Tag Archives: Paris

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What’s Your Favorite Time of Year in Paris?

I love the emails I get this time of year from friends and family who live in Europe. With great joy and in great detail they tell me all about their summer holidays. And for the French, in particular, vacation is seen not as a perk but as a necessity of life that everyone has the right to. There are even French organizations that help economically disadvantaged families go on holidays. This article brought back fond memories of visiting Paris when all the Parisians have gone elsewhere. Whether you prefer Paris when it’s quiet or when it’s full of French hustle and bustle, this article is a quick fun read.

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12 Free Things to See / Do in Paris

On Saturday, I shared a post about Thierry Millet, the Last Artisanal Umbrella Repairman in Paris, so let the Paris love continue. I have friends who go to Paris and never seem to spend much money! I’ve always wondered how that’s possible because for many, including myself, a Parisian trip means beaucoup bucks! So I put my frugal pride aside and finally asked them about the free things they do in Paris that seem to save them from spending so much money.

1. Take a tour. They told me about Sandemans New Europe. Expats guide you around Paris for free. Tours last about 3 hours.

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Sandemans New Europe Paris Free Walking Tour. Image source: http://www.neweuropetours.eu/paris/en/home

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Meet Thierry Millet, the Last Artisanal Umbrella Repairman in Paris

Let the European tour continue.  Wednesday was London, Thursday was Barcelona and today is Paris.  For some reason, I’ve got Paris on my mind. It could be because a few friends are heading there next month. I sent them this video because I thought they might want to stop in and see this man. Even I would want to meet him and I don’t even own an umbrella!  Check out the short video and let me know what you think.  Merci!

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Trip Report: Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile

We spent the second half of our time in Paris with four nights at the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile, the hotel whose mistake rate was the impetus for this entire trip.

Location: The Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile is a 950-room hotel located in the Palais des Congrès shopping and convention center in Paris’ 17th arrondissement, right on top of the Porte Maillot Metro/RER station within walking distance of the Arc de Triomphe and about a 15 minute train ride from central Paris. The hotel is currently undergoing a major renovation, which means a bit of extra walking to access the hotel through elevators and corridors that would normally be used for emergency exits or convention access, but the hotel has done a decent job of ensuring clear signage to help people navigate the spaces. We did get lost a few times when walking through the shopping center though – there are signs and floor markings to guide you from the hotel’s (currently closed) main entrance to the elevators that take you to the temporary lobby, but if you come in from a different entrance or are on the wrong level of the shopping center it can be tricky to find the right elevator.

Directional signs and arrows on the floor direct guests from the hotel's main entrance to the back elevators. Photo by the author.

Directional signs and arrows on the floor direct guests from the hotel’s main entrance to the back elevators. Photo by the author.

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Trip Report: Holiday Inn Gare de l’Est, Paris

Bonjour everyone,

We spent our first three days in Paris at the Holiday Inn Gare de l’Est, an 8-story, 207-room hotel that was renovated in 2015.

Location: The hotel is in Paris’ 10th Arrondissement, directly across the street from the Gare de l’Est SNCF station and right on top of the Metro station of the same name, and a few minutes’ walk from the main Gare du Nord station (offering easy access to intercity and international trains, and Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY) airports. It’s about a 10-15 minute train ride to the main tourist attractions downtown.

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View of Gare de l’Est from our hotel room. Photo by Yagrel Ruber.

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