:: Bourg Tibourg : In the heart of Marais, little sister to Hotel Costes, this hotel has a beautiful soul and a fabulous breakfast, with windows overlooking the Parisian streets below and is surrounded with lovely bars and restaurants : 19 Rue de Bourg-Tibourg : fr. 230 euros (180 euros for a single room w/ bath)

:: Hotel de Petit Moulin : Try this Christian Lacroix beauty, book early and get in before the fashionistas : 29/31 rue du Poitou, 4e : Tel : 01 42 74 10 10 : email : Metro: Saint Sébastien Froissard or Filles du Calvaire (line 8) fr. 190 euros

:: Hotel Belle Juliette: In the heart of St Germain is brand new and has its own spa and restaurant : 92 Rue du Cherche-Midi : 01 42 22 97 40 : fr 300 euros

If you want to stay in Montmartre then Mama Shelter (20e) and Hotel Particulier are the best picks. Walk in the footsetps of Amelie in this artists quarter begind the incredible Sacre Coeur.

:: The Collection : 33 rue de Poitou, Marais (4e) : Tu-Sa 12-7

:: Merci : 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais 3e: Tel 0142 77 01 90 : Open Mo-Sa 10-7

:: Le Petit Atelier de Paris : 31 rue de Montmorency, 3e : Tel 01 44 54 91 40 : Open Th-Sa 1-8 : blog

:: Eiffel Tower : Open 7 days 9.30am-11pm : & Notre Dame : 6 Place du Parvis Notre Dame

:: Gardens : Tuileries (1st) or Luxembourg Gardens (6th)

:: Hire a bike and discover something a little bit different : La Cite or the Institut du Monde Arabe & Mosque for a Moroccan salon de the experience 7 days 9-11.30am

:: Le Café Marly : Take café and patissiere by the Louvre's magnificent glass pyramid : 93, Rue Rivoli : 01 49 26 06 60

:: Bread & Roses : 7, rue de Fleurus, 6th : 01 4222 0606 : All-day dining M-Sa

:: Laduree : Take tea & macarons in one of their gorgeous salons : Champs Elysee (there is a bar there as well) : 16 Rue Royale 8th (nr Pl de la Madeleine) : another in St Germain : 21 rue Bonaparte : open 7 days)

:: Musee d'Orsay : 1, rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 7th : closed Mon : open til 9.45pm Thu : stay for lunch in the most beautiful room in Paris

:: Hotel Le Meurice : 228 rue de Rivoli : Tel 01 44 58 10 10 : Try the set menu for lunch at Le Meurice Restaurant or relax in the bar for a light meal at Restaurant le Dali, this hotel is a sight to behold

:: Cafe Constant : 139 rue Saint-Dominique, 7th : Tél 01 47 53 73 34 : 8.30-10.30 closed Mon :: or try a cave a manger - wine shop restaurant. Nearby is another winner in St Germain (6e) the ever popular Le Comptoir : get there early for lunch and book for dinner : 9 Carrefour de l'Odéon Saint Germain : 01 43 29 12 05

:: Georges : See the sparkling Eiffel Tower from the roof of the Pompidou Centre : Modern Art Museum by day and killer views by night : Place Georges Pompidou : Tel 01 44 78 12 33

:: Cristal Room : Galerie-Musée Baccarat : 11 place des Etats-Unis : Tel 01 40 22 11 10 : email : M-Sa : L & D

:: Chez Julien : 1 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe : Tel 01 42 78 31 64 : it's adorable, you'll love it

:: Shop at Le Bon Marche : don't miss the Grande Epicierie (the food hall on the ground level)
38 Rue de Sevres, 7th : M: Sevres Babylon

Museums : You have to see at least one : My pick is the Musee Rodin (7th): see the thinker and the lovely gardens : 79 Rue de Varenne : closed Mon & free on Sunday

Markets : weather food or flea : Rue Mouffetard (start at Rue de l'Epee de Bois) 5e : Tu-Sa 8-1 & 4-7 : Su 8-1 :: Marche Raspail (Organic Market) : Blvd Raspail b/w rue Cherche-Midi & rue de Rennes, 6e : Su only and the best flea markets are Clingnancourt (Les Puces de Saint-Ouen) 18e : 48 rue Jules Valles : Sa,Su,M 7.30-6 and Vanves (Marche aux Puces de la Port de Vanves) 14e : Sa & Su : Ave de la Porte de Vanves and surrounding streets (don't be disheartened when the market looks like fakes and cheap clothes, keep walking til you find the real deal, you'll know when you get there.

