Ideas on enjoying Paris ...

[pwrshift]

Would like to hear ideas from Tuggers on seeing Paris - shopping, sites, restaurants, etc. Staying at the Marriott CE for a week real soon, for the 3rd time on MR points, and planning on a more relaxing trip this time (if there is such a thing).

Plan to visit the Musuem Dòrsay for the first time, go shopping at Printemps and probably all up the CE; eat at Le Train Bleu, Jules Verne, the Ritz, Laduree, Buddha Bar and Fouquets. Might even take in the Lido one night!

Upset we won`t be able to shop at Samaritaine as it`s been closed for `security reasons` since 2008 and plan to open in 2010 but their staff has been paid 100% all that time - nice.

I would love to have other suggestions of how to enjoy Paris and its people.

Brian

 

[falmouth3]

Walk as much as you can. We walked everywhere we could or took the Metro and then walked from there.

I would absolutely plan to visit Versailles. Also, get a museum pass if you're planning on visiting historic sites and museums. The only place we visited that wasn't covered by the pass was the Eiffel Tower.

Sue

 

[ldanna]

Definitly Musée D'Orsay. First, you need to read about its history and its paintings. In one of the small rooms downstairs, you will find La Pie (http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/collec...rks/resultat-collection.html?no_cache=1&zsz=9) Just stay sometime looking at that picture, it's magnificent!

Upstairs, the impressionists. Nothing to say about them, just go see for yourself.

At the Les Halles, you will find Église St-Eustache, the most beautiful gotic churches of all. Remember, the best time to visit a church is sunday morning, you will be able to listen the organ playing. http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/3803134.jpg

Have a great trip!

 

[markbernstein]

It's been a few years since I was last there, so excuse me if my memory (or spelling) is off on anything I write here.

For restaurants, I recommend picking up a Zagat guide. That's given me lots of great recommendations, and covers enough restaurants that you can generally find good places near your hotel, wherever you are. For lunches, find a good bistro and try the prix fixe special of the day. Of the places you list, the only one I've eaten at is Laduree, and yum! to that.

Musee D'Orsay is great. The Louvre is also worth seeing, but plan on at least an entire day. I'm also fond of the Rodin museum.

For foodies: Go to Place de la Madeleine to check out the gourmet food shops, Fauchon and Hediard. (And a block or so from the Place is Maille, which specializes in mustard.) My favorite chocolate shop (among many) is Cacao et Chocolat, on Rue de Buci in the 6th Arrondisement. There's a chain called, I think, Paul that does very good croissants and pastries for a quick snack or breakfast. (If you've never gone before, be aware that an American-style breakfast of eggs and bacon can cost you big bucks.)

The Metro is great for getting around, and I've never felt like I was in any sort of physical danger, but do watch out for pickpockets. I came very, very close to losing my wallet once.

 

[Quilter]

Brian,

Before our Italy trip I saw a mention for http://www.contexttravel.com/home/ on a TUG thread. We booked a cooking demonstration through them in Rome. Very good and I'd definitely look to them for interesting tours again. They have tours in Paris.

Suzzanne

 

[Gramma5]

Love Paris

Definitely see St. Chapelle. Late in the day the sun thru the stained glass windows is fabulous! And I've alsways loved the crepes at a stand near Notre Dame. We've also taken a cruise down the Seine. It was an evening dinner cruise and was lovely to see Paris at night. Too bad the Samaritane is closed. We loved shopping there and also the view from the roof top.......

 

[davewasbaloo]

Get out of Paris and enjoy Provins, Compiegne, or Chantilly (all easily reachable by train if you don't want a car.

A tour of the catacombes and the cemetaries are a fantastically unusual way to see the city.

If you can get in to the Opera, do it, it is amazing.

Also the LAtin Quarter and left ank for coffee and the joue de vive is great.

 

[Superchief]

Try to see Versailles if you have an opportunity. It is well worth a visit and can be very easily be reached by train.

