New Years Eve in Paris

New Year’s Eve Paris. Seeing in the New Year in Europe’s most romantic city seems like the perfect plan, but a dream New Year’s Eve can soon turn into a disaster without a little forward planning and research. Traditionally Parisians tend to eat their evening meal in a restaurant or at home with the family before descending on the streets to count down the New Year. Be forewarned: not all restaurants are open on New Years Eve and many will be fully booked weeks, if not months before the night. Most restaurants will have a set meal for New Years Eve at a much higher rate than usual, so look carefully and book as soon as possible. From your Paris apartment you can enjoy all that the city has to offer, no matter what your tastes.

Where to celebrate?: The most obvious place to assemble to see in the opening moments of the New Year is the Champs-Elysées. Count down the quatre, trois, deux, un, bonne année with the thousands of locals and tourists who line the streets. As midnight approaches, most of the city congregates in Paris’ most famous boulevard, well-dressed and clutching bottles of champagne to pop on the stroke of midnight. Contrary to popular belief, there is no regular fireworks display by the Eiffel Tower, but the second the clock strikes twelve, the Eiffel Tower bursts into a blaze of illumination which remains for around 30 minutes, lighting up the night sky of the New Year.

For those seeking to escape the crowds of the Champs-Elysées, the Sacré Coeur plaza is an appealing alternative. From the top of the hill you can enjoy spectacular views over the entire panorama of the Paris skyline and flashes of colour from firework displays all around. The Montmartre area offers a much more laid back atmosphere in which to see in the New Year.

Alternatively, if your budget has no upper limit, why not splash out on one of the spectacular New Year shows such as at the Moulin Rouge, the most famous cabaret in the world. A champagne dinner followed by a show and dinner-dance will set you back 520 euros for the evening, while a gala dinner night at the Lido will cost a staggering 560 euros per person. For a slightly more intimate, but equally extravagant experience, there are many Seine dinner cruises on offer for around 200-250 euros per person, passing by the illuminated Eiffel Tower just after midnight.

Paris with children

Forget romantic walks by the Seine, candlelit dinners and moonlight stroll into the early hours, now that there are children to consider will never be the same again. Wrong. Paris is a great place to explore not only for children but for the whole family together. Seeing Paris from your kids’ perspective will make you fall in love with the city all over again, but in a totally different way. Although synonymous with Eurodisney, a trip to Paris with children doesn’t even need to involve a large theme park to keep them entertained.

Centrally located between Le Louvre and Place de la Concorde the Tuileries Gardens is the ideal spot for children to let off some steam and adults to take a breather from the buzz of the city centre. With pony rides, sail boats for rent and plenty of space to run about children will love this park. During the summer there is also a small fair on Terrasse des Feuillants with a ferris wheel, merry go round and other attractions.

Don’t be put of by Parc de la Villette’s former history as the site of a large slaughter house (although this may intrigue some older children). Located on the edge of the 19^th arrondissement, this park houses Cité de la science and de l’industrie: Europe’s largest science museum. The museum boasts an entire day’s entertainment with hands-on exhibitions for all ages, a planetarium and even an IMAX theatre.

As a special treat, adults and children alike will find it impossible to resist a selection of delightfully coloured macaroons in an assortment of flavours from the Laduree tearooms. The original Laduree tearoom is located on rue Royale, but there is also a grander but less charming tearoom on the Champs Elysées.

It may seem an obvious suggestion, but the Eiffel tower is one of the most exciting attractions for young children visiting Paris. Go up on the lift up to the dizzy heights of the top floor and admire the stunning view from above, then visit again at night to see the sparkling illumination of Paris’ most emblematic monument. The plastic Eiffel Tower type souvenirs sold at the bottom may well be tacky, but would be the idea memento for children to remind them of a trip to Paris.

A fun and slightly out of the ordinary family activity is a cruise on the Canal St Martin. Unlike a Seine cruise, this cruise includes the excitement and intrigue of double locks and wing bridges. Passing along the canal you can gaze at the small boutiques, passing walkers and discover some of the more secluded, off the beaten track areas of Paris.

When traveling with children it is advisable to rent a Paris apartment rather than staying in a hotel, to give you the freedom to come and go as you please without restrictions on mealtimes or space.

Paris sales shopping

After its cultural attractions, Paris is surely best known as a shopper’s paradise. From the chic designer boutiques on Rue du Faubourg to the imposing department stores on Boulevard Haussman Paris’ reputation as one of the shopping meccas of the world has never been so strong. Paris fashion is above all distinguished for its classic lines and chic style rather than inventive designs or experimental fashion, so Paris sales are the ideal opportunity to invest in some quality timeless garments.

Since 1999, when the regulation was put in place to define the official dates that shops are permitted to have sales, the Paris January sales experience has in many ways become much simpler. The 2008 Paris sales will hits the window displays and rails from 9^th January for a period of six weeks in which price tags will often be slashed by a whopping 70% or more.

The large department stores on Boulevard Haussman are the first logical port of call. With a long standing reputation in the Parisian fashion world, dating back to 1865, Printemps and Galeries Lafayette are the best known department stores in Paris and great starting point for attacking the sales. This is the ideal opportunity to snap up luxury goods and classic style garment at severely reduced prices. Forget rock bottom last season’s fashion items, look carefully and select quality items and brands which would otherwise be out of price reach. Another popular department store is La Sarmanitaine, a mammoth five storey complex located in the 1^st arrondissement between Les Halles and Port Neuf.

For those seeking offers in smaller boutiques and a more personal approach, rue des Franc-Bourgeois in the Marais (4^th arrondissement) is the ideal shopping destination.

