Let?s face it – when it comes to style, cuisine and wine – the French do pretty well! With world-class fashion and theatre, unrivalled music and clubbing, and an eclectic array of restaurant and bar choices, this is a city built on historical grandeur and everything chic.

Nowhere do all the romantic clich?s play more strongly than Paris ? the city of lights and of a thousand whispers. Like an impossibly beautiful woman who is placed on a pedestal, the sheer beauty of Paris can be overwhelming at first glance. But don?t let the glittering fa?ade fool you?look beyond the heartbreaking beauty and you?ll find a charming and disarmingly normal city, and people who are not only friendly – but also curious about you (where you come from, your views on politics and so on)! It does take a bit of attitude adjustment though ? just give the city a chance; not every Parisian is a snob! Just know, it certainly helps to arm yourself with at least a ?bonjour? in their language.

Here, it?s far better to experience the city, than to just look at it. Of course, the Louvre, Pompidou, Musee D’Orsay, the Opera, Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower are unparalleled. But, Paris is far beyond the shadows of impressive monuments and grand boulevards. So, skip the endless museum hopping for a day, find your spot in one of the numerous caf?s, and watch the world go by. Paris is a city full of romance and passion, so let it sweep you off your feet. Do like the Parisians do: enjoy your morning croissant or Nutella crepe as you stroll along the Seine. Or grab a mobile lunch of a baguette, brie, and sliced tomatoes. You too will feel like a Parisian (just like cute little Audrey Tautou when she portrayed eccentric Amelie) as you slowly stroll through the streets, taking in every smell, sight, and sound

When the sun starts to set, climb up to the top of Paris for the best views and Bohemian vibe in the city. No kids, not the top of the Eiffel Tower. We prefer the steps of Sacre Coeur where you can relax with the locals and a good bottle of wine as you watch the city transform.

Paris is chic, royal, ever-changing and always fascinating, so go ahead and discover where the locals hang out, eat, drink and reminisce about the day?s events in a tradition that?s impossibly French. If you want to run this town like Napolean did, checkout some of our journeyPod Picks and have some fun on us!

Top Paris Picks

Chez Papa – If you want to eat very good (and not expensive) Southwestern French cuisine come to Chez Papa early – because it’s always full. With several locations throughout the city, Chez Papa serves dishes in a charmingly old-fashioned way in pots, pans and clay bowls. The service is excellent too ? and, if you?re lucky ? you may even get a chance to meet the big daddy himself, Chez Papa! The place is vegetarian-friendly, so you may order any of your choices without the meat. And, you can?t go wrong with their omelets, salads and onion pie! If you find yourself at Chez Papa on the busy rue La Fayette, sit near a window for some people-watching.

Buddha Bar ? Roll up your sleeves and prepare to get into some trouble. Everyone from flight attendants to die-hard travelers to local Parisians agrees that Buddha Bar is the hottest spot in Paris! As you embark inside, you?ll find yourself greeted with an enormous Buddha who towers graciously over the crowd. Don?t piss him off as you climb the massive staircase to the restaurant and indulge in Japanese-American cuisine. If you?re in the mood for some chow, the most talked about dish here is the grilled duck. Just like their sister Buddha Bars in London and Dubai, this place also lets you dance off those calories after dinner.

Hungry for more? Well, you can hop a transcontinental to DeGaulle right now, but we’d advise you first to check out the rest of our top Parisian night spots at journeypod.com, and be prepared for some serious ooh-la-la.

journeyPod.com is the only place you need to visit for information on the trendiest bars and restaurants, the most luxurious hotels, and the most exclusive parties and shops for discriminating travelers. Visit journeyPod.com for the lowdown on where to go in Atlanta, New York, Miami, LA and other major cities around the world, and listing to our monthly travel podcast for the best in upscale travel and entertainment. If you like the finer things in life, journey to journeyPod.com!

Like Venice, Paris has always been a magnet for lovers and their affairs. As Woody Allen put it: As long as you haven’t been kissed during any of those rainy Parisian afternoons, you haven’t been kissed at all. Paris is where sleepy marriages are rekindled, the flames of passion ignited, vows renewed, and special someones met. But where will you get the most ardent thrill?

