Tips and tidbits
The daily blog: short notes, oddities and everything else.
Blending Shopping and Architecture in Beaugrenelle
Beaugrenelle 's unique architecture, wide variety of brands, premium services, digital customer experience, make it tomorrow's most exceptional department store.
Restoration of Beaugrenelle
When a neighborhood in a city gets restored, it brings a new energy and freshness to that neighborhood.
26 Paris Gift Ideas for Your Inner Parisian
It's hard not to swoon a bit when you think about Paris - but if the Paris-lover in your life can't be in the City of Lights this holiday season, why not bring Paris to them?
Good Reasons to Pop on Over to Paris
As if you'd need a reason! However, if you felt you were struggling or at least had to justify a trip over to this most amazing of cities either to yourself or another, then below are a selection of…
12 Things You Should Know Before You Visit Paris
Paris is a big, beautiful, historically and culturally rich, amazing, and a sometimes intimidating city.
Parking in Paris
If you've poked around on this site enough, you've no doubt seen that we strongly advise most people not to drive in Paris .
Souvenir Shopping in Paris: It's About Remembering
I don't consider myself the kind of person who really loves shopping when I'm at home.
Stay on Your Toes: 3 Paris Scams to Be Aware Of
One of the questions I get asked often by people who haven't traveled much (or at all) and are planning their first overseas trip is, " Is it safe?
Public Toilets in Paris
Paris is a city full of beautiful, historic buildings, culture, romance, stunning vistas and delicious food, but it is not a city with many public toilets.
Cheap clothing stores in Paris
It is certainly no secret that Paris is one of the fashion capitals of the world. The center for many worldwide major fashion houses and the home of so many fashionable and always impeccably dressed…
Free Paris Walking Tours: An interview with Adam Roberts of Invisible Paris
Maybe you've already been to Paris and seen all the bis Paris attractions and want to see something a little more under the radar, or perhaps you are a first-time visitor hoping to see the underbelly…
Paris First-Time Visitor Guide
Anyone traveling to Paris is going to have to think about many of the same things before arriving - how long to visit, where to stay, what to do, how to get around, etc.
Hidden Paris: Little-Known Attractions in the City Center
In a city as well-loved and heavily trodden as Paris, you'd think every little nook and cranny had been discovered and exploited already.
How to Find the Best Crepes in Paris
Ask any student or budget traveler the best tips for eating cheap in Paris and I can almost guarantee one of them will be simply to eat lots of crepes.
Paris in May
Anyone who has visited Paris in May has probably wondered why on earth the song is about April, when May is clearly the nicer month in this beautiful city?
French Female Vocalists: New Directions with LN
How many French female vocalists can you name? Think fast. After Edith Piaf, Patricia Kaas and Carla Bruni , maybe you're searching...
Parc Asterix: The Other Paris Amusement Park
Let's say you're taking your kids to Paris because you know you've got at least one carrot to dangle in front of them with Disneyland Paris just outside the city.
Snow in Paris: Just an Illusion?
If there's one thing more of an illusion than fashion in Paris - it must be snow. Don't try to tell any of the Parisians trying to make their way to work Monday morning about the snow being a mere…
Street Scams in Paris
As world capitals go, Paris is a reasonably secure city - but there'll always be somebody looking for the gullible visitor.
Left Bank vs. Right Bank: What's the difference?
In Paris, you hear talk of the "Left Bank" and "Right Bank" all the time - and you're probably well aware of what both terms technically refer to.
March in Paris
All the songs you've heard are about the next month on the calendar, but March in Paris is when this City of Lights starts to shake off her winter coat.
Get the Best Paris Travel Tips from a Local
Long-time readers of Paris Blog have probably noticed that your long-time guide to the city is taking a bit of a break from her daily postings of great Paris tidbits.
Best of Paris 2008 - Parisgirl's Favorites
Soaring gasoline prices, a horrendous exchange rate between the Euro and the Dollar. Economies imploding.
Airlines Flying Into Paris from US and Canada
These are the major airlines flying into Paris from the US and Canada (not including charters and UK budget flights): # Air France # American Airlines # Continental Airlines # Air Canada # Delta…
Terrorist Alert in Paris
This past Tuesday (December 16, 08), police uncovered planted dynamite in one of Paris's most well known department stores, Printemps, located on Boulevard Haussmann.
14 Famous People Buried in Paris
If you've been following along, no doubt you've noticed that whenever an article about a cemetery in Paris is posted here on Paris Blog it comes with a list of all the famous people who are buried…
Earn $1.4 Million in a Day - in Paris!
