Russ

We will be making our first trip to Paris next spring . First question concerns hotel choice. Narrowed down to du Champ de Mars, LaVeque, or Valadon - any opinions?<BR>Only have three days, then off to Germany. Want to go for quality more than quantity in sightseeing. Our 'must see' list is the Eiffel Tower, Orsay, Notre Dame/Sainte Chappelle, Sacre Cour, Arc de Triumphe, and of course the Louvre (the 3 hour version!). Looking to take a day-trip to Chartres and and evening river cruise also. Suggestions? As far as restaurants, I have seen a lot of comments about Chez Agnez as being an 'interesting' place. Others that seem we are looking at are La Fonataine de Mars (outside balcony seating), Leo le Lion, Cafe le Bosquet, La Varanque, La Tour Montparnasse (56th floor view of Eiffel), and Cafe Dome. I'm sure there are PLENTY of others, these just have favorable reviews. Want to stay close to Rue Cler for dinner - any other suggestions?<BR>Thank you in advance.

StCirq

Other restaurants to try in the rue Cler area include Auberge Bressane, Bistrot de Papa (for inexpensive, simple stuff), and Florimond. Definitely dine at La Fontaine de Mars, possibly my favorite area restaurant (and this is where I always stay in Paris). I haven't stayed at the H&ocirc;tel du Champs de Mars, but I'd read so much about it I popped in to take a look when was in Paris in April. Looks like a real gem and a bargain to me.

dawn

First you will need to try to realize what you can and can't do for that short amount of time. Will it be 3 whole days or does one of those days include your arrival and/or departure day? Though after saying that we saw all of those things in the same amount of time but going to Chartres will take up a whole day just about. We stayed at hotel champ de mars and really enjoyed it. It was perfect for us. The rooms were incredibly clean and the bathrooms, though small, were scrubbed each day. They book up very early so you will want to call them soon. The management isn't too friendly but we didn't need them for anything so it didn't matter to us.<BR>There is an amazing bakery around the corner with chocolate almond croissants. They put together a box for us to take home. The whole rue cler is a walking market that is incredible. We started at the arc de triumph then worked our way down and went to L'Orangerie and the Louvre (did the 3 hour tour...I guess you want to do it just to say you have been there but to me it wasn't worth it...I liked d'orsay better. I'll have to get back to you on the name of the restaurant that we ate at that was on a little side steet and did not have any tourists eating there and when you looked to your left (the right for my husband) , all you saw was the eiffel tower lit up, gorgeous! The food was really good too! We walked there from the hotel. Hope this is a little bit of a help!

Tracey

You are going to love staying by Rue Cler. I didn't stay at Hotel du Champ de Mars-but it looked wonderful. You already have my 2 favorite resturants in that area Cafe le Bosquet and Leo le Lion. Both were very friendly and the foood was incredible. Be sure to make reservations for both. Leo le Lion only has one seeting and fills up quickly. Be sure to have a crepe form the stand in the middle of the block. My favorite was nutella with bananas. Pack a picnic lunch for you trip to Germany. Be sure to hit the cheese shop and across the street is the meat shop with wonderful sausages! Go to the bakery on the corner and get a baguette. There is also a supermarket on that street, which had very good prices. Stock up on the wonderful french mustard for gifts to bring home...now I really want to go back!

Betsy

I love the rue Cler area too. A couple of suggestions: I've stayed at the Champs de Mars and the Leveque and liked the Leveque much better. My favorite in the area is the Muguet. Book any of these ASAP. Skip Chez Agnes. While there are both positive and negative opinions about this little restaurant on the Rick Steves Graffiti Board, we found the food abominable.

Betsy

Don't forget Cafe du Marche right on rue Cler for a good bistro experience. Have a creme brulee (served in a soup bowl!) for me. Ditto the post above on the crepe stand that is just outside Cafe du Marche.

elvira

You can do it all, but you'll have to have a very tight, well-scheduled itinerary; there won't be time for wandering...and it also depends on what days of the week you'll be there (museums are closed certain days):<BR>Day 1 - Louvre at the opening, lunch, St Chapelle for an hour, Notre Dame for an hour, quick supper (restaurants won't be open at 5:30, but cafes and bistros will), evening river cruise.<BR>Day 2 - d'Orsay at the open for 3 hours, lunch, Sacre Coeur for 2 1/2 hours (allows for visiting the area, not just the church), Eiffel Tower for 2 hours, dinner<BR>Day 3 - Arc de Triomphe at the open (I'm assuming your climbing?) for about an hour; train to Chartres (including travel and looking time, 6 hours).<BR><BR>Personally, I'd skip the Arch de Triomphe - you can see it from the Eiffel Tower.<BR><BR>The Bateaux Mouche or the Vedettes have evening cruises; general recos are to skip the dinner part (price to quality of food is out of proportion).