Finding your cafe terrace

I will start with an obvious spot: the sidewalk cafe terrace. There are thousands of such in Paris, and lovebirds are a common sight there. The cafe terrace is an enjoyable spot in more than one way. First, they offer a nice resting spot. Second, they make an ideal observatory. The streets become an aquarium, passer-bys are the fish, and you two become the observers. Third, sit down at a terrace where other couples are smooching, and you are part of a community setting a good example to the rest of the world. For all we need is love!

One of my favorite cafes is ‘Les Chevaux de Marly’, inside the Louvre Museum, facing the wing where the Da Vinci Code movie was filmed. Les Chevaux de Marly isn’t your typical sidewalk cafes; the place reeks history, and even when you sit outside you are well protected against the elements thanks to the stone parapet.

Now if you are a die-hard fan of the Latin Quarter, and the St Germain des Pres area, you will certainly want to sit at the terrace of ‘Les Deux Magots’ (A Pair of Old Bachelors). French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and his wife, writer Simone de Beauvoir, used to hole up there in the 50s. Rather large and well protected by a long awning, the terrace is a great spot to observe the foot traffic moving along the busy Boulevard St Germain. The atmosphere inside the cafe has kept some of its mid-20th century flavor. A tad on the expensive side, but history and a great view have a price, haven’t they?

More suggestions? Check out the following areas, you’ll find nice cafes: ‘Butte aux Cailles’ (in the 13th district), ‘Place de la Contrescarpe’ (in the 5th district), ‘Place des Abbesses’ (on the Montmartre Hill), and the perennial cafe facing the Pont St Louis, on Ile St Louis, near Quai de Bourbon.

Cool streets to roam

I always advise my friends who take the trip to Paris to discover the city on foot. Walking is the absolute best way to enjoy sightseeing in Paris. And ‘look up’ must be your operative word. Don’t just look at eye level: raise your eyes, and observe what’s above. The ‘upper floor’ scenery is worth it.

For romancing the love of your life, certain places have these very special qualities which will set them apart in your memories of togetherness. I will tell you about three for now, and there will be more to come.

Atop my list, ‘Place Furstemberg’. From the plaza of the St Germain Church, walk toward the Seine and Rue Bonaparte. Turn right into Rue de l’Abbaye. Follow the street to the first short alley on your left. Turn and you end up on ‘Place Furstemberg’. French painter Eugene Delacroix had his studio there, and this makes an interesting spot to visit during daytime. But ‘Place Furstemberg’ takes a whole other atmosphere at night. It is quiet, isolated, and sort of private. The nearby abbey lends it a historical feel. Sitting under the trees, the wooden benches welcome eternal lovers.

My second pick would be the steep flights of stairs leading up to the top of the Montmartre Hill, and the quaint streets below ‘Place du Tertre’. Here again, you would be well inspired to discover the hill during the day, and come back to it in the evening. Montmartre is one of the last areas in Paris to have retained their ‘olden days’ feel. Strolling around the hill at night gives you a whiff of what Paris was like in the late 1800s. Most definitely one of the very best spots to roam hand in hand, stealing a kiss here and there under the quiet glow of the street lights.

As a final destination for this short trip, let me take you to the park located at the tip of ‘Ile de la Cite’. This is the largest of the two islands, and the small park named ‘Square du Vert Galant’ takes its name from King Henri the 4th, a womanizer in his own right (‘Galant’ alludes to his reputation as a smooth talker, and ‘Vert’ means the guy was ‘always ready to fire’). Walk to the ‘Pont Neuf’ bridge, go down the flight of stairs opening behind Henri’s statue, and you will wind up on the wharf. There, lined with century-old trees, the park offers a magnificent view of the river Seine and the Louvre Museum. I recommend discovering the spot together during daytime. It is also the port of call of a boat tour operator. Seize this opportunity to boat upstream and downstream. Don’t forget to bring an extra sweater, the temperature at water level is chillier.

More romantic places

I love a good romance, and I would love to contribute to yours in my own way. So I’ll write more about these special Parisian spots in further installments to this series. Meanwhile, you will find more resources on the website Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News. Till then, I wish your couple to grow even stronger.

