Tax in France restaurants drops - will the price?

VAT changes in France

After years of discussions between restaurants, the French government and the European Union, it finally happened! Instead of applying a 19.6% VAT on the bill, restaurants will now apply a lower tax of 5.5%. It had been a promise made by Jacques Chirac, and was a subject of conflict between the government and the restaurants union. So today, all the newspapers talk about this change, and how it should reflect on the overall bill. Officially, restaurants and cafés are supposed to reflect this tax change by lowering their prices. Officials also hope that the employees will see a raise in their paycheck, and that it will create more job in this industry. If you believe the media, it is the magical pill that will solve all the problems restaurants are facing right now, and will have everyone in France rush to the restaurants. Will it really shows on the bill? Personally, I don’t think so. I hope it does lower the price by a few Euros, but I wouldn’t count on it. Many restaurants say that they are struggling to make money, and have already announced that they will not use this to lower the price but to have a better margin.

It will take some time to determine the consequences of this change on prices, as the summer season is here, summer prices have arrived and depending on where you travel, some places charge a ridiculous amount of money compared to the quality of products/services they offer. So one piece of advice for all of you traveling, don’t jump on the first restaurant you see. Take some time to walk around and see the various options you have.

New Paris Walking Tour

Chocolate & Pastry Tour - Paris

Walking along the very picturesque Rue du Cherche Midi, we start our " sweet tooth " experience at the bakery Poilane, founded in 1932. You will first taste their famous sourdough bread (made from stone-ground flour and baked in a wood-fired oven), and then try their renowned "Punitions" (= punishments) butter cookies. Depending on the day of your visit, you may even be able to visit the cellar where they bake their bread.

Continuing along Rue de Rennes towards Rue de Sèvres, your next destination is “La Maison du Chocolat" where you will have a wide tasting of their different chocolate flavors imported from Venezuela, Madagascar, Mexico… Your tour continues to Rue Bonaparte and Pierre Herme's shop, "the Picasso of Pastry"! There you will experience some of his creations with the names of "Dune", "Mogador", "Ispahan","Satine", a real fireworks for your taste buds!

Then you’ll cross Boulevard St Germain to reach Rue de Seine for a stop at Gerard Mulot’s, a pastry chef who still makes patisseries the traditional way, which became popular worldwide. You will taste the different types of éclairs, the St Honoré, the cherry clafoutis...On the same street, you will visit the boutique of Pierre Marcolini , the "dream maker" who challenges conventional techniques and ideas! His chocolate creations are delicate, harmonious, very intense and therefore alive … a moment of pure pleasure!

Your “Chocolate and Pastry Discovery Tour” will end in one of the oldest and probably the most famous pastry shop worldwide : La durée, where you will treat yourself to the best macaroons in the world.

Tour rate is valid up to 8 people; the tour is 3-hours long with English-speaking guide

$550 total regardless of 1 or 8 persons and anything in between!

Unique Dining Experience in Paris

Passing this along, found on Budget Travel:

http://current.newsweek.com/budgettravel/2009/06/skyhigh_dining_in_paris.html

Warhol Exhibit at the Grand Palais - Paris

The Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais in Paris present the exhibition Le Grand Monde d'Andy Warhol (Andy Warhol’s High Society) from 18 March to 13 July 2009.

In 1962, Andy Warhol painted the portraits of Marilyn Monroe and her rival Liz Taylor, and reinterpreted the Mona Lisa and Elvis Presley. From 1967 up until his death in 1987, he produced, on commission, the portraits of dozens of personalities – some famous, others unknown – offering a world fascinated by appearances a flattering, dizzying mirror, a view of “Andy Warhol’s high society”. In doing so, he restored the status of a neglected genre, applying new codes which were to leave an indelible mark on the history of portraiture.

Alongside stars of the stage and screen (Brigitte Bardot, Jane Fonda, Mick Jagger, Sylvester Stallone), the exhibition Le Grand Monde d'Andy Warhol presents the portraits of artists, collectors and dealers, political figures (Willy Brandt, Edward Kennedy), fashion designers (Yves Saint-Laurent, Sonia Rykiel, Hélène Rochas) and members of the jet set (Lee Radziwell, the Princess of Monaco). Some better known than others, all take on something of that aura which Warhol’s genius sought to bring out.

