april in paris??
 

i am taking my 16 year old daughter to paris for the 1st time for the first 10 days in april. it's is the only vaca time that works. i know weather can be yucky but i think it will still be fab just being in paris.
from reading the posts i understand that the 2nd,5th or 6th would be the best locations to stay
1. would you recommend a flat or a hotel? for not more than $200 p.nite
2. should we take some kind of tour or guide?
3. day trip or overnight to monet's garden in giverny?
4. any special recommendations for a 16 year old?
many many thanks.

We always do hotels - I think apartments are more important with small kids - when you must have a kitchen and want a place to put them to bed early. But you will certainly be there long enough for an apartment. And if you plan to do any meals in (you couldn;t pay me enough for that) it will work. But with a hotel you do have the concierge and someone to advise on walking tours, train schedules etc.

You definitely don;t need a guide - just some research and a good guidebook. I would look into local waking tours - which can be interesting.

When we took my step-daughters the second time (17 and 14) they loved shopping at some trendy places for teens (couldn't tell you where - we went to a museum instead) and went to a teen "club" one night with kids they met there.

But with only one - and if she's not used to big cities - you may not want to let her go out alone at night.

Other than that they loved the typical tourist sights - esp Cluny Museum, some cafe sitting on the left bank (looking as "French" as possible), and a fun movie festival we all liked. (There are always movie festivals in Paris - almost always with the movies shown in the original language with French subtitles). Also - the chance to practice their French and have wine legally with dinner.

I'm more of a flat preferer - it's wonderful to be able to make a cup of tea and maybe a quick meal instead of relying on restaurants.

I haven't taken any tours; I find the various walks recommended on the Paris superthread here and in the guidebooks to be useful.

I think a day trip to Giverny would do the trick, but be sure to check that the flowers are blooming (I haven't been there myself, but my daughter has, only later in the season).

On a nice day, just get yourself to an attractive part of town (the Marais, or the Tuilleries, or wherever you find yourself drawn) and wander around, stopping for a cup of chocolate or a glass of wine and following your nose. We took off one day and just walked along the Seine and found the zoo this way on our last trip, and enjoyed it a great deal - just wish we'd had time for the botanical gardens as well.

Have a wonderful time.

abranz

I usually think first timers do best in a hotel because of the support of the front desk. However, since you will be together for 10 days, nonstop, maybe an apartment would be good. You could get a one bedroom and one of you could have the living area with foldout bed. Just a little time apart... We have rented from rentparis.com and been so happy that we just put money down with them for a stay this coming winter.

2. I don't like a tour or guide unless there is something that I really can't possibly figure out on my own, or for just a single venue. But you don't need a tour of the city or a guide for that; it is easy and there is too much information available out there. If you hit the library, you will see that there are more guidebooks about Paris than you could ever read.

3. I'm not sure Giverney would be at its best in early April. In any case, I would not go for an overnight. A day trip would be fine. There are lots of organized day trips to Giverny.

4. When we took our daughter she was a little older, but she loved shopping and loved the Marche aux Puces Clignacourt. She liked all the art museums, too, but she is an art fan.

I forgot to mention that the 2nd wouldn't necessarily be on my list. I prefer the 4th, very much like parts of the 7th that are nearer to the 6th, and would then pick the 5th or 6th.

Most people agree that nearly anything central is just fine.

abranz,

Just be sure to take small umbrellas and some warm clothing to layer. It can be very chilly at that time of year. We were there for the Paris Marathon one year (first Sunday in April). It SNOWED the week after we left!

thanks so much for all the info. the only reason i would consider a flat v/s a hotel is for the space. my 16 year old is very messy!! she has been obsessed with monet since 7 yrs old so a visit to giverny is a must regardless of whether the flowers are blooming:)

I was there in april and it was chilly but a sweater took care of that.. If nothing else walk the entire Champs Eleysee with camera in hand. and then a boat ride down the river. paul

I would recommend a hotel as well. Not sure about a guide but if you obtain a good guide book, Paris is a nice city to stroll around on your own accord.
You could also use an open top bus initially to familiarise yourself with the city.

http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/a...eing-buses.htm

With 10 days, I would also consider using the subway, the easiest way to get around.

Hope this helps

Hi

I went to Paris in April a couple of years back. Maybe you can find some useful info in my trip report with pictures and links on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm :d

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

For ten days I would prefer an apartment. Much more space, and a hotel room feels pretty small after a couple of days for me.

You should check to see when the gardens at Giverny open. When I have gone to Paris in March, they have not been open for the season yet.

