lesliem

Hi Fodorites!

OK, we booked a trip to Europe and are in deperate need of your valuable insight and guidance. Travelers are 5 - all female (two 45-48 year olds, two 17 year olds and one 21 year old). WE will have 4 1/2 - 5 days we are spliiting up between Paris and Barcelona before heading out on a Mediterranean Cruise (cruise questions will not be asked here)

We arrive in the morning in Paris on August 18th and will have 2 1/2 days in Paris. Our thought was to take itesomewhat easy on the first day to deal with jet lag, maybe tour the Lourve. The next day we have booked a bike tour of Versailles and an evening dinner, Seine River Cruise and Mounlon Rouge show (I know it's touristy, but we want to get the basics over with).

Questions: What hotel do you receommend for Paris that is decent, clean and close to the action? It seems as if the 4, 5, 6 or 7 arrondissement is best. Any specific hotel recommendations? I dont think we can get all 5 of us in one adjoining room or suite, so we will go with two rooms, but the mopre I read, the more confused I get. Help!

We fly to Barcelona Friday night Aug. 2oth and have the evening and then all day Saturday and Sunday before boarding the cruiseliner. Again, the more I read the more overwhelmed I am getting on where to stay. With only limited time, we do NOT want to be far away and boarding public transportation, but the ramblas sounds like being on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras. Do they have apartments in the downtown area that will hold 5? Any recommendations???

suec1

Wow! get ready for the feedback - have you already booked your flights into Paris because otherwise I would say just do Barcelona. There are apartments in Barcelona for 5 - but most have 3 night minimums - I used Friendly Rentals. You might want to go to Tripadvisor for more hotel info - I doubt you find a hotel for all of you in one room.

And if you do end up doing both cities I give you my permission to skip the Moulan Rouge - there is nothing more basic in Paris than a long leisurely dinner in an outdoor cafe.

lowcountrycarol

Do you really think the young people in the group would like the Moulin Rouge? So tacky, touristy....

lesliem

All feedback welcome!!!!

I know, I know....but it's one of their requests, so we will make do. Yes, suec...we did already book the flights. As I myself have never been to Paris or Barcelona (I've been everyhere else in Spain and all over other parts of Europe), I have not been much help, although I am trying to coordinate some of this before all goes crazy! I assumed we will need two rooms (a quad and a double) with a/c. As anywhere I myself travel, I want them all to get a flavor of each city. Walking out to cafe for breakfast or lunch and exploring the sites. The girls have never been to Europe even though limited because of cruise time, we want them to get a taste of each city and culture.

danon

agree with PP,
Moulin Rouge a basic? Maybe in the 60s.

If people in your group have never been to Paris, forget about museum the first day...enjoy the city, see some tourist attractions from the outside - Paris has about a zillion.

lesliem

LOL...I agree...it must be about the movie! They each get to pick one thing they want to do and that was one!

So danon (or anyone), what attractions would you recommend? This may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some of them....

danon

I would not leave the city for starters;
as for attractions, here are just a few:

http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/f...ure_30001.html

suec1

I would suggest doing the bike tour in the city instead of heading out to Versailles - I think its oriented to young people and the will see many of the main sights. You might want to check Hotel Muguet - they have triple rooms, AC, not far from Eiffel tower. In Barcelona the Hotel Regencia Colon also has triples and is near the cathedral.

Please post what the young 'uns think of Moulan Rouge - it MUST be the movie - I wonder if they will end up liking it. Tell them Nicloe Kidman doesn't work there anymore!

mamcalice

Hate to rain on your parade but I agree with all of the responses. I went to the Moulin Rouge in the 60s. It was tacky then.

As for touring the Louvre to get over jet lag? Sounds like a near-death experience. The best thing to do to help with the jet lag is walk in the fresh air. And walking in Paris is the best way to see many of the sights. Even a bike tour of Paris would keep you outside on the first day and show you the highlights. As others have said, I wouldn't go to Versailles with only 2 days. We've been to Paris 9 times and to Versailles only twice - and not for the last 5 or 6 trips. There is so much wonderful to do in Paris.

