My husband and I will have 4 brief nights in Paris. Neither one of us has traveled to Paris before. Any recommendations on where to stay?<BR><BR>Really looking to experience the culture - want to submerge ourselves among the French. Hate getting stuck in tourist traps. <BR><BR>Would like to visit a boutique museum or two, but mostly want to eat croissants and shop!!<BR><BR>Not quite sure where to stay -- any recommendations? A nice, boutique (2nd time i've used that word!) hotel would be ideal - somewhere around $150-$200/night.<BR><BR>Thanks!!

What's a boutique museum?<BR><BR>In order to make recommendations on where to stay, it might be helpful to know what your interests are. If you want to &quot;submerge yourself among the French,&quot; perhaps you might want to stay in the 7me, which is a neighborhood full of good restaurants and caf&eacute;s and some shops but also a classic Parisian residential neighborhood where you're likely to meet the average Parisian on the streets going out for a cup of coffee or a trip to the patisserie.<BR>One nice hotel in that area is the Duquesne-Eiffel, 23 avenue Duquesne. Rooms aren't large by American standards, but since the renovation a few years ago the bathrooms are all marble and sparkling and the rooms have been outfitted in lovely proven&ccedil;al fabrics. It's well within your budget. The Ecole Militaire m&eacute;tro stop ios 3 blocks away, and there are two bus stops even closer that will take you right into the heart of Paris for shopping at the big department stores.

When are you going? That might help us steer you toward a hotel (if you're going soon, for instance, we can tell you which hotels might already be full). You might enjoy one of the hotels on the Ile St. Louis.<BR><BR>For boutique museums, try the Marmottan in the 16th (major Monet collection, along with illuminated manuscripts and the like). The Musee Carnavelet in the Marais is a good place to start off a trip, because it gives good historical context. Musee Rodin would be another good place.<BR><BR>The d'Orsay, Louvre, and Beaubourg are wonderful in their own right, but definitely do not fit into the category of &quot;boutique&quot; museum. <BR><BR>If you like wine, I can recommend a number of wine bars, but one of the most fun is the Clown Bar on rue Amelot near the Cirque d'Hiver. It's not totally unknown to European tourists, but not too many Americans seem to venture there. The decor is fabulously weird (circus-inspired tiles) and the wine list is extensive (but not expensive).<BR><BR>

Dear Lisa,<BR>here are a few hotels to consider:in the 7th-hotel Verneuil-small charming very &quot;French&quot; the rooms are immaculate and lovely, but very small, I would up grade to the deluxe double, the price should be well within your budget.Near the Musee d'Orsay.<BR>To read a review and get web adress go to frommers.com click Europe then Paris -then accomidations.<BR>Also in the 7th la tour Maurbourge(? Spell)... see ricksteves.com click travel links-sleeping, fodors also has a very favorable review.<BR>In the 4th- Marais check out carondebeaumarchais.com very sweet place in a great neighborhood.It would proably be worth it to upgrade to a larger room here if possible.<BR>The Picasso museum, is within easy walking distance, and is woth a visit.<BR>I alsolike karenbrow.com for Paris hotel suggestion.<BR>If you need restaurant or any other info. please feel free to contact me ditrectly.<BR>Viva la France<BR>Fluffy-to the top for Lisa

Our favorite small museum is the Jaquemart Andre. The mansion in which it is housed is a wonder in itself. Nice tea room also.

Other than the fabulous suggestions above, I highly recommend the small, but wonderful Musee Maillol, Rue de Grenelle, 7th, (closed on Tuesdays).<BR><BR>As for getting croissants and other pastries, don't worry, you'll find lovely patisseries/bakeries all over Paris.<BR><BR>Regarding accommodation, please indicate, when you will be travelling, because small boutique hotels book up very early, especially now with the upcoming holiday weekends in Europe (Easter, May 1, Ascension, Whitsuntide).<BR><BR>Although there will be fewer American tourists in Paris, it's still one of the top destinations for Europeans who mostly stay in small boutique hotels, mainly in the 6th.<BR>Bonne chance!<BR>

Merci tout le monde!!<BR><BR>Practicing my poor French ...<BR><BR>We will be in Paris from May 6-10. Thank you for all your recommendations -- hoping to have hotels booked by tomorrow. I really appreciate all your advice!!<BR><BR>StCirq - by &quot;boutique&quot; museum I just meant smaller sized museums!! thanks for your help, lisa

My husband and I like staying in the Hotel Crystal in the Saint Germain area. It's only half a block from Caf&eacute; de Flore. It's a wonderful area, central to everything and close to bus and metro.<BR>http://www.hotels-paris-reservation.com/<BR><BR><BR>Sandy

You've gotten great information. Another small but wonderful museum is the Rodin Museum which is in what I think was his house. Rent the movie Camille Claudel (in french with subtitles). It is about his mistress who was also a great sculptor.

I think for a first-time visit the 6th (St. Germain) would be good--lively, close to the Seine and sites. Le Regent hotel has been recommended a lot here it seems, and also the Millesime. (do a search)<BR><BR>I really like the booking site www.france.com, where you can find instant availability, as well as comments and lots of details about the hotels. I've used it often.

One of my favorite small museums is the Nissam Camondo. Beautifully furnished home as tho' someone still lived there. It's quite near the Jacquemart-Andre which I also liked. Another interesting small museum is the Jewish Museum.