BTW, alot of times those package deals from consolidators have the absolute crappiest connections. They are offering convenience in booking but not value or good times.

I woulnd NOT go Newark-Chicago-Paris. Wrong direction! I'm sure there are better flights with all segments going eastbound. With such a short time I wouldn't eat up time traveling via Chicago.

http://www.parisby.com/bonappart/pages/booking.htm

These apts are on/near rue Bonaparte, 6th, and don't seem to have a minimum stay requirement...

Let me make sure I understand...you're looking to fly from Newark to CDG, not from Chicago right?

Can you leave Friday night? If you go to www.itasoftware.com and put in your dates I see tix from Continental direct from Newark to Paris for $674 leaving 10:10pm Friday evening and arriving in Paris before noon on Saturday.

AA has JFK to CDG for $420 p.p.

I just came back from a three night trip from New York to Paris that we took because of great winter airfares. If you are not looking for a five-star hotel per se, but are just considering it because of the package, I think you could definitely do this a lot more cheaply. For instance, we stayed at the Saint Louis Marais, a charming but simple hotel, for 115 euros a night, and booked less than two weeks or so before we were going--i.e., they had availability fairly last minute. I am sure that in February there are plenty of other hotels with availability in between the one where we stayed and the one you are considering in price. So my thought is yes, go--I loved my short fairly last minute trip to Paris, but spend a couple hours doing the arrangments yourself and save several hundred dollars.

Thank you for all of the thoughtful comments from all. I took them all seriously and regained some practicality (darn) in the daylight. $3000 did sound like a lot for 3 days so we've decided to wait a few weeks, book the flight (direct from Newark) ourselves and decide where we want to stay, and stay longer. That, however, almost makes this much more complicated because of all of the wonderful reccomendations and ideas on these forums. Oh well, it will be fun to plan and have more time in Paris.....it was fun to dream about and now we'll be able to dream for a few weeks longer before we go. Thanks to all who gave took the time to help.

www.travelzoo.com sent an email today that lufthansa is having a sale but only thru today and you have to fly by Mar 31st.

Delta has a fare sale going on at the moment with great prices advertised for Paris.

And to throw a restaurant suggestion into the mix, I would recommend the bistro Allard, which is in the 6th. I believe. Wonderful food in a simple, unpretentious setting. Also would recommend a visit to the Rodin museum - the gardens with his large sculptures are a treat to walk through.

marshacarlin: If you're really rethinking this, do yourself a favor and contact the folks at www.parisperfect.com. If they have availability on the dates you want (they'll rent for less than a week, if there's a gap), you will have the basis for a very romantic Paris vacation. Good luck!

Thanks for the continued ideas. Yes, we're going for longer in Mar. and I'm going to find an apartment! Has anyone seen Cache? Great film........it's been haunting me ever since I watched it and I want to stay in a play like the home in that film.....without the surveillance!