Dinner reservations in Paris
 

Since the online service has failed, what's the second best way to make a dinner reservation in Paris? Fax the restaurant? In English? Ask the hotel to make reservations? Isn't that kind of a hassle for them? Don't want to make a bad impression before I arrive!

Thanks . . .

Hi melissa,

One of the services provided by hotels, and even B&Bs, is to make dinner reservations for their guests.

This would be the best way.

I agree with Ira , that is a service most provde. It is nice though if you could include the phone numbers, if you have them.

Melissa,
I'm with you... I don't feel comfortable asking the hotel to make the reservation unless it's a 4 star hotel. We stayed at the same, small family run hotel (3 star) for 2 years, and never was there a mention of making
reservations nor does it mention that service on their website. I have seen hotel websites where they do mention that they will make reservations. However, ours doesn't say they do, so I make my own by phone. I write out a script and ask first "Parlez-vous anglais?" Then, if they do speak English, I can ask in English :-) If they don't, well...I'll launch into my French. So far, the questions have been basic.... Name -- Nom -- first name -- prénom, the time which I give in 24 hour time --for example, 7:30 (dix neuf heures et demie). That said, you could check with your hotel to see if they are willing to make reservations and save yourself the trouble. Did you try www.reservethebest.com? Maybe that was the online service that failed? I reserved with two restaurants on the Flo Brasserie website -- La Coupole and Brazzerie Balzar. I got back a confirmation by e-mail.

http://www.flobrasseries.com/brasser...p?brasserie=17

I would think a fax to the restaurant would be a good way to make reservations. Then, you could take a copy of their response with you.


Best,
Sandy

It depends on how difficult it is to get reservations at a particular restaurant. If it's very popular, whether or not a splurge spot, I usually fax ahead before a trip. If it's a neighborhood bistro kind of place, I normally call myself a few days in advance after arriving in Paris, but sometimes even early on the same day when we're travelling off season. However, if we plan to arrive on a Sunday, I always make advance reservations (phone or fax) since fewer places are open.
Certainly you can ask the hotel staff to make your reservations, particularly if there are concierge services. Small hotels often don't have them, so it may fall to the desk staff to handle such requests.

Three-star hotel staff are perfectly happy to make restaurant reservations for clients, but you should of course offer a tip for their efforts when you arrive at the hotel.

Thanks, everyone. We're staying at the Caron de Beaumarchais and they seem nice enough to at least ask.

Underhill, should one tip when arriving, or when leaving?

Melissa19,
I have hotels make dinner reservations for me all the time in 3 or 4 star hotel. Every hotel I have ever stayed at has done this and is used to it. Many times I give them the places, times, and even first and second choices for each night incase something I have requested is not available at the time requested. I always tip the concierge or person making the reservation when I give them my reservations requests.
If you tip for services requested, and give them the appropriate information nicely, they take care of everything for you. Of course you can fax your reservations to many restaurants, but I find that I get much better results when the hotels take care of this for me, Especially when they are fluent in the language and I am not. Many times I leave the information with the concierge in the morning and all is arranged and confirmed by the time I return to my room at the end of the day.
Bonding with the concierge is a good thing!

How much do you normally tip?

The front desk graciously took care of all our restaurant reservations and confirmations at Hotel Muguet.

I'd present a slip of paper (3x3 pad is perfect to bring along for this) with the name of the restaurant, phone number, our name, number of people, time, etc. They were wonderful about this. The day we checked out, while waiting for the taxi to the airport, Madame came over and asked how we had enjoyed all those restaurants and how I knew which ones I wanted to book.

I usually e-mail my list of restaurants, date and time I want. My hotels always take care of them without a problem.

If I am staying in a rental, I either e-mail or fax them directly...or a place like Violon d'Ingres, where I know them well, I just e-mail Catherine for my reservations whether in a hotel or a rental.

I don't know . . . how much does one tip a concierge? I assume he/she will help me throughout my stay, so I would tip before I left?