Here's the question. If you had just successfully completed the biggest jewelry heist of the millenium from one of the most prestigious jewelers in Paris - Harry Winston on Avenue Montaigne, just off…
Paris to Portland
Open Letter to Air France: Dear Air France: Portland, Oregon has direct flights to Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Tokyo. How about a direct flight - Paris to PDX?
First trip to Paris
One subject that keeps coming up in conversations about first-time trips to Paris is how the city can be quite intimidating - this can hold true for French visitors as well as foreign visitors - if…
30 Paris Travel Tips from a Local
There's nothing like getting travel tips from someone who's been there before you - and those tips are even better when they come from a local.
Parisgirl's Favorite French Blog -2008
French Word-a-Day remains Parisgirl's #1 favorite. If you're eager to brush up on your French vocabulary - I could suggest no better place to begin - and continue to learn new words in context.
Pere Noel Tightens his Belt this Year
Shopkeepers are worried - it may only be the first week of December, but when it comes to holiday spending, French shoppers are remaining frugal.
Santa's Workshop at Renault
Renault has come up with a prototype car that might get Saint Nick thinking about giving his reindeer team a vacation in the near future.
Take Advantage of Free Things to Do in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #30
The best things in life are FREE! That holds true for Paris as well. For the past year, Paris Blog has been posting free Paris events and activities of which there are many - particularly in the…
Using the Phone in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #29
Making a Phone Call When you're in Paris, you need to dial '0' which is always the first digit in local phone numbers.
U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Paris
Here is the contact information for the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Paris. United States Embassy in Paris 2, avenue Gabriel 75382 Paris Cedex 08 tel: (+33) 1 43 12 22 22 fax: (+33) 1 42 66 97 83…
Registering a Complaint in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #28
Making a Complaint One of the hardest things to do when you're in a foreign country is to make a complaint. And France, being perfect in every way, does not take complaints lightly.
Getting the Quiet Room in Your Paris Hotel: Paris Travel Tip #27
Booking your Paris Hotel Room If you're a light sleeper, remember to request a room facing the courtyard rather than the street.
Choose the Daily Special at Restaurants: Paris Travel Tip #26
Choosing the Daily Special at the Restaurant French restaurants, by law, are required to serve a reasonably-priced luncheon 'menu'.
Finding Parking in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #25
Parking Garages: Underground vs. Street Parking Whether you're leasing a car or driving your own car, using Paris's underground parking makes good sense for a number of reasons: For security reasons,…
Don't Miss the Last Metro: Paris Travel Tip #24
Don't Miss the Last Metro This may not be an issue for serious clubbers who stay out till the sun comes up, but for those who like to get back to their hotel room before dawn, keep in mind that the…
Happy Hour: Paris Travel Tip #23
Happy Hour Alcoholic beverages in Paris ar EXPENSIVE, and so is beer. The best way to deal with these inflated prices is to take advantage of Happy Hours where beer is usually available for half…
Using Public Toilets in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #22
Public Toilets The first public toilets in Paris were quite a novelty when they were opened at the Tuileries Gardens in the 1700s.
First Floor vs. Ground Floor: Paris Travel Tip #21
Getting Around Parisian Buildings The 'First Floor' is always one story above the gound floor. The Ground Floor in France is referred to as the 'Rez-de-Chaussee'.
Printing Photos in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #20
Printing Photos in Paris is expensive! If you're eager to get your great Paris photos into print, I would suggest using online sites such as Snapfish to upload and print your photos when you get back…
Take Advantage of Free Admission on Museum Night: Paris Travel Tip #19
Night at the Museum Museums take on a totally different aspect after dark. Even if you don't get to Paris for Museum Night in May or for White Nights in October, you can normally visit some of the…
Getting a Paris Museum Pass: Paris Travel Tip #18
Buy a Two-Day or Three-Day Museum Pass If you plan on visiting two or more museums while in Paris, the Paris Museum Pass really makes sense.
Buy a Good Paris Map: Paris Travel Tip #17
Buy a Plan de Paris This is one city where you'll really want to have a good map at your fingertips. You can pick up a copy of the 'Plan de Paris' which comes in hardcover book format.
Doing Your Banking at the Post Office in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #16
Post Office Speed If you've ever wondered why the lines are so slow at French post offices, it's simply because post offices do much more than sell stamps - they're also banks!
Finding Good Internet Cafes in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #15
Finding the right Internet Center. Looking for QWERTY? You'll discover that in many French internet centers, the French computer keyboards are quite different from American or British keyboards.
