Just booked airfare to Paris for Feb
We just booked on the Air Canada sale and got airfare for $585 CAD. I will be in Paris for my 40th birthday. I have two questions : one, I heard that in February there is a school break there. Does anybody know when that is, and if it affects tourists in any way (I know the airport would be more crowded, but do the museums offer special programs for kids, or anything like that?). Second question is about Jules Verne restaurant at the Eiffel Tower. I read you can have a prix fixe menu for lunch for about 85 euro. Is the experience really worth it? It is hyped up because of where it is? Should I consider it for my birthday or should I just pick a nice restaurant elsewhere? I wouldn't exactly identify myself as a "foodie".
Any other comments regarding February travel to Paris would be welcomed. Thanks in advance.
Andrea
Peterborough, Ontario Canada 10/30/09
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Cool fare, congratulations!
French schools rotate the February break, but it usually covers the last two weeks of the month. Tourist facilities (hotels, infrastructure, holiday cottages) tend to be more crowded, and sometimes more expensive, during French school holiday periods. For the Winter holiday season, note that French ski slopes are particularly busy at times when two Zones are on holiday. It seems that a lot of Parisians take the kiddies out of town and hit the slopes during Winter break. You can see all the schedules at French School Holidays.
Most all museums publish their schedule of events on their websites, for example the Louvre has an extensive list of public and private events at their web site.
You can read reviews of the Jules Vern, over 100 of them, at Tripadvisor.com They range from "Amazing" to "the very worst of Paris," but they average out to a four out of five on their scale. Eating a hot dog at the very top of the Tower is my best lunch in Paris.
Been there, done that. Jules Verne is memorable, but there are so many good restaurants in Paris. And don't restrict your self to the 5 star touristy areas. Check Rick's suggestions. Spread yourself around. I've been to Paris 4 times and can't get enough of it. We just bought a house in France as a base of operations and hope to spend MUCH more time in Paris.
A few years ago we did a fixed price lunch -- much more reasonable. It was truly worth it. A very nice, white table cloth restaurant, good food, and a terrific view. I don't know if I would do a 85E dinner. I think look somewhere for a dinner at that price level.
Thanks everybody. I'm trying to think of something wonderfully unique and Parisian for my 40th b-day (which will be a Monday). Maybe I'll skip the expensive meal and factor that money into a better hotel.
I'm trying to equal, if not outdo, a good friend who celebrated her 40th in a gay piano bar on Mykonos.
Another of Alain Ducasse's restaurants is Aux Lyonnais -- went there for one of my b'day dinners. It is in an 1890's bistro and probably looks much the same as then. My only complaint is they change the menu daily so you may get lucky or you may not. I loved one visit and didn't like the second, although my husband was happy with both dinners. The atmosphere, IMO, was very Parisian and exactly what I wanted. You can check out their website for a better look. It's also cheaper than Jules Verne.
I think doing a lunch or dinner at Jules Verne would be a wonderful experience for your birthday, if you want to do it -- go for it! You get the Eiffel Tower and fabulous dining experience rolled into one. The only thing I would say is in February, the weather might not be that great, visibility wise. Of course there are other fabulous places for a memorable meal in Paris also. I had lunch at Le Grand Vefour and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
We went to Paris in Feb many years ago. It was cold, but I kept thinking that cold in Paris is better than cold in Virginia. We had a great time. We took our daughter to dinner in the Jules Verne restaurant and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Magnificent views.
Le Vieux Bistro at 14, rue du Cloître-Notre-Dame was also a favorite restaurant.