 

[jlp]

There are two small museums that I really enjoy in Paris. The first, a short walk from the Champs Elysées, is the Jacquemart-Andre Museum which is an authentic private mansion of the 19th century. You can see a picture library and video on their website. Bruegel, Memling, Van Eyck expo from The Brukenthal Collection starts 11 September. The Michelin guide gives this museum two stars. They also have a nice tea room for lunch, afternoon tea, and Sunday brunch.

The other is the Carnavalet Museum, built in 1548, that depicts the history of Paris in over 100 rooms. The metro is St. Paul.

Thanks to your tips on Marriott Reward Points, our family has made two trips to Hawaii!

 

[ldanna]

For foodies: Go to Place de la Madeleine to check out the gourmet food shops, Fauchon and Hediard.

If weather permits, buy some food at Fauchon and go for a pic nic at the Jardin des Tuileries.

If you have the opportunity to leave Paris, go to Giverny to visit the Gardens of Monet. In front of the parking lot there's a trailer that sells natural apple juice.

 

[Kazy]

Visit Musée Marmottan-Claude Monet. It is a collection of Monet's work and is one of my favorite small museums. Also, I agree with taking a trip to Giverny.

 

[winger]

Keep the ideas coming - our first trip there is coming up!

Our 60 day count down is TODAY !!!

 

[Steve A]

Loved Musee D'Orsay and Versailles. As to the latter, it is so over the top it is a wonder that the French revolution took so long to come.

 

[tompk]

Rick Steves website has 4 Paris tour podcasts available for free download. One of those is for the Orsay Museum. We found it very helpful in navigating the museum while we were there 2 weeks ago. We also found his Louvre and Historic Walking Tour podcasts to be very helpful. We thought Versailles was a little overwhelming, a co-worker of mine recommends Vaux Le Vicomte which is billed as the inspiration for Versailles, http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/chateau_jardin_francaise.php.

 

[pwrshift]

Paris Restaurant prices way out of sight

Thanks for the suggestions ... some I've been to already but there are some additional ones too! So keep 'em coming please.

I've just been checking some top restaurants and the menus ... can't believe the prices - they seem way way more than 2 years ago. I always go to these places like it may be my last time there and dine at places that have top ratings...but this year I may not (and these prices don't include beverages):

L'Ambroisie - Main courses 80-112 Euros each
L'Espadon Ritz - price fixed 220 euros each
The Lido - show and price fixed 200 euros each (incl 1/2 bottle wine)
Fouquet's - price fixed 78 euros each
Taillevent - Price fixed 140-190 euroes each
Le Cinq - price fixed 120-220 euros each
Laduree - Price fixed 34 euros each
Plaza Athenee Alain Ducasse - price fixed (3 course) 350 Euros each, or 260 euros for half portions
Lasserre - Price fixed 185 euros each
Le Grand Colbert - Doesn't show prices but Frommers shows $$$$$

Well, you only live once they say...

Brian

 

[winger]

Brian - you are beginning to scare me. At these prices, I think we may just eat two meals our entire 9 days there !!! Seriously, I know we live once, but we need to find something ALOT more affordable LOL

 

[m61376]

It's been several years, but it was really nice to go up the Eiffel Tower and, while the restaurant there was too expensive for our blood, there was a bar that served wonderful desserts. Go up at night, ask for a seat by the window, and enjoy a pot of tea, a cup of coffee (or a drink if you'd prefer) and a piece of cake. Lovely way to spend an hour overlooking the lights of the city.

My DH doesn't like heights, so I did this with one of my daughters and it really was memorable.

 

[Latravel]

Hi Brian,
Here are some suggestions of where to visit and restaurants in that area. I'm leaving out the obvious tourist places because you already know about them...