Doug Weller

We had a marvelous meal at Chez Agnes 2 years ago, the best duck I've ever had.<BR>I suspect there are few restaurants where you won't find someone critical of the food. It was certainly value for money.<BR><BR>Doug

Rob

Just back from one week in Paris with my wife and 16 year old son. Hotel Muguet was wonderful - clean and comfortable room; large and modern bathroom; approachable and helpful staff. Paid 127 Euros for a triple. I would definitely recommend.<BR><BR>I have to agree that the food was not very good at Chez Agnes but the experience was great. Agnes and her poodle, Gypsy, were friendly and fun hosts and we had a great time chatting with two couples - one Australian and one American. It was like visiting your eccentric aunt whose cooking is "ok" but is wonderful to spend time with. I would go again for the experience, not the food. <BR><BR>For a memorable meal, try either Le Florimond (19, Avenue de la Motte-Picquet) or La Fountain de Mars (129, rue Saint-Dominique)expect to pay 25 to 30 Euros per person for a 3 course meal. Wine would be extra. The Rue Cler area is full of good restaurants - several are memorable and many are pretty good. Check Zagat for reliable ratings. Enjoy a wonderful city!!!

Gretchen

For only 3 days skip Chartres. As someone else said, take the boat ride at dusk and then go somewhere for a better dinner--have a reservation ready. Another good restaurant near Rue Cler is Le Clos des Gourmets on 16 Av. Rapp--also Bistrot du 7eme on 56 Blvd Latour Mauborg and Les Olivades (41 Av. Segur).<BR>If you are going to museums all 3 days buy the museum pass to get past the lines particularly at the Louvre and Orsay. A museum in your "neighborhood" is the Musee Rodin--a gem to me. Skip the Arch for climbing. Spend some time just walking around (not on the Champs Elysees but interesting streets elsewhere) and sitting in a cafe to feel like you are really in Paris. Three days just isn't long enough so promise yourself a return and enjoy the ambience. I could even skip Sacre Coeur for strolling around the Latin Quarter or the Tuilleries or the Jardin du Luxembourg. The Carnavalet is a wonderful museum "doable" in a couple of hours or less--particularly interesting for the part about the French Revolution. Another "quality" place is the Marmottan where you can see Monets. It is a bit out of the way however.

nintopia77

You want my opinion? Skip the three days in Paris and head on to Germany. I just returned from a month long trip throughout Europe and Paris was my last stop. I was to stay there for five days and head home. However, after three days of dealing with total assholes (pardon my French-sorry for that one liner!) I took a taxi to Charles DeGaul and told Delta to get me out of here. Paris was my least favourite part of Europe. Germany is very nice, but London is the best.

nintopia77

Ok, if you must go to Paris then DO NOT miss out on Versilles (Louis XIV pad) It is totally worth the 10 mile drive from the Eiffle Tower. Also, three hours in the Louvre? You'll need at least a year to see everything in there!

louise

Since you are only planning to spend a few hours at the Louvre, consider buying a museum pass before you go. With this you can bypass the ticket lines and walk right into the side entrance and through security. I think I purchased mine from rail-europe, but I have seen them sold on several sites online.

Mike

Russ: Stay at all three hotels in the last 2 years. My pick is the Champ de Mars. Just remember the hosts are not out-going, but will answer and question and will help with taxi's directions, etc. With three days I would spend it all in Paris and forget the side trips on this vacation. We enjoyed Cafe le Bosquet for the soups and the late evening snacks. The service was great and the wait staff friendly. Had a great meal at Leo le Lion but have read some negative responses in the last few months. Enjoy your trip.

Cindy

We were a week in Paris, and it wasn't enough time to see everything. The highlights for us were the Louve, San Chappel, taking a bot-a-bus down the Seine to the Eiffel Tower, exploring the streets in the Latin Quarter, seeing the tapestries at the de Cluny Museum, and taking time to sit at the sidewalk cafes (Deux Magots was a fav of ours). Chartes btw is wonderful, but if you only have three days, I'd skip it for now. And skip Versailles, its not worth it (the gardens are lovely, but in the short amount of time you have, stick with the city).