I am almost always home in Paris for Christmas and New Year's Eve, too - mostly because so many friends love to descend on Paris at this time of year. Obviously, it's a time when people have vacation, but it's also such a romantic idea to celebrate the holidays by strolling along the elegantly lit Champs-Elysées or sipping on a spicy "vin chaud" in a corner café. The Christmas spirit hit town way before Thanksgiving and the evidence is everywhere.

If you're planning on being here to bask in the warm glow of the Christmas lights, I offer you a few words of warning: When the French shut down for a holiday, they don't joke around – they shut down. That means that shops and businesses close early on Christmas eve, stay shut tight all day Christmas day and New Year's Day, so that families can be together doing what they should be doing – dining and communing with each other.

On New Year's Eve, most all the Métro trains and buses stop running as normal, although we've seen improvements in service the last few years.

For announcements on public transportation schedules, visit http://www.ratp.fr/.

Paris shut-down is not always ideal for the tourist, who's not interested in spending these days in a hotel room because restaurants are sparsely open for service, museums are closed and shops would rather have a day of rest than take their money. So, if you're planning to be in Paris for any of the upcoming holidays, there are still endless opportunities for holiday bliss – just put a few of these typically Parisian things on your list of to-do's: Take evening strolls along the Champs-Elysées, boulevard Haussmann, the quays along the Seine and market streets all over the city to see the Christmas lights. Shop at the Christmas markets for hand-crafted gifts while sipping on "vin chaud" and listening to Christmas music.

Rent A Luxury Paris Apartment For A Cosy Stay At Home On Christmas Eve – Visit

Learn the best ways to watch your money and real estate investment grow before your very eyes... all while gazing at the world's most famous monument over a frothy café crème December 29th at the "Invest in France Seminar!" Visit http://www.parlerparis.com/liveinfrance/IIF_Paris/IIF_promo.html. And for a detailed listing with lots more in store, be sure to read Wednesday's Parler Paris Previews

Adrian Leeds' Parler Paris Free Newsletter, brings you "insider" information on Paris - a cornucopia of information and a variety of services for those who want to live in Paris or France for any part or all of their lives! She is also the editor of French Property Insider (http://www.frenchpropertyinsider), an weekly e-zine specifically about buying, renovating, renting, investing in French Property, publisher of the Insider Paris Guides (http://www.insiderparisguides.com), and provides property consultation, mortgage and search services for select clients. For more information and to receive Parler Paris free, click here: http://www.parlerparis.com/about.html Coming soon to Paris is the Invest in France one-day seminar December 29th. For more information, visit http://www.parlerparis.com/liveinfrance/IIF_Paris/IIF_home.html