We will be in Paris 3 days. Arriving Saturday evening June 10 and leaving AM June 14. Celebrating my 70th birthday. We are still very mobile!

Can anyone recommend a reasonable clean hotel? Have you had any experience with webescapades.com and their vacation packages?

We know we want to see the usual sites and also Versailles.

Would appreciate any sugestions on hotels, special discount tickets to buy ahead of time, best way to visit versilles, and getting around including from and to the airport. And sites/experiences not to be missed. First time Paris!

thank you in advance for your help.

For you 70th birthday, I suggest treating yourself to a taxi or car service from the airport to your hotel.

It's not clear to me if you would prefer to see Versailles on your own (can be done fairly simply), or with a guided tour. But whichever you choose, be aware that in mid-June it is likely to be quite warm, and Versailes is a vast, sunny place mostly without shade. Lightweight sun hat or parasol plus sun block is necessary, along with bottled water.

You should also consider what is your tolerance for waiting on lines. If you plan to visit several museums as well as Versailles, you should look into purchasing a museum pass so you can go straight to the head of the line. Even if you don't find it tiring to wait on line, it might be a very good investsment in time-saving.

With only 3 days, you might decide to opt out of a trip to Versailled. There is plenty to do in Paris, believe me.

My one tip to you has nothing to do with age: Sit in the gardens of Paris and enjoy them. It's the one thing tourists of all ages forget to make time to do, and yet the public gardens of Paris are among it's greatest artworks. Don't miss the fun of people-watching in them and enjoying their beauty.

I agree that with only three days in Paris, you should not spend one of them going to Versailles. Versailles makes more sense as a day trip only when staying in Paris more than a week or so.

I can recommend the Hotel Bonaparte which gets mentioned a lot on this board. Here's the website for reserving, but, you should CALL them if you have questions and to confirm later as they may not always answer emails promptly (it's a very small operation).

http://www.hotelbonaparte.fr/

Take a taxi from the airport. Once in Paris, you can walk or hop on the Metro. For such a short trip, I would just get a Metro ticket each time you plane to use it - which may only be a few times.

I really need to know what you plan to see before I can suggest getting any kind of advance tickets to any tourist sights. The musee d'orsay is one place I would suggest getting advance tickets if it's on yout list, for example.

http://www.musee-orsay.fr/

Hi opp,
Checked that web site. They mention Cityrama. They, along with Parisvision are the two main bus tour companies in Paris. You could consider a night illuminations tour, or perhaps a Pairs overview tour when you get there, followed by your own touring around. At least you can say..."I saw all of the sites" then spend the rest of your time visiting some of them on your own. A Seine cruise, at night is a must, in my book. There are 2/3 companies that give them..Bateaux Mouches near Place Alma (larger boats), and Vedette du Pont Neuf (near Notre Dame, smaller boats) are ones I have used. Consider also an organized walk, I have used Paris Walks and liked them:

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pariswalking/

Paris is a walking city, so plan every day to explore some area on foot, and build in some time to sit at outdoor cafes and just relax and take it all in.

The Metro system is extensive, so no matter where you are in the downtown core, you will always be within a few blocks of a subway stop. For that reason, hotel location can be somewhat more flexible, if you pick the 5/6/7th districts (arrondissements) you won't be very far (time wise) from the things you want to see.

There are some very nice parks worth visiting...Places Des Vosges, Parc de Luxembourg, Palais Royale, Jardin de Tuileries,etc...

People eat late, so plan you dinners to be around 8PM (20:00). All restos post menus outside, so you will have a chance to decide before going in. Some will have english menus, but you can survive without french. Some hotels offer breakfast, I have personally found it just as convenient, and cheaper, to just go to a cafe, order a poetit dejuener, and sit there and plan my day. Personal preference.

I've stayed at hotels on Ile St Louis (island near notre dame, quieter, nice neighbourhood,an area I recommend to visit & stay): Hotel des Deux Iles, Hotel Lutece, Hotel St. Louis.
Also liked Hotel Le Notre Dame (views of notre dame)and Hotel de Notre Dame, Left Bank, easy access to Notre Dame, Seine,etc..Check the Fodor destination guide on this site for more ideas, and if you do a search on this forum, lots of comments.

A good map is your friend, I like Michelin Blue, but there are others that people here recommend.

Museums? In 3 days, I would not spend a lot of time indoors, and there are plenty, if you have any specific interests, we can help narrow down your choices. The Louvre, for example, is huge with a capital H, so you won't be able to see everything there. If you want to go, narrow down (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo,etc..) Rodin, Orsay, Marmottan, Armee, Cluny are others that are popular.

Hope this gets you started.
Mike

Thank you all very much. Once I work with this information I may have more questions. You have been very helpful.
Thanks, Martha

if versailles is a mustsee, then make it a point to arrive before opening time in the morning to avoid the queue (photo below)

http://www.cotatel.fr/jepars/versail...eue_ticket.JPG

actually the queue by noon in the summer would be 3 times as long as this.

stayed at the Mericourt hotel, its a clean tiny hotel for less than $100 night.

Hi O,

Another vote for the Bonaparte.

Another suggestion, that with only 3 days, you not bother with daytrips.

You could buy a one-day ticket on the Batobus (www.batobus.com) for hop on/off tour of Paris from the water. See te Eiffel Tower at night from the boat.

Any reason why you are giving Paris only 3 days?