JennyP

We need help with what to do with the 4 "free" hours of car service that we purchased with our paris package. I'm guessing the only thing we can do is some site seeing but any suggestions where? We'll be in Paris in September. Thanks for your help!

ira

Hi J,

Do you mean that you will have a car and driver or a rental car?

JennyP

Ira,

Yes, its 4 hours with a driver, but I think we're limited to staying in Paris.

ira

Hi JP,

You might wish to take a drive through the Bois de Boulogne.

That won't take up the whole 4 hr, though.

ira

PS,

Pack a picnic lunch.

Take a drive through the Bois.

Have your driver take you to the Parc Monceau and wait for you while you picnic.

Drive back to your hotel.

Where are you staying?

JennyP

Hi Ira,

Thanks so much for your suggestions. You're always a great help. We're staying at the La Villa Maillot.

I'm just starting to do my Paris "research". We'll be in paris for 5 full days, do you think we'll have time to make a 1 day trip to London? My husband suggested it, but I'm trying to figure out if our schedule allows it. What do you think?

Toupary

Jenny,
I think a trip to London is doable, but if this is your first trip to Paris, there are so many things to do and see here that you might to stay put.

ira

Hi JP,

>We'll be in paris for 5 full days, do you think we'll have time to make a 1 day trip to London? <

I wouldn't give up 20% of my time in Paris.

>We're staying at the La Villa Maillot.<

Here's a suggestion for a drive around town:

Your driver can take you through the Bois, then up to the Trocadero and the Eiffel tower (stop to take pix), down the Champ du Mars and over to the Invalides, North across the Seine to the Place Concorde (take pix) around the Elysee Palace and up the Champs Elysee to the Arch de Triomphe (Get out and go to the top of the Arch), over to the Parc Monceau (let the driver wait while you walk through the park if it's early to mid Sept), and back to your hotel via the Etoile and Ave Foch.

If this doesn't use all of your time, you can drive past the Louvre and Notre Dame from Place Concorde before heading back to the Champs Elysee.

Enjoy your visit.

kwren

I like Ira's suggestion, and if the car service is available in the evening, you might consider doing it after dark! A French friend insisted on driving us to the same sights at night and it was beautiful.

I would also recommend doing this (either day or night) as soon as possible once you arrive - it will give you a good feel for the lay of the land.

Seamus

Several of the half day minivan tours cover a wide swath in this period of time. I generally eschew such tours, but the first time I took my mother we did this as a sort of orientation and she loved it. Since this is your first time I'd suggest considering that approach. From your hotel, you could start with a brief stop at Trocadero to see the Eiffel Tower from a great vantage point, then head counterclockwise toward the Opera/ grand magasins (department stores)- St. Lazare area, on to Monmartre, then Bastille /Marais, Hotel de Ville, Louvre, over to Notre Dame, the left bank Latin Quarter /St Germain area, Invalides and back to the hotel. Obviously you would not have time to do in depth sightseeing anywhere but this would give you a sense of where things are and what you might want to come back to later. Keeping a small notebook to jot down places (and the nearest Metro stop) is helpful.

JennyP

Thank you all for your suggestions!

ira

You are welcome, JP