Online Paris Restaurant Reservations
 

Has anyone had success making reservations through www.top-restaurants.com? I've used both the online form and e-mail with no response. <BR> <BR>Thanks.

Brian <BR>I had tried them once last fall, and gave up after a couple of days when I didn't get a response, and I was too impatient to try again. I went back to my usual method of calling the restaurant directly, or having my hotel take care of it.

Brian, <BR> <BR>I would not use this site again because of the problems you mentioned. I have used them in the past successfully, but recently my requests went unanswered even when I called them in Paris to find out what was happening. Call yourself or ask your hotel to reserve for you, is my advice also. <BR> <BR>Kathy

I used this site to make a reservation last Decemeber. I received confirmation promptly. BUT when I tried to make the call they ask you to make to reconfirm the day of the meal the office wasn't open. so I had my hotel call and reconfirm.

I believe I used this site trying to make reservations at Le Jules Verne, both to get a link directly to the restaurant's email and via the online order form. Had to email twice until I received a reply stating there was a new website as follows: http://www.reservethebest.com <BR> <BR>Haven't tried this one as last weekend I received a message that Le Jules Verne was booked for dinner until September and booked for lunch thru July. So, I made my first test of my high school French, used the DK book on Paris and phoned Le Tour d'Argent in the Latin quarter. I explained in French I wanted to make a reservation but my French wasn't very good and did they speak English. The young lady said yes, a little bit and we did famously from there. No problem at all with the reservation. I agree it is worth the effort and sanity to phone. It sounds like the better restaurants in Paris have one dinner sitting and the table is yours for the night. <BR> <BR>If you don't speak French at all, try this: <BR> <BR>Je ne parl pah fransay. Parlez vu <BR> anglay, si vu play? This is phonetic, not proper spelling but tells the person "I don't speak Franch. Do you speak English?" If the answer is yes, then speak slowly and clearly. If you have to spell your name, as I do, there may be some confusion as the pronunciation of letters is different. <BR> <BR>You will need a Paris phone number so have your hotel or apartment phone number handy. They may also want the name of your hotel and its address. Again, this is because there is only one sitting for dinner and your not showing up means an empty table for the night. They will ask you to confirm your reservation a couple of days in advance so be sure to take the restaurant phone number with you. <BR> <BR>As Julia Child would say, "Bon appetit!" <BR> <BR>Ken

Thanks for all the replies. I was skeptical about this kind of thing working, but really wanted to avoid the long distance charges. <BR> <BR>I could wait to call until we arrive in Paris, but worry that may be too late for a Friday and Saturday night reservation. <BR> <BR>When you ask your hotel to reserve for you, is this before you arrive? Would a 2-star level hotel (Familia) do that for you? Guess it couldn't hurt to ask.

Brian <BR>It can't hurt to ask, and probably they will. <BR>My suggestion is to give your hotel a first choice date and times, and a second choice as well, making sure beforehand that your particular restaurants are indeed open on Friday and Sat. nights <BR>For example, some of the top places are not open for Sat dinner

Hi Brian...I have a sneeky that can save you some money to boot. <BR> <BR>Try http://www.lastminute.com for cut price discounts to Parisian restaurants. You will have to wait until a week or so before you go, and take pot luck on their offerings, but I used them in March before I left and got some great deals at some excellent restaurants...and there had to be at least 30 listed at the time. Instant confirmation. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps. <BR> <BR>Anastasia <BR>http://www.greatbritaintravelguide.com <BR> <BR>

Brian, I had good luck with faxing a list of restaurants and dates to my hotel and asking them to get me reservations. I sent along 10 restaurants (all very good ones) and got 8 out of 10 reservations...some for dinner, some for lunch. It worked beautifully for us to let our hotel do the calling. Good luck ! And yes, do have reservations BEFORE you get to Paris !

Pleased to report that I just received a confirmation from our hotel (Familia) that they were sucessful in making the 3 dinner reservations we requested. Guess it can't hurt to ask . . .