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Post by terezacz on Jun 25, 2007 6:08:33 GMT -5
Dear all,
all exams done, 80 days to go ... could you please pull yourselves away from breathtaking Gitte´s posts (I know it´s hard) and take a look at my Semptember (second half) itinerary for our first trip to Paris (7 days)? I REALLY tried not to overdo, I REALLY did but ... here it goes.
Day 1 (Friday) - 10 hours driving from Prague, if everything goes well, we´ll be in Paris around 6pm, check-in, stroll around...
Day 2 (Saturday) - MONTMARTRE area: Sacré Coeur, Place du Tertre, Moulin Rouge ... hop on the metro towards OPÉRA area: La Madeleine (+Fauchon), boulevards, Place Vendome, Opéra Garnier, passages... (stop in the information center at Louvre Caroussel Rue de Rivoli to buy Museum Pass and maybe Disney Pass there?)
Day 3 (Sunday) - Start at CHAILLOT area (view from Trocadero gardens), move to INVALIDES area: ET (going up), Champ de Mars, Rue Cler, ... (if Disney Pass couldn´t be bought in Caroussel Louvre info center, stop at Disney Store Champs-Elyssés to buy it) ... hop on the Metro to LATIN QUARTER area: St. Germain des Prés, St. Sulpice, Blvd. St. Germain... ...Blvd. St. Michel, Lux. gardens, Fontaine de Médicis and by metro to our hotel.
Day 4 (Monday) - Disneyland with the combo pass ?evening Seine cruise?
Day 5 (Tuesday) - Versailles (buy Forfait Loisirs at a RER station serving the C line) ?evening Seine cruise?
Day 6 (Wednesday) - CHAMPS-ELYSÉES area: Palaces, shopping Champs-Elysés, Ard de Triomphe (going up), .. head to BEAUBOURG area and then across MARAIS area: Hotel de Ville, Place des Vosges to our hotel - have a rest, evening: TUILERIES area: already with the 2 day Museum Pass - late opening: Louvre.
Day 7 (Thursday) - ILE DE LA CITÉ area: ND, St.Chapelle, Conciergerie, Crypte (Museum Pass everywhere) + ILE ST. LOUIS: Berthillon + LATIN QUARTER: Cluny, Panthéon (Museum Pass everywhere)
Day 8 (Friday) - AU REVOIR PARIS, departure to Provence for another 9 amazing days!
Now as I´m writing it ... it´s too much, isn´t it? What do you think? I appreciate your help!
T.
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 25, 2007 6:27:09 GMT -5
I really stink when it comes to figuring out itineraries, but I'll comment by saying that while your days seem quite full, they all seem doable IMO. Nonetheless, don't be surprised if you decide not to stick to your original plans once you're in Paris.
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Post by kasthor on Jun 25, 2007 6:53:28 GMT -5
It all seems doable but I think in the end you might change your mind on the way to somewhere and you'll have to drop the itinerary, I hope this won't happen on day 1 two little things though: - Disneyand, (I was there yesterday, what a pain) as far as I kow you can buy combo tickets, RER+entrance fee, check out at a booth in a metro/RER station, for the moment there are promotions (15th anniversary) so maybe the disney store has better values. I think planning on a monday is a good idea, try and get there for when it opens (10 am). -2 day museum pass, 30€ per person, that means you have to go in at least two museums per day with it, which is according to your itinerary going to happen on day 6 & 7, if for whatever reason you do'nt make it to get into everywhere, it is not worth it, the museum prices are between 6.5 and 7.5 Euros and if you have your student card (I assume you still are) then it is even cheaper. For the queues, for example the Louvre has a side entrance that nobody uses (the crowds at the pyramid are sooo much more fun), it is called the lionsgate, of the gardens on the right when you face the main entrance. I am no big fan of things that keep you stuck, so if you really really want to buy the museum pass, do it on day 6 when you are almost sure that you will be doing your monument/museum marathon. Altogether it is doable, as I said, I still would check out the Paris Vision flyers at the reception, to compare and see if for example a combo of some things are interresting. For the evening cruises, you can go to every company (bateaux mouches, bateaux parisien etc) and byu the tickets there just before leaving they run quite frequently.
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Post by andi on Jun 25, 2007 7:09:32 GMT -5
Tereza, On day 2 whilst you are in the Place Vendome area, you will be right around the corner from Angelina on Rue Rivoli (hot chocolate/mont blanc) You may be in need of a short rest as its a busy day and this place is perfect for that death by chocolate experience. The sugar rush will give you just the "zip" you need......late afternoon is a good time as its no too busy. ;D
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Post by terezacz on Jun 25, 2007 7:12:19 GMT -5
Thank you! I´m really surprised that you don´t think I´m crazy Kasthor - I made some research: Louvre: 6 E (late opening), Musee de Cluny - 4,5 E, Arc de Triomphe - 8 E, La Conciergerie - 7,5 E, Pantheon - 7,5 E, S. Chapelle - 7,5 E, ND - 7,5 E Towers + 3,5 E Crypte. Am I wrong with these numbers? I think it makes MP a good value and ... no, unfortunately I´m a working student, so no discounts for me
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Post by terezacz on Jun 25, 2007 7:13:31 GMT -5
Andi, Angelina is 100% on the menu, I didn´t mention all foodie sights because it would make the list never-ending ;D
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Post by goldenmama on Jun 25, 2007 7:18:20 GMT -5
Hi terezacz-
Isn't this just the hardest thing to figure out? My kitchen table is strewn with maps and guidebooks, and I am just driving myself nuts with the itinerary. There's just so much to do, and so little time to do it. Plus, its hard to estimate the travel time between places when you've never been there before.