Finding Non-Touristy Souvenirs: Paris Travel Tip #14
Find non-touristy souvenirs at Monoprix. Monoprix is Paris's inexpensive grocery/department store where you can find such items as reasonably priced lingerie , clothes for kids, dish towels and some…
Exercising in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #13
Want a Cheap Paris Workout? You don't need to bother signing up for expensive gym or health club passes while you're in Paris. Just take the Metro .
Getting Over-the-Counter Medications in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #12
OTC medications you may not find in France. If you take melatonin for your jet lag or Excedrin for your headaches, you won't find either of these two OTCs in French pharmacies.
Buying Paris Opera Tickets: Paris Travel Tip #11
Getting opera tickets early! If you're heart is set on going to the opera in Paris, you'll want to book well in advance.
Buy a Paris Parking City Pass Before Leaving Home: Paris Travel Tip #10
Book a Paris Parking City Pass before you leave home. If you have no choice but to drive in Paris, you'll want to keep parking hassles down to a bare minimum.
Lease a Car for a Long Visit: Paris Travel Tip #9
Lease a car rather than rent if you plan on making an extended visit to France. If you plan on doing a great deal of driving around France during an extended visit, you may want to consider leasing…
Plan Your Visit to Coincide with Free Museum Days: Paris Travel Tip #8
When booking your flights , carefully pick your dates in Paris to include either the first Sunday of the month, Museum Night i (Nuit des Musees ) in May or Heritage Days in September ( Journees du…
What to Pack for Paris: Paris Travel Tip #7
Dress Code: Things go better with black. You can keep your packing down to a minimum by just throwing in everything in basic black.
Getting Past the Door Codes in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #6
Paris Doors. Paris doors are unique. Many Parisian apartment buildings have digicode boxes, so if you plan on visiting friends while in Paris, be sure to ask them for their door code, but even when a…
How to Buy Paris Metro Tickets from Automated Machines: Paris Travel Tip #5
You can avoid lines at the Paris Metro stops by taking advantage of the automated ticket machines (If you've followed Tip #1 ).
Paris Neighborhoods: The Elusive 16th Arrondissement
Bad habits die hard, and I'm guilty of one of the worst - making generalisations about the 16th arrondissement - i.e.
Buy Euros Before Leaving Home: Paris Travel Tip #4
Bringing Euros. You can buy Euros at US banks, but if you're a member of the American Automobile Association , you can also buy Euros at some AAA branches.
Using Cell Phones in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #3
Get your cell phone unlocked. If you have a tri-band or quad-band phone, be sure to get your cell phone unlocked well in advance of your trip.
Dealing With Electricity in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #2
Packing reminder: Don't leave home without your adapter plugs for France's 220 volt outlets.
Using Credit Cards in Paris: Paris Travel Tip #1
Thirty days has November and Paris Blog will give you a travel tip each day to help your Paris trip be the best ever!
Obama in Paris
Both presidential candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama received warm 'unofficial' receptions at the Elysees Palace where they were welcomed by French president Nicolas Sarkozy at earlier dates…
November: Weekend Trips from Paris
"Virtue is gained by suffering." I am dedicating this post to the AIG 'feckless financiers' who were reported to have celebrated the economic meltdown by booking an $86,000 partridge hunt at the 17th…
Bathing Beauties (Les Baigneuses) Gustave Courbet: Does this painting belong to you?
Sunday, October 26, 2008 is the last day that Les Baigneuses will be on display at the Jewish Museum of Art and History.
Dog-Friendly Paris Parks
At last count, about 150,000 canines call themselves Parisians - what lucky dogs to live in this city that seems to hold a special place in its heart for its canine tourists as well as those…
Cleavage - no big deal in France
If you've got it, flaunt it. Visitors to France may at times be shocked by the appearance of the female body - just about everywhere. Especially on billboards in the Metro, or on newsstand kiosques.
How to Make a Phone Call in Paris
How to make a local phone call in Paris: You must dial: 01 for all local landline phones in Paris If you're calling a friend on his/her mobile phone, you must dial: 06 Paris phone numbers have ten…
Saints and Sluts of Paris
Being a woman in Paris has never been easy - especially if you want to stand out from the crowd.
Cole Porter's Paris
As we teeter on the brink of a 21s century Depression, it's good to play a little Cole Porter music - and imagine what it must have been like being Cole Porter - in Paris in the 1920s.
The Palace Louis XIV Coveted: Vaux-Le-Vicomte
Sometimes even a king can't have it all. That must have been how King Louis XIV felt when he was invited to his finance minister, Fouquet's extravaganza at his private Chateau Vaux-Le Vicomte near…
American Cookery in a Paris Kitchen
You may be wondering if you plan on spending an extended time in Paris just what cookbook to bring along with you, or what may be hard-to-get groceries for cooking American dishes in Paris (such as a…
Impressionists or Prudes?
