I'm trying to plan my first trip to Paris. There's so much information out there it's hard to filter it so I turn to you. I'm going to be travelling alone and on a budget. I'm planning a four night stay and am going primarily for the food (I'm a chef by trade) Anyone have any suggestions or tips that can help out a single gal out for her first trip to Paris?

Hi savah,

I just came back from my first trip to Paris 3 weeks ago and LOVED it!!

We have a couple of things in common. I too am a chef by trade, well a glorified line cook. And I too was traveling on a budget.

First, if you haven't booked a hotel yet, I recommend the Hotel Monte Carlo. It is in the 9th and at 39 euro a night, it is quite a bargain. It is centrally located. I walked everywhere.

Now as for food, there are crepe stands everywhere. But I would advise you to not go to the places that have stacks of pre-cooked crepes. Try to find one that makes them to order.

For lunch, pop into a sandwich shop and grab a bite to go and either have a picnic in one of the many parks or in your hotel room. Very good food and cheap!!

Tom

Hi S,

What's your budget?

See
Ira Does France
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34676645

Paris Superthread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34519236

100 Great Things to Do in Paris
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...mp;tid=1277898

Degas’s Paris Walks
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34712768

Jacquemart-Andre’ Museum http://tinyurl.com/p9pol

Are you looking for restaurant recommendations or do you already have these? Are you interested in a tour of the main food market at Rungis?

http://www.rungisinternational.com/p...om/visites.asp

http://msglaze.typepad.com/paris/200...ggest_mar.html

hi,
we visited Paris in early March this year.
Not food related:
it was much colder than we expected - take a warm coat .
nela

Hi savah,
We are avid recreational eaters (read: we love good food!) and wanted to spend around 30 Euro per person (not including wine) on dinners during our trip to Paris in September. Of the restaurants we picked (and we got lots of advice from Fodorites!) our favorite for quality and service was La Bastide Odeon in Saint-Germain, near the Opera and Luxembourg Garden.
www.bastide-odeon.com/us/page1.html

I agree on the coat! And stay away from the restaurants in the touristy areas (in my opinion), find family-run type places in the neighborhoods. I think those are usually a lot homier with good food. There is a nice area on Rick Steves website which includes advice for restaurants in France.

Just went to Paris last February. Our favorite part, and I really don't consider myself a foodie, was the market. We honestly stumbled upon it but I believe it was the Rue Mouffetard market. There were lots of meat, fish, bread stands all with interesting food we hadn't seen before. There was mouthwatering paella cooking and we had amazing churros while we walked around. The vendor made them fresh right in front of us with a little powdered sugar..... mmmmm... Paris. V. jealous. Here is a market link I found that might help:
http://www.gayot.com/travel/france/parismarkets.html

Bring a hat, gloves, and scarf!

savah,
The first time we went to Paris it was April and very chilly. The second time we went it was warm and in the 70's, and it was in March. You just never know, but be sure to carry a small umbrella and bring clothes to layer. I have always worn a rain jacket from LL Bean -- like a trench coat, but a jacket -- layered over a sweater with gloves and scarf if it's chilly and over a long sleeve knit top when it's warmer, and that works well.
Sandy

bookmarking

Good for you! I'm a single woman going to Paris on my own for the first time, too! I'll be there in July so I'm hoping the weather advice you're getting isn't appropriate for me. I've found SO much information on a variety of websites and Lonely Planet books. I filter everything I read and all the advice I receive from friends and chatrooms like this one through my own style, my own likes and dislikes, and I come up with a pretty great itinerary. It, of course, will be a work in progress because I typically throw my well-though-out-plan out the window once I arrive at a destination once I get to see, touch, feel and smell the surroundings - fellow travellers have often changed the direction of my plans, too. All the best to you!

Good waterproof shoes or boots are also a must!

Get a copy of Patricia Wells The Food Lovers Guide to Paris and use it to plan your days.