So my soon-to-be-spouse and I are off to Paris in a few weeks for our week-long honeymoon. Have never been to Paris and are very excited. <BR><BR>We've already gotten loads of valuable info just by searching. But there are still some basic questions I have. Probably there are no definitive answers, but I guess I'm looking for as close to that as possible. If that *is* possible, anyway.<BR><BR>1. Once at CDG: Paris shuttle or take a cab? We'll be arriving at 8 am.<BR><BR>2. Are we supposed to carry our passports with us or carry copies of them and leave the originals in the hotel safe? I've seen a lot of conflicting info on this.<BR><BR>3. Should we make restaurant reservations right now? Or do we get there and ask the hotel to help us out? I'm feeling anxious about this because I love good food (who doesn't).<BR><BR>4. Bring umbrella or buy one there? (This is very minor, I know.)<BR><BR>5. Wear my diamond engagement ring or not? I'm inclined to wear it simply because due to some tricky wedding logistics I won't really have any place to store the ring safely before the trip. But again, lots of conflicting reports on the best thing to do with rings.<BR><BR>Many thanks!<BR>

1. Once at CDG: Paris shuttle or take a cab? <BR><BR>Cab. It IS your honeymoon!<BR><BR>2. Are we supposed to carry our passports with us or carry copies of them and leave the originals in the hotel safe? <BR><BR>I usually carry mine with me. And my wife once experienced having hers stolen once. Hotel safes just aren't my thing. There is no right answer here.<BR><BR>3. Should we make restaurant reservations right now? <BR><BR>I probably would say no. Hotels are usually a great source of ideas. so is www.timeout.com - - and don't forget Fodors Rants'n'Raves.<BR><BR>4. Bring umbrella or buy one there? <BR><BR>If you own a "Totes" or similar umbrella - - why NOT bring it?<BR><BR>5. Wear my diamond engagement ring or not? <BR><BR>Wear it. Absolutely. Celebrate your love.<BR><BR>And congratulations on your new life in marriage!<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

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I just carry a copy of my passport and leave the real one in the hotel safe--if you don't need it (and you don't), why carry it? I also carry only one credit card and leave extra and ATM card in safe except when needed. (On the street, I often turn the diamond toward my palm.) <BR><BR>Otherwise, I agree with Rex. The best advice here is just to be aware of your surroundings.

Congratulations!<BR><BR>Totally with Rex. Just wanted to say "Bon Voyage!"<BR><BR>And to agree, again with Rex, wear that ring! I used to take mine off when I travelled, but, after 20 years, I only twist it to the underside if I'm in a crowd on the Metro. Just keep your eyes open. <BR><BR>Now, when I go home to the south side of Chicago and walk along the beachfront, I slip it off! Paris is way tame, in comparison!<BR>

I just had to answer - we're leaving for France ourselves very shortly.<BR><BR>1. Cab. What Rex said, plus the savings aren't necessarily worth the hassle (if you can afford it).<BR><BR>2. We always carry our passports with us, but as you noticed, there's no definitive answer.<BR><BR>3. Make reservations ahead for at least some of your meals. I've had a lot of fun reading up on restaurants in preparation for our trip, and the more expensive/highly rated places will get booked ahead of time anyway.<BR><BR>4. Take one. They're not that heavy, and the price of umbrellas always seems to go up when it's raining.<BR><BR>5. Wear your ring. I think the only real reason to worry is theft from your hotel room, so if you never take it off, there shouldn't be a problem.<BR><BR>Have a wonderful, wonderful time.

Agree with the above. I also prefer to carry my passport and my wife's on my person and leave the copy in the hotel. I use a small pouch that has a loop that goes over my belt and the pouch hangs inside my trousers at the waistband. I place the passports there, zip it shut, and I feel secure. Only way to get it would to be knock me down and strip off my pants. I figure that if by chance someone did get the passports I have the copies to use at the Embassy to hopefully expedite getting new ones issued. Have a ball you will LOVE Paris.

These are merely opionions, of course, but:<BR><BR>1. Cab - but be prepared, you are arriving at rush hour, as we did, you may sit in bumpertobumper for over an hour. Our cost 50 E + tip. Make sure you have Euros before you get in the cab!<BR><BR>2. I have no idea why you would want to carry your passport with you. Why would you need it again before you go home? I used the hotel safe. Can anyone enlighten me?<BR><BR>3. Make reservations now if you are a foodie with specific restaurants in mind. You are already too late for some places.<BR><BR>4.I brought an umbrella. I feel that insured my not needing it.<BR><BR>5. Wear the ring and don't take it off. I have misplaced/lost/left in a hotel room a hundred pieces of jewelry, I have never had one stolen. <BR><BR>Have fun!

