Anyone here who's been to Paris?

I am going to Paris at Easter, and I was wondering if anyone's got any useful tips and information. I'll be meeting a couple of friends, we're all late 20s, early 30s, not too rich, pretty interested in history.

So. Hotels? Sights? Daytrips in the vicinity besides Versailles?

I'd appreciate any help.

KitSileya

How long will you be in Paris? A lot of what you can do will be determined by the amount of time you have. Let us know. April will be beautiful, we've been twice in May and it was light sweater weather, flowers in bloom.

From what I've heard, it's gorgeous. And being a lot farther South than Bergen, Norway, I am sure it will be warmer as well. That won't be amiss at the end of Winter.

From our plns, we'll stay a week. In Norway, Easter's a national holiday, and most have not only Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter weekend (including Easter Monday) off, but also the three first days after Palm Sunday. My friends are American, and are simply using vacation time. I know there's lots to see, and I can't wait to see it.

What are you looking at price-wise in terms of hotels, and do you have a particular attraction you want to be close to or type of neighborhood you want to stay in (quiet, bustling, hip etc.)?

My friends and I are very quiet people, and we're definitely more interested in getting up early and go to museums and art galleries than going to night clubs. Especially since we haven't seen each other in 18 months - I haven't dared go back to the US since 9/11 when I became vocal in my criticism of Bush. We want quiet and cheap, I guess, but with good connection to historic sights, and less shopping and fashion. IIRC from my high school French classes, the left side of the Seine is where the Latin quarter is, while the right side has all the shopping? It's been a decade, so my memory's a bit spotty.

I stayed at the Abbatial St. Germain ($90-$140 a night depending on the season). The rooms were Parisian small but very well decorated and quite nice. It's right on Blvd St. Germain, so it's a fairly busy neighborhood, so request a room that's not facing the Boulevard if you want quiet. The California and the Moderne are also good deals in the neighborhood, and on quieter streets. I also hear really great reviews about the Familia Hotel.

Will keep in mind, definitely.

and there's not much need for a daytrip for that short a period. We even skipped Versailles.

Here's my best recommendation. Parisians don't understand quick meals so much, and you are on the move doing your tourist stuff, so pack lunch. Go buy some bread and cheese at any the ubiquitous shops. It's good, it's cheap, and it's quick. Save your money and your time for dinner. I still remember those little raviolis in the pesto cream sauce...so perfect...so beautiful...

Here's another one for a warmer day and your feet are tired: the canal boat tour.

All of the usual museums and stuff in the guide books I went to were good. Here's a tip: When you go to the Louvre, go early...like before nine. I also recommend Rick Steve's idea of a Louvre tour, which is to avoid getting lost in the huge thing and see the three items you must see and get out.

My friend have already bought Rick Steve's guide book - they used it when we met up in London just before the election, and liked it a lot.

I've only used it for the Louvre tour, which was pretty funny in its purpose driven movement throught the museum...up the stairs, see Winged Victory, turn right, down hall, there's the Mona Lisa, backtrack, up stairs, Venus de Milo, and you are OUT! You almost expect a tape across the door and a time clock.

I wonder if the Louvre is even worth it if it's so full of people you can't enjoy looking at the art. I'm certain there's a number of art museums in Paris, so I guess we'll have to weigh the pros and cons.

It's worth it to see the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory. The problem with the Louvre is that it is so large, and I don't think everything is worth looking at, so you have to have a plan.

For just wandering, the Musee D'Orsay is better.

I am still kicking myself for not going to the Sistine chapel when I was on a class trip to Roma. The Latin class (who studied Latin language *and* culture) went there while us Italian students had to go visit an Italian language high school - double the outrage, as not only did we miss one of the artistic highlights of Roma, but apparently they teach modern languages in Italian schools in Italian! It was such a shock to me, I remember - these were students who had specialized in modern languages, and yet they still couldn't understand it if their teacher spoke English or French in class. I am a language teacher myself now, so that's why I remember it so vividly.

But having a plan is good, I think - when we went to the British Museum, we just wandered, because we really were interested in everything - in the Egyptian artifacts most of all, of course, so we made sure we saw them.

We are joking that as two of us are die-hard Highlander: the Series fans, we have to visit some sites that are connected to that tv-series - Shakespeare &co, for example. LOL

The best thing about Rick Steves - all his travels in Europe and elsewhere enlightened him, and he went from a Reaganite to a progressive.

He is cosmopilitan and worldy in all the best ways.

