Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Paris Honeymoon

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Hello travelers!

My fiance and I are spending a week in Paris for our honeymoon. We have nothing on the itinerary other than finding all the best macaron shops. Looking for suggestions for everything! If you guys could post your favorite spots in Paris that would be greatly appreciated. Looking for the cozy, artsy, quaint areas opposed to updated and modern. Also looking into a trip to Normandy Beaches ( not your typical honeymoon destination but since we are here we'd like to take advantage). Would this be a day trip, or worth staying the night in the area?

Spas
Cafes
Neighborhood's to stay in
Day trip spots
Gardens
Bed and breakfasts
Restaurants

Thank you for your help!

Our favorite haunts in Paris could be totally anathema to you, so I would suggest that that is not the place to begin your research. What's far better is to immerse yourself in guidebooks, maps, and internet sites and figure out what appeals to YOU, then come back when you actually have at least a rough plan. People here will be more than happy to comment, but the first steps are entirely up to you.

Welcome to Fodors. Many years ago, Mrs. Peabody and I included a week in Paris during our honeymoon, with no plans whatsoever and had a great time. Now, with the internet, planning is both easier and more complicated.

Suggestions: State when you are going to Paris. Then try a first pass at info by googling "Best xxx,s in Paris." With such a general original question, you will just end up with a lot of "buy a guidebook" posts. (Not criticizing StCirq, our posts crossed.)

Just a couple comments --

you don't go to a major European capital like Paris and ask about staying in B&Bs. That's a rural concept.

I don't go to spas and don't know why you want to do that on your honeymoon, but I'm sure the ones in the top hotels are nice, if that's what you want. That's basically where spas are, aren't they? As I said, I don't go to them, but from the ads I see, it appears they are always part of some hotel or accommodation, at least a lot of the time. Here is an article from our own sponsor, and their suggestions look pretty good to me
https://www.fodors.com/world/europe/...-spas-in-paris

Gardens: Tuileries and Luxembourg are the main central ones, Parc Monceau is nice also, but it's not really a "garden", the others are

I'd agree with most above, try guidebooks to start, or just this site: https://www.fodors.com/world/europe/france/paris

Of all the items in your list, the month you plan to be there (at least) will give us ideas on what is plausible. A picnic in the Champs de Mars is not likely a good recommendation if you're there in December, but June would be another story.

Cozy, artsy and quaint sounds like certain streets in Monmartre. To me, anyway. I hope you get some feedback. I'd be interested to know if there are such streets in Belleville, because my imagination says probably there are.

This time, we are staying in the supposedly "hip" Upper Marais in the 3rd.

Paris is an awfully big city for cozy and quaint. Can you name a neighborhood you like to stay in, in a large city in your home country? That might help.

I would recommend you get DK Eyewitness “Top 10 Paris”. I like it as a very first book to use because it circumvents that “where do I start” feeling when staring at mountains of guidebooks in the library or bookstore.

It gives neighbourhoods, walks, gardens, museums, cafés, restaurants and hotels, divided by neighbourhoods and the overall best in Paris.

For an overview, it’s a terrific little book, and mine is dog eared from use.

Congrats, kaseyog!

On our first trip to Paris, DH and I stayed here:
https://ceramic-paris-hotel.com/en/
That trip was in 1997 so I am certain there will have been many changes. It's location, just a block or so from the Arc de Triomphe, was very convenient for us as first-timers. Also as relative youngsters with great feet and stamina.
Here is what we packed in:
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur.../#post16826192

Over the years, we went slower. Even if you don't care for modern art, Pompidou Center had a lovely rooftop resto. We took a Cityrama (a new name now) night tour that ended with dinner at the EIffel Tower (not the most expensive resto there--I think we could have gotten to the top of the tower after). We stayed once on Rue du Cherche Midi for 2 weeks and had a lovely time. The hotel is gone but it is a great street. Close to the Bon Marche, Montparnasse and a reasonable walk to Rodin museum, Eiffel Tower. There was a wonderful market on Raspail. I want to write Sevres but not sure. Have a great time!

Do go to Ste. Chappelle on a sunny day. Go upstairs!