Visit Sacre Coeur and Montmartre in the 18eme arrondissment. Mo (Metro) Montmartre, eat at Le Moulin de la Galette (83, rue Lepic). This restaurant was made famous by well known painters such as Renoir. Montmartre is the artist area. When you sit on the steps of Sacre Coeur, you have a great view of Paris. I also buy fabric and household items in that area.

Visit the Montparnasse Tower (Mo. Montparnasse Bienvenue) and eat dinner at Le Ciel de Paris (the ceiling of Paris) which has a great view since it's on the 56th floor of the tower. 33, avenue de Maine.

Walk in the Latin Quarter and try some French/Morrocan food. My favorite is couscous mechui (couscous with mixed grill) at Le Bon Couscous. The latin Quarter is the area around the La Sorbonne, University of Paris. It was named the Latin Quarter because the University was taught in Latin in the past and the students spoke latin. Very quaint alleys with a million very cheap, but good, restaurant stalls. It's by where Avenue St. Michel and Avenue St. Germain meet, not too far from Notre Dame Cathedral. I like to shop in that area but it's probably for the 20-30's age range of shopping.

Speaking of the Notre Dame area, visit the Isle St. Louis, which is one of the islands in the river Seine. It's only a few blocks long but it's basically frozen in the 17th century. Visit a very famous ice cream shop called Berthillion at 31, rue St Louis-en-l'Ile, where it was born. The lines may be long.

I don't remember if you mentioned La Tour d'Argent. The oldest restaurant in Paris ( I think established in the 1500's), 15-17 Quai de la Tournelle. Very good and expensive but it's a treat. Heads of state and royalty have visited there. Beautiful scenery of the Seine as you are dining.

Shopping:
- Opera area
- St. Germain des Pres area, around Rue de Four. My favorite place to shop.
- Rue de Rivoli towards the Louvre

Sightseeing:
As touristy as it may seem, I still like to take the Bateaux Mouche (boat) along the Seine as the sun sets. I never tire of it.

Visit Place Vendome and see the Ritz. If you tell them you are just there to see, they will ask you to leave. Hemingway used to have drinks in their bar.

There's more but I have to get back to work. A bientot et Je vous souhaite un bon voyage!

 

[Carlsbadguy]

Returned a few weeks ago from a reward stay at the Renaissance Vendome.
Prices are ridiculous- it made the prior week in London seem cheap. Used one of the Marriott Dinner for 2 Certs at the Champs Elysee location and dinner would have been over 200 Euros. Food was mediocre- nothing great.

Instead of the normal River Cruise- we bought a day ticket on a boat that offers unlimited rides. I think it was called the Batobus. It makes multiple stops and get off and explore and get back on. This offers you the option of going for a cruise during the day and night- although I think now nighttime hours are shorter.

Went to the Eiffel tower durning the day and top of Arc de Triomphe at night
Used the Velib bikes. Locations all over the city, You pay 1 Euro for the day and can use the bikes up to 30 mins at a time. There were locations near all major tourist attractions.

Unless you are going to use the subway a lot, buy the 10 pack of tickets, instead of unlimited ride passes.

Took the train to Versasilles and spent about 2/3 of a day there.
If you want to climb to the top of Notre Dame get there early- that was the only location with long lines- even longer than the Eiffel tower. If you plan on visiting a lot of museums buy the Museum Pass- definately worth it, but buy at your hotel or one of the lesser museums to avoid lines.

 

[wuv pooh]

I used to spend a lot of time in Paris. A few places that I liked that are not 200 EUR at least when I went

Le Square Trousseau in the 12th arrondissement is a very nice typical French restaurant. I really enjoyed the confit du canard

Angelina's is known for the best hot chocolate in Paris. Really thick and rich and different from home. It is pretty close to the Louvre and also has great desserts. Really nice for a break or a light lunch.

Le Precope is billed as the oldest restaurant in Paris. Established in 1686. I got a kick out of it because they have a Ben Franklin room where Mr. Franklin actually had dinner Someone else picked up the tab that night (so it could be expensive), but the food was good.

