rncheryl

We are in the early stages of Paris-planning and, as usual, request your input. We, RNCheryl and DH are near retirees, good health. Third traveler is a lifelong friend who is also nearing retirement. We will meet in NYC and travel together. The trip is 9/18-9/29. We are staying in Paris Perfect Muscadet on Rue du Cygne in the first .

.http://www.parisperfect.com/apartmen...s/muscadet.php

We arrive Thursday 9/19. We have engaged Victor Cabs to take us from the airport to the apartment. The plan is to walk the neighborhood, buy some supplies and take a short nap. (This has proven to be helpful to our touring style). The other plan for this day is to take a Vedette du Pont Neuf cruise near sunset to see Paris alight.

http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/

Friday 9/20: Tour Versailles
The plan is to tour the gardens and Marie's farm, have lunch, and then see the main building when (hopefully) the crowds have lessened.

Sat 9/21.
Tour Montmarte/Sacre Couer. Maybe do some shopping. Dinner this evening is a birthday celebration, and I like the looks of Cristal in the Baccarat museum. Does anyone have an alternative? The E105 for the tasting menu is about at the top of our price point. It just looks so romantic.

Sun 9/22: Giverny
Take an early train to be there before the hoards. Walk back to Vernon, have lunch, explore the village.

Mon 9/23: See Saint Chappelle in the morning. Context Tour of the Louvre at 2PM. (We used Context at the Vatican and felt we benefited from the experience more than doing it on our own).

Tue 9/24: Paris Walks Marais tour in the morning. Visit Shakespeare and Company, have dinner at Le Petit Chatelet. We have tickets for a concert in Notre Dame at 8PM.

Wed 9/25: See the Eiffel Tower. I don't plan to go up, but I may be outvoted on that. Stroll the gardens. Plan the free Notre Dame tour at 2 or 2:30. Climb up to see the gargoyles?

Thursday 9/26: Normandy beaches. I am almost sure we will go with Overlord Tours

http://www.overlordtour.com/overlordtour-tour-2FS.html


Friday 9/27: Musee d Orsay, La Orangiere, Tullieres. Evening performance of
http://www.oliviergiraud.com/UK/ How to become a Parisian in one hour. Saw it recommended here and it looks entertaining.

Saturday 9/28: No plans yet for today. What have I forgotten?

We leave for home on Sunday.

Would love to have your recommendations on restaurants in our apartment neighborhood and in the vicinity of our sightseeing. We were planning to get the Museum pass as well.

ParisAmsterdam

I'll start the ball rolling... day 1... if you have not yet paid Victor, don't. Abandon this idea and just take a regular Paris taxi from the cab rank. Also day one, drop the cruise. You always see people sleeping on these cruises and dollars to donuts it is first day arrivals who have run out of gas.

It's a personal thing but I'd drop Giraud. The owner of the venue where he performs is an odious anti Semite and I'd rather no money of mine find it's way into his hands. Giraud has had years to find an alternative location so take what you will from that... Rant mode now off.

bdsbeautyblog

Looks great! One of the most sensible itineraries I've seen on here. I'd recommend Delyan for tea one day when in the Chatelet area. When in the Marais, I LOVE the falafel sold on the rue Pavée by Pitzman's. (Sod the rue des Rosiers, everyone goes there!)

Have a great trip

Gretchen

LOTS of day trips for a short trip to "Paris".
Totally agree about taking the taxi. Print your apartment address and a little map to give to the driver.
Have you been to Paris before? More than once? I don't see much about Notre Dame. Opera Garnier--that sort of touring.
I disagree about not taking the Seine river cruise the first night--we have done it often and it is a good way to end the first day early, grab a bite to eat and go to bed early. We NEVER take a nap that first day--it would be deadly for us.
You might want to consider hiring Michael Osman for a day--he would give you things about Paris (and maybe the Louvre) you would enjoy.
Note--I can't edit and do see you've included ND. Ste. Chapelle and ND are a good pairing.

StCirq

I'd also drop Victor Cabs and skip the cruise on the first day.

Giverny will not eat up a whole day, so you'll have time to do other things on that Sunday. Same thing with Saturday, unless you really scour Montmartre. And Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame are close to each other - not sure why you grouped things to be circling back to Notre Dame twice and not including Sainte Chapelle on one of those tours. Also not sure what gardens you plan to stroll near the Tour Eiffel - it's in a field, not a garden.

Can't comment on the Giraud venue, but that would turn me off, too.

Overall, it sounds leisurely and not overplanned, though, which is a good thing.

bdsbeautyblog

Did not know that about the Giraud venue. Who is the owner?

JAMH

Theatre where the show is held is run by Dieudonne.

AJPeabody

Consider seeing Cluny, the National Museum of the Middle Ages for the wonderful Unicorn Tapestries. (Most of the website is in French.)

http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/ang/hom...20754_u1l2.htm

indy_dad

I rarely comment on the Paris questions since we've just been once and there are quite a few who have been countless times.

Musee Rodin was one of our favorites so that might be something to consider.

I'd pass on the river cruise on night one as well, for what's it's worth.

We enjoyed having Versailles later in the week as a break/contrast to the city. However, I see you have quite a few breaks so it's not a big deal.

We enjoyed the climb up Notre Dame, but we are also in a different demographic!

http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/paris.html

Gretchen

Yes, lots of other museums worth a consideration. The Carnavalet is one of our favorites being the history of Paris through its art. Love the Cluny for the tapestries and the sculptures. Rodin. Marmottan.

