5 Days In Paris and 5 Days In Other France Regions (To be decided)
May 17th, 2011, 02:00 PM
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5 Days In Paris and 5 Days In Other France Regions (To be decided)
Hello Everyone:
I am visiting the City of Lights on the 1st week of November and would like to get your input as to how to utilize my time in the best possible way.
To start - please note this will be my first visit and unfortunately I'll be travelling solo. I intend to spend my first day (arriving CDG on Nov. 3) doing some sightseeing on foot to get familiar with the area and the transporation system. My second day I would like to start visiting some of the popular attractions (Eiffel, Monmartre d'orsay, etc.). I understand most visitors who comes to this beautiful city spend a great deal of time visiting museums but in my case all I am interested for now are doing some sightseeings, and enjoy the great architectures of each buildings and their fabulous garden. I would also like to visit Versailles and other neighboring places close to Paris.
Now I need your recommendations regarding Paris neighboring town. Since I am travelling alone, please let me know what is the best way for me to see other places that doesn't require too many transportation transfers. Are there any place that is suitable for a lone traveller like me. Oh by the way please let me know also what the weather would be like in each region/places in November.
Thank you in advance.
Thea (aka Cirque_dusoleil)
I am visiting the City of Lights on the 1st week of November and would like to get your input as to how to utilize my time in the best possible way.
To start - please note this will be my first visit and unfortunately I'll be travelling solo. I intend to spend my first day (arriving CDG on Nov. 3) doing some sightseeing on foot to get familiar with the area and the transporation system. My second day I would like to start visiting some of the popular attractions (Eiffel, Monmartre d'orsay, etc.). I understand most visitors who comes to this beautiful city spend a great deal of time visiting museums but in my case all I am interested for now are doing some sightseeings, and enjoy the great architectures of each buildings and their fabulous garden. I would also like to visit Versailles and other neighboring places close to Paris.
Now I need your recommendations regarding Paris neighboring town. Since I am travelling alone, please let me know what is the best way for me to see other places that doesn't require too many transportation transfers. Are there any place that is suitable for a lone traveller like me. Oh by the way please let me know also what the weather would be like in each region/places in November.
Thank you in advance.
Thea (aka Cirque_dusoleil)
May 17th, 2011, 02:49 PM
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I loved Reims...we enjoy Champagne so it was a natural choice to spend a day tasting and then visiting the Cathedral at Reims where French royalty was once crowned. It's beautiful.
If I remember correctly you can take a TGV to Reims from Paris.
If I remember correctly you can take a TGV to Reims from Paris.
May 18th, 2011, 01:08 AM
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You can be in Dijon capital of Burgundy in only 1h40 with direct TGV (or 3hours with slow train TER)If you only want a day trip the best thing to do is to follow the "Owl's trail"a self guided tour. Take it from the TO at the train station and follow the brass steps on the pavement which lead to a place of interest in the historic centre. It takes a couple of hours if you take your time, there is so much to see! If you're going on a Tuesday, Thursday Friday or Saturday, don't miss the food market in the morning.
I have many friends from all over the world travelling on their own who really enjoyed Dijon on any season. November can be chilly and humid like in Paris so don't forget a jumper and a rain coat!
Check the TO video and website to give you more ideas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5CojSGoJ4k and http://www.visitdijon.com/en/
Bon voyage!
Coco
I have many friends from all over the world travelling on their own who really enjoyed Dijon on any season. November can be chilly and humid like in Paris so don't forget a jumper and a rain coat!
Check the TO video and website to give you more ideas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5CojSGoJ4k and http://www.visitdijon.com/en/
Bon voyage!
Coco
May 18th, 2011, 05:43 AM
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First, don't say "unfortunately" you are traveling alone. I have traveled with friends and family. Never again with friends and only if I have to with family (after all I do love them). Solo travel allows you to do what you want, at your own pace, and you will talk to people you would not talk to if you are with someone else.
Dijon is a perfect place to stay for your second week. Very quick to get there by TGV (fast train). Dijon is the capital of Burgundy! Not too large, but not too small. The food of burgundy: gingerbread, beef stew, escargot, cassis (you must try kir if you never have...it is my favorite aperitif) and mustard. All burgundian! The history, architecture (some half-timbered buildings, too), gargoyles, and museums in Dijon is vast. The city has the best self-guided tour (you can also download an audio tour to your ipod before going) and free tourist on/off buses at the major points. A market designed by Eiffel. The energy of a university town. Plenty to keep you busy even if you never leave Dijon. My first trip I spent 3 days and then went back the following year for a week. I could easily go again, believe me.
