We will be in Paris for the first time in April.<BR><BR>1. Should we make any dinner or lunch reservations before arriving, or can this be done by the hotel after we arrive?<BR>2. If we have the concierge make dinner reservations should we tip them each time, or once at the end of the week? How much is recommended either way?<BR>3. How dressed up should we be for dinner? For bistro's and nice restaurants? <BR>4. Recommended tip for cab from airport to 7th?<BR>Appreciate any other Paris travel tips.<BR>Thanks,<BR>Kip

You should be able to make restaurant reservations when you arrive. There are so many good restaurants there. If there is someplace spectacular that you have your heart set on maybe you want to e-mail your hotel ahead of time, otherwise I wouldn't bother. Just dress as you would here, nice slacks for women, a dress shirt or maybe a jacket for men.

<BR>ttttttt!!!!!

Depends on the popularity of the restaurant. Some, in the highest stratum, such as Taillevent, Le Grand Verfour or La Tour d'Argent, are booked for dinner on weekends (if open) weeks or months in advance. Dress in such places-coat and tie mandatory for men.... Tip desk help at the end of your stay-varies depending on the service provided, but $5-10 per reservation would be appropriate. Tip the taxi driver 15-20%. A taxi to the 7th from CDG should run $55 +/-.

Slightly disagree with the taxi price in the previous post. Our taxis from CDG to the 7th have been much closer to $40-45 including tip and luggage charges. I think 10% is closer to the tip range.

Hi<BR>I have a long file on Paris; if you'd like to see it email me.<BR>Topics like tipping, and clothes, can generate a lot of controversy because some people feel that other people's practices are a direct attack on their own preferences.<BR>I don't know which restaurants you are going to or what the price range would be. For many, casual clothes (aside from jeans, in my opinion, unless I'm eating at a snack bar or in student-land) are perfectly fine. For others, perhaps a blazer for a man with a sport shirt, and nice pants or a skirt for a woman. For the top of the line places like Jules Verne and Taillevent, jacket and tie.<BR>I don't tip specifically for having someone make restaurant reservations for me and not each time. However, at the end of my stay if I feel that the concierge or front desk clerk has been particularly nice and helpful, following up on my requests, etc, I give them a tip. I try to find out in advance if they will be working on my last day so I don't miss them.<BR>The amount depends on the level of hotel and the service, but I wouldn't give less than 10 euros and considerably more than that (20-50)in better hotels and with very good service. Other people feel differently.<BR><BR>If you do a search on this board on<BR>clothes or clothing you will find countless messages, some of them nasty.<BR>This often degenerates into a <BR>"snobs vs slobs" argument.<BR><BR>

Thanks for your responses. I have a somewhat better idea what to expect.<BR><BR>Merci,<BR>Kip<BR>

Just an idea on getting from CDG to the city. On our first visit, we had been told to take a cab, but instead we opted for the RER line from the airport with no problem. It was much cheaper and very easy. Just get a map and see which stop you would need to get off at.

Kip,<BR><BR>You'll encounter alot of shortcomings trying to use the search function on this board. Here's several Paris topics that may be helpful for you --- I've copied titles exactly as you'll find them on forum. In particular Julie's trip report has excellent restaurant recommendations. <BR> <BR>--<BR> ` Another Paris Trip Report<BR><BR> ` paris restaurants - your favorites<BR><BR> ` Recent Paris Restaurant Reviews and Recommendations<BR><BR> ` Article on Viaduc des Arts, 12eme in Boston Globe<BR><BR> ` Best outdoor Paris market<BR><BR>