Hôtel de Crillon Paris, France

If you want to find a place to stay in Paris during your vacations and stay there in style, Hotel de Crillon is a perfect place to do it. Located in the very heart of Paris and overlooking Place de la Concorde with Avenue des Champs-Elysees, Rue Saint-Honore and Louvre in a minute walk distance, this hotel is an answer to all tourists dreams. Jan. 19, 2010

D'chez eux, Restaurant in Paris

It's hard to believe, but this classic French bistrot in Paris is not mentioned frequently in travel guides and reviews. However, if you have not had a chance to visit this restaurant, do yourself a favor - you will not regret it - go there! Nov. 17, 2007

Ritz Paris - Another side of the Hotel

Ritz Paris hotel is often considered as one of the best hotels in Paris. That's what you can find in Frommer's traveler guide about this hotel: "The Ritz is Europe's greatest hotel, an enduring symbol of elegance on one of Paris's most beautiful and historic squares." A bit below, the guide continues saying that "each guest room is uniquely decorated, most with Louis XIV or XV reproductions; all have fine rugs, marble fireplaces, tapestries, brass beds, and more." Well, our recent experience showed that this is not entirely true. Sept. 28, 2007

Paris Vacations: Part 5 - Day Four: City of Paris - Right Bank

Museums are good if, as everything else, are taken in moderation. Indeed, we felt that after two days of immersion into French history and culture, it was the time to look at the city itself, its people and everyday life. How do you do this? You just walk, mix with crowds and watch. So, our next day we decided to explore the right bank (La Rive Droite in French) of the city. Sept. 14, 2007

Paris Vacations: Part 6 - Day Five: City of Paris - Left Bank

While visiting Notre Dame de Paris and La Conciergerie we already had a chance to see a small piece of the left bank. But that was just to wake up our appetite for more exploration. Our next day in Paris we devoted entirely to this area. Sept. 14, 2007

Paris Vacations: Part 4 - Day Three: Versailles and Musee d'Orsay

While planning your visit to the Château decide on how much time you want to spend there - this place is big, both literally and figuratively. It occupies 2,000 acres of grounds with 12 miles of roads and more than 200,000 trees. There are 50 fountains; the total area covered by roofs is 26 acres! The palace has more than 550,000 square feet with more than 700 rooms decorated with 22,500 paintings, drawing and engravings and 2,100 sculptures. Art collections at the Musée d'Orsay are extensive, but of course it's not as big as Louvre or Versailles. According to the official data, the museum has 680 paintings on its floor with the total of 5,026 art objects cataloged. Well, 680 paintings only - but what kind of paintings! Sept. 11, 2007

Paris Vacations: Part 3 - Day Two: Musee du Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris and La Conciergerie

As planned, the second day was devoted entirely to museums. The first on the list was Louvre - one of the oldest and largest art galleries and museums. And, of course, being in Paris without visiting Louvre was just not possible. La Conciergerie, as a place, is not that large - visitors enter the Conciergerie at the Hall of Men-at-Arms, a massive Gothic hall and remarkable 209 feet long, 90 feet wide and 28 feet high architectural structure. But mostly, La Conciergerie with its recreation of actual prison cells and other facilities remains a grim reminder of the darkest days in France's history. Sept. 2, 2007

Paris Vacations: One Week of Fulfilling Dreams

What can I possibly write about Paris? List of places to visit with brief description of each of them? Or, some blurb about restaurants and bistros that are allegedly better than others? Hardly, there is any motivation for doing this - so much reference material has been published - just choose from a variety of colorful guides the one that appeals to you more and buy it and find in one place enough information not for one trip to Paris but for a dozen. Read this account of a personal experience in planning and visiting Paris.

Part I - Coming to Paris
Part 2 - Our Hotel: First Steps
Part 3 - Day Two: Musée du Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris and La Conciergerie
Part 4 - Day Three: Versailles and Musée d'Orsay
Part 5 - Day Four: City of Paris - Right Bank
Part 6 - Day Five: City of Paris - Left Bank

Sept. 1, 2007

Paris Vacations: Part 2 - Our Hotel: First Steps

Part 2 of Paris Vacations article describing first steps in the city and most important Le Bristol, our hotel in Paris Sept. 1, 2007

Traditional Dining Places in Paris

Here is the list of several off the beaten track, mostly inexpensive restaurants with main courses prices from 10&ero; to 35€. The list is a result of a research based on personal experiences. Many of these places do not appear in travel guides. In fact, if they do, that would be a very strong factor for not including one or another restaurant into the list. We have tried to select places visited by locals.

Aug. 11, 2007