Soldes by Paris

In order to develop Paris as the ultimate sales shopping destination, the Soldes By Paris’, event was launched for the first time last year to encourage visitors to travel to Paris for the January sales whilst facilitating a potentially overwhelming experience. The event, which will take place between the 9^th and 20^th January, brings together over 1500 shops and over 500 hotels and restaurants with the idea of coordinating certain shopping routes in order to meet the needs of the visitor.

The five themed shopping routes complete with trilingual guides have been developed to suit different tastes, needs and personalities, under the titles of chic, trendy, extraordinary, romantic and creative. Visitors who are willing to participate in this will be able to pick up a welcome pack from one of the participating hotels and a magazine to guide them through the complex maze of the sales. Furthermore a series of shopping stations will be located on each of the shopping routes to give the weary shopper advice (and the courage to go on).

Whether self organized or with the help of Soldes by Paris, a short winter break in Paris is the ideal way to combine sightseeing with some serious sales shopping. From the base of a comfortable Paris apartment the visitor can make the most of a January city break.

Outside Paris: the palace of Versailles

No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Chateau of Versailles, emblematic of the opulence of European aristocracy. In a space of just 60 years from 1624-1683, the hunting lodge built on the swamplands outside of Paris by Louis XIV’s father, was dramatically transformed into the exuberantly luxurious palace which we know today. In1682 Versailles became the official residence of the king of France. A showcase of royal wealth and power in the 17^th century a trip to Versailles transforms you to the former supremacy and opulence of the pre-revolution French aristocracy.

Sights
In order to fully appreciate the sights of Versailles, it is recommended that the visitor spend at least one full day in the palace and gardens. The principal attraction is of course the grandiose Chateau itself where the visitor is treated to a glimpse into the life of the former glory days of the Ancien Regime.

Perhaps the most famous attraction of Versailles is the 73m long Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors), encompassing a total of 357 full-length mirrors. In the glory days of the palace the Hall of Mirrors also contained a wealth of silver furniture, but this was later melted down for war funds. Charles Le Brun was commissioned to decorate the elaborate ceiling, under the order of the Sun King, in order to depict the benefits of French rule. Louis himself appears in several of the 30 scenes, dressed as a grand historic figure such as a Roman Emperor or war chief. It was also famously the location of the 1919 signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty between Germany and the allies. The Galerie des Glaces is currently undergoing a major project of restoration meaning that access is prohibited or restricted to visitors so it is worth enquiring before visiting.

The park and gardens cover 875 hectares of land, however the estate once extended to over 8,000 hectares in the glory days of Louis’ hunting grounds. The extensive formal gardens were designed and created by designer and architect André le Nôtre but Louis himself was highly proactive in the design and creation of the gardens, which he considered almost as important as the grand rooms of the chateau. The spectacular fountains are arguably the greatest outdoor legacy of Versailles and during the summer months the fountain displays accompanied by the baroque music that was contemporary of the time, are certainly worth looking out for.

Practical information
If you are staying in Paris accommodation in the centre of the city a day trip to Versailles is quite straightforward. To get to Versailles from the centre of Paris, take the RER C from Montparnasse station to Versailles Rive Gauche, from which you have a 5 minute walk to the Paris. The RER takes roughly 40 minutes to arrive at Versailles.

The chateau is open from Tuesday to Sunday, opening exceptionally on a Monday for French Public holidays. Opening times are from 9.00 to 17.30 from November to March and from 9.00 until 18.30 from April to October. The garden however is open from 8.00 daily.

Paris on a budget: Paris travel guide

Although normally associated with visions of grandeur and high society, at times of tightly stretched credit cards a trip to Paris doesn’t have to cost the earth. Accommodation Paris is often the biggest stumbling block and choosing an economical yet comfortable option can be really tricky. Paris apartments not only give you the opportunity to ‘live like a Parisian’ but also often work out much more economically than a hotel or guesthouse.

Sights and attractions on a shoestring: For a spectacular view of the city climb up the stairs of the northern tower of Notre Dame cathedral, ogle at the lurid yet strangely appealing gargoyles then take in the spectacular Parisian vista from above. What’s more the cathedral is one of the few major attractions of the city which is free to enter.

Les Tuileries is Catherine de Medici’s magnificent park and most centrally located green space in Paris. This expansive collection of formal gardens, sweeping paths and even one or two galleries connects the Louvre with Place de la Concorde, bordering the Seine. There are various sculptures located sporadically around the gardens and L’Orangerie museum, housing works by Cézanne, Matisse, Renoir, is well worth a visit especially if you are fortunate enough to time your visit with the first Sunday of the month when entry is free.

Eating out every day in Paris can be an expensive affair but a baguette in the park can be equally enjoyable on a fine sunny day. Why not pick up a sublime poulet baguette from the Brioche Dorée boulangerie chain, found all over the city, and take it to the Jardin du Luxembourg (Le Luco). This “people’s park” is frequented by great numbers of students, families and boules-playing retired locals alike, and provides a delightful lunchtime spectacle. Paris’ largest park is also the ideal place for children with an enclosed play area, marionette shows and other attractions to keep them out of trouble.

On a Sunday morning, there is no better pleasure than a meander down the Rue du Mouffetard in the 5th arrondissement to the home of Paris’ most famous pedestrianised street and street market. Indulge your senses in the divine flavours and appetizing of stall after stall of cheeses, meat and fresh fruit and vegetables. I challenge you to resist! Depending on the time of the day, this is a great district to treat yourself to a very reasonably priced brunch or lunch in a range of bistros and restaurants from all corners of the globe. Just take your pick!

To save on transport costs, if you are staying in Paris for a week or more it is worth investing in a Carte Orange, a photographic metro pass which allows you unlimited access to city transport for around 16 euros for zones one and two, depending on the location of your Paris apartments. Alternatively one day tickets work out economically if you intend to use the transport system frequently.