Plus, he's incredibly slick and a good businessman. He was on the local PBS station pushing his books while they did a telethon, and he had all the patter and presence of a talk show host. Extremely articulate and entertaining.

and have for the last 5 years...How long are you going for and which arrondissement are you staying in? Time and place make a big difference to any suggestions barring the obvious.

If you are going for a week or less, I'd forget the sidetrips.

http://goeurope.about.com/od/chartresfrance/a/chartres.htm

A lovely little day trip and the page lists what train to take, restuarants, lodging. Very helpful.

Two of us are Catholics, and history buffs, so this is right up our alley. Thanks and the site is bookmarked!

I'm Catholic too and found it a deeply moving experience visiting Notre Dame, even though I'm not an especially devout Catholic. There's just something about the place that overwhelms me with emotion.

I agree too with what another poster said about trying to make time to linger over meals. One of my favourite things to do in Paris, time and weather permitting, is to sit at an outdoor cafe for hours - literally - lingering over coffee or wine or lunch. It's even better if you're at one on the Champs-Elysées with a view of the Arc de Triomphe.

Also, changing the subject, this might help with scheduling your activities in Paris: the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays!

Edited to add one final thing - you can take boat trips down the Seine with English-speaking guides who point out all the familiar Paris landmarks. It's nice to do that after a long day walking around, and the city is beautiful at night.

I cannot recommend this company highly enough: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pariswalking/

I've taken both tours of the Marais, and the tours of the Latin Quarter and Montmarte. The guides were all very knowledgeable Brits who have lived in Paris for years--I learned more history from them from any of my guidebooks.

I took a couple of their tours the last time I was in Paris & enjoyed them very much. The tour of the Marais was really interesting & that's become one of my favorite areas of Paris.

dg

This sounds excellent. Last time we went on a trip together, we went to London, which was a first for my friends, but I've been there several times and was quite an Anglophile in Jr. High, so I knew a lot. However, with Paris, I'm much more out of my depth - I know some French history, and Parisian, but not nearly as much as with London. But it'll be very interesting to learn, and I guess j'ai besoin de me dérouiller la mémoire or something like that. Unfortunately, my Italian keeps butting in and I end up speaking a sort of patois if I try LOL

DON'T order them at mealtimes. Order a carafe of water instead. Go to a store like Monoprix & buy them there. They will be much cheaper. I also like Monoprix because you can pick up interesting non-souvenir-y souvenirs there, as well as getting stuff for light lunches &/or breakfasts. Make your own lunches, take them with you, then at lunchtime, find a park, plant yourself on a bench & people-watch while you eat & rest. :)

dg

As I already said, springtime in Paris has got to be a lot better than rainy Bergen at the end of the Winter season, so sitting in a park enjoying the weather if we get good weather sounds like a balm for the soul. Thanks also for the practical advice.

Places that still resonate with me are: Notre Dame, and I'm not a particularly religious person. But that place is so awesome. Climb the stairs and stand next to a gargoyle, if you still can. All the alcoves in the chapel, the marble, the wood, just incredible. Touch history.

The Jeu de Paume/Palme museum behind the Louvre on the Place de Concorde. In 1851, Emperor Napoleon III commissioned the construction of a Jeu de Paume court (ancestor of tennis) in the Jardin des Tuileries. With the arrival of outdoor tennis in 1947, the building was converted into a museum dedicated to Impressionism. What I saw there made me cry, for the overwhelming art, Van Gogh, Gaugin, et. al., just so much history.

Catacombs, Paris -- interesting underground exhibit of the resting place of millions of dead Parisians. This was neater than say the famous cemetery of Pere Lachaise, where lies Jim Morrison among many others.


Visit the Sorbonne if you can. See what college life is like in Paris.
The Sorbonne University is located in the center of the famous Latin Quarter of Paris on the Left Bank. This is the students' and artists' quarter, but its also an area which still remains somewhat bohemian. There is the classical and aristocratic elegance of the Faubourg St. Germain. Founded in the 13th century, The Sorbonne University today houses the Arts and Human Sciences faculties of the University of Paris.

Then you can buy a shirt that says Sorbonne Universite and tell people, yes, I was at the Sorbonne for a while, and it will be true!

The best thing I did there was just wander. You can find so many unexpected treasures. Just keep a tight hand on your pocketbook. Hope you have a great time there. Be sure to report back.

I am sooo looking forward to this trip. Luckily, I have someone I can travel with - as a single woman, that's no idle concern. ANd it's more fun to have someone to share your experiences with - to digest what you've seen when you're back at the hotel in the evening, someone to eat with and walk with.

