Bon jour! Just checking to tell you all that we had a fabulous trip to Paris. We flew on Icelandair through Reykjavik. Although we flew Economy Lite (no checked-in baggage, no meals), we were quite impressed with the flight and service.
Upon arrival at CDG airport, in Paris, we took Paris shuttle van service, which we had pre-booked on Viator. Our hotel, the Ibis Paris Montmartre, was quite nice, and very clean. Of course, the room was quite small (like most European hotel room), but it served its purpose well. Our son thoughtfully booked the daily breakfast for us, and it was so nice to start the day without having to go out to get coffee!
We wound up doing a Montmartre walking tour with Paris Greeters, and our guide was very informative and entertaining. The only cost was a tip. The following day, we did the Big Red Bus Hop-on-Hop-off Tour, which we had pre-booked on Viator. I would highly recommend this, as we saw all the major tourist attractions, with audio commentary. We got off at several different spots to take a closer look, and stopped for lunch by the Eiffel Tower and took a one-hour boat trip down the Seine.
We loved eating at the little cafes, sitting outside at the little tables, and Paris-watching as people strolled by. We couldn't get over the high prices for food! It was cheaper to order wine than pop or coffee!
On the second day of our Red Bus pass, we did the Montmartre Route, and then switched to the city route. We got off at The Louvre and spent several hours wandering this vast museum. It was incredible to see the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and other famous works of art. We strolled the Tuilerie Gardens as well.
We ventured into the subway system to go to Musee D'Orsay, which is housed in an old train station. We saw many beautiful works by impressionists such as Monet and Manet.
This was such a great trip for us, getting to see and experience the highlights of this beautiful city. Thanks to you all for your insights and suggestions.
Dori