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Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 150
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 5:41 pm: | 
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As part of a forthcoming trip over to the UK to attend the wedding of one of my best friends (and see my parents, sister, and her family), my wife and I have decided that we're going to take a ride on the Eurostar and spend a couple of days in Paris.
It will be my wife's first time there - and my second (the first was a business trip, with no time for sightseeing  )
If you had two days in Paris, what would you do, and where would you go?
Also - any hotel recommendations? I've got a pretty decent deal through Amex to use some membership rewards points for a Holiday Inn on Place de la Republique, but am open to suggestions.
Merci!
Jason
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mlj
Citizen
Username: Mlj
Post Number: 332
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 7:17 pm: |
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Go to the left bank - sit at a cafe. Walk along the Seine. Consider that artists painted much of what you can see without going into a museum - just by walking around - many of the former palaces are now The Lourve (big and noisy, but go it is OK), and petit palaces, preserved. See an art exhibit. The capitulation of the French government during WWII, you will see a very beautiful city, untouched by dreaded bombing.
Sit outside anywhere, for coffee, or water, or a meal, everywhere there is somewhere to do this, and drinking wine is good, normal.
In short, you do not have to do much to enjoy the city of Paris in two days.
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Joseph Cammarata
Citizen
Username: Jcammarata
Post Number: 12
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 7:39 pm: |
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For hotels in Paris, I would definitely stay at the K&K. great small, boutique hotel with complimetary breakfast. Rooms also have a balcony that looks out on the Eiffel Tower; you need to get a room in the back on a high floor though.
For dinner, I would go to Epi Dupin...fabulous little bistro and one of the best in Paris. I would take a boat ride up the Seine, see Notre Dame, Napoleon's tomb (very interesting), visit tons of shops and stop off at cafes for people watching (Cafe Flore). Just walking around Paris is enough. If you don't have too much time, I would consider seeing the Museum D'Orsay, small enough to see without taking up the whole day. Good luck and have fun! |
Abner Aliger
Citizen
Username: Vichy
Post Number: 18
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 4:30 am: |
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Bonjour: Recently "retired" to Paris (7thArr) and have yet to become bored as just walking the many neighborhoods and people watching is a great way to spend time. The #69 bus from Eiffel Tower to Gambetta (Pere Lachaise Cemetery) costs one metro ticket ($1.30+-) lasts more than an hour and passes thru many beautiful area. The Cemetery which is free is a great experience but purchase the guide for 2 Euros. Paris can be inexpensive or very expensive depending on ones habits. My property taxes are less than 1 000E - compare that to Essex County or Florida. A car is totally unnecessary as public trans is second to none. Enjoy !
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Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 354
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 7:24 am: |
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Try to get to the Marais area. It is an artsy, boutique filled, more quiet area than that around the Eiffel Tower. You can tell the Taxi Driver "Place de Voge". |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 1067
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 9:38 am: |
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I loved the Hotel de Cluny - it is a treasure trove of art, from all the different cultures of Paris. The art changes as you descend, with the older works (Roman) housed in the lowest levels of the building. I thought it was fantastic. I also loved Sacre Coeur and the surrounding area - I took some photos of the gargoyles on the top of the basilica during a tour. You can see the roofs of Paris spread out in the background.
And don't forget to visit the bouquinistes along the Seine - I read that they are closing and that soon there won't be any! I hope that isn't true.
I also loved the Impressionist Art at the Jeu des Paumes, but I believe it has been moved into the Louvre now. Wherever it is, I would definitely try to visit.
I know you'll have a wonderful time! |
eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1590
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 9:54 am: |
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Speaking of the Marais I stayed there last fall at this very funky hotel designed by Christian Lacroix and it was relatively inexpensive for Paris:
http://www.paris-hotel-petitmoulin.com/petit-moulin-hotel-english/the-hotel-01.h tml
On the left bank I LOVE this hotel:
http://www.hotel-sainte-beuve.fr/english/welcome.html
I enjoyed staying in the Marais but think I do prefer the left bank although I like to be a little bit away from St. Germain des Pres that's why I like the Sainte Beuve. The Marais is gre
I highly agree about just hanging out Cafe Le Flore (or its neighbor Les Deux Magots). For me Paris is about cafe life: walk a little, have a coffe; shop a little, have a glass of wine and a cheese plate; visit a museum, have a glass of wine; repeat. |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 2137
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 10:43 am: |
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Le Marais (old Jewish neighborhood) is great but has become VERY trendy and lost some of its charm.
