Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
box, and click
“Me connecter.”
Some convenient park hotspots include the park
alongside Notre-Dame, Square Viviani (also near Notre-Dame), Place des Vosges
(Marais), Champ de Mars park (100 yards south of the Eiffel Tower along Allée
Thomy-Thierry), Esplanade des Invalides (along Rue Paul at the north end), the St.
Jacques Tower (Mo: Chatelet), and hundreds more.
TheOrangenetworkalsohasmanyhotspots,andoffersafreetwo-hourpass.Ifyou
come across one, click “Select Your Pass” to register.
Bookstores:
Paris has many English-language bookstores, where you can pick up guide-
books (at nearly double their American prices). Most carry this topic. My favorites
include:
•
Shakespeare and Company
(someusedtravelbooks,Mon-Fri10:00-23:00,Sat-
Sun 11:00-23:00, 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, across the river from Notre-Dame, Mo: St.
Michel, tel. 01 43 25 40 93).
•
W. H. Smith
(Mon-Sat 9:00-19:00, Sun 12:30-19:00, 248 Rue de Rivoli, Mo:
Concorde, tel. 01 44 77 88 99).
•
San Francisco Book Company
(used books only, Mon-Sat 11:00-21:00, Sun
14:00-19:30, 17 Rue Monsieur le Prince, Mo: Odéon, tel. 01 43 29 15 70).
Baggage Storage:
Lockers are available at several
City Locker
locations in central Paris
(€10-15/day, daily 8:00-22:00, book ahead online or take your chances and drop in,
details and locations at
www.city-locker.com
).
Public WCs:
Most public toilets are free. If it's a pay toilet, the price will be clearly in-
dicated. If the toilet is free but there's an attendant, it's polite (but not necessary) to
leave a tip of €0.20-0.50. Booth-like toilets on the sidewalks provide both relief and
a memory (don't leave small children inside unattended). The restrooms in museums
are free and the best you'll find. Bold travelers can walk into any sidewalk café like
they own the place and find the toilet downstairs or in the back. Or do as the locals
do—order a shot of espresso
(un café)
while standing at the café bar (then use the
WC with a clear conscience). Keep toilet paper or tissues with you, as some WCs are
poorly stocked.
Parking:
Streetparkingisgenerally freeatnight(19:00to9:00),alldaySunday,andany-
time in August, when many Parisians are on vacation. To pay for streetside parking,
you must go to a
tabac
and buy a parking card
(une carte de stationnement)
, sold
in €10, €20, and €30 denominations. Insert the card into the meter (chip-side in) and
punch the desired amount of time (generally €1-2/hour), then take the receipt and dis-
play it in your windshield. Meters limit street parking to a maximum of two hours.
For a longer stay, park for less at an airport (about €10/day) and take public transport
or a taxi into the city. Underground lots are numerous in Paris—you'll find them un-
