We are 4 ladies off to Paris -- we arrive on <BR>a Sat. at 7am: <BR>Sat. 1:30pm -- city tour 4 hours. <BR>Sunday -- free until 6:20pm illuminations <BR> cruise, Eiffel Tower 4 hours. <BR>Monday -- 9:00am -- Versailles 4 hours. <BR>Tuesday - 7:15am -- Loire Castles 12 hours. <BR>Wednesday 1:00pm -- Fontainebleau & Barbizon <BR> 5 hours. <BR>Thursday 10:45am - Depart Paris for home. My question is -- am I leaving enough free time? Should I leave something out? Is there something I should add? Also will a taxi take 4 passengers? <BR>Thank you for your help.

Gerri; The sights you are planning on visiting are good choices... your schedule needs some polishing, though...good idea to filtered it through this forum!! <BR> <BR>Good start by getting on with sightseeing right away! Sunday you should see the Paris sights as the city is specially wonderful on Sundays; I recommend you go to the Louvre (in the AM), the Luxembourg Gardens (nearby) for a picnic lunch, and head to the Eiffel Tower in the afternoon. Versailles is closed on Mondays, so you may need to move it, unless you just want to see the Gardens (which are open to the public; 9am to 5:30pm). You should definitely allocate more than 4 hours for Versailles, anyway. If getting there by train, the roundtrip could take 45 mts/each way (easy to do!). Fontainbleau and Barbizon should not be done in 5 hours (BTW, does that include transportation time, personal delays, etc...?) <BR> <BR>Gerri, I strongly recommend that you become familiar with the Paris Metro. It is easy to use, specially if you read about it ahead of time. There is a fold-up plastic reference chart sold in Barnes & Noble called Streetwise Paris. It is absolutely useful if using the Metro and for knowing your whereabouts. I strongly recommend it. <BR> <BR>Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions. I am sure you'll receive tons of good advice; Paris seems to be a favorite of this forum. <BR>Have a great time!! <BR>

Gerri: Maria gave you some good ideas. <BR> <BR>She is definitely right about Versailles. Closed Mondays and four hours will not allow a good visit. This chateau is one of the largest and most beautiful of the world. We did it on a Sunday, catching the Metro "RER-C" to Versailles and spending the day there to catch the Metro to Champs Elysees by evening. <BR> <BR>Using the Metro is easy, cheap and efficient. Even for first-timers. <BR> <BR>I would include Notre Dame cathedral and a walk along the Seine. Visit the Louvre' museum, even if you don't have much time. Take the Metro to Pigalle and take the funicular up to Montremarte and see the Sacred Heart church and Painter's Square. <BR> <BR>Have a good trip!

Lee & Maria thanks for your help -- I have revised plans -- how does this look? Have I left enough free time? <BR>Sat - arrive in Paris <BR> Afternoon - Versailles <BR>Sun - Afternoon city tour <BR> Evening Seine cruise <BR>Mon - Free day <BR>Tues Loire Chateaux <BR>Wed - Afternoon - Fontainebleau <BR>Thur Leave for home 10am <BR>Would you leave something out? <BR>Thanks for all your help - I really <BR>appreciate it. <BR>

Gerri: It looks like it would work better. I never asked where your point of origin was, and if you will be tired upon arrival. <BR> <BR>My only consideration would be going to say Fountainebleau instead of maybe the Louvre'/Notre Dame, which are near to one another. Then again, it could be something on your "free" day. <BR> <BR>The only other way I could see it: <BR> <BR>Sat- Arrive in Paris; Late afternoon city tour (after resting a little while);stop and see the tower at night. <BR>Sun-Versailles during the day; Evening river cruise. <BR>Mon-Louvre' and Notre Dame. <BR>Tue-Loire Chateau. <BR>Wed-Fountainbleau or other choice. <BR>Thurs-Departure. <BR> <BR>This may work OK, but then again, it will depend on your interests. You are very welcome. <BR> <BR>Have a good time!

Lee, <BR>Yes, we will be tired (coming from Indy), and it gets a little harder <BR>every year, but we can do it. I want <BR>to see it all, I can sleep when I die. <BR>Thanks for your help. Had better get to work so I can pay for my trip. <BR> <BR>

Lee, <BR>Yes, we will be tired (coming from Indy), and it gets a little harder <BR>every year, but we can do it. I want <BR>to see it all, I can sleep when I die. <BR>Thanks for your help. Had better get to work so I can pay for my trip. <BR> <BR>

Gerri, ABSOLUTELY follow Lee's advice above. Take the city tour the first day after a rest stop (hopefully you'll arrive early and can check into the hotel) I would skip Fontainebleau and Barbizon for this trip as you are going to Versailles and also to the Loire valley. Stay in Paris that day and see more of the city. Notre Dame and St. Chapelle are wonderful and by that day (Wednesday) you will have a good idea of what you want to focus on. Sorry you only have 5 days--am assuming this is your first time in Paris? You will certainly want to return. <BR>

