Letsdance..

Here is a hotel website that you contact them. It is a 2 star hotel, in a very good, safe location with metro/bus etc.

http://www.paris-hotel-muguet.com/English/TheHotel1.htm

Good luck........

Jan: Take a look at Hotel Langlois. We really loved that place. Enormous rooms, empty fridge (very handy for beverages, cream for your coffee). I have a one-cup coffee maker (picked up at La Carpe on rue Tronchet). It's right around the corner from the Grands Magasins, less than a ten minute walk from one of our favorite spots any time of the day or night Au General Lafayette, and there's wonderful dining nearby, notably Chez Jean.

I told you that you were amazing,...

I fell in love,... Hotel Muguet looks perfect! However,... a single if available is 103 ero,... does that mean about =$200???

$600 ??? for 3 nights is a little steep for me,... do you have any other suggestions???

Weekender--

Thanks for the info on Hotel Clement,... apparently there are several and the site asks for a zip code,... can you clarify name of hotel/zip???? Thanks! --jan

Sorry-try www.hotelclementparis.com

I think you can use an exchange rate of abouy 150 and be about right,,,so the 103 wuld be aout 152...

I may be wrong, but think that is a good price for a decent place in a decent area with all the things you want....

Try the Hotel du Lys; single is 100 euro and includes breakfast. No elevator, though.

www.hoteldulys.com

Thanks for so much information Joan! We are leaving in less than 2 weeks for Paris and I'm very excited (and very jealous that you get to stay for a month). One question for you - is there outdoor dining anymore at this time of year or is it too cold?

Also, a question for Roberta on the Montmartre festival which looks like fun (and thanks for the link to the website). Is it a very crowded festival? Like it would be a bad idea to go with our toddler daughter and try to get around with a stroller? Is it mostly winetasting? Looks like some music (and marriage proposals?) as well.

Yes, there is outdoor dining. You just take it one day at a time for the weather.

Yesterday was the Fodor's GTG and we were all outside...along with many other people.

Last night I went to dinner at Chez les Anges, 54 BD La Tour Maubourg. A nice place, I had the 25 euro menu, glass of wine,dessert and cafe creme for 44 euros.Enjoyed it all.

Passed another restaurant nearby and people were dining outside. Don't know if by choice or space as it was chilly..windy. They had some protective plastic shades and the upper heaters. I think I would opt for inside, at night!!

I think I will go down to the market at Vanves this morning..after Flirt'The, of course!! Then, I think I may drop in to Les cocottes for lunch or wait and go to Cafe Constant this evening....choices, choices!!

I am enjoying..can you tell?

a bientot.........

I think I forgot to post about dinner with Stu and Ellen Dudley on Thursday.

I went to their www.parisperfect.com apartment...the Champagne. It is soooo lovely. It has wrap around decks..ET right there. As they said, you don't want to leave...you would rather bring food in. Fortunately the Constants are nearby for them to do some excellent take out dinners!!

We had a Kir, visited about many places where we had been and then went donw to Les Fables des la Fontaine (a Constant) for dinner. It is a small place..absolutely great. We were all very pleased with everything! Christian stopped in and stopped by our table.

An enjoyable evening by all.....

I did just return fom Vanves. If I could have called Madelyn (ParisPerfect, I would have. I found two precious carousel horses..not the giant ones, but small ones..perhaps from a children's carousel. Muted colors. He had the tails. They were in good shape. I asked he price for one and for two. I really couldn't carry them..or one...I rushed back and have an e-mail off to Madelyn..maybe they are common, I don't know. I could easily see them in her apts....one in the B/R of the new Moulin a Vent, where I will be moving to. If she wants them, all I have to do is rush back down there and then find a way to get them here...if you hear about some old lady pulling a wagon of some sort with two carousel horses in it, you will know who it is!

I think I will give Les Cocottes the opportunity of feeding me ths noon!!

a bientot..........

Joan

Hello Joan-in-Paris,
Glad to hear all went well at the GTG - are you going to meet up again with Gina & Joy? Did Gina mention Glenda at all - or was she there?

I must correct something I posted earlier. I said we had a GTG at Le Florimond. Not so.
I got mixed up between that restaurant and PHARAMOND, 24 rue de la Grand Tuanderie, 1e.!! Very nice there too.

Joan, seeing you are so close to ET I was wondering if you ever take a walk up Rue de Montessuy? I saw some really nice looking places to eat.

Sally30
The Wine Festival is pretty full-on as one can imagine but is held over three days (when I went 2 years ago). The first days are when all the Pageantry is performed and officials are present & some people dress in costume. I only went on the Sunday. It was so hot we drank ice cold beer - not a drop of wine!

Tod,

Gina had not been in touch with Glenda. She was a bit concerned.

They had a lot to do for the last couple of days..Joy had some gift shopping to do..

Yes, familiar with Monttessuy for many years. Au Bon Accueil is there..it did change hands but still supposed to be good. I will be going there before I leave. An Italian restaurant too, if I remember correctly. Of cours, Le Clos de Gourmets is around the corner on Rapp.

I had lunch at Les Cocottes..I had a cocotte!!

