MomDD

This is why we need a girls' trip to Paris. ;-)

I was actually thinking about people I'd heard about before your trip, who turned around before the market, and some of them thought the tube socks area was the real market.

No doubt about it, the area from the Metro station to the market entrances is kind of the pits. My DD didn't believe me when I told her we were going to a cool place, but then she never believes me.

But once inside, she loved it. There was an excellent bead vendor and that was a hit with her.

Thank you all so much for the indispensable information! We will be flying from NYC and will have a full 4 days to sight see, aside from our travel days. We still do not have a hotel or place to stay booked. Any suggestions? Just want to feel comfy and safe, wherever it is. I appreciate the museum pass info as well as the metro pass info. I probably will be nervous, at least at first, using it. Thank you for the flea market info!! I probably would have turned around, like MomDD. Also looking for recommendations on great places to eat. My daughter loves to bake and I would also love to find some great patisseries and perhaps unique baking/kitchen supply shoppes. Thanks everyone!

I would look for a hotel in the 5th or 6th arrondisement, as a pleasant but central location for your hotel.

Bella - there are people here that are experts and those that actually live here that post on this forum. I have only been here twice - and am here right now .

I can share my own experience having stayed right outside the Louvre before at the Hotel Du Louvre and this time in an apartment in the Latin Quarter. I have enjoyed the "left bank" more. I like the total vibe here - if I walk a few blocks to the Notre Dame from where our apartment is - it is very touristy - surely all of Paris seems to be but I seem to like it here. I also liked it over in the 7th which I have heard people not crazy about staying over there but I liked it on the couple of days we have gone over there. I might stay there next time?

As far as an actual hotel - I am afraid I cannot say. There are several that seem nice here on Rue Dues Ecoles here in the 5th. I know one poster loves one of them but I cannot recall which one.

What is your budget? I think that matters.

As far as where to eat - have not really had a bad meal. We ate tonight at La Rose de Sommera - which was also recommended off this board - GREAT food (thank you Thin!) It was REALLY fabulous.

I hope you and your dd have an amazing four days. I am enchanted with Paris...

Tuscan - I do think we need a girls trip!!! I want time to just stand in the museums without being hurried along or thought "weird" because I get weepy in front of a Monet.

Lucky you and your DD! There are two great threads about hotels in Paris, one for hotels on the right bank and another thread for hotels on the left bank.

We have stayed in the 14th, 7th and 1st, and will return to the 1st again this summer. In the 14th we stayed at a Best Western, and in the 7th we stayed at the Muguet, and in the 1st we stayed at the Britannique. They were all fine, but we LOVED the Britannique...both the hotel and the location. So this summer we have an apt rented in the same arrondisment.

Hi bell199: We have been to Paris twice and stayed on the right bank both times. We love Paris so much that we are now planning a trip in September 2009 for a month. There has been great information given to you. We like the right bank because if you stay close to the Louvre, you literally can get anywhere in a few minutes. We stayed at Hotel Mansart which is right around the corner for the Ritz, very close to everything. The second time we rented an apartment which was literally 3 minutes from the Louvre, we loved that. There are two newsletters on line that I love; http://www.bonjourparis.com and http://www.parisinsites.com/currentissue.html.
We tend to eat in the bistros and cafes because they are filled with the local people. Our first trip was 7 days, you only have four. I would recommend that you forgo the flea markets and spend your time exploring the food and shopping. We use the DK Eyewitness Travel books. The Paris one divides the city up by areas, has pictures of famous places and for churches and museums really divides the sight up and even gives you walking instructions. Enjoy!!