We are 4 weeks away from our first trip to Paris. I have been devouring this forum and multiple travel books. We'll be there for 6 days, and I'm really not too sure how much planning is enough or too much. I have a basic idea of which museums to see and have figured out which pass to buy and which day to start using it. I know I want to go to BHV and Deyrolles (I couldn't miss it after the recent thread!)just to name a couple. We don't plan to do much "fine" dining, as our theory is that bread and cheese and wine will be just "fine", so we don't feel the need to make reservations at any particular restaurant. I have a book of Paris walks, and plan to do several or all of them and just shop and browse and take in Paris along the way. We are so used to just winging it on our other vacations that I am sort of getting worried that maybe I need a different approach here. Or will we be okay?

Hi Allison,

I would do enough planning so you know what days the museums are closed and so you're not going back and forth around the city needlessly from one sight to another. Make a list of everything you want to see and do and then group the sights by area of Paris so you can maximize your time.

Some people do a lot of planning and organizing and that works for them. You should do enough planning to get to your comfort level. Once you get there you'll find you change your mind about what you'll do each day based on your mood and definitely based on the weather.

You can eat inexpensively in Paris and eat more than bread and cheese. There are posts here that recommend inexpensive, good restos. Just walking around you'll find plenty of places that won't break your budget.

Have a great trip.

Allisonm, I think that Adrienne's reply is perfect - plan enough so you are comfortable (for me, it's the point when I am right between lost and obsessed!) I brought a "Paris walks" book with us on our trip in October and they were a great way to explore & learn. Your dining philosophy sounds a lot like ours, where are you staying? We were in the Marais and found a few inexpensive places for nice meals, if you are interested I'll post them.

The only thing that I would add to your planning is to re-confirm the hotel reservation, and familiarize yourself with your transportation option of choice from the airport to the hotel (if that is relevant).

Have a great time!

Adrienne, thanks! I think I may have generalized too much. I know the days the museums are closed, which metro tickets to buy, and I have been reading reviews of multiple restaurants. (Even in Paris I would get tired of bread and cheese, never wine, though.) I think my DH would have a tough time in the morning if I jumped out of bed and said okay, today we are going to do this that and the other. More than likely we'll say, okay, it's raining, so let's go to the Passages today. It sounds like we will be okay without a strict itinerary. And if we miss some things, all the more reason to go back!

There's no need to plan every minute. As long as you know when things are open and what arrondisement they're located in you won;t miss any of your special sites. for the rest, just wander as you like. there are tons of casual cafes and bistros to eat inexpensively (with the menus outside) and as long as there are a lot of cutomers the food should be fine

Agree with Adrienne for the most part. My only different rec. is to make is list of sights to see IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE to you. Make sure you do first what is most important first and then you won't have regrets if you don't get all the way thru the list (who ever does?).

Lastly, it's nice to be able to make informed choices using your research but don't get anal about following an itinerary or list. It is so amazing some of the fantastic experiences that we would have missed if we hadn't "strayed" from our original plan as opportunities presented themselves.

Thanks to all. Margie, we will be in the 13th, so if we are "home" for dinner, I expect we will have some Chinese/Vietnamese since we will border on Chinatown. Ir we don't feel too grubby from our days' wanderings, I expect we will just look for an interesting and reasonable place where ever we are when the stomachs growl. We booked everything through a TA, including airport transport. We stopped shy of booking tours since I think we can get ourselves to Versailles (for example) without too much trouble. We'll see how we like the 13th, we are right near Place de Italie, so should be fine for the metro.
Maybe I'm just getting nervous??

Hi Allison,

Sounds like you're organized. The suggestion to prioritize is a good one. I travel with a list of "must see" sights and then secondary sights. I usually over book my days but then just do whatever I find time to do and rearrange things as I do along. You'll find 6 days aren't enough to do everything so your spirit of "doing whatever we missed the next time" is a good one.

Hi allisonm,

We're leaving for our 6th trip to Paris in a couple of weeks and I'm asking myself some of the same questions. I don't think you're getting nervous, just excited. I know I am.

Have a magical time!

Since you'll be staying in the 13th, you might have dinner one night at Le Petit Marguery, our favorite bistro in Paris. The ambience is great and the food just as good.

Underhill, I have read lots of good things about Le Petit Marguery and hope we can dine there! Thanks for the vote!

When we go to Paris I like to take an area and sort of concentrate on it for the day--for example, around Notre Dame. I find that the DK Eyewitness Guide is good for this kind of planning as it gives "snapshots" of various areas. As someone else said, you can eat VERY well inParis for not very much. Just don't eat anywhere that there is a guy on the sidewalk telling you to come right in. Plan your museum visits within the various areas you will be browsing--and make sure which are open on Mondays and which on Tuesdays. The museum pass is a good thing since you may just be passing a museum and want to pop in, even just to use the WC.

If the sautéed wood mushrooms are on the menu, please have them and think of me!

I shall indeed!

Your prep sounds well-balanced, but another thing to mention is to pick up the latest "Pariscope" just as you get to town. There's an English-language section in the back of the publication, and you can check on walking tours (Paris Walking Tours are usually quite good), movies (those revival houses are great), and shows (you never know, one of your favorite bands, companies etc. may be in town). Have a wonderful trip!