Paris in 8 days ALONE
 

I will start with thanking all the fodorites who helped me plan my awesome trip to Paris. I will post the report in parts because I have so much to tell.
I will start with my itinerary. I got me the "Fodor's 25 Best Experiences Paris" book and out of the 25 places I visited 19 in a period of 8 days. I also WALKED everywhere, the only time I took the train was to go to Versailles Palace, but other than that I just walked, and walked and walked which I love!
I live in Connecticut, so I had a friend drop me off at my work in the morning of Friday April 12th, in the afternoon I took a taxi to the train station and took the train to Grand Central Station en NYC $11 a ticket. From Grand Central I took a shuttle that cost me just $10. Arrived at JFK and my plane (Air Lingus) departed at 9:15 pm, connected flights in Ireland and I arrived in Paris at 1:30pm on Saturday April 13th. My shuttle never showed up and I ended up paying a taxi that cost me 50Euros.
Saturday: I got to the Studio and settled, talked a bit with the manager and took off to walk around Saint Germain Des-Pres (where the studio apartment is located). Did grocery shopping then returned to apartment, did a quick walk up to Luxembourg and around it. Came back to eat dinner at (what is now my favorite spot) "Les Editeurs", around the corner from my apartment and where I ate most of my dinners.
Sunday I visited the Louvre, Saint Chapelle, Montnaparse Tower, Pantheon, walked throughout the Luxembourg gardens. Back and forth.
Monday I visited Notre Dame and Centre Geaorge Pompidou
Tuesday I visited D'Orsay Museum, Les Invalides, Eiffel Tower, "crossed over" Trocadero
Wednesday I visited the Arc of Triumph, Place de la Concorde, Opera Palace.
Thursday I visited National Du Moyen Age Museum (Cluny), Carnavalet Museum, Place des Vosges.
Friday I visited Versailles Palace, Branly Museum and had dinner at the Les Ombres overlooking the Eiffel Tower (another suggestion I found here before I left, breathtaking view from the restaurant which is located on top of the museum)
Saturday I visited Galerie Vivienne, Passages Couverts and did the Seine Boat trip at night.
Sunday I walked around Saint Germain des-pres to take one more look at Paris in the quite early morning, the manager of my studio picked me up and took me to the airport at 9am. I arrived in NYC at 6pm
More to come, next about safety, dress and manners, planning and booking!
Merci :-)

Now see??? Welcome home.
Isn't it wonderful to be in that City alone?
You were all safe and sound, weren't you? In your report, please report on Les Ombres.

If you're like me, you are suffering serious Paris withdrawal, your friends are very patient as you tell something until you see their eyes glaze over...but still, you are planning on going back.

8 days pass so quickly, don't they?

Hi Ticalinda! This is a good start, waiting for more, and I took note of Les Ombres and Les Editeurs.
More please, with as many details as you can.

Ticalinda, glad you had such a great time. You go girl. :)

One question – what shuttle service did you engage? Sorry that they did not show up.

Sounds like a wonderfull trip. I am looking forward to the details. Small suggestion for the future take the bus to the Opera Garnier for 10 euros and the metro from there or a taxi. The taxi stand is a short block from where the bus stops. This would cost less than half of your taxi fare.

Glad to hear that everything worked out for you !
You sure packed a lot into 8 days, but that's the way to do it. You may not have had as much freedom to cover so much at your own will if you'd been with anyone else. Good for you !
Looking forward to reading of your impressions and opinions.

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I give you so much credit for going it solo. You go girl! Sorry about the shuttle. What Company was it so others will not have the same sad experience?
You covered just about all you could in the time you had. Tell us more!!!

You done good, ticalinda, covered an amazing amount in your 8 days in Paris. So glad it went well for you.

Please by all means, give a detailed description on your dinners at Les Editeurs as I will be staying in the area in October on my own and would like to put it on my list for dinner.

Great, thank you! So happy you had a good time, but not surprised. Paris is a marvelous city for solo travel.

So glad you had a good time solo in Paris. I will be there alone in September.

What an amazing trip. I am so glad you gave the report and had a great time. We would love a more detailed description.

Looking forward to the rest of this great report, but tossing in the occasional paragraph break would make it much easier to read for these aging eyes.

Bonjour,

Wow sounds like you had quite the trip, you accomplished a lot in very little time. Was this your first visit?

I read your story because like you I've visited Paris alone, now more times than I care to mention. What a truly magical city, with beautiful architecture and amazing food. This year I'm planning to try and get to Paris again with my girlfriend. It will be my first time to share it with someone special. I look forward to seeing your further comments about this trip.

Au revoir

We really love Les Editeurs, as well. How was Les Ombres for food....would love the view, I am sure but have wondered hoe the food is.

Glad that your solo trip was so great. You seemed to see and do a lot and really enjoyed yourself.
I am leaving this morning from Florence to Paris.
I will have 16 days in Paris also solo.
I have done many trips to Paris solo and have always enjoyed the ability to do exactly what I want to .
Thanks for the restaurant suggestion of Les Editeurs,
Looking forward to more of your report

Thank you all for the nice messages... I am in love with Paris, cant stop thinking about it ;-)
Part II
Planning and booking:
I got this studio: http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-ren...USOwnerInquiry
It cost me 840 Euros for 8 days.
My ticket through priceline.com cost me $1014 and I made a connection of an hour in Ireland.
My total spending money for restaurants, admissions and groceries were of about $1000
Total expended was around $3200.
I bought eggs, bacon, cheese, eggs, coffee, orange juice to make my breakfast in the studio, I bought bread, lettuce, tomatoes,cheese and cold cuts to make and pack my sandwich for lunch (Maaaaany people eat out seating on the benches around Paris), I eat out everynight and 5 out of the 5 out of 8 at Les Editeurs.
I bought wine a the grocery store to my amazement under 2 euros and really good!!!
More to come! :-)

Sounds like a lovely trip!

Great report so far!

Saving for future reference.

Hello - I am going to live vicariously through you! I was in Paris alone last year July/August. I planned my trip through this site and received wonderful advice. I am so glad you were able to enjoy Paris solo. Once I thought I could never travel alone but it is such an empowering experience. I can't wait for more!