We'd all love to visit Paris on a 5-star budget, stay in a luxury hotel, and have an expert staff on hand to coordinate everything from restaurant reservations to private tours of the Louvre. While that may be a bit of a rêve for most of us, you can get tips on the latest happenings (luxe and not-so-luxe) from the city’s concierges-bloggeurs.
Le Discret by Hotel Lutetia
Hotel Lutetia, in Saint-Germain-des-Pres, is a relative newcomer to the blogosphere, starting its online tip sheet last February. Le Discret (the Discreet Person) posts helpful tidbits on what to see and do during your Paris stay, as well as where to eat and shop. Top tip: the Fromagerie Barthélémy in the 7th Arrondissement, a cheese shop with over 250 types of cheese that is frequented by notable Parisians like Charlotte Gainsbourg and Catherine Deneuve.
Secrets de Concierges by Hotel Le Bristol
Written by the staff of one of the city’s seven so-called palace hotels, Le Bristol’s Secrets de Concierges mainly updates readers on new and notable events and exhibitions. As a bonus, there’s a special section called “Fa-aron’s Diary” filled with pictures of Le Bristol’s resident chat asleep in various locations around the hotel. Top tip: a special exhibit of works by Berthe Morisot, one of the most famous female Impressionists, at the little-known Musée Marmottan in the 16th (on now through July 1).
Saint James Paris Blog
The city’s only chateau hotel does a fair share of bragging and self-promotion on its blog, but St. James Paris is also the spot to find reviews of the latest restaurant openings and a handy monthly round-up of what’s new in Paris called the Concierges’ Gazette. Top tip: Les Jalles, a restaurant featuring southwest French cuisine that opened April 2 in the 2nd Arrondissement near the Place Vendôme and offers a 42-euro prix-fixe lunch.
For general trip-planning information, see our Paris destination guide, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates and travel deals on flights, hotels, and vacation packages.