Of course, you can take quick, inexpensive day trips from Dijon if you wish. Beaune is only 20 minutes by train and a great day trip with the hospice, the wine tasting, the museums, and the wall! Or Chalon sur Saone, Macon, even Lyon for a short day. I think you can even get to Bern, but it would be ambitious.
Why not an apartment rather than a hotel. Check out a website called myhomeindijon.com. It is a lovely, wonderfully appointed apartment in the heart of Dijon that you can rent. You will feel very, very French and very welcomed by the landlady. It is less expensive than a hotel. You can linger over your breakfast or head to the streets for your croissant and café at many places nearby.
This forum recommended Dijon to me several years ago and I was so glad I took their advice. I know you will have a good time no matter where you go. Take your time and remember to just stop and enjoy. You can always go back. The French don't rush. They people watch at sidewalk cafés, linger over meals, and read or snooze in the park. I see so many Americans doing what I call a "hit and run" trip. Not for me. Relax and enjoy!
Dijon is a perfect place to stay for your second week. Very quick to get there by TGV (fast train). Dijon is the capital of Burgundy! Not too large, but not too small. The food of burgundy: gingerbread, beef stew, escargot, cassis (you must try kir if you never have...it is my favorite aperitif) and mustard. All burgundian! The history, architecture (some half-timbered buildings, too), gargoyles, and museums in Dijon is vast. The city has the best self-guided tour (you can also download an audio tour to your ipod before going) and free tourist on/off buses at the major points. A market designed by Eiffel. The energy of a university town. Plenty to keep you busy even if you never leave Dijon. My first trip I spent 3 days and then went back the following year for a week. I could easily go again, believe me.
Of course, you can take quick, inexpensive day trips from Dijon if you wish. Beaune is only 20 minutes by train and a great day trip with the hospice, the wine tasting, the museums, and the wall! Or Chalon sur Saone, Macon, even Lyon for a short day. I think you can even get to Bern, but it would be ambitious.
Why not an apartment rather than a hotel. Check out a website called myhomeindijon.com. It is a lovely, wonderfully appointed apartment in the heart of Dijon that you can rent. You will feel very, very French and very welcomed by the landlady. It is less expensive than a hotel. You can linger over your breakfast or head to the streets for your croissant and café at many places nearby.
This forum recommended Dijon to me several years ago and I was so glad I took their advice. I know you will have a good time no matter where you go. Take your time and remember to just stop and enjoy. You can always go back. The French don't rush. They people watch at sidewalk cafés, linger over meals, and read or snooze in the park. I see so many Americans doing what I call a "hit and run" trip. Not for me. Relax and enjoy!
May 18th, 2011, 06:07 AM
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I travel often solo, and I think it can, in certain ways, be better than with other(s). As an example, your post here 
We are going to help you have YOUR holiday, not a compromise of doing things that someone else wants. Call it a selfish pleasure
With 5 days, I would stick to Paris proper. You will not see all of Paris in that time. So unless Versailles is really a must...
Look at Paris Walks. They have multiple tours every day, in English, for around 10 euro, taking you around neighbourhoods where you will see some "guidebook sites" but also not so well known sites, along with stories. For example. I did the morning Marais tour, which finished at Place des Vosges. A fabulous square. Had a nice lunch sitting outside Cafe Hugo, then walked over to the Carnavalet Museum, which is the history of Paris museum, housed in old mansions.
No need to worry about not seeing museums. My last trip fo about 6 days I visited only one. There are a multitude of museums, some quite small. So if you wanted to dabble, you could go to one that would take at most a couple of hours. Like the Rodin. Sculptures, housed in his old studio (nice house) with very nice gardens.
Many good parks of different sizes ...Luxembourg, Tuileries, Champ de Mars, Palais Royal, Monceau, even a nice little park at the western tip of Ile de la Cite (Notre Dame)...right near the Vedettes du Pont Neuf where you might want to try a night cruise on the Seine.
A point on solo travel...don't worry at all about eating out solo. It is really no big deal. Some people are hesitant to do so.
We are going to help you have YOUR holiday, not a compromise of doing things that someone else wants. Call it a selfish pleasure
With 5 days, I would stick to Paris proper. You will not see all of Paris in that time. So unless Versailles is really a must...
Look at Paris Walks. They have multiple tours every day, in English, for around 10 euro, taking you around neighbourhoods where you will see some "guidebook sites" but also not so well known sites, along with stories. For example. I did the morning Marais tour, which finished at Place des Vosges. A fabulous square. Had a nice lunch sitting outside Cafe Hugo, then walked over to the Carnavalet Museum, which is the history of Paris museum, housed in old mansions.