Go to a museum without checking the opening hours, many are closed on Monday

Queue for hours : buy a museum pass

Go in August : everything is closed as Paris empties and Parisians are away on their summer holiday, September marks the 'return' of everyone into the city

Chateau du Versaille : Tel 01 30 83 78 00 : open fr. 9am : closed Mon : take a picnic and bask by the river : take the train or take join a tour

Chateau Robert : sleeps 18 : b/w Bordeaux & Biarritz & comes with a chef that cooks organic food from the gardens : yoga retreats are held here as well

Giverny Gardens - Claude Monet's waterlilies come to life : 60 min train ride out of Paris or book through the excellent France Tourisme tours : Open Apr-Nov : 02 32 51 28 21



Arrondissments:
Louvre (1e)
Bourse (2e)
Temple (3e)
Le Marais (4e)
Latin Quarter (5e)
St Germain (6e)
Eiffel Tower (7e)
Champs Elysee (8e)
Opera (9e)
Gare du Nord (10e)
Bastille (11e)
Montmartre (18e)
Belleville (20e)

If I did one thing when in Hobart, it would be to eat at cool wine bar & restaurant Garagistes : 103 Murray St dinner Wed-Sat no bookings : you can book for Sunday lunch. & you can't leave without visiting MONA.

:: The Islington : 321 Davey St : 6220 2123 : small, luxe hotel with a delightful garden : 11 rooms: fr. $300 - $550. If you are after more of a country feel, vist their sister hotel, The Priory Lodge, a beautifully restored 4 bedroom tudor house 1hr out of Hobart

:: Henry Jones Art Hotel 25 Hunter St : 6210 7700 : Request Oriental Suite : Mt Wellington views + spa : Located on Hobart’s Victoria dock : 56 rooms most with water views : fr. A$220

:: Self contained accommodation options are 5* Sullivans Cove and gorgeous European inspired & architectural heritage awarded The Last Villa (6kms from the CBD in Sandy Point - I love the Barcelona room fr $285) and The Hobart Cottage, a 5 minute walk into Hobart's centre : fr. $145 - $165. Stock up on fresh food at The Hill Street Grocer : 109 Hill Street, West Hobart : the way a grocery stores should be

:: Macquarie St : Ruby's Room childrens shop @ 127 : Store & Co @ 130 : Open Mon-Sat is really gorgeous

:: Luxe : fashion fix : 134 Liverpool St : 6236 9902 : Open Weekdays 9:30am-5:30pm; Sat 9:30am-4:30pm

:: Love & Clutter : 31 Murray St : 6224 2222 : on the same st (up the other end) is the excellent Cupping Room @105 Murray St for a latte (next door to Garagistes) cross back to visit Inside at 90 Murray St & The Depository in the adjacent laneway

:: Salamanca Market, Salamanca : for art, craft, fresh produce & food every Saturday between 8.30am and 3pm : rain, hail or shine. Check out nearby Hobart Bookshop : art, design books : 22 Salamanca Square : 62231803 : Another all hand made Tasmanian store : The Maker: Shop 5, 77 Salamanca Place, Battery Point : 6223 4949 The Maker : (the crafty cavernous corner near Tricycle café) : just up the street is Warwick Oakman Antiques packed with eccentric & rare ephemera : 62 Sandy Bay Rd Battery Point : 6224 9904 : also on Sandy Bay rd is Yeltour @ 159 : Mini @143b

:: Tricycle Cafe & Bar : 71 Salamanca Pl : 6223 7228 : for Hobart's best scrambled eggs

:: Dev'Lish Espresso (Breakfast & Lunch) 137 Macquarie St Great coffee, tarts and sandwiches (tiny little place which donates $ from every coffee to help save the Tasmanian devils)

:: For a quick coffee don't miss cosy award Winning café : Villino : 30 Criterion St :6231 0890 or Yellow Bernard : 109 Collins St

:: Pigeon Hole: 93 Golbourn St, West Hobart: 6236 9306 : Open Tue-Sat 8:30am -4:30pm: Panini, bread & pastries

:: For low emissions tapas head to Ethos @ 100 Elizabeth St 03 6231 1165 (for coffee, lunch or dinner – a real highlight) from Tues - Sat 7.30am - late & Sun-Mon 7.30am-3pm

