I'm 56 and traveling alone to Paris after my England,Scotland,Wales & Ireland tour(15 days)with Collette Tours early June 2001. The 9 day trip to Paris is with Trafalgar Tours and the put you up in the hotel with breakfasts, day of sightseeing, a trip to a Perfumery, a 1/2 day to trip to Versailles and the rest of the time you're on your own. I'd like to know if the hotel that I'd be staying in will be convienent to travel from and of course, a good hotel. I plan to visit: Giverny; The Lourve; Musee d'Orsay, Chantily and take a cruise on the Seine. Maybe even a cabaret show. Can I do these things alone? Is it too much for 1 week? Any info would be appreciated.

Forgot to mention the 3 hotels in Paris that I have to choose from: <BR> 1-Frantour Suffren <BR> 2-Nikko de Paris <BR> 3-Ibis Cambronne Tour Eiffel <BR> <BR>Anyone have any info on these? <BR>Please excuse the typo's, I forgot to check before I posted before.

For starters, I don't think a half day tour of Versailles is enough to do a thorough job of seeing the place. We were there for 6 hours, but would have stayed longer except for reasons that had nothing to do with the estate. <BR>I hate to be a nay-sayer, but darned if I thought Giverny was worth all the hoopla. I have seen gardens before and the house is not that extra ordinary. True, Money lived there etc. But there many gardens that are as pretty or more so that are not jammed with tourists from all over the globe. If I have been to two places that virtually cry for a repeat visit they are Musee d'Orsay and Vaux le Vicomte. Vaux in particular is an artistic and architectural masterpiece with a huge dose of history thrown in. <BR>Getting there is a little of a challenge, so a tour to Vaux le Vicomte might be in order, but I would make sure that it gives a minimum of 4 hours to tour the house and grounds. <BR>One other suggestion. Get the green Michelin guide. It will give you ideas for places to visit that most people never heard of. And don't worry about getting around in Paris. The bus system is good. I actually prefer it to the Metro and use the buses in preference. <BR>(I find the maze of tunnels and steps of the Metro to be uncomfortable. The bus is above ground and you can see where you are going.)

OOPS. MONET <BR>Although Money might be just as accurate!! <BR>

While I haven't stayed at the hotels that you mention, I believe that they are all located in the 15th arrondissement, near Ave. Suffren and the Eiffel Tower. This is the area that I usually choose to stay in, and I can recommend it highly. The 15th is mainly a residential area, and is very pleasant. The residential character does make it a bit quiet in the evenings though, and you may have to venture into other areas for evening entertainment. <BR> <BR>You have good access to the metro in this area, and the RER as well, so getting around is no problem. If you're feeling ambitious, you can actually walk to some of the attractions in the 7th arrondissement (e.g., Hotel des Invalides, Rodin Museum, etc.) which borders the 15th (I believe that Ave. Suffren is actually the dividing line between the two). You can also walk across the Seine to reach the Passy area in the 16th.

You should be able to do all of the activities you've mentioned on your own. The metro is very easy to use, buy 10 tickets at a time (carnet)to save a bit of money. You'll find that walking around Paris is wonderful and if armed with a good map, the preferred mode of traveling. <BR> <BR>If you decide that you want to stay at Versailles longer, you can always advise your tour operator that you are staying and then take the RER back to Paris on your own. <BR> <BR>The Musee d'Orsay and Louvre both have late hours one night a week, on a recent trip we stayed at the Musee d'Orsay until 9:45 pm on a Thursday. It was a good time to visit as I think the crowds are a bit less in the evening. <BR> <BR>There are a lot of Seine cruises that go pretty much all day long. The one we took didn't require advance reservations and was reasonably priced. <BR> <BR>I thought the gardens at Giverny were lovely but imagine it's a bit of work to get there via public transportation. We stopped while driving to Paris from Normandy and really enjoyed it, but it was September and the crowds are probably not what they are in June.

Thanks for the tips. I hope I don't get too intiminated eating and being by myself. I figure that by the time I finish England,Scotland, etc tour, I'll be ready to be on my own. Thanks again.