No need to worry about not seeing museums. My last trip fo about 6 days I visited only one. There are a multitude of museums, some quite small. So if you wanted to dabble, you could go to one that would take at most a couple of hours. Like the Rodin. Sculptures, housed in his old studio (nice house) with very nice gardens.
Many good parks of different sizes ...Luxembourg, Tuileries, Champ de Mars, Palais Royal, Monceau, even a nice little park at the western tip of Ile de la Cite (Notre Dame)...right near the Vedettes du Pont Neuf where you might want to try a night cruise on the Seine.
A point on solo travel...don't worry at all about eating out solo. It is really no big deal. Some people are hesitant to do so.
May 18th, 2011, 06:14 AM
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First, I recommend NOT making your flight arrangements (I am presuming you are flying in) until your ground plan is more solidified. If you are indeed staying all the time in Paris and making only day trips, then flying in and out of Paris makes sense. However, if you later decide that you want to go further south, for example Nice with better weather, then it makes better use of your time to fly into Nice and out of Paris or the other way.
You can easily find out how long it takes to visit other places on your own by train:
www.voyages-sncf.com
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query2.exe/en
Schedule that far out is not completely posted. Use dates in May to get an idea.
You can easily find out how long it takes to visit other places on your own by train:
www.voyages-sncf.com
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query2.exe/en
Schedule that far out is not completely posted. Use dates in May to get an idea.
May 18th, 2011, 06:30 AM
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Welcome to the Fodor Forums. There is NOTHING unfortunate about seeing Paris alone. Use the "search the forums" box above right to find a number of Paris solo trip report threads. Here is one to get you started. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-decadence.cfm
gracejoan3 goes to Paris solo several times per year and stays for many weeks at a time. Her reports offer a wealth of information and delicious food pictures. She is likely to be there when you go and she often gets together with other Fodorites. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ov-1-dec-4.cfm To see more of her posts simply click on her name and her threads will come up.
Ann Marie
gracejoan3 goes to Paris solo several times per year and stays for many weeks at a time. Her reports offer a wealth of information and delicious food pictures. She is likely to be there when you go and she often gets together with other Fodorites. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ov-1-dec-4.cfm To see more of her posts simply click on her name and her threads will come up.
Ann Marie
May 21st, 2011, 06:41 PM
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I, too, am going to be in Paris on my own and appreciate the information that has been given here.
Michel_Paris, Hi ! Do you have a website for Paris Walks?I'm not sure yet what I will do with my 5 days, but I do want to just 'dabble' and enjoy walking in the parks, and saoking up the atmosphere.
Thea, good luck with your planning. There is a wealth of knowledge on this forum.
Michel_Paris, Hi ! Do you have a website for Paris Walks?I'm not sure yet what I will do with my 5 days, but I do want to just 'dabble' and enjoy walking in the parks, and saoking up the atmosphere.
Thea, good luck with your planning. There is a wealth of knowledge on this forum.
May 22nd, 2011, 04:11 AM
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In November the days can be short and wet in northern France... I'd play it by ear. While you're there watch the weather forecasts... if it's pleasant in Nice then take the TGV there. If it's raining there take the train to Toulouse (or wherever) instead. The ticket will cost more but the flexibility will be worth it and hotels will be easy to find in November even at the last minute.
On the other hand, you may find yourself so enamoured with Paris that you won't want to leave...
On the other hand, you may find yourself so enamoured with Paris that you won't want to leave...
May 22nd, 2011, 05:13 AM
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Hi Thea,
I travelled to France alone many times. Being in November, you should start heading south after Paris. You can do all your travelling by train like I did. First, heading to Dijon, then Avignon. Since you have 5 days after Paris, these 2 lovely cities will be enough. Going to Nice is a long way and there are those beuatiful coastal villages on the Côte d'Azur to see. You need to save them for the next trip. Get your TGV tickets before you leave for the trip. It is cheaper that way. You don't need a car in either city. I went to Dijon twice, staying in Coco's flat that everyone raved about. There are many hotels in the center of Avignon. I took a French course in Provence that included room and board. You don't need to go too far, if you have to come back to Paris to fly home.
I travelled to France alone many times. Being in November, you should start heading south after Paris. You can do all your travelling by train like I did. First, heading to Dijon, then Avignon. Since you have 5 days after Paris, these 2 lovely cities will be enough. Going to Nice is a long way and there are those beuatiful coastal villages on the Côte d'Azur to see. You need to save them for the next trip. Get your TGV tickets before you leave for the trip. It is cheaper that way. You don't need a car in either city. I went to Dijon twice, staying in Coco's flat that everyone raved about. There are many hotels in the center of Avignon. I took a French course in Provence that included room and board. You don't need to go too far, if you have to come back to Paris to fly home.
