shubha_r

Hello everyone,
We are leaving in on Sep 29th for our 1 week long Paris trip. I am in planning phase (kinda late, I know . Just me and my husband are going and we are in our late 30's, celebrating our 15th year anniversary.

Here is the itinerary I put together. We are also foodies, but my hubby is Vegetarian and I only eat chicken and shrimp.. So, not sure how Vegetarian friendly Paris is.

Please help us fine tune our itinerary..

Also, what do we need to book from here in the US? Do you recommend hiring any private tour guides ?

Day1 Thursday Visit Eiffel Tour, (we land in Paris at 11:00 am)
Luxemberg Garden

Day2 Friday Notre Dame
Louvre
L’Orangerie museum

Day 3 Saturday Versailles day trip

Day 4 Sunday Walking tour
Flea market ( I have heard that they have these only on week-ends)
Shopping
Sienna river cruise

Day 5 Monday VisitArc De Triomphe,
Lido Show
Marais ?? (is there something not to be missed here?)

Day 6 Tuesday Day trip to Champagne country (we both want to do a wine tasting and thought this may be a good way to do it)

Day 7 Wednesday Leave to NJ

We don't want to have a packed agenda, need some room to hang around. At the same time would like to hit important spots

Also, we are planning to take the double-Decker bus tour..

Thanks in advance
Kush

shubha_r

Sorry, forgot to mention, we staying at Pullman Hotel by Eiffel tower.

denisea

OK, I don't think you realize how long it will take to get through customs and to your hotel. Are you planning to just visit the ET area/Champ de Mars or go up in the ET...after the all that and getting to the hotel I don't think you will want to stand in line to go up. It would be a good way to stroll and get used to Paris when you arrive though.

I would visit Reims for Champagne but not wait until the last day. Take a TGV train there and also visit the spectacular cathedral. You will want to book a tasting while in the US.

There has been a thread for vegetarian places in Paris. I will be no help to you on that.

I don't think you need to book anything prior unless there are restaurants that you want to go to specficially. Or maybe the ET online (will still have to wait in line though).

I hate to be critical but why the Lido? An expensive waste of money for me. As for the Marais...many love it-I don't but Place des Vosges is nice.

Have a good trip.

Michel_Paris

Day 1 Good. Take Metro to Trocadero, and walk between the Palais Chaillot buildings, Dramatic first view of tower. maybe do Luxembourg first, grab lunch...then head over to ET area.

Nice dinner place:

www.chezfrancis-restaurant.com


Day 2. Could do Louvre at nigth, when stay open later. Otherwise I might do Louvre first thing to avodi crowds, then spend rest of day in Notre Dame area. Lunch (maybe Brasserie de Ie St Louis outside table), Sante Chapelle, Ile St Louis, flower market, walks along Seine, Seine river cruise (after sunset)

Day 3: on your own? RER train. Only issue might be weekend crowds. Once again get there early. Grounds will keep you occupied!


Day 4. Paris Walks is a good one. Keep schedule flexible so can adjust which day. I liked their Marais walks, finish near Place des Vosges,have lunch there (maybe Cafe Hugo, outside table)

Day 5. I find Champ Elysee disappointing, but if you walk Tuileries Gardens, Place de la Concorde, Place Vendome (Ritz, high end jewellers), Palais Royale (nice old square), then walk up Champs or metro up to Arc, good visit. Angelina's (near Louvre) has good deserts and hot chocolate. Marais for dinner would be nice. I'm a bit jaded over Lido, Paradis Latin, Moulin Rouge ....I might, if it is a dream, go, but I would eat dinner elsewhere.

Marais is area with old mansions, good shopping and, as mentioned above Place des Vosges. Village St Paul for antiquing and neat area.


Day 6. Could do day trip to Reims and visit a Champagne cellar.

My one comment is that you have such a short time in Paris, and you are taking 2 days to leave city. Maybe play it by ear.

shubha_r

Thanks Denisea & Michel_Paris..

Any thought why I shouldn't keep champagne for the last day ?

Can someone point me to the vegetarian restaurants thread ?

Should we book any of the guided tours ahead or just show up ?

Also, any nice breakfast places around where we are staying ( Pullman by Eiffel)?

Still doing home work..

Michel_Paris

I might do Champagne on weekend and Versailles during week, just to avoid crowds

Tours, such as Paris Walks, you just show up at meeting place. If you wanted to do an overview tour (bus), Parisvision, Cityrama and the L'Open Tour (Hop on Hop Off) are possibilities. Leave from Louvre area (first two).

When I stayed out in the suburbs, I found 'my' cafe and started my day with OJ, croissant, and a cafe creme. Sat there and planned upcoming day. Some people like to eat at hotel or in room I prefer to be out in Paris. Plus, hotel breakfasts can be expensive.

Are you the Pulman Rive Gauche? That's a bit beyond the Eiffel Tower!

Michel_Paris

Never mind

I've eaten dinner at Bistrot du 7ieme, which is nearby.

theflock

I don't recommend the L'Open Tour buses. It took us 2 full days to complete the tour circuit, and most of the time you're either hurtling down the street or stuck in traffic. The buses only make a few stops for you to hop off (and rarely where you actually want to be), and you can sometimes wait 30 minutes or so for another bus to come along to hop back on. Half of the audio ports don't work and the earphones fall apart easily. Obviously, I wasn't a fan.

mamcalice

If possible you should add Ste.-Chapelle to your itinerary. It is a magnificent sight. Try to see it on a sunny day to view the stained glass at its most beautiful. Take the Seine river cruise late in the daylight so you can see the lights come on all over Paris. I, too, would skip the Lido.

To find information on vegetarian restaurants, just enter Paris vegetarian restaurants in the search box at the top of this page.

shubha_r

Thanks everyone..

Now, we wanted to do Versailles on Saturday because of the water fountains, since they are open only on week-ends.. Are there any other "better" days to visit Versailles?

How about Normandy? Is it a worthwhile day trip as opposed to Reims ? Should we book any of these tours from here or can we do it once we get to Paris? Thanks for your responses..

Michel_Paris

Good location for hotel. Based on hotel location, no need to go to Trocadero Day 1.

Based on my experience, you will probably get to hotel ~1 PM. So, a walk over to Eiffel,pics,etc.. I might decide to go up or not based on crowds at that time. If no, since you are so close not a big deal to sneak over one morning early. You can buy the tickets on-line, but that still leaves the entry line-up.

If you were in a walking mood, heading off along the Seine, Left Bank, from Eiffel towards central Pairs might be a ncie day. You could 'see' Rodin museum, Invalides, Orsay, Pont des Arts (pedestrian bridge, lover's padlocks), or alternatively cross over to Right Bank and see Champs/Tuileries. Since Luxembourg is a fair distance away, maybe just a refreshing walk to clear head?



Sainte Chapelle also have 'candlelit' classical music concerts there at night.

http://www.ampconcerts.com/

Cameron

Why do you want to go to the Lido? A waste of time and money IMHO.

Michel_Paris

Normandy would be a very long day. If you want, I'd do it via an organized tour, like:

http://en.parisvision.com/27-normand...ng-beaches.htm

For Versailles, yup, if you want to see the fountains, you are limited. But, it is September, not July, so why not. Are you thinking on your own or as an organized tour?

shubha_r

Thanks everyone..

Michel_Paris, thanks a lot for detailed responses. For our day trips, do you recommend organized tour? For Versailles, we were planning on taking the train ourselves.. What's your thught on that?

Also, for other popular spot such ad Louvre, do we need to get a guide before hand? Or can we do this when we get there?

How's the weather there around this time ? Do we need to pack jackets / sweaters ?