amyb

Oh, one other thing I found....Emergen-C and Airborne are really good for jetlag and hangovers, at least for me. We won't discuss how I figured out either.... ;-)

Dejais

dolciani...While everyone has given great answers, no one has mentioned that May 1st is a national holiday. Most places will be closed so I suggest you do as the Parisians will be doing. Head to the nearest market, pick up some picnic supplies and then find the nearest park and enjoy the day. We will be there that day and we are planning a nice stroll through Pere Lachaise and then a picnic.

And now that I reread your original post, I see you know it's a holiday but I am posting anyway for others who missed it (like me). LOL

Ilka

I make sure that I set my watch for the local time as soon as I get on the plane, and plan my sleep, food right away according to local time.

hopingtotravel

Michael Paris, I'm confused. I thought I read on another thread that a person should try staying up later and later every night before the trip. Is it really the other way around?

Michel_Paris

Here's an idea of what is near you. Pick and choose based on your energy level. This would be a full day...

Since you are near Champs Elysee, you could start your outdoor part of your visit to Paris.

Arc de Triomphe (decide then if you want to climb). Walk (or Metro) to bottom of Champs Elysee. At the bottom, check out the park area (go see President's house (Elysee), enjoy gardens). From there Place de la Concorde, with its fountain, obelisk, view up the Champs,long range view of Eiffel. Imagine this as the site where the guillotine did its work, including Marie Antoinette.

From there, go into Tuileries gardens. Sit by pool, watch kids playing, check out statues..gardens, views of Louvre. Perhaps pick up Museum Pass at Orangerie?

I'd loop back to entrance of gardens and go right, to Rue Rivoli. Couple of nice buildings at intersection (Hotel Crillon being one). There is a street called rue Royale (with the Madeleine at the end of it) If you need a sweet and drink, you could go up it, on the right you will find Laduree, known for its desserts (macarons)..or, later on your walk you will pass Angelina's (on Rivoli), known for its ultra rich hot cholotate and desserts.

Walk eastward under historic arcade on Rivoli. You will see a couple of english language bookshops if you need 'supplies'. Also lot of places along Rivoli to get souvenirs.

When you get to rue Castiglione, turn up it. Short walk to Place Vendome Nice square, high end jewelry shops with displays and the Ritz Hotel. You could have a Lady Di moment here.

Back to Rivoli of you want to try Angelina's, otherwise hang left at rue St Honore and keep going east. Fashion shops, chocolate place, and more. Little less hectic than Rivoli. You'll see St Roch church on your left. Look closely and you may see some bullet holes. This is location where a young man played a key role in saving the government of the day by subdueing an uprising. It was a turning point in his career and the world. Napoleon.

Keep walking and you will come to a small square with a nice fountain, outdoor cafe across street, the Comedie Francaise, bit further on a quirky Metro entrance (as well as a famous classic Guimard entrace).

If you look up the street (while at fountain) to your left you will see the Opera Garnier, known for its inspiration for the Phantom of the Opera, as well as being a very nice building to visit (interior is great).

From here I'd go into Palais Royal, a very nice enclosed square, one of my favorite locations. And bistrots around...This square was the location of many historic events...where nobles (like Marie Antoinette) used to come out and play, and where rabble rousers came to shout and inspire the people to revolt..which they did

If you head back out to the area in front of Palais Royal you will see a multi-story modern building on the east side, the Louvre des Antiquaires. If you had an unlimited budget and liked art and collectibles, this would be the place for you. Interesting high end shops selling all sorts of unique objects.

This should take up a day!

Hope this helps.

ncounty

"Better living through chemicals" I overheard a passenger boarding in front of me say, and it is so true. The only trips I do well on are the two times I took a sleeping pill for the flight over. I am like Fra Diavolo in that I am unable to stay awake all the way till even 8 or 9 pm! So, I end up taking a nap at 1 pm or 5 pm and still have the challenge of adjusting to their times. The sleeping pill allows me to hit the ground running in their time zone and totally acclimated. Now, if I can ony get myself to do that next time!

Gourmand

This is what I do. I sleep for a couple or a few hours and then start walking--visting Notre Dame, Ile St. Louis, the Quartier Latin. With a little sleep under your belt you might feel rested enough to enjoy the rest of the day. I usually conk out then around 8pm. You'll get a good night's sleep and be raring to go for day 2!

mamc

Just one more vote for not napping! On yearly trips to Paris or Italy, we take the same flight from Dulles that you are taking, arrive at our hotel at about 8, drop off our luggage, have a light breakfast. After breakfast, we walk, staying outside for the most part. The fresh air and sun do wonders for the jet lag. We eat a light lunch, continue walking, check into our hotel for a shower and to get off of our feet for a little while and then go out for a light dinner at about 8. By 10, we go to bed and sleep like babies. We're nearly normal the next day and can start with the museums and other sightseeing.
For most people I know, a nap doesn't help to get you accustomed to a new time zone.

off2CU

Michael -
Great details!

