My husband, toddler and I will be in Paris form Feb 7 to 17. We are planning to have a sitter for a few nights, TBA. I am wondering what would you recommend for just the two of us to do in Paris at night?

This is our first trip to Paris and we can't blow the bank here...We love to eat well, but we need to control spending. Clubs, bars and dancing is not our thing and I've heard about the Moulin Rouge, Lido, and other shows.

Here are a few questions to ponder about:

1.What do you think we should do if we had 5 nights to go out on our own?
2. Does anyone know of any special events for Valentine's Day?
3. Is Valentine's Day "special" in Paris meaning special events, sales, etc?
4. I've heard about dinner cruises on the Seine. Any good?
5. Shows? Moulin Rouge? Lido? Any others to consider?

Please think about it and let me know. I'd like to make sure we're able to go somewhere on Valentine's Day, so I want to book in advance. Also, please keep in mind that we need to keep costs UNDER $100 US per night, but for Valentine's Day we can at least double it.

Thanks for reading!

Bev

Dinner cruises on the Seine aren't worth the price--have a good meal in a nice restaurant (which does not mean expensive) and then take an evening cruise. Or an afternoon cruise with the toddler in tow--it's interesting to see everything from the water.

For one evening, go to dinner at the Bistro de Breteuil, where you get an apéritif, 3 courses (lots of choices), a bottle of wine, and coffee for 31 euros each. It's so good you will probably want to go back!

A very inexpensive activity is to go to the cinema. There are sometimes some interesting differences, like 'sweet' popcorn and beer! There are a number of cinemas with "VO"(version original) which means, if it is an American release, it will be in spoken English w/French subtitles. Here are the cinemas along ave du Gen Leclerc and blvd Montparnasse that have VO:

<u>http://www.cinefil.com/</u>
DENFERT - 24 PLACE DENFERT ROCHEREAU
M: Denfert Rochereau
GAUMONT PARNASSE - 3 RUE D'ODESSA
M: Montparnasse-Bienvenue
GAUMONT ALESIA - 73 AVENUE DU GENERAL LECLERC
M: Alesia
MISTRAL - 70 AVENUE DU GENERAL LECLERC
M: Alesia

<u>http://www.ugc.fr/Home.jgi?accueil=+</u>
UGC ROTONDE - 103 blvd du Montparnasse 75006
M: Vavin
UGC MONTPARNASSE - 83 blvd du Montparnasse 75006
M: Montparnasse-Bienvenue or Vavin

Another night-time thing is to go line up along blvd Montparnasse and watch the &quot;Pari-rollers&quot; go by. This is a crowd of literally thousands of skaters who meet around the Tour Montparnasse at 10pm on Friday night, then skate a defined route around Paris for 3 hours. The police assist with traffic, and they have emergency vehicles usually bringing up the rear. It's fun to watch at least for 15-20 minutes.

Speaking of Tour Montparnasse, they have an enclosed terrace that serves drinks (I think it is also a restaurant, not sure). The view is wonderful - I've only been up once in the daytime, would be fun to see Paris lights at night.
http://www.tourmontparnasse56.com/uk/index.html

We were in Paris for Valentine's Day a couple of years ago. Here's a link to the sunset cruise we took (about 5:00 PM). It's a BYOB cruise. Download the internet 2 Euro coupon, bring a bottle of wine, and have nice time. Make dinner reservations after the cruise.

http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/va/index.htm

I think where you are staying will depend upon the restaurant to go to on Valentine's day.

Valentines, to my understanding, is still a non-event in France; i'll gladly stand corrected if not. I've sent my French son Valentine cards for years and he can't really figure out what the fuss is all about, never heard of such cards.

PalQ, maybe not to the extent it is in the U.S., but it was some sort of an event when we were there. Had to make reservations well in advance for the restaurant we went to.

Perhaps they do, if it is called
la F&ecirc;te des Amoureux

http://www.saintvalentin.org/S000.HTM
http://www.joyeuse-fete.com/saintvalentin.html

They do have Valentine's Day in Paris, but I don't think there are any special events. There aren't any special events where I live in the US, either, it's just perhaps a popular night for couples to go out to dinner. Same in Paris. They sell Valentine's cards in France, I know because I've sent them, and probably some special items for sale in shops or patisseries. I would just speculate that if you want a special dinner out that night, you should reserve in advance.

Hi!!
For Valentines Day, I would first book a table in the famous Restaurant &quot; La Coupole&quot; or at the Montparnasse Tower' restaurant called &quot; Le Ciel de Paris&quot; ....In the Montparnasse Tower, you will have one of the better view of Paris, and by night I can ensure you that it is really wonderful and really romantic...
And then, I would choose a good and romantic hotel...Maybe The Hotel Britannique, a very romantic 3 star hotel, in the 1st..It is a typically Parisian hotel with the idea of romantism you can have from Paris...It is near Ch&acirc;telet...(www.hotel-britannique.com)!!
Good luck for the preparation of your romantic trip!!

On Valentine's Day in 2002 we went on a Bateaux Parisien Dinner Cruise. We thought it was well worth the money. From memory I think we paid in the region of &euro;200. Bateaux Parisien are located just by the Eiffel Tower.

bhpopek--

Before you look any further, I HIGHLY recommend Thirza Valois' book &quot;Romantic Paris&quot;. It has extremely helpful descriptions of what to see, where to go, walking tours, shopping, restaruants, what maps to buy, what events are going on...and it is very well written. It single-handedly made our visit last V-day amazing!

Check it out!!!
Dave

Just being in Paris is romantic. I don't recommend a dinner cruise, the food is unremarkable and expensive. Go on a river cruise late in the afternoon as dusk turns to dark and see why the City of Lights got its name. Take a bottle of wine. Have a romantic dinner in the 7th and after dinner, watch the Eiffel Tower with its lights twinkling every hour on the hour for 10 minutes. Walk along the Seine in the fog. Don't bother with the shows, sit in a sidewalk cafe and have a hot chocolate.

Thank you all for the ideas and thoughts about Paris and V Day. I will have to look into getting that book and yes, I agree if we want to eat out, we should book in advance. I think that just being in Paris will be romantic and without our son for s few hours would be a dream come true! Walking around, enjoying the the sights, and taking in our surroundings is something we look forward to. I'm sure we'lll do a cruise, but not sure about that day or night. As for the rest. mentioned, I will research them and see. We'll be staying in the 14th Arrond. on Ave. Rene Coty close to the RER station and the catacombs.

Yes. Shows are &quot;out&quot; of the picture for that night.

Yes, the French celebrate Valentine's Day. If they're not dining out, they may be at some romantic spot out of town! During the day, why not visit one of the famous Paris chocolate shops? Stroll around the Isle St. Louis, romantic any day or night of the year! There's a charming, casual restaurant there we like, Les Fous de l'Isle, at 33 rue Deux Ponts, that won't break the bank. Or, for a more exciting dining experience, there's Mon Viel Ami at 69 rue St. Louis-en- Isle, run by the former sous chef of a three-star Strasbourg restaurant. (Search it on this site.) Or you could go up to Montmartre after dark and look down at Paris all lit up -- lovely, romantic, and it doesn't cost one centime!

Dave