My wife-to-be and I are flying into Paris on a late May morning and will be hopping a night train leaving that evening whisping us off to Venice (I promise there is a valid reason). <BR><BR>We are therefor left with a 7 or 8 hour layover in Paris (poor us). My questions are these. 1) Are there still lockers we can use to store our luggage at the train station? And.... 2) What should we do with our time?<BR><BR>Please know that we are working our way back to Paris to finish off the trip with a 3 day stay. So we're certainly not trying to &quot;Paris in 7 hours.&quot; I am simply unsure of what real time we'll have and what all of you would do if faced with the same situation? Thanks in advance.

Have a look at the day tickets on http://www.batobus.com/english/index.htm You can relax on the boat looking at the many riverside sites as long as you want and there are so many attractions near the stops if you want a change.

mike<BR>I don't know how expensive it would be, but I'd look into shipping the bulk of the luggage straight on to Venice, either via airline and have it waiting at the airport, or delivered to your hotel via UPS or fedex or some such.<BR>If that is feasible, you could spend your day in Paris with just a totebag, and not spend any time going from the airport to the train station, and out again.<BR><BR>As to what you can do with 5-7 hours, assuming your luggage is handled one way or the other you will be tired if you have a transatlantic flight. <BR>Do something active: map out a long walk, stopping for lunch or snack along the way (most guidebooks have suggested walking itineraries); go to the Eiffel Tower, walk from the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs Elysees to the Place de la Concorde, etc.

rent a very cheap room for the day.

mike<BR>scroll down on the left, your duplicate topic has a couple of responses also

&gt;<BR>Here, I'll help by consolidating the other responses to your similar query.<BR><BR>&gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;<BR>Author: Shannon ([email protected])<BR>Date: 01/12/2003, 11:04 pm<BR>Message: Yes, you can store your luggage at the train station. Then hop on the nearest Metro, and take it to Trocadero and get off. Take some photos (or ask someone to take photos of the two of you) with the Eiffel Tower in the background.<BR>Then walk over to it and take the flight up to the top floor if you can and make out.<BR>I would then get on the Metro and maybe head over to the Montparnasse area for a drink or a walk through the Luxembourg Gardens and grab a crepe at one of the crepe stands if they are still open, or alternatively, find a little grocery store or even Monoprix will do, and get some provisions for the train -- a little wine, cheese, and bread, some strong mustard. And chocolate. <BR>That should keep you going until you get back to Paris.<BR><BR><BR>-------------------------------------------------------------- <BR>Author: MaryC ([email protected])<BR>Date: 01/12/2003, 11:10 pm<BR>Message: Mmmm, Paris as the quick fix. Shannon, sure sounds like you got it all covered! Wish I were you Mike. Happy Travels!!!!<BR><BR>---------------------------------------------------------- <BR> <BR>Author: elaine ([email protected])<BR>Date: 01/13/2003, 10:04 am<BR>Message: topping this--topic was posted twice and mike may not have seen this info<BR><BR> <BR>

A nap sounds good to me. Thats a lot of traveling in a short time.