HI there,
I have to go on a business trip to a fashion trade show in Paris next weekend alone. Never been to Europe and cannot speak 2 words of French. I need to do research and window shop or actually shopping for womens' stuff as I design accessories. Does anyone have any idea what is a convenient hotel to all the boutiques? I am not looking for brand name stores that are also in US - eg Prada, Gucci etc. I just need something simple with attached bath - I will be there for a few days and would be glad for some company if there is some one out there travelling solo too. Leaving on March 5.
I will not be driving and taking public transport is limited to taxi's as I am terrible at directions and maps. So a safe hotel within walking distance to a lot of shops or a flea market would be nice. Thanks for all the help !

you might try something in 1st arrondisment. If you already have a travel book you will see the city is divided up in neighborhoods or arrondisment. There are a number of high end stores in that area and it is safe and pretty. I stayed at a hotel called Le Loiret on my first trip to Paris on my own a few years ago. Small rooms but cute.

There is also an area of the city that has a very large resale or consignment store that you might enjoy. I can't remember where it is but it is a bit out of the tourist area. You might do a search on this board for "Paris resale" or something similar to see if you can find it. Otherwise your guidebook will have a section on shopping that should list it. good luck

I posted this on your other thread as well:

This would appear to be the relevant trade show:
<b>ATMOSPHERE D'HIVER</b>
du 4 au 7 mars 2005 de 10h00 &agrave; 19h00
<b>Terrasse des Feuillants Jardins des Tuileries</b>
et H&ocirc;tel St James - 75001 - M° Tuileries ou Concorde
Here is a list of commercial show rooms:
http://www.modemonline.com/france/show_rooms_w.html

This appears to be a useful website:
http://www.infomat.com/calendar/infsp0000022.html

This seems to be a workshop related to the show:
http://www.tradefairguide.com/en/fai...005/index2.php

Here are some very nice hotels in the general area:

<b>Hotel Mansart</b>
http://www.esprit-de-france.com/en/h...entation/5.htm
5, rue des Capucines 75001 Paris
T&eacute;l. :+33 (0)1.42.61.50.28
Fax :+33 (0)1.49.27.97.44

<b>Hotel du Louvre</b>
http://www.hoteldulouvre.com/
Place Andr&eacute; Malraux 75001 PARIS
T&eacute;l. : (33) 01.44.58.38.38
Fax : (33) 01.44.58.38.01

<b>Hotel Lancaster</b>
http://www.hotel-lancaster.fr/index2.htm
7 RUE DE BERRI 75008 PARIS
Tel: 01 40 76 40 76
Fax: 01 40 76 40 00

Some nice but less expensive hotels:

<b>Hotel Verneuil</b>
http://www.hotelverneuil.com/
8 Rue de Verneuil - 75007 Paris
Tel 33-(0)1 42 60 82 14
Fax 33-(0)1 42 61 40 38
e-mail : [email protected]

<b>Relais du Louvre</b>
http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h7...laislouvre.htm
19, rue des Pr&ecirc;tres-Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois - 75001
Tel. : +33(0)1 40 41 96 42
Fax : +33(0)1 40 41 96 44

<b>Hotel Tronchet</b>
http://www.hotels-exclusive.com/hotels/tronchet/
22, rue Tronchet - 75008 PARIS
T&eacute;l: 33.(0)1.55.33.16.55
Fax: 33.(0)1.55.33.16.56

f1reddie-- just a word of encouragement to try the Paris metro system. It is an easy system, you do not need to be an expert navigator to get around. Get a copy of a metro map (internet or plenty at Barnes &amp; Nobles) and familiarize with the city layout and metro lines. While taxis are a good alternative, the type of research you are out to do would be greatly benefited by people watching, and getting a feel of what is considered practical and chic by the working women, the student, etc... Get yourself in a more adventurous state of mind; practice some basic French phrases, &quot;turn a corner&quot; with this trip!! Have fun!!

Good luck, you're cutting it close to find a room.
Check out the Marais for some unknown designers.

Thank you all for your kind reply and time! It is amazing all the useful comments that were posted - I will definately get a Metro Map of Paris before the trip and plan on taking a tape of French phrases. I am cutting and pasting some of the addresses for filing as I have a feeling that 2 trips a year would be necessary !

..advice you have been given re the locations very good. now that you havwe an idea re arr., you might try the booking site &quot;ratestogo&quot; for last minute and cross ref. the hotels on tripadvisor..good luck, you will have a great time!

Hi f1,

There s a metro map and directions between any 2 points in Paris at
http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/index.php

See www.mappy.com for a zoomable map of Paris.

Have a prosperous trip.

If you don't mind having to change trains once, the Hotel Bonaparte, 61 Rue Bonaparte in the 6th is surrounded by boutiques and big name shops.

Tel 33 1 43 26 97 37
FAX 33 1 46 33 57 67

You would take the no4 to chatelet and transfer to the no1 line.

PS,

Shopkeepers do not like for you to take pix of their windows without permission.

As already mentioned, the Marais will have some great boutiques that offer something a little different than the internationally known brands. Ira is right - do not photograph the shop windows without asking first! Also, if you are in a fashion boutique and (for instance) you see a pile of neatly folded sweaters, do not paw through them like some people do here in the US; the shop clerk will assist you. When entering a shop be sure to say &quot;bonjour&quot; and don't follow it with &quot;how are you?&quot; as might be the custom at home - in France it is considered odd to ask someone you do not know &quot;how they are&quot; - it's too personal.

Have a great time, and be sure to let us know about your trip when you get back!

Margie and Ira have given right on advice. Do not touch the merchandise in stores without a clerk.

I wouldn't necessarily ever ask someone outside of the US &quot;how are you&quot; as it appears to be an American colloquialism, but I can't see anyone taking offense at it either, it is known to be an American greeting.

After all, the questions &quot;Comment allez-vous&quot; and &quot;Comment ca va&quot;
are asking people how they are going, or how 'it' is going, which doesn't translate that well into English but wouldn't be offensive.