Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Trip Report Paris Trip Report 12/6

DH and I returned from a wonderful 4 day trip to Paris, even better that it was on points for air and hotel.

Weather - rainy but warm.

Restaurants -
L'Astier - never ate here before and ending up going twice (Thurs and Sunday). Cute little neighborhood bistro in the 11th, known for their cheese course. Literally, a huge wicker basket appears at your table with a selection of about 15 - 20 cheeses, and you help yourself. 31 euro 4 course price fixe.

Reminet - highly touted bistro in the 5th. Have eaten here before and enjoyed it but this time was a disappointment. 3 course dinner for 4 people and we were done and out in less than an hour. In fact, people were being seated at our table before we had even left. Food was good, but won't go back because of the general 'get em in, get em out'. Shocking for Paris

La Cave Gourmand, Restaurant Marc Singer - I can't say enough about this jewel in the 19th. DH and I have eaten here before and always return. Run by chef/owner Marc and his wife, the food is made to order and wonderful. Marc is in the kitchen and his wife runs the front. Marc usually has an apprentice and a sous chef, but on Saturday nites it is just the two of them. Yes they are busy, and yes they hustle and yes it can make the service seem a bit cold, but Marc and his wife are lovely people and this is a restaurant we go back to each time in Paris. He is an American who moved to Paris when he was 7, speaks English and he has a memory for faces, he greets us warmly each time we are there (and it is basically once per year). PS, he is known for his game!

Sights - this having been our 17th trip, we really did not have an agenda of things to do. The couple we were with had never been there so we took in some of the sights including Montmartre, Invalides, Rodin Museum, Champs Elysees, Rue Cler, St. Etienne du Mont church, Notre Dame, and the Opera (my favorite building in Paris).

Shopping - well I did some but boy it is way way expensive with the euro being so much stronger than the dollar. Know your prices for major stuff so you can compare, and don't forget to factor in the VAT refund. If at Galleries Lafayette you also get a 10% tourist discount, so that did make the price of some things more palpatable. The stores are opened on Sundays in December for the holiday. The whole city looked just gorgeous all made up - I particularly like the lights along the Champs, and the Ferris Wheel is back at Place Concorde.

Transport - we took American on points and then took the Roissy Bus to the Opera from where we could walk to the hotel. Very easy

Hotel - well keep in mind it was on points - Park Hyatt Place Vendome. Magnificent hotel, but it is so expensive that we couldn't take advantage of any of the hotel amenities without remortgaging our house, and then some. But, really comfortable, and just a 10 on the wow scale.

A great trip! thanks to all who answered questions I had here for this trip.