I got up in the middle of the night and decided to surprise my husband of 31 years with a trip to Paris this weekend! Valentine's day and all of that...Anyway, I checked Expedia and found a trip from Newark (thru Chicago) + 3 nights at the Renaissance Paris Vendome for $2100 total. I usually spend months planning trips and read every post on these boards but I obviously don't have time this time....soooooo, I'm hoping for quick advice. Is this a decent price? how's the Hotel? the location? near metro stops? Just want to wander and poke, nice restaurants but not too expensive, we can keep it simple. Would love a studio apartment like the one on Rue Mouffetard that I saw recommended on
private-paris.com but it's got a minimum 6 night stay and we'll only be there Sat -Wed (THIS Sat -Wed!) so if anyone has ideas, suggestions it would be GREAT. I remember someone once posted great walks through Paris but I can't remember who. Thanks for your help.

Read "Gastronomic Suggestions for Paris" and see my reply.

I think its a good deal...the Renaissance had 1 "iffy" review on Tripadvisor...but everyone else loved it. 5-star...about $300 a night...so, $900 for your hotel and what...$1200 for last minute round-trip tickets?
It is in a good location in the 1st. Close to the Louvre...metro is right there...lots of great restaurants...
you'll have a wonderful romantic time!
You're envied! By me!

Marsha:

I have never been to any of these places, but I am planning a trip to Paris, and someone I work with is from Paris and gave me these recommendations. Can't vouch for any of them, but he's there a few times a year, so I certainly trust him. Here they are, hope it helps. Enjoy!


Bouddha Bar is a famous bar and restaurant in the 8th arrondissement.

Also in "the 8th" , if you'd like to try an authentic "Pot au feu", there is a restaurant by that name rue de Ponthieux , close to rue de la Boétie. And also Spoon Food & Wine, 12 rue de Marignan, a Alain Ducasse restaurant without the full Ducasse price (01 40 76 34 44 you may fax now to make a reservation for when you're there [011 33] 1 40 76 34 37)

One morning, you can take your family around the corner to have a breakfast on the rooftop of Hotel Raphael, located 17 Avenue Kleber (01 53 64 32 00)

Now, more good restaurants, you can run a few of those by the concierge at your hotel, just to get his update and to show him you know something about the town:
Benoit Restaurant, Authentic French bistro with great quality food (1 star in the Guide Michelin) 20 rue Saint Martin (4th arrondissement) tel 01 42 72 25 76

Au Trou Gascon
Tel: 01 43 44 34 26
Fax: 01 43 07 80 55
40 Rue Taine
75012 Paris


le Bistro de Paris 33 rue de Lille (ask for a table in the yard when making a reservation).

L'Absinthe
Tel: 01 49 26 90 04
Fax: 01 49 26 08 64
Place Saint Honore 75001 Paris

Le Bistrot du Sud-Ouest (affordable)
Tel: 01 42 84 35 35
Fax: 01 42 84 26 27
39 Bd du Montparnasse 75006 Paris

Verre Bouteille Champerret (affordable)
Tel: 01 47 63 39 99
9 Bd Gouvion St-Cyr 75017 Paris

Verre Bouteille Ternes (affordable)
Tel: 01 45 74 01 02
85 Av. des Ternes 75017 Paris

Yvan
01 43 59 18 40
1 bis rue Jean-Mermoz - 75008 Paris

Les Olivades
Tel: 01 47 83 70 09
41 Avenue de Ségur - 75007 Paris

Thoumieux rue Saint Dominique (cuisine Sud-Ouest)

Pyrénées Cevennes (chez Philippe) If you like cold cuts, order the "Assiette de Charcuterie"
Tel: 01 43 57 33 78
106 Rue Folie Méricourt - Paris 11ème

IMHO- you should save that money for when you can spend more than 3 nights in Paris. It's a lot of cash to throw down (for the flight portion) when you only intend to stay a few days. It's going to be a whirlwind of a trip, especially since you won't have the luxury of time to get adjusted to Paris time.

That being said . . . you don't have much time to 'rethink' your decision on hotel. Go to www.tripadvisor.com, type in your hotel name, and read the reviews people have written if you need reassurance. Most hotels are near some sort of metro stop, so don't worry about that. And is 2100 a decent price? I don't think so. After you factor in food, some shopping purchases, metro, a museum or two. . . you'll have spent 3k (for 3 nights!!). So at 1k a night, I don't think it's decent. Sorry.

But have fun. I'd recommend visiting your local bookstore and picking up a Paris guide book to read on your flight.

as to walks... search Degas in the box above...