About the Author:
After 30 years spent in Paris, Phil Chavanne knows the city in and out. As the Senior Editor of Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News he shares with you his experience of Paris from the inside.

Sitting at a cafe terrace in Paris, and watching people passing by while sipping on your Perrier water is not something you want to miss. But here comes the check, and with it the question: should I tip, and how much?

The check is all inclusive

Unlike in America, cafes and restaurants in Paris directly include a 15% service charge in your check. This is required by French law as tips are assessed for taxation purposes.

The 15% service charge is clearly itemized on your check, on top of the VAT tax (a French version of the sales tax). The words ?Service compris? (Tip included) indicate that the tip has already been included in the total to be paid.

The good news is that prices rated on the menus are all-inclusive: they include both the 15% tip and the sales tax. There is no last-minute unholy surprise when you are given your check. What you saw on the menu is what you get charged, no hidden extras.

No further tipping?

A small extra-tip will be well received, of course. It is a way to show you liked how your waiter took care of you. This is not an obligation though.

Small extra tips are also welcome because they go directly into your waiter?s pockets. Oftentimes the 15% service charge goes to a common pot which is divided at the end of the day amongst all waiters. Some bar owners may also retain a portion or the entirety of the service charge: French law does not require that service charges be given back to waiters. So your waiter might not even see a dime of it.

In any case, you are under no obligation to extra tip. You paid your dues when you paid your check.

How much should the extra tip be?

Extra tips may range from just a couple of Euro dimes for a coffee or a soft drink, to 1-5 euros for a lunch or dinner. A nice ?Thank You? is 5 to 10% of the total check. But once again, there is no obligation, and no steadfast rule as far as the percentage goes.

How do you tip elsewhere?

In many cases, tips are a valuable income supplement for their recipients.

Take taxi drivers for instance: the average salary of a taxi driver employed by a cab company is about ?1,400 a month, which in Paris is more or less equivalent to a $2,500 salary in NYC. These guys put in 10 hours a day. Some years ago, they used to work 14-15 hours a day, 6 days a week, to make more income. French law forbids them to do so today. So they appreciate your tip all the way: 5-10% of your fare is a good rule of thumb.

At the theater, tip the lady usher: a couple of euros is fine at the opera house [these ladies are also paid on the evening programs they sell, 50 euro cents is good at the movie theaters. Years ago, the lady ushers were not even paid by movie theater operators. They lived on tips only. Even if they are on a salary today, it is doubtful they earn more than the minimum wage.

At your hotel, your porter will appreciate a euro per bag.

At expensive restaurants, classical concert venues, and discos, coat ladies usually take care of your belongings. Tip them a euro per large item when you retrieve your coats.

At the museum, you may leave a couple of euros to your guide if you went through a guided tour.

In summary

These are guidelines based on experience and custom. They are in no way a uniform code of conduct. These advices are also applicable elsewhere in France. In other French regions, where the standard of living is lower than in Paris, tips are even more construed as a mark of generosity.

In the final analysis, tipping is just that: a sign of your generosity and of your appreciation of the level of service you have just received.

(This article has been written in collaboration with Vincent Ramelli, a regular contributor to Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, a Paris-born writer, and a specialist of the city.)

***About the Author***

Phil Chavanne shares many useful advices on how to visit Paris. His travel guide offers free information about Paris hotels, restaurants, tours, museums, and other sites.

The French term Lut?ce may not sound familiar but is a name the city of Paris was known by in earlier times. Paris is a popular tourist destination along with being a rich metropolitan city. It is the largest French city along with being the capital of France. The city boasts of innumerable historical avenues, monuments and museums. It is considered to be an architectural wonder and boasts of exquisite eighteenth century heritage buildings and palaces.

Paris was not always as large as it is today. When rail lines were laid out in the 1840′s it allowed migrants to flow into the city. Paris has always been perceived as the city of opportunities and continues to attract tourists, immigrants and people from the suburbs and neighboring cities. After having witnessed two severe bouts of cholera that greatly crippled the city, Paris continued to grow rapidly. Historians suggest Paris has been a part of numerous wars and sieges, along with being governed by foreign rulers.

