1st trip to london and paris- need help!
 

Posted on the US forum first. Sorry. My daughter and I are going to London and Paris for 3 days in each city. I purchased the Fodor's guides for each city, but would appreciate any help in what to see and what to skip. She loves to shop and I love to eat- but not at fancy places, but where the locals eat.

I recommend the books of Rick Steves. He has guides for both London and Paris, often with tips for catching the local flavor of any place you visit. Some people here love Rick Steves and swear by him, some hate him, but I think many would agree that his books are terrific for rookie travelers. At very least, leaf through his books at a bookstore and see what you think.

Otherwise, use the SEARCH feature on this forum for London and Paris to read the wealth of information posted about each city - you'll find plenty of tips but it may take a while to read through everything.

Andrew

Did the same 3 day each city a few years back to Paris and London and had a great time. Flew from CDG to Heathrow on BMI airlines for about 69 euro. With airplane delay of 1 1/2 hrs, security time and the 40 min flight itself it probably was easier and the same cost of going by Eurostar (also factoring in the cost to get back to CDG). While in Paris did the Catacombs, Pere Lachaise, a City tour--including Eiffel Tower and the Louvre and a Seine boat trip. Wish we had more time to see the Conciegerie and the Sewer Tour. Factoring in jet lag the 1st day in Pars was king of a waste. While in London, took a tour of Westminster Abbey, changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, London Tower. Later on our own we did a Jack the Ripper tour and attended a play. With such little time on your agenda I'd reccomend doing one of those packaged tours/highlights of the city. It helps you get your bearings in the city, gets you ahead of the lines and you can always go back to visit later in the day because either your hand has already been stamped or you've got your ticket stubs.

Yeah, it probably cost about the same to fly as is would have to take Eurostar and probably the train wouldn't have taken much more time. I happen to enjoy train travel, so I would have opted for the Eurostar option even if it had cost more - but that's just me. I don't particularly care for the hassles of airports if I can avoid them.

Andrew

how old is your daughter? we went to London this fall with a 6-year old (I'm sure your daughter is older), but I'm happy to pass along some restaurants that worked well for us.

I assume you know that shopping in London is not the most pleasurable experience for Americans, but if your daughter is older, she will have a better understanding (maybe :)) of the dollar-pound exchange rate! Let us know how old she is, though, because folks on this board can steer you to places that won't totally bust your budget.

Mary

I'm a Paris fanatic! 3 days will not even scratch the surface. You could spend 3 days in the Louvre alone. You will have to be very discriminating. Here are some things that I would do with a first time visitor to Paris:

1. Have lunch at Laduree tea room on the Rue Royale.

2. Have lunch at Angelina's, facing the Tuileries Gardens.

2. Have dinner at Paris Dakar, a wonderful Senegalese restaurant north of the Pompidou Center (take a Taxi).

3. Go to the Musee Jacquemart Andre to see a real 19th century Parisian townhouse (your daughter will love the giftshop).

4. Go to the Musee D'Orsay for a wonderful collection of French impressionism.

5. Go to the Louvre--but choose in advance what gallery or two you want to see and call it a day. You will exhaust yourself trying to see everything, and 3 days wouldn't be enough time anyway. Wonderful shops are in the "lower regions."

6. If antiques interest you (as they do me), browse the Clignancourt antiques market(watch your purse), or, better yet, if you're there on a weekend, do the Port de Vanves antiques market. It's smaller and more manageable.

7. Stroll the Luxembourg Gardens and wander over to the St. Sulpice church.

8. Stroll the Tuileries Gardens (perhaps between the Louvre and Angelinas!)

9. See Notre Dame and then stroll on the Isle St. Louis with your ice cream cone from Berthillon (like nothing you've ever tasted!)

10. Find a place on the Rue Mouffetard for an authentic, inexpensive Parisian meal. (There's a great place for quiche, but can't remember the name. I'll bet you can find it.)

Bon Voyage!