Paris Getaway April 2008
Oct 30th, 2007, 04:18 PM
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Paris Getaway April 2008
My husband and I are heading off to Paris the last week of April 2008...yes this means we are escaping from our wonderful children for 7 full glorious days!!(Can you tell it's been a while?)
We hope to hit some of the obvious tourist spots but are also looking for opportunities to delve into the local culture...any TIPS???
We are looking into a side trip to the wine country...are we crazy to try this??
I am also loking for places to acquire unique fibers for my knitting fetish.
Both of us speak basic french since our youth in Canada....but will it be enough??? We'll see.
Today I met a man who writes Fodor's guides...he and his assoc. were in Borders store in Ann Arbor Michigan, for the day. He was very helpful, and suggested this chat forum might help us plan the ins and outs of our trip.
I hope he was right!!!
Cheers!
We hope to hit some of the obvious tourist spots but are also looking for opportunities to delve into the local culture...any TIPS???
We are looking into a side trip to the wine country...are we crazy to try this??
I am also loking for places to acquire unique fibers for my knitting fetish.
Both of us speak basic french since our youth in Canada....but will it be enough??? We'll see.
Today I met a man who writes Fodor's guides...he and his assoc. were in Borders store in Ann Arbor Michigan, for the day. He was very helpful, and suggested this chat forum might help us plan the ins and outs of our trip.
I hope he was right!!!
Cheers!
Oct 30th, 2007, 06:19 PM
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I will be there that same week with my mother for 10 days. This will be our second trip to Paris together. I am sure other Fodorites will help you with great ideas but a great place for us has always been Fat Tire Bike Tours which you can find online at www.fattirebiketours.com. They have an excellent Segway tour which can help acclimate you to the city on your first or second day. There is also a really nice bike tour to Giverny to see Monet's Gardens and House. We loved that one. They also offer many walking tours which are inexpensive and fun.
Hope this helps you get some ideas!
Hope this helps you get some ideas!
Oct 30th, 2007, 07:05 PM
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Ca knit ian: welcome to Fodors. Many folks here have spent a good amount of time in Paris, and there have been many great threads. One tip I offer is to stay in an apartment to get the feel of a being a Parisian, if only for a week.
I also suggest studying public transportation maps and guides. Very helpful.
Search past threads here by putting Paris in the search box.
And try local markets. I had a great book from the library about markets in Paris for our last trip.
And go to BHV. There was a dress I really should have bought...
I also suggest studying public transportation maps and guides. Very helpful.
Search past threads here by putting Paris in the search box.
And try local markets. I had a great book from the library about markets in Paris for our last trip.
And go to BHV. There was a dress I really should have bought...
Oct 30th, 2007, 08:20 PM
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Hello Ca_knit_ian
Just a couple of points:
1. If you are going to the Louvre, look for the ticket kiosks in the "Carrousel" shopping center underneath the museum. When you are the pyramid, ask for the Carrousel. Look for the food court, and then find the crepe place. To the left of the crepe place is a flight of stairs. There you will find ticket kiosks with no line. You can then walk through the mall and straight into the museum.
2. I was functioning on French 3 from 27 years ago, and found that I was generally able to understand most of what was said to me (even by Parisian taxi drivers). It was more difficult to converse, however I could make myself understood quite well in restaurants and hotels. Plus, frequently the staff spoke better English than I did French (although they didn't always let on to that fact).
Have a great child-free time.
Just a couple of points:
1. If you are going to the Louvre, look for the ticket kiosks in the "Carrousel" shopping center underneath the museum. When you are the pyramid, ask for the Carrousel. Look for the food court, and then find the crepe place. To the left of the crepe place is a flight of stairs. There you will find ticket kiosks with no line. You can then walk through the mall and straight into the museum.
2. I was functioning on French 3 from 27 years ago, and found that I was generally able to understand most of what was said to me (even by Parisian taxi drivers). It was more difficult to converse, however I could make myself understood quite well in restaurants and hotels. Plus, frequently the staff spoke better English than I did French (although they didn't always let on to that fact).
Have a great child-free time.
