Paris… Party of Three? Oui!

  “I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles”  Cole Porter

     The recent airfares to Paris (and to Europe in general) have been the lowest I have ever seen.  A few months back we grabbed a $418 round trip fare to Paris on Delta and spent a wonderful few days with our youngest daughter dodging rain drops, revisiting old favorites and discovering new ones in the “City of Light.”
     Our “go to” hotel in Paris is the historic and beautifully restored Hilton Paris Opera.  Originally named The Grand Hotel Terminus, it was built in 1889 to accommodate wealthy foreign visitors of the Great Exhibition that year.  It’s opening was actually announced by Gustav Eiffel from his famous tower. Great staff, beautiful rooms and a fantastic location all make for a perfect stay.
     It’s also a few blocks walk from the Roissybus which is an easy and inexpensive nonstop bus from the Opera House to the airport (CDG.)  The bus runs every 15 minutes, takes about an hour, and costs 11.50 Euro pp each way.
     One of the highlights of our trip was eating lunch on the Eiffel Tower.  Located on the first level, the restaurant “58 Tour Eiffel” offers a complete lunch with an awesome view for 41.50 Euro pp.  There are two seatings; at noon and at 1:30.  You should make reservations in advance as your lunch ticket also allows you to skip the elevator line up to the first level.  After lunch you are free to walk up to the second level and stay as long as you like. 
     We took a relaxing and easy day trip to visit the Palace of Versailles, which is located 12 miles southwest of Paris.  Direct trains from Gare St. Lazare run about every 30 minutes to the town of Versailles.  A 15-minute walk from the train station and you are at the gates of the Palace.  Entrance tickets are 20 Euros pp and the audio guides are free. You pass through a lovely farmer’s market on your way to the palace, which if the weather is nice, is a great place to pick up a picnic lunch.
 A few tips and random thoughts..
    If you are traveling with teenagers have them bring their student ID.  Most of the museums, including Versailles are free for students under 18.
Leave at least 3 – 4 hours to check in at the airport.  Security is very tight and there seemed to be long lines for everything.  
    We had an early flight home and chose to stay at the Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel, located right in Terminal 2 at CDG.  Airline check-in areas are only a 10 minute walk from the hotel’s front door.
    Security was out in force all over the city and we felt very safe to be there.
    As Audrey Hepburn in the movie “Sabrina” exclaimed.. Paris is always a good idea!