I was glad to see that you have a Disney day. I was afraid to admit that we are going there too-- a treat for my 10 year old!
I can offer you no advice, but I sure can offer you understanding!
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Post by terezacz on Jun 25, 2007 7:23:09 GMT -5
GM: LOL, afraid to admit going to Disney? No way, and now ... I´ll make you feel even better, because there´s NO child travelling with us, just me and my boyfriend (27, 28 years old)! We have never been to amusement park like this so it´s on our must-do list. And yes - all those people staring at me like I´m stupid, wasting one precious day in Paris in Disney - I don´t care.
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Post by kasthor on Jun 25, 2007 7:29:00 GMT -5
What I tried to say tereza is that if things don't work out as you plan them it might be less interesting. If your marathon works out then yes but I must admit that this is the part that seems a little scary to me. Maybe, only maybe, it would be better to purchase the 4 day pass, and dispatch more of your monument and museum visits.
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Post by terezacz on Jun 25, 2007 7:34:40 GMT -5
I see Kasthor, got it. A little scary you say? ;D I agree, we will see, plan is one thing but who knows ... Thank you!
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 25, 2007 9:05:07 GMT -5
I don't think people should ever be afraid to state that they're excited about going to any Disney park. Disney is a magical place, and it suits people of all ages. Last year my daughter and boyfriend went to Disney in Orlando twice and loved it. They were even thinking about going a third time, but then plans changed , and they decided to get married this summer and go to Paris (sans Disney) and the Loire Valley for their honeymoon. ;D
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Post by terezacz on Jun 25, 2007 9:26:04 GMT -5
Amen, Shoesy.
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 25, 2007 9:38:15 GMT -5
Terezacz, in my opinion, your itinerary sounds very practical and not as crazy as you think (just as long as you plan on getting a fairly early start each day and don't need to make a lot of trips back and forth to your hotel). Also, going to Disneyland is just fine, Goldenmama! Don't be embarrassed I can certainly understand the pull it has over anyone not living near a place like that--it is a magical place! I've never been to Disneyland Paris and will probably never go, but then I live an hour from Disneyland here in California and I get down there every once in awhile, so for me, it would be hard to pull away from Paris for a day. My 16 year old daughter has a season pass this year, so she's been there twice in the last week alone! Hey, do you think I could get a season pass to Paris??? ;D
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 25, 2007 9:44:15 GMT -5
But Annette, the "Paris season" is 365 days long -- you'd have to move there! Oh wait, that would be a Good Thing!
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Post by terezacz on Jun 25, 2007 9:50:47 GMT -5
AnnetteCinCA: thank you for your kind words, I secretly hoped my plan wouldn´t sound crazy
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Post by Roniece on Jul 2, 2007 1:59:03 GMT -5
great itinerary tereza... you will be stopping off for a Berthillon ice cream yes? Shoesy would never forgive you if you missed that off your list!! I'm looking forward to trying it myself in August! Enjoy... and remember to pack some comfy shoes! Roniece
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Post by terezacz on Jul 2, 2007 2:34:33 GMT -5
Hi parisbound, thank you! Of course, Berthillon is on our list! I´m so excited about the trip. I spent 2 hours at book store on Friday and bought 5 books about Paris, Marie Antoinette and Provence (not guidebooks, travel books) and I read all weekend, can´t wait!
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Post by mez on Jul 2, 2007 5:41:28 GMT -5
Hi parisbound, thank you! Of course, Berthillon is on our list! I´m so excited about the trip. I spent 2 hours at book store on Friday and bought 5 books about Paris, Marie Antoinette and Provence (not guidebooks, travel books) and I read all weekend, can´t wait! Oh Wow!! A whole weekend of reading is a pleasure in itself. I wish I could indulge like that. Mez
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Post by terezacz on Jul 2, 2007 6:26:36 GMT -5
Hello Mez, well - I think I deserved it, I spent 6 weeks with my study books exclusively and it was very exhausting, so this was my first week with books of another kind, what a relief.
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Post by Shoesy on Jul 2, 2007 8:54:39 GMT -5
parisbound - Berthillon is closed in August!!! My daughter and my sister won't be able to buy it from the main Berthillon place on Ile St. Louis, but they will be able to get it in cafes that carry it.
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