I know two days isn't enough but the trip was overdue. This is the first time my wife and I are visiting.We are not very big museum people. My wife is a shopper. I am just looking forward to walking the city. Could use help on restaraunts modest prices. I have three questions I really need help with.<BR> 1 How is the Timhotel Invalides?<BR> 2 Can you enjoy the sights of the eiffel, notre dame, the arc and lovre with two full days?<BR> 3 Is the 7th good for parisan life ie. cafes people watching. etc..?<BR><BR>Thanks for the input love this site!<BR><BR>P.

Can't help on question 1.<BR><BR>Question 2, you can see many of the major Paris sights in 2 days. Central Paris is actually fairly compact, so walking between major locations isn't a problem. (The D'Orsay, Louvre are just across the river from one another and Notre Dame is about a 10 to 15 minute walk to either.) In addition, the Metro has good coverage in and around most city and cabs are plentiful.<BR><BR>In terms of the 7th, we found it to be a bit lacking in terms of cafe's, people watching, etc. On our first trip there, we stayed at the Paris Hilton in the 7th, and found that we wasted time in cabs or on trains going to/from the 5th and 6th, which are much more lively. You might consider looking for a hotel in the 6th Arr. as St. Germain is definately a better spot for a view of Parisian life. <BR><BR>In terms of resturants with modest prices, most traditional bistros are fairly reasonable. (Of course, this may depend on the exchange rate which faily high, right now.) By law, restaurants are required to post thier menu's and prices, so finding a place within your budget should be fairly easy.

Timhotel is a comfortable group of hotels, and Invalides is a great location. While I don't know the hotel personally, it is included in many air/hotel packages and with that location I'd go for it. You will be well situated to see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, The Arc de Triomphe, etc. Whether or not you want to spend time in the Louvre is up to you, but I'd suggest you skip it this trip and just enjoy the sights. Take a bateaux mouche (sight seeing boat) tour. It is fun and a neat way to see a lot of the city. The 7th is great for cafe and people watching. I think the best shopping in Paris for a &quot;shopper&quot; is in the Marais. Depends on whether you wife likes big department stores or little shops. The big department stores are huge -- but not that different from big department stores here. (That's a generalization, they are pretty cool in their own right...but again, with limited time, you'll get more Parisian life in the neighborhood shops.)

oops - you're right Ryan -- I was thinking of the 6th for cafes. But Pascal, the distances are only 10-15 minutes on foot.

<BR>Oh my, from let's say Rue Cler to the intersection Blvd. Saint-Germain/Rue de Rennes you don't walk within 10-15 minutes. Jamais!<BR>From the 7th, take bus Nr. 69 on Rue Saint-Dominique and get off at Rue du Bac and walk to the heart of St. Germain-des-Pres.

I just returned from a brief visit to Paris, my first. I arrived Thursday afternoon, and left Saturday afternoon. I felt that I did just enough to whet my appetite for a longer trip next year. What we did: Thursday afternoon - checked into the hotel (Lutetia -- high end, but I didn't have to pay located in the 6th); ventured out to a cafe, sat at an outside table (weather was wonderful -- sunny and about 50 f both days) and enjoyed watching people while having a glass or two of wine. Went back to the hotel, freshened and changed, and went to L'Orangerie on Ile St. Louis for dinner. An excellent restaurant, cozy, with an attentive staff and wonderful food. I had the prix fixe choice, appetizer, entre, dessert + a bottle of wine for $65 euros. We went back to the hotel, had a drink in the elegant Lutetia bar, and went to bed. Friday -- arose and went to the Eiffel Tower at 10:00 am. We went to the top of the tower, oohed and aahed at the views, took lots of pics, and went back down. We then took the Seine boat tour on the Bateaux Parisiennes -- took about an hour and a half, but we saw alot of the city. We then had lunch at a brasserie in the Eiffel Tower neighborhood, took the bus to Notre Dame, toured the cathedral, and then walked fairly leisurely back to our hotel area, stopping at a cafe for a glass of wine. The Bon Marche (big Paris dept. store) was located across the street from Lutetia, and we spent about an hour walking around the store and the food hall. Had a cocktail at the hotel, went to a friends flat for dinner, retired to bed. Saturday -- got up, strolled St. Germain area for a few hours, shopped, ate a Croque Monsieur at a cafe for brunch, and then checked out and returned to CDG for our departure flight. I think that the 6th and the 7th are good for stolling and people watching -- I could spend all day at a cafe table watching life's little dramas play out before me. Sorry about the lengthy post -- I relished my time and Paris and can't wait to go back!

