Dear all,
My sister and I will be in Paris from 1-5 January 2009 to celebrate one of those one-in-ten years big O's birthday (mine)! I would love your suggestions as to where to stay and where to go for my birthday dinner. It needs to be somewhere special but not too expensive. It would be nice to get a special feeling in the restaurant and perhaps to be made a bit of a fuss off about my having my birthday (the dinner). I'd love to stay in a hotel either in St. Germain or nearby or perhaps the Marais earea's. It would be nice if the rooms are an o.k. size and perhaps a bit of a lively lobby/bar in the hotel would be cosy as well.Yes, quite a few wishes, I know...

I'd love to hear your suggestions. thanks.

Catharyn

ttt

TTT

somewhere special but not too expensive
special feeling in the restaurant
perhaps to be made a bit of a fuss off about my having my birthday
rooms are an o.k. size
bit of a lively lobby/bar in the hotel would be cosy as well.


These are not really the things that make up the typical Paris experience for a lot of us. Yo might find that to recreate them in Paris you will end up in an American chain hotel or worse.

Catharyn-
I am about to celebrate one of those "big" birthdays in Paris myself.
You might get more replies to your question if you told people your price range. "Not too expensive" means different things to different people.
How about "dinner not more than X euro per person" and hotel not more than "X euro per night"?

Dear Kristina and Rob,

Thanks very much for your replies. Yes, that is a good suggestion Kristina. Dinner: I am thinking around € 60,-- pp (without drinks); hotel I am thinking around € 150, - € 175,-- € 200,-- max for the room. I have been coming to Paris for the last 4-5 years and have stayed in good enough hotels, but I find this special time that it would be nice to have a special place with a room a bit larger than just the bed space. Would be nice to be able to just sit and relax for a moment on a sofa or comfortable chair in the room itself and perhaps have a drink at a downstairs bar that is cosy and inviting, also due to there being a few people around.
Kristina, where will you spend your birthday yourself? I am curious to know!

Looking forward to your replies again,

Katharyn (Amsterdam)

A hotel with a lively bar is probalby the easiest. The Aubusson Hotel in St Germain would be a good choice for that one, or the LEnox St Germain. Both are relatively small and great locations. Of course, some of the expensive hotels in the 8th arr. are like that and known for their bars (like George V).

I don't know about restasurants making fusses over you becuase it's your birthday, though, I,ve never heard of that so can't suggest anything.

Hi C,

>Dinner: I am thinking around € 60,-- pp (without drinks);...

www.le-train-bleu.com

However, I suggest that you bring along one really nice cocktail dress and treat yourself to lunch at www.taillevent.com - 80E pp without wine.

You can make up the difference by getting takeout.

See my Paris restaurant reviews at http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35136218

> I'd love to stay in a hotel either in St. Germain ... It would be nice if the rooms are an o.k. size and perhaps a bit of a lively lobby/bar in the hotel would be cosy as well.<

This might not be what you want, but

We always stay at the Hotel Bonaparte, 61 Rue Bonaparte in the 6th. From 131E dbl w/bkfst. It is just around the corner from Place St. Sulpice, near 3 metro stops and 4 bus routes. Has AC and an elevator.
Tel 33 1 43 26 97 37
FAX 33 1 46 33 57 67
[email protected]
www.hotelbonaparte.fr

For more info, enter "Hotel Bonaparte" in the "search this forum" box.

Photos are at http://tinyurl.com/ludgd

There are a number of bars and restos within 2 blks of the hotel.

Enjoy your visit.

Catharyn-
My hotel choices aren't in your range because we have to consider the low dollar so I have tried to keep it under 130 euro per night.

As for restaurants you might look at Chez L'Ami Jean in the 7th. I haven't eaten there, but it's on my list as "better than bistro food for bistro prices". 30 euro menu.

Hello all,

thanks very much. I will look into your suggestions and will get back to you later. In the meantime: any other ideas for 1-5 Januari in Paris?

Catharyn