Oct 30th, 2007, 08:39 PM
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Well for a fabulous night out with the most incredible view, in the midst of Paris's newest Museum, the Quai Branly, you'll have to do LES OMBRES-where you can reach out and practically touch the Eiffel Tower in their rooftop restaurant:
http://www.lesombres-restaurant.com/
Also, I would HIGHLY recommend the beautiful Museum d'Orsay restaurant for Sunday brunch or lunch-brunch is only 23 Euro-a great value in a beautiful turn of the last century baroque setting:
http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/visits/...urant.html?S=0
http://www.lesombres-restaurant.com/
Also, I would HIGHLY recommend the beautiful Museum d'Orsay restaurant for Sunday brunch or lunch-brunch is only 23 Euro-a great value in a beautiful turn of the last century baroque setting:
http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/visits/...urant.html?S=0
Oct 31st, 2007, 04:12 AM
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A week in Paris itself is not too much so a side trip might not be necessary. You might try to hire Michael Osman for a day to get a wonderful overview of Paris and maybe one museum. It would pay great dividends.
Oct 31st, 2007, 05:25 AM
#7
This is an old but still interesting thread on 100 things to do in Paris:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1277898
This is a recent article in the Times on line with good ideas:
http://tinyurl.com/2lmz28
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1277898
This is a recent article in the Times on line with good ideas:
http://tinyurl.com/2lmz28
Oct 31st, 2007, 05:36 AM
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Hi C,
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
Why do you want to visit the wine country?
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
Why do you want to visit the wine country?
Oct 31st, 2007, 06:12 AM
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Welcome, from a fellow canuck.
Some good info already. A search will overwhelm you with ideas.
Tips...walk a lot, don't overplan your days (10AM Louvre, 12-12:45 lunch..etc). Sitting at an outdorr cafe is as important to "being" in Paris as is your toursit sites.
Consider a walking tour. Paris Walks is one that I'veused on several occasions. Let's you see beyond the guidebook locations.
Do you have a hotel? You will see a lot of hotel recommendations here. Two questions you will be asked: where and how much. I'd look at staying in the lower number districts (aka arrondisements)i.e. 1,4,5,6 or 7. The 5/6th are popular with tourists with a good blend of restaurants, sites, parks,etc.
Restaurants will post their menus outside, so you can browse before going in. Most people here who go to Paris do not have French as a second language. But, it is always a good plan to pick up a few basic words and make the attempt.
A week is not a long time in Paris. Assume 1st day is landing, getting to hotel and being jet lagged. Last day is taken up getting to airport early. So "feet on the ground" time is probably less than 7 days. I've been many times, and am still making list of things to see, so you will not have "done it" in your time there. So a side trip may not be recommended. If you must, Versailles is a nice, nearby location to spend the better part of a day (go by train). For wine country, you could go to Reims, another short trip by train. It is the location of some of the Champagne houses and vineyards.
Mike
Some good info already. A search will overwhelm you with ideas.
Tips...walk a lot, don't overplan your days (10AM Louvre, 12-12:45 lunch..etc). Sitting at an outdorr cafe is as important to "being" in Paris as is your toursit sites.
Consider a walking tour. Paris Walks is one that I'veused on several occasions. Let's you see beyond the guidebook locations.
Do you have a hotel? You will see a lot of hotel recommendations here. Two questions you will be asked: where and how much. I'd look at staying in the lower number districts (aka arrondisements)i.e. 1,4,5,6 or 7. The 5/6th are popular with tourists with a good blend of restaurants, sites, parks,etc.
Restaurants will post their menus outside, so you can browse before going in. Most people here who go to Paris do not have French as a second language. But, it is always a good plan to pick up a few basic words and make the attempt.
A week is not a long time in Paris. Assume 1st day is landing, getting to hotel and being jet lagged. Last day is taken up getting to airport early. So "feet on the ground" time is probably less than 7 days. I've been many times, and am still making list of things to see, so you will not have "done it" in your time there. So a side trip may not be recommended. If you must, Versailles is a nice, nearby location to spend the better part of a day (go by train). For wine country, you could go to Reims, another short trip by train. It is the location of some of the Champagne houses and vineyards.
Mike
