amesinc

Please look over this over this 7 Day Paris Itinerary for March 2008 and tell me what you think. Any and all suggestions welcomed.

Day 1
*Arrive at apartment on rue Malar in the 7eme around 17:00. Decompress, unpack, and get familiar with apartment.
*Shop for supplies (sneak a peek @ rue Cler)
*Crepe picnic in Champs du Mar
*Walk through Palais de Chaillot to the Trocadaro and view the Eiffel tower from ther terrace

Day 2
*AM-Orsay
*Sewer tour and Place de L'alma
*Lunch ??? SUGGESTIONS ???
*Rodin museum
*Invalides
PM-*Left Bank walk (combo of Degas' and Steves')
*dinner @ Les Deux Magots/Le Cafe Flor/Cafe Bonaparte

Day 3
Touring with Michael Osman
*AM-Sacre Coeur and wander through the areas around Montmartre
*Afternoon and PM-Ile de la Cite, Il St. Louis, and Latin Quarter

Day 4
*AM-take bus #69 to the Bastille Pick up picnic goods @ Monoprix
*Marias Walk-Bastille, Place des Vosges, Victor Hugo's house, Carnavalet
Picnic lunch & dessert at Nectarine's
*Catacombs
*Pantheon
*PM-Arc de Triomphe
*dinner ??? SUGGESTIONS ???

Day 5 (Easter Sunday)
*11am mass @ St. Joseph (8eme) thought Notre Dame would be too chaotic
*lunch @cafe in Musee Jacquemart Andres
*Musee Jacquemart
*Parc Monceau
if open:
*Fragonard Perfume Museum and
*Paris Film Story
*PM-Chill in the 7eme @ apartment

Day 6
*AM-Louve
*lunch Cafe le Nemours
*Tuileries Garden
*Orangerie
*PM-open
*dinner ???SUGGESTIONS ???

Day 7
*Luxembourg Garden
* ??? SUGGESTIONS ???
*PM-Seine boat tour
*dinner ??? SUGGESTIONS ???

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions

speckles

Are you arriving on a long haul flight from the US, Australia or NZ? If so, the first night may be too hetic as jetlag can really take its toll.

Christina

Your itinerary wouldn't be enjoyable to me at all, but you know what you like. YOu are doing so many museums, several large ones in one day, that was the thing that I would not like, but maybe you just blow in and out of a museum in an hour or so (like the Louvre, you are doing that the same day as the Orangerie), in which case, it would be ok.

I wouldn't plan every little thing so much, like even where to buy picnic supplies. There isn't any Monoprix at the place de la Bastille, so I'm not sure what you mean on that one -- there is one somewhere in the 4th arr., maybe near St Paul metro, I forget. But there are better places right near the place to buy take-out food, IMO.

BarbaraMH

All depends on lots of circumstances. Who you are and how many of you will be traveling? Ages? Any kids? First trip to Paris? It seems overambitious to me... I think you're going to wear yourselves out, but that really depends on your personal travel style (and your partner's). The big question for me is whether or not it's your first trip to Paris. That would help me decide what to prioritize in terms of my days.

Suki

Day 2 seems a little In-Seine too me (very cute by the way.) Orsay, sewer tour, Rodin & Invalides all in 1 day? You won't see much. I'd pick 2 of those for my day's outing and include a nice lunch in between.

janisj

you plan on visiting the Musee d' Orsay and tour the sewers BEFORE lunch?? More likely you will see a bit of the d' Orsay, eat lunch right there, and then see some more of the d' Orsay. It is not a hit and run sort of place.

And your day 4 is all over the place - From Bastille to the Pantheon to the Arc de Triomphe - that IS in-seine

Apres_Londee

My thoughts...(and keep in mind I am retardedly slow in museums)...

Day 1 (Wed.): food and walk are good. I wouldn't get too hung up on having a particular picnic in a paticular place, or taking a particular walk. You'll know what you feel like doing when you get there.

Day 2 (Thurs.): Orsay museum is open late on Thursdays, to 9:45pm. I would take advantage of those evening hours. I would cut one of the Invalides or Rodin Museum this trip (I would cut the Invalides, but maybe the army museum is a must-see for your husband or boyfriend?)So, Day 2: Rodin or Invalides; Sewer tour (if a must-do); Orsay.

Day 3 (Fri.): is your Michael Osman day.

Day 4 (Sat.): Bastille; Marais (Picasso Museum isn't on your list, but it is very good); Arch de Triomphe.

Day 5 (Sun.): Mass; Musee Jacquemart; Parc Monceau.

