Paris, France

[FlyChicaga]

Ok, not very aviation related minus the fact that I'm flying there, but I'm going to try and get to Paris, France this coming week. Any tips for travel there from people who have been before? I am brushing up on my French to hopefully communicate better and appease the locals some. I'm really excited heading off into truly foreign territory like this... really only "international" travel I've done is Canada and the Bahamas. Thanks for any tips!

FC

 

[Gulfstream 200]

enjoy the food (its second to italy but still great)

enjoy the wine (about the only bargain)

enjoy the cigarette smoke.

Griswold the Louvre(sp) and see the Mona Lisa. - follow the signs.

To each his own but Paris is near the bottom of my list for European cities...but enjoy! I have NOT found the French rude, so long as you avoid the ignorant American stigmas...(shorts, white sneakers and socks, and talking really loud in English!!)

have fun.

 

[PaulThomas]

if you use public transportation (which you most likely will), do not show that you're American and watch out for your wallet.

Disclaimer: I lived in France 15 years

 

[uwochris]

I love France, and visited my family there about 5 years ago.

Personally, if you have time, just walk around downtown Paris. It's amazing, with so many sites and things to do.

If you want to visit famous tourist sites, I'd recommend the following:
- The Louvre (if you decide to go, better get there VERY early. The lineup that forms is ridiculous).
- Arc De Triomphe
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Place de la Concorde (where Louis XVI was executed by the guillotine).
- and my personal favourite, Palace of Versailles.

Oh yeah- don't be too surprised with all the people trying to sell cheap goodies on the streets. They were annoying, but always fun to talk to. Also, I ran into some interesting personalities on the subway.

Have fun, and bring a french dictionary.

Chris.

 

[Weasil]

Flychicaga,

I am very partial to Paris, one of my favorite cities. Where are you staying? Are you going alone? If so I suggest staying in a backpacker's hostel, you will meet lots of people that way. Or is it a couple's trip? A great way to see Paris is to walk and to take the subway. People are very friendly if you start with a little broken french. They all speak english but if you start with that is when you may encounter some rudeness. If you plan on going up the Eiffel Tower expect long long lines, unless you want to walk up the stairs.
Don't go to the Louvre on a Tuesday as it's usually closed. You can take the subway there to the station inside the museum or walk, it's a great city to walk around. Make sure you have change because the public toilets cost money.
Have fun. Get a travel book - suggest Rick Steve's!

 

[Best on a Camel]

According to Penthouse one legged french girls are really hot.

That and they installed that stupid glass pyramid in front of the Louvre.



Why are the streets of Paris lined with trees?

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Because the Germans like to march in the shade!

 

[GVFlyer]

Buy a Museum Pass and a Metro Pass, they will save you money. The Metro Pass will take you as far as Versailles. There are over 360 museums in Paris, so if you have the pass and think you might like the Rodin Museum and decide after you get in, that you really don't like the horny old lecher and his pal, Balzaac, it didn't cost you 8 Euro's to find out.

Do go to Crazy Horse, the Moulin Rouge or the Follies Bergere. Don't go to the Lido de Paris.

Try to make reservations at Maxim's the minute you get to town, you may get lucky and get them.

Go on the Bateau at night for an illuminated cruise down the Seine.

MontMartre is great for souvenir art. While your up there see Sacre Couer.

The Flea Market on the North side of town generally interests those who got the shopping gene.

Consider a tour of the Paris sewers.

In addition to the museums, Louvre and Musee D'Orcy are my favorites, do the tourist sites: Arc de Triomphe, Eifel Tower, Hotel de Invalides, Place Concorde, and Notre Dame. There are some quaint little places for lunch on Isle de City, near Notre Dame. There is also an ongoing archaelogical dig in front of the church.

If you do go to Le Louvre, tell us if you think I.M. Pei's glass pyramid is an improvement or an eyesore.

Gallery Lafayette/PrinTemps has daily free fashion shows.

The fashion houses center around Rue Fragonard, Rue Haussmann and St. Germaine. While on St Germaine go to Richart for possibly the best chocolate in the city. Fascone at the Place de Madeleine is also quite good. You can get chocolate covered in gold foil (to be eaten) there.

You can go to "Cinque Rue de Neuf" (number 5 Ninth Street, by the Opera) to have a drink where Hemmingway used to hang out.

If you go to the Place Vendome, you can see Mohamed Fayed's Ritz Hotel, if you look like you belong - you can walk through the lobby and cruise the shops. If you don't look like you belong they will ask to see your key at the door.

If you're into Jackson Pollack, the Place Pompideau has a huge collection of his work as well as some amazing architechture.

Walk the Champs Elysees at night and join the milieu.

Enjoy, Paris is the one place I never tire of visiting.

GV






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[AA717driver]

If you at least make an attempt to speak French, you will get a lot farther with the waiters. Messieur, Seit vous plais, Je parl non Francasis.

