Leving for Paris on May 21st....here's what I have so far!
May 16th, 2006, 03:32 PM
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Leving for Paris on May 21st....here's what I have so far!
Ok....so it's official, I am actually going Paris!! Yayyyy for me! LOL, as I try to rid myself of the butterflies in my stomach, I am also trying to get organized in terms of where to go, what to bring etc. I am going to list what I have come up with thus far, and any suggestions or crtiques you guys have please feel free to share! Thanks so much for all your help.
Trip dates: Departure May 21, Return May 29th
Packing:
-toiletries
-1 pair black capri pants
-1 pair dark jean capri
-1 pair full length jean
-1 pair yoga/jogging capris to be worn on plane
-5/6 short sleeve shirts
-1 blazer
-3 cardigans
-1 pair leather walking shoes
-1 pair leather sandals
-1 leather purse
-socks/underwear for each day
+++ all the little extras that dont need mentioning.
Schedule:
Our flight arrives at 12:25 on the 22nd, we (myself and my friend) would like to check-in, freshen up and head out to grab a quick bite, and spend the rest of the afternoon/evening wandering around the area our hotel is in (HOTEL DU COMMERCE in the 5th). We will probably call it a night fairly early since we will be exhausted.
Other than that our schedule is VERY flexible so we have not yet defined what we want to do on what specific day, we were hoping to see what we feel like doing once we were there.
Just to give you an idea of what we are interested in, here are our priorities:
1)Major sites (eiffel tower, louvre, champs elysees, sacre coeur etc etc.)
2) SHOPPING!!!!
3)EATING!!!
4)We would love to see some of the "passages" that Paris is famous for (I have printed out a few threads posted by others THANKS for the help!)
5) We would like to see the Catacombs
6)We were thinking of doing a day trip....our two top choices are Brussels and Chartres (totally different places but those are the two we are most interested in)
7)Check out a few hip jazz clubs
8)Did I mention shopping and eating???? LOL
If you guys want to add anything or have any suggestions please feel free to comment! I would love to know what others think!
Just to give you some info on myself and my travel mate, I am 23 she is 19, we are both female, Canadian, both fluent in French and up for just about anything!
Thanks again!!!!
Trip dates: Departure May 21, Return May 29th
Packing:
-toiletries
-1 pair black capri pants
-1 pair dark jean capri
-1 pair full length jean
-1 pair yoga/jogging capris to be worn on plane
-5/6 short sleeve shirts
-1 blazer
-3 cardigans
-1 pair leather walking shoes
-1 pair leather sandals
-1 leather purse
-socks/underwear for each day
+++ all the little extras that dont need mentioning.
Schedule:
Our flight arrives at 12:25 on the 22nd, we (myself and my friend) would like to check-in, freshen up and head out to grab a quick bite, and spend the rest of the afternoon/evening wandering around the area our hotel is in (HOTEL DU COMMERCE in the 5th). We will probably call it a night fairly early since we will be exhausted.
Other than that our schedule is VERY flexible so we have not yet defined what we want to do on what specific day, we were hoping to see what we feel like doing once we were there.
Just to give you an idea of what we are interested in, here are our priorities:
1)Major sites (eiffel tower, louvre, champs elysees, sacre coeur etc etc.)
2) SHOPPING!!!!
3)EATING!!!
4)We would love to see some of the "passages" that Paris is famous for (I have printed out a few threads posted by others THANKS for the help!)
5) We would like to see the Catacombs
6)We were thinking of doing a day trip....our two top choices are Brussels and Chartres (totally different places but those are the two we are most interested in)
7)Check out a few hip jazz clubs
8)Did I mention shopping and eating???? LOL
If you guys want to add anything or have any suggestions please feel free to comment! I would love to know what others think!
Just to give you some info on myself and my travel mate, I am 23 she is 19, we are both female, Canadian, both fluent in French and up for just about anything!
Thanks again!!!!