Simply shocking. That was the reaction when Edouard Manet's painting 'Dejeuner sur l'Herbe' (Luncheon on the Grass) was first unveiled at the Salon des Refuses in 1863.
Paris with Kids: The Madeline Tour
If you were one of the lucky kids who grew up reading the Madeline series by Ludwig Bemelmans , you've probably already made sure that your kids have become well acquainted with the spunky little…
How to Take the RER B from CDG Airport to Paris
You have landed at the massive Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris , navigated your way through customs and now are ready to tackle the City of Lights.
Paris Close to Home
You may have always dreamed of spending a week in Paris - but for whatever reason- there may be dozens of reasons, you can't get there - at least not now.
Paris Diet Progress Report - Day 25
Day 25 (Seven Pounds lighter) For those Paris Blog Reader's who've been following Parisgirl's 'Paris Diet' reports, I'm happy to say that I've arrived at Day 25 - seven pounds lighter.
La Defense: Casino on the horizon?
After the sudden intrusion of one skyscraper on the Parisian landscape, La Tour Montparnasse, city planners responded by passing a law that banished all future skyscrapers to the burbs.
Landmarks Parisians Love to Hate
Who could not love the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur - two of the monuments that epitomize Paris throughout the world?
Free Water at Paris's Annual Techno Parade
Lucky you - if you're in Paris this weekend, September 20th, 08! Paris's annual techno parade begins at 12 noon at Place de L'Opera (Metro stations, Opera, Quatre Septembre and Bourse), then head for…
Paris Consignment Shops vs Paris Vintage
When I first arrived in Paris, back in the early nineties, the consignment shop concept hadn't quite taken off.
Disabled Visitors Get a Jump on Journee du Patrimoine
This year, Heritage Days or Journees du Patrimoine is scheduled for the Sept 21-22 '08 weekend, but disabled visitors to Versailles will get a sneak preview on September 19th.
Paris Diet Update: Goodbye ice cream, goodbye gut!
In reviewing Dr. Dukan's Je Ne Sais Pas Maigrir (I don't Know How to Get Thin) diet book , I promised to give you an update on Parisgirl's success, or lack thereof, with this regime which I've…
An Invitation to the President of the French Republic's Office
Journees des Patrimoine - 2008 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Once a year, you get a chance to look at where the president of the French Republic gets to start his work day.
5 Surprising Ways to Lose Weight: The 'Paris' Diet
1. Stand around a lot. 2. Suck ice cubes. 3. Eat your food cold 4. Take a cold shower. 5. For the first three to five days of the diet, don't exercise. This are five suggestions included in Dr.
Mysterious Paris: The Woman in the Fifth
One might argue that the best Paris guidebook is fiction. I've just finished reading Douglas Kennedy's novel The Woman in the Fifth If there's anyone left on the planet (aside from me) who hasn't…
France's New Blonde Bombshell: Louise Bougoin
For any of you who've spent a little time in France, you may have developed a sentimental attachment to France's weather reporters, but no real-life weather reporter can stand up to the typhoon that…
Paris's Super Sexy, Super 'Sympa' Waitresses
Too much has been written about Parisian restaurants' wait staff as being abrupt, rude, etc. It's time to set the record straight.
Essential French Swear Words
Do swear words sound better in French? That's probably a matter of personal preference, but the fact remains that just about everyone studying the French language makes an effort to find out what the…
Cool French clothes for Kids
If you're bringing home clothes for kids in the family, there's no place like Paris for finding cool kids clothes - especially in September for 'Back to School' or 'La Rentree' as we call it here.
Weird Drug Laws in France
Visiting a pharmacy may not be a high priority during your trip to Paris, but if you do happen to pick up a cough or a sore throat on the airplane, you might be surprised to find that OTC cough…
Paris Trivia Quizz
Are you a Paris expert? If you can answer all of these questions, you’re well on your way to becoming one. Most of the answers can be found in the links to past Paris Blog posts. 1.
Medical Tourism: Paris Dentists
Let’s see, how many years has it been since the dental hygienist came to our first grade class to show us how to brush our teeth?
Lost and Found
This website is not the lost and found office. Please do not leave messages here about items you lost in Paris. Please contact the offices listed below directly using the information in this article.
Cheapest Boat Ride in Paris
If you happen to be in Paris on a summer weekend, you can go for a boat ride for only 1 Euro .
Free Paris for Kids
It’s great to be a kid in Paris all year round, but especially in July and August.
Happy Saint Amour
Looking for the perfect wedding date in France? How about today, August 9th? La Fete de Saint Amour is celebrated every year on August 9th.