Sara Macefield's Paris Report - Best Avoided
Verzonden op
26.03.07
Overpriced restaurants In cafes, you’ll get a cheaper deal if you stand at the bar. You pay more to sit down with a drink. Expensive hotspots include the Champs-Elysees, the Eiffel Tower and in and around Montmartre. Bistros can be cheap and cheerful – check the menu outside. If there isn’t one, it means it’s expensive. For better-value head for the cafes, restaurants and bars behind Notre Dame and around Bastille Opera.
Dodgy areas Avoid the Red Light districts and certain areas around Pigalle, especially if walking alone at night. In the evenings be on your guard around Sacre Coeur and Montmartre and avoid travelling to La Banlieue – the suburbs. Watch out for pickpockets on the Metro and in the museums and at other tourist attractions. While it’s safe to stroll along the banks of the Seine during the day, avoid the area at night.
French drivers The roads are busy and Parisian motorists tend to treat them as a racetrack, especially around the Champs-Elysees. Don’t expect drivers to respect red traffic lights. If you’re a nervous or inexperienced driver, don’t attempt to drive in Paris.
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