There is a free fashion show at Galeries Lafayette, which my daughter enjoyed when she was a teen.

We prefer the 4th and 3rd. We also prefer to rent apartments. We have used rentparis.com, vacationinparis.com and a private party. My experiences were all good with the exception of my last apartment with vacationinparis. We were not satisfied with the quality of the studio that we stayed in. Having said that, it was one of the least expensive apartments they rent. You get what you pay for.

As an alternative to Giverny, you could consider an easy day trip to Auvers sur Oise. This is Van Gogh country (he is buried here with his brother, Theo). The town is very charming and many of the views Van Gogh painted are unchanged.
Best of all, you can visit The Impressionists museum in the chateau
http://www.chateau-auvers.fr

If you and your daughter are fans of impressionism, I highly recommend this museum (and it is indoors in case of April showers). This is a huge museum covering all the aspects of life during the time of the impressionists: the fashions of the time, cafe life, the music, the importance of train transportation (to get them out into the countryside)and more. Each room covers a different topic, very well presented.
The museum is really wonderful - you feel totally engulfed in this time period, and you get an audio headset to hear all of the descriptions in English.

Hi,
I've been to Giverny in April and there are flowers in bloom. The gardens open on April 1. I checked their website:
http://giverny.org/

and there is a calendar of what flowers are in bloom, for April it lists:
Tulips, pansies, forget-me-nots, narcissi, aubrietas, cherry and crab-apple blossom, fritillaries, daffodils, etc

It isn't as spectacular as when the wisteria and roses are in bloom, but still very lovely and well worth the trip. To stand on that Japanese bridge was such a thrill for me!

It is easy to get there by train. Go to Gare St. Lazare and get a ticket for Vernon. There are quite a few trains, but check the schedule, some make more stops so it takes longer. The "fast" train is about 50 minutes. It seems to me that in May this year the trip was about 45 euros. When you arrive in Vernon, walk out of the station and stay on the right, about a block or 2 down the road is the bus to Giverny. They time the bus to coincide when the trains will arrive. On the website above, you'll find info on the train and bus.

Have a fun trip! Paris in the spring is lovely - even if it rains a little.

I think since it's your first time, I'd vote in favor of a hotel, too. It can be invaluable to have a front desk to assist you, and you won't have to deal with any potential apartment glitches or quirks.

Hopefully, you won't be in your room that much anyway, since it is your first visit.

My kids, both teens, have visited quite a few times, and some of their favorite Parisian experiences are:

Visiting the Musee D'Orsay, and the Picasso Museum, sculpture garden of Musee Auguste Rodin.

Nighttime cruise of the Seine, when the buildings along the Seine are illuminated

Shopping: In the Marais along rue Francois Bourgeois, which runs just in back of the beautiful Places des Vosges. There are lots of young artists and cool electronic/houseware designers who have opened shops in that area.

MONO PRIX, French version of Target.

Final shopping recommendation- along rue Andres des Artes in the 6th, which is home to lots of trendy and ethnic boutiques, many of them very reasonably priced. We are particularly fond of the amazing jewelry store int he corner of rue dauphine and rue andres des artes- lots of silver and intricately designed earrings from India, Nepal, and Bali.

Eating kebabs, then gelato or nutella crepes for dessert in the Latin Quarter.

I'm sure there's much more, but this is what immediately comes to mind. Have fun!

Another vote for a flat/apartment. Ten days can seem an eternity in a hotel room, especially with a messy teen. You should be able to find something within your budget, perhaps even a two bedroom. For our recent trip we used and were pleased with http://tinyurl.com/5e3jbk.

There is a polarity of opinions on the "best" area in which to stay, but in all honesty the features of the flat itself (size, amenities) and immediate environment around (convenient to public transport, not noisy) are just as important. I have come to really like the 4th, 11th and 12th. 10th is getting press about gentrification but parts are still pretty seedy. Some prefer the 14th around Montparnasse, comfortable enough but I still prefer a more central arrondissement.

Tour guides - never had a lot of use for them, especially in a place as tourist friendly as Paris. There are loads of guide books and online resources. It might be fun to do a half day orientation bus tour your first day, just to get the lay of the land. We enjoyed using "City Walks - Paris" http://tinyurl.com/36nslg which is a set of pocket sized cards with a map and directions for walking in various parts of the city.

Giverny would be a day trip at most. It may be a bit early for the plants but if your daughter likes Monet it is worth it. Seeing that bridge in real life is an amazing experience for a devotee. Musee Marmottan and L'Orangerie are also must-do's for Monet fans.

so many great ideas!
i will check them all out and let you know. the debate continues in my mind - flat v/s hotel. both have their own advantages.
would you know if any of the flats offer daily maid service? most of the sites i looked at only had the service every 10 days or so. having a fresh bed made for you daily is such a treat on vacation!

