March Fashion Week in Paris: A bad time to go?
 

My husband and I are planning on going to Paris this spring sometime, and I had been focusing on the first week of March. However, one hotel I emailed about prices said that the first week of March is fashion week and therefore their prices were higher and they'd be fully booked.

Should we focus on planning our trip for another time (maybe early April?) to avoid crowds and higher prices?

I don't think crowds will be a problem - just getting nice hotels and a table at smart restaurants

We were in Paris during the fall fashion week this year. We had no trouble getting reservations either at our hotel or restaurants and didn't especially notice crowds. The hotel prices didn't change for that week, at least for our hotel. That said, April would be a nicer time to go - warmer and longer days. The air fares are usually less in early March than in April.

I don't think it will make any difference, as long as you get a reservation in advance. There are a few hotels that raise rates for trade shows because they are very popular for those clientele. I think that is pretty rare, however, and most hotels do not raise rates just for that. However, you may well find hotels raising rates in general beginning in March for the higher season, but not just that one week.

I don't think it will be any different if you ago around Easter as it is a popular holiday spot. YOu probably aren't going to avoid higher prices from march onward, but can avoid the few hotels that raise them just for that week.

Speaking of fahion, the Fodors web sites list of department stores, says that most of the Paris stores have FREE fashion shows on a certain day of the week. Has anyone been or can recommend one over the other? We are going to Paris just before Xmas and this would be fun for my teenage daughters and I to do. Any comments? Thanks!

You've answered your own question.

The hotel is more expensive that week, and as fashion is obviously of no interest to you, it'd be a waste spending extra for something that you won't be taking advantage of.

It's an impossible time to find decent hotels. Postpone if possible.

lauralue9,

I went to the fashion show at Galeries Lafayette and really enjoyed it. Here is the web site.

http://www.galerieslafayette.com

Have fun......... Sue