First Time to Paris, 4 Days Only

What is your budget? If budget is not an issue, I would stay at Pavillon de la Reine in Le Marais or Hotel d'Aubusson or Relais Christine in the 6th arrondissement or Hotel le Bristol in the 8th arrondissement.

Click on "Explore Europe" on this website and find Paris. There will be a list of major and less-major attractions, with Rick Steves' suggestions for how to use different numbers of days in Paris. You don't have to take that as the final word, but that information can help you make the best choices given your interests and time. The Paris Museum Pass can help save you time and money if you have the energy to use it effectively.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of good hotels in Paris for all budgets. I'd suggest a site like booking.com. Look for someplace near a Metro station, preferably one where two lines intersect to maximize your options for getting around. Since this trip is 10 days off, you'll have limited choices and should act quickly.

I've stayed in Paris three times, and of the three hotels, I really liked the coziness of Hotel Londres Eiffel, which is used on some of the Rick Steves tours. (Granted, I was there over Christmas break which made it all the cozier and twinkly, but I'm sure it's great year 'round.) I don't know what your price range is, but the location is very convenient to Metro, RER, Seine River, Eiffel Tower, etc. No matter where you stay, your hotel room will likely be very small. Just know that going in. And, yeah, you're running tight on time to find a hotel!

At this time of year, with lengthening hours of daylight, I would choose a location near Luxembourg Gardens, so you can enjoy early morning and evening walks. Plus you are close to the boulevards of St Germain and St Michel, with lots of restaurants to choose from. A web search sees me liking good value 3 star with doubles under US$200.
http://www.observatoirehotel.com

Must sees:
1. Eiffel Tower - stairs to 2nd level, elevator to top if you want!
2. Walking from l'Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre - Champs Élysées, Place de la Concorde, Jardins de Tuilleries.
3. Louvre - see a sprinkling of French masters, Italian Masters, Greek sculpture and Napoleon's apartments
4. Walk around the Marais and Île de la Cité - ice cream at Berthillon
5. Sacre Coeur for the sunset and the street theatre

On Day 2 . . . just kidding. Although that might be my daughter's idea of a perfect day in Paris!

Other places, we like: Left Bank, Rue de Mouffetard, Abbey Bookshop, the Petit Palais (free), Parc Monceau, Marché d'Aligre (food and bric-a-brac), Marmottan, l'Orangerie, Cognac-Jay, Musée Picasso, Musée des Arts et Métiers (science, technology and engineering - a veritable nerd paradise), Rodin Museum and gardens and Trocodero for the iconic view

Places we will try this trip: Promenade Plantée, Vaux le Vicomptes, Renoir house in Montmartre

Restaurants: Macéo north of Palais Royale, Les Coquelicots in Montmarte,

Hard to nail down a Top Five. My Top 20 ...
1. Eiffel Tower
2. Louvre Museum
3. Notre-Dame de Paris
4. Musee d'Orsay
5. Palais Garnier Opera
6. Arc de Triomphe
7. Sainte-Chapelle
8. Luxembourg Gardens
9. Sacré-Coeur + Montmartre
10. Centre Pompidou
11. Place des Vosges
12. Tuileries Gardens+Orangerie Museum
13. Invalides - Dome Church
14. Picasso Museum
15. Rodin Museum
16. Cluny Museum
17. Musee Quai Branly
18. Pont Neuf
19. Place de la Concorde+Madeleine
20. Panthéon

We've stayed at both the Hotel Londres, noted above, with our RS tour several years ago.

What we love about Paris and always visit:

Luxembourg Gardens (the people, the kids, the benches,and all kinds of "Parisian" activities like boules, pony rides and sailboats in the fountains)

Musee d'Orsay - the building, the art

Walking along the Seine

We always check to see what special exhibits are at the major museums, to help us decide which one to go to.

I thank all of you for your great suggestions and taking time to offer such precise suggestions, as this is a last minute trip. I have printed all of your suggestions and planning to use as my itinerary. I'm having a hard time making a decision on which area to choose hotel. I tried some of the hotels that you all suggested but are sold out. I like David's idea of being around the Luxembourg Gardens area. Friends of ours were in Paris a few months ago and they loved an area between 1er and 82. Their hotel on a map is above Jardin des Tuileries. I have a reservation with Lyric Hotel, but not sure it is worth it. Is the area of Luxembourg Gardens considered convenient for walking to the main attractions?