May 16th, 2006, 06:03 PM
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I do want to add something:
HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME!!!
I get so excited when I read that a young person is making their first trip to Paris (or London, or anywhere). I love Paris and wish I had first visited when I was your age (I waited until middle age). But, there is a side of Paris I will never enjoy, that you will be able to.
Be sure to write a trip report. I can't wait to hear.
HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME!!!
I get so excited when I read that a young person is making their first trip to Paris (or London, or anywhere). I love Paris and wish I had first visited when I was your age (I waited until middle age). But, there is a side of Paris I will never enjoy, that you will be able to.
Be sure to write a trip report. I can't wait to hear.
May 16th, 2006, 06:13 PM
#4
You must bring a dress or skirt with a top that goes from day to night..just in case you go or invited to someplace that means to get out of those pants.
I think I posted th passages for you on the wrong thread.
I think I posted th passages for you on the wrong thread.
May 16th, 2006, 06:15 PM
#5
May 16th, 2006, 06:32 PM
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I'm a believer of pack-light (and pay-for-laundry-service). Here are the reasons to pack light (not to mention you are going to do a lot of shopping):
- The rooms in Paris are tiny.
- Hassle in transportation, both locally and internationally. If you live the the states, and need to change flight on your way back, it can be a even bigger problem. While you are waiting for your 2nd suitcase (if not all) at transfer, your next flight may be leaving. Reasons can be: delay of the first flight; the suitcases got stuck somewhere; etc.
Anyway have fun!
- The rooms in Paris are tiny.
- Hassle in transportation, both locally and internationally. If you live the the states, and need to change flight on your way back, it can be a even bigger problem. While you are waiting for your 2nd suitcase (if not all) at transfer, your next flight may be leaving. Reasons can be: delay of the first flight; the suitcases got stuck somewhere; etc.
Anyway have fun!
May 16th, 2006, 06:40 PM
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I agree with cigalechanta about bringing a skirt. They are great for going from day to evening but more important they stay much fresher than pants and if Paris is going to get warm, skirts are cooler on hot days.
Have a great time! Paris is a wonderful city.
Have a great time! Paris is a wonderful city.
May 16th, 2006, 07:22 PM
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Three Cardigans? One may be all you need. Be sure to bring a small photo of yourself to affix to a Carte Orange rail pass. It is a great deal. The "rules" say it should be a passport-type photo of yourself, but it doesn't have to be that exact. You'll be able to buy this on Monday AM.
I recently returned from Paris and stayed on Rue Descartes, near your Hotel - I am green with envy! This is a great area of Paris. Near you is Place Maubert - be sure to ask your hotel staff when the Street market is happening on that Place. It will be on Thursday and one other day. Neat, neat street market! Lots of cool cheeses and fresh produce. My wife found a nice scarf there for a fraction of what we saw anywhere else. There is a user freindly laundromat within a block of your hotel (down the hill) and a small Franprix grocery store just up the hill, that also sells cheap wine. (Many nicer wine sores are also close) Be sure to pack a corkscrew.
AS you walk up rue de la Montagne Sainte Genevieve, towards the Pantheon, you will come to a very small square with about 5 or six bars around it. Thse bars were heavily frequented by twentysomethings who drank between midnight and 2 am, whereupon they assumed the life mission of standing outside my hotel window and giving my sleepy family a 30 minute vocal recital. From this Square, take the left fork on to Rue Descarte, and immediately on your right you will see a poorly marked Cybercafe. 30 min online for 2e and an hour for 3e. Good way to check email if you need it. The place is run by a cute guy who speaks good english. If you walk to the west from your hotel to the Cardinal Lemoine metro station, right at the entrance to the station is a very small bakery with a red awning that, when it was open, usually had a line of locals outside of it, and we found that they had the best pastries of anywhere we tried. Not far from there, just off of Rue Monge, between Cardinal Lemoine and Place Maubert, is "Breakfast in America" (BIA) In addition to a no-kidding good breakfast, this is where you can get a large to-go cup of coffee in a genuine styrofoam cup for 2e. As much as we tried to not act like Americans while we were there, after 4 or so days, we finally had to break down and get a large coffee to go to get ourselves rolling. BIA is run by a neat ex-pat American lady who knows the city like the back of her hand. When we complained about the sleep depriving recitals we were being subjected to, she just curled her lip at us and said, "Dude, this IS Paris!" LOL!!
