Heading back to Paris!!! (Itinerary)

Your itinerary sounds lovely; leaving time to stroll and/or just sit.

Depending on how much you plan on riding the Metro/buses you might consider getting the Navigo Decouverte for all of you, rather than Carnets. You will be there from a Monday through Sunday, so it would work well for you, only needing to get enough tickets (one Carnet?) to handle the end days. Even if you do not save any money, the convenience of being able to just wave your pass at the machine, and not having to juggle tickets makes it worthwhile for us. Besides, the card makes a good souvenir, as you will want to use it when you come back to Paris the next time.

I personally would make a point to go to L'Orangerie especially since you are going to Giverny. So, I would go and compare to what you see at Giverny. I don't love the Louvre, but many do and I understand wanting to go there. The canvases at L'Orangerie are magnificent!

If the niece is into high end designers then detour of the CE down Ave. Montaigne...even if it is to window shop. I also am not a big fan of the CE as it is crowded and very commercial. I love the view of it from place de la Concorde towards the ADT but as for "strolling" it...not so much.

If you get the chance, then do try Reed in the 7th for dinner. Catherine Reed is lovely and we so enjoyed our dinner there (fabulous risotto). It is a small, charming place off rue St Domenique. Cafe Constant does make a good first night place to stop in....go early to assure you get a table. She will take good care of you and it is a cozy restaurant.

One thing to consider doing is to wander down the Promenade Plantee from the Bastille. I would imagine in May that all will be in full bloom and would make a beautiful walk. I would prefer it over spending a lot of time in the Marais....just a suggestion.

If you end up in the 6th at all, check out Un Dimanche a Paris for tea and/or their lovely pastries and desserts. The ginger/citrus macaron is too die for. The strawberry is also terrific. The chocolates are also first rate and they make great souveniers!

Your itinerary sounds just great, however. Do go to L'Orangerie!!

Thanks, nukesafe. We are defintely considering the Navigo Decouverte, for just the reason you suggest.

Denisea, hubby and I have been to Le Louvre on both previous trips and he really wants to go back. I want to do a quick highlights thing, leave him behind, grab a snack and head to L'Orangerie with niece. Then she and I can amble down CE for a couple of blocks then enjoy window shopping on Ave. Montaigne--thanks so much for the suggestion! Hubby can meet us at the Arc or for a late tea at Laduree.

Reed is on the list! I love that it's in the 7th. I'll also check out Un Dimanche a Paris. I've seen photos of the Promenade Plantee--thanks for reminding me about it.

Cheers!

I would rearrange the visit to the Jacquemart-André so you can enjoy brunch there on your second Sunday.

I think if you and your family like to do that kind of itinerary, it's fine, but a couple of the days seem like a museum death march (I can't believe you really would go to four in one day?). Are you going to force the people you are with to do all these things? because I would rebel at so many museums (I would never do the Louvre and l'Orangerie the same day and would not do two of any art museum in one day, actually).

Thanks, StCirq, I like the idea of swapping Monday and second Sunday! Doing the bus "tour" that morning would be a nice introduction for my niece to Paris and we could walk about the Marais, shop (BHV is open!), explore, perhaps stroll Promenade Plantee... If I can figure it out, this may provide a chance to also visit Hotel du Ville.

On your first day, you might collapse once you get settled in your hotel room. A casual picnic meal might be a good idea that evening, in the hotel room or the Champs de Mars, the lovely park in front of the Eiffel Tower.

I am plotting to return to Paris, myself!

Hi Christina, yeah we do like museums a lot! I love the Orsay and can't imagine not visiting it if I'm in Paris. I love Rodin's house and garden (it's museum desert to me). Hubby wants to go back to the Army Museum but niece and I will probably skip it and hang out in the area but we gotta see Napoleon's Tomb. Ideally we wouldn't see more than one "big" sight per day, but we have only so much time. This pace is not for everyone but it works for us...

Peaceout, yeah, we probably will want to collapse--jet lag hits hard. Hubby and I try to stay up 'til around 930-10pm on arrival night to help us acclimate to local time. I hope niece can hang with us old folks We are all excited about having the apartment so close to ET and the gorgeous Champs de Mars! It has a terrace with view of ET which we plan to take full advantage of.

If time permits, take the English tour of the Opera Garnier. It is fabulous and the guide shares many interesting facts and stories.

If you really love museums, you must include The Carnavalet with lunch or coffee at Place Vosges---our favorite stop after 8 visits to Paris.

If you love Monet, The Marmottan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_Marmottan_Monet
is really fantastic. L'Orangerie was really nice, but the Marmottan was beyond nice. I have to add that L'Orangerie is more convenient.

I like your research and organization. It will definitely help you in your trip.

IMO, the English tour of the Opera Garnier was the highlight of our 8th trip to Paris. If you want to see the opera house, this is a must. It's one of the few escorted tours we've taken in Paris, and we enjoyed it to the max.

Can't wait to read your trip report.

Can I make a recommendation to go to the l'Orangerie as soon as you get back from giverney? Friends of mine did that and loved it. perhaps you and your niece could go to Mont m

And I agree that you should skip the military museums if they don't interest you. Perhaps you and your niece could go to Montmartre while your husband is at the military museums?

The trip sounds lovely, I wish I was going......

TPAYT, unfortunately, the Carnavalet is off the list this time. We went on our first trip and hubby isn't keen on returning. He also kiboshed the Cluny, but I've not quite given up on going back there.

We went to the Marmottan on both our previous trips and Loved it (true highlight). But since it's not as convenient to get to and we haven't been to l'Orangerie, I left it out this time.

