Paris Tips

This list was updated in May, 2022. Here is the hotel where I stayed on that trip:

https://www.balcons.com

This hotel pretty much ticked all the boxes I search for when I’m looking for the perfect hotel for me. In Paris I like staying on the left bank. My favorite arrondissements are the 5th (Latin Quarter) or the 6th (St. Germain des Pres), and that’s where this hotel is. This hotel’s location can’t be beat. It’s about ½ mile from the Luxembourg RER station (the main line that takes you to CDG airport for about 10 euro per person) and two blocks from the Odeon metro station, from which you can go pretty much anywhere in the city. The front desk staff all spoke excellent English and were very accommodating. The room I had was a single with a full bath with an American style shower, and it had a balcony with a great view of the Odeon Theater and the Paris rooftops. It was very reasonably priced for such a great location. All that said, the room was very small, as you will find in many European hotels, but I always say if you’re spending a lot of time in your room in Paris you’re not doing it right.

If the Grand Hotel des Balcons is not available, there were two other hotels on the same street that I did not visit but they looked very nice and obviously they’re in the same great location: the Hotel Delavigne and the Hotel Baume, both on the Rue Casimir Delavigne.

If you’re traveling with a group I would also suggest looking at Airbnb and Vrbo. With a kitchen you could get food from the wonderful markets for lunch or breakfast. You could get bread and cheese and fruit and pastries and wine from the markets for lunch, or pain chocolate from a local bakery for breakfast. Just make sure you’re in a good location and that you have easy access to the Metro.

The best pastry in Paris (that’s a big statement):

Gerard Mulot
76 Rue de Seine, 75006 Paris, France

I especially love the chocolate tarts.

The best ice cream in Paris (also a big statement):

Berthillon
31 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 75004 Paris, France (their products are sold in cafes and restaurants but go to the main shop on the island-ILE Saint-Louis)

Across the street from Berthillon on the island is a crepe restaurant where you can get savory crepes and sweet ones and hard cider. Don’t know the name but they also have a window on the street where you can also get crepes to go. It’s a pretty inexpensive dinner as Paris prices go.

Famous hot chocolate and pastry near the Louvre:

Angelina’s

The hot chocolate tastes like melted chocolate bars. If you like white chocolate, try the white hot chocolate.

If it’s your first visit to Paris, the first thing you should do is take the metro to Trocadero (Eiffel Tower). The view of the Eiffel Tower as you come out of the station is quintessential Paris.

My favorite museum in the world:

D’Orsay – houses a wonderful Impressionist collection as well as other works. The D’Orsay was recently named the best museum in the world in several publications including TripAdvisor.

My second favorite museum:

Orangerie – houses huge Monet canvases in a circular room where everyone must remain quiet. It’s both beautiful and tranquil.

If there’s any way you can make time, you must go to Versailles. Every other European palace is just a Versailles wanna-be. It’s pretty much an all day trip. You don’t need a guided tour. Just take a train from Paris. It’s about a one hour train ride. Versailles is kind of a suburb now. The palace is amazing, and the grounds are beautiful (and huge). If you have time there is also a little town which is a good place for lunch. It might be worthwhile to join a guided tour when you get to the palace to avoid the lines to get in. You can also consider getting the Paris Museum pass, which I believe allows you to book an entry time at Versailles, as well as giving you discounts to many Paris museums. Here is info on the Paris museum pass, which you can purchase ahead of time. If you’re traveling with young people, keep in mind that anyone under 18 gets into most museums for free. However, once they reach their 18th birthday they must pay. (EU citizens get in for free up to 26.)

https://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/conditions-free-admission#free-admission

The only sightseeing place where I would recommend caution is the catacombs/Moulin Rouge/Sacre Coeur, especially the steps leading up to Sacre Coeur. A lot of unsavory characters hang out there and very aggressively try to sell trinkets. They can be intimidating.

On this most recent trip I discovered a great website where I booked a dinner prepared by a chef who was the 2012 winner of Masterchef France. The chef’s heritage is Vietnamese but he was raised in France, and his cuisine incorporates elements of both cultures. He prepared an amazing four course meal which he served in the cellar of his lovely home in the Marais. You dine with others who have booked the same dinner, and my experience in talking to other dinner guests from around the world was delightful. You can book this experience on eatwith.com. If you book this dinner (or anything else on that website) use my referral code and we’ll both get money off: B45DEDEF

An organization called Paris Greeters is a group of volunteer Parisian “ambassadors” who offer free walking tours in Paris. You specify your interests as well as the date and time you’re available and they will match you with a guide. On this trip I had the privilege of touring Montparnasse with the lovely Claudine. I not only discovered new sights, but also learned much about everyday life in Paris.

If you forgot to guy anything there is good duty free shopping at CDG Airport, including cheeses, pates, macaroons, etc.

My very best advice about your trip: If you fall in love with Paris as I did, then remember that this does not have to be your last trip there. If you’re as lucky as I was, you’ll return, more than once. So if you feel like you missed something, remember that you can always come back.

Bon voyage!