lee59

Hi to all
I am a newbie so please be kind. Am planning a trip next May to Paris. I have given ourselves 9 days. Thought maybe do a couple of day trips in this as well. After the 9 days we then head down to Mont St Michal. Any ideas on how to see Paris without wearing ourselves ragged. I realise we are not going to be able to see everything on this visit

Iwan2go

Nine days with one or two side trips sounds wonderful to me! Read some books and decide on the places in Paris you really want to see, then just leave lots of free time to relax, eat, sit in the park and take it all in.

Since you'll be there for some time, you might want to rent an apartment. Do a search on this website and you'll find lots of suggestions.

You will love Mont St Michel - it was one of the most moving experiences of our trip. We stayed nearby (we had a car) at the Chateau de Bouceel and LOVED it.

Have a great time!

Michel_Paris

Have a look at the Fodor's gude to Paris at this site, a good strating point.

I'd not book any day tsip until you get there. Altough nine days sounds like a lot, you will be able to fill your days. In terms of chopices of side trips, Versailles is the most common and I think worth going. You can easily go on your own, or via a tour company. Two of the larger tour comapnies are Parisvision and Cityrama. At that time of year, Giverny (Monet) would be in full bloom.

I also like taking walking tours. Paris Walks is one I've taken 3/4 times. Good value and interesting.

Paris is best appreciated and viewed on foot. The Metro and bus system is extensive, so you are never really far from public transit.

There are two schools of thought in terms of accomodations...stay near the centre and be able to walk everywhere, be in the middle of things. Or...stay away from centre, quieter, see more locasl than tourists. For the first, the 4/5/6th arrondissements (areas)would be a good choice. For the latter, the 7/16th might be good choice. Note, even if you stay in the 16th, for example, you are still only 20 minutes from the main areas. I've stayed in the 4/5/6/10/16 and each has its positives. An appartment would be a good choice for the length of time you are there, but a hotel has its own positives.

Ask any questions you may have!

Mike

slangevar

Mike gave you great advice... but I would recommend one or two day trips. I've been in Paris for a few weeks now and while I LOVE it, it is nice to escape to the country for a day.

I haven't been to Mont St. Michel, but I hear it's packed with tourists. If you go, I've heard you should spend the night so you can get up early to see it before the tour buses arrive.

I just went to Giverny today. If you're at all fit, I recommend following the directions on Giverny's tourist site and renting a bike at the Vernon station. Instead of a packed bus, I took a gorgeous, solitary 5 km bike ride along a lovely path to Giverny. It was my favorite part of the experience.

Versailles is quite an experience, but again, it's packed with tourists. Have you thought about wine country?

Clea

Lee59, you can see quite a bit in 9 days. I am going for 9 days in Oct, will take day trips to Versaille, Chantilly, and either Dijon or Giverny. Leaving me busy but not stressfull days in Paris. However, this will be my 10th visit so I have excluded the Eiffel tower, Louve, Arc de Triomphe, Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame and Champ Elysee to visit other places I have not seen.

Clea

Brazilnut

I would do only Versailles and Chartres - the Cathedral there is marvelous!

lee59

thank you for all your suggestions. Paticularly Michael. We travelled USA last year for 9 weeks nd 1 thing we enjoyed was staying in the areas of the locals. Has anyone seen the Catacombes? Worthwhile? Hard on the knees?

slangevar

I saw the catacombes with a friend a few weeks ago... they're interesting... not as "must-see" as the capucin catacombs in Rome, but fun in a creepy way. Personally I would say your time would be better spent seeing some of the other Paris sites.

ira

Hi lee,

I wouldn't suggest the catacombs for a first visit.

For the Versailles "forfait loisirs", see http://tinyurl.com/2wrhgm

travelhorizons

Plan around the fact that the Carte Orange (the one-week metro pass) runs from Monday-Sunday. So determine the dates of your time in Paris around that fact, and you can travel very economically around the city.

Amy40

You asked abut seeing everything without running ragged. People often post itineraries here that involve too much traipsing back and forth across the city. If you just cover one geographic area at a time, you'll not only enjoy yourselves more, you'll also being to get a feeling for each neighborhood.

On my first trip to Paris, I made up a small index card for each area I wanted to see, listing museums, shopping and restaurants, with very brief notes and location. It was a way to bring all the info together from various sources in a very small format. I did also carry a travel book to refer to when I needed it, but I never once stood at a corner, scratching my head wondering "what was that thing I also wanted to see in this neighborhood?"

Have a great time!

Dottee

I will be taking my second trip to Paris exactly two months from today and going by what I learned on my first very short introduction I plan to devote my entire visit (nine days as well) to just the city. Perhaps Versailles as we didn't see it before, but otherwise no side trips. Reason: there are so many things not only worth seeing, but seeing well. On my last visit I spent an entire day being romanced by the Eiffel Tower, starting early in the morning when the light was perfect for photography at all angles, then climbing the different levels, and finally being seduced by the tower lights at night as I cruised along the Seine. I saw that vision in my dreams every night for two weeks following my trip, a most lovely after effect.

I spent several hours in the old Opera House self touring, and I was jealous of the students who sat on the steps sketching. I wish I had brought along my pad and pencils and given even more time and attention to this great piece of architecture that has inspired books and movies and musical theater productions.

Maybe someday after my tenth trip these sites will be become cliche for me, but not yet. Right now I'm still falling in love with Paris and I want to get to know her intimately. Street by street, block by block.

tod

Dottee - get to your nearest bookstore and grab hold of three books: "Around and About PARIS" Vol 1, 2 & 3 by Thirza Vallois.........Everything you want to know and more - block by block, street by street, building by building!

Dottee

Thanks for the recommendation, tod. I still plan to do it the old fashioned way, but it will have more value if I do my homework before I go. And half the pleasure is in the planning.