Going To Paris?

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Rillifane

If you can pick your time then choose the late Spring or early Fall.

Stay in the center of Paris which would be the 1st-6th arrondissements. If they really mean "all expenses paid" then get a room at the George V, the Plaza Athenee or the Crillion. The cheapest double room at the Crillon, for example, is 690 Euros (about $950 a night) . If they don't intend to be that generous then let me know and I'll give you another suggestion.

The same price consideration applies to food. You can eat dinner every night at a three star palace of gastronomy and pay upwards of $500 for dinner for two (and the upwards has no real limit). On a more sane budget there are hundreds of excellant places to eat. Again, I need to know what your budget is to be of help.

There is nothing I can tell you about sightseeing that any decent qudebook can't tell you at far greater length than I'm willing to write out here.

Paris is a very rich city in cultural and historic sights and one week is not nearly enough time to see them all. You'd be best off taking the time to read thru a guide and decide for yourself what you migth like to see.

My advice would be to not allow the number of possible sights to so mesmerize you that you spend seven days running a tourist's marathon trying to check off every possible sight you can see.

The best thing about Paris is really its ambience and that requires that you stop, take a seat at a cafe, and just drink it in.

I've been to Paris so often that there aren't many tourist spots I haven't seen but I go there just to eat good food, enjoy the nightlife and cafe sit.

Of course there are places to avoid because a city that is the most popular tourist destination in the world is also going to be filled with tourist traps.

Chief among these are well know Paris nightclubs like the Moulin Rouge, Crazy Horse, and Lido which are ruinously expensive and nothing that you won't see in Las Vegas.

You should also avoid any place with a big sign that says "We Speak English" or "English Menus."

Other than that no worries. Paris is a very safe city so wander as you like without concern.

EDIT: I should have mentioned that if its really "ALL expenses paid" then the best thing would be to hire a professional like Wendy (whose answer is below) and let her arrange everything.

hello xo :]

well i never been to paris, but would love to go, so Lucky you!!. I think you should go to versailles. the home of Louis XVI and marie antoinette. i saw the website and its beautiful. and the louvre. Have fun!

wendyvonfries

Congratulations! What an excellent prize. Paris is a dream come true.

You ask many things, so I will just start with your first question and work my way down in order of your inquiry.

Personally I love Paris in September, and find it is truly the best time of year. Not too hot, not too cold, everything is open, and Paris is beautiful this time of year.

The best part of Paris to stay in my opinion is in the St. Germain/Latin Quarter. The boutique hotels in this area are absolutely fabulous and inexpensive by Parisian standards. I attach a few web links to the better properties in that area for your convenience.

http://www.hotel-bel-ami.com

http://www.my-paris-hotel.com/en/s03_hotels/s03p01_accueilhotel.php?id=5

http://www.hotels-paris.fr/en/hotel/Fr-Residence-Le-Regent.htm

http://www.hotels-paris.fr/en/hotel/Fr-Relais-Vieux-Paris.htm

Below is a few suggestions on must do’s and see while in Paris, probably including the obvious which is unavoidable:
~ Allow yourself to be charmed by an authentic and intimate journey, through the heart of Paris, in the most enchanting of cars as you escape the masses! Discover Paris in a truly and personalized manner aboard your very own Citroen 2CV. The Citroen 2CV, the quintessential symbol of the "French touch", thanks to its convertible soft top roof, offers a magnificent panoramic view of the city. You will be driven by a knowledgeable chauffeur, ready to respond to (almost) your every request and requirement (photo stops, ideas about restaurants, visits, shows, etc). Takes about 3 hours and you will see up close and personal The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, Louvre Museum, Champs-Elysees, Opera Garnier, Orsay Museum, Place de la Concorde, Invalides, Trocadero, Montmartre (Sacre-Coeur), Moulin Rouge, Place des Vosges, Place de la Bastille, Pantheon, St Sulpice, St Germain des Pres and more!

~ Enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise through the Seine of Paris passing under all the beautiful bridges and passing the famous monuments of Paris

~ Don’t miss a lovely breakfast at the Famous Café Marley, facing the Pyramids of the Louvre Musuem

~ Visit the Louvre Museum with a personal tour and spend a few hours exploring this unique wonder of the world and enjoy a charming lunch at the Café Richelieu inside the Louvre for a pleasant lunch experience

~ With map in hand explore specific surrounding areas of the Louvre for souvenir shopping and photo opportunities in this fabulous area. Stop and visit a little piece of home to accompany you and keep you going Starbucks.

