Paris recommendations...

Too true. FRance & particularly Paris, has become excessively expensive. It seemed to just jump

3 years ago and is slowly getting worse. Now with the relationship between the US and the unfaltering Euro, Americans are not as abundant there.

But I think that meals at small bistros are still a good deal.

 
Marilyn, that's so sad!

I hope you can return to see S. Chapelle. Ascending those stairs and entering that space is an other worldly experience like no other. It is absolutley breathtaking.

 
Try Chez Leon. This is a Belgian restaurant, with a Paris location.

They specialize in mussels, but you can get a decent steak frites for not too much money. I'm not sure where they're located in Paris, but a Google search should turn something up. When I lived in Brussels as a teenager, we used to go to Chez Leon all the time. We took my rancher grandfather there for dinner, and he approved of the steak. smileys/smile.gif

 
OH forget that hotel. I just checked their rates. We used to stay there years ago and love the

area. It was a nice hotel with large rooms and first rate bathrooms, but with no restaurant, it was less expensive. Later, we began staying at Le Grand, also in the same neighbourhood, and are now hooked on it.

It is a great location but I think the location commands the higher rates. So I would recommend it but I can't recommend a hotel.

Definitely, though, if you're staying that long, you should be a tough negotiator with hotels. They like long stayovers. But then again, if you're staying so long, you can afford to travel every day on the Metro, saving money by being out of the central area.

And yes, an apartment might be a lot of fun since you could take advantage of all the produce available and the longer stay would make it much more economical, saving the hotel rates and on some meals. There are lots of sites with apartments.

There are some neighbourhoods to stay away from, however....

 
Leon de Bruxelles. All over Paris, but is always our first night's meal as it is not as

rich, eating just mussels and frites. And of course, there's one at l'opera.

And very affordable.

 
Has anyone visited Monet's garden outside Paris at Giverny? End of May could be a fine

time to do so, although it can be bloody awful cold in Paris in May as well.

Can't believe I never got out there. Time for another trip.

 
I'm sad too, Marilyn. I took my Dad there and he got to the top of the stairs and froze...

He blurted out "Jimminy Christmas" loud enough to cause a distraction. Then he just stood there transfixed so no one could get up or down the stairs for several minutes. The German tourists stuck behind him thought it was amuzing, fortunately.

There's only one solution, Marilyn, and I'm sure Lar knows what it is.

 
Once, in August. It was beautiful then, and it would be more beautiful in May.

And since you'd then be halfway to Normandy, it would be worth it to continue on and see the WWII museum in Caen--one of the most moving experiences I can remember. I couldn't get my dad out of there either.

 
We were there in early May and it was eye-popping

All of the tulips and late spring bulbs were going as well as the espaliered apple trees, lots of other shrubs and trees were in bloom as well. Unfortunately, the wisteria was about a week from poping.

 
egullet.com...this will take the rest of March, all of April and the

first part of May to figure out where to go and what to eat and what to see! I believe I will be eating 5 meals a day with a few snacks.

We will have to rent bicycles to do our sightseeing.

 
Another chain...Bofinger. Several of them around. All with 2 or 3 course dinners incl. 1/2 bottle

of wine for less than $50. I think this is a good bargain spot. The food can be quite interesting and I found myself checking out the menu almost every day. For example, the Alsatian plate was far more than one could eat and very typical of that region. ANd that was where I first tried sauerkraut cooked with fish, and liked it.

I stay away from the seafood places, for themost part. Seafood is extremely popular there, but personally, I think cannot compare with what we get on either northern coast of N. America.

Just give me butter----and lots of it.

 
Louvre

You're not alone. I've never been to the Louvre, not my thing -- so much other stuff to do in Paris and the Louvre is just too big and busy. Favorite museum is the Carnavalet, covering the history of Paris. This year I really want to go to the Orangerie for Monet's water lilies. cheers, Bonnie

 
another resto

A restaurant I've enjoyed is Au Chien qui Fume, on the Rue du Pont Neuf. Bistro-ish, very good food. I always go out to eat for lunch rather than dinner - it's cheaper, plus it's a nice pause in the middle of the day. Then for dinner I pick up something from the Galeries Lafayette food hall or such. Restaurants start dinner at 7 pm in France - too late for me. cheers, Bonnie

 
I'm partial to the Arch de Triomphe, not as tall as the Eiffel tower but a beautiful night view...

right in the center of the city.

 
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