Re Paris maps -- I've found

http://www.hot-maps.de/

useful occasionally. It can be handy for small streets (not all of them).

There's a very nice street atlas that's pocket-sized. I've seen it, but I don't own it. Sorry I don't remember the name of it either -- someone here will know. But it's probably something you can only buy in Paris. But you can probably find any street in there.

You must be young, JC. I get tired just thinking about day 1, the first of 8 with long to-do lists. My advice would be to first, not over-plan. Second, imagine yourself on the plane home; how do you hope to feel? What are the memories you hope to have created? What will you hope to have learned, seen, done, experienced? Plan your itinerary around realizing those dreams. Maybe you've already done that. But to me, it appears you have hopes of being an art/history teacher.

Hi JC, I am planning a trip too for May and I noticed your comment about maps- The Paris Mapguide by Michael Middleditch was recommended to me. It is a book with great details of streets in Paris as well as the metro. I bought mine on Amazon.com but you could also find it at Barnes and Noble or Borders. Have a great time on your trip!

Thanks, I'll check out those map guides.

Beachbum, the itinerary is tentative only. I might end up whiling away the time in a cafe for an entire afternoon. :) Before going to Rome, I had so much plans too, but ended up wandering the streets and didn't even get time to tour the Forum! But eternal Rome will (hopefully) always be there for my next visit...

Question about carnets: Can a carnet be shared by more 1 person? Is it a book of tickets? Or each person has to get a carnet? Not sure whether I should get a Carte Orange or a carnet. There are only 2 people in my party, and we can walk quite a bit. Some people in this forum even said their 80+ grandmother could walk all over Paris!

Thanks.

A carnet is just a bunch of individual metro tickets, good for the metro, not the RER, not buses. You can divvy up the tickets as you like.

Carnet tickets are good for buses and the RER within Paris. You can't transfer on buses and must use a ticket for each bus ride. When you ask for a carnet (s'il vous plait), they will give you 10 tickets which you can share.

Should have said: as well as the Metro.

yes, I misspoke
when I said not on the RER I should have said, not on the RER outside of the city
LVSue said it clearly

I did think for some reason that carnet tickets weren't good on buses, but they are good on buses both in Paris and in the suburbs

www.ratp.com, click on English, then on
Occasional travel

Tod - Thanks for the info! Maybe we will see you there!

JC98 - Enjoy your trip! I can't wait to read the trip report (no pressure)!

Re: reservations at restaurants.

Many casual places do not require a reservatin per se, but many charming restaurants are quite small -- its wise to reserve. The owners also appreciate the courtesy of a reservation. Often, if we see a place we'd like to have dinner while in our travels earlier in the day, we stop in or call when we can to reserve a table for that evening. Of course, the finest dining restaurants get booked up quite easily, or those in high-traffic tourist areas.

1) Add the Rodin museum, good for lunch too.

2) I wouldn't plan the Seine boat trip on the first day. Wait a couple days to get over jet lag. You'll also be more familiar with what you're seeing. I would probably plan this in conjunction with my "big night out" dinner.

3) You may want to consider the nighttime Illuminations Tour, tour bus around the city to see the night lit monuments.
http://www.discount-paris.com/products/
productdetails.asp?ppid=55

4) As you're staying in the Marais, wander over to L'As du Fallafel, 34 rue des Rosiers, for lunch. Best fallafels in the world! You'll wait in line, but it's worth it. (The NY Times says they take reservations for lunch...anyone know anything about this?)