Bofinger by the Bastille had really good seafood and was a hot restaurant a few years ago. Don't know how it is today.

Another excellent North African restaurant is Chez Bebert in Montparnasse. Great food, but hard to get a table.

If you are down in Montparnasse and want to have a weird experience you can try el Indiana which is a tex mex restaurant with an American Indian theme. Odd, but the ribs are OK. If you want ribs I would recommend the Texas Embassy in the old Texas Embassy when Texas was a country.

The restaurant on top of the Tour Montparnasse has an awesome view of Paris, but the food is just ok for the price. You are paying for the view, it is like 60 stories up.


My number 1 recommendation is don't go to a French restaurant if you are jet lagged I am convinced that most Americans get off the plane and think they are going to have great French food without knowing that a true French dinner takes about 3-4 hours and that the wait staff thinks it is rude to hurry you along. If you are expecting in and out in an hour you will not have a good time It has taken me an hour to find my waiter to get the check before :hysterical: They are just different. Go with the flow and you will have a great time.

 

[Latravel]

I can confirm Bofinger is still great and popular. I was meaning to mention it but I had to run to a meeting. Something to try is the fruit de mer cold dish. In general, the Bastille area is still hip and popular.

 

[Jestjoan]

http://www.globalgreeternetwork.info/index.php?id=149

 

[pwrshift]

Brian - you are beginning to scare me. At these prices, I think we may just eat two meals our entire 9 days there !!! Seriously, I know we live once, but we need to find something ALOT more affordable LOL

Didn't mean to scare you winger, but you might spend some time searching for 'affordable' restaurants near the Marriott CE (is that where you're staying?) so that you have an idea before you go. There are tons of restaurants in Paris as you can imagine and I'm sure that most of them are very reasonable ... but I wouldn't want to sit down, see the menu, and then feel we shouldn't be there. This might help -- sort it by district to find those in '8th Arrondissement' and watch the $ signs:

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/indexdining.cfm?destID=62&mh=1000&directory=paris&order=SBNH

I went with my daughter last trip, and as wuv pooh said we were wiped from the trip, PLUS our arrival was on Sunday when most restaurants and stores are closed. We walked down the CE and found a little pizza shop that was filled to the doors, and the food was cheap and great. Don't remember the name. There was also a great hamburger shop on the corner ... 50 steps from the CE ... and across from it was a MonoPrix store that had groceries in the basement -- we brought our fav coffee with us and bought a coffee maker at MonoPrix for the room (no they don't have them in the rooms) for 15 euros and that beat having terrible 7 euro coffees downstairs. We just left it behind. Off the CE you'll find lower prices too.

btw .. the higher priced places insist on advance reservations - I just got an email confirmation from Taillevent for our last night in Paris fancy meal at 7:15 and was told we'll be the only diners at that table that night...a real experience in a place TripAdvisor rates as 6th out of 6,000+ restaurants.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...8-Reviews-Taillevent-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

Keep the ideas coming as I'll bet there are others very interested to plan for their Parisian trips. Appreciate the input from all.

Brian

 

[Ireland'sCall]

Visit Musée Marmottan-Claude Monet. It is a collection of Monet's work and is one of my favorite small museums. Also, I agree with taking a trip to Giverny.

Marmatton is just a great museum ..and not well known so no crowds . Consider the Paris Biking system if you are up to it . Louve is not really "doable "in a day.
Enjoy !
G

 

[mpizza]

A tour of the magnificant Opera Garnier (the haunt of the Phantom) is a must do, plus there may be a rehersal going on.

Lunch at Chartier (9e) is inexpensive, traditional French. It was opened in 1896 and is now an official historic monument.

I also enjoyed shopping the "passages" which are unique stores, chocolate shopes, paper goods, etc. tucked between/under buildings. The bird market was also unique.

While you are at Printemps try to go to the rooftop cafe at sunset for a glorious view of the Eiffel Tower.

Maria