I think I'm going to do that on my next trip to Paris!

kerouac

On May 1st, you can
1. take scenic walks around the city
2. take the Bâteaux Mouches
3. visit the Eiffel Tower
4. visit Notre Dame, Sacré Coeur or other churches, but not the Sainte Chapelle, which is not a church
5. observe the trade union march which normally goes from République to Bastille
6. take a canal ride from Bastille to Villette
7. eat, drink and/or be merry

charade25

I did the morning arrival for Paris from NY (as well as for other European cities), and can never get more than a couple hours of sleep on the flight over. Definitely drop off your bags with the hotel concierge first since you most likely won't be able to check in until early afternoon. For Paris, I would suggest walking around in the neighborhoods near your hotel, going to cafes, and other low key activities. When I was there, I had stayed in St Germain des Pres and basically walked around, hung out at cafes and parks, and browsed shops in that area and the Latin Quarter. I usually avoid museums and other monuments/sites that involve walking up towers on the 1st day (basically anything that requires a lot of exertion or thought was definitely saved for another day). I was always completely exhausted by the end of the day but the adrenaline kind of takes over and gets you through the day. Hope this helps!

kerouac

EVERY national and municipal museum will be closed on the 1st, as will every monument (the Eiffel Tower is not officially a monument, but simply an 'attraction' owned by the city of Paris). Some private museums will probably be open. The Grévin wax museum on the Grands Boulevards comes to mind, as does the Erotic Museum near Pigalle.

The Foire du Trône carnival (fun fair) at Porte Dorée will be in full swing if you are in the mood for bungee jumping or other death rides to wake you up.

tlangenbach

My 16 yr old daughter and I took that flight from dulles in late January and arrived sleepy after a long flight. BUT as soon as we smelled the coffee at CDG airport, we were wide awake ! I was surprised at her energy. We took the train to our hotel, which was very near Notre Dame. When we came up from the metro, the sun was shining and it was so beautiful that we spent about 2 hours, even with small rolling bags, walking around notre dame and enjoying some pretzels. It was amazing and later proved to be some of our fav moments. We dropped bags at the hotel and went window shopping.. then had a really early dinner. I think we were both too excited to sleep and if we kept moving, we stayed awake. I highly agree with everyone else. stay awake and enjoy your first moments of spring time in Paris. When we returned to the hotel at around 7, we both passed out and slept soundly until 8 the next day. Neither of us suffered jet lag at all after that - which is rare for us. I think moving on the first day really helped. I agree with everyone else - just walk and enjoy. Can't wait to go back..

dolciani

Wow, keep 'em coming -great advice and ideas. I particularly like the idea of going to the market to buy a picnic lunch for that day while we peruse the sights. (Let's just hope the weather is sunny and warm). Thanks to all who gave advice!

Chels

Dolciani,

I have encountered this issue several times, and twice with kids. As others have said, the best thing to do is to keep moving -preferably outdoors. Forget any type of canned bus tour - you will fall asleep.

Our best "first day" in Paris consisted of the following:

- Landing in CDG at 7:30 a.m. after working all day the day before, we dropped our luggage at the hotel, and headed straight for the Eiffel Tower. The excitement and adrenaline of that early morning visit kept us awake. (The lines were also considerably shorter.)
- Coming down from the Tower, we crossed the street, and picked up the 1 hour cruise on the Seine. We sat outside, and enjoyed the views.
- We then headed to Montmartre, and the Sacred Heart Basilica, where we wandered the streets, and admired the Paris views.
- Finally, we strolled down the Champs Elysees (yeah, we're tourists!), and had an early dinner.
- We returned to the hotel at about 6:30 p.m., and the entire family was showered and asleep by 8 p.m. We made no concrete plans for the next morning, so we could sleep late if necessary, but we were all up, alert, and feeling great by about 9:30 the next day.

Our "first day" route was a bit convoluted, but, by keeping busy, we did not feel tired. We only felt the lag when we were waiting for our turn on the Seine cruise and when waiting our turn to shower. I was particular proud of our pre-teen girls who had had a full day of school the day we departed for Paris; they proved that day that they really are little road warriors. I wonder where they get it from...

Have a great trip!

Chels

noe847

A well traveled friend of ours (who travels from the west coast of Canada to Europe) imparted the following wisdom to us, and we follow it on every overseas trip:
- two nights before you fly, get a good night's sleep
- the night before you fly, stay up late
- sleep as much as you can on the flight, or at least rest well.
- nap on arrival day, but no more than 1 hour
- strive for a normal bedtime
- enjoy the rest of your time!

After dropping our bags, we go out to breakfast. Then we often get our shopping/window shopping out of the way on arrival day. The walking and change of scene usually keeps us awake and pleasantly distracted until the hotel's afternoon check in time. Usually we take a 1 hour nap around 2 or 3. Getting back out of bed is brutal but very necessary. I've dragged our teens awake also. As long as the nap is very short it really won't interfere with adjustment to the new time.

Whatever you do, don't be calculating what time it is "body time" or "back home time". Set your watch to the new time zone on the plane ride and don't look back!

schnauzer

Next year we also will be arriving on May 1st. I notice some suggestions to go to the market and buy provisions. Will the supermarkets be open on this day?

schnauzer

kerouac

No supermarket will be open on May 1st. However small grocery stores (Mom & Pop stores) will be open.

helen_belsize

May 1st 2008 is not only a public holiday in France for the Fete du Travail (Labor Day) but also Ascension Day this year, which means churches will be active so worth a visit but not a touristy day. Go with the flow it is a holiday. 8th May if you are still there is another holiday for VE day, don't know what will be open.

Gretchen

We do pretty much what MichelParis outlines. By the time you get to your hotel it may be 9ish, and your room probably won't be available. We leave our luggage and freshen up in their lavatory and strike out for an "area". We do our "housekeeping" like buying a Carte Orange (if we're in the right time period), museum pass (if we're doing that). Find a place to eat a bowl of soup for lunch and people watching a bit. Maybe take a Seine cruise, have an early dinner and go to bed fairly early.