If you are really interested in an apartment, call them directly. If the apartment is not booked, they may let you stay for the short period.

Wish I am off to Paris this weekend but I have a two and a half month wait.

Have fun.

Thanks to all. YES! Degas! I knew it was the name of a favorite painter but I couldn't remember. Thanks! I've got about 12 more hours to decide........I know, when you put it at $1000/night WOW what was I thinking? BUT......the timing is right, you lonely live once, yada, yada....Keep those ideas coming and I'll let you know what I decide......Thanks again to all

OK, coz I think yes..it is frivolous sort of...but if you have the time and the money...why not!?!

If you're in the 1eme, one of my favorite restaurants is across from the east facade of the Louvre at Admiral Chaligny (probably spelled wrong...) and Rue Rivoli.. The Fumoir. Not a bank breaker but beautifully prepared food and a nice wine selection ... modernish in front, lots of pretty people.
From there walk to the Seine (2 blocks?) to Pont Neuf...and canoodle while the lights of the Tower sparkle to your right.

ORBITZ shows flights Chicago-Paris for 2/9-2/13 for $489 non-stop on USAIR.
You could get a nice hotel for $200x3=$600 + the $1000 flights
total $1600

oops, redid it with your dates and American Airlines has non-stop for $551, USAir has 1 stop for $516 so my 'total' above is still very close.

Last year, at the last minute, I decided to take my husband and in-laws to Paris for Valentine's weekend and was able to secure a Paris Perfect apartment for four nights--they usually rent by the week too--so be sure to call/email the apt people as suggested above.

Best of luck.

Sorry, I meant to add that if you do decide to look for another hotel, check ratestogo.com for last-minute reservations.

I don't think it's a very good price because air fares are really low in winter. That hotel lists rates on their web site right now for about 279-300 euro per night, or about US$325.

That's for the double room, so would be only about $175 per person or $525 for 3 nights. Your 2100-525 leaves $1575 for the airfare. Sure, you pay a lot for last minute airfare, so if you don't mind paying through the nose for airfare that is probably worth about $400-500, go ahead. The hotel is a good location and nice enough.

I wouldn't pay such exhorbitant fees for a fling without a decent flight, and flying from Newark through Chicago to Paris is nothing I would ever pay $1600 for.

Maybe I misunderstood and that $2100 is the price for both people, not one? Often they price things per person (based on double occupancy). In that case, I think it's fine, just no bargain.

the $2100 is for both of us , airfare and hotel. Booking from Newark direct to Paris with Continental looks like 590/person. Would still love to find a studio apt SO many choices for someone who usually takes months to figure this out. I'm definatly out of my comfort zone but I'm forging ahead on this whim. thanks again to all ideas.

My husband and I spent 4 nights in Germany last Valentine's Day and we probably spent about $2500-$2700 total on the trip. Was it a lot of money for a very short visit? Yes. But it was our first Valentine's Day together as a married couple, we could afford it, and we have some wonderful memories from our whirlwind trip.
That said, we did set a rule that we will only do "6 nights plus" trips in the future. Not b/c of the money as much as the difficulty in adjusting to the time zones for such a short stay

laterooms.com came up with a 3*
"Studio Apt. Rue Guisarde". Pictures looked nice, in the 6th...how bad can it be?

Also, my favorite "Hotel Relaise du Louvre" has a 1 bedroom apartment...$450 a night but you want posh and spontaneous? I think their website is relaisdulouvre.com

I'm going to be the party-pooper here. IT sounds like a great whim, but sometimes you need to wait 24 hours to see if that whim sounds so great after you've let it sit for a bit. More experienced travelers than I seem to think that you are paying a lot for airfare and it seems that even though this is a nice hotel, it's not really the apt you have said you would prefer. Why not save the money and plan for a lovely apartment and longer stay in Paris for your next anniversary or his birthday? And what would he be getting you for Valentine's Day to equal what you're getting him? I hope a seriously nice piece of jewelry, an Hermes bag or a quality antique from Paris, at the least!

But as other people have said, if you can afford to do this and you have your heart set on it (and you have no problem with jet lag laying you up for at least a day), go for it.

I stayed at the studio you referred to in the OP (private-paris). Henri will deal if his place is still available. I originally emailed him about a different apt that was less expensive and it was not available so he gave me thr mouffetard studio for the price of the less expensive one. It was completely his suggesion- I didn't even have to ask. Since this is so close to your departure and it looks to be still available it can't hurt to email him.