We are definitely visiting Notre Dame - I am a practising Catholic, and we will be there during Easter weekend, after all. It'll be strange to be in a country with a majority of Catholics during this feast - I live in the diaspora, only about 1% of Norway's population is Catholic.

Get the Carte Musee (Rick Steves probably told you that already; also look at Lonely Planet, I really like their guidebooks too). If it is sunny, visit Ste. Chappelle twice, once in the morning & once in the afternoon to compare how the stained glass looks in different lights. If you can, take the stairs at the Metro station at Il Cite instead of the elevator. Pickpockets run rampant in the Metro system, especially at this particular station! (my experience; your mileage may vary.) Of course visit the Eiffel Tower, and don't overlook getting a glimpse of it at night, when every hour on the hour, it lights up & twinkles. Very pretty. The Musee Marmotan (not included with the Carte Musee :( ) has the painting that started the Impressionist movement as well as other Monets, while the Musee Rodin features works by this artist & nice gardens (which should be lovely in spring.

Also take time to visit a hammam, a place where you can get a massage & sit in a steam room. I've been to the one in the Marais & loved it. :)

dg

Americans, when you get off the subway car and see the French lining up for the elevators, that means the ground is five stories up and the stairs are impossible.

I had assumed that Parisians had the same aversion to stairs as most americans, and sniffed at the elevators. After the next ten flights, I had learned a lesson. If there are elevators, there's a damn good reason. someo of the subway wells are pretty deep.

I'll make sure to note your advice - these are the things that are good to know.

This not just a cemetery where Jim Morrison is buried, but is a true Necropolis. I could spend days on end looking around at all the unique monuments. I have no words that can convey the beauty of such a somber place. One monument that still stays with me is of two men holding hands. They are full body cast that you look down on. This men were mountain climbers found dead in this position on, I think Mt. Blanc.

It sounds interesting.

An overview.

Oscar Wilde's grave.

Close up.

I don't remember where this is.

get off at the Gambette Metro stop. You'll be walking downhill to the Cemetery instead of uphill. You can buy maps of the cemetery from street vendors too.

dg

A very interesting place. Much more than the final resting place of JM, in fact, Morrison's grave is guarded, all cleaned up. Just a plain little plot in a sea of graves.......

to make sure you have the right clothes. I took my daughter there on spring break and it was freezing.

If you like Picasso, there's a good Picasso museum. I didn't spend a whole lot of time at museums since Angie was only eight at the time. But we spent a lot of time riding on buses -- it's a good way to see the city. Or see if you can rent bicycles, possibly at a train station. That's another good thing to do. Personally, I like just getting around and looking at different neighborhoods more than checking out museums.

The most memorable meal we had was at a place called Nos Ancestre les Gauls (I believe in the 11th Arrondisement), which had kind of a medieval theme with all-you-can-eat baskets of vegetables, a sausage table, grilled meat, and unlimited red wine from a cask. Sat with a Portugese couple. Very fun.


You might even think about checking out a can-can performance. A little touristy, but probably great fun as well.

I am hoping for warmer weather than here North, but April isn't the most stable month weather-wise.

Thanks for the concrete restaurant tip, if we are nearby, I'll make sure to check it out.

I've been to Paris on my own several times, though not for a few years. If this info is out of date, I will stand corrected. But in my memory, you should skip the following:

The "shocking" stage shows in Place Pigalle: the most shocking thing you'll find in Pigalle is your bill at the end of the night. Place Pigalle itself is mostly a bunch of dingy porn shops sandwiched in between the live-show joints. All of them are overpriced since they only cater to tourists.

If you want to see a Famous Parisian Live Nude Stage Show, I always liked the Crazy Horse. It's in a much nicer neighborhood--Rue George V, so you can gawk at the famous hotel(s) and other architecture. It was a very friendly place the last time I visited, with lower-priced tickets if you don't mind standing up while you see the show.

http://www.lecrazyhorseparis.com/home.php?lang=uk

And if, for whatever reason, you want to see honest, hard-working Ladies Of The Evening...or Afternoon...just take a walk down Rue St. Denis, a famous streetwalker's street for several centuries. Or for that matter, just walk down the Champs-Elysees after dark.

Bois de Boulogne: only go there in daytime. After dark it is famous for its multigendered Sexual Therapists. The park has always been famous as a hangout for thieves and hookers, ever since it was on the main carriage route to Versailles.

