Tracy

My girlfriends and I will be traveling to Paris for the first time ever and we're excited!!! Our trip is scheduled for early September 2000, and there will be 3 of us travling together. Any suggestions on hotels that best accomdate 3? And where's the best part of town to stay for first time visitors? [We love to eat, so "restaurant musts" will be appreciated too.] Thanks so much!!!

Nino

Tracy, <BR>If you love to eat and don't want to spend much money the best part of town to stay is the Quartier Latin. You'll find nice bistros and restaurants, good nightlife and you're close to some attractions. I recomend the hotels located at Saint Michel Avenue.

Wm Mauceri

My partner and I rented an apartment in the Marais for a week in February 2000 (and, before that, in September 1999). The experience was great and we spent less on accommodations than we would have on a hotel (roughly $110 per night, but that included breakfast - the larder was packed tight with all sorts of stuff, including coffee, tea, eggs, milk, wine, soup, etc). A great experience. We went through www.parisbandb.com. Very friendly, very knowledgeable, very hospitable. Good luck.

elaine

Tracy, <BR>see my suggestions for Paris hotels <BR>just below, in the question <BR>"Paris Hotel Pulitzer"--the hotels mentioned have all been recommended on this forum. <BR>You can search for the specific comments here by Searching on each hotel name, or try the websites I mentioned <BR>www.paris.org <BR>www.hotelboulevard.com <BR>for comments from other guests. <BR>good luck

Seb

I found the Latin Quarter a good area, with lots of cafe life. Montparnasse area is also good for lots of restaurants and movie houses frequented by locals. Even nicer is the St. Germain area, which has lots of neat little antique and decorator shops, as well as a good choice of restaurants. <BR> <BR>I love Brasseries (especially the seafood platters which are to die for.) Brasserie Flo was excellent and very friendly. Also Chez Julien and Chez Jenny. <BR> <BR>

Lori

We enjoyed Cafe Marly near the Richlieu entrance of the Louvre. Food was so good we didn't even mind the worst waiter we had while in Paris (most were actually nice to us). Also nice place to relax and people watch (seemed like all the pretty people of Paris were there when we were) before/during/after seeing the museum!

Yvonne

When I last stayed in Paris I ate at Chez Paul on Rue de Lapin (near the Bastille Metro stop) The food & atmosphere were excellent & it's also where Parisians in the know eat! Try to avoid the very touristy parts of Paris. The restaurants here tend to be more expensive & may not be as good.

Tracy

WONDERFUL!! Thanks for the suggestions. I welcome all input. Thanks again!

vosaki

I don't know that I should write this since this is Fodor's site (their guides are great), but since you are interested in restaurants, you might buy a copy of Gayot's, "The Best of Paris". It's the English edition of Gault Millau. The book rates hotels, restaurants and shops, but the most interesting is that it highlights good restaurants with fixed price meals that are bargains. Using Gault, we ate off fixed price menus that gave us a chance to sample the cuisine of an otherwise expensive restaurant on the relative cheap. The restaurant ratings roughly track the Micheline Red Book. <BR>The book doesn't seem to be readily available in the US, but they're everywhere in Paris. <BR>By the way, the Micheline Red Book is available in a Paris only edition -- it's about $10.

Margo

You may want to think about getting a menu reader for all the wonderful food you will be ordering. Eating & Drinking in France (this user-friendly guide is my first, best and only choice of menu readers because it alphabetizes the food and drinks and is compact. Its authors can be reached at e-mail: [email protected].) <BR>http://www.HelloEurope.com

vosaki

Another guide that categorizes restaurants is the Zagat Paris guide. It follows the format of the US guides. Categorizing restaurants by overall rating, type of cuisine, etc. As with the US guides, it lists a number of restaurants that contributors thought were exceptional value. <BR>There are few surprises in the guide. It tracks with Michelin.

Sabrina

Early September is an excellent time to be in Paris. I was there last September for the first time and I was there during re'entree (could be spelled wrong but it means "re-entry"). This is the time when Parisians are returning from their own holiday's. There were fireworks every night and different events on the Champs-Elysse each night in honor of it. I stayed in 5th district at Hotel St. Christophe in the Rue Mouffetard area. Excellent choice and not very expensive. <BR> <BR>Great restaurants abound in the Latin Quarter area, should you choose to stay there. But with three of you traveling, I would suggest stopping at an open air market or a store and buying things for a picnic. Get your cold-cuts, cheese, fruit, bread and, of course, wine, and have a picnic near the Eiffel Tower. You will have the time of your life.