Dumb questions
 

First of all, Happy Holidays to everyone on this forum, where I post for the first time.

Please excuse the silly questions, but I simply don't have time for much research.

The questions are the following:

If you had a daughter in her early twenties, alone and with rather limited French, landing in Paris on Dec. 29 and leaving for another country the next day, what would be your advice re the following:

1) How to get from the airport into town and back to the airport the next day.

2) Where to stay, preferably with a private bathroom?

3) What Paris highlights she should not miss, in the limited time available.

4) How cold is the weather expected to be?

Thank you very much.

What time does the plane land?

What time does the next day's plane take off?

How much should she spend for a room (and is she alone)?

What does she want or hope to see in Paris?

The answers to these questions will help us give advice.

For the weather in Paris, go to
http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/FRXX0076.html ((*))

4. Just now in Paris (24 december 17h40) it's 2 C outside and should not change much next week.

The plane lands at 11 AM and the next day's flight leaves at 10.30 AM, so I would say she only has next Friday afternoon to tour Paris.

As I said, she is alone. I would not want to waste money, but, as it is only for one night, the cost is not a huge issue, but a private bathroom would be nice. 100 Euros?? More?

The answer to "What does she want or hope to see in Paris?" is more difficult. Whatever a 22 year old young lady should see, according to you?

About the weather, I was hoping for a somewhat more locally colored opinion.

Thank you, norween, that's what I meant.

My sugestion would be to take the Air France bus to Port Maillot and walk to the Hotel Etoile Regina. This puts her right near the Champs Elysee. We have friends who love this hotel and stay there every year. She can catch the bus back to CDG in the morning.

Paris is very cold this time of year. Bundle up.

If it were me and I had never been to Paris before and with the limited time, I would go to the Eiffle Tower and just walk. The Eiffle tower is the one thing that I think just signifies Paris to anyone that hasn't been there, and there really is not enough time to see museums etc. I would just want to walk an area. Perhaps the Champs Elysee, again because time is very limited and the street is just so very famous. Perhaps a boat cruise on the Seine. The Bateau Parasian dock is by the Eiffle Tower. As you say, she's not going to have a lot of time.

First, after getting a hotel, visit the Tower Eiffel. Then head towards the Champs Elysee. It will take a few hours and this would be fine up to the evening. The street does change a bit, so visiting around 8-9 pm. Different people, different traffic and it would be time for having a nice meal nearby.

Get up and head towards the airport early.

Blackduff

Get a hotel at CDG. This will minimize the morning rush to get to the airport (the morning is largely wasted anyway).

Read the "CDG Layover" part here: http://tinyurl.com/ovpaw

It's a one-day drive-by overview tour of Paris using the city buses. Even if you don't follow it literally, there are many map references that might be useful.

My own opinion? Take the RER B from CDG to Gare du Nord and select any of 100 or so hotels in the area, ranging from 30 euros to 200 euros. Lots of good transportation and dining options in the area, and there is no easier place in Paris to get the RER back to the airport the next morning. If you don't know where to start looking for hotels around Gare du Nord, there are endless suggestions from Accor, Best Western, Louvre Hotels, or whatever, for the area.

Thank you everyone!!
I was considering booking her into the Hotel Residence Foch, based on its tripadvisor.com high rating. What do you think?
She is supposed to travel from/to CDG with the Air France bus, getting off/on at Porte Maillot and walking to/from the hotel. What do you think?
Any more ideas on what to do Friday afternoon and evening?
Thank you, again.

If I had a 22 year old daughter going to Paris I would present her with a studnet guide book and the names of a couple of web sites.

If she's figured it all out herself

1) she will start out with a lot more confidence - and be much less likely to experience culture shock

2it's much less confusing and she's less likely to get lost

3) she'll get to decide what SHE want to do - and do it

Mine have been spending the day in Paris - together - since they were 11 and 14 - and have traveled there alone since they were 18. Never had a problem. (But they did research the trips beforehand - even the 11 year old - and had very specific opinions on MUST DOs - including shopping by themselves - without me or the beau hanging over them.)

