Paris trip feedback and suggestions
Jul 6th, 2006, 10:54 AM
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Paris trip feedback and suggestions
Hello everyone. My daughter and I will be travelling to Paris in just over two weeks to celebrate her 16th birthday (and to share a little girl time). It's our first trip to Paris. I've used this forum to plan most of our trip and now it's time to ask for some feedback.
We'll be staying at Hotel Jardin de L'Odeon which is between Luxembourg Gardens and St Gemaine.
Day 1- arrive Sunday July 23rd terminal 3 CDG- train/walk to hotel if possible, if too tired then taxi. Just wander our neighbourhood today -
Days 2 and 3 M/T- we've booked Michael Osman and plan to visit the Louvre and D'Orsay with him but mostly we'd like to ask him to show us sights that we'd be unlikely to see on our own or are harder to access ie Sacre Couer? Any suggestions?
Day 4-7 W/T/F/S - shopping -(for her) and wandering. I want to include Tour Eiffel, Luxembourg Gardens, St Sulpice, fashion show at Galleries Lafayette (I've requested a reservation), climb Notre Dame and Arc de Triumphe, tour of Opera, Segway Tour and possible bike tour, night cruise on the Seine, watching the rollerbladers and possibly the Catacombs. She's not really interested in sit-down restaurants and so most of our meals will be crepes or picnics or from bakeries etc but she will indulge me a few times I'm sure.....For some reason she loves steak and fries so that one is a no-brainer!
Day 8 - home
Usually I schedule trips to death and then when we get there we fit in what we can when we feel like it but this time I just can't seem to get around to that much detail.
Thank you for your help.
We'll be staying at Hotel Jardin de L'Odeon which is between Luxembourg Gardens and St Gemaine.
Day 1- arrive Sunday July 23rd terminal 3 CDG- train/walk to hotel if possible, if too tired then taxi. Just wander our neighbourhood today -
Days 2 and 3 M/T- we've booked Michael Osman and plan to visit the Louvre and D'Orsay with him but mostly we'd like to ask him to show us sights that we'd be unlikely to see on our own or are harder to access ie Sacre Couer? Any suggestions?
Day 4-7 W/T/F/S - shopping -(for her) and wandering. I want to include Tour Eiffel, Luxembourg Gardens, St Sulpice, fashion show at Galleries Lafayette (I've requested a reservation), climb Notre Dame and Arc de Triumphe, tour of Opera, Segway Tour and possible bike tour, night cruise on the Seine, watching the rollerbladers and possibly the Catacombs. She's not really interested in sit-down restaurants and so most of our meals will be crepes or picnics or from bakeries etc but she will indulge me a few times I'm sure.....For some reason she loves steak and fries so that one is a no-brainer!
Day 8 - home
Usually I schedule trips to death and then when we get there we fit in what we can when we feel like it but this time I just can't seem to get around to that much detail.
Thank you for your help.
Jul 6th, 2006, 11:03 AM
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Hi. I posted a similar question a few days ago. I'm leaving in days for my Paris trip to celebrate my 40th :0 I will top for you so you can see my sample itinerary. I've spent hours on this forum and reading guide books trying to figure it all out. There is so much to do! Happy birthday to your daughter. Have a wonderful time!
Jul 6th, 2006, 02:20 PM
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Highly recommend the Segway Tour! Phone when you get to Paris (01-56-58-10-54 - they're all American and speak English) and ask them how booked up they are. When I phoned in May, they told me one or two could just show up and be included on the tour. Just to be sure, though, I waited until the weather was most pleasant and phoned an hour or two ahead of meeting time and booked the tour (getting the credit card business out of the way).
With the variable Paris weather, it's best to wait for the best weather possible for the Segway Tour.
We prefer the evening tour. On your return, it's dark and the lights have been turned on all over - just magical!