I have just spent a week with my mom Who is70 in Paris, Any questions?Had a wonderful time..The food was Great, the food was wonderful and the sights were marvelous. Paris will always be in ourr most fondest memories. We stayed at at the Hotel Du Louvre In the Place Du Andre-Malgreau, which was fantastic,, especially the concierge/ It was worth every penny we spent because of the location, the cafe,the restaurant, the roomservice when we were tired, and the wonderful suggestions we got on restaurants at the last minute. And the bar with its jazz at 11:00 when we wanted one more drink beford bed. <BR>

Gerri, <BR>Lee and Kam are right on; strongly urge you follow their suggestions. One point I noticed hasn't been addressed: four ladies in a cab. You may well have difficulties there; Paris cabbies are reluctant to have fares sitting in the front passenger seat. Do familiarize yourself with the Metro system. It's excellent, economical with passes and a good introduction to Parisians in their own environment.

Bring warm clothes so you can sit outside for Seine Cruise <BR>You need exaxt xhange for Metro tickets; e.g 52 F for 10 <BR>

I agree with Kam. The last proposed itinterary would work best. You probably don't want to spend 3 days on the road when Paris offers more than you can possibly take in in a week. Regarding the Loire chateaus, make sure you see Chenonceau because is it absolutely spectacular. We spent 2 two in the Loire this summer and spent 3 hours alone at Chenonceau inside and out. Also if you have time, in Amboise the chateau is up on a hill overlooking the city and is very nice. Several blocks from there is Clos de Luc where Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last years. It is a beautiful home, including his personal items and a small wonderful museum with his inventions. Try some Vouvray wine while you are in the area - it's a lovely sweet white wine. Regarding the metro, it is so easy. Especially if you buy a 3 or 5 day pass before you leave, then you can get off the plane and go! I think it's called a Paris Visite Pass and you can get online. St. Germain is great at night - for nostalgia try Hemingway's hangout - Cafe Les Deux Magot. La Procope is a restaurant in the area that Voltaire and Ben Franklin ate at and it's still going strong. We had the most incredible veal for two. Bon Chance! <BR>

All great suggestions. Two pieces of advice: 1) don't expect to see everything on your first trip to Paris and 2)Paris is wonderful just to walk around. Some areas I recommend: Latin Quarter off of Blvd. St. Germain, the Marais District near Hotel D'Ville, and Blvd. George V with the expensive shops. Enjoy it. <BR>

Gerri, <BR> <BR>I agree with the comment above about Fontainbleau. I went, it was nice, but if I had limited time, I would take a pass, unless there is an overiding need for you to see it (Napoleon nut?!). You might want to do a day for the right bank, a day for the left bank. For the right bank, start at Louvre (note you can get in faster is you don't liune up, but pay using the ticket machines that take credit cards) then Louvre gardens, Place Concorde, Champs Elysee, place Vendome (Ritz, jewelry shops), Rue Rivoli/Rue Faubourg St Honore, Opera House, Place Royale and you're back where you started from. This walk would easily fill a day, but is not too bad distance wise. After this, Place des Voges is nice to stop, sit down, and talk about what you've seen. <BR> <BR>On another day, the Left Bank. Notre Dame, St Chapelle (could also do a night-time candle-light concert here), Ile St Louis, walk along Seine and check out the booksellers, Cluny Museum, Orsay Museum, Rodin Museum ( might want to take metro for last two.) Another great day! <BR> <BR>Note that if you are interested, there are dinner cruises on the Seine. Expensive, but worth it. Regular tours leave from Pont Neuf (near Notre Dame) or Place D'Alma (take metro...can also visit Lady Di memorial). Nightime is the best time to go. <BR> <BR>I agree with the other comments about the Metro...it is easy to use. There are some stations however where you may have to do some walking. Last time I bought a book of 10 tickets, a "carnet", for ~40 F. <BR> <BR>There are bus tours of Versailles ( leaving across the street from Louvre, on Rue Rivoli). Fairly expensive, but no fuss. Or you can take the RER to Versailles. Castle is a short, well marked walk from station. You can then go on whatever tours you like, visit gradens for as long as you like. I toured both ways. Note that the gardens are huge, there is a little shuttle train that you can catch by the lake that will take you for a tour of parts of the gardens. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps. Let me know if I can help with anything (restaurants...) <BR> <BR>Bon voyage!

Just a quite addition....on the Left bank, you cal also see a roman arena (Arenes de Lutece) and have a picnic (byop??) in a lovely park - Luxembourg Gardens