Thank you nyt, but she has been studying very hard until recently, knows only a little French and English and has had little time for research.
So, now she has less than 3 days left to decide how she wants to spend her few hours in Paris.
I'm sure she can handle it, with a little help from Daddy (who has never been to Paris) maybe? LOL!!!

Hi AV!! I did have a daughter and a son who did the same thing :)

<i>1) How to get from the airport into town and back to the airport the next day. </i>

I always tell my children to take taxis if possible..when they are in an unknown city, later they figure out their own modes of transportation.

<i>2) Where to stay, preferably with a private bathroom?</i>
My son liked the Hotel Tiquetonne http://tinyurl.com/hzso5
My daughter likes the Lutece and the Danube.

<i>3) What Paris highlights she should not miss, in the limited time available.</i>

http://fodors.com/miniguides/mgresul...;feature=30002
She should pick what sounds good from lists like this.
Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, all the big sights..just walking and looking at everything is satisfying!

<i>4) How cold is the weather expected to be..</i>

Fall/winter in Paris for us has always been a bit on the raw side, can be wet, some sleet or snow or rain and grey. But it is still Paris therefore always (IMO) beautiful.
There are sooo many cafes and bistros where she can stop and warm up with coffee or soup or a drink, weather has never stopped us.
She needs to wear her warmest coat, it is much colder than BA ..

Anyone intelligent enough to find the airport bathroom is equipped to find the train station. Buy a <i>Paris Visite</i> and knock yourself out using the RER, M&eacute;tro, and buses. Cabs are for people who have more money than zest for adventure. Just remember that RER B goes to CDG. Here's the master plan: http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...eur&amp;fm=pdf


Sleeping at the airport means you don't have to schlep luggage to and from a downtown hotel, and you don't have to get up as early.

Regrettably, no onr offered you the advice... early on... to re-post your set of questions, using a header other than &quot;Dumb Questions&quot;.

It's a bit late now, as you seem to have a dialogue in progress, with several other participants who are offering you help.

If you do wish to re-opst, or if you plan to post follow-up questions, your message _header_ should reflect the nature of your question. In this case, something like &quot;Seeking advice for an overnight stay in Paris in late December, on short notice&quot;.

And I am curious... does one dress differently for weather of 2 degrees C according to the &quot;local color&quot; used in the description In fact, if wind and precipitation are the same, does one dress differently for cold weather, based on gray skies or blue?

Hope she has a pleasant, short visit...

Best wishes,

Rex

Jeez, how hard is it to answer 4 little questions without lecturing or asking more questions?

avrooster posts on the Latin forums and is extremely helpful all the time, too bad he is not met with the same here on the Europe forums.(<i>not counting the few of us who actually tried to help )</i>

Hi,

I think Ile de la Cit&eacute;, Montmartre, Champs &Eacute;lys&eacute;es and the Eiffel Tower are the places that shouldn't be missed when you visit Paris.

I agree, just answer the questions, no llectures :)
Hotels will be difficult to book at such extremely short notice IMHO.
Taxi is the way to go when not knowing your way around.
Just wandering around outside the monuments like the Eiffel Tower or walking along the SEINE was a treat for me.
I posted a NY Times article earlier today. 36 Hours in Paris it should be of help.

Were I advising my sons in their 20s I'd suggest getting to Notre Dame or the Louvre area and then walking down along the Seine -- with good walking shoes -- toward the Eiffel Tower, and possibly taking the Batobus back. Once back at Notre Dame area (or ending up there after starting at Louvre) it's an easy skip to Left Bank area where she could find a nice bistro frequented by young people. Alternatively she could take the Metro or cab over to Champs Elysee and walk from the Arch end to the other.

As said, it really depends on her interests--personally I find Louvre/Notre Dame/Left Bank more interesting than Champs Elysee, which has too many superstores and traffic for my taste, but to each her own.

I recommend a copy of Let's Go or similar guide for airplane reading.