~ Grab a taxi and head to Oliver’s flat for a unique Wine Tasting Experience (Degustation du Vin). Olivier was born and raised in Paris. He is a certified sommelier and a member of l'Union de la Sommellerie Française. He will introduce you to the famous French wine industry via all five of your senses. Learn in an authentic unpretentious atmosphere how to look at the color of the wines and smell the bouquet. Experience the variety of flavors associated with reds and whites and then lean back, relax and enjoy the wine. An added bonus is that you typically get to take home the bottle with the remaining wine inside from your favorite Bordeaux, Bourgogne (Burgundy), Chinon… that you just sampled.

~ Visit the Eiffel Tower, take the elevator up and enjoy the views with wonderful photo opportunities and than have Dinner on the Eiffel Tower 2nd level at Jules Verne Restaurant.

~ Visit the famous Avenue Champs Elysees and after a stroll down the avenue, don’t miss fabulous LIDO Caberet with a champagne toast

~ If you’re tired of croissants and Pain au Chocolat for breakfast, there are at least three fabulous Cafes in central Paris serving pancakes and eggs, we can send you to a great local favorite

~ Day in Versailles visiting the Castle, park with horse drawn carriages, private lakes with canoes, and the famous gardens of Marie Antoinette by bicycle on a great fun tour~

~Don’t miss the risqué cabaret at the Crazy Horse and end your evening at VIP clubs

~ Have to try the Segway tour as well, where you roll around Paris with an enthusiastic guide standing up on two wheels, save your feet the trouble of walking at least one day!

~ Culture Cult Tour – Mixed exclusive Tour of Art History and Gourmet, includes cooking class with French chef for lunch.

~ Get a one hour massage in your hotel room with professional masseurs that arrive with massage tables

~ Reservations at our exclusive picks in Paris consisting of excellent cuisine and value, and a guaranteed exquisite wine collection (see below under where to eat)

~ Have an after dinner cocktail and enjoy the ambiance of the Famous Buddha Bar in Paris

Midnight –Enjoy the night life with provided list of clubs and evening café - people watching is facinating in Paris!

If you love Jazz and chose to stay in the Latin Quarter than you’re in luck! You absolutely must visit Le Caveau de la Huchette near St. Michel Metro in the Latin Quarter. It is probably the most famous Jazz Club in France.

http://www.caveaudelahuchette.com/indexus.htm

In the Latin Quarter you will find many great Brasseries and small art galleries on the side streets of St. Germain Blvd, the main street running through the Latin Quarter. Bring a map and you will easily find, Luxembourg Gardens, Notre Dame, and Ile St. Louis. If you get tired of walking you can duck into the metro and take it one or two stops which links all the best sights.

Île Saint-Louis is famous for it's ice cream - Berthillon ice cream, of course! There isn't one restaurant on the island that doesn't serve some of their 33 flavors of ice cream and 30 flavors of sorbet. Île Saint-Louis is probably one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Paris, with its elegant 17th century townhouses lining the quais next to the Seine. At just the right moment in the afternoon or early evening the sun hits the Quai de Bourbon and the Pont Marie and you're left breathless on the sidewalk. Stop a few meters further along on the Quai d'Anjou in front of the Hôtel de Lauzon and marvel at the gilded balconies.

You'll find charming gift shops and enough tempting restaurants to make your dinner decision a tough one! There are two wonderful bookstores in the neighborhood. The first is the Librairie Ulysses, entirely dedicated to travel books. While the storefront is nothing much, the breadth of the selection is impressive. The second, Librairie de Paris et son Patrimoine is on the opposite side of the street and has a wonderful collection of hard cover, art books about the rich history of Paris. Alas, not all are in French.

Whether it's specialty food shops that entice you to forget your diet (come on, how often do you eat foie gras at home?), fantastic views of the Seine, or the refined architecture Île Saint-Louis has everything you will want to see that is typically Parisian. So remember the essentials: Berthillon ice cream, the Pont Marie, and a walk around the quai at sunset.

Places to avoid to Paris: NONE, no matter where you go you will enjoy the experience.