Consider the list of top attractions danon posted. Enjoy your trip and hopefully you'll return to Paris and have time to see all of its joys.

lesliem

I will return...not sure about others, but it was a chance to go with a great group of people. Will check your recommendations..thanks for the guidance!

taggie

With only 2 days in Paris (your arrival day doesn't count because of the jet lag) I would definitely not spend what'll amount to pretty much a whole day going to Versailles. It's nice, but to my mind more something you'd do if you had a week there, or were on a return visit.

Spend your arrival afternoon walking around Paris, absorbing the sights, having a drink in a cafe, people watching, window shopping, etc. and leave the museum(s) for one of the other days.

CathyM

"I've been everyhere else in Spain"

Well, that's impressive. I've been to Spain almost 20 times and haven't came close to having been everywhere!

I don't have any specific recommendations for Paris but in Barcelona I'd stay in El Born. It's got a good cafe and tapas scene, centrally located and sounds like what you're looking for. You'll probably need to get 2 rooms.

Aduchamp1

Yikes, one more voice to the chorus.

There aren't any basics. It is what you find interesting. And I was also surpised that you would go bicycling in Versailles, when you really have not seen much of Paris.

For a unique Catalan experience go see and possibly join the dancers who do the Sardana Saturday night and Sunday morning in front of the Cathedral.

And it is unusual to have seen the rest of Spain and not Barcelona.

StCirq

I wish you'd consulted Fodor's before you booked and made these plans, because they sure aren't ideal. The Moulin Rouge is a waste of time and money with so short a time in Paris. Versailles shouldn't be on the itinerary. You really shouldn't even be going to Paris with only essentially a day to enjoy it. And so much more.

That said, have a good trip and next time come here first, before the trip plans are in place. This sounds like a mini-horror to me.

Suzanne2

I'm another non-fan of Moulin Rouge. But to each his own. Who knows it might be a fun thing to do with your group.

On the arrival day we stay out in the open. Walk in a park or something like that. The Louvre would not be a good choice with jet lag. A small museum that is doable would be the Orangerie.

my husband and I prefer apartments, However, I did a short girls trip last year. We stayed at Hotel Des Grandes Ecoles. It is a darling little hotel in the 5th. It has a fab courtyard where we sat and enjoyed a beverage every evening before dinner. Rue Mouffatard is right there with lots of choices for dining.

Suzanne2

Oh dear, I see your trip is in August. I don't believe this hotel has AC. Not sure how much you need it but I'd guess in August you might.

Christina

hey, a lot of tourists want to go to the Moulin Rouge and think it is fun. Nothing wrong with that, a lot of people like it and that kind of thing. Just view it as a fun night out and don't take it too seriously (as long as money isn't tight as it isn't cheap). It's better than what a lot of people do at night, which is tromp up and down the streets of tourists masses on bd St Germain or the Champs-Elysees, doing nothing but going to chain restaurants.

YOu will need two hotel rooms at least, but don't know why you are talking about a quad and a double if there are five of you. Maybe I missed something. Get a triple and double, and make sure the triple is for adults, as that is often for parents and a small bed for a small child. I think that is possible but maybe I'm blind but don't see your budget. Most hotels are clean, so the fact that you mention that makes me think you are wanting something very cheap or you wouldn't have worried about that.

suze

I would NOT day-trip out to Versailles when you are only in Paris for barely 2 days. Yes you need 2 rooms. Yes the 4, 5, 6 or maybe 7th are central arrondisements, easiest for touring the city. Agreeing with others touring the Louvre to get over jet lag made my head hurt just thinking about it -lol!

danon

if there is nothing wrong going to MR, there is also nothing wrong in walking around St. Germain or CE.
On any August night, I would rather spend time walking or sitting in a cafe somewhere near St. Germain .
Cheaper too.
But, to each their own.

Suzanne2

Sometimes just being with a good group makes the activity worth doing. I got dragged along on a cheesy ghost tour in Savannah. It was fun though because I was with a good group.