While not a huge country, Austria has several interesting towns of various sizes. For a first time, I would recommend Vienna which has beautiful Christmas lights in the old town and a large Christmas market in front of the town hall, possibly other locations around the city, not sure. Great shopping in general. And, there's so much to see and do in Vienna apart from the market. Salzburg would be another choice.

If a market is your sole aim, you might try for one closer to Paris or actually in Paris such as I believe near the Gare St Lazare or in Strasbourg. Am sure someone who has "done" the markets can give better advice and will. I've been disappointed in the lack of local crafts and the sameness of it all but have never been to the famous German markets.

Good hotels in Vienna include The Bristol, The Sacher, Kasierein Elizabeth and Konig von Ungaren (my favorite).

Strasbourg has a lovely Christmas market and is very festively decorated. Using that as a base and exploring the Alsace-Lorraine area might be a nice alternative for you without having to travel as far.

I have not been to Vienna yet but Salzburg is lovely. We especially enjoyed the Mozart dinner concert at the Stiftskeller St. Peter in Salzburg - an unforgettable evening!

Thanks Cathinjoetown, I went online to a couple of sites and it looks like the Konig von Ungaren would be a great choice for us. Is there any advice about room request, it looks like there is an old and new section, perhaps the older part would be more charming. Now to figure out where I am going to lay my head while in Paris.

Not familiar with the new section of the Konig. We had a duplex in the main building.

For Paris, if you are willing to consider the 6th, try the Relais St. Germain just off the Blvd. St. Germain on Carrefour d'Odeon.

Although I wasn't there for the Christmas Market, I loved Salzburg. I stayed at the Goldener Hirsch, a Starwood Luxury Collection hotel with a great location in the old town on Getreidegasse. I loved the hotel. I had a beautiful corner room in the Tyrolean style.

I really enjoy Vienna too and, having stayed at the Bristol and the Grand Hotel Wien, I recommend both, although I did slightly prefer the Bristol. The Bristol is across from the Staatsoper, and the Wien is less than a block away on the same side of the street. The Imperial Hotel, which is also beautiful, is almost across the street. I have not stayed at the Sacher Hotel, but did have dinner there at the Rote Bar restaurant before the Opera. If the restaurant is any indication of the rooms, I suspect they would be lovely too.

I also recommend Salzburg. In addition to being a beautiful small city, is has several Christmas markets that we enjoy and easy access to many more in the surrounding countryside.

For hotels in the altstadt, try Weisse Taube or Goldene Ente. We prefer to stay across the Salzach where it is not quite so busy and really like the Sheraton. For a more Austria ambiance, the Stadtkrug is a solid choice and for modern at a reasonable price, the NH Salzburg.

Vienna is not a favorite of mine though I have been there 3x now, the last being for the Christmas markets.

Another vote for the Goldener Hirsch in Salzburg. We had a wonderful Christmas there once. You could also stay at the Weisee Taube and have dinner at the Goldener Hirsch.

Thank you for taking the time to post, these look like great choices to have. I do like the St Germain area, it is much quieter than by the louve. I think we are going to do Vienna this Christmas and do Salzburg some summer. Now to make the final decision on fly or train from Paris to Vienna.....I do love the trains in Europe.(I am getting cold just thinking about Christmas in Austria, but my husbands father always told him of how beautiful Austria to be, he was there in the war, we should see it)

Jacques Garcia is his name. it don't know him, but maybe you do! They have a few pictures; it looks tremendous! http://www.hotel-athenee.com/

No I am sorry to say that I don't know him Valery, I wish I did, perhaps I could get a discount. I went onto the site, I didn't see the pictures. I will have a look on the web and see if I can see something about it. I think it is going to be a fabulous hotel for sure. Thanks

I just read all these suggestions again this evening and Pierro you should write for a travel magazine, excellent comments on the hotels...Thanks to everyone.

Near the Louvre, in the 1st, we like Lotti(the front rooms on rue Castiglione are large with high ceilings) and Hotel Cambon (privately owned with ****).