Abranz:

If your daughter loves Monet you two must see the Musee Marmottan (2 rue Louis Boilly, Paris 75016; La Muette Metro station, Line 9; closed Mondays), as Seamus (above) suggested.

Fabulous collection of Impressionist works, featuring a huge assemblage of Monet, including the painting that gave rise to the name of the movement, "Impression Soleil Levant," and many Nympheas, Rouen Cathedrals and London works.

Your daughter (and you) might enjoy staying in the 4th, which includes the Marais, a forward neighborhood with a distinctive artistic bent, and the Ile St-Louis, a refined island/village in the middle of the River.

Paris can be chilly in April, and the moisture coming off the River makes it feel chillier.

Our family (parents, 3 girls 11-13)prefers the space and privacy we get when we rent apartments. Many feature optional housekeeping, though it may get quite expensive to have someone make your bed on that schedule. I have seen an website for a 3* hotel, Relais Bosquet, in the 7th, home of the Eiffel Tower, that rents an apartment with hotel amenities, which may include daily housekeeping.

Have a terrific trip.

i just read about the bed and breakfast alternative to a hotel or a flat.
www.bed-and-breakfast-in-paris.com seems to have some wonderful options and i wonder if anyone has experienced this service?????

If you can manage to contact Michael Osman (just do a search for his name in this forum and you'll get his website and contact info.), he'll do a wonderful job introducing you and your daughter to Paris. He's a real treat and quite reasonable. Try to schedule him early in your trip. "Paris Walks" can fill in any holes that Michael leaves out, or that you can't handle on your own. Paris is very tourist-friendly. Additionally, be sure to include a Seine boat trip (day or night). I usually recommend a hotel for first-time visitors, but 10 days can be a long time in a small room. If you or your daughter have any knowledge of French, it can be quite fun to rent an apt. and play at being Parisians. Of course, you're in charge of breakfast and making your own bed, just like at home. Enjoy your planning, EJ ((#))

thank you so much for the michael osmun tip. i remembered reading about him from some other forums but just could not find it. i will definitely try to get a hold of him.
the siene boat trip sounds great. i was looking into the dinner cruises but they are so pricey!! we'll just stick with the day trip.

There are many Seine night cruises that do not include dinner. Each of the companies has hourly schedules so you can dine (less expensively) elsewhere and then take a cruise. EJ

If she likes theme-parks and/or Disney; a trip to Disneyland Paris could be a nice day away from the city. There are two parks you can visit; the Disneyland-park (a magic-kingdom style park) and Walt Disney Studios (like Disney-MGM-studios, but smaller).

For one day I would recommend the Disneyland park. But it is also possible to buy a Hopper-pass for both the parks.

There is a direct connection by RER-train (line A) form the city. This takes about 30-40 minutes.

Especially when you are in Paris for 10 days, a few days out of the city can be nice.

tommieg: thanks for the disney option. we used to do an annual birthday trip to disneyland until she was 13. she wants more adult entertainment (?) now. we are planning a visit to giverny. she has been mad about monet since she was 7 so this will be quite a treat and a day or so out of the city.

elsiejune,
thanks for the tip on the boat rides without dinner.do you know of any? i checked into some of the dinner rides and they were just too exorbitant.

There are many Seine boat rides offered without meals. I have been on the one just below the bridge at the Eiffel Tower many times and enjoyed it.

A tip on this forum was for a different company that offered a discount on line: http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/billet_en.php

this looks perfect. thank you.

How lucky to have the opportunity to share Paris with your daughter!

I suggest the Hotel Muguet, not only do they have clean, convenient rooms, they also offer an apartment. www.hotelmuguet.com It's in the 7th, very safe, quiet and walking distance to the Eiffel Tower and Metros.

Here's my list of things I love to do. I have shared this with several friends who took their teenaged daughters. They followed it to the tee and had a blast! The * denotes "don't miss" items.