Christina

I don't see anything wrong with the cruise on the first day. Sunset isn't that late at the end of September, after all.

YOu can easily just get a cab at the airport, I agree, but if you have some really really good deal with this Victor cabs (which I presume is a flat rate, or why do it), it can't hurt. That would be less than 50 euro as a really good deal (in total, not per person). I might not pay in advance just in case they don't show up, though, if possible.

I just think you are going to Notre Dame on two different days, don't see why you don't do it one time. Also, Shakespeare and Company is really nothing, but if you want to look at it, sure, it will only take a couple minutes. I think they are snooty in there (they have some young expats from US or UK working in there, think they are really cool), but I went there to actually buy something, and I don't think they have a very good inventory, and it's all in English.

mamcalice

Consider moving the Seine cruise to a later evening. By all means, visit the Rodin Museum for its sculpture and its gardens. Visit Luxembourg Gardens - a wonderful place to walk and see beautiful things. Consider lunch at the American Museum before you begin your walk from Giverny to Vernon.

Your trip is generally well planned and, except for the Normandy day, leaves time to just enjoy Paris.

Have a wonderful time.

benitakaren

I have to disagree with hiring Victor. His prices, I have found, are very reasonable. And having someone waiting for you and taking your luggage for you when exiting customs is wonderful. We have used his services for over ten years and have never had him or his associates not show up. Because Paris Perfect likes to be called when you are on your way to the apartment, Victor will make the call and all you have to do is relax. In two weeks we are traveling to France for six weeks and have made reservations for six pick-ups with him.

Enjoy Paris. It is absolutely fabulous.

Scootoir

Sounds like a great trip. I suggest leaving Saturday unplanned and decide what to do with that day while you are in Paris.

We found an English tea room around the corner from Shakespeare and Co, the Tea Caddy. It was a lovely bit of England just steps from the Seine.

Victor failed to pick us up at CDG to take us to our Paris Perfect rental in 2011. We called and called and when we connected with the driver he claimed he was there--must have been at another terminal. We ended up taking a taxi from the queue at the curb.

Hope you have a great trip.

RonZ

I recall someone paying €65 for Victor, which is pretty silly seeing how a cab will cost about €50.

Ackislander

I would call this "A trip based in Paris" rather than " a trip TO Paris."

To each his own but unless you have been to Paris before, there is so much to do that I would bag most of those out of town activities, excepting Giverny if you are a gardener.

We will be there week after next, and we are only now making it as far as St Denis after many trips. We may -- may -- go to Chartres if the weather is good, but we know we are going to Parc Buttes Chaumont and visiting as many Jean Nouvel buildings as possible.

I also wonder what you will do if it rains the whole time. We have never had Boston-London rain but we have had showers, especially in May and June.

Gretchen

Ack nailed it for me too. As for Victor--good info, both pro and con. And that a taxi will only cost in the neighborhood of 50E, and they are always there.
I wonder how the Normandy trip is being "arranged"--for the day? Take the train and then train back? It is a LONG way and day to do that. Three day trips in 9 or 10 days is short changing Paris.

rncheryl

Thanks so much for your thoughtful responses. That annoying "work" has interfered with my trip planning!

First, Victor cabs: I agree with benitakaren: Paris perfect has been outstanding with their customer service, and I accept their recommendation for the transfer. We had a horrible experience at Heathrow and don't wish to repeat.

Now, lets talk about "a trip based in Paris" instead of a trip TO Paris. Gretchen and Akslander may be right. So I am recommending to my traveling partners that we nix the trip to Versailles. Our friend has been there before, and DH and I can live without seeing the Hall of Mirrors with thousands of our closest friends.

The Overlord Tour to Normandy: yes we know it will be a LONG day. I wish we could spend a couple of days, see the Tapestry, etc. but it is not happening this trip. Both my friend and I had fathers who were part of the Greatest Generation, though they did not serve in the European theater. I want to stand in the cemetery at Colleville sur Mer and offer my thanks for the sacrifices those men made.

As for Giverny: I have been under the spell of Mr. Monet since I was a teenager and saw an exhibition in Washington. Being in France without visiting Giverny is not going to happen.

So Versailles is out: that leaves a free day, for which I will consider Luxembourg Gardens, the Rodin and maybe the Cluny (I find the unicorn fascinating).

Someone questioned going to Notre Dame twice: one evening visit is for a concert. The daytime visit is for a FREE tour. IndyDad: loved your sweet family pictures. If your kids can climb the steps at ND, so can we!

Re: restaurants: Mamcalice: did you mean the Terra Cafe in Giverny. Looks nice. Will look for the Tea Caddy (Scootoir) and the Delyan. And BSBeatublog: thanks for the Marais falafel recommendation. I don't know what Falafel is, but believe me I will try it!!

Any recommendations for restaurants in our neighborhood of the First? (Rue du Cygne)?

Also suprised no one commented on Cristal in the Baccarat museum. Am I way off base here? Can we do better elsewhere? My original dream was to eat at Jules Verne, but those prices are beyond.

Finally, we will play it loose with the river cruise on the arrival day. If we are nodding off, there are plenty of evenings to do this.

Once again, my heartfelt thanks. Keep the suggestions coming!!

suze

Well it's too much for me, that that doesn't mean it might not be perfect for your 3-some. I like way more wandering around aimlessly time. And would hate to leave Paris or have 3-4 things planned to do every single day.

Diane

If you really want to eat at Jules Verne, why not go at lunch? It's much less expensive than dinner. I had lunch there a year ago and if I recall correctly, the prix fixe menu was 88 euro.

Diane