If you're a history fan (like me!), do not miss Napoleon's tomb at St. Louis Cathedral. To see stuff like Napopleon's school notebooks and medieval armor belonging to French kings, the museum of French military history is in the same place, at Les Invalides (the former old soldier's home). WARNING: if you like history, it's very easy to lose track of time in that museum. The rooms are arranged chronologically, which makes it a little easier to see the things you're really interested in.

Great shopping: if you're there on a Saturday, try to get out to the giant flea market at Clignancourt. It's a long Metro ride but worth the trip.

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/France/Ile_de_France/Paris-99080/Shopping-Paris-Les_Puces_Flea_Markets-BR-1.html

I just got back from Paris, great city, I could live there for the rest of my life and have no regrets. I stayed on the left bank, two different locals, separated by a trip to the south of France. We stayed in the latin quarter first at a small hotel in Saint German, Artus 34 Rue De Buci, Paris 75006.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d194278-Reviews-a_als.0-Artus-Paris_Ile_de_France-m10782.alink_html
Nice place, the staff was very helpful. Saint German is full of bars and lively night life.
When we got back from the south of France we stayed at a nice little hotel called
Le Walt Eiffel, 37 AV DE LA MOTTE PICQUET Paris, 75007

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d290385-Reviews-a_als.0-Le_Walt-Paris_Ile_de_France-m10782.alink_html
Very close to the tower and Napoleon monument, Musee Dorsey. A lot of shopping and expensive faire.

As far as day trips, we went to Versialles, and roamed around Paris, little else in the north. Traveling to the south is worth while. We flew to Nice, rented a car, and drove around Provence, Côte d'Azur, Monaco etc. I liked Arles, but found most of the south to be a bit too snooty. Monaco was a joke, a rich-man's paradise, lots of show off sports cars, yachts etc. I was so disgusted by the vulgar display of wealth that I ate at McDonald's rather than subsidize the monogast over-priced cuisine. I still have the promo glass they gave for buying a combo meal. The only good memory I have of the place.

As for the French, great people, never had a problem. I don't speak French, but my wife took lessons prior to our trip, enough to ask simple directions and read a menu. Despite what Repugs say, the French do not hate Americans. I never experienced anti-Americanism. If you show respect for their culture, try to speak some French, you will do just fine.

Damn I miss Paris, have a glass of wine for me, and a snail or two..:cry: Vive le France

I love art museums, don't get me wrong, but I'm even more of a history buff. Two of my favorites are the Musee Cluny and Musee Carnavalet. Musee Cluny is a museum of the Middle Ages, set in a beautiful medieval hotel in the Latin Quarter (which was built atop Roman baths that you can still see). It's most famous for the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries that hang there, but it has lots of treasures.

The Musee Carnavalet is in the Marais, and it traces the history of Paris. It's really much more interesting than it sounds, trust me! They have a great collection of artifacts from the French Revolution, and many period rooms you can wander through. The only downside to this museum is that all of the descriptions are in French and French only. I only know a little French and didn't have trouble interpreting the signs, but some may find that too frustrating.

http://www.paris.org/Musees/Cluny/info.html

http://www.paris.org/Musees/Carnavalet/info.html

I second the recommendations of Pere Lachaise--a perfect place to wander on a beautiful spring day, Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle. A fun way to get a different perspective of Sainte Chapelle or Notre Dame is to attend an evening concert in them. I attended a recital of medieval music in Notre Dame one evening--the cathedral was lit only by candles, and it was breathtaking. Concerts are advertised on posters when you visit the churches.

Have fun!

The more the neocons hate the French, the more I love 'em.

I made two short trips to Paris as part of longer European itineraries.

Hotels: I liked Comfort Inn Sacre Coeur near, well, Sacre-Coeur Basilica. But then it was back in '98, so I don't know how much things have changed. (Metro: Abbesses) I absolutely hated the nearby Libertel Le Moulin (owned by Accor, the same chain as Motel 6); it's just a Motel 6 that happens to cost $200 per night. (Metro: Blanche)

My daytrip suggestion would probably be an architectural tour of a cathedral outside Paris. Since I studied the Amiens cathedral in college, that's where I went - it's an hour's train ride from Gare du Nord, with trains running frequently. The cathedral is a short walk from the station, and yes, it was every bit as splendid as the college textbook photos suggested. And this is from someone who despises the Christian faith and would do everything to avoid cathedrals otherwise.

Bonne chance.

cathedral at Chartes. It's a short trip and you won't be disappointed. It's impressive.

a month ago.

The greatest charms of Paris are not the museums, but rather walking around, breathing the air and enjoying the beauty of the city.
Here are a few ideas for hotels, metro, etc.