It's a long tour, so you'll want to have a late lunch or early dinner. There's an excellent creperie around the corner from where the tour concludes that's right by a bus stop - you could take Bus # 80 to Alma Marceau, stop at Chez Francis for a nightcap, then take Bus #63 back to your hotel - both run until 12:30 AM (we love the buses in Paris).
As for Michael Osman - he's awesome at the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay - and will walk you around to all sorts of places nearby you'd never discover on your own.
With the variable Paris weather, it's best to wait for the best weather possible for the Segway Tour.
We prefer the evening tour. On your return, it's dark and the lights have been turned on all over - just magical!
It's a long tour, so you'll want to have a late lunch or early dinner. There's an excellent creperie around the corner from where the tour concludes that's right by a bus stop - you could take Bus # 80 to Alma Marceau, stop at Chez Francis for a nightcap, then take Bus #63 back to your hotel - both run until 12:30 AM (we love the buses in Paris).
As for Michael Osman - he's awesome at the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay - and will walk you around to all sorts of places nearby you'd never discover on your own.
Jul 6th, 2006, 04:03 PM
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You've booked Michael..so don't worry ..he is more than awesome!
If she wants steak and frites,, try the Relais de Entrecote on rue St Benoit, not too far from your hotel. That's all they serve along with a salad..no menu just that.
If she wants steak and frites,, try the Relais de Entrecote on rue St Benoit, not too far from your hotel. That's all they serve along with a salad..no menu just that.
Jul 6th, 2006, 04:21 PM
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What a great trip you have planned! I think you've done well with a loose itinerary that can change depending on the weather and what you feel like doing. Happy birthday to your daughter and I wish you both a safe & wonderful trip!
Jul 7th, 2006, 08:03 AM
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Thank you all for your suggestions and good wishes. I missed your post Laurenzo. I was sticking to the France forum so thank you for pointing it out to me. The info on the Segway tour is really helpful djkbooks - especially the bus routes and times. Also really helpful is the location of the Relais de Entrecote Jody- that was the chain I thought we'd try. I've copied and pasted all of this information into my "guidebook".
We're definitely looking forward to spending this week together in Paris!
We're definitely looking forward to spending this week together in Paris!
Jul 19th, 2006, 08:43 PM
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kamark - We just returned from Paris where we spent 2 days with Michael Osman. What a wonderful treat you are in for!
Michael knows Paris and all of the museums like the back of his hand, is very knowledgeable on the history of the city, and is GREAT with kids. He took us all over the city.
Carole
Michael knows Paris and all of the museums like the back of his hand, is very knowledgeable on the history of the city, and is GREAT with kids. He took us all over the city.
Carole
Jul 20th, 2006, 09:55 AM
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So good to hear that!
Can you suggest anything in particular we should ask Michael to show us? He emailed me to ask what we'd like to see but as we've never been to Paris I didn't know where to start. We will still have five days on our own to explore after our time with Michael
Can you suggest anything in particular we should ask Michael to show us? He emailed me to ask what we'd like to see but as we've never been to Paris I didn't know where to start. We will still have five days on our own to explore after our time with Michael
Jul 20th, 2006, 09:56 AM
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So good to hear that!
Can you suggest anything in particular we should ask Michael to show us? He emailed me to ask what we'd like to see but as we've never been to Paris I didn't know where to start. We will still have five days on our own to explore after our time with Michael.
Can you suggest anything in particular we should ask Michael to show us? He emailed me to ask what we'd like to see but as we've never been to Paris I didn't know where to start. We will still have five days on our own to explore after our time with Michael.
Jul 20th, 2006, 08:56 PM
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We (even the kids) enjoyed our walk through the cemetary (Pere Lachaise). Michael knew a lot of interesting historical information on the people burried there. Montmartre was one of our favorite areas, as well. We also loved the Latin Quarter. If you like bookstores, go to Shakespeare and Company in that area. We went to a violin ensemble concert in Sainte-Chapelle which was one of the highlights of the trip. Michael dropped us off there one evening at the end of our day with him. He made sure we knew our way back to the hotel before leaving us. He was just fantastic.