With this series, Warhol painted the portrait of an entire society, and set in place a new form of serial, almost industrial, artistic production. A selection of 250 works, taken from the thousand or so portraits he painted from the early 1960s onwards, are presented in the exhibition Le Grand Monde d'Andy Warhol. They are arranged according to different themes looked at by Warhol at key moments in his career.

Practical information:

Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais Official Website

http://www.grandpalais.fr/en/Homepage/p-617-Homepage.htm
3, Avenue du Général Eisenhower
75008 Paris
+33 (0)1 44 13 17 17

Open daily, except Tuesday
Opening times: 10 am to 10 pm / Closes at 8 pm on Thursdays
Entry: €11, concs. €8

Published on Franceguide.com

Paris Hotel Offer, Restos, More

Travel Snippets - baggage fees increase at UA, Hotel St Paul, More:

United Airlines is raising its checked bag fees by $5. Oh boy, doubtful it will keep anyone home but just another nick isn't it?! Speaking of fees, anyone flown a discount airline lately? I booked some flights on Allegiant Air the other day. Posted fare was $29 each way! Pretty good. For 3 people it ended up around $430 after all the nickel and diming. So, what's better the big legacy carrier way or the discounter way? Why can't we just have a price to fly that is posted up front - all inclusive?!

Other more useful info:

Hotel St Paul - Paris, 6eme
Hotel Saint-Paul-Rive Gauche***, a residence dating from the end of the XVIIth century, is ideally situated in the 6th arrondissement of Paris in the rue Monsieur le Prince near numerous monuments and museums. This historic thoroughfare is named after the Prince de Condé, cousin of Louis the XIVth.

It is getting on for four centuries that its walls have breathed the very spirit of the Latin Quarter situated as it is between the Sorbonne and the Luxembourg gardens. It is owned by the 4th generation of the same family of hoteliers who strive to maintain the high standards of this bijou dwelling.

Breakfast is served in a striking vaulted cellar in which we find an authentic well. This led, some time ago now, to the hotel being named the “Hotel du Reservoir”. Some claim that Franciscan monks once lodged here. http://www.hotelsaintpaulparis.com/english/home.html We are offering promotional rates throughout June & July:

Stay 4 & Pay 3 Nights - rates according to room category - contact us for preferred rates Stay 3 & Pay 2 Nights - rates according to room cateogry - contact us for preferred rates Discover France Special Offer: FREE room upgrade to Superior catetegory and basket of fruit or box of chocolates! Must book 3 or more consecutive nights. (not combinable with above)

Other:
Bistro recommendation; borrowing from Newsweek:
http://current.newsweek.com/budgettravel/2009/05/paris_restaurant_buzz_frenchie.html

More restaurant recommendations - this from Budget Travel:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29959028/

If I had a choice, I would opt for a bistro every time. I'm just a casual dude, and even in bistros in France you eat well. I particularly like the recommendation above, I bet the service is very good as they are new. But, for anyone going in July & August - don't get bothered if service seems slow or even surly. Its high season, and things take time, so enjoy; nobody is going to drop l'addition on you without you asking first!

L

Paris News & Links - Promo Starting May 12

The following items have come to me recently, so I pass them along for our readers.

Rail Europe - big discounts on Eurail Pass - starts May 12 - 'while supplies last'. Don't wait, that is tomorrow! http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-04-30-rail-europe-promo_N.htm

Paris with Kids - posted on MSNBC website, I wasn't sure at first what I was reading. I must say there seems to be a little exaggeration here especially with respect to the Euro and Dollar being almost at parity! Maybe this journalist is new to forex?! Also, the tip about the family rate at the Meurice...well, lets hope your pockets are deep! If you want a better 'value' for your family stay, consider checking out the Adagio Apar'hotel offers.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30252390/

Louvre Exhibit to display exceptional pieces that were moved to protect them on the eve of World War II. This is a very interesting story, and I would think very interesting visit while in Paris:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2009-05-06-louvre-war-exhibit_N.htm

Paris Happenings

Here are a couple stories, written by others (professionals), that anyone going to Paris would be interested to read. Check it out:

100 Years of Jazz in Paris - special exhibition:
From the dripping paint of Jackson Pollock to the paper cutouts of Henri Matisse and the tap routines of Fred Astaire, jazz has inspired some of the greatest artists of the past century. read more...


Paris Tasting Tour

It's easy enough to find your average bistro in Paris. The challenge is discovering those off-the-radar spots that locals keep to themselves. Clotilde Dusoulier leads us to seven restaurants that are destinations in their own right. read more....