The city of Paris is densely populated and has a relatively small metropolitan area. Paris has three airports and a comprehensive rail and motorway network. Its rich artistic backdrop is attributed to the humble nature of French noblemen of earlier generation. A number of these men and women were patrons of art. This prompted them to support artwork to an extent that the city boasts of the Louvre, which is prided to be amongst the most famous museums. The city rests on the banks of the river Seine and is thought to be home to more that 9.9 million people.

Paris is rated very high amongst fashion houses and boasts of a fast and exciting nightlife. Estimates suggest that Paris caters to more than thirty million visitors annually. Though most would take one trip to the Eiffel tower, the city boasts of many other archaic and architectural wonders that can keep visitors mesmerized for life.

Paris provides detailed information on Paris, Paris Hotels, Discount Flights Paris, Paris Accommodations and more. Paris is affiliated with Paris Casino Hotels.

It?s getting cold. Really cold. And when the long cold nights start to draw in, thoughts start to turn to warmer climes?the turquoise sea of the Caribbean, the exotic beauty of Latin America. Holidays in Paris, with its northern European climate, are possibly not top of everyone?s wish list. But by ignoring the French capital during winter, we are ignoring a unique holiday opportunity.

Paris is the city of romance. And what could be more romantic than taking a stroll along the Champs Elysees, wrapped up warm against the elements, followed by a delicious chocolat chaud in a cosy caf? on the Boulevard St Germain? Or a day exploring the museums and art galleries for which Paris is so famous, followed by a romantic meal by candlelight in front of a roaring fire in the city that invented the restaurant?

Speaking of cultural outings, Paris in winter really doesn?t sleep. Operas, plays and special exhibitions that tail off in summer for the long French holidays are back in full swing during the winter months. How much nicer to visit the Louvre knowing that you don?t have to push through sweaty crowds and brave the firewall of screaming children and the venom of their exhausted parents to get your precious glimpse of the Mona Lisa. In fact, out of tourist season, you will be able to lap up the culture to your heart?s content. And the lack of tourists means stress free access to the gift shops, too!

If the idea of walking around Paris in the winter leaves you?well?cold, then how about hiring a car from a company like easyCar and exploring areas around the city which normally get forgotten in the rush to see the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame? A short drive out of the city centre will take you to the historical beauty of Versailles or Chartres. Or if oversized rodents and flying elephants are more your idea of fun, you could always drive to the magical world of Eurodisney ? a sure fire way of keeping the kids happy whatever the weather.

There?s one other thing. It?s nearly Christmas, and not only is Paris a far better location for picking up presents for your nearest and dearest than a remote Caribbean beach but let?s face it, a trip to Paris will leave you with a lot more spending money as well.

Budget airlines such as bmibaby are always good for cheap flights to Europe, but mainstream airlines are also getting in on the act, with companies like British Airways offering great deals as well. Top this off by finding a good deal on a hotel with someone like Hotelnet, and even if you spend a small fortune on wining and dining yourself, you?re still going to be better off than those who have travelled to more exotic locations ? and have so many more interesting stories to tell. After all, who wants to spend the whole winter lying on a beach?

Rebecca is a freelance travel writer, writing articles for a range of online and offline resources. Although travel is her first love, she occasionally gets distracted by exciting ideas and theories, which more often than not lead to new writing outside the travel sector.

If you watched CNN or Fox News like I did a few evenings ago, you might have been impressed at the student demonstrations in France.

Both TV channels had us sold on the idea Paris was being mobbed by the angry multitude. Pictures of Mad Max-like police trucks hosing thousands of protesters. Scenes of massive gatherings around Bastille square. Interviews of malcontent students. Some pyrotechnics to boot!

Golly!

Though I often travel to Paris, I live in Florida. So I had to wait until the following day before I could call relatives and friends in Paris. I got Vince first. Vince is always a reliable source, he’s got the local pulse. When I need to get the lowdown on all-things-Paris, I get it from him first.