Thanks catcrayzf and TPAYT, for the suggestion about the tour of the Opera Garnier--sounds perfect; will try to make it happen!

Ooh sorry about my weird half sentence. It disappeared while I was typing and then reappeared after I submitted. Very odd.

Cathies, I wanted to maximize the Museum Pass so that's why I put Montmartre on same day as Giverny. I agree that it would be lovely to see the paintings right after visting the gardens so may do it anyway! Thanks for the suggestion.

Regarding the Musée de l'Armée, you might be surprised at some of the exhibits on the lower level. SO and I wandered around there last time we were in Paris and saw a couple of really interesting exhibits only tangentially about armies and wars - including a holographic exhibit of the life of DeGaulle that was really well done.

I think you meant Marmottan, not Montmartre, in your 12:49 post.

I would add the Musee Nissim de Camondo, which is a fabulous home with a poignant backstory. Include a stroll through the Parc Monceau. Having said that, I would drop at least one of the other museums to do so, as I think you are very heavy on that and Paris needs to be strolled, as well

Also, the top of the Arc at night--incredible views.

StCirq, I was talking about Montmartre because nothing there requires the Museum Pass, which we would activate the day after we get back from Giverny... I don't think we're going to make it to Marmottan this time.

MelJ, I really want to see Mus. Nissim de Camondo and if we swap Monday and Second Sunday, we can do it. Would involve missing Jacquemart Andre, which hubby and I have seen twice, though. What do y'all think for a 19 year old girl? Which might fire her imagination more, Nissim or Jacquemart?

And I am hoping to end Friday at the ADT and catch some night views!

Another question just occurred to me: Where is best place to buy our Museum Passes? ON the itinerary we are swapping Monday and Second Sunday if that helps y'all give me an idea of where to get it. Thanks!

In additon to museums, they are available at FNAC stores and other outlets. We bought ours at WebServices on rue de l'Exposition just off rue St. Dominique in the 7th. (the Constant restaurants are located on r. St. Dominque). There is also an outlet for the passes on r. Bosquet. Google Paris museum passes and you will find other places near where you are staying.

Sorry to interupt, but I have a question. I will be going to Paris this fall, and just saw your post! What is the price for the passes and what is the difference in them? If anyone could tell me I would appreicate it. Will be in Paris for 5 days. Just beginning to look at places and things to see. Thanks!

http://en.parismuseumpass.com/

Thanks!

Laduree at 75 Champs Elysee is indefinitely closed during construction. They had a fire in October or November last year (I can't remember the exact time). You may luck out and construction could be finished by May but when we saw it in December, there was quite a bit of damage.

You can try their main boutique at 16, rue Royale in the 8th (near The Madeleine Church) or my favorite stop at 21, rue Bonaparte in the 6th arrondisement. While there, you can continue to 72, rue Bonaparte and look in at Pierre Herme.

Your itinerary sounds great and I hope your niece gets all the shopping and window shopping she is dreaming of. If you still have time (for shopping, that is), she might enjoy doing some at boulevard Saint-Germain. She would enjoy that as well.

By the way, Un Dimanche a Paris on 4-6-8 Cour du Commerce Saint-Andre in the 6th (closed on Sundays - open from 11:00) besides a chocolate shop and pastry shop, also has a lounge for cocktails, salon de the and a restaurant.

Enjoy your trip!

We bought our museum passes last summer at the visitor's information desk at CDG. They were sold at face value (no surcharge), and the very helpful attendant also got us squared away with metro tickets. Super easy.

We loved Versailles, but here's my tip: when we went, we did what our guidebooks told us to do and got there first thing. Even the special museum pass line was about an hour long, and then we were crushed by crowds inside. After we made it through (mostly in one piece and wandered the gardens to our hearts content, we walked back out past the main entrance: no line. We literally walked back in without stopping even once. Maybe this is common knowledge for savvy travelers, but we were amazed! So go in the morning, but do the gardens first, then the palaces.

Have the best trip!

Back from NOLA Mardi Gras, found my password, and wanted to thank y'all for the replies.

I thought there was a way to get the pass at CDG. If we can't get them there, the location near rue st. Dominique would work. Thanks!

I did know Laduree on CE was closed and had pencilled in the rue Royale location for a nibble after l'Louvre. But maybe one of the other locations will work too.

Un Dimanche a Paris sounds great: Goes on the ever expading restaurants list. We are gonna eat great in Paris, I just know it. Now I just have to get the lingo down to ask for a reservation for three people for dinner!

Thanks for the Versailles tip. What you did makes sense! Will keep that in mind if the lines are atrocious, which obviously we are expecting them to be.

You will be there about the same time that we will and also staying in the 7th but our itinerary is a much slower paced one....no museums as it is a food and wine trip for us...just taking looong leisurely lunches doing wine tastings, looking for good chocolate shops and visiting food markets, Batobus for relaxing boat ride on the Seine...sort of hop on and hop off, evening Seine river cruise with a bottle of bubbly of course!

We did the same as Mango on our trip to Versailles, we went to the gardens first and rented bikes to ride around. We really enjoyed the hamlet (I think it was called) and by the time we made it back to the palace, the lines were almost gone.

Your trip sounds fun, have a wonderful time!

I have to tell you that the macarons at Un Dimanche a Paris blows Laduree away. I know Laduree has the name but my God, the giner/citrus and strawberry at UDaP, are heavenly! It is such a beautiful restaurant and shop and they are friendly. We had a clerk that spoke perfect English and was so helpful. The salted caramels were also terrific.

Have a great trip!