Paris Only....Which Region To Add
 

We're just beginning the planning of our 1999 Paris trip. We will have 10-12 days' travel time. I'd like readers' opinions as to whether we should stay in Paris for the entire time, or travel to another region for part of the time. We know there's more than enough to do in Paris itself.... we're just wondering if we would get a fuller French experience by venturing out from the city.

You are absolutely right that there is a lot to do in Paris and I'm sure you could easily entertain yourselves there for ten days. However, if you don't get overseas frequently and you'd like to see a little more while you're there, maybe consider the Riviera. It is easy to catch an overnight train from Paris to Nice (so you don't waste a day travelling). From there, you can experience the beaches on the Riviera and the town of Nice. Also it is a fifteen minute train to Monte Carlo in Monaco, where you can visit the town and casinos. Or you can take a twenty minute train in the other direction to Cannes, which is also a fun city to visit. I just got back from there, let me know if you have any questions about it. Have fun!

You can easily add any one of the following:

The Loire Valley and Barbazon

Normandy

Champagne and Rheims (Epernay in Champagne)

Alsace-Lorraine (drive through Nancy, stay Strasbourg)

To go to the Riviera would require a lot of travel time unless you wanted to fly. That is true for Toulouse and the Midi.

Dijon is easy by train.

If you stay in Paris you risk coming away with the typical American attitude that the French are hostile and uncooperative which just the opposite once you leave the big city. It's the New York phenomenon. You'll love the French countryside and you don't have to go very far.

I agree that there is plenty to do in Paris for ten days. If you would to add to your trip, I would suggest small half-day or day trips. I would look into Rouen, Giverny, Versailles, Fontainbleu, or Reims. These can easily be reached in a short time by train so that you would not have to change hotels. All can be half-day trips with the exception of Rouen and Reims. They are a bit further from Paris and would take most of the day to travel back and forth and see the sights. I think that this would be the best approach for first timers to Paris. I hate to see you try to cover a geographical area that is too large. The post regarding the Riveria is right, it is incredible but would be worth a trip in itself. I would not try the Loire Valley of any other outlying areas because you would want to take at least two days to accommodate the excursion (any shorter is a waste of time) and that would take too much time from endless list of things to see in Paris. I lived in Paris for a couple of years and would be happy to answer any other questions that you might have. Bon Courage!

I would agree with Kam, except for the New York part. Going to Paris and saying you've seen France is like going to NYC and saying you've seen New York without having been to the Adirondacks The Loire is a good choice. I would go by way of Honfleur, Mont St. Michel, Angers, Amboise, Blois, Orleans, Fontainbleau and then back to Paris. Rather ambitious but possible in 5-7 days, by car. Once in Paris, you'll go back again and again, we've been 8 times and still find things to do.

In 10 days you definitely have time to get out and see another part of France. The Loire chateaux region is probably the closest area to Paris - you can see alot in 2 or 3 days. We rented a car and took 3 days - stayed 1 night in a chateaux and another in a charming b & b right on the Loire river. Then back to Paris, and the next weekend we took a train to Normandy, also a favorite - superb cuisine! Gorgeous countryside and lovely seaside towns - Honfleur (mentioned in a previous reply) is a charmer.
We also found the book Day Trips France very helpful and recommend it highly.

I'm with Rich - excellent advice. There is so much to do in Paris and it is so spectacular just to "live" there for 10-12 days that you may not want to leave. If this is your first trip to France, you can enjoy plenty of the "countryside" outside the city with day trips to the fantastic places he mentioned. The advantage is that your base will be your hotel room in Paris and you will not have to drag your luggage around and pack/unpack during your trip. You may wish to save excursions to the farther regions for another trip.

A word about the reference to the general attitude of Americans that France is not friendly. This was true 20-40 years ago. I don't no if the current younger generation comes home from a trip to Paris with the same complaint. I had that attitude slightly after my first trip, however, I discovered on a later trip that I was staying in the wrong part of town. For my first trip I hadn't done sufficient homework. Please read the guidebooks for Paris which discuss neighborhoods in Paris (Fodor & Steves). Without knowing you no one can advise where to locate your hotel. I also agree about the day trips. I would not recommend the Loire unless the pastoral scene and grand architecture are your special thing.

A couple of years ago I went to Paris and thoroughly enjoyed it. There's no place on earth like Paris. However, I subsequently got on the TGV train, (they were running a late summer promotion] and I went to Montpellier, in southern France. The trainfare was very reasonable. Montpellier is a fabulous city. The main square, near the train station is right out of the story books, there's so much to see and do there. Square is not the proper name for it, it's about half a mile square. I later got on the regular train (relatively expensive in France) and went to Nimes, Avignon and Arles. That was one of the most fabulous trips I've ever been on. If you can find time to go to southern France, especially to those four cities, GO THERE!!

Dear Friend, Enjoy Paris as much as you can. Paris is a city to be walked: Walk everyplace you can i.e.Ile de la Cite, Ile St Louis,St Germain des Pres,les Marais, les Toulleries etc. <BR>Versailles where you can go by subway plus ashort ride by bus paying everything with subway tickets , is a must, in there try to see as much as you can, there are more than one different tour of the palace and the gardens are unforgetable. <BR>Out side of Paris, please, go Blois, make it your <BR>headquaters , after visiting the Chateau of Blois, <BR>which its rich history in which Catalina de Medici is so involved and where Henri III one of her sons had murdered the Duke of Guise , also where Joan of Arch prayed in its chapel... <BR>( see the son and lumiere espectacle) visit the nearby Chambord Castle the piece de resistance of Francois I and then if you have the time visit other castle but not to many, have a picnic in the beautiful <BR>forests....there is so much history and beauty nearby. If possible do not eat in the restaurants turist go,in Versailles for instance go to town( a little walk fron the Palace) and look for a place with french people eat. OK. ASk any one for a good restaurant, any one French and local that is. <BR>They are proud of their food and will give invalorable information.

My fiancee and I are planning our honeymoon in France (beginning August 30th). We were orignially going for one week and have made reservations for Paris and the Champagne area. We now have an additional week!! and would love to go to the French Alps...any suggestions <BR> <BR>Thank you

<BR>The French Alps are about my favorite, with Annecy and Chamonix topping the list. Annecy is on a crystal clear lake and is great for a day to stroll and relax. Go up to the top of Mt. Blanc for great scenery. Go, if you can!!!

To add to Franks comments: I was in Paris, the Loire Valley, and also did day trips from Paris. We never ran across any negative situations with the French. I agree that 20-40 years ago people complained about the French, but today is quite different. <BR> <BR>I'll be going to France in 1999 also, so please keep adding to this posting!

I will be in Paris in September and would like to know if it is possible to take a day trip to Mont St. Michelle. Is it too far or too expensive? I've always wanted to see this site and would appreciate any comments. Thanks........

Mont Saint Michel is not so far from Paris neither so expensive to go there. I was there last october. It is a nice place. It is possible go there in the morning coming back at night. Ask the hotel's concierge about. Bon voyage.

<BR>My friend and I have house traded and are staying in a town called Pont L, Everque in the Normandy area. We have a car and will be there for 15 days. Should we just stay in that area or go south. Does anyone have some favorite spots? We love history so WW11 does not intest us. not old enough.. <BR>Thanks for anything that you can help us with. <BR>Pam.