Hi Jill,

I loved your report! It brought back great memories and made me kick myself for not going to the Luxembourg Gardens (yet another reason to go back).

Yes, I think you should post seperate reports about each place. I hope you take the train thru the Aps thru the St. Bernard Pass; my husband picked the wrong route and we got stuck with a black tunnel instead of amazing scenery.

Thanks for all the compliments everyone! I am glad you enjoyed the report. Sorry it took me so long to tackle the task. I am yearning to travel again and can't believe I have to wait until next Sept. to go back to Europe.

Great report Jill. I also love Luxembourg Gardens. Looking forward to your Cote d'Azur report.

I'm so glad that your trip was as special as you had hoped!I was concerned as you were so worried about all the little details and so am extra happy that it all worked out so well. You've written a great report and I'm looking forward to the rest of your adventure..

Yes, I planned out so many details but to be honest I am so happy I was so detailed in my planning because on the days that I was exhausted and didn't want to "think" about anything, I already did all the pre-planning and had all the answers. Thanks to Fodorites!

I will post the French Riviera soon....

Your trip report is helping me plan a girls trip!
Thanks,
Nikki

Thanks for this awesome report, Jill! We were also there two weeks in July during the heat wave and this is so taking me back. Our first hotel did not have a mini-bar. Big trouble when needing cold water after walking all day in 90 degree heat.

We did the Bateaux Mouche dinner cruise for Bastille Day and I do believe that is the best experiences of my lifetime, and I've had quite a few good ones.

You're still a young girl! I went to Paris my first time at 43 and just got back this year at 54. There is no way I'm waiting until my 60's to get back again.

Thanks again and looking forward to seeing your French Rivera and Italy report. I'm thinking about a trip to Italy in 2012, but my heart can't give up Paris just yet.

Congratulations on the success of your trip. I remember how hard you worked planning all the details here on Fodor's. Thanks for taking the time to write your report for us. It's wonderful.

No, thank you for all of the advice given! :)

Thank you for writing this report. I'm going to Paris for the first time in 3 weeks and I'm SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!! Your report has convinced me that it will be wonderful. :-)

I loved reading your posts thank you! We are going to Paris in November for the first time. We are also bringing our three kids. It is close to our daughters 13th birthday and our other two kids will be 10 turning 11 in Paris and 4 turning 5 shortly after we get home. I can't wait to explore Paris with our children. We are spending a month in Greece, a week in London and 10 days in Paris. Thanks again!

Wonderful! Did u like the lourve area better or Montmartre? I'm looking at an apartment in each location and having trouble deciding which. Looking forward to your next installation!!!!

Hi Jill, thanks for your Paris report.We had 10 days in Paris in 2008 and were lucky enough to rent a little apartment across the road from the Jardin du Luxembourg, so the garden became our afternoon resting place. Also while we were there a temporary concert stand was set up and for four of the nights that we were there The Tales of Hoffman was performed. We just opened our balcony doors and enjoyed the music!

familytravel5 at the Jardin du Luxembourg there is a pond where children can hire a little toy boat and a stick and push the boat around on the pond. Inevitably the boats get caught on a little breeze and the children run around the edge of the pond to find their boat and give it another push. The pond is quite safe - it has a little wall around it. The younger two children will probably get a kick out of it. It sounds a bit dopey when I write it down, but children have been doing this for years and years and I did wish that I had a child with me who could have enjoyed the experience.

Cathies thanks so much for that idea! I added it to my list of to do's. It does sound like something our two boys would love!

KayDoll - if I had to pick between the two areas to stay, I would say the Louvre area. It is so central and there were many times during our stay that we went back to our hotel, just for an hour or so, to have a rest. If you stay in Montemarte you will have to take a metro. Enjoy your trip!

For people that have been following this post and want to keep reading about our next city that we visited (Cannes and Eze), please check out the following post:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-glam-back.cfm

Many people suggested to start a new post since the title of this post was "Paris...."

Thanks for reading!

Jill,

Let me add my thanks for your excellent report! It did indeed bring back the wonderful memories of seeing Paris for the first time.

I am sending your report to our granddaughter, since we are taking her for her first trip to Paris Thanksgiving week. We are so enjoying planning to see the city again through the eyes of a young first-time visitor.

Again, thank you for your report, and I'm looking forward to the rest of your trip.

Byrd

I second the vote to stay near the Louvre. We stayed at hotels at both Latin Quarter and the Louvre, and liked the Louvre area a little better. Much quieter than the Latin Quarter, but still lots of restaurants, convenient Metro, etc.

Also, if you are taking the Metro to Montmarte be aware of the "funicular" stop for Montmarte. I thought that meant it would take us directly to the street with the funicular to Sacre Coeur. Au contraire! You have to walk up 103 steps from the Metro to the top of the street. I thought I was going to faint!

I love your trip report but I wonder where you get that idea that French people don't start their work day before 10:00 am.

Askar - we were out on the streets between 8-9 am every day and didn't see many business people walking. Around 10 am it seemed like many people in suits and ties were talking to work. Maybe I have it all wrong?????