Paris Trip for Grad
 

I am researching a trip to Paris as a high school graduation gift for my daughter (in 2008). I know she would absolutely LOVE to go to Paris. She has taken 3 years of French already and she loves the Theatre (her major). I'm thinking 8 or 9 days would sufficient. I'd truly appreciate any leads or suggestions to get me started on my mission. I've never been to Paris either so it would be a wonderful trip for both of us before she leaves for college.

Hi,

I have a couple of suggestions....

1. Read the threads here on Paris...many of the questions you may have will have been asked before.

2. Don't try to add on other destinations/cities. 8 or 9 days just in Paris will keep you busy!

3. Consider renting an apartment instead of staying in a hotel. It will give the two of you more room to spread out and you can save money by having breakfast/snacks/drinks at the apt.

Have a great trip!

margy

A few years back I started a family tradition of taking a niece (nephews when they get to that age) to Paris when she graduates from High School. It has been great - they get to see a place they have not been, are introduced to international travel independent of their parents but still with a grown up (well, allegedly), we get to spend some time together, and I feel like I am making a contribution to their growth and development. Based on these trips, I would suggest the following:
1. 8-10 days is perfect. Well, actually permanent residence would be perfect, but 8-10 days is a good start.
2. Get an apartment - preferably a two bedroom. It is so much nicer an experience than a hotel, and more comfortable (unless of course your means would allow you to stay at a truly 5 star property, in which case you should just take me along as a consultant.) You will hear lots of opinions on where to stay; I recommend the inner arrondissements - 3,4,11,12 being favorites though there are some nice places in 5,6,7 as well. www.vrbo.com is a good place to start, though if you search here on Paris apartments you will find a wealth of info.
3. Do some pre-trip planning but only in a broad sense. Make a list of places/things you want to do. Prioritize it as best you can, but don't become a daily schedule nazi. Last trip we really enjoyed using City Walks: Paris (http://tinyurl.com/36nslg) which is 50 different walks in various parts of the city, each with a map on a card that will fit in a pocket. We would sit with wine and cheese in the apartment and choose several that looked interesting and/or were in the same general vicinity and it worked well. There is also a website where you can download walks (www.citiwalks.com) but I have not used it so cannot offer an opinion.
4. Get a transit pass (Carte Orange is probably your best bet) and ride the buses as well as the Metro. I must have visited Paris at least a dozen times before riding the bus and wish I had done so sooner. Easier than the Metro, lots less stairs, and you get to see things as you ride along. And with a pass you can just hop off the bus if you see something that catches your eye. The metro is still great for covering a longer distance, but the bus can be quite enjoyable.
5. A day trip to Versailles is about obligatory. Do it using a "forfait loisir" (http://tinyurl.com/345mau) and you will avoid having to stand in lines.

HI T,

These might help you,

Paris Superthread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34519236

100 Great Things to Do in Paris
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...mp;tid=1277898

Degas’s Paris Walks
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34712768

Jacquemart-Andre’ Museum http://tinyurl.com/p9pol

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

I have taken three mother-daughter trips to Paris while my two daughters were in college, twice with one daughter and once with the other.

Since you have never been to Paris, you might prefer a hotel to an apartment. I have stayed in apartments my past several trips, but I think I would have been less happy to do that on my first couple of trips. It was useful to have the assistance of the hotel to arrange restaurant reservations, to point us in the right direction at times, whatever. But it is not that hard to get around Paris, and if you do decide to rent an apartment you will just have to be a little more independent.

I have good luck finding restaurants using Time Out Paris Eating and Drinking (http://preview.tinyurl.com/2uzf9n), as well as the Zagat's Paris guide.

Since your daughter enjoys the theater, she might like to see a production at the old Paris opera house, the Opera Garnier. Usually there is ballet there, but sometimes opera.

If your French and hers are up to it, you could go to an actual theatrical play, but if not, there are concerts all around Paris. When you get there you can buy Pariscope at a news stand for all the listings.

There is a weekly fashion show at the department store Galeries Lafayette, which my daughter and I enjoyed. You can reserve on their web site at http://preview.tinyurl.com/2j6jj9.

You might be interested in my trip report of the most recent trip with my younger daughter:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34762455