Notre Dame, St. Chappell [a church with incredible stained glass, only the royal family was allowed to attend], Conciergerie [where Marie Antoinette was held before she was beheaded], Berthillion [for the best ice cream in the world]

*Laduree for tea and macaroons, lunch or afternoon tea

*Angelina’s for hot chocolate and people watching

Evening Concert St. Chappell

*Walk to the Eiffel Tower, enjoy the park at Champs de Mar, the carousel.
Napoleon’s Tomb [that’s where I buy my museum pass]
*Rue Cler—shopping street, browsing, café at Café de Marche, Crepes, olive oil sampling, cheese shop, and patisserie

D’Orsay museum for Impressionists

Museum l’Orangerie for Monet’s water lily murals [especially after going to Monet’s home and seeing the real water lilies]

Alma bridge where Diana died, then walk up George V for the fancy stores, to Champs d’Elysee.

Street market Sunday morning at blvd. Raspail in the 6e for food, soap, scarves

Street market Sunday evening behind church at St. Germain and dinner at one of the many bistros

Montmartre and Sacre Couer, cemetery, vineyard

Marais on Sunday, pastries from old Jewish bakery, Place des Vosges at sunset.

*Monet’s home Giverney in Normandy—take the train to Vernon, **ride bikes next to the Seine four miles to Giverney, lunch at Hotel Baudy, American museum.

Museum Jacquemart-Andre, lunch in café, gifts from gift shop

Rodin’s museum {the Thinker}

Drinks at old cafe in St. Germain–Le Palette
Coffee at Deux Magots

Museum Marmottan—Original Impressionistic painting--find it on the map, half the fun is getting there

Shopping at Galleries Lafayette and Printemps behind the Opera, take her to Zara and buy soem fun clothes

Boat ride down the Seine

Dinner on rue Exposition and then watch the sunset on top of the Eiffel Tower

Walk around Place Vendome, window shop all over the 1e, Catherine’s, buying perfume at Annick Goutal and Guerlain.

Walk through the Tuilleries Gardens between St. Germain and rue Rivoli.

Start at the Arc de Triumph and walk down Champs, or go other way and walk to Ternes, exploring the neighborhood

Walk down rue Rivoli, rue Honore, Fabourg-Honore for shops, stop at old *Laduree for afternoon tea.

Behind the Louvre antique and art market, shops-good place to go if raining

**Big Fat Tire Bike Tours—daytime and evening--Both the day and evening tours are hilarious and gobs of fun.

**Full day with tour guide Michael Osman--absolutely wonderful!

Paris Walks walking tours*--go on website and just pick those that interest you

Segue tours-fun way to get around!

Have a trip of a lifetime!

anneeby,
hotel muguet sounds just perfect. are the rooms really as fab as they look in the pictures?
thank you for your suggested itinerary. i have yet to get to that part of the planning but your suggestions especially the ones with * sound wonderful.
as i get closer to planning, i know i will have a zillion more questions, some of them redundant for which i apologize in advance.
i sent an e-mail to michael osmun last week but haven't heard back. i know i just have to be a little patient. not my best quality!

It sounds as though Giverny and a few of the museums featuring Monet's works (the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée de l'Orangerie and/or the Musée Marmottan) are musts for your daughter given her love of Monet. According to the garden web site there should be some beautiful flowers in bloom in April
Certainly a lot more than we'd see here in Vermont!

Since you have 10 days you might also consider a day trip to Versailles

I think your daughter would probably enjoy spending time at the plaza next to the Pompidou center

Our family likes renting houses or apartments on vacation for the extra space and ability to fix snacks, drinks, some meals. I doubt you would find one in your price range with daily maid service. Personally I enjoy not having maid service which I find intrusive in hotels

I would definitely rent an apartment. I rented one this past spring and in the heart of things. If you're interested, you can pull up my report by either typing my screen name in the ,"Search" box or by typing in ,"Guenmai's Paris Apartment Rental Experience." Happy Travels!

vttraveler,
versailles is definitely on my list of places to visit.
thanks

guenmai,
your apartment sounds just perfect. thanks

Abranz...It would be perfect for the two of you. Also apartment #209 at vacationinparis.com sounds quite good and the location is great,too. #209, doesn't have an elevator though and it's 4 floors up...really the 5th floor if you think in the American system.

I really want to try #209,too. It's just that I have a knee problem, so if I'm not in pain at the time of arrival, I'll be fine.

#209, is near the Cafe Flore which I love. I always go in for a kir royale...cassis with champagne. It's been a tradition that I've had for decades now.

It's so good to find a rental agency that is hassle/stress free and doesn't require a huge deposit. I only had to pay $300. to hold my apartment and pay the balance 2 months before the scheduled arrival date. And it was all done in U.S. dollars so no worry of fluctuation. I just mailed the rental agency a personal check to cover everything.

Also, by them mailing the keys out a couple of weeks before departure, I didn't have to worry about having to meet an agent to get the keys.