Hi Vince, it’s Phil. Gee, how is it today? Have you lived through the night?
Hi man, what are you talking about?
Well, I mean, the demonstrations and all. The mayhem.
Oh yeah, so what about them?
Well, I was on CNN yesterday, and they were showing all this mess with the police, and students, and cars burning!
And?
Come on, man, you can’t tell me nothing is happening there!
Well, there was a demonstration, for sure. Students in the streets. But this was yesterday….
You mean, it’s over?
Sure, buddy. Guys didn’t like what the government handed over, guys got in the street, guys vented their anger, guys go home and watch TV, end of story.
Oh. But about the cars torched? I mean, we saw it on TV!
To hell with TV! You see a couple of cars burning, and you think it’s the war?

OK, that was Vince’s input. Kind of reassuring.

Let’s ring family. I wanted to talk to Lolo, my brother in law. Lolo was an army firefighter for 15 years, he’s cool-calm-collected, and he’s used to assessing disasters with a cold eye.

Lolo? Hi, it’s Phil.
Hi bro, whassup?
Hey, I just wanted to hear it from you, you know, about the demonstrations, and the mess in Paris.
Yeah, that was sporty.
You mean, they wreaked havoc in the place?
No, I mean it was sporty to get to work on my scooter. I mean, some of the streets near the Bastille Square were jam-packed.
But what about the protests? I mean, they showed us the stuff on TV; it looked like mayhem with the cops and their trucks!
That was towards the evening, not during the day. I was not far from the demonstrations when they were full on. The students sure were a loud crowd, but the hosing only started in the evening, and only lasted a couple hours.
What about the cars burned?
There were a few. Less than in November, during the events in the suburbs.
Not many then. And how is it now?
Quiet. Everybody’s home, like nothing happened.
Do you mean the demonstrations are over?
Sure. I rode in Paris today, and it was business as usual.
Is it safe for Americans to come? You know I have this website, Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, and I give travel advice to people. Is it safe for them, or should I just tell my visitors to postpone their travel plans to Paris?
It’s just as quiet today as it was before the demonstrations. Come see yourself if you don’t believe me.

Oh I sure believed Lolo, he having served 15 years as a firefighter in the army, and saved several lives. He used to serve in Paris too, so he knows the place like the back of his hand.

But I figured: I’m not gonna risk sending the visitors of my website to Destination Hell. I want proof. Solid proof that it’s all over, and there’s nothing bad happening now in Paris.

So I called Serge and Tony, two friends who are in the video business. Guys, could you do me a favor, and shoot a short video for my visitors, with the time and date on it? I wanna see Paris as it is today.

Serge and Tony are very cool guys, and they sure obliged.

This is the video they sent me: Paris video

It was shot in Paris, between 1:00 and 2:00 PM on April 3, 2006, in various well-known places: under the Eiffel Tower, on the Alma Bridge, on the Champs Elysees Avenue, on Place de la Concorde, at St Germain des Pres, on St Michel Blvd, near the Cluny museum, at the Notre Dame Cathedral, on the Cite island, near the Louvre and Orsay museums, near the Opera house, and finally, right in the department store neighborhood.

What it shows is exactly how Paris is at this time. Business as usual. So how come we have seen such a mess on TV, and there seems to be no trace of it today?

For one thing, student protests rarely last. They are put together quickly, and dissolve even quicker. What we saw on CNN and other news channels was a live-fast-die-fast occurrence.

What’s more, TV and the news media rarely report quiet endings. ‘News’ is drama, war, atrocities, and the like. Uneventful endings never make the news.

The student protests of March 28 were filmed until everybody just went back home after sunset. Then they became much less newsworthy. Or so think the big honchos at CNN, Fox News, and the like. Don’t forget folks, these guys think for y’all, the rabble. So shut up and watch.

Thirdly, the French are Mediterranean in character. An argument breaks, tempers flare quickly, bird names are exchanged, and suddenly it’s all drama…. Then things resume their regular course, everybody shares a glass of wine, and the argument is soon forgotten.

The French government tried to pass a law which students and unions consider as a danger to job security. When the latter felt this law was forced into their gullets with no negotiations, their temper flared, and in no time they were down in the street. But it ended just as quickly as it all started. A flash in the pan. Within a day, it was over.

There is only one regrettable fact in this: heavy-handed, scandal-happy, war-loving news reporting gives us all a false impression that France is a dangerous place to travel to these days.