You should have more than enough time to see the items you mentioned. Versailles deserves a full day. I loved Giverny! If you're at all a Monet fan I have to disagree with the others--it is a great side-trip. It's easier to reach than you think. A train ride out, then catch the local and clearly marked shuttle bus to his house. The whole thing, train, bus, entry fee and crepe at the crepery down the road from Monet's house costs a measily $40 round trip. It is pretty neat to see in person! Vaux le Vicomte is fabulous too. It's unlike the vast majority of French palaces, its gardens are natural and the setting is very rugged and peaceful, and comparably less crowded might I add. The Seine cruise might be best done the last evening in Paris--sort of a capstone to your visit. I took one that left beneath the steps of Pont Neuf, and it was fine. In sum, with three days outside of Paris, you'll have four in which will give you ample time to see the many highlights of the city--good luck!

Alma, I've traveled alone to Paris twice (and once with a friend) and not felt out of place or uncomfortable, except that time I was taking photos of the passing scene with a telephoto/zoom and two rough characters took me to task for it. Where they plotting revolution, I wonder? Still, I walk EVERYWHERE or ride the Metro, usually getting back to the hotel before dark. I find a cafe for morning coffee and croissants, look the waiter straight in the eye, smile my most charming smile and leave a generous tip. He's always glad to see me the next morning and it gives me a sense of neighborhood to be greeted. The Bateaux Mouche ride on the Seine is great fun; you can have a tour company set up the cabaret (be prepared for nudity) and that way you go with a group - my first time (1972), I sat at a table with three businessmen from Japan. Our communications consisted mostly of smiles and hand gestures, but when the evening was over, one gave me a small beaded purse, saying "Made in Japan." Then they all burst out laughing. I keep some francs in that little purse and every now and again open it, remember, and smile. The flea market is where I ususally head first (Clingancourt metro stop, I believe). It can be a bit tough on the edges, but what great stuff for sale, including old knickers! Also old sheet music which I bring home and frame. Isle de la Cite is so Parisian - they have a bird market on Tuesdays or Wednesdays - or maybe it was Sunday, the days run together, but other specialized markets on different days. Tolerate the lines at the Louvre; Winged Victory will bring tears to your eyes. Ride to level two of the Eiffel Tower; the sight will take your breath away - Paris is as pretty as a filly in a field of wildflowers on a spring morning. Cross all the bridges - each has its own special romantic sense. Cross your fingers for a foggy morning and get down to the river immediately! Drink cafe au lait all day and wine all night - check the thread on where to people watch. I don't go outside the city; I am just too much in love to leave even for a day. Have the best time and be a young girl in your heart! Oh, I wish . . . . next year, perhaps. Paris is the most wonderful place in the world, even alone. Especially alone.

Giverny is easy to get to via public transportation. Metro to Gare St. Lazare and take the Rouen train to Vernon (100ff round trip). When you buy your train ticket they will give you a pamphlet about Giverny.At the train station in Vernon you get a bus to Giverny (21ff round trip). The only problem is that the trains are limited. We took an 8:30 train and were at the house when it opened at 10, however the train back wasn't until 3--too much time. We had lunch, relaxed and walked around the town of Vernon. Try to schedule it better than we did--you need about 2 hours at Giverny. By the way--the restaurant across the road next to a gift shop is very nice and suprisingly good food, however they charge extra for butter, ketchup, or mustard.

I agree with Bob...I thought Giverny was a long ride for nothing much except I treasure my picture on that green bridge!!!I love Vaux, though, and all its hx. of the minister who out-did the king! That should teach corporate execs everywhere something....Something I'm gonna do in Paris is the Paris Auto Show at Porte de Versailles. I went one year and saw 'Retromobile" at the same place. Are you into cars? There's also a interesting Baccarat Musee on the rue Paradis with a showroom of various sets of crustal that aren't on sale anywhere else....and How about a concert in the Chappelle or at the Madeline? We're also taking the kids to see the Musee Curie to lear about Radium, etc. Are you into science at all?