The Luxembourg Gardens are gorgeous so it's great to have them for daily relaxation and enjoyment, especially when the days are longer.

Very close for ...
Panthéon & Cluny Museum
Sorbonne & Latin Quarter
St Germain des Pres
Notre Dame
Ile St Louis

Still walking for most to ....
Le Marais
Louvre
Pont Neuf
Tuileries Gardens
Musee d'Orsay

We really enjoyed the location and service at the Hotel Relais Bosquet. Right off the subway line and walkable to many locations. I don't think RS tours stay here, but I know RS does.....

I really like staying in the 6th as close to the river as possible. Very walkable to almost everything. Keep in mind that the rooms will be quite small compared to an American hotel room.

My sister and her husband were there for their first trip at the end of last month and stayed here: http://dauphine-st-germain.com/ They were quite pleased with the location and hotel.
On our last trip we stayed just down the street here: http://www.hotelleregent.com/en/
We liked the hotel and location too.

Both my sister and I got a superior room, although they're still small :-)

Here are some others that I haven't stayed at but would consider. I recommended these to my sister based upon my research:
http://www.hoteldelesperance.fr/en/ - decent location but appears pretty basic

http://www.hotel-britannique.fr/en/ - not my preferred side of the river but looks charming, reviews are great, could possibly get in around $200/night

http://www.hotel-collegedefrance.com/en/ - good location, great reviews, could possibly get in around $200/night

http://www.hotel-grandes-ecoles.com/index-en.html - decent location, appears to have an outdoor space

http://www.hotelcaron.com/en/ - great location, true queen bed, many positive reviews, doesn't say what size the rooms are

http://www.grandhotelmalher.com/index-en.html - good location, modern showers, more modern rather than Parisian charm, room size not listed

http://www.mayet.com/ - more contemporary in style and location is further east and further from river but price is lower

http://www.paris-hotel-stjacques.com/en/ - good location, lots of parisian charm, rooms a little larger than some

http://www.hoteljardindecluny.com/en/page/hotel.2.html - great location, actual queens and kings available (avoid the classic room, it's very small), modern chain in appearance

Hi Phlip, glad you locked in a hotel. When you're traveling last minute you sort of have to take what you can get. The area around the Luxembourg Gardens is very nice and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. As far as must sees, mine would be the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Napoleon's Tomb, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, and probably a 1 hour cruise on the Seine. Get a good guidebook and see what interests you and your wife. Hope you have a wonderful time in Paris (my favorite city)!

So nice, every one of you who responded with excellent input. I have printed and will keep, as I already know that this first trip to Paris will not be my last one. The hotel that we finally went with is called Hotel Odeon Saint-Germain. Looks to be a little north of Luxembourg Gardens and not far from the Seine. Again, we will research every hotel suggestion we received for the future. We contacted the hotel asking their suggestions for transportation from the airport. Their suggestion is as follows:

"From Charles De Gaulle Airport , you could catch the RER B direction Saint Rémy Les Chevreuse until Saint Michel Notre Dame.
From there you can catch the metro number 4 until Odéon station. We are a couple of minutes walk from there. Total trip is about one hour thirty minutes."

My wife doesn't travel very light. Does the above instructions sound accurate and is it doable with 2 suitcases and a carry on?
Again, I wish personally thank each one of you who took the time to share your knowledge.

Hi Philp, I would take a taxi, especially if you have several suitcases. You'll be tired from the flight and probably not up to messing around with trains and busses. Get in the official taxi line. The fare will be $55. Hope you enjoy your trip!

Hi Donna,

If it is $55 or EUR55, not too bad. Would Uber be another good option? We used it once here in the states, and it was more cost effective. Thanks again Donna!

If you want to rest your "dogs" take the night cruise on the Seine departing from Pont D' Alma...has to be late, after dark...beautiful way to see the city at night...can combine with night time Eiffel tower visit.

Don't travel with 2 suitcases for a short trip you will regret it...take taxis to and from airport if this is the case...getting over loaded with suitcases is a bad start to any trip...I pack a 22" roller and put a flat nylon medium duffel bag on the bottom of my suitcase to put purcahses in my suitcase ( breakables etc) check the 22" on the way back and the clothing and soft goods go in my duffel bag as a carry on.....

Hi Phil, sorry 55 euros for the taxi. I haven't used Uber in Paris but you could check it out and see if it's more cost effective for you. Enjoy your trip!