Where to Eat:
You can't visit Paris and not have breakfast, lunch or brunch at these very charming and famous Cafes.

Les Deux Magots - Café Restaurant
6, place Saint-Germain-des-Prés - Paris 75006
Tel : 01 45 48 55 25
Subway : Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Service hours:
Every day 7:30 am to 1:00 pm
Open after midnight
Open 7/7

This legendary hangout for the sophisticated residents of St-Germain-des-Prés becomes a tourist favorite in summer. Visitors monopolize the few sidewalk tables as the waiters rush about, seemingly oblivious to anyone's needs. Regulars from around the neighborhood reclaim it in the off season. Les Deux Magots was once a gathering place of the intellectual elite, like Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Giraudoux. Inside are the two large statues of magots (Confucian wise men) that give the cafe its name. The crystal chandeliers are too brightly lit, but the regulars are used to the glare. After all, some of them even read their daily papers here. You can order salads, pastries, ice cream, or one of the daily specials; the fresh fish is usually a good bet.

And a few doors down you will find the other famous Cafe - Le Cafe de Flore
Check out website for Cafe de Flore for cool photos and history!

A hop skip and a jump you will find Brasserie Lipp
Cuisine CAFE
Hours Daily 11am-2am; restaurant service 12:15pm-12:45am
Address 151 bd. St-Germain, 6e
Location 6th Arrondissement (St-Germain/Luxembourg) Transportation Métro: St-Germain-des-Prés

Phone 01-45-48-53-91

Lipp is a Left Bank institution. On the day of Paris's liberation in 1944, late owner Roger Cazes welcomed Hemingway as the first man to drop in for a drink. Then, as now, famous people often drop by for beer, wine, and conversation. Since its acquisition a few years ago by members of the Bertrand Group (the force behind Paris's St. James Club), the mechanics whereby you can obtain a table in this cultural monument are a lot easier, and a lot less arbitrary, than when Cazes granted or denied a table in his joint based, basically, on whether he considered you worthy. Reservations are accepted today and usually respected for dining tables, but not cafe tables. The specialty is choucroute garni, Paris's best -- you get not only sauerkraut, but also a thick layer of ham and braised pork, which you can wash down with the house Riesling (an Alsatian white wine) or beer. Even if you don't go inside, you can sit at a sidewalk table to enjoy a cognac and people-watch.

In addition, these are moderately priced restaurants with excellent food:

Le Jules Vernes
There are two restaurants on the Eiffel Tower, "Altitude 95" which
is less exclusive and "Le Jules Vernes". Definitely go for Jules Vernes.
The food is very good and views that are only possible here. I personally
prefer the "city of lights" view at night, but lunch time view is also
very beautiful.
Local Dial: 01 45 55 61 44
Dial USA: 011 33 1 45 55 61 44
Address: On the Eiffel Tower

Le Jules Vernes Note: Even when eating in one of the restaurants on the Eiffel Tower there is still a fee to take the elevators up! Cost is approximately 7 dollars per person.
A must experience: $$

Tournesol (absolutely wonderful for French style lunch)
Local Dial: 01 45 25 95 94
Dial USA: 011 33 1 45 25 95 94
Address: President Kennedy Blvd
75016 Paris
Excellent, Charming, Reasonable $$

L'Auberge de la Reine Blanche
(my personal favorite)
closed on Wednesdays all day and Thursday lunch
Local Dial: 01 46 33 07 87
Dial USA: 011 33 1 46 33 07 87
Address: 30, rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Ile
75004 Paris
Excellent, Charming, Reasonable $$

Hidden little treasure in Paris!
(discriminating local' favorite)
You must try the honey duck..
Au Passé Retrouve
Local Dial: 01.42.50.35.29
Dial USA: 011 33 1 42 50 35 29
(ask for Pascal or Serge)
13 rue Mademoiselle, 75015 Paris

This is a just a few ideas, I am an American living in Paris married to a French man, and we have a small business organizing corporate events as well as individual itineraries for all budgets. You are welcome to have a look at my intro page, www.preludetoparis.blogspot.com

If you need maps of the metro, advice on transportation or reservations support for shows and restaurants, please feel free to contact me at wendy@parisprelude.com

I genuinely enjoy creating itineraries for all budgets.

Enjoy!

Wendy

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