I agree that the Eiffel Tower = Paris, but you can see it from any of the bridges over the Seine and from most of Paris, so I feel it's less interesting to be literally on the spot there as opposed, say, to seeing Notre Dame. On the other hand, there's a great crepe-maker across the street from the ET!

avrooster, I just asked my own 22 year old daughter, who has been to Paris several times. Here's what she said: &quot;There's a risk of trying to see too much. If she's interested in art, I'd choose the Mus&eacute;e d'Orsay over the Louvre, simply because it is more manageable. I'd suggest a stroll down rue Rivoli to get a sense of what some of the shops are like, and some time in a caf&eacute; to people-watch and to feel like a Parisien.&quot;

Scarlett, you are an angel.

Anselm

I just got back from Paris last week and it was quite cold since I spent most of my time walking outside. After the sun went down at around 4:30 pm, temps felt as low as 34 F by evening. I'm guessing she'll be at the Eiffel Tower at night (which is just amazing, she'll love this, and there are plenty of people around all night) so she should definitely bring her warmest coat, as suggested by others. Even a long wool coat or down parka needs to be augmented by layers, *definitely* a scarf, hat, and gloves. These things can be easily/cheaply purchased from street vendors that same afternoon along the touristy thoroughfares if she doesn't already own this stuff.

I brought wool tights, etc. to wear under all of my clothing under the warmest coat I own and I've never done this at home -- and I live in Chicago... (but I don't walk outside for hours in the winter.)

Paris is absolutely gorgeous at night so there's still plenty of sightseeing to do in the evening. I'd say that the Champs Elysees, Concorde, Saint Germain/St Michel area etc. are actually much nicer at night, esp. with holiday lights. (the Champs Elysees is like a big outdoor mall to me with its Virgin Records and Burger King on the one hand and Louis Vuitton, Gucci boutiques on the other -- both unappealing to me). Saint Chapelle should be attempted in the daytime (maybe first thing after she drops off her luggage?)when all the stained glass can be viewed in brightest light possible.

If I were in my early 20's I'd love the Marais along Rue du Rivoli. The demographic is young with stores like H&amp;M and Zara, so there are people her age around. Saint Germain is a bit upscale, Latin Quarter plenty of other students. good luck!

Wow, thank you guys!
Pretty good answers, considering I've been told I used the wrong header!!
Got only a couple of answers to the same question on TA, BTW!! LOL!!
Happy Holidays!!

And why did this land in the &quot;Fodorite Lounge&quot;, may I ask?
Maybe some genius believes these are not travel-related questions?

Great, we are back in the Europe forum now!! LOL!!!

lol, avrooster, you are bouncing back and forth? maybe you just sound like you should be in a lounge ? lol
I want to be in a lounge but in Buenos Aires :)

I agree with Anselm, (<i>not about me being an angel, Thank you, Anselm for such kind words!</i>) ((F)) but D'Orsay is more manageable and so completely beautiful..

Du Louvre is also very beautiful, and quite manageable if you don't bite off too much. Plan on hitting the biggies (<i>e.g.</i>, Mona Lisa, Nike, etc. - make your own list), and you'll see a lot on the way from one to the other. It's not necessary to dedicate a half-day to one wing and not have time to finish it.

Assuming the lecture comment was made in response to my suggestions - I was not lecturing.

Simply pointing out that if she spends a little time on it herself she will be much more familiar with what she's doing and better prepared to deal with Paris. Never mind seeing what she really wants to.
(It only takes a few hours to read a guidebook and look at a couple web sites.)

Unless the parent is going along s/he doing all the research is of very little use to the traveler when she finds herself on the spot with decisions to make.

Don't forget your daughter will have at least 4-6 hours to look over that guidebook while waiting in the airport or on the plane before 'bedtime'.

Thank you, again, everybody!!
nyt: I understand the people who mentioned lecturing meant the comment by Rex.
Scarlett: for a while, this thread appeared in the Fodorite Lounge, instead of in the Europe forum. Do you understand my previous posts now?

Never mind these posts get the hotel!

I booked for her the Hotel Residence Foch. Comments?

Hi av, I understood what you meant before ..I just made a joke .
Glad you are getting good advice .. Merry Christmas.