AlessandraZoe, we arrive on March 29th and head home on April 3rd. I threw caution to the wind and tried to get a front-facing room at Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais -- alas, they are booked for that time period! But just as well, since it really was 50e/night over my budget for this trip! It's my target hotel for my next visit though!

Denisea/Weekender, also liked the look of Hotel Louis II, but could only get a room with a tub and also over my budget. Since I really wanted to stay in a different area this time, decided against going for that.

So in a bit of a panic about prices heading northward and places booking up, I went ahead and reserved a room at Hotel Muguet. I think the hotel and location will be fine. I'm a little concerned that it's a favorite of Rick Steves fans (I don't know why I'm biased there, I really have no basis for it), and a littled worried about some of the weird rules it seems to have (no food allowed in the rooms, for instance).

But it's true, DD and I will most likely be done for the day by 8pm or so. I Google mapped the area using the street view and, in addition to Rue Cler, there appears to be a number of places to drop into for a quick bite or to pick up necessities if needed. We can always stroll over to the tower and the river if we need a late night adventure. In terms of public transport, we can walk right to the RER C stop at the tower for our visit to Versailles, and we're close to the metro line 6, which will take us straight to Gare Montparnasse for a side trip to Chartres as well.

Just for fun, here is our itinerary so far (I plan to run her ragged! It's true our hotel location doesn't make it easy to pop back for an afternoon break, so I'm relying on long lunches or afternoon teas to recharge):

Thurs, March 29: Arrive hotel around 2 pm, Eiffel Tower and Champs du Mars, dinner Rue Cler

Fri, March 30: Musee D'Orsay (lunch in restaurant), Notre Dame (and climb tower), Marais (strolling and shopping), take a peek at Center Pompindou, dinner in Marais

Sat, March 31: Versailles (water fountain show on), dinner in 7th

Sun, April 1: Louvre, picnic in Tulieries, Concorde la Place, afternoon tea at Lauduree or Four Seasons (yes, I know what I said about budget!!! Shhh, don't tell DH!), Champs Elysee, Arc de Triomphe

Mon, April 2: Chartres, afternoon open (most likely shopping -- maybe a trip to Galleries Lafayette or back to Marais)

Tues, April 3: Head home

Wayfinder..

Promise us that you will provide a full trip report. Your Italian saga is a classic!

Have a great time. I highly recommend that you go the the ND towers early to get in line for the climb (which offers great views of Paris and the many gargoyles). The towers open at 10am.

Wayfinder--We have stayed at the Muget and loved it. I booked it before I even knew Rick Steve's recommended it, but after staying there I can see why anyone would recommend it. As for the wierd rules, we didn't have any issues. They do ask to not have food in the room, and that was fine with us. Otherwise I don't even remember any others as they weren't anything out of the norm. We did prefer to skip breakfast there. We had 2 rooms, one with an amazing view of the ET and the other a great view of Invalides. Our view of the ET was so good, and DD took an amazing photo in b&w, so we had it blown up and framed, it was that good. So that gives you an idea of what you might see.

I haven't stayed in any hotels but do not switch hotels mid way through your trip- checking in and out of hotels could be better spent enjoying Paris. As for where to stay, I've stayed in the 14th near the Arc de Triomphe and down on the Rue Rivoli by the Louvre both were great. As for the area around the Tower, there are better places to stay IMHO. Maybe not as good a view but better neighborhoods. Your daughter is a very lucky girl, I had to wait til my 30th birthday for a European vacation!

I think you will enjoy the hotel and its location - I never eat breakfast in the hotel when I am staying there - prefer to go over to Rue Cler and hang out in one of the cafes - you will see the kids going to school and the well dressed Parisian ladies with their little dogs shopping or having coffee. Have a great trip!

Hello Wayfinder,

I stayed at the Muguet on one of my first trips to Paris and thought it was great.( A Paris friend recommended it and booked it for me.) Don't recall any rules. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. I also had a wonderful view of the ET from my room, think it was on one of the upper floors. One night we bought a picnic supper and dined at the Champs de Mars to see the tower. It is still one of my most memorable meals. I notice you may go to the Galleries Lafayette...there's a rooftop cafe at the top of the store where you can see the whole city.
I always go there on my last day. Bonnes vacances.

Fri, March 30: Musee D'Orsay (lunch in restaurant), Notre Dame (and climb tower), Marais (strolling and shopping), take a peek at Center Pompindou, dinner in Marais>>

like everything you've done so far, but i think you might want to reconsider a day like this: staying out all day until after dinner [assume you wouldn't be going back to the hotel if you were going to eat in the Marais having been there all pm] is going to be very tiring. unless you are going to be eating very early, you might like to rethink this type of plan.

You will have a wonderful time! To me, one of the best parts of staying in the 7th is the number of very good restaurants in strolling distance. Makes it easy to leave the neighborhood for daytime sightseeing and return for dinner. You can easily fill 5 nights eating nearby. Have fun planning this trip. I'm sure your daughter will be thrilled! EJ

But annhig, we won't have two whiny, jet-lagged teenagers or the high-maintenance DH along to slow us down! Caution duly noted, however. If I find DD crawling along the sidewalk on her hands and knees (or if I find myself doing so), we'll definitely take a break! In fact, this was going to be the batobus day, but it didn't seem like a good deal since it shuts down early. BUT, if we head back to the hotel after Notre Dame to put our feet up for a while, we can get at least two trips on the batobus, and then metro back to Le Marais later. And if we don't make it back out of the 7th, that'll be fine too.

I'm glad to hear all the positive plugs for the 7th and Hotel Muguet! I'm feeling better about the decision -- and getting very excited as well!!!

I stayed at the Muguet and didn't care for it that much, but it was okay for a budget hotel, sure. But they do have rules about no food in the room. I don't remember any other ones that are not the norm. I didn't care for their desk staff much, kind of rude, but you don't have to deal with them too much, anyway. I just didn't find it very comfortable, the bed was hard and the room I was given was very small and nothing special that I would ever recommend it myself.

...I'm still excited!!!

Hello Wayfinder, what a wonderful trip you're planning! Please do come back and tell us all about it when you return home. I have sweet memories of visiting Paris with my daughter, Sara, many years ago when she was quite young and have already promised we will return with her new daughter Violet, my 4-month-old granddaughter, when she's eight or nine or ten.

I've stayed at the Muguet three times. And a couple of other hotels in the 7th as well. It is my favorite area. I think that your DD will love it. I have found it very easy to travel from there and there are many cafes and excellent places to eat. I agree - I'd skip breakfast at the Muguet in favor of finding your favorite cafe. Mine is a couple of blocks away - it faces toward the Invalides and the cafe creme is wonderful.

I didn't find the staff at the hotel rude at all and the rooms are very comfortable. Bathrooms are really nice as well. I took one of my granddaughters to Paris a couple of years ago and she loved the Eiffel Tower area - and surprising (to me) loved the Louvre - we made two visits there.

Have a wonderful trip. I'm planning one in June with my second oldest granddaughter. We are going to Rome, Venice, Zurich and Paris. Can't wait!

I don't have any specific experience with the Hotel Muguet, but I do find the "no food in the room" to be pretty restrictive. What if you've had a very full day and don't feel like going out for dinner? Many has been the time where I've enjoyed shopping for a few snacks (bread, cheese, olives, whatever) to enjoy back in the comfort of my hotel room when I know I'm too pooped to go out later.