AussieFrance

It's interesting to see that most people, with a couple of exceptions, ignored my question totally. I was simply asking what first-timers in Paris think they should see when they come. The fact that some of you think that the post is totally superfluous, even though you have no idea of its content, and that the blog is self-indulgent, meaningless and boring is of no importance to me. I was surprised however to see such gratuitous ill-feeling. I can only assume that denigrating others gives some people a buzz. Thank you to others who gave helpful answers.

AussieFrance

Just a little note to Gretchen. If you look at the time at which I posted on the other thread, you'll see that I started this post first and happened upon the other one afterwards. It seemed to correspond exactly to what I was asking on this thread. I wasn't "using" this thread to answer another one, which I can understand must have seemed incomprehensible.

vincenzo32951

>>It's interesting to see that most people, with a couple of exceptions, ignored my question <<

Welcome to Fodor's.

Gretchen

I was in no way saying which came first or you were feeding it--doesn't even make any difference. It was the order in which I came to the two threads. So?
I can remember what I wanted to see and it was already listed in your request. So, to get to what you want to suggest, if I want to see the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur, and the Pont Neuf, where will you suggest I stay--and why. I really only want to see these places once during my week in Paris.

bendigo

We wanted to see the Louvre, Versailles, Shakespeare & Co, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Seine, Pere Lachaise, Printemps / Galleries Lafayette, d'Orsay, view the city from tour Montparnasse and enjoy living in a Paris apartment (if only for 6 days!).

We stayed in the Marais - doing all the things we wanted plus explored the Latin Quarter, wandered the Marais and its amazing buildings and streets (Place des Vosges!!!!), Village St Paul and mastered the Metro.

But we weren't innocents abroad - I'm a psycho researcher - read the guide books, studied the maps, scoped out streetscapes on Google Streetview and called here for advice and booked accommodation in a place that worked well for us!

Does that answer the question AussieFrance?

OReilly

I had visited Paris as a teenager, on a university trip (Architecture), and got to see very little except for Corbusier.

My next trip back was in late 1980s, and I wanted to see EVERYTHING, and pretty well did

Following trip was in 1999, and I had the same desire, and do all the 'walks' listed in the Fodor's guide. Again, I succeeded, and ended up with bleeding feet, as I walked everywhere, doing 12 hour days. I have been loads of times since, with more reasonable expectations.

For first time travellers to Paris, I think the information is so overwhelming, and the desire to make the best of the trip, results in having too much on the 'must see' list, and not having enough time to savour the taste of anything, a bit like gorging at an all-you-can eat buffet.

When I discovered this board in 2003(?) I got some very sound advice from experts on my insane itineraries, and learned to be more selective.

AussieFrance

Thank you, Bendigo and OReilly, for your input, which is very helpful. Apologies, Gretchen, if I miscontrued your answer. Vicenzo32951, it's such a pity, as it wastes time, but it's human nature, I guess. I personally prefer to soak up the atmosphere of a city rather than visit it exhaustively but lots of friends and relatives ask me to give advise on where to stay which is why I asked the question.

RM67

Aussie France - your comment about wasting time is interesting, because I think that's what people are trying to stop you from doing. Some of us can't see much use in a blog that lists obvious sites everyone already knows about, and then by your own admission, simply suggests people go and look up where they are on a map before picking a hotel. I just don't get what role this blog will play in helping anyone plan a trip. On top of this, Paris is a compact and walkable city, so it's not imperative to be staying right on top of your favourite sites anyway - they are easily accesible from multiple places around the city on foot and via public transport.

If I were a new traveller I would find it more helpful to know what previous travellers really rated highly so I didn't waste time at all the big sites just to tick them off when perhaps something more intriguing was just around the corner.

mamcalice

I really think that the major sights (the ones first timers put on the bucket list) are so far flung and the transportation network in the city is so excellent, that it hardly matters where one stays. Fodorites usually suggest that first-time visitors stay in Arrondisements 1-8 as much of the sightseeing they will be doing is there.

If all you want to see is the Sorbonne, stay in the 5th or the Eiffel Tower, stay in the 7th. Since that is unlikely, search this board for best areas to stay and hotel suggestions.

AussieFrance

Thanks for the feedback RM67. Anyone who reads my blog (and not just my Plastic Art post!) would see that my focus is quite different from what my question may have led you to believe. I think the thread was misplaced on this forum because the people who answer are usually experienced travellers. The various answers, however, apart from the denigrating ones, have been helpful. I'll leave it up to the readers of my self-indulgent, boring blog to decide on the result!

RM67

For what it's worth, I love blogs - I like reading about other people's experiences and especially seeing their pics. Ex-pat blogs in particular fascinate me. Really, blogs and Facebook etc are just the modern day equivalent of the journal or diary. Write on FB and everyone thinks you are self-obsessed. Write it in a moleskin and everyone thinks you are cerebral, deep and bookish.

Gretchen

I have honestly asked several times. What will you suggest to someone who wants to see all the places you listed at first--and why? What is the "need" for this rather than saying "I really enjoy X arrondisement/hotel because the metro is close, it is served by 4 bus lines, and there is a cute market street"--which is why we stay at Hotel Muguet.

adrienne

One thing that I think first-time visitors to Paris (and other European cities) do not understand is how short some of the blocks are. People who are used to large modern cities such as NYC, Chicago, etc. may not realize that a block on a map may be a couple hundred feet, not a NYC size block.

I remember one poster who was debating one hotel over another and chose the one she did because it was more "central" to her sights. Well, one hotel was more central to half of the sights and the other hotel was more central to the other half of the sights. What this person did not realize (and couldn't understand (even after she was advised) is that the distance between the 2 hotels was perhaps 2 minutes at most (walking). Looking at a map, unless you pay attention to scale, doesn't necessarily convey distance. Some advise to newcomers along this line would be helpful.

AussieFrance

Gretchen, I'll let you read the post. It would be difficult to condense it into a short forum thread.
Adrienne, thank you for pointing that out. I shall definitely include that information!