I won't jump into the fray on most of your questions, but I did find that restaurant reservations were easy to come by once we were in Paris. We didn't go to top end restaurants, but we ate VERY well at restaurants suggested by the concierge or recommended by other sources with a phone call earlier that day. If they even had restaurants this good at home, they'd be twice as expensive. <BR><BR>And as for umbrellas, if you don't remember to bring one, you shouldn't have much trouble finding one in Paris. When it started raining, there were umbrellas for sale everywhere (street hawkers, bookstores).

1) Take a cab. Logistically, it's so much easier, IMHO. You just line up at the cab stop and wait your turn. A Godsend for first timers.<BR><BR>2) Take copies with you and leave the originals in the hotel safe. Also be sure to leave a copy of your passports at home, just in case.<BR><BR>3) My wife and I just played it by ear when we got there, but we weren't on our honeymoon. I would try to make reservations now. I feel like the more I can get taken care of here at home, the more relaxed I'll be when I get there.<BR><BR>4) If it's a small Totes-like umbrella, you might as well take it with you. But if it's going to be in your way, just leave it at home and buy a cheap one over there.<BR><BR>5) Either wear your diamond or leave it at home. Also, it wouldn't hurt to insure it before leaving. Turning it toward your palm in crowds sounds like a smart move to me.<BR><BR>Have a GREAT time and congrats on your marriage. You will LOVE Paris.

Congratulations newbie! Only one reply to your umbrella question.....take one if you are expecting rain!

I agree there is no "right" answer on the passport question, but I hesitate to agree that just because you're not going through immigration at the airport, you don't "need" it. Folks, that's your form of US identification. If for some reason you're stopped by police near an uprising (happened to me as I went from the metro to the Musee Rodin in 1998) or are caught up in some terrorist related scare and need it to confirm who you are (worst case, but in this day and age...who knows), wouldn't you rather have your official passport than a photocopy? Think about it. It doesn't do you a whole lot of good sitting in your hotel safe.

From CDG, get your bags and take a taxi into P.<BR><BR>Do NOT walk around with your PP ... leave it in a hotel safe. You'll be using credit cards and ATM. PP are only useful in banks exchanging money.<BR><BR>For special restaurants, work out your schedue now, and have your hotel reserve for you. Have them confirm before you leaver the US.<BR><BR>Take $100 in Euros with you, just in case that finkicky ATM in CDG isn't working, God, that is the worst international airport I've ever seen. You'll be all set to pay the taxi.<BR><BR>Use only official taxis with meters. Make sure the meter is on. Any concerns, ask the driver for an estimate of the fare to your hotel.<BR><BR>Have your hotel reserve a taxi to go to the airport for your flight home. The shuttles are reliable, but they're normally crowded and make stops on the way out.<BR><BR>When you get to CDG for the retrun home, be sure you get into the correct line. You will be in 2 or 3 by the time you clear security. Make sure the first one is for your airline check-in.<BR><BR>Get the Cheap Eats book, and rely on it.<BR><BR>Have a blast.

What's so hard about keeping your actual passport on you? You're going to use a money belt, right? I agree totally with Amy, have always carried it safely in thin pouch underneath clothing, fully within my control. (as is an extra credit card, and most of any cash I've obtained). I usually use the shuttle, but agree for a special trip that a taxi is much more direct and not much more expensive. Bring a small umbrella and then you won't need it!

What a happy thread!<BR>

Congratulations newbie-weds! Taxi cab yes definitely! Wear your ring; certainly married Parisian woman do, don't they? Skip the umbrella that's just too over-prepared for me especially if you're trying to pack light every little bit (you don't take!) counts. And yes they will sell them on every street corner and shop if and when it begins to rain! Paris is full of good restaurants, non? unless there's a particular place you have your heart set on I'd let my hotel front desk assist after you arrive.

I won't respond to all the questions as most have been answered consistently. However, I will respond to the passport question. I would recommend carrying the pasport with you. I have used it to apply for VAT refunds at department stores and to provide identification. And, while this story did not happen in Paris,one of my friends had his passport stolen from a hotel safe in Rome, at a very nice hotel so I wonder how safe even hotel safes may be.

Just wanted to thank everyone for all of the good wishes and great advice. You have made me even more excited--didn't think that was possible--to finally explore Paris. And with the one I love! <BR><BR>So now I am off to get married. Many thanks again!<BR>

Just got back this Saturday. It was our first trip. These answers pretty much a duplicates, but maybe you can draw a consensus.<BR><BR>1. Take a cab to and from the airport. Our ride from the airport to Paris was 40 euros with tip, 2 persons. Going back to the airport at 8am on a Saturday it was only 30 euros with tip. Our cab driver really made good time, averaged about 90 mph!<BR><BR>2. We left our passports in the room safe. Only carried 1 credit card, an ATM card and some cash, all in a money belt.<BR><BR>3. We contacted our hotel concierge prior to leaving and he made reservations for us. <BR><BR>4. Definitely bring a "totes" type umbrella for each of you.<BR>

Bob: I think that would be 90 K's an hour, about 55 m.p.h.