If you want to stay in a reasonable, but not fancy hotel, the Libertel Grand Turenne Paris Tradition, part of the Accor chain, on rue de Turenne in the Marais (The Marais is a great area, on the Right Bank, with loads of antique shops, the beautiful Place des Vosges, numerous restaurants within walking distance and easy access to everything ), is very nice with comfortable beds and good plumbing. It is possible to book a room online and they do have Internet specials. Go to Accor Hotels. They do breakfast, but if you want something a bit better, walk out the door, turn right and walk about two blocks to a boulangerie called Le Levain de Marais. They have, in my opinion, the best pain au chocolat and croissants in Paris. If you turn left you’ll end up on the rue Saint Antoine (which turns into the Rue de Rivoli). Cross it and you’ll be in the Village Saint–Paul, home to lots of little antique shops with independent opening hours. It would be possible to spend an entire week in the Marais/St. Paul/Bastille quartier (neighborhood) and not discover it all. Turn left at rue St. Antoine and you’ll end up at Place Bastille. The Bar de Jarente on St. Catherine’s Square near Place des Vosges is a good place for people watching. Also don't miss the Place des Vosges, hidden away near the Bastille. Gorgeous square that was formerly a royal residence (built with a a salt tax that caused the deaths of thousands in the Vosges). There is free museum that was Victor Hugo's apartment in one corner. For restaurants, Look for Baracane, 38 rue des Tournelles 4 arr. 01 42 71 43 33 www.l-oulette.com, (closed Saturday lunch & Sunday.) and Chez Janou, 2, rue Roger-Verlomme 3arr 01 42 72 28 41. Also L'Impasse just off of Rue St. Antoine. Walk down the Rue de Rivoli towards the Louvre and you'll come to the Hotel de Ville. Last year they had a free exhibit on Piaf and this year they did a retrospective on Willy Ronis the Parisian photographer.


A charming, but small, hotel on the Left Bank is the Libertel Maxim, 28 r. Censier. It is near the Moufettard and the Censier-Daubenton Metro stop. The rooms are small, the bathrooms smaller, but they are very welcoming and accommodating. Some of the rooms have small balconies, and you can sit and have a glass of Champagne before you venture out to dinner. The Jardin des Plantes is nearby. Try Les Delices de Daubenton for ice cream and snacks. The Moufettard market is close by with cheese shops, traiteurs (delicatissens), chocolatiers and bakeries. There is a branch of Nicolas (the wine merchant) nearby, along with a couple of other wine shops on the Moufettard. You also have access to Oliviers et Cie, the olive oil merchants, and a branch of l’Occitane. If you walk up rue Monge, toward the Seine you will find a ruined Roman amphitheater, the Arenes de Lutece. As you walk around Paris, you will encounter many unexpected monuments ranging from the Roman era right up to the present day.

Near the Place d’Italie commercial center there is a Best Western that has just been renovated. The rooms are very clean and the bathrooms modern. It’s not near the tourist places, but it’s really inexpensive. Hotel de Weha, 205 Avenue de Choisy 75013. Phone 33 1 45 86 06 06. And you can walk out to the Metro, pick up Line 5 and go to the Eiffel Tower.

Get a bus map!! The buses will give you a great tour of the city and not cost a lot, especially if you buy a weekly pass. Go to http://www.ratp.fr for options and maps. If you're going to be there from Sunday through Sunday (arriving on a Sunday) get a Carte Orange. You'll need a photo for the ID card, but for 20 dollars for unlimited bus, metro, tram, Noctilien (night bus) and RER within 2 transit zones, it's great value. Runs from Monday to Sunday.

NOTE: When you go through the turnstile in the Metro or when you're riding a bus KEEP YOUR TICKET!! They do spot ticket checks and if you don't have a ticket you can get fined ON THE SPOT around 50 Euros!!

I've been to Paris 20 times in the past 15 years, and have never been to the Louvre. But I've been to the Musee d'Orsay about 5 times, the Picasso museum and the Jewish Museum.

Go to the Jardin du Luxembourg, sit in the garden, have lunch. Check out the outdoor peripatetic markets - Blvd Raspail on a Sunday, Cours de Vincennes, Bobillot.

Go to Chez Prosper on Blvd de Trone at the Place de la Nation. Smoky, Parisian, very few tourists, unless they're French. Go to lunch at Le Comptoir, 9 Carre de l'Odeon and dine on lamb shank over couscous with dried apricots, raisins and prunes. Drink some wine - it's good for you and it's cheap. Don't order bottled water as the tap water in Paris is just fine.

I you want more restaurant recommends PM me.