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Post by afds on Jun 23, 2008 13:40:32 GMT -5
This is the rough itinerary I have for our 6 days in Paris. OK, it isn't that rough, I've been working on it for months with lots of TLC, will appreciate any suggestions. I already have 4 day Museum Passes and am planning on walking as much as possible, perhaps buying metro tickets as needed or a carnet. This is based on our London experience, after reading endless threads on the Travelcard we ended up walking or taking the wonderful taxis. Any thoughts on Paris taxis? Here goes: Day one Arrive at Orly by Easyjet, transfer to Hotel Louvre Marsollier Opera. I’ve booked a car service, parismyway, which was recommended on TA. I know I can take the RER but we’re lazy. Dinner at Chez Flottes. Day two The Louvre, with a quick lunch somewhere, I’ve read conflicting reviews of Café Marly so am in two minds about that. Post-lunch, continue at the Louvre unless we have culture fatigue (very likely). Dinner at Goumard. Day three Musee D’Orsay, then take the metro to the Eiffel Tower, which we just want to look at without going up since I have *severe* vertigo, then the Arc de Triomphe and walk back along the Champs Elysees, stopping at Laduree to have tea or just buy macarons. I don’t know if I’m going to like the macarons, but after reading so much about them I have to try them, a bit like clotted cream which I’d never tasted before but now think is ambrosia. Dinner free (after all those macarons…) Day four Musee Rodin, Les Invalides (basically the tomb, I’m a big Napoleon fan), lunch at Le Florimond which I haven’t yet booked, should I panic? After lunch perhaps another short visit to the Louvre, short because we have to prepare for our big night : La Dame aux Camelias at Opera Garnier, followed by dinner at Le Grand Café. This is the only day in which we have two proper meals, we’re both small eaters and plan on sticking to crepes and stuff at lunch. Day five Notre Dame (no towers) and the Pantheon. Dinner at Le Vaudeville. Day six The mandatory shopping day, probably just windowshopping but that’s fun too: mainly the Galleries Lafayette and Bijoux Burma which has an attractive shop in Rome, the Paris one must be better. Other shopping suggestions are welcome, and I must check where the Paris branch of my favourite shop Max Mara is. Dinner at Chez Georges on Rue du Mail. Day seven is actually travel since our flight leaves Orly at 3 p.m. So we’ll probably focus on a last short walk and buying sandwiches from a patisserie for lunch. Our airport transfer should be the same company, if all goes well. How does this look? Too much, too little, please tell me what you think  |
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 23, 2008 21:52:10 GMT -5
I suggest also going to Ste. Chapelle on day 5. If that day is a sunny one, you're in for quite a delight because the stained-glass windows are truly breathtaking.
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 23, 2008 22:01:24 GMT -5
It's actually a pretty short walk from the d'Orsay to the Eiffel Tower. Just go out the main entrance (rue de Bellechase) and walk to the left to rue de l'Universite (I think it's the second cross street). Turn right and keep walking and you will (literally) run right into the ET. I doubt it would take more than 10 or 15 minutes (faster than the Metro, especially since the Metro nearest to the ET is going to leave you with some walking).
I second Shoesy's suggestion of Ste-Chapelle.
About the Arc - I would suggest that you might want to try going up to the top. It's a very large structure and has a waist-high enclosure, so you can stand 20 or more feet back from the edge but still get a really spectacular view over Paris (including directly across to the ET). You might even find that's true at the ND towers, because when up on top you're more or less in the center of the roof - you can see out, but not really down very far (but that's a bit more iffy, so you might not want to chance it unless someone who really knows your tolerance level checks it out for you in advance).
Looks like a fun trip!
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 23, 2008 23:58:42 GMT -5
Yes, it looks like a fun trip, and you have planned very well. If you get "culture fatigue" (my hubby calls that "museum-ed out") after part of a day at the Louvre, you could enjoy a walk through the Tuileries to clear your head, see the obelisque at Place de la Concorde, then wander over to the Orangerie if you're up for another museum. It's lovely, and much smaller and less mind boggling than the Louvre.
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Post by Anne on Jun 24, 2008 3:14:24 GMT -5
I am a big fan of the Louvre, and when we go there in the morning around opening time we usually stay until about mid-afternoon . I love the Département des Antiquités Egyptiennes, and the appartements of Napoléon III, and the paintings, ... On day five, Notre-Dame and the Panthéon won't take so much time . So yes, visit the Ste Chapelle and walk the streets of Ile de la Cité and Ile St Louis . If you have time, do also visit the area around the Panthéon (Montagne Ste Geneviève - a hill actually) and the place de la Contrescarpe and rue Mouffetard area . There are quite a few Max Mara shops in Paris (I love it too  ), but WHY would you want to visit the shops of an Italian designer in Paris while you actually live in Italy  |
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Post by afds on Jun 24, 2008 7:15:19 GMT -5
I forgot to login and the computer ate my reply :-( That's a lesson learned.
First of all thank you for all the comments. Yes, I did intend to go to St Chapelle but forgot to add it to my updated itinerary (which means I would have forgotten it altogether, thank you Shoesy!). I''m glad to be able to walk from the Musee D'Orsay to the ET, I dislike metros in general but thought it was too long to walk. The Arc de Triomphe...well, I'll try to go up. Museumed-out is a good definition, I felt that way at the British Museum although I had a list of the things I wanted to see. Perhaps it was because of the crowds blocking everything, naturally I expect the Louvre to be deserted ;-) The Orangerie sounds good too.
Re Max Mara, I saw some stuff in their shop window in London and thought I'd buy it at home instead of having excess baggage. When I got back I was very disappointed to find that those clothes were not available, the vendeuse told me there are different things in different countries. My husband is not going to be happy to hear that there are "quite a few" MM shops in Paris, but into each life some rain must fall!