Definitely, the catacombs are a very good idea. About 3 PM is a good time to get there, and when you come out, do not be hesitant to ask directions to the nearest Metro, as you will be disoriented. Ok, that's enough for now.
I recently returned from Paris and stayed on Rue Descartes, near your Hotel - I am green with envy! This is a great area of Paris. Near you is Place Maubert - be sure to ask your hotel staff when the Street market is happening on that Place. It will be on Thursday and one other day. Neat, neat street market! Lots of cool cheeses and fresh produce. My wife found a nice scarf there for a fraction of what we saw anywhere else. There is a user freindly laundromat within a block of your hotel (down the hill) and a small Franprix grocery store just up the hill, that also sells cheap wine. (Many nicer wine sores are also close) Be sure to pack a corkscrew.
AS you walk up rue de la Montagne Sainte Genevieve, towards the Pantheon, you will come to a very small square with about 5 or six bars around it. Thse bars were heavily frequented by twentysomethings who drank between midnight and 2 am, whereupon they assumed the life mission of standing outside my hotel window and giving my sleepy family a 30 minute vocal recital. From this Square, take the left fork on to Rue Descarte, and immediately on your right you will see a poorly marked Cybercafe. 30 min online for 2e and an hour for 3e. Good way to check email if you need it. The place is run by a cute guy who speaks good english. If you walk to the west from your hotel to the Cardinal Lemoine metro station, right at the entrance to the station is a very small bakery with a red awning that, when it was open, usually had a line of locals outside of it, and we found that they had the best pastries of anywhere we tried. Not far from there, just off of Rue Monge, between Cardinal Lemoine and Place Maubert, is "Breakfast in America" (BIA) In addition to a no-kidding good breakfast, this is where you can get a large to-go cup of coffee in a genuine styrofoam cup for 2e. As much as we tried to not act like Americans while we were there, after 4 or so days, we finally had to break down and get a large coffee to go to get ourselves rolling. BIA is run by a neat ex-pat American lady who knows the city like the back of her hand. When we complained about the sleep depriving recitals we were being subjected to, she just curled her lip at us and said, "Dude, this IS Paris!" LOL!!
Definitely, the catacombs are a very good idea. About 3 PM is a good time to get there, and when you come out, do not be hesitant to ask directions to the nearest Metro, as you will be disoriented. Ok, that's enough for now.
May 17th, 2006, 04:06 PM
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Hi guys! Thanks so much for your help!! Keep it comin' LOL....maybe I will consider throwing in a skirt....problem is i only own 2 and they are not so practical. Maybe I'll buy one there!! Haha! Docdan, thanks soooo much, I loved hearing about stuff that is actually around my hotel...I was also happy to hear that there is a Franprix nearby....very handy. Thanks again guys....4 days and I am outta here!! I can't wait! If anyone else wants to add anything in please feel free! Thanks!!
May 18th, 2006, 12:48 PM
#12
I would take only 1 cardigan, not 3.
I would add something to sleep in or a silk robe.
I never wear skirts myself, but would add 1 dressier outfit of matching pants and a top for evening wear (velvety or silky knit?) and maybe a pair of ballet flat style beaded or embroidered shoes (they could serve as slippers in your hotel room).
I would add something to sleep in or a silk robe.
I never wear skirts myself, but would add 1 dressier outfit of matching pants and a top for evening wear (velvety or silky knit?) and maybe a pair of ballet flat style beaded or embroidered shoes (they could serve as slippers in your hotel room).
