Hotels near Eiffel Tower, Paris

if one goes to the Louvre you acquire headsets. It is pretty amazing viewing a painting of Napoleon crowning Josephine and the historical significance of this amazing piece of art is explained in the most beautiful artistic voice. Captivating... , not just this one painting the whole museum of priceless treasures. I felt honoured to view this amazing collection. The artifacts are breathtaking. It is amazing riding a double decker bus and wearing a headset. Two trips around the city and you are most familiar with the sights and their historical significance to start your journey. Plaques in doorways and on statue's leave the visitor a good over view of the past. A trip to Versailles again headsets that advise the visitors the past. The streets, the cobblestones the architecture, the open markets and cafe's, the preservation of the past intact is so very amazing to a first time visitor. Paris is exciting! Paris is busy. Paris is steeped in culture and is bigger than life itself. I stood beneath the Eiffel Tower and looked up trying to imagine the past and the men that built this magnificent structure. The residents of Paris make their city come to life. They are proud of their city. Very clean and orderly.

Skip the Louvre & the Champs-Elysees, stroll the Tuilleries and the Latin Quarter instead, & talk to people, but remember you're in THEIR country so learn some basic French (please, thank you, G'day, G'eve, etc.) - you'll find a lot of people who speak English. Use the Metro and the "river taxi" (that's what I call it, anyway). DO enjoy cafe au lait often at outdoor cafes, look at around and up at the old buildings, take your time and soak it all in. Don't waste money on 4 & 5, or even 3 - star hotels & "fancy" restaurants - see where the most French are eating and try those places. But, I'm biased and fluent in the language. One can "do" Paris in 3 days - Musee d'Orsay, Musee Marmottan (Monets!!!), Sacre Coeur, Eiffel Tower & Notre Dame, and if you must, the Arc de Triomphe, but it's not worth the hassle). Skip Versailles, go to Fountainbleau (you can get a R/T ticket at the Metro station (subway, train, bus). Hotel in the Latin Quarter.

Find all the hidden playgrounds, visit the jardin du luxembourg and budget for carousel rides. A good view of the city can be found at the top of the wheel/roue within the jardin des tuileries rather than queuing for the tour Eiffel or scycraper.

Go early!! For the Eiffel Tower we took the stairs which was fun for our children and the line up was minimal.

Louve. Go to Eiffel Tower early, they shut down access to the top when we were there because of over crowding at the top.

Paris at night is amazing, make sure you go to the Eiffel Tower at night and wait for it to sparkle for you!