nancy k

haven't been to Paris in 35 yrs - where to start - hotel suggestions, city tours, restaurants. Probably only have 4 days. Merci.

elvira

What time of year? What is your budget for a hotel and food? Do you want to hit the top 10 sights, or do you have other interests? Are you up for a lot of walking? HELP!

elvira

going in April. We would like a room with a private bath, small is ok, but basic comforts. Not more than 200 a night. Not too much walking. Want to see basic sights - one of us has not been to Paris. Food needs are not paramount - simple meals fine, or findng places to take food back to room o.k. too

elvira

1)Louvre (arrive for the opening time); shopping rue du Rivoli; Tuileries Gardens <BR>2)Les Invalides; Rodin Museum; Bateaux Mouches; Eiffel Tower <BR>3)Musee d'Orsay (again, at the opening); bouquinistes; Notre Dame (don't miss the Deportation Memorial at the eastern end of the island) <BR>4)Versailles; Champs Elysees; Picasso Museum <BR> <BR>You can shop until 8:00 at Galeries Lafayette; at Le Printemps until 7:00, but til 10:00 on Thursdays. <BR> <BR>Do a search on this forum for hotels (many good suggestions!). For food, I suggest you just find a place when you're hungry - honestly, I make lists of restaurants I plan to visit, and end up just going in to someplace along the way. Restaurants are usually open between noon and 2, then 7 til ?. Bistros, brasseries and cafes are open all day for food. After a long day of sightseeing, I find myself at a restaurant near where I'm staying (hotels are great for suggestions!) so I don't have far to go after dinner. In the town of Versailles, on the way back to the train station, there's a crepe restaurant called Coiffure de Bretonnerie which serves wonderful food. For a do-it-yourself meal, you can't go wrong at the food shop in Galeries Lafayette; or pop into a boulangeries for bread, then a trattorie for cheese and pates, then a grocerie for pickles, maybe a couple of tomatoes, and a bottle of wine (remember to bring a corkscrew). Groceries also sell water (still and with gaz), soda, and juices. Many boulangeries also sell ready-made sandwiches. <BR>For city tours, there are the Yellow Buses - it's a hop on, hop off affair. Cityrama and Parisvision also offer day tours of the city, as well as 'Paris by Night'. <BR>Skip the Pigalle nightspots of Crazy Horse, Folies Bergere, etc. unless you want to pay a lot of money to spend the evening with Japanese tourists. Better to find a jazz club or concert at one of the churches (pick up a Pariscope or ask at the hotel for what's playing). <BR> <BR>Bring an umbrella, and layer - April can be chilly one minute, warm the next. Buy carnets (10 metro/bus tickets for the price of 7). Buy the Carte des Musees; saves money and time at the museums. <BR> <BR>The four days I've mentioned leave time for wandering, exploring something you spot along the way, and downtime at cafes. If you miss something you've planned because you've done something unplanned...that's Paris and there's no better way to enjoy it.

Al

How does this sound? Smallish hotel with few USA guests, English-speaking front desk, clean, splendid little lounge, 50 yards from Metro stop, within 5 minutes of the Ecole Militaire and Les Invalides and 15 minutes of the Eiffel Tower, 200 yard to Rue Cler, breakfast included with double room with shower and toilet, next to ATM and automatic laundry, about $75 a night. Email us direct for name, address, and email. Otherwise, purists on this site will think we are being commercial. Ha!

elaine

Hi nancy <BR>I have a long file on Paris; if you'd like to see it, email me. <BR>Best wishes on your return trip!

candy

How about a walking tour? For a free brochure of Paris À Pied's 3-hour, escorted walking tours, email [email protected] or visit http://www.parisapied.com <BR> <BR>Candy

Miane

You'll be thrilled! The city has definitely cleaned up its act and is buzzing with a revitalized economy. <BR>WHERE TO STAY: Check a good web site for hotels on www.parishotels.com, All prices and good descriptions--try to stay in the Quartier Latin or Saint Germain or possibly the Marais. You'll be close to all the essential sights. <BR>WHAT TO DO: museums, exhibits, walks, cafe society, gourmet pauses, shopping--you name it! If you're into museums, check the new Louvre, the recently renovated Centre Pompidou and its MoMA, the Musee d'Orsay, etc. For info on activities and events, check the Paris Tourist Office at www.paris-touristoffice.com, and Paris calendar at www.pariscope.fr. <BR>FOOD: my pet places as a native parisian are the Cafe Marly in the Cour Carree du Louvre (by the Pyramid), Lescure rue de Mondovi (Concorde)--a cheap and fun country restaurant, Le Sud-Ouest rue Saint Honore (Louvre des Antiquaires)--fantastic family bistro, Cafe du Serail (behind Bastille)--for the best couscous of Paris, Laduree (rue Royale, jot the tacky Champs-Elysees one)--for tea and macarons. <BR>And while you're at it, hop on a boat trip, preferably at night where all the monuments are lit, it's a little touristy but even I as a paris snob love it (Batobus or Bateaux-Mouches). <BR>