Paris Coffee Shops

The coffee shops in Paris are generally considered as the social, culinary and political pulse of the city. Or in other words, the Paris coffee shops serves as a sort of neighboring hub, rendezvous and a social networking site. With special characteristic features like bistro chairs, glowing ambiance, waiters in classic black and white suit, tempting menus, old style bar with place to perch these are the perfect places to have fun, relax and rejuvenate oneself.
The popular city of lights, love and fashion-Paris truly tops the chart when it comes to art, culture, food and drinks. The warm smell of creamy coffee along with walnut cookies, special chocolate wafers, delicious taste of the freshly served croissants, and smile of the customers is the common specialty of Parisian cafes. But they are not just typical coffee shops.
The Paris coffee shops are more like well designed restaurants offering exotic food dishes at any time of the day. One can simply enjoy the laid back pace of life by sitting in these cafes for several hours and watching the world go by. “Café Procope”, established at 13 Rue Ancienne Comédie, in 1686 is the oldest coffee shop in Paris, and is still in operation.
Café de la Paix, Les Deux Magots, Café de Flore, Le Fouquet’s, Le Deauville, are amongst the other renowned Paris coffee shops. Taking a few moments out of the busy daily schedule, sitting inside the cafes on a cozy banquette and sipping cappuccino can be quite refreshing. Or sitting in the sunny terrace, drinking, people watching is also one of the most cherished pastimes in Paris. Paris is also supposed to be the home of several famous bars that claim to have hosted scholarly, literary and artistic clientele.
Café Charlot is an excellent Parisian café with a nice terrace in the street, amazing service, amiable atmosphere and of course the notable delicious food menus. Be it generous sized delicious beef patty topped with melted cheese, tomato mozzarella salads, mixed fruit juices, tomato, lettuce and onions, crispy fries, glass of cold beer or rose wine, all are incredible.
The prices of some of these cafes are quite expensive but it is worth splashing out once in a while. Thus there are impressive Paris coffee shops rambling all round the city, where one can always notice a buzz sitting on the crowded pavements as these charming and unique spots offer a brilliant multicultural Paris life.

Paris Art Museums

Paris art museums throw considerable light on the glorious past and artistic vibrancy of this French capital, and exposes public to the most interesting contemporary artists. This city of love, lights, fashion has long been considered as the art capital of the world too, and this place has historically been the inspiration, severed as the central hub, the launch pad of trends and of course the exposition place for the renowned artists from all over the world. These outstanding museums are of extreme historical importance, as it preserves the globe’s finest and richest collections of all sorts of fascinating art-work.

Some of the best impressive classic and modern art are found in the fantastic Paris art museums and galleries. Louvre Art Museum is the largest and most popularly visited Museums as well as an iconic landmark of Paris. It boasts the worlds’ widest and richest collection of arts and antiques that dates back to about 3000 years. This splendid museum covers an area of 60,000 square meters, where more than 35,000 marvelous art works have been displayed. It is unquestionably the finest Paris art museum, and is considered as a jewel in the crown of French Culture.

This Louvre museum has also been shown in the Tom Hank’s blockbuster movie “Da Vinci Code”.  Originally built in the year 1190 as a fortress, today this museum is mainly well-known for Leonardo Da Vinci’s amazing painting Mona Lisa, masterpieces of French Romanticism by Delacroix and Géricault, collections of decorative arts, Greek and Roman antiquities; Mesopotamia, etc.
Another must see Paris Art Museum is Musee d’Orsay, where tourists can take a view of the various impressionist and post impressionist art work including the marvelous works of the renowned artists like Monet, Renoir, Degas, Manet, Cezanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh. The largest collection of French Paintings, sculptures, furniture and photography are displayed here too.
Situated at the center of Paris, Pompidou Center is another worth mentioning museum in this city, which demonstrates a vibrant, cutting-edge display of modern architecture. Collection of the new Asian and African work, monographic collections of Picasso, Matisse, and Braque are the reasons why this Pompidou Centre has become so popular amongst tourists. Pompidou’s collection not only explores the fantastic architecture, innovative intricate designs, beautiful photography; but it also displays renovated contemporary and modern art. Inaugurated in 1977, the National Museum of Modern Art houses one of the world’s most prestigious collections of 20th century art.

Simple Packing Tips for Paris – An Easy Guide

Believe me, packing needs planning in advance and creativity. Some mess up everything in such a way that it reminds me of the story “The Packing” from “Three men in a boat” by Jerome K Jerome. After going through this story, I learned how some can effortlessly make a hilarious disaster while packing the things to be taken and was quite sanguine that even a child can do a better job than the duo in the story. Well, let us come to brass talking and explore some easy packing tips for Paris travel.