If you buy art at Montmartre, bargain with them. Too many stupid Americans pay face value. They may not like you if you bargain, but they WILL respect you. One shop owner banned my wife... But we got a great deal on the art we bought.

LEARN TO USE THE METRO. I SAY AGAIN, LEARN TO USE THE METRO. That is your key to enjoying Paris. Knowing where you are in relation to the Metro stops makes orienting yourself sooooo much easier. I'd see Les Invalides(the hospital for Napolen's troops) and Sacre Coeur(the large white cathedral near Montemartre).

Try one of the crepes from the street vendor near Notre Dame or St. Germain(St. Michel Metro stop). I recommend one with Nutella(chocolate with hazlenut flavor). The table wine or house wine is great with a meal...

As for restaurants, I recommend Leon's aux Brussels(if you like mussels, if not, avoid it) or the Entrecote(located near the Port Malliot Metro stop). It has great steak with fries and a wonderful bernaise sauce. If you want cheap beer at happy hour, try the Chesterfield. It's down the side street from the Virgin Music store on the Champs d' Elysse. Great looking waitresses. They have good nachos if you need a fix while you're there.

Good luck, Have fun! Au revoir!TC

 

[PaulThomas]

You guys are like a travel book. All good advice

 

[ProLine4]

An easy way to get downtown from CDG is to take Rer B from the TGV Station in T2. Rer B runs into a large Metro transit station near Notre Dame, and from there you can hop on another colored Metro line to almost anywhere in the city. Be careful that you read the signage properly, especially since there's a GOLD line and a YELLOW line that converge there.

Walking along the Seine, at night, from Notre Dame to the Tour de Eiffel is absolutely amazing. Highly recommended.

The trains run until midnight to and from CDG. From 0000 to 0530, there's a bus service called "Noctanbus" that runs from a few blocks north of Notre Dame to CDG T2. Definitely get a -good- map of Paris and understand some basic French.

 

[FlyChicaga]

This is absolutely great stuff. I really appreciate you all taking the time to offer some advice! I'm feeling more confident now that I'll be ok traveling with the French I do know. I'm extremely excited to go over and enjoy the food, sites, and some nightlife. Thanks for the ideas!!

 

[fatburger]

Frog and Princess Pub after a long day of sight seeing is a great place to "unwind". It is near the St. Germain de Pres or Mabillon stop on the metro. It was owned by a Brit named Ben at one time. They brew their own there. Enjoy. "IN SEINE" is a local favorite.

-fatburger-

 

[Vik]

Isnt prostitution legal there too?

 

[PaulThomas]

Isnt prostitution legal there too?

Not the last time I checked.
They have such a hard time enforcing the law that they mostly don't. They were talking about making it legal again.

 

[Illini Pilot]

getting from CDG into Paris i would also recommend the RER, then to get around parts where you can't walk...buy a "carnet" which is a book of metro tickets. i would recommend staying in a hostel or a decent two-star hotel near to the eiffel tower, then you can walk there, hotel des invalides (napoleons tomb and french military museum), and even out to la madeline, museums, notre dame, etc. the only time you would really need to metro it would be to go out to sacre coeur, moulin rouge, etc and (one of my favorite spots) pere-lachiese cemetary (very famous, with many famous and extravagant graves including jim morrison)

 

[COOPERVANE]

I was there just last month.

USE THE METRO It is the best bargain in town!!

# 1 You have to see the Catacombes where the Parisiens were reburied after being dug up from old cemetaries to make more room for the living. Great tour in the winter months.

See Versailles!! Much better IMHO than the Louvre. Although the gardens are dead in the winter

Notre Dam is awesome, dont forget St. Chappelle, a beautifull cathedral

Boat tour day or night, take along some wine and cheese

I second the vote for Mont Martre and Sacre Cour (sp?)

Walking the Seine from Notre Dam to the Eiffel is awesome day or night

Skip the sewer tour, in my opinion it was not that great

We stayed at a Novatel in the opera district down the street from the operahouse. The area was busy way into the night. We also stayed in the Rue Cler district last year and it died after 9:00PM

Check ACCORHOTELS.com for some great places to stay.


And finally,

Drink LOTS of wine and just hang out at the Cafe's. Have one drink and move along to another half a block away, repeat!!

Have fun!!

COOP

 

[qmaster3]

Isnt prostitution legal there too?

Need to go to spain for the good stuff

 

[crash-proof]

check out Fontainebleu

Surprised no one mentioned Napoleon's place of residence, Fontainebleu. The palace is stunning, not too shabby for such a little guy. To get there you have to take the TGV hi speed train but it's only about 20 minutes away. Find the Gare de Lyon train station then take the train, it's worth it. The countryside is nice, too.

Already mentioned but worth mentioning again is Pere-lachaise cemetary, you could spend an hour browsing the tombs and still find new things to discover.

I never got a chance to see it but I've heard Luxembourg Parque is also amazing.

Question to flychicaga: Where is your hotel located? I just stayed at a hotel right next to the Sorbonne, couldn't have been better location.