merrytimes

Most plans are now finalized (leaving Canada on July 26th) accomodations booked. We will have been in Paris (3 days ) Bruges (4 days ) when our granddaughters parents land in Paris(unable to land in Amsterdam since flying out of Rome at end of trip) . The parents will have 5-6 hours of sightseeing in Paris before taking the train to meet us (at that point in The Hague, Holland). It was decided that they may as well see a bit of Paris since they were landing there.
Finally, to get to my question----where would they find a tour for that length of time , what cost and what about storing their luggage ?
I look forward to your answers.

bilboburgler

So arriving jet lagged (possibly a bit late) with a load of lugage and with a good few hours of train travel ahead of them they want to visit somewhere.

What interests them?

bilboburgler

I think a brisk walk in the area and then a meal in the station restaurant before the darkness of dutch food (this of course ignores apple pie and eel)

Vttraveler

With such a very short time in Paris and after a plane trip from Canada I would not get on a tour bus to try to see all of the city.
Several years ago Our family had a similar short time period in Paris before catching a TGV train to Avignon. We left our luggage in a locker at the train station (this was pre 9/11--not sure whether that is still possible. I hope someone else will have more recent experience)

We went to Notre Dame and explored it and a little of the surrounding area. We took a bateau mouche ride. I would recommend this combination or a similar limited amount of sight seeing.

RJD

My guess is that the train to Avignon leaves from Gare de Lyon, which has lockers on the lower level in a secure area.
They can leave the luggage and take a short cab ride to the Bastille where there are any number of cafes for people watching, a great Paris pastime.

KL467

That is not really enough time to do much. Keep in mind that, because of traffic, the airport is about an hour from the center of Paris. A meal at a sidewalk cafe would be nice. Paris is fun just to walk around in.

ira

Hi MT,

They will leave from Paris Nord. It will take about 0:40 hr to get there.

They can check their luggage at the station.

I would rest up a bit and then take the no. 4 Metro to Pl Charles de Gaulle (Arc de Triomphe).

I would then slowly go down the Champs Elysee to Notre Dame, stopping off at Pl Concorde, the Tuileries and the Louvre.

Take the no. 4 Metro back to Gare du Nord from the Cite' stop.

Alternatively:

At the Grand Palais, go SB on Ave Churchill to the Batobus stop.

Take the Batobus counter-clockwise (that's the only way it goes) to the Hotel de Ville stop. They will go past the Eiffel Tower and the Musee' d'Orsay.

Continue as above from Notre Dame.

See www.batobus.fr

Vttraveler

I am afraid I caused confusion with my mention of having taken a train to Avignon. The OP's children will be going to the Hague, so Ira is right re Gare du Nord

Michel_Paris

Another possibility, depending on timing, is to take a walking tour. Paris walks, that I've used 4/5 times, have walks at 10AM and 2PM, lasting about 2-2.5 hrs

www.paris-walks.com

Alternatively, I like Ira's walk.
Arc, Elysee, Tuileries, Place Vendome, outside of Louvre, rue Rivoli, Palais Royal, Opera Garnier...then over to Ile de la Cite for Notre Dame,St Chapelle, and then Ile St Louis. Lunch...and that should easily use up the time

merrytimes

Thanks everyone, for your replies.I knew that Fodorites would come through. I forwarded your answers on to our sons and they can decide what will work for them.

W9London

There is a left luggage service at Gare du Nord. It is closest to the Eurostar platform. Follow the sign for Eurostar, go all the way before the taxi exit (west end of the station), then take the escalator down. So a good 10min walk from RER. It's basically manned (X-ray scanning) coin lockers.