Yet, had TV cameras continued rolling and spent just as much time showing Parisians had returned to their peaceful lives, such impression would have been quickly dispelled for what it really is: 100% false.

And so it is the privilege of regular Joes like me and other honest-to-God travelers to report the happy ending: everything is fine and dandy in Paris, folks. Live your lives as you plan them, and if you wish to travel to France, just don’t bother too much with the news.

PS– Paris is a big city. Demonstrations are mostly channeled along certain boulevards: Nation-to-Bastille, Nation-to-Italie, Bastille-to-Republique, and Bastille-to-Chatelet. Look them up on a map. Look at all the space around these spots. Well, that’s your own playground in case new demonstrations occur when you are in Paris. A fact the news media conveniently omit to tell you. It wouldn’t sell.

As Senior Editor of Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News, Phil Chavanne helps travelers leaving to Paris. Phil takes exception here to the way the news media artificially staged the recent events in Paris. With direct information from the field, and a video to prove it, Phil shows it is perfectly safe to travel to Paris. To see the short movie, click here: Paris video

Sitting at a cafe terrace in Paris, and watching people passing by while sipping on your Perrier water is not something you want to miss. But here comes the check, and with it the question: should I tip, and how much?

The check is all inclusive

Unlike in America, cafes and restaurants in Paris directly include a 15% service charge in your check. This is required by French law as tips are assessed for taxation purposes.

The 15% service charge is clearly itemized on your check, on top of the VAT tax (a French version of the sales tax). The words ?Service compris? (Tip included) indicate that the tip has already been included in the total to be paid.

The good news is that prices rated on the menus are all-inclusive: they include both the 15% tip and the sales tax. There is no last-minute unholy surprise when you are given your check. What you saw on the menu is what you get charged, no hidden extras.

No further tipping?

A small extra-tip will be well received, of course. It is a way to show you liked how your waiter took care of you. This is not an obligation though.

Small extra tips are also welcome because they go directly into your waiter?s pockets. Oftentimes the 15% service charge goes to a common pot which is divided at the end of the day amongst all waiters. Some bar owners may also retain a portion or the entirety of the service charge: French law does not require that service charges be given back to waiters. So your waiter might not even see a dime of it.

In any case, you are under no obligation to extra tip. You paid your dues when you paid your check.

How much should the extra tip be?

Extra tips may range from just a couple of Euro dimes for a coffee or a soft drink, to 1-5 euros for a lunch or dinner. A nice ?Thank You? is 5 to 10% of the total check. But once again, there is no obligation, and no steadfast rule as far as the percentage goes.

How do you tip elsewhere?

In many cases, tips are a valuable income supplement for their recipients.

Take taxi drivers for instance: the average salary of a taxi driver employed by a cab company is about ?1,400 a month, which in Paris is more or less equivalent to a $2,500 salary in NYC. These guys put in 10 hours a day. Some years ago, they used to work 14-15 hours a day, 6 days a week, to make more income. French law forbids them to do so today. So they appreciate your tip all the way: 5-10% of your fare is a good rule of thumb.

At the theater, tip the lady usher: a couple of euros is fine at the opera house [these ladies are also paid on the evening programs they sell, 50 euro cents is good at the movie theaters. Years ago, the lady ushers were not even paid by movie theater operators. They lived on tips only. Even if they are on a salary today, it is doubtful they earn more than the minimum wage.

At your hotel, your porter will appreciate a euro per bag.

At expensive restaurants, classical concert venues, and discos, coat ladies usually take care of your belongings. Tip them a euro per large item when you retrieve your coats.

At the museum, you may leave a couple of euros to your guide if you went through a guided tour.

In summary

These are guidelines based on experience and custom. They are in no way a uniform code of conduct. These advices are also applicable elsewhere in France. In other French regions, where the standard of living is lower than in Paris, tips are even more construed as a mark of generosity.

In the final analysis, tipping is just that: a sign of your generosity and of your appreciation of the level of service you have just received.

(This article has been written in collaboration with Vincent Ramelli, a regular contributor to Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, a Paris-born writer, and a specialist of the city.)

***About the Author***

Phil Chavanne shares many useful advices on how to visit Paris. His travel guide offers free information about Paris hotels, restaurants, tours, museums, and other sites.