Myself and my wife are going to Frankfurt on 27th Dec (leaving Chicago
on 26th) and coming back on 2nd Jan'05. Going to Paris by train or
flight is also in our mind. This is our first visit to Europe.
How to best spend our time around Germany and Paris during New Year
and during rest of the vacation time?
My preference is to spend the New Year night in Paris. But, can we
make it back to Frankfurt by 11 AM on 2nd Jan to catch flight back to
Chicago? I am going to see my German friend in Frankfurt. Outside
Frankfurt we are going to be all by ourselves. How to save money on
travel and accommodation? Is it going to be too expensive to spend New
Year in Paris? What are my options?

Hi bhamwhiz,

Paris is an excellent choice in Europe, you will see it is really
worthy. I recommend to you to take the train from Germany to Paris,
there is a high speed train train called "Thalys":

http://www.thalys.com/be/en

About the New Year prices in Paris, they are a bit expensive in
general but there is a really big Hotel offer there. Anyway, it should
be posible to find good prices even in high season. Here you have a
well known hotel company in Frace, with a variety of cheap and
expensive hotels in Paris:

http://www.accorhotels.com

Hope it helps... and 'Bon voyage'

Lannaeus

PS: Don't forget the fireworks around the Eiffel tower the New Year day!