the "Place Royale", it was renamed "Place des Vosges" by Napoleon I, who wanted to honour the residents of the department of Vosges for their prompt tax payments. The square is notable for its style (it is enclosed by 36 buildings which date from its construction) and for its shops and small park, in the centre of which stands a statue of Louis XIII.

You'll find more commentary (in English) on the monuments of Paris at www.paris-eiffel-tower-news.com/discover-paris.html.

A good walk in Paris

         Paris offers a wide range of interesting itineraries for walkers. You can stroll alongside the water (along the Seine, of course, but also the Canal St Martin) or follow the former path of the Strasbourg railway. 17 km long, it leads you 15 metres above the heart of the 12th arrondissement (this is the "coulee verte", or the green belt).You can also spend time relaxing in one of the city's green spaces: the Luxembourg Gardens, the Buttes-Chaumont, Montsouris Park or Georges Brassens Park. Don't forget to explore the gardens in the 14th arrondissement.. And if you enjoy history and architecture, you'll enjoy a stroll through St. Germain des Prés and St. Sulpice Church.

A lively and interesting city

         These are just a few of the walks you can enjoy in Paris. To discover the city, hotel guests can access the Members Only section of the Paris Eiffel Tower News website free of charge, which provides lots of information about the capital.