Any input on my restaurant picks or should that be on another thread?
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Post by Anne on Jun 24, 2008 8:01:42 GMT -5
OK then according to the phone directory, Max Mara shops are : - 100 avenue Paul Doumer, 16è - 16 rue de Passy, 16è - 9 rue de Grenelle, 7è - 9 rue Maître Albert, 5è - 31 avenue Montaigne, 8è - 408 rue St Honoré, 8è : their new, 550m2 boutique, featuring all their collections and accessories |
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Post by Jody on Jun 24, 2008 8:31:05 GMT -5
Paris taxis are great but not as easy to hail as the London black cabs. Contrary to what some say if you see one and manage to hail it , they will stop if there are not too close to a taxi stand.
I have a list somewhere on the taxi stands in Paris , I'll see if I can find it for you.
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 24, 2008 9:50:03 GMT -5
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Post by Jody on Jun 24, 2008 9:56:17 GMT -5
That's the one! Also I know at night there is a minimum charge of 5.50 Euro, not sure about daytime though.
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 24, 2008 9:59:02 GMT -5
Another place you could add on day 5 near the Pantheon is Luxembourg gardens  |
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Post by holger on Jun 24, 2008 15:36:21 GMT -5
We ate a light evening meal at Cafe Marly. Food was OK but sitting and watching the shadows fall on the Louvre courtyard as well as watching the "beautiful" people come to be seen at the Cafe was he better part of the visit. If you can go at night for a drink and sit outside you should enjoy it.
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Post by afds on Jun 25, 2008 5:03:55 GMT -5
I'm so glad I found this group! Every time I check in I find something new and helpful. Anne266,thank you, thank you, thankyou! We may have to skip the Louvre to visit all these shops, BTW hubby thanks you a lot too ;-)
I looked at the taxi rank link, very useful. However I read that often the driver may not want to go where you want to, this happens all the time in Rome which is why London cabs were such a pleasant surprise. Still, I'm not going to judge Paris taxis till I've tried them.
Holger, I think your suggestion of going for a drink to Cafe' Marly sounds good, if the food is just OK- for me the most important thing about a restaurant/cafe is the food, everything else is a bonus.
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Post by afds on Jun 25, 2008 5:07:27 GMT -5
Addition to previous post : I shouldn't have called it the taxi rank link, it's a mine of information about lots of things. Even how to cheat on the Metro, gasp!
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Post by denise on Jun 25, 2008 8:26:26 GMT -5
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Post by afds on Jun 25, 2008 9:18:18 GMT -5
Hi Denise We're actually going to be there from the 6th to the 12th, I wanted to miss the Bastille Day crowds. I looked at your itinerary, goodness you're going to do a lot! I especially admire the dancing each evening after walking around all day Re Boulangerie Paul, I saw a website perhaps breakfast in Paris or something like that with the cutest pictures and sketches, so I was planning to go there often too. I think there's one on Ave de l'Opera. I'll try to find the link and post it. Wish I'd thought of checking the Galeries Lafayette fashion show earlier. It looks like a really well thought out trip, and how lucky you are to be going back fairly soon so that you can leave Versailles and stuff for later. I really wanted to go to Versailles, but without having to bake in the sun in a queue. |
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Post by afds on Jun 29, 2008 9:05:30 GMT -5
One week to go :-)
Time for serious planning, which rooms to visit in the Louvre etc. I have a few questions:
1) Is the Marie Antoinette exhibit a) worth it b) likely to continue? The closing date is tomorrow, but in Italy usually these things get extended (always at the last minute). For eg. there's a very good exhibition on Pinturicchio in Perugia at the moment, scheduled to end today but extended to the end of August.
2) Weather: I'm watching the Guardian and BBC World 5 day forecasts, how humid is Paris? I'm guessing it will be pretty humid, like Rome, because of the river, which will make it seem hotter than it is, and I'm trying to finalise what clothes to take.
I'm really glad I changed my hotel, the Louvre Marsollier Opera responds very quickly to everything: I asked them if they could confirm my first evening restaurant reservation and five minutes later I got a reply saying it was done. I love it when things work :-)
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Post by denise on Jun 29, 2008 14:32:03 GMT -5
:)dear afds.... I am SO excited for you, YOUR planning will get me through this week and the I will only have a week to wait. The Marie Antionette exhibition gets mixed reviews on TA, and reports of long queues and crowds inside. Yes it will be interesting to see if it's extended as I would also be interested but I don't think I would queue or long though. I also watch the Paris weather ( don't we all?) it is currently 23 degrees Celsius and relative humidity is 53%, is that humid? We have had such an awful summer here so far, (sorry Megan!) I've not worn ANY summer clothes, (I've even had the central heating on most days!  )so I'm hoping I will get the opportunity in Paris. I am trying to pack the minimum but it is difficult. We could always buy clothes in Paris to suit the weather!  I don't know much about the Louvre as I found it a bit overwhelming, I am going to try again in October so I will be interested in your feedback. Denise love from England  |
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Post by Laidback on Jun 29, 2008 17:23:25 GMT -5
afds, I enjoyed it the most of the exhibits in Apr/May. It is easy to get advanced tickets at FNAC, etc. and you should to avoid the long waits. I posted about our visit with px. here |
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Post by kittyhead on Jun 29, 2008 19:20:13 GMT -5
afds & denise, oh man, we're all gonna miss each other in paris! i'm there july 23-30th! one thing i do know, we are all gonna have an awesome time ;D
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), but WHY would you want to visit the shops of an Italian designer in Paris while you actually live in Italy 
)so I'm hoping I will get the opportunity in Paris. I am trying to pack the minimum but it is difficult. 
hahahha