HtownResider

Hi Everyone,

I am thinking of surprising my wife with a trip to Paris for our 1 year anniversary. our special date is January 15th. My main questions are:

1) Is this a nice time to visit Paris?

2) What are some good places to start researching things to do?

3) How do I decide where we will stay, like, what area of the city?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Michel_Paris

1)I've visited at different times of year, including December and late January. The good thing about this time of year is less crowds, and the the entertainment season is in full swing, less restaurants closed for holidyas (versus August).

So, apart from weather, yes.

2) read the destination guide here, maybe purchase/go to library to see what options are. even old guidebooks are good, in that some things will always be on the list (Louvre, Eiffel,etc).

You will also find quite a few itineraries here that have been worked out with people who wanted a plan.

What are your interests? How long are you going for? Museums or not? etc...

3) for first timers, the 4/5/6th arrondissements (districts) are not a bad choice. Paris is broken up into 20 arrondissements, numbered from 1 to 20 ( a guidebook will show you how the start in central Paris and 'wrap' around that point)

Arrondissements have names...4th is known as Marais, 5th as latin Quarter, 6th as St Germain.

All three border on the Seine. What is good with these is walking access to some sites, good selection of restaurants, nightlife, access to airport.

Paris public transit system is very good. It has Metro, bus, and RER (train) combo to get you around. So you will use this system regularly. Even if you stay further out, Metro can get you central quite quickly.

No one location will allow you to walk to every site. So 4-6 is a good compromise. There are some who say stay elsewhere, that these areas are a bit tourist overun, and that is probably so. Staying further out may get you a bit more of a local feel. But I like idea of being able to walk to Seine easily from my hotel

Consider appartment rental, can be a good economical idea. Lots of recommendations here.


Happy to help you plan some more...

Margaretlb

Here's a link you can use to find out what events are happening during your visit:
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=home

Michel_Paris

A company called Paris Walks offers 2 hr english tours of different neighbourhoods. Good value.

I'd suggest a night time Seine cruise would be mandatory. Consider Vedettes du Pont Neuf. You can get a discount ticket on-line. Located at eastern tip of Ile de la Cite (island on which Notre dame is located). Smaller boats. Located at a nice park (Square du Vert Galant). Also convenient for eating dinner beforehand.

Ile St Louis is a place I visit everytime I go. Island next to Ile de la Cite. Small main street, some good restaurants and shops, old mansions. Also has outlet of well known Berthillon ice cream.

Bridges over Seine are places I like to hang out. There is a pedestrian bridge west of Notre Dame called Pont des Arts. It has artists painting the city and river, and a location that people have used to put padlocks, symbolising their eternal love.

Michel_Paris

Make that "western" tip for VdP

Around Notre Dame you can walk down below along Seine or up above. Some famous movies have used those views (Like Bourne Supremacy). Up above you get the bouquinistes, with their old books and magazines.

seafox

Nice job responding M_P. my two cents would be to suggest that for you first full day you either take a 2 hr tour as suggested or you hire a private guide for the day. Based on my experience the best value is Michael Osman. He can be reached at [email protected] he is a fraction of the rates of other guides and will tailor the day to your needs.... in addition to laying the basic groundwork of Paris (like how to use the metro) he will ensure you have plenty of ideas for teh days that follow. I prefer apartments over hotels, they tend to cost less and the savings/fun of eatin a few meals in makes it worthwhile. If you do a search on this forum you'll find all kinds of info. Again, if you are budget conscious I think the best value is with www.rentparis.com

tuscanlifeedit

Be aware that it will be winter. Real winter, with coats, hats, gloves, etc.

I like Paris in the winter. But then, I like winter.

annhig

Hi Ht,

we spent a weekend in Paris last january, and it really wasn't that cold - we could sit outside during the day and drink coffee for example. but it could be!

as for where to stay, we have gradually worked our way closer and closer to the centre, and now I wouldn't stay anywhere else. this time, we tried the http://www.hotel-britannique.fr, and were very happy. it is dead centre - 100 metres to Notre Dame, the same to the Seine, [and great views at night of the eiffel tower from the nearby river-bank] the nearest metro etc.

at the moment it's showing doubles for about €200 per night if you book 3 nights or more which IMHO is a steal for the position and the rooms you get and you might get a better deal if you use booking.com or similar.

congrats, and have a great trip!

HtownResider

Wow,

Thanks M_P for all of your advice. To answer some of your questions, our interests are mainly food and culture, and with this being for our anniversary some romance would be expected. So far the plan is in a pretty rough sketch stage with just the general time I want to go being around January 15th and staying for anywhere between 4 nights and 7 nights. We both love museums, art, and architecture and like to walk a lot. Also, if there were time I would be interested in a day trip out of Paris as well.
Again thanks for you help and would appreciate any more advice you could offer.

ptm

I love Paris! We stay in the 7th arrondissement. Try to stay near Rue Cler it is a very special street! I hope you have a wonderful trip. Anytime in Paris is a great time to go. Ptm

HtownResider

Seafox,

Thanks for the tip, on our recent trip to Italy we spent a few nights in a rent apartment and it was pretty awesome compared to the hotels we stayed in.

Michel_Paris

Well....Cler is OK, Rue de Buci or Mouffetard area would be better. Cler gets the Rick Steve's seal of approval, but there are other street markets as good as or better. 7th is a bit quiet at night for a first timer. Some good restos in that area though. I liked Bistrot du 7ieme last trip.

If you want a nice hotel in a nice area...

www.paris-hotel-lutece.com

hanabi

What a great plan, I believe your wife will be very surprised.
If you look for any convenient website on what to see & do in Paris, try Tripomatic, where you can also conveniently plan the whole holiday and print it as a personalised guide for free. http://www.tripomatic.com/France/Paris/

avalon

check out Our Paris Forum. It is an international group of people who viit frequently or live in pARIS. tHEY ARE A GREAT BUNCH AND MORE THAN happy TO SHARE. sOME EVEN RENT OUT THEIR BEAUTIFUL APARTMENTS.

avalon

BTW< you can read OPF without joining but to posr you have to sign up, very simplw

ssander

We like to stay in the Marais (4th arr.), a few blocks from the river and the Iles (Cite and St-Louis)...great walking and very good transportation - both Metro (line #1 is a good line for right bank sights) and bus (to the left bank where RER C is a good line for left-bank sights).

For a romantic evening, walking along the river on the Iles is tops.

SS