When you go to Place des Vosges, you can visit the home of the French novelist Victor Hugo, which is in one of the buildings on the west side of the place. The "place" is a delight with its protected sidewalks and old shops.
Up the street from la place is a cozy little bistrot called La Mule du Pape at 8, Rue du Pas de la Mule. Seats about 20 people, usually open for lunch, open for dinner. Nice neighborhood place and not "touristy." |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 2138
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 11:13 am: |
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You can also try Restaurant Camille,24, rue des Francs-Bourgeois
75003 Paris, almost around the corner from La Place des Vosges. Again, a neighborhood restaurant, frequented by neighborhood families and couples.
If you go out their side door and walk straight across the narrow lane, you should see the workshop of a local luthier (guitar/mandolin/violin maker and repair shop). Instruments in several states of building and repair.
As to hotels, I prefer staying off the Champs Elysees at the Hotel Californie. It's convenient to everything, and I always request room 629. It's up on the roof of the hotel, and you cross the roof to get to it. It's essentially a one room cottage with bath on top of the hotel, and there are chairs and an outdoor table for the guests in that room to sit outside in good weather and look at life in the street below. Not a bad view of local rooftops either, but no "grande vue" of Paris.
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Milosdad
Citizen
Username: Milosdad
Post Number: 15
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 3:50 pm: |
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Know this: whatever you do during your two days in Paris you will have a fantastic time, so just relax and enjoy yourself.
Get one of the Paris guide books - Fodors, Frommers, Eyewitness(my personal favorite, Lonely Planet, or Rick Steve's - they all have recommended itineraries depending on how many days you have (2,3,4,5 or a week). I would also recommend buying a book called a Food Lover's Guide to Paris by Patricia Welles, it is full of great, reasonably priced Parisian bistros, cafes, restaurants, bakeries, chocolatiers, etc sorted by neighborhood.
Have a great time!
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Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 152
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 4:06 pm: |
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I want to thank you all for the comments so far - this has made me look forward even more to our trip, and given me a lot of food for thought! I definitely know that we will only begin to scrape the surface of Paris for the 2 1/2 days that we will be there, however I am sure that will give us enough of a taste for the next time.
Just one more question - aside from a nice dinner, what are good things to do in the evening?
Thanks again,
Jason |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1331
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 4:49 pm: |
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Try to see the Sainte Chapelle. It has the most beautiful stained glass windows I've ever seen. |
lizzyr
Citizen
Username: Lizzyr
Post Number: 272
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 11:06 am: |
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watch the sunset from the top of the Eiffel Tower. |
joel dranove
Citizen
Username: Jdranove
Post Number: 773
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 9:13 pm: |
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Room 57, at the Petit Etoille, on Rue Carnot.
Wrap around balcony overlooking the Arc, and Montmartre.
Dinner, try La Coupole. A little kitschy, but real Paris.
Ask for the Souffle Gran Marnier when you order your dinner, and indulge.
A sunset cruise on a Baton Mouche around Paris is sublime. The City of Light comes to light.
jd |
eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1599
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 9:55 am: |
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I have to disagree with the La Coupole reco. It's the most overrated tourist trap in Paris and the food is blah - don't waste your euros.
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mbb
Citizen
Username: Mbb
Post Number: 23
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 1:33 pm: |
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Here are a couple of things first-timers to Paris might not do: visit the Jaquemart-Andre and Nissim Comondo museums. You can have Sunday brunch at the former. Both are lavishly furnished homes (townhouses) containing extensive art collections. Get the local paper and check out the music/concerts section. You'll find a lot going on mid-week in church basements. |
Noo2wood
Citizen
Username: Noo2wood
Post Number: 32
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 1:50 pm: |
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Hotel: Hotel La Serre on Rue Cler
http://www.eiffeltower-hotel-paris.com
-near Eiffel Tower
-on a small, narrow cobblestone street with a few cafes and a farmer's market every day (market begins early in the morning)
Restaurant: Le Petit Zinc in St. Germaine
Sights and Activities:
-Notre Dame
-Sacre Coeur (buy a baguette and some cheese on the way up and eat it on the steps)
-Musee D'Orsay
-Dinner on a Bateau Mouche (La Parisienne leaves from the Eiffel Tower)
-Hang out at a corner cafe in St. Germaine for a whole morning |
mbb
Citizen
Username: Mbb
Post Number: 24
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 1:59 pm: |
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Concerning the evening, many of the museums are open at least one evening a week. I believe the Louvre is open on Wednesday and Friday evenings until about 9:30 pm. |
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