Bonsoir (and anyone else)-looking for your Paris tips

[VerityBrulee]

Our long awaited holiday starts on Sunday, I am so looking forward to it, and if any striking French worker sabotages it there will be hell to pay!

We will be staying in the 7th near Les Invalides, any favourite spots for shopping/eating with dc/ ummissable tourist attractions?

I am planning a trip to Bonpoint on Rue du Tournon with dd and want to go to Merci, Bon Marche and the Grand Epicerie.

Also, is it winter coat or autumn jacket weather there?

Thanks

You do know we haven't any petrol at the moment. Hope you're only on the Metro.

It's cold but very sunny right now. Coat and sunglasses .

Jardin du Luxembourg is at its best right now. Go for a stroll after Bonpoint! And definitely go the BonTon flagship (three doors up from Merci) as well.

Check out the following French labels: Sandro, Maje, B&SH, Zadig & Voltaire, Vanessa Bruno (and Athé by Vanessa Bruno), APC. They are all in the part of the Bon Marché that is above the Grande Epicerie (take the escalator opposite the macarons) and in shops as well.

What sort of food do your DCs like?

Oh, go to Caravane Chambre 19 for fabulous bedroom deco inspiration.

How old are your DTDs, MadameDeathstare?

Thanks Bonsoir, those labels are right up my street. I have been v abstemious in spending in antcipation of Parisienne splurge.

Dc pretty good about food, will try anything. They are 6, 10 and 12.

We have tickets to the Monet exhibition, boys want to go to the Egyptian section in Louvre and Jardin des Plantes, I want to go to Versailles. Do you think the science museum is worth a visit?

Cité des Sciences at La Villette? Yes, definitely - all children, especially boys, adore it.

Fontainebleau has been refurbished and is fabulous, especially on a sunny day when you can go out on the boating lake and take a horse-draw carriage round the grounds.

Nine year old girls and already thinking about Paris shopping . Start saving now!

They will love Soeur but you'd be better going off there for inspiration only and then approximating the look for 1/4 the price in a good Monoprix!

For food, there is a great Italian mini-chain called Little Italy that has two outlets in rue Montorgueuil/rue des Petits-Carreaux, one called Little Italy and one called Il Tre (this one does great pizza) that are very friendly and good value.

Children all love Lebanese (chawarma) and you can eat cheaply standing up at the bar at Noura at the corner of Avenue Marceau and Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie.

If you are staying in an apartment with a kitchen (microwave), go to Monoprix and buy the Costes (as in the restaurants) brand ready-meal heat ups - very acceptable standard.

Wow Bonsoir - you've given me some great ideas too as I'm stuck in western banlieus for Toussaint. Assuming the RER's working may have a little Bon Marché session with teenage daughters (although will have very grumpy 8year old son to drag round as well).

Hope you have a good trip Madam.

Thanks, great tips, Bonsoir, just the packing to do now

Enjoy your shopping hatty and madam!

Do you know Bimba & Lola VerityBrulee? It's Spanish and has two shops in Paris, one almost opposite Goyard on rue Saint-Honoré. Has some fab accessories that are cheaper than French.

Btw if your DCs like animals, could be worth going to Deyrolle - amazing taxidermy shop near St Germaine. Just Google for details. My brother and I were astounded - stuffed monkey riding stuffed elephant, for instance. I read there had been a fire since I went, but it was mostly restored.

Last time I went to Paris we visited the musee du quai Branly, which I think pre teens would love. We (me and dh) really enjoyed it (especially dh who is really into anthropology).