Day 6 (Mon.): Louvre (I would suggest doing some research to figure out before what you want to see, and where it is located in the museum. In other words, prepare a plan of attack); Tuileries; l'Orangerie.

Day 7 (Tues.): Pantheon; Left Bank Walk; Catacombs; Luxembourg Gardens. If the Catacombs are open in the morning now, I would go there first (and I'm assuming they are open on Tuesdays...)

amesinc

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. It is just what I needed. This is our first trip for hubby, son (16 yrs), and I but our two older daughters (28 and 23)
have been several times. I thought the itinerary sounded too ambitious and insane thus the "cry for help". Continue to tweak away at the itinerary you "Parisan Pros" as your input and suggestions will only add to make this a trip to remember.

StCirq

Strikes me as way OC.

Have you thought about simple things such as what you're going to do if it's pouring rain?

And I think you need to revisit a map of Paris. Days 2 and 4 don't make much sense.

Have you checked whether the Jacquemart-André is open on Easter and whether, if it is, you'd need reservations for brunch.

You're going to the Paristoric film toward the end of your trip. I suggest you move it up to the very beginning and use it to revise your plans.

Travelnut

Day 1 is a decent plan but things will take longer than you think...It will still get dark a bit early if that doesn't bother your picnic.

Day 2 - Orsay, Rodin and Invalides - too many museums, and all of that will take about 7-8 hours before you even start the "Left Bank" walk...

If you have some 'gaps' later on, leave them there, as you'll find things to do as you go along.

amesinc

Okay, okay I admitted the itinerary may have been too much from the begining thus the request for the suggestions. I think I have "toned it down" and this is what I have come up with:

Day 1 (Wed.): Decompress, unpack and get familiar with area and apartment. Shop for supplies and walk around Champ du Mar and view Eiffel.

Day 2 (Thurs.): Rodin Museum
Invalides
PM-D'Orsay (open late)

Day 3 (Fri.):Michael Osman day

Day 4 (Sat.): Catacombs
Pantheon
Luxembourg Gardens
PM-Camp-Elysees starting at Place de Concord and ending at the Arc de Triomphe

Day 5 (Sun.): Mass
Musee Jacquemart (yes it is open)
Luunch at Cafe (yes we have reservations)
Parc Monceau-if raining Fragonard

Day 6 (Mon.)
Louvre (concentrating on the Denon wing)
Tuileries
l'Orangerie
PM-open

Day 7 (Tues.)
Bus #69 to Bastille
Marais area to include Victor Hugo Museum, Carnavalet and Holocaust Memorial (if raining either Picasso, Jewish Art and History, or Pompidou)
PM-open

Now, is this itinerary do-able????

danon

again, it all depends on how jet lagged you are, how many museums galleries, monuments (and how much walking, time on metro or buses) you and your family can "take" in one day.

Sometimes - less is more.

travelbunny

..re deux magots..I would never have a meal there...expensive and not great but a coffee would allow you to see Satre's ghost.

Margo_Chester

I think the revised edition is do-able. Personally I don't mind a packed itinerary which can always be cut back/adjusted as you go.

Apres_Londee

Hi amesinc, looks good to me. I would just be aware of a couple of things- to me Thursday might be a bit full, with three museums, though certainly doable. Rodin is a small museum, and the gardens are lovely, so if it's nice weather that day you can enjoy some fresh air after visiting the inside of the museum.

Invalides is pretty big. I'd have lunch before going. And you might want to time it so that you have time to go back to your apartment for a rest and shower before hitting the d'Orsay. I would allow more time for the d'Orsay than you might think you need.

Another idea might be to split up, if you have some who want the Rodin and can live without the Invalides, and vice versa. Then everyone could meet back at the apartment in the afternoon, freshen up, and go the d'Orsay all together.

On day 4, you may or may not be too pooped to walked along the Champs in the evening, but remember you can always take the metro to the Arch de Triomphe.

Another thing is the Army Museum at the Invalides is open late on Tuesday nights, so if it gets cut short on Thursday, there is always the possibly to return Tuesday evening.

janisj

If the weather is nice - eat at the cafe in the gardens of the Rodin before walking over to the Invalides.

amesinc

Thanks to all; seasoned Parisan travellers and all who have left input. Your "word" will be taken in, appreciated, and processed and will result in the best Paris trip this family has taken!
Merci!
Ames Family from San Diego (County),CA

p/s As I am writing this the weather is 43 degrees, winds are howling, and it is raining. Pareee here we come!!!!