siteseeing in France

[rick-l]

Work is sending me to France and I was going to extend my stay a couple of days and look around Paris.

My plan is to wing it and find hotels while I am there (my expense). Will I be sleeping in the park?

[GH85Carrera]

Are there sights to see in Paris?

[Neilk]

What's your budget? That will really determine whether you need to consider sleeping in a park...

[recycled sixtie]

The last time I was there was with my daughter back in the uk mad cow disease days so that was several years ago. I got a travel agency in the UK to arrange Eurostar train and hotels in Paris. Paris underground was not easily understood by us. I think taxi/walking was more user friendly.

Eiffel Tower of course. The usual sights . Lots to see there in Paris. I have enough use of the French language to get around. Went to McDonalds a couple of times....

[crustychief]

Did you get the Royale with cheese?

[bleucamaro]

If you plan on doing anything "touristy" on the weekends, have a plan ahead of time of exactly what, and get there early.

We recently got back from Paris amongst other EU places, and The line at the Louvre was seriously as bad as spoofed in the movie "Eurotrip", maybe 1/4 mile long. The line for Eiffel tower was similar. The line at Versailles was not so bad, but it was crowded and took forever to get there because of trains being under construction. Getting to the top of the Arc du Triumph wasn't bad at all.

We stayed in the 6th Arrondissement (Hotel Seine - ok, not great) at Rue de Seine & Rue de Buci. There were tons of restaurants and cafes around, and its a pretty touristy district.

My wife is enthralled by Paris, but my opinion of it was that it was once a great city, maybe 50 years ago, but has gone steeply down hill, and became a filthy metropolis, but then recently they woke up and realized they should class the place back up and are just starting to do something about it. In short, still a dirty city, and the African jinglers are too abundant and pushy.

I had an increasingly better time in France the further south I was, Beaune is gorgeous, and the few days we stayed in Bonnieux / Luberon were spectacular.

My advice is to hop on tripadvisor and search for what YOU like.


edit:

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

The last time I was there was with my daughter back in the uk mad cow disease days so that was several years ago. I got a travel agency in the UK to arrange Eurostar train and hotels in Paris. Paris underground was not easily understood by us. I think taxi/walking was more user friendly.

Eiffel Tower of course. The usual sights . Lots to see there in Paris. I have enough use of the French language to get around. Went to McDonalds a couple of times....

The metro & trains do suck there and are more difficult than Germany, by far, but still WAY cheaper than taxis. Try to figure out how to buy a day pass. The machines are hard to figure out, but its possible.

And Mickey D's is REALLY expensive there. We stopped at one in Austria and the equivalent of 2 combo meals and an extra chicken nuggets was almost 20euros. . . . nearly $28. Try to eat at local places, hope you like good coffee, croissants, and paninis.

[Amail]

I've been to Paris several times and found the metro to be a breeze. I purchased a carnet, which is a 10-pack of tickets, and that suited me fine. There are other options too - see paris metro | Paris by Train for some good information.

I usually stayed in La Defense when there for business, but once I was on my own dime I'd move into a hotel in Montparnesse near the train station. From there you can hop the TGV to anywhere. The atmosphere is fantastic.

I speak some French, and it really seems to warm people up when you try to communicate in their language. The contention that the French are rude is completely baffling to me - I've been treated with courtesy and respect.

Paris is a beautiful city, the ambiance is amazing, the food is great... I can't think of any good reason not to spend some time and soak it all in.

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by Amail

I'd move into a hotel in Montparnesse near the train station.

Is that near CDG airport?

Plan Interactif des transports en Ile-de-France

[Amail]

Originally Posted by rick-l

Is that near CDG airport?

Plan Interactif des transports en Ile-de-France

No, it's not near the airport. I think nothing is near the airport. There is, however, an Air France bus that leaves periodically from a stop across from the Tower at Montparnesse that will take you to CDG. I suspect service from CDG to Montparnesse would be available as well, although I generally took a taxi from CDG to La Defense. Hustling luggage around after a long flight while you're reeling from the time difference isn't my idea of a fun time!

edit: Yep, see Paris airport transfers

[Amail]

Here's the layout.

[gshase]

We did 7 weeks in Europe this time last year, Wife would pick up WIFI and log into Booking.com and we stayed in a farm B&B in Ireland and real nice hotels and even a condo in Liverpool, 12 countries all over Europe. Never even came close to sleeping in a park.

[Steve Carlton]

Check out the Surrender Museum. Just on the inside of the Maginot Line...

[Nostril Cheese]

I really dug the catacombs and Pere Lachaise.

The Louvre is certainly worth a visit. Don't go on a weekend.

The Metro itself is a sightseeing experience. I loved the jazz trios that would pop in, play and then pop off.

I didn't find the French to be rude at all, provided you tried to speak a little French. Most people were very helpful. I found they really don't like Americans in London, but that's a whole other story.

[Bill Douglas]

There is a huge amount to see and do in Paris (left bank). Lonely Planet will show you how and where to get the best bang for the Euro.