• What you will pack in depends on when you will be visiting Paris. Which month? Which season? Or, are you likely to have a rendezvous with chilly cold or heavy shower in the city? Do never be forgetful of this point when you will be busy with packing.
• There are several essentials like tooth brush, shaving cream, lotion, bath-towel, mobile charger that you need to pack in a travel suitcase or bag. Do you wear spectacles or contact lens? If yes, then make sure you have put them in the suitcase.
• The First-aid box is an important travel kit. Take a plastic bag or medium sized box to store Band-Aids and medicines for nausea, anxiety, high pressure, blood sugar and other prescribed medicines.
• Also carry safety pins, sleep aids, tweezers, needles, thread etc so that you don’t have to buy these abroad. Remember that Paris is an expensive hang-out and even the most essential buy may fob off a havoc figure into your budget.
• Remember to carry a trash bag with you. You don’t need to clean anything you wear Instead, throw the soiled clothes into it. The trash bag will serve the purpose of carrying dirty stuffs that need heavy wash once you come back home.
• There are some necessary liquid items including mouthwash, shampoo, toiletries etc. that must go into your box. The liquids may spill over. To prevent such a disaster, keep these items in a plastic bag and roll it. You may slip this plastic or zipper bag in your suitcase side pack or carry it in hand. Even if it is placed in your suitcase with other things, you do not need to worry about spill-over.
• Duct tape should also be included into your travel kit. It is of good and immediate help to repair a lot of items including broken glasses, sunglasses, zippers and other kick-knacks.

All these staffs must be stacked in an orderly way so that you can immediately get whatever you are trying to reach for. Happy Packing off to Paris!

Plenty of Must-Do Things to Enjoy Paris in November

Paris is yet to be a big draw for the tourists in the month of November. For you, this fact may be a good excuse to visit this beautiful city in such off season. You will not have to jostle with others in museums, parks, art galleries and numerous must-visit places. Hotel charges are quite affordable and that will be healthy for your pocket. Paris is moderately cold in November. Pack in warm clothes though heavy winter-wear is not necessary. Also carry a raincoat and an umbrella as Paris gets bouts of drizzling in the wintry month of November.
Feast your mind on art and culture
Paris has a charm of its own, no matter whether you are visiting the city during peak or off travel season. The city is famous as a hub of art and culture. Every year, Paris has its big art carnival, d’Automne a Paris that runs from September till December through October and November. This fair retains an irresistible attraction for the art lovers from far-flung shores and exposes them to some wonderful works by the world-known maestros as well as the budding talents. This is a celebration of audio-visual extravaganza in every form of artistic medium like dance, painting, sculpture, photography, movie and music.
Light is everywhere
Paris is rightly nicknamed as ‘The City of Light’. And it sounds truer when winter sets in and rules the city. From the mid of November, the preparation for Christmas is in full gear. The entire city is decked up for celebration. You will see lighting everywhere from small shops to shopping malls, from busy streets to less frequented lanes. Be all praise for light-covered skyscrapers and towering corporate structures. The fascinating display of lights in the windows is a show stealer.
Manage time for an idle walk along the Champs-Elysees. You will admire blue-white light covered trees queuing up along a long stretch from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde. Paris in November is a delight for the shutterbugs. The city is at its illuminated best on the eve of Christmas and lures you to go on with continuous clicking. Stand on the median of the street to capture a majestic view of the Arc. Swivel the lens toward Tuileries gardens and lock the illuminated ferries wheels spangling the landscape.
Sip of wine
The third week of November is auspicious for the ‘admirers of good wine’. Beaujolais Nouveau is available during this time. This red wine comes to the market after fermentation for a couple of months. The bars and wine stores are decorated with posters that scream the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau. If you are in Paris this time, raise a toast to life….

Check the list of things in Paris for kids

In Paris there are several places for children to engage in playful activities. There are quite a good lot of beautiful children parks which are accessible from the famous tourist spots in the city. Luxembourg Gardens is the most popular of them. Apart from some funny activities, the park arranges a regular marionette show, beautiful carousel and pony riding. There is a small lake in the park, and kids are allowed to take a funny ride on small boats.
Some café theatres are designed keeping in mind what kids like or not. And if you want to take your little champs to the most amusing places, what can be a better idea than visiting a zoo? You must have heard of Disneyland Paris or Asterix Parc. These places are popular with kids. The Puppet show, a tradition in Paris, is frequently organized along the length and breadth of the city. Every kid loves to watch it. The celebrity Paris hotels have a devoted food section for the little ones. The medium sized hotels too arrange some amazing indoor games for kids.
It is a wrong idea that only adults can admire the breathtaking vistas of the city. Kids too have an eye for beauty. Take a stroll with your kids along the Seine River. They can’t help loving such a relaxed walk. Would you like to take your children on a river cruise? Well, a lovely idea! It is just like discovering the city through a different lens. On its right bank is standing Jardin de Tuileries. It is the place to enjoy the most mouth-watering ice creams. And your kids will love the idea most…that is for sure.
It will be no short of crime if you visit Paris but never drop in Louvre’s Museum. It offers a special family tour package best known as ‘Family Tour for Young Treasure Hunters’. The museum is a home to many inspiring works of art. Visiting such a place works as a motivating factor for the children as they get to learn about what they see but in a funny way.