Some marching thing going on..firecrackers many gendarmes..not sure what it is all about. Signs had CEF on them I think, whatever that is!

I have been here about 2 1/2 weeks now..beginning to feel a bit like a Parisian!!

Very warm this afternoon..........

a bientot....Joan

Hello everyone!

Joan, I'm glad to see the weather is warming up (just in time for my trip). Funny, back at home I always feel like a Parisian (in my mind anyway!)

Tod, Au Bon Accueil popped into my head as well when Rue de Montessuy was mentioned. We went there 2 years ago and it was good (portions a bit small). The restaurant is not that big so make reservations if you plan on going.

Sally30, we went to Sacre Couer two years ago, not realizing it was the festival (surprise!). It was alot more than wine. There were dozens of vendors surrounding Sacre Couer, selling so many things (sandwiches, mussels, potatoes gratin, foie gras, & things we didn't try). Go with an empty stomach & don't pass up items you are tempted to try (you'll regret it later).
If you plan on sampling wine alot, be smart and just buy the bottle. It's cheaper. They'll open it for you, give you plastic glasses, you grab something to eat & enjoy it all on the church steps (sounds odd, but everyone does it).

I think you'll be fine with a stroller (lots of uphill walking, but you can do it). We are going Saturday, October 11th - hope it is the same. The area is surrounded by art galleries. I bargained for two paintings which I cherish to this day! Enjoy!

-RobertaL
P.S. Joan, did Madelyn pass on the horses?

Robertal

Have not heard from Madely re the horses...I have probably lost them!

I did go the Cafe de l'Esplanade at 52 r. Faubert..it is right on the Invalides Explanade. Breakfast was same as Flirt'The for twice the price, 16 euros..you pay the extra 8 euros for the atmosphere..all depends what you want. E-gullet has said the place was a bit pricey! I almost made a reservation for later today..but decided to wander a bit.

In my wandering I came across La Cuisine 14, bd de la Tour Maubourg. This is between Universite and Quai d'Orsay. I made a reservation for later today. I already know that I am going to like it!!

Beautiful day today!! Some rain later in the week and a bit cooler is predicted..that can easily change.

a bientot.....Joan

I think I have previously passed on the great private airport transportation servie that I use:
http://www.shuttle-inter.com/

I e-mailed them this morning that my return pickup would need to be changed as I was moving this week to the new PP apt. I thanked them for all the great service to the many people that I told about their great service.

I just received confirmation of the pickup address change..and a note that my return trip would be only 40 euros!! What a deal for this great service. Waiting for you with name on a sign as you exit, take your luggage to nearby car and you are off. They also check for flight delays and make whatever necessary changes...no calls to make, no walking anyplace to wait for anything. Repeat customers can certainly do well with them. I thought the regular price of 55 euros was great!!

You may want to give them a try....

Joan

Thanks Joan for the update on Gina et al.

We ( DH & I) strolled down Rue de Monttesuy very late one night this past May after waiting until 11pm for Lady Eiffel to start sparkling. I looked at the menus and was surprised to find the prices weren't outrageous given the fact the area is very upmarket.
In particular I fancied the little Chinese/Thai restaurant in Monttesuy.

Many years ago we stayed at 35 Blvd.La Tour Marbourg which was a Best Western Hotel back then. Top floor, 2 bedrooms with TV, 2 bathrooms - 1,000Francs a day. It's still a hotel I guess.
The restaurant down on the corner at 58 La Tour Marbourg( all yellow framework) was our first experience with the French way of grilled steak. Rare , to rare, too too rare!

Tod.

The Best Western is still there. I happened to notice it.

Steaks are usually not the best to order in Paris.

I did have lunch at La Cuisine, 14 bd la tour Maubourg..another place I would say is a very good addition to any list of good Paris restaurants.

I then jumped on the metro at Invalides and off to Opera..nice, very nice...I then thought I owed it to myself to walk down the Le Meurice and into their lovely bar and sit down and relax for a bit...that I did!!

I then got on the metro at Concorde and home in minutes!

Very warm out..people were enjoying every bit of it....

a bientot.Joan

Grace,
I've enjoyed reading your posts, making some notes for our upcoming trip. We'll be in Paris Oct. 24-29, after Netherlands and Belgium. We're hoping for good weather, but are prepared for anything.
We'll be in Marriott Rive Gauche, so if you have any particular restaurants, shops, anything we might find useful, please advise.
This is our second trip to Paris, a longer trip in 2006, so we know some basics, but welcome helpful hints. Thanks a lot.

You are in the Marriott Rive Gauche in the 14th, correct?

If so, I would highly, highly recommend that you call La Regalade, 49, ave Jean Moulin, tel 01 45 45 68 58 for a reservation. It is not that far from you. I call about 6:00 am EST using the 1010 dialing..costs about .65.

I will be there next Monday evening. You definitely will enjoy it.

I'm sure others will jump in with some suggestions for you.

I was here last year the latter part of Oct. and it was cold. It might be warm this year..hard to tell..layered is the name of the game!

Enjoy your planning and your tripp....call La Regalade...you will be glad you did!!

Joan