After reading many posts about taking a laptop with us, I%26#39;ve decided against it. I%26#39;ve checked this site for any cafes near our hotel without success. We%26#39;re staying at the Hotel Muguet near the Eiffel Tower so something near would be great but we won%26#39;t limit ourselves to that area. An English keyboard would be a big plus. My last attempt at using a French keyboard was interesting to say the least.
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You could also go to the Fat Tire Bike Tour offices and they have internet available.
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People do have strong personal ideas about laptops - I find many of the comments strangely amusing. There are many compelling reasons for schlepping a computer but ultimately only you really know if doing so fits your needs.
This past summer Paris installed several hundred free wireless internet access points with more to come. I believe (have not yet tried it) the Champs de Mars is now blanketed with free internet; if not there are plenty of Starbucks, Mc Donalds, and other places where one can hook up and check email, Travel Advisor, upload pictures, or even make VoIP calls. I don%26#39;t remember seeing any internet
Personally, I love having my regular key board and access to my files so - I am a carrier.
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Thanks, that%26#39;s not far from the hotel at all. Do they operate it like a cafe? Charge per hour? As an aside, we%26#39;re planning to do the Fat Tire evening tour.
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Sarastro,
So you don%26#39;t find it cumbersome to carry it? We won%26#39;t be moving once in Paris. I will be with my two adult daughters, with husbands and one child left at home. Being able to email regularly would be a big plus. Will I need any special cords or plugs?
Linda
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there%26#39;s a newly opened Starbucks on Rue St Dominique at Rue Cler...I%26#39;ve seen some people using their own laptops there...but I haven%26#39;t seen any cyber cafes offering the use of a computer in the 7th.
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Well, there are laptops and there are laptops.
I do not purport to carrying one of those 17%26quot;, 6+ pound models. Mine is a relatively diminutive 14%26quot; unit which has accompanied me on trips literally around the globe. With the popularity of wireless connections, the need for special phone line adapters is eliminated, all one needs is a simple power plug (prong) adapter - about 3 bucks at Radio Shack, Fry%26#39;s, or you can pick one up in Paris at FNAC or Darty. If you check the small (almost microscopic) print on your transformer, you%26#39;ll see that typically its voltage range is 110 - 240VAC so you%26#39;re good to plug in virtually anywhere on earth.
If you are staying in one location for any period of time, don%26#39;t bother packing hair dryers and the like. If your apartment does not have one you can buy a 240v unit in France for about 15 euros at Carrefour and either save it for your next trip or leave it and let someone else use it.
I am not telling anyone he should or should not carry a laptop. But if you need one or can really make use of your own, do not be swayed by the opinionated - take it if you want.
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Thanks all, this has been helpful.
Linda
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Hotel Muguet had, at least last July a computer in the lobby you could use.
Each room had a code you had to use to log on %26amp; it was 1 or 2 Euros for 30 minutes.
Make sure you go to the bakery on Rue Cler. Both the bread %26amp; pastries are Excellent.
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