Discount Hotels in Paris

Paris, the capital of the Republic of France, is the city of heritage, love, and romance. This historic city and cultural epicenter witnesses countless footfalls around the year. Tourists from different corners of the world come to Paris to have a taste of its past glory. There are many discount hotels in Paris which have been set up to cater to the needs of tourists who have a shoestring budget. Most of these hotels are equipped with modern-day facilities and offer excellent dining options. However, it is better that you use the Internet to compare their services and pick a hotel that suits your budget and needs.

Facilities and services offered by discount hotels in Paris

The facilities and services that the discount hotels in Paris offer to the customers include but are not limited to the following:

• Disabled facilities
• Smoking in rooms
• 24-hour reception
• Air conditioner in rooms
• Wi-Fi in rooms
• On-site vehicle parking
• 24 hour room service
• Gymnasium and recreational area
• Availability of cots
• Lift to all levels
• Pets allowed
• Interconnecting rooms
• Shuttle services to airport
• Off site vehicle parking
• Restaurant and bar
• Outdoor swimming pool
• Indoor swimming pool
• Golf course
• Meeting and conferencing facilities
• Games console
• Reservation over telephone
• Ground floor rooms

List of discount hotels in Paris

Given below is a list of discount hotels along with their addresses in Paris:

1) Hotel Residence Family

23 rue Fondary

Paris

Tel: 01 43 92 42 42

2) Budget Hotel Marais Paris

20 Rue Saint-Antoine

Paris

Tel: 09 77 71 35 89

3) Hotel Porte Doree

273 Avenue Daumesnil

Paris

Tel: 01 43 07 56 97

4) Alesia Montparnasse

84 Rue Raymond Losserand

Paris

Tel: 01 45 42 16 03

5) Hotel de la Cite Rougemont

4 Cité Rougemont

Paris

Tel: 01 47 70 25 95

6) Hotel Astrid

27 Avenue Carnot

Paris

Tel: 01 44 09 26 00

7) Hotel Du Globe

15 Rue des 4 Vents

Paris

Tel: 01 43 26 35 50

8) Hotel Armstrong Paris

36 Rue de la Croix Saint-Simon

Paris

Tel: 01 43 70 53 65

9) The Modern Hotel

3 Rue Forest

Paris

Tel: 01 43 87 47 61

10) Home Latin

15 Rue du Sommerard

Paris

Tel: 01 43 26 25 21

If you are looking for more names and services of the discount hotels in Paris, then you can research more. By and large the above Paris hotels  prove to be ideal stopovers for travelers with shoestring budgets.

Paris Sightseeing – A Must Do When You Are In France

With refrain of romance, extravagance of inspiring paintings and cultural confluence, Paris is an artist’s paradise on earth. The city is equally amazing for romantic couples, kids, family vacationers and solitary souls. Feasting your eyes on the panoramic views of Paris is an unforgettable experience that you would like to cherish forever.

Paris is the place to be at, if you are eager to have a wonderful mix of rich culture, towering architecture, amazing history and an epicurean journey. No other European capital city offers so many good things in such a great harmony.  The cityscape is dotted with a number of beautiful sightseeing spots.

What to explore in Paris

Paris is much famous for the stunning Eiffel Tower. It is the landmark of the city. Till 1930, it was the tallest structure in the world. The Eiffel Tower offers a birds’ eye view of the sprawling city canvas. Another sight of attraction is Notre Dame Cathedral. It was constructed in the 14^th century. The cathedral is best known for being the spot for hunchback, an equally famous story. The Gothic style dominates the design of the structure, and the gigantic towers make the citadel more eye-catching.

The Arc de Triomphe is another most visited sightseeing spot in the French capital. The archway represents a massive structure. You have to take 284 steps to reach the crest. However, lift arrangement is in place there. The Palace of Versailles is an obligatory visit for the tourists. According to the critics, this palace is the best architectural wonder throughout the globe. The construction was started much earlier though it was completed only in the 17^th century.

