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....

Paris + Cote d'Azur

Here is another reason to visit the French Riviera, specifically Antibes:

Picasso, 1945-1949 : l’ère du renouveau (Age of Renewal)

Exhibition 28th March to 14th June 2009 at the Picasso Museum, Antibes

Since summer 2008, the Picasso Museum has reopened its doors. After two years of renovation work mainly focussed on safety, accessibility and climate control, the public has discovered a new museum offering more comfort for visitors and better preservation conditions for the works of art exhibited. This reopening means the return of the museum collection to its visitors and the planning of temporary exhibitions for the years to come.

The first of these, “l’Ere du renouveau” (the Age of Renewal) from 28th March to 14th June 2009, will be the occasion to see in a new light what is often described as Picasso’s Antibes period. From the vanitas of winter 1945 darkly influenced by the war years, to the creations filled with light at the end of the 1940s, the exhibition will be composed of approximately 200 works of art (paintings, sketches, ceramics) from important public and private collections, including certain works created during his stay at the Grimaldi castle but kept by the artist, which will now come back to the studio where they were conceived. Thus the artist’s production will be put into context over a wider period of history, situating the “Picassos of Antibes” in a creative and particularly rich chronology during those happy years, of which the painting La Joie de Vivre constitutes a sort of emblem.

NB The museum will be closed for exhibition preparation 10th – 27th March and for several days from 15th June (contact the Museum for exact closure dates, and dates of guided visits).

Practical information : Open all year, closed on Mondays and French bank holidays (1st Jan, 1st May, 1st Nov & 25th Dec). 16th Sept to 14th June : 10am – 12am and 2pm to 6pm

April Hotel Promotions

Stay 3 and Pay for only 2 Nights!
4 & 3 star hotels near the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, and Bastille

also available in Cannes, St Malo, Juan les Pins, and Bordeaux

Stay 4 and Pay for 3 nights! Select hotels in Paris and Riviera.

Last minute rates from 88 euros/night in Cannes and Bordeaux - subject to availability

Paris Last Minute: from 104 euros/night for 3 star hotel up to 180 euros/night for deluxe 4 star hotel!

All offers are to be checked manually, please contact us by email to know availability for your dates. contact@discoverfrance.com

Michelin Restaurant Promotion

The centennial issue of the MICHELIN guide was launched on March 5, 2009.

When it first came out in 1900, the MICHELIN guide France made no mention of restaurants or even hotels. It was above all a guide for motorists who could pick up their free copy in garages and tire dealers. The book contained a wealth of practical information to make traveling more pleasant.

It wasn't until 1920 that the first restaurants—and Parisian hotels—made their debut in the guide. At the time, the restaurants had their own "star-less" rating system. Today, the MICHELIN guide is the reference for gourmet dining.

Recently, new symbols indicate the possibility of reserving a non-smoking room or table, the availability of Wi Fi in the establishment, or access to a spa.
Today, some 1.2 million Michelin guides are sold in the world every year. The centennial issue of the MICHELIN guide France was launched on March 5, 2009.

In celebration of this event, Michelin is declaring March 9 to April 5 Le Mois Gourmand (Gourmet Month). Over 900 restaurants featured in the 2009 issue will be proposing special offers.

"Centennial edition" offers will be proposed by starred restaurateurs featured in the 2009 MICHELIN guide: special menus that are affordably priced, workshops with chefs, guided tours of wine cellars with tastings, dinners in the restaurant's kitchen with explanations from the chef… are just a taste of the activities proposed throughout the event.

Today's most highly decorated chefs are French. Joël Robuchon has 25 stars under his belt for his twelve establishments around the world. Hot on his heels, Alain Ducasse holds 18 distinctions for thirteen restaurants. Brit Gordon Ramsay follows with 10 stars for seven establishments. Two Americans—Thomas Keller (7 stars for three restaurants) and Jean Georges (5 stars for three restaurants)—complete the top five.

The Guide proposes a selection of 8 500 establishments with some 550 restaurants being awarded stars: 26 with three stars (the only newcomer being Eric Fréchon of Paris's Le Bristol), 73 with two stars and 449 with one star.

Nine restaurants were promoted to the two-star rank: l'Atelier de Jean-Luc Rabanel in Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône), le Saint-James in Bouliac (Gironde), Guy Lassausaie in Chasselay (Rhône), La Mère Brazier in Lyon (Rhône) , L'Espadon de Michel Roth au Ritz in Paris (1st arrondissement), Le Castellas in Collias (Gard), Le Casadelmar in Porto Vecchio (Corsica), Le Faventia in Tourrettes (Var) et the famous british Gordon Ramsay at Trianon in Versailles (Yvelines).

Moreover, 63 restaurants have won their first star, including Le Prieuré in Ambierle (Loire), Les Rosiers in Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), La Poularde in la Chapelle-sous-Guinchay (Saône-et-Loire), Le Fogon in Paris (6th arrondissement), Le Jules Verne in the Tower-Eiffel that was bought by Alain Ducasse in 2008 (7th arrondissement), L'Arôme in Paris (8th arrondissement), L'Agapé in Paris (17th arrondissement), La Bigarrade in Paris (17th arrondissement).

This article was published by Maison de La France Canada.

Airlines 'Slash' Fares

That according to the Wall Street Journal March 4; Personal Journal.

We have been hearing and seeing the same thing however. I just purchased a ticket to Paris for $685 roundtrip March 28-April 4th from PHX-CDG with 1 stop in ORD. Pretty darn good!

Check our new link partner Cheap Flights: http://www.cheapflights.com/

L