39Vaugirard

Just when you think Paris has lost its edge, the NY Times proclaims a new ‘it’ neighborhood.  The latest is on the city’s fringes, like Belleville and the former red-light district of Pigalle.  A pop-up restaurant, a taxidermy-stuffed speakeasy.

I guess we all needed to be able to turn the hotel amp up to 11, which is essentially what adding “palais” to the old star distinction means. Of all the new “palais,” we’ve only stayed at the Hyatt Vendome, which is certainly a wonderful hotel, but is it a palace? Like any expensive hotel the world over, it has it’s over-priced closet rooms that overlook an airshaft, as well its million dollar a night arena-size apartments.

PARIS (Reuters) – France granted a few top hotels the right to call themselves a “palace” on Thursday, a label which distinguishes them from rivals and is designed to boost the country’s profile as a luxury destination.

The eight winners of the accolade include Paris hotels Meurice and Plaza-Athenee, both owned by the Sultan of Brunei, as well as the Bristol hotel, owned by Germany’s Oetker family.

and 39 rue de Vaugirard…

“We expect significant commercial and notoriety boosts from this accolade,” Didier Le Calvez, head of the Bristol told Reuters.

“Perhaps other countries, such as the U.S. and the UK, might now think of giving the same label, countries which have the same hotel heritage as France….The palace label means winning a prestigious decoration which is valid for five years.”

Criteria to obtain the palace label include the hotel’s location, historical significance, room comfort, personalized service, multilingual staff, health and spa facilities.

The Ritz hotel in Paris, the Four Seasons George V, and the Negresco hotel in Nice all failed the exam to get the label.

The Park Hyatt Paris Vendome, owned by the Hyatt family, also got the right put the palace plaque on its front door along with the Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

Other winners include LVMH’s Cheval Blanc and Les Airelles, owned by Stephane Courbit, former chairman of media company Endemol — two neighboring hotels nestled between trees right on the slopes of luxury French ski resort Courchevel.

L’Hotel du Palais in Biarritz, on the French Atlantic coast, also won the right to call itself a palace.

[From France doles out new "palace" label to top hotels - baltimoresun.com]

This looks intriguing, though my iPad is still just too big to carry with me like a a guidebook. When I lived in Paris, I used to have a green hunting jacket with a big pocket in back (for birds?) and I’d stick all kinds of stuff back there (umbrellas, magazines, fruits and vegetable…). I guess I’d need something like that to carry the iPad around everywhere.

Please comment and let me know if you tried this.

An interactive map pinpoints hotels, restaurants and other Parisian accommodations, which is convenient if you’re staying, for instance, in the Marais and want to find a nearby cafe, bar, post office or Metro stop. A tap on a pinpoint reveals more information, like an address, a telephone number and hours of operation. To help navigate the streets of Paris, the iPad’s GPS chip reveals your location on the map, which can flip over to reveal a color-coded Metro map.

A new feature, Paris in Pictures, includes dozens of color photographs of Parisian attractions to provide inspiration for what to do while you’re there. Still can’t decide? The Paris app has suggestions for exploring, including the must-see churches, museums, parks, gardens and 90-minute walking tours.

[From GADGETWISE - The Glory of Your Personal Paris, Glowing on an iPad - Web Log - NYTimes.com]

Actually, kind of wish these were universal. While to some the French may seem snooty, the world would be a nicer place if people followed a lot of these simple suggestions. with some of their etiquette rules

Face it, no one wants to unknowingly embarrass themselves by being the ugly American. Here’s our short list of etiquette tips that function well throughout France and actually translate fairly well to your microcosm back home. Thanks to Renee from Travel Geeks, who also contributed a conversation that influenced this list – and to Imei for editing an compiling it:

1. A profuse use of “please” and “thank you” goes a long way. You will hear people constantly saying “merci beaucoup” or just “merci” even more than you hear “you’re welcome”.

[From Etiquette in Paris, France ~ Chris Pirillo]

There are some great suggestions in this article on how to save money in the City of Light. Many are the obvious with lots of picnics and cheap enjoyment of the outdoor museum that surrounds you. However, the issue isn’t whether it’s possible as a parlor stunt, but how could you have a fulfilling Paris experience while skipping most of the things around you.

It’s hard to imagine a once in a lifetime Paris vacation spent entirely outside while trying to avoid museum fees, but there is a free Sunday of the Louvre. There are plenty of places to go (Tuilleries, Jardin de Luxembourg, Notre Dame, Sacré Coeur) that don’t cost a dime.

Best advice if you really want to stick to this budget: get a hotel outside the city on the RER line and zip in in the morning and go back out to sleep. Basic hotel rates will eat the majority of your budget if you stay within the city limits.

Paris on Less Than $100 Per Day

[From Paris on Less Than $100 Per Day: Enjoy the City Without Breaking the Bank | BootsnAll Travel Articles]

Our friend Patrick Mikla always surprises us with ‘inside’ discoveries of Paris and France. From the time we met him some 15 year ago, I can remember each and every one of our adventures. The latest is France Miniature.

