This isn't a trip report, just a rundown of what we did, day by day and also some comments afterwards. We arrived on a Saturday around 10:00, took a cab to the hotel, got freshened up and hit the road around 1:00.

Saturday
Walked Champs Elysees
Musee Jacquemart-Andre
Eiffel Tower
Trocadero

Sunday
Notre Dame & Towers
Crypt
Pantheon
Latin Quarter
Arenes de Lutece
Sainte Chapelle
Concergerie
Angelina's

Monday
Louvre
Cluny
Luxembourg Gardens
Latin Quarter
Place de la Concorde
Harry's NY Bar
Hemingway Bar
Place Vendome

Tuesday
Sacre Coeur
Montmarte
Eiffel Tower
Arc de Triomphe

Wednesday
Versailles
Galleries Lafayette
Marais
Place des Vosges
St. Paul - St. Louis Church

Thursday
Madeline Church
Invalides / WWII Museum
Opera Garnier Tour
Rodin
Orsay
Eiffel Tower

Friday
Bon Marchie
St. Germain Area

Saturday
Ru Cler
Ile de St. Louis
Pont Alma

Some things that we thought were nice but would not do again if we return to Paris:
Napolean's Tomb
Rodin Museum
Cluny Museum
Jacquemart
Opera
Madeline Church
Sainte Chapelle
Angelina's

Some things that we though were a total bust and waste of time:
Concergerie
Crypt
Arenes de Lutece
Pantheon
Place des Vosges

That's about it for me. We were busy and I'd be happy to answer any questions on whatever folks might want to know. We're not foodies so I can't really make any recommendations on where to eat. We had a great trip, but our trip to Italy last year is still tops on our list.

Hi
This was a great way to condense the trip
Just curious-(since I love them both) what was it that you did not love about Angelinas, St Chapelle and the Place des Vosges?

Actually, that should read "I love them all" -not "both"

Where did you stay again?

You list that the Place des Vosges and the Conciergerie are a total waste of time. I'm curious as to your opinions about these two places as I felt they were good to visit so can't understand why you felt differently. Just as a matter to know your point of view that's all. Thanks.

Hi mdtravel,

Welcome back. I have a couple of questions. Where's the Hemingway Bar and was the Opera Garnier tour in English.

Thanks.

Just so people reading this will get another opinion - I loved the Pantheon (although waited till my 4th trip to Paris to go inside as I thought it would be a bust - but now I'd move it to the "really pretty good" category). And Place des Vosges is wonderful in my opinion, I go there every trip at least once. I also think St Chappelle and the Opera are very worthwhile.

If I had a "not worthwhile" list it would include the ND crypt, Arenes de Lutece, Napoleons tomb and Place Vendome.

Scarlett,
Angelina's was actually too chocolatey for us. I know we should have expected that and it would have been ok if the service were better or existent. It was obvious that this place did a ton of business with tourists just wanting a pitcher of hot chocolate, but we waited for about 20 minutes to pay and finally I just dropped the money on the table instead of using the credit card machine. I had a few jealous looks and comments from the other patrons trying to get out of there.

Place des Vosges just wasn't anything real exciting for us. It was nice and very quiet, but it was just a park and a small one at that. I know some folks love stuff like this, but it wasn't for us.

As for Sainte Chapelle, it was packed w/ people, small and just not what I expected. The glass was beautiful, don't get me wrong, but if I had the choice of going there or enjoying another beer at Au Trappiste or Harry's or walking around the Latin Quarter...I'd opt out.

Francophile, I stayed at the newly opened Hilton by the Arc.

On the Conciergerie, we felt pretty much the same as we did about the Pantheon. That if we were French it would have been infinitely more interesting to us. The Panteon was actually more interesting than the Conciergerie to us but it had some better architecture to see as well.

You can walk aroung inside the Opear Garnier on your own, but by all means take the english tour if you can. We enquired in April and were told they were being held on Saturdays at that time.

The mansion which is the Jaquemart Andre has some marvelous interior decoration, most notably the winter garden with its innovative double staircase. The architect was a compeditor of Garnier, and the staircase was his attempt to outdo his rival.

adrienne, the Hemingway bar is at the Ritz. It is expensive, with drinks between 20 and 30 euro each. But we had a great night there nonetheless.

The Opera does have an English tour. The one that we took was at 12:30 and cost 10 euro I believe. There is a self guided tour for around 6 euro. It lasted about 90 minutes but you got to go inside the theater, sit down for a while and also go inside one of the boxes. I would recommend it if you have the time.

Hi md, will you be doing a review here about the Hilton Arc de Triomph? Being that it's quite new I'm sure others would like to know how it is.

The Conciergerie I felt was very good as it is historical and thinking about the various conditions of the prisoners and who they were. I know what you mean that Place des Vosges felt like a small park, nothing special. But again to me it is historical and has a story behind it. Just my opinions though.
Well, I'm glad you found most of Paris good. My mother feels no fondness for Paris and cannot understand why I like the city so much. I, on the other hand, can't understand why she feels the way she does.

MDtravel: I could not agree with you MORE on the Place des Vosges and Angelina's. Particularly the Place-what is it that people think is so great about this place? Now the Marais, Jewish Quarter, where you get to truly view a slice of Old Europe, and there's some great falafel joints to boot-(one famous one which name escapes me at the moment) is interesting-but the Place? Been there, done that-no reason to go again.

As for Angelina's -well, it's way too touristy-and as such, has no service. end of story. I'd go to Laduree any day over Angelina's, in fact, I'd go just about any place other than Angelina's -so I agree with you there.

As for Sainte-Chapelle-I can see why you wouldn't be overly impressed, under those conditions- but to hear a concert there in the evening is pretty magical, when the lights go on, lighting up the colors in the stained glass.

Francophile, I will post some comments that I posted on another website about the Hilton here shortly.

We had lunch at Angelina's last June. No hot chocolate, it was too warm but the lunch was very good! I would go there again for lunch. Our service was fine, It was not crowded and didn't seem filled with tourists. Each visit is a different experience - and that was ours. CJ

Wow! You did a LOT! Sounds like you had a great time, though.
~k

We did have a wonderful time and, as usual, I owe a 'thanks' to the folks here for helping me plan.

Hi MD,

Nice visit.

Just as a comment on the ways that people have different interests, I have put stars next to those items from your list that I always try to get to see again.

>Some things that we thought were nice but would not do again if we return to Paris:
Napolean's Tomb
Rodin Museum**
Cluny Museum**
Jacquemart**
Opera*
Madeline Church*
Sainte Chapelle**
Angelina's

Place des Vosges*

Hi
no criticism implied to the original poster, but I pretty much agree with ira's list, except I'd add a star to Place des Vosges and take it away from the Madeleine. I try to go to Place des Vosges every time.
Chacun a son gout.

to airlawgirl: the famous falafel place is L?As du Falafel, 34 rue des Rosiers (Metro: St. Paul). Bustling atmosphere.

I take no offense at all. Opinions differ. I'm glad we did the stuff we did even if I consider it a bust. If we'd not, then I'd have left wondering what we missed. I'm not saying I regret them. Napoleans tomb, for example...just doesn't hold that much for me and it isn't really going to change much. If we were with someone who'd never been, however, we'd go there with them in a heartbeat.

One more quick comment. The Cluny Museum was interesting for me b/c of the heads of the kings from Notre Dame. I'd recommend it to someone who has a lot of time in Paris or has been there before but never seen it. It is, again, one of those that I'm glad we saw but we would not trek back again to see.