:: In North Hobart you'll find Sweet Envy : open 8.30-6 closed Sun: a gorgeous patisserie at 341 Elizabeth St : 6234 8805

:: Smolt : L&D : 2 Salamanca Sq : 6224 2554 : Fresh & modern or walk a few steps further (out the front of a little kids play set) to popular Machine Laundry Cafe : 12 Salamanca Sq : 6224 9922 for great coffee & cafe fare

:: Feeling like some fancy French? Marque IV* : Lunch Wed-Fri and Dinner 7 days : Elizabeth St Pier: 6224 4428 : try the 10 course degustation or Remi de Provence : 252 Macquarie St : 6223 3933

:: Piccolo : 323a Elizabeth Street : 6234 4844 : wine bar/restaurant : booking essential: Open lunch & dinner Tue-Sun. Licensed

:: Prefer fine wine: Tavern 42 Degrees South (T42) : Elizabeth Street Pier: 6224 7742 : Cool place for a bev on the waterfront: Open 7.30-late 7 days or try Grape Bar & Bottleshop : 55 Salamanca PI : 6224 0611 : Open 10.30-late 7 days perfect for wine and antipasto platter

:: MONA (Museum of Old & New Art) : Opened Jan '11, free entry, world class : 55 Main Road Berridale, Hobart 6277 9900 : a 15 minute drive from Hobart or pre-book the ferry : behind the museum is the incredible Moorilla Estate winery where you can stay in stunning pavillions overlooking the Derwent river : take swimmers for the heated pool : try their Moo Brew beer or Muse wine at the cellar door

:: The Agrarian Kitchen : A sustainable farm-based cooking school situated in a 19th century schoolhouse at Lachlan (pronounced ‘Laklan’), 45 minutes from Hobart in the Derwent Valley. Book early!

:: Relax : down at the Pier try some of Australia's best fish & chips @ Fish Frenzy : Lunch & Dinner : Elizabeth St Pier, Sullivans Cove : 6231 2134 : Open 12-3pm & 5.30-9pm M-F & 12-9pm weekends and public holidays :: Breathe some of the world's freshest air : Check out Discover Tasmania for more :: Get pampered : Jillian Hale 2 hr Classic treatment: foot & leg massage + facial: 131 Macquarie St : 6224 5955

:: Don't be disspointed : call ahead to book as lots of places close in winter and those that are open get busy

:: Don't forget about the kids : check out the Cadbury Factory and watch chocolate being made : 100 Cadbury Rd Claremont

:: Don't forget to rug up - its chilly in Tassie and make sure you try lots of their beautiful wines

:: Port Arthur (90 mins out of Hobart – first 30 mins will get you to the airport) is beautiful and historic

:: Bruny Island :: Take your car on the ferry (no bookings, takes 15 mins) : Ferry terminal is a 35min drive south of Hobart to Kettering : or take a 3 hour eco cruise around Bruny Island. Don't miss a taste test at the Bruny Island Cheese Company : shops on island open 7 days : On your way to Bruny Island, explore the eastern shores of the Huon River and D'Entrecasteaux Channel spend some time in Cygnet: be sure to stop for a country lunch at Red Velvet Lounge at 26 Mary St, Cygnet : 6295 0466 : The Coal River and Huon Valleys are an easy drive from Hobart

:: Most people make the drive from Hobart to Launceston : if you're one of them be sure to stop off at Coco Blue for some gorgeous homewares : 80 High St Campbell Town : 6381 1150 and pause for lunch at the Companion Bakery at Oatlands : 106 High St Oatlands : 6254 0088 : when you get to Launceston (ABH guide here) check out the wine regions of the Tamar Valley (north of Launceston) and the Derwent (well worth the trip is 15 min drive to Meadowbank Estate for lunch) :: or take a trip along the the sunny East Coast (map), the highlights are (from top) are the natural beauty of the Bay of Fires & sample wines en route to Freycinet and Wineglass Bay on the sunny east coast stay at the super luxe Saffire Lodge : do the : Maria Island Walk (pronounced ‘Mariah’) award winning tourism : 4 day walk departing Hobart 3x a week from Oct-Apr: Max. 8 guests

images from L-R : MarqueIV, The Agrarian Kitchen, The Islington's gardens, Maria Island Walk