He took the day off and took us Élancourt, a town about an hour drive outside of Paris, where this miniature park attraction featuring scale models of major French landmarks and monuments is located in an outdoor park. It’s absolutely delightful, for both adults and children. For architecture and history buffs like my husband and me, the park has about 160 scale models of major French monuments and landmarks. Many of the models are animated and all of the country’s best known landmarks are represented (Lourdes, Eiffel Tower, Dungeons, etc). We reminisced about many of our trips to certain regions of France as well as discussed monuments and churches that we had never heard of.

For our daughter and and our son, the system of model trains that runs through the park kept them consistently delighted, and the animated boats and planes over the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean were very amusing. Half way through the park, there is even an old fashion amusement park/respite and a restaurant, where the kids and parents can go on slides and the parents can take in a nice tea.

I love to read reports like this one from someone whose favorite meal during his stay in Paris was some crepes they ate at 10PM.   

Paris is full of city life; its bustling energy is one that I haven’t found in many American cities. However, despite the tourism, the main roads and historic attractions such as the Champs Elysses (sic), have become crowded and mind-boggling to navigate. Streets are congested regardless of the use of rental bicycles in abundance.

My favorite and only desirable part of Paris was Montmartre; champagne made this New Year’s night a wonderful experience as we walked through the streets like rebellious teenagers. Of course, the nightlife in Montmartre was extravagant, and the streets were filled with people at all hours. Our favorite meal was around 10 p.m. when we had excellent crepes.

[From Paris...Not the City I Love - Paris, France Travel Blog]

Perhaps Paris, like youth, is wasted on the young.

So many friends and others interested in traveling to Paris have been calling us to rent our place or to find other rentals and hotels for their summer holiday. Even though the economy is still in the doldrum and they say travel is definitely down, there are still many who are taking advantage of the recession and finding great values in Paris and beyond.

Here are my favorite hotels in the neighborhood in order of preference:

Le Placide

This is probably my favorite. Three blocks away from our apartment. Contemporary Classic. The ultimate boutique hotel on the Left Bank. A former 19th Century private home with just 11 rooms, Hotel Le Placide has the feel of an exclusive private club. In a superb location in the 6th arrondisement just steps from the chic Bon Marche Department Store. Completely recreated and redesigned by Bruno Borrione, of the Philippe Starck design firm, the hotel offers 21st Century style, comfort and luxury. 6 rue Saint Placide, 75006

Hotel Senat This is also lovely, a block away from NE gate of Jardin du Luxumberg. I’ve walked by many times, never stayed there but looks lovely. Contemporary Classic. 10 rue de Vaugirard, 75006.

Hotel Verneuil Near the Quartier Antiquaire. Superb. Traditional elegance. Many interior designers stay here. The search stops here if you want a hotel that’s blushingly romantic, bathed in history, and stylish in a way that weds the past (miles of printed fabrics from France’s old-guard textile houses) to the present (iron cube tables with a deliberately rusted finish). Some of the 26 guest rooms are a bit tight, but with a heart-of-Rive-Gauche location—the Flore and Deux Magots are your local cafés— complaining seems like bad manners. Discreetly housed in a handsome 17th-century building with hand-hewn beams…” noted Travel & Leisure 8, rue de Verneuil, Paris, 75007

Hotel Le St. Gregoire We have stayed here. Charming, so so food, but absolutely quiet, as it used to be a mansion adjacent to the Abbe St. Gregoire. 43 Rue de l’Abbé-Grégoire, 76006.

Hotel Le Sainte Veuve. A little bit off the center of St. Germain in a quiet residential street, but walking distance to everything. French English in feel. 9 rue Sainte-Beuve, 75006

Hotel Le Relais Saint Germain. More traditional French, recently renovated, with one of the best restaurants for breakfast and lunch and dinner. On the border of 6th and 5th arrondisement. Provincial charm. 9, carrefour de l’Odéon 75006

Hotel Des Academies. Another great find. Chez Charlotte housed in the hotel is the newest tea room with the local buzz. More in the university area but wonderful as well. 15, rue de la Grand Chaumiére, 75006

Hotel Montalembert. We’ve stayed here as have many friends. Definitely a name brand, but lives up to the promise. Grand, upscale, and you can’t beat the location and the restaurants within a stone throw of the hotel. Contemporary Classic. 3 rue de Montalembert, 75007

When the Pyramid was new, it took literally hours in line to get into the Louvre through the main entrance. The locals knew that many entrances exist and, while not as I.M. Pei-extraordinary, almost never have a line. The Louvre has a good map with the four other entrances. This blog recommends the Porte des Lions, but we like the Passage Richelieu. Use whichever is convenient and gets you out of the rain faster.

Line ups can be long at the Louvre
but there are multiple entrances.
The entrance in the glass pyramid
is usually one of the busiest.
We prefer the Porte des Lions.
The last time we went,
there wasn’t a line up at all.

[From Daily Photos & Frugal Travel Tips » Blog Archive » Entrances To The Louvre, Paris, France]