Champs Elysees, the famous street in Paris, is always bustling with buzz. The street is only 2 km long and quite reputed for highly expensive real estate property. Shopping is a luxury here. Visiting Paris and not going by the side of Seine River? It will be a great miss. Nothing can match up the romantic mood and the moments of enjoying a Seine cruise with your beloved.

Most of the Paris hotels have their own tour guides. So it won’t be a problem for you to go on a wild excursion of this amazing city. An evening in Paris is never complete without a visit to museums and art houses. The Louvre is the most famous for its splendid art gallery. The masterpieces by the renowned artists and sculptors stand for the cultural heritage of Paris.

Historic Buildings in Paris for Free with the Paris Pass

The Paris Pass offers you a fantastic opportunity to explore the historic buildings in the city. You can visit the historic buildings in Paris for free with the Paris Pass. It is a customized sightseeing package that enables you to explore the chief attractions in the city only by paying for the pass.  It comes with everything that you need to go around the city and that too at an attractive price. The Paris Pass comprises a number of things. These include:

Paris Attractions Pass: With the help of this Pass, you can embark on the Seine River Cruise, Tour Montparnasse, Musee Grevin and also enjoy a Wine Tasting session.

Paris Bus Tour: Each and every Paris Pass comes with an unlimited use ticket, which is valid for a couple of days from the day of activation of the pass.

Paris Museum Pass: This pass literally serves as your ticket to the city’s most famous destinations. It provides with free entry to more than 55 of the key monuments and museums in the city.

Paris Visite Pass: This pass offers you unlimited rides on buses, metro and RER within the heart of the city.

Along with the transportation passes and entry to some of the most famous sites, you also get a guidebook with the Paris Pass. This guidebook contains detailed maps to the city landmarks and therefore you are bound t o benefit from the hints and travel tips provided in the same. If you are lucky, you can also avail special discounts at restaurants and shops located in central Paris.

The Pass is activated right after you have used it for the first time. However, before you use it for the first time, it is necessary that you sign the card and put the date on the Paris Museums and Monuments Pass, the Paris Pass and the Paris Visite Travelcard. Following the activation of the card, the pass remains valid for consecutive days. Following the expiry of the validity period, you can no longer use it to gain access to the various attractions.

You can visit the following historic buildings in Paris for free with the Paris Pass:

• Palace of Versailles
• Chateau de Maisons-Laffitte
• La Conciergerie
• Chateau de Vincennes
• Museum of the Army and Tomb of Napoleon
• Notre Dame Cathedral
• House of Auguste Rodin at Meudon
• National Museum of Port-Royal de Champs
• The Rambouillet Palace
• Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis

So if you are in the French capital city, do not hesitate to purchase the Paris Pass.

Montparnasse Tower

Standing tall in the middle of the Montparnasse area of Paris, the Montparnasse Tower is an awe-inspiring structure. Construction of the tower began in 1969 and it was completed in 1972. For several years, the Montparnasse Tower remained the tallest skyscraper in the country, only to be surpassed by Tour First in 2011. From the observation deck of the tower, one can get a magnificent view of the city.

Over the years, Paris has been regarded as one of the most picturesque cities in the world owing to its architecture and urban planning. Right from the ancient times to the 19^th century, there was very little influence of international architecture in the city. Classism was considered to be the traditional style and therefore some of the major architectural influences such as Art Nouveau, Baroque, Modernist and Rococo had little or practically no impact on the construction work that took place in the city.

Things began to change only after the Second World War when the Gaullist regime extended its support and even promoted the construction of such gigantic towers at the heart of the city. It is around at this time that the Montparnasse Tower was built.  Work on the project was initiated as part of a redevelopment scheme for the area between Maine and Montparnasse railway stations.  Initially, the tower was to be built to a height of 154 meters or around 505 feet. However, despite being approved by the concerned authorities, the height of the structure was later on increased to more than 200 meters.

During its construction and in the years that followed, the Montparnasse Tower became a symbol of modern day Paris. The tower stands tall against the Paris skyline. The Tower has an observation deck on the 56^th floor. The Tower may not be of interest until and unless you prefer visiting skyscrapers but you can definitely visit the site to get a magnificent view of the city from the observation deck.  If you get lucky and happen to visit the tower on a clear day, you can see as far as 40 kms.  At night, the deck offers a spectacular view of the Dome des Invalides and the Eiffel Tower, all lit up and displaying their magnificent splendor. You can also climb to the roof of the building on the 59^th floor a much better view of the entire city. A visit to the Montparnasse Tower is definitely your money’s worth.