Brender

DH and I would like to visit France and we only have 1 week. I have a few questions on how we should spend our time. I've looked at Rick Steeves itinerary and he has a 7 day Paris that seems to be at a good pace. However, the Frommer's 7 day itinerary has several cities.

Since we've never been to France before, should we stay in Paris the entire time? Or should we spend split our time and do Paris/Normandy or Paris/Nice? What are the must sees?

Thanks so much for your help!!!

ira

Hi B,

With only a week for a first-time trip, I suggest staying in Paris.

See Paris Superthread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34519236

100 Great Things to Do in Paris
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...mp;tid=1277898

Degas’s Paris Walks
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34712768

Jacquemart-Andre’ Museum http://tinyurl.com/p9pol

Have a nice visit.

rlbplf

If you have an interest in seeing the landing beaches in Normandy, you could devote a day to taking a tour. For me seeing Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery overlooking the beach was something I will never forget. Nice is too far for a day trip and I assume you are flying out of Paris. Don't forget Versailles, an easy 45 minute train trip from Paris and worth a half day of your time. In Paris there is much to see. Do you actually have a full 7 days in Paris not counting your incoming and outgoing travel days?

JandaO

I would stay in Paris for the duration with maybe one daytrip. That is what we did in 2001. Enjoy.

ira,
is there a Rome or Venice
"super thread" ?

Brender

Thanks for the replies! We haven't booked our tickets yet, but from my searches I would leave the US on Saturday, arrive on Sunday early in the morning. Not sure if that day is a wash or we would be able to get some site-seeing in. We would leave on the following Sunday (in am - is it crazy to expect to be able to work the next day?) so that would give us 7 days, depending how it goes on our arrival day.

We are interested in taking a day trip to Versailles, but not as interested in the Normandy beaches. DH really wants to go to Mont St. Michel - we both studied French in high school and that was just something that stuck with him. I'd also love to go to the Monet gardens. I think we would rent a car and drive to those sites - would that be 1 long day trip or would it be better to break it into 2 days. If so would you stay in that region or just go back to the hotel in Paris?

Thanks again

Christina

I think it's hard to say, as some people would prefer one method and others wouldn't. I think you just have to know yourself and what appeals to you. I would have my own feeling about whether I'd like to stay in one place or travel in that situation.

I would not split Paris/Nice, though, unless you really think you won't have much interest in Paris. Nice is too far away and that will take up too much travel time going there (about a full day).

MOnet's gardens and Mont St Michel aren't anywhere near each other, and MOnt St Michel is way too far to combine that with Giverny in a day trip. In fact, most people don't recommend you do even Mont St Michel alone in a day trip from Paris, although you can if you don't mind spending 6-8 hours traveling that day.

rlbplf

So it appears you have 6 full days with your Sunday AM arrival day. That day will be partially consumed with customs, getting baggage, transportation to your hotel, checking in, etc. I would count on having the afternoon to walk around. If you do a drill down search here on Mont St. Michel you will probably find that most of us think it is a tourist trap. Between that choice and Normandy, Normandy wins hands down. If the WWII subject is not particularly interesting to you, visit the town of Bayeaux to see the cathedral and tapestry and just enjoy the village itself. If you are thinking of renting a car in Paris and driving out to Monet's gardens please consider the difficulty of driving in Paris and I speak from experience. If you decide to visit the gardens, Normandy is not too far away whereas Mont St. Michel is not close at all. Visit the www.viamichelin.com website and you can plot the distances and approximate driving times. Don't forget the approximate driving times are just that, they don't include the getting lost factor which will ultimately happen.