Just returned from Paris...

There is a discount one-day ticket for Rodin and Orsay museums available that saves 2 Euro. I bought a ticket for 12 Eu at the Rodin (no line), spent some time there, then walked over to D'Orsay and went into the reservations entrance (no line) and spent time there.

The fencing at the Champs du Mars seems to have been taken down.

In the rue Cler area, I stayed at Hotel du Turenne this time; it was quite satisfactory compared with H. Leveque and I had my own bathroom for 1 Eu less per night. The public area on the ground floor is spacious with many windows and available for use throughout the day. Breakfast was the standard Paris hotel breakfast and not buffet-style. They have a bar, but I didn't see anybody using it. A laundromat and branch of BNP Paribas are across the street.

The Eurostar channel tunnel trip started on schedule but took an extra 45 minutes on the Paris to London leg. Most of the extra time seems to be in the tunnel; the train went very slowly thru the tunnel.

Thought I would add that the Picasso Museum is also closed for renovation and parts of the D'Orsay are also closed for reno's including a good part of Monet's exhibits on the lower level. [including Poppy Fields]
And yup, we found it pricey as well. Most expensive was 12 euros for two coffees while sitting near the Bastille. View and people watching just about made it worthwhile though!!

Yes, having drinks at a well-located cafe in Paris is a pricey experience. I won't even tell you what I paid for a diet Coke at the Cafe Flore... but you are paying for the experience not just a drink. You can stay home and have coffee, but not like in Paris!

While we didn't buy breakfast at our hotel (it was a separate charge), for 2 euro we could have coffee, with refills, in the morning. That was our morning sustenance, and any we bought elsewhere was for the atmosphere--or for a much-needed rest. Surely some other hotels offer that, also.

As follow up to previous post, the Picasso museum will reopen Oct 25 - it was closed for just a short time. I leave today & it is on my list of things to do, so I checked their website.

We visited the Musée Carnavalet in the Marais (4e arrondissement) and will go back if there is a next time. Free and very interesting.

Maureen

Yes, it is expensive! Still reeling from the nearly $20 it seemed to cost us for croissants and cafe at plastic tabletops in May, but here's the good news: it inures you for the trip to come. We had such a great time in France in May that we returned to Italy in September. We were mentally better prepared for the costs and after only a few days of labored breathing were able to get into the swing, and had a ball.

Hi Sue.. My husband and I just returned from France . We were there for 5 weeks photographing . Were all over... Paris, Burgundy, Provence, the Var. I have to tell you .. France is not expensive. even Paris, compared to Venice or Amsterdam or other big cities.

Now that the xchg is 1.25 USD to 1euro, I think it is a much improved over the summmer of 2008 where I paid $1.60 . I could have saved $200 a week on this new xchg. Go soon if you can, you may not see a better rate again.