Ok...I know I should have a "loose" itinerary with which to work around and keep our itinerary flexible enough so that we don't feel rushed and that we have to stick to it but..<BR>If you could plan the "perfect" itinerary to see the "major" sites in Paris, which days and where would you go ie:Versailles on Sunday for the fountains.Have 15 guide books...too much info here and going on overdrive.<BR>Thanks.

Maybe I should have mentioned that I will be there from a Friday until a Wednesday. Thanks again.

Recheck the 15 guides you have. Most guidebooks provide suggested 5-day itineraries. I know that Frommers does for sure. These should give you a foundation from which to start.

I went to Paris last October and was also overwhelmed by the guidebooks. I liked "Rick Steve's Paris" as simple and easy to follow. He has several itineries for certain number of days. and also has chapters on his "tours" through various museums - Louvres, Versailles, etc. With only 5 days, you need to be fairly organized, and his book is good for that. I didn't use his hotels or restaurants, but liked it for general information about the popular sites. I was there 12 days, so didn't have to rush quite as much. I loved it so much I going back in a couple of weeks for 10 days!

Robyn:Was in Paris October 2000 and again in 2001. Really liked Eyewitness guide book...had several good walk itineraries...we saw lots of unique things (like the narrowest house in Paris) that we might have otherwise missed. Be sure to see Versailles.

Robyn--<BR>If you have 15 guidebooks and the input from this forum, then you have the tools you need to plan a perfect itinerary. First and foremost, don't see or visit any place unless it interests YOU (and of course, your traveling companion). What I am trying to tell you is that a museum or historic sight that is a must-do for someone else may bore you to tears, so trust your judgement and make a list of favorites that you have heard about or read about. List everything that sounds appealing, then put A, B, or C next to each one. Make a list of places you want to eat, and next to each one write B for breakfast, L for lunch, D for dinner, and S for snack(ice cream, tea, hot chocolate, etc). List the main shopping experiences: Galleries Lafayette, le Printemps, Catherines, etc.(obviously, everyone has different shopping goals)<BR>NOW--for each day you will be there, pick 1 or 2 A's, a few food stops, either shopping or a B list sight, and presto--you have an itinerary! It also helps to get a laminated map, and put colored sticky dots on the places you want to see. That really helps in grouping things together. Keep in mind days that sights are closed, and work around your list . Nobody can do this better than you--just seeing all this after you list it makes it all begin to fit together. Have a great trip!

Hi Robyn, I understand your dilema and frustration. I returned to Paris after an absence of about 40 years in 1999.<BR>I was determined to take it "all" in, what ever that is. As a result, I scheduled 5 days of frenzied activities that kept us going day and night. Monuments and museums in the day; concerts and operas at night. At the end of the time, I was tired, but there was still a lot on my list to be seen. <BR>In 2000 I went back again, and repeated the schedule, only that time I took it a little more slowly because I was beginning to get the idea that Paris should not be rushed. <BR><BR>Again, I did not get to some of the second priority destinations on my list and never came close to visiting the ones that were marked with a "3".<BR>But I was beginning to get the message:<BR>Slow down, absorb it; don't rush past what you have in front of you in a futile effort to see one more statue.<BR>It isn't worth it. <BR><BR>This year, sticking to the task, I am returning for a 3rd visit. Again, I have a priority list, but it is short.<BR>I have adopted the attitude that if I get there fine. If I don't, fine.<BR>But I am not going to run myself silly because I think Paris is to be enjoyed. <BR><BR>There is so much to Paris, so many hidden gems, so many spontaneous events taking place, that I don't think I "will ever see it all". In fact, I am not going to try. So my strategy this year is to work with my short list, and above all, I am going to enjoy being there. Life is too short to get stressed over not seeming a few paintings, a few monuments, a few churches. I probably will not remember all of them anyhow and I am not sure what I would have if I did. <BR>If you miss one or two places, they will be there the next time, and the next. <BR>After all, part of my strategy is to leave something unseen so I can talk my traveling companion into going back.<BR><BR>

The advice you're getting here is very good. I especially like Barb's plan but would combine it with the dots on the map thing to be sure that you're being most efficient in planning your route. If you have an Access guide to Paris, I'd use that as a start on this kind of neighborhood approach to seeing things you want to see within an area.

What wonderful advice. A "special" thank-you to Barb. I love your idea and plan on starting to make this list tonight. It will be a much more manageable task this way and I hear the advice about not trying to fit too much in. Smell the roses, right?<BR>Thanks

Thanks for the kind words! I've learned so much from this forum for my own trips, it feels great to contribute ideas that help other travelers. One additional thought about sightseeing and shopping: at home my husband and I love to cook, and love to shop for the things we need. For us, a really interesting part of every trip is visiting the fresh markets, super markets, and cooking supply stores. This gives us a view of the local culture that you just can't get from the big museums. So if you have a special interest or hobby at home, then find the places that relate to that interest--you'll also end up with some interesting souvenirs and great memories.

robyn<BR>I do understand about having "too much" information, and the Internet has made that worse!<BR>Do follow the suggestion of looking at the suggested itineraries in your guide book. You don't have to follow them exactly or at all, but they can help you organize your thoughts and orient you to what is located on the way to the other thing.<BR>I make a list of places that interest me, and for each one I make a note of days and hours it's open or closed, the general neighborhood, and the nearest metro stop(s). For each neighborhood I add notes about the nearby shops or cafes or patisseries that interest me.<BR>Then I sort them by days--that is, no sense thinking of the Louvre for Tuesday, it's closed on Tuesday.<BR>So I start out each day with a list of possible itineraries and stops, usually at least one or two things are "musts", the others are optional. I try to schedule not more than one large museum (like the Orsay or the Louvre) for any one day, but I could do a large one in the a.m., take a break, and do a smaller one in the p.m if the mood is right. As the day goes on and some options get postponed to another day, or entirely thrown out the window, either because I'm tired or because I stumbled onto something unexpected that interests me more.<BR>One tip I will pass on from painful experience is to not schedule anything that's really important to you for your last day. It could close without warning, or you could be ill or some other obstacle could occur.<BR>

I am so lucky to have received such wonderful advice. Thank you Elaine for the wonderful ideas. I am going to definately take your advice and plan out my days using your "method" as well as Barb's.<BR>