Crazy Fantastic News = Paris. Any recommendations?

[danacara]

I started working for a French boutique company a few months back, and score of scores, I am going to Paris for training from May 10 to June 10. I am SO excited. I have never been, and now I'll get enough time to truly SEE the city!

I would love recommendations on restaurants, must-sees, day trips, etc! I know that many DISers are phenomenally well-traveled!

Thanks!

 

[missypie]

Go the the Europe Talk section of fodors.com. Do a couple of searches with Paris in the title. You will come up with a wealth of info., then you can start posting more specific questions there. Will you have time for DLP? It's really beautiful.

 

[caitycaity]

hey dana - that's great!

i would say definitely go to versailles and check out the gardens as well as the chateau - it is beautiful.

eat ice cream at berthillon on ile saint louis.

walk walk walk - walking is a great way to really get a good feel for paris.

if you like monet, go to the musee marmottan. it's sort of off the beaten path, but they have some really nice paintings there. also, check out the rodin museum, even if you only pay to get into the gardens (which are beautiful and filled with sculpture).

dh and i are going later this summer, and i can hardly wait. the last time i went, we didn't go to dlp, so i'm excited to try that on this trip.

when you get back make sure you post about it!

 

[Big V]

Sounds really nice Dana! Have a good trip!

 

[Sonya]

Obviously go to DLP!

Take a walk along the Seine near the Louve and Tuilleries in the early evening.

The wait for the Eiffel Tower can be up to 2 hours. But if you are going to do it, make sure you get there in the late afternoon and watch the sun set from up there. Then you can watch all the lights of Paris turn on.

It's fun to go up in the Arc de Triomphe.

The Arche de la Defense is a really cool and HUGE thing to see, and there is a great mall near there, Quatre Saisons.

If you don't wait to wait in line or pay money to see the city from above, then find the dept. store called Samaritaine. They have a free observation deck.

Go see the Impressionist art at the Musee D'Orsay.

I've always wanted to do the catacombs.

Les Halles is a very nice mall and the neighborhood is fun.

 

[Danauk]

A few other things that people haven't suggested which I have loved doing (I have been to Paris many times and was at DLP 2 weeks ago.)

The Louvre (Go see the Vinus di Milo and the Mona Lisa)
Notre Dame cathedral and the St chapelle (SP?) church (they are on the same island)
Go to Sacre Coeur (worth the walk up the hill.)
The best view over Paris (IMHO) is from the cafe on the top of the Gallarie La Fayette shop.

A must do - Do a lunch cruise down the river Seine (you see many sights this way). I recommend the Bateaux Parisiene which are located at the dock at the base of the Eiffel Tower.

DLP is really easy to get to from Paris it is 35 minutes down RER line A.

Oh and get a really good map including an underground section.

Also avoid the Moulin Rouge area at night (during the day is OK if you are heading up to Sacre Coeur.)

Oh and you must walk down the Chanse Ellisie (really can't spell that one!) and see the Arch de Triumph. If you walk from the gardens at the Louvre to the Arc and down past the shops that is nice.

Have a great trip.

 

[lilboo]

Did part of my jr. year in Aix-en-Provence...if you can, please take a weekend and say hello to Provence for me!

 

[izzy]

If you want to do some things outside of Paris, I would also recommend going to see the cathedral at Chartres. I don't think it's that far from Paris (maybe 1 or 2 hours) and I'm sure you could go with a tour company. This cathedral has the most amazingly beautiful stained glass windows I've ever seen. I love the little town around the cathedral, too.

If you have a weekend to venture out on your own (or go with a tour company), definitely go see Mont St. Michel. It's a monastery built on a huge rock with a village below. Beware of the tides though because they come in very fast and you access can become cut off as Mont St. Michel becomes an island!

Try to go see a chateau- Chenonceau comes to mind, but I'm sure there are others equally as beautiful in the Loire Valley.

Good golly - I just realized that I sound like that film they have in France at Epcot!

Have fun, you lucky duck!

 

[lil mermaid]

Dana,

I haven't been to Paris, so can't offer any info...but I wanted to bump this up for you and say CONGRATS on such a fabulous opportunity. Have a BLAST

 

[danacara]

Thanks much!

I am printing these as they are posted. How fabulous. My roommate is going to help me find these spots on the map. My French is weak at best, so this should be interesting!

Caity, didn't realize that you and your husband were going later this summer! I'm sure you'll have a fabulous time, especially being that you know so much about the place already --- it's like Disney --- so enjoyable when you're an expert!

Very excited!

 

[Kallison]

oooh Dana I wish I lived your life in my 20's!! Have fun, keep us posted.

 

[NancyIL]

Congrats, Dana! Paris is a beautiful city! I'd recommend a couple of books: "Rick Steves' Paris": http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...104-1758986-9455132?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 as well as his website: www.ricksteves.com - and the Eyewitness Paris guide: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...104-1758986-9455132?v=glance&s=books&n=507846