BudgetTravel

Sandra Gustafson: Keep it simple. Wear light cottons, tailored slacks or skirts and avoid jogging shoes, baseball caps and wild printed outfits. Dark colors are best. Your husband will feel comfortable in slacks and a nice shirt, perhaps a turtle neck sweater or shirt and a jacket. He won't need a tie unless you are dining in fancy restaurants.

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Sun Prairie, Wis.: I want to use Hyatt Gold Passport points to stay in Paris for our very first visit to Europe. We will be spending 4 nights in Paris and there are 2 Hyatts other than the airport location. Which location would you suggest we stay at. My husband and our 19-year-old son will be traveling to Paris in May. Thank you.

Sandra Gustafson: I vote for the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome, a luxurious hotel in a dynamite location.

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Lakewood, Colo.: We will be in Paris over the New Year's holiday with 2 teenage girls. Do you have suggestions for restaurants that are fun and not stuffy?

Thanks,

Gale

Sandra Gustafson: Brasserie Bofinger is a wonderful old brasserie near the Bastille. It has masses of mirrors, brass, stained glass and wood carvings dekpicting five continents. Reservations essential and far in advance for holidays. 01-42-72-87-82. Another festive choice is La Coupole in Montparnasse. This was the command post for the movers and shakers of the 20s and 30s in Paris. Today it remains as a Parisian favorite. Some nights there is dancing in the basement. lacoupoleparis.com, 01-43-20-14-20. Same reservation policy. I know they have a special meal for New Year's Eve.

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Woodbridge, Va.: We will be celebrating my fiftieth birthday in Paris, February 2008. We've never been to Paris at all, let alone in winter. From weather considerations to what activities are available--how best should we plan this trip?

Thank you,