Headed back to Paris for Christmas!
 

It's been a few years since Chritmas in Paris was Fantastic....so it's time to head back. We are looking forward to it and the apartment. Having an apartment this time will make Christmas so much easier since we can shop and plan for it.

We are waiting for the confirmation from Paris Perfect...they are a bit slow on this as I have called several times in the past few days and have had no return call.

We are excited to be staying somewhere in the 5th but not far from our favorite area of the 6th and our old "haunts".

Gotta get caught up on the new restaurants, as I have been terrible at keeping up on the forum.

Marmottan is the main musee to see this time; maybe a return to D'Orsay. I hope to finally take the boat ride on the Seine (dark early, perfect for us). Maybe Strasbourg for a day for the Christmas markets. No firm plans but tasting pain au chocolat and macarons.

This is a just want to be there trip-we have seen most of what we want to see! Flights booked, waiting on the apartment confirmation and let the planning begin! Can't wait to get back to Paris....

The early train to Strasbourg arrives at 9:20 AM. Have lunch at Brasserie Flo.

Good for you! We were there mid December last year on rue Dauphine. We love Paris around the holidays. We went to Strasbourg for a day and really enjoyed the Christmas markets. It was well worth the train ride.

Yay for you Denise. Have a great time. We are planning for February. Can't wait to read all about your trip.

Lisa

We are going to be in Paris right before Christmas and YOU are the reason! I thoroughly enjoyed your trip report on Paris in December so my husband and I decided to plan a trip too. we've been to Paris many times and wanted a more kick back, savor the city trip. We will be going to Alsace for 4 nights and will be in France for a total of two weeks. We are also staying in a PP apartment. We decided on the 7th, specifically for the Eiffel Tower views at night. My thought process is that it gets dark so early that we might as well enjoy the view!
Looking forward to your planning. Which apartment are you staying in?

Aaahh, Paris! It's so hard to resist a return trip to that charming city. I remember your excellent report of Christmas in Paris so I will be looking forward to all of your adventures this year.

I am now getting to the end of "THE BOOKSELLER" by Mark Pryor. It's character, Hugo Marston, is with the US Embassy in Paris and his bouquiniste friend is kidnapped. The backdrop of Paris, walking along the Seine, Rue Jacob, the cafes, etc. is enough to lure you into buying a plane ticket today. If you haven't read it as yet, take a look. I think you will enjoy it as much as I am.

Happy planning, I'll be following along.

Hi Denise and Chaz,

I am so pleased that you are going for Christmas. You will enjoy..hope you are both healthy this time!!

You will have to tell Florent and Michael.

Send me a email re what you are looking at....

a bientot...

Joan

\:D/ Can't wait to hear about your trip!

Yay, denisea! So how long are you staying? "Chill" trips to Paris are the best.

Enjoy the planning and researching!

Strasbourg is definitely worth a day trip at Christmas, or even an overnight trip if you can do it -- but a hotel there during that time of year should be booked at least 4 months in advance.

Hi Denisa,

Lucky you going to Paris at Christmas time. Definitely do the Marottan-Monet Museum in the toney 16th – lovely neighborhood near the Blois de Boulongne. Fabulous selection of Impressionist artists. Easy REF connection from St. Michel (convenient to where I stayed in the 6th) to the Muette Metro, a short walk from the Marottan.

Have you spent any time at the Walter-Guillaume Collection housed on the lower level of the Orangerie? Excellent Modiglianis. I described both of these museums in my July 2012 trip report. I enjoyed this collection more than Monet’s water lilies on the floor above.

I also revisited the Orsay – what’s not to love?

Have a great time…

I'm so looking forward to my 5 nights there in September! I'll be visiting all these museums. LDT, I love Modigliani, so will make sure to take a look downstairs.

You guys are awesome. I have been almost non-existent on Fodor's lately but am coming out of my "OMG, why did I ask for that promotion?" phase and am able to return to my life!

We are planning for Dec 20-28...flights are booked. Apartment is almost done.

We have so mush we have not done in and around Paris and much that we haven't done well. Practice makes perfect!

So excited to hear about your trip.We just returned Sunday,spent 2 weeks in chilly for May weather,but we loved it.
We tried some new restaurants,cooking class with Catherine at Reed,love the d'Orsay,always have lunch upstairs.
We did take a trip to Normandy,awesome,ate at 2 great restaurants in Bayeux.
I am ready to plan trip #10

Oh, TPAYT...I just finished The Bookseller on my flight to Detroit last night! A little ESP going on here, I think!

Kerouac is right. Strasbourg hotels book up quickly for the holiday period. I have spent about two searching and researching hotels and B&Bs. What I ran into is that many of the very popular, less expensive hotels, are totally booked or they require a two night minimum. On the other spectrum, the really nice hotels that I would have loved to stay at we're running a minimum of 300 EU per night. I finally gave up and we are spending one night at a wonderful B&B named Villa Elyane in Colmar and then three nights in Riquewihr so we can enjoy the villages with all the timbered houses and the countryside, should be very Christmasy.

Good info...just planning a day trip for Strasbourg this time around but will take note when we finally do go to stay in Strasbourg. I am sure we will love the markets there.

chutney -- just saw your post here. Glad you will be in Colmar one night and enjoy 3 nights in a village. Make sure to visit the Hansi museum in Riquewihr (He was a local popular artist).

denisea -- your trip is shaping up to be a what will most likely be a memorable Christmas adventure.

The Hotel Gutenberg in Strasbourg is perfectly located. Dinner at Alsace a'Table.

Hi Denisea,

Curious to know what PP apartment you will be staying in this time. You may remember we also stayed in the Kir apartment and decided it was just too small for a return stay. Thinking about a return to Paris in '14 or '15 (should we go to Italy or France first?) and will look for another apartment.