[bleucamaro]

And I'll second that the French were very warm and friendly. Luckily my wife was able to speak some french with them, and I think as long as you try, you won't come off as an ugly American, and they will probably just speak back to you in English.

Also, you should download the Tripadvisor "City Guide" for Paris on your smartphone as it doesn't rely on wifi. A neat tool for looking stuff up (w/o internet access).

And my earlier gripe about the trains/metro is based largely on lugging a stroller through the train stations that have very narrow turnstiles / gates, and confusing machines, we had to transfer from a train to metro and bought a day pass at the machine. The ticket we bought was not valid to use at the station we bought it from. not that big a deal, but had to wait in another line at the other machine to get the right ticket. In Germany, it was much easier, they use the honor system and you buy a ticket and stick it in your pocket, don't go through any cattle gates, just wide tunnels to the platform. If you are packed light the trains are fine, but more difficult if you are lugging a couple roll around bags. Cabs are pricey too. Cost 60eu to get from our hotel to CDG (about 30km drive).

[Esel Mann]

As far as CDG, there is a T which goes from there right into Paris. No need to taxi.
I can't recall which major station it goes to: gare d'nord or gard d'est. Either way you would be good. My trip back in April we were on the TGV from Amsterdam. I did not come in by way of CDG. Additionally the T has cars which can accomodate say for example luggage beyond specticles, testicles, wallet, and watch. You will dependending need to stand watch.

Their T is superb to say the least. There are pickpockets on their T system like ours so keep your essentials near your jewels, that is to say front pockets. For major items, put such in the hotel's front desk safe, drop your room key off when you head out to explore, and no worries!

I would also recommend if you are doing Paris for more than say 2 days, skip the passes which may limit you (eg. 10-ticket passes). 30 Euro got (in April) a 5 day unlimited pass for Paris major. No hassles. I would check to see if that also gets you to/from CDG. If not, the round-trip to/from the airport passes are something in the 5 or 10 euros range. If you are staying at least part of the time in Paris for business, your company may have no problem springing for such passes.

Weekends are busiest for the major places to see. Weekdays would be the best time to go. If it blinks, winks, or makes you go oooo, or ahhhhh, any evening will have people, be patient.

Paris is a major metropolis. Lodging will be priced accordingly. Nevertheless, there are still reasonable deals. I would suggest instead of winging it you plan.
Additionally sometimes by extending your stay beyond what is needed for business, one can get a better flight price and many companies have no issue accomodating such. Some even spring for the added lodging.

As far as language barrier, like any other major Euro city, for example London, in the main tourist areas most everyone can speak enough English to assist. Once outside of that, YMMV and be prepared to at least try to speak their language. It's fun too! A dictionary can help. Just be wary of any Hungarian/English dictionaries.

[stuartj]

Paris is most fabulous city in world, I don't understand the comments about it being filthy, it just isn't. Time of year is important, its the biggest tourism destination in the world and its gets hellishly busy in the peak season. Its much nicer, I find, to be there in the colder weather.

The Metro is great and easy to use, but the best way to see Paris is to stay somewhere central- the 6th is great- and just walk. It is a fabulous walking city. Also- its bit dinky- but the red tourist buses are really good- buy a two day pass, the routes do loops around all the major destinations- and just get on and off if you've had enough walking. The Louvre will consume a day, go early and be sure to find the excavated fortifications is the original corner. Everone seems to miss this. The excavations under the forecourt of Notre Dame also get missed- the original settlement of Paris. Most of the churches have pipe organ recitals after services on Sundays- and hearing Wagner pumping out of the biggest pipe organ in Europe in the magnificent chamber of Notre Dame cathedral was the best (and free) heavy metal experience ive ever had. There so much to take in Paris, its hard to explain where to start.

Sit in cafés, drink coffee, talk to people. Such a fantastic city.

check out "Air BnB"- you can stay apartments rented direct from owners- much cheaper and more betterer.

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Went to McDonalds a couple of times....

That's shameful.....-) Went to one I rural France once because we needed a wifi connection. BigMac meals are made with real bread and real boeuf- and came with BEER. I love France.

[Rick Lee]

If you go to Paris, you must make the short drive east to Reims. That cathedral is just awe-inspiring. Only the Terra Cotta Army beats it, IMHO. I think you can buy tix for the Louvre online and bypass the lines. Or maybe it's one of those value packs of tickets. Can't remember for sure, but there is a way around that. Wasn't that bad last time I was there three yrs. ago. If you head southwest, there are a lot of great WWI cemeteries and sights to see. We started out in Strassbourg, stopped in Verdun to see some WWI stuff and then went on to Paris with a stop in Reims on the way.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by stuartj

Paris is most fabulous city in world . . .

The Metro is great and easy to use, but the best way to see Paris is to stay somewhere central- the 6th is great- and just walk . . .There so much to take in Paris, its hard to explain where to start.

Sit in cafés, drink coffee, talk to people.

That about sums it up. Although I would also include the 5th and the 7th for accommodations. Ideally you want to take your lover . . . I have been to Paris alone & it was just not the same.

Ian