As for April, I love April in Paris. That's when I usually go and already have my plane ticket for this coming April. It could rain, a bit, but at least it's usually a bit warmer than March which is the other month that I go. Happy Travels!

I forgot to answer your other questions...as for a guide..not necessary. Just get a good guide book and use it. Also, the cards called, " City Walks Paris by Christina Henry de Tessan" are very good. I picked up a box of them, a few years ago, at Homegoods (T.J.Maxx's company) for $9.99. They came out in 2004.
They are 6-inch by 4-inch cards that have the name of the walking route and history on one side and then the map on the other. So, you can pick and choose which walks you want to take and don't have to take the whole box out each time you go out for a walk. Just toss some cards into your purse.

There are 50 cards....50 different walks. You can also combine the double-decker bus that goes around the city with the cards and be your own guide. Explore!

While there, you should also try to use the bus system. I sometimes use the city bus as my "tour" bus as it passes lots of great places in the city. I highly recommend a thin, blue, paperback book called, Le Bus-Repertoire des 80 lignes...L'indispensable. It has the bus lines of which each line is given a separate page. It's an excellent book and I only paid 6 euros for it back in 2003.

They also do one called, Paris Pratique Par Arrondissement - L'indispensable. This one breaks up Paris into its 20 districts and does a map of each district. The advantage of this series is that the print is bigger than some other map sources. My old Paris map book, from back in the early 80s, has incredibly small print and my eyes have changed since the 80s. Smiles.

I probably bought those books at the Bon Marche department store which is right at the Sevres Babylone metro station...in the 7th. It's one stop from the Mabillon metro station, in the 6th and on Line 10. The paper department is in the basement. You can easily walk to the department store, if you end up staying in the 6th.
There's also a small, family-owned bookstore on rue Gregoire des Tours at the corner of rue Buci, but they can be more expensive than the department stores depending on what you're buying.

Since you have a 16 year old, she might like to buy her school supplies in the paper department. European stores have very interesting school/office supplies. I always load up. Many times the paper departments are in the basement of the department stores. Plus, Bon Marche is an absolutely beautiful department store..definitely my first choice. They also have a gourmet grocery store, next door, where they sell great, vinyl shopping bags with the name of the grocery store and Paris on them. They come in two colors. I always pick them up for friends as they are also good for carrying books in. So, just some ideas as they come across my mind.

As for Giverny, that is definitely a day trip. Two hours there will be enough time. I went in the car the first time with a Parisien friend of mine. It was in the beginning of April, but it was cold that April and the flowers weren't in bloom.

You can either go part of the way there, by train, and then take a taxi..which I haven't done or take the Cityrama tour bus from Paris which I had to do year before last as I took my then 78-year old mom to Paris with me.

The Cityrama tour office is on rue Rivoli. You can look up the prices on their website. They aren't cheap, but it's an easy way to get to Giverny...and in my situation with my mom, the only way I could have done it.

If you have any other questions, feel free to either post here or page me on the Asia forum where I'm a regular. I don't always check the European forum. Happy planning! Happy Travels!

ttt. Happy Travels!

ttt.Happy Travels!

abranz--last summer I spent 10 days in Paris with my 16 yr old DD (and my mother). Do a search for my trip report and that might help you decide on things. Anyway, we split our time between two hotels so that we could enjoy two different areas. One of the places we stayed was the Muguet, which was mentioned already. We had two rooms. One had a king bed and a twin bed and had a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower! Except for the very bottom of each of the 4 legs, we could see the entire thing! The other room (my moms) had two twin beds and had a great view of Invalides. The hotel was spotless and extremely well kept. Our room was spacious enough, even with a 16 yr old DD;) The other hotel we stayed at is over your budget, but if you are curious, it is the Hotel Britannique in the 1st. Loved it as well.

We are headed back this coming June and will do an apt this time. Here is the link for it, as it fits your budget and and the location is good for getting around. http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_125.htm

The suggestion of the Vedettes river cruise is great. We went at dusk, but bought our tickets online before we left home. Doing that saves 4 euro and you bypass the ticket line. The tickets are not for a specific date or time, so you are totally flexible with that.

mms,
thank your for your suggested apartment and the hotel muguet. they both sound wonderful.
i now need to start making inquiries and decide between a hotel or an apartment.
like you, i had originally wanted to splurge for 2-3 days at the george v or the ritz.
after all, we are celebrating my daughter's 16th and hopefully by then also celebrating her acceptance into the college of her choice. but, she just wants to stay put in one place ....o well....i guess i don't get to enjoy the luxury either!
being in paris in itself is a luxury.