My Boyfriend and I are going on vacation for the first time in Paris from Dec 26 - Jan 2 . We are looking to stay in a nice hotel any suggestions that would be affordable during that time?

Is it worth going to Normandy for 2 days?

Any good place for NYE?

What do you consider affordable?

I suspect that Normandy can be dreary in late December.

Thanks Michael - up to $400 a night (I would prefer around $250) I was thinking about Priceline but BF is a little picky - me not so much

That is a very big budget and you should have no problem finding something! I cant help because we stay in places that are about €100 a night. I am sure others will help.

We spend a week in Paris the same week in 2009. Our trip report and photos might help you in your planning:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...stmas-2009.cfm

You can check the Hotel Parc Saint-Severin*** in the 5th, they are showing rates that start at €155/night, not bad for Paris and the hotel is very nice. It's part of the Esprit de France group (www.esprit-de-france.com/). We use it from time to time and send clients there, depending on their budget.

The Hotel d'Orsay, in the 7th, is a little more, starting at €174/night.

Just be aware that a number of restaurants will be closed for the Christmas season, so you need to plan ahead. Some of those that close post a note on their front door listing restaurants in the area that are open, so you can always find someplace for a decent meal. Reservations for NYE will have to be made well in advance.

You can contact Le Clos des Gourmets (www.closdesgourmets.com) to see if they will be open. La Fontaine de Mars should be open on NYE. If you like Basque cuisine, Au Bascou (www.au-bascou.fr/) is showing their NYE special (€100/person). You can also try l'Auberge Etchegorry, or chez l'Ami Jean.

Normandy is on the north coast, and you can expect rain, or even snow.

I love Paris and the hub and I spent one Christmas and NYE there a couple of years ago and it's grey, chilly but beauiful that time of year. Bring your gloves, a hat and a scarf, good walking shoes and plan to wander the city, because it will be yours to a great extent, which is lovely.

Lots of the cafes will be selling vin chaud in paper cups at windows onto the sidewalk. Grab a cup of this nice hot mulled wine and keep walking.

We had dinner at Chez Fernand on Rue St. Augustins (there are two locations) on New Years Eve. We go to this restaurant frequently and always have wonderful meals so we wanted something familiar for NYE. You'll need to make reservations as this is a small little resto and very popular. They had a special menu for the evening and all four of us (friends from Edinburgh were visiting) had different meals and all loved it. Another nice thing about dinner at Chez Fernand is that you are just off the quay near Notre Dame. After dinner we walked to the front of the church and rang in the New Year with a huge group of people. It was WONDERFUL and we'll do this again!

Have a terrific trip!

Thanks all I will follow up on your suggestions! The BF has not been on vacation in about 25 years so it is a big deal. It is our first trip together so I want to make it as pleasant as possible.

What about an apartment?

CORRECTION: Chez Fernand is on Rue Christine! Same location, just wrong street

www.betterbidding.com has great prices on central 4 stars

Recently on Hotwire.com snagged their Secret Louvre Hotel

The Novotel Les Halles perfect location $159 GREAT deal.

Bidding priceline 4 stars Meriden Etoile recently $80

Marriott Rive Gauche $100

Average 4 star in Paris center $500 so might go for those.

Careful with apartments many scammers lots of steps not great

but parisbestlodge.com is good in you must...

eurocheapo.com city gds and day trips Normandy long cold slog

Might skip it dress warm... shoot south to Provence if time

lecalendal.com sunfrance.com Happy Travels!

Countdown and new year 2010 lightning show on Eiffel Tower, Paris, France ... 1:24 Add to Rio De Janeiro New Year's 2010 Fireworks by ...www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUp4uAm0Bss - Cached.

The ONLY place to be for NYE

<i>
First Time in Paris Dec 26 - Jan 2 any suggestions - hotel, restaurants
Posted by: dinafirsttimeinParis on Oct 7, 11 at 2:42pm
My Boyfriend and I are going on vacation for the first time in Paris from Dec 26 - Jan 2 . We are looking to stay in a nice hotel any suggestions that would be affordable during that time? </i>

This is probably the most frequently asked question on Fodor's. I suggest that you use the *Search the Forums* box above. Enter *Paris hotels*. You will have an afternoon of reading.

Do you know which arrondissement you want to stay in? What do you want to do in Paris? Do you have a guide book? A map?

I suggest that you visit Galleries Lafayette and Printemps, if for nothing more than to see the Christmas displays inside and out.

I do not think that Les Halles area is a perfect location for first timers. I would stick to the 5th, 6th and 7th <i>arrondissement</i>. You can tell where a hotel is located by its postal code (75005, 75006 and 75007 respectively).

For example:

Hotel Parc Saint Severin***
Director: Corinne Andrivon
22, rue de la Parcheminerie
75005 Paris

is located in the 5th <i>arrondissement</i>

If you have no clue as to what I am talking about, you should look at a map of Paris showing its districts. Most good guidebooks would have such a map.

Michael - thanks, that is what I am trying to figure out I know the arrondissement makes a huge difference for your first stay (I have actually been but many years ago) My Bf is a New yorker but one who is used to his comfort zone.

There are great vacation rentals around Paris that doesn't cost much. There's no exact location since they have many apartments in any key places within the city. You might want to check them out.

There are several great smaller hotels around the Odeon metro stop in the 6th (Hotel Louis II, Odeon Hotel, Relais St Germain, and Odeon St Germain. I think they will fit in your price range (higher end of it).

The Odeon Metro stop is so convenient. I also think that the Christmas markets at St Sulpice and St Germain churches will still be operating.

The are also several great restaurants in the area,as well. Plus a Gerard Mulot for pastries.

The location is convenient to The Pantheon, Notre Dame, Luxembourg Gardens, D'Orsay. We stayed in the area over Christmas last year and had a great time.

You will need a travel umbrella, a good scarf and hat, I take those air activated hand warmers to stay warm while outside.

If you decide on an apartment consider Paris Perfect...most of their apartments are in the 7th, but I think they have a few in the 5th and 6th.

harrisonJ - any suggestions on apartments?

Denise where did you stay and what did you do on New years Eve?

Check Paris Perfect's list of available apartments (www.parisperfect.com/)

For a first visit [at least by your BF, who you say is a bit fussy] i would stick to a hotel, and one that you pick, as opposed to having it picked for you.

the suggestions made above would all be very good, or if you fancy something more central, try hotelbritannique.fr. they have rooms of several sizes, bathrooms with robes and slippers, mini-bars and kettles, AND is in the 1st and about as close to Notre Dame as you can get.

Again for a first trip, i would stay in the centre, which will give you easy access to most of what you will want to see. that means the 1st arrondissement on the right bank, and the 5th, 6th or possibly 7th on the left.

have a great trip!

dinafirsttime, I almost always agree with annhig, but with your budget you could probably get a really lovely apartment with an agency that does include some concierge-type services. Several years ago my sister, mother and I went to Paris for Christmas. We rented an apartment on Ile Saint Louis from Guest Apartment Services. They are first-rate and offer quite a few additional services to make your stay easy.

http://www.guestapartment.com/

http://www.guestapartment.com/services.html

Have a wonderful trip!