I just returned from a brief visit to Paris, my first. I arrived Thursday afternoon, and left Saturday afternoon. I felt that I did just enough to whet my appetite for a longer trip next year. What we did: Thursday afternoon - checked into the hotel (Lutetia -- high end, but I didn't have to pay located in the 6th); ventured out to a cafe, sat at an outside table (weather was wonderful -- sunny and about 50 f both days) and enjoyed watching people while having a glass or two of wine. Went back to the hotel, freshened and changed, and went to L'Orangerie on Ile St. Louis for dinner. An excellent restaurant, cozy, with an attentive staff and wonderful food. I had the prix fixe choice, appetizer, entre, dessert + a bottle of wine for $65 euros. We went back to the hotel, had a drink in the elegant Lutetia bar, and went to bed. Friday -- arose and went to the Eiffel Tower at 10:00 am. We went to the top of the tower, oohed and aahed at the views, took lots of pics, and went back down. We then took the Seine boat tour on the Bateaux Parisiennes -- took about an hour and a half, but we saw alot of the city. We then had lunch at a brasserie in the Eiffel Tower neighborhood, took the bus to Notre Dame, toured the cathedral, and then walked fairly leisurely back to our hotel area, stopping at a cafe for a glass of wine. The Bon Marche (big Paris dept. store) was located across the street from Lutetia, and we spent about an hour walking around the store and the food hall. Had a cocktail at the hotel, went to a friends flat for dinner, retired to bed. Saturday -- got up, strolled St. Germain area for a few hours, shopped, ate a Croque Monsieur at a cafe for brunch, and then checked out and returned to CDG for our departure flight. I think that the 6th and the 7th are good for stolling and people watching -- I could spend all day at a cafe table watching life's little dramas play out before me. Sorry about the lengthy post -- I relished my time and Paris and can't wait to go back!

WHILE IN PARIS I ENJOYED SHOPPING AT THE<BR>GALLERIES LAFAYETTE. A HUGH COMPLEX WITH MANY FLOORS AND A FRESH FOOD MARKET INSIDE WHERE YOU COULD HAVE LUNCH. LOVED THE EIFFEL TOWER AND THE <BR>SIGHTSEEING BOAT CRUISE . LOVED NOTRE<BR>DAME CATHEDRAL. DON'T FORGET TO CLIMB UP TO THE TOP TO SEE THE GARGOYLES. (ABOUT 400 STEPS UP THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE) <BR>MONTMARTE (ARTIST COLONY) WAS REALLY NICE. GROUPS OF ARTISTS OUTDOORS.<BR>BUY A PAINTING OR HAVE AN ARTIST PAINT YOUR PORTRAIT.(NEXT TO SACRE COUER CHURCH) THE LOUVE IS VERY LARGE BUT HAS SOME VERY FAMOUS ART.<BR>THE D'ORSAY IS SOMEWHAT SMALLER BUT I ENJOYED IT A LOT. ALSO THE GEORGES POMPIDIEU MUSEUM WAS A LOT OF FUN BUT MORE OF A MODERN TYPE OF MUSEUM. <BR>ST GERMAIN IS A GREAT AREA FOR STROLLING AROUND. STOP AND HAVE A CREPE WHILE YOU ARE THERE. YOU CAN GET ALL KINDS OF CREPES. SALAD CREPES, CHOCOLATE CREPES, DESSERT CREPES ETC. THEY ARE DELICIOUS. ALSO ENJOYED SEEING<BR>THE RITZ HOTEL AND THE PRINCESS DI MEMORIAL NEAR THE ALMA TUNNEL. <BR>ALSO LOVED THE CATACOMBS ( UNDERGROUND TUNNELS OF SKULLS AND BONES) <BR>THE ARC WAS ANOTHER VIEW OF PARIS/ YOU CLIMB A LOT OF STEPS TO THE TOP OF AN OBSERVATION AREA OVERLOOKING THE CHAMPS.<BR>SO MANY THINGS TO DO AND SEE . MAKE A LIST OF PRIORITIES. THE METRO IS FAST, EASY AND FUN SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE A LOT IN TWO DAYS. <BR><BR><BR>

Especially for a first-timer to Paris, the big department stores (Galleries Lafayette, Printemps, Au Bon Marche, La Samaritaine) can be much less intimidating than some of the smaller boutiques. The big stores all have English-speaking personnel who can help you -- ask at the information counter. The selection at the big stores is extremely good, though the prices are often high.<BR><BR>I’d suggest staying in the Opera-Madeleine area, giving you easy access to both the big stores and the shopping areas along the Faubourg St-Honore, with lots and lots of opportunities for cafes and people-watching as well. The rue Caumartin is ideally located and has several moderately-priced 3* and 4* hotels, including the Libertel Caumartin, St-Petersbourg, Golden Tulip La Pera, and Best Western Astra Opera. All of these hotels are less than a 5-minute walk to the big stores, to the place de l’Opera, and to the metro and RER.<BR><BR>The Invalides area is close to some museums and tourist sites (as well as to lots of givernment offices), but it isn’t very convenient for shopping.