Paris, j'taime. You cannot go to Paris and not feel simply fabulous from the moment you arrive. It just is not possible. While the Parisians themselves may have an unflattering reputation (as an American girl I usually do not notice this), you will immediately get swept away in the romance and glamor of it all. From the architecture to the food to the style, you simply cannot go wrong.
Where to stay: Chanel, Hepburn, Hemingway- they all made the Ritz THE place to stay in Paris. Fantastic central location, grand over the top decorations, I dream of staying here one day. Of course only a very lucky few stay here...
Each time I have gone to Paris all the places I have stayed have been lovely but not remarkable in my mind (minus the time we stayed at Euro Disney). Once we found one off the Champs Elysees on lastminute.com another time we stayed near the Opera House in a strangely modern but cute little hotel. A friend stayed at and enjoyed the Meridien Montparnasse (huge hotel). I think the best thing to do is to research the different neighborhoods and decide which suits your character best. I think the most important thing to remember is that this is a major European city so your money will not go as far as you want it to, the rooms will probably be a little smaller, and your bathroom might be antiquated (unless you stay in a Hilton or other American run chain). Also if you are not staying at a high end resort, be prepared to have a shower in the hall. It is fairly standard in Europe.
Day One: Begin your day with a pastry, no the French do not really do this but frankly they are good and the French are missing out! Begin your day at the Louvre (the earlier the better) and unless you are an art fanatic hit the majors and resign the rest (you probably could not see all of it in 48 hours anyway!) Follow this with a lovely stroll through the gardens until you reach the Musee de l'Orangerie. This is an absolute must as it hosts the famous Monet waterlily paintings that stretch around the room.
Follow this with one of the best crepes you will ever have at La Creperie St Germain (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d1900028-Reviews-La_Creperie_Saint_Germain-Paris_Ile_de_France.html) While the decor reminds me more of Gaudi than Paris but the food and atmosphere is fantastic. This will position you well to spend some time after lunch shopping in the St Germain area before wandering over to the Jardin du Luxembourg to relax and people watch. After freshening up in your hotel, drinks at the Bar Hemingway at the Ritz are insanely expensive (30 Euro a pop) but an absolute must. The bar has very limited seating so try to arrive within 15 minutes of opening. Also if it is any consolation, my boyfriend and I checked all the other Ritz menus and the drinks are just as overpriced at all the other bars so you might as well enjoy a bit of history at the same time! For dinner my best recommendation is to walk as far from a metro as you can and find a hole in the wall. It is pretty much all we ever do and it usually works for the best this way. We also actively try to find a place that does not have english menus because then we know we really have arrived! (Bring a dictionary).
Day Two: Begin with more Eclairs (you are on vacation after all). Spend the morning heading over to the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur. Feel free to climb the steps in order to burn off breakfast and avoid the men trying to sell you friendship bracelets! The biggest reason to do this is that it is on a hill giving great views of the city and free (unlike climbing the Eiffel Tower). After that make your way over to the grounds beneath the Tower and stop at a grocery store for a stereotypical French meal of wine, cheese, & bread. Enjoy this under the shadow of the tower before heading over to the Les Invalides to see where Napoleon was buried. Finally, no trip to Paris would be complete without at least window shopping the big names. Head over to the Arch de Triumph and wander down the Champs Elysees for some fabulous shopping!
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