Gail

I'm going to be in Paris in mid-June for 7 days. Is it better to spend it all in Paris, or to travel outside the city by rail to see some of the countryside? Any help would be appreciated.

Richard

Stay in the city, buy a few carnets (booklet of 10 tix) for the Metro, buy a guide book, Cadogan's City guide is our favorite.

Jeff

I think that may be a matter of taste. you could spend all 7 days in Paris, depending on your interests, etc., but a day trip or two might help break up your trip. I personally like to see the rural with the urban. There are some good posts regarding day trips on this forum, if you are fortunate enough to get the search function to work.

elane

Take a couple of day trips if you like.
I have a file on Paris; if you'd like to see it, email me
Most often-recommended daytrips are
to Chartres (cathedral), Versailles
(palace and gardens), Giverny
(Monet's home and gardens, wonderful i June), Vaux-le-Vicomte, Fontainebleau, and Reims (champagne caves and cathedral)
You can also do an overnighter and get to Normandie beaches (car recommended), Loire Valley (chateaux), etc.

Daria

Hi Gail.

I just went to Paris for the first time and was there for 8 days. I would reccommend staying there the entire time. It is such a big city with so much to do that you really need as much time as you can get. When I left I felt like I did not have nearly enough time and did not really get a feel for the city. Also, I made a day trip to Versaille which was not that great. It was WAY TOO crowded and touristy. Have fun.

Quicksilver

Hi Gail,

I suggest that you "plan" a couple of day trips... as in, know *how* you would go about making them, but don't pay for anything in advance. Some good suggestions are already here re. destinations.

Once you're actually in Paris, decide whether you feel like daytripping. If you want to go, you're prepared, and if not, nothing's lost. I thought I might try to make it to Chartres last time, but I ended up being so happy once I was in Paris that I had no desire to leave, for even one day.

I've resolved to start doing "one week somewhere else and then one week in Paris" trips, so I don't feel deprived of my "Paris time." Who knows, perhaps you'll start doing the same on *your* next trip.

Have a great time!

- Quicksilver -

Sheila

Daria, Where did you stay in Paris and where would you suggest? Thanks

Skip

We are going to Paris in April. This will be our 6th trip, and we stay for a week or more everytime, and still never get enuf of Paris. Chantilly is another place that we enjoyed for a day trip. I think our most memorable day trip was to Mont St Michal. We took the tvg to Rennes, then a bus to the Abbey. It is 300 miles, but the train only takes a couple hours. In Paris We always stay at the hotel Grand des Balcons in the Latin Quarter. Small rooms, but great location, and a lot of the internet fans stay there. Their site is http://www.parishotels.com/html/view...el=2.3&pays=gb or just put balcons.com in the address bar, and think it will get you there too.

Bob Brown

Paris has a lot to offer within itself. You can easily expend 6 days in Paris and still have many places on your list that you have not visited.

I think it is a trade off between the attractions outside of Paris and those within. In 7 days, you will have time to do a lot if you don't spend too much time on unimportant activities like sleeping!!

Outside of Paris there are several prime attractions. On my list I include
Versailles, Vaux le Vicomte, Fontainebleau, and Giverny. Giverny is of course for Monet's house and gardens.
Versailles is easily reached via the RER C line to Versailles Rive Gauche, from where it is an easy walk to the entrance, if the cobblestones don't bother you. Fontainebleau can be reached also by RER as can Melun, the town for Vaux le Vicomte. I took a tour last summer that went to both Vaux and Fontainebleau. The advantage was transportation to the door. The drawback was that I wanted to stay longer at both places. Also both in one day is a little overwhelming.
Then there is the attraction of a trip to Chartre. But believe me, you will not run short of actitivies.

Tom

Stay in Paris. We were there a week and had a great time. Caveat is we like to spend time soaking up the culture rather than running from site to site. The one day trip we did is Versaille which is easy to do as it is in a suburb so not really traveling too far. FYI - Hotel Le Tourville is a charming little European hotel that is very friendly and helpful towards Americans as well.

eva

Daytrip to Vaux le Vicomte.
You can take RER to Melun,but thereis no bus to Vaux,so you have to take a taxi.It takes only 10 min but one way costs 90FF,so the return price is 50 USD.Ren t a car.