Going to Paris

[Frozzie]

Cp your only there for 3 nights so pick what you want to see... Chookie is right paris is a great city to wander around in and discover however even locals dont see all of paris and in a couple of days you wont have time parisiens walk alot, actually most french people walk everywhere or jump on the metro from one place to another.... I would suggest visiting a couple of your preferred sites as otherwise you may regret it.. Understand before you go that you will not see anywhere near what you want to so you wont be disappointed.. I would only do one museum on this trip... I doubt you will spend that much time in queues in spring.. Its not peak season but better to prebook if you can..

Be careful of tourist trap restaurants they are everywhere and the food is not so lovely... Problem is most ppl are drawn to them ...

This site may help http://www.bestrestaurantsparis.com/en/

It sorts restaurants by budget and type as well as which district you are in and also tells you abut the restaurant and gives menu prices.. Once you find a restaurant you like you can check on trip advisor what others thought about it for example.. There are so many restaurants to choose from and its best to have some idea.. We often wander around until we find something we like..or go with friends to their local haunts which are mostly out of the city... Everytime somewhere different..

Perfume is no cheaper.. I can get it heaps cheaper in oz.. I would shop more for things you might not see at home.. Heaps of shops ... So jealous.. We will have to go back for hols to see friends and rels soon... Missing it all . Enjoy enjoy!!

[trudy]

Kim, when we were there last year we had to queue four hours for the louve, because Neil & Wayne decided not to get  tickets and we waited another 3 hours for the Eiffel Tower only to be told when we got to the ticket office that we couldn't ride to the top as it wasn't working!!!!!  We found that the crowds in April and May were bigger than when we had been before in Sept. 

[Mama Fergie]

I agree with you Trudy as we found April and may much busier than September. Definately prebook CP as you don't want to spend precious time in long queues. As far as restaurants go its like any other city with very good and very bad and a lot of mediocre places. With only 3 days you will not want to travel to the outer areas to look for food as you will most likely be in the 'tourist ' areas.  I use trip advisor to source restaurants before I go or go into restaurants that are busy. Even a baguette and a nice bottle of wine outside by the river is lovely, just soak up the ambience and enjoy being in Paris as you will love it. 

[CreamPuff63]

There is no way DH would stay in a queue for 3 hrs, as he gets a bit stir crazy after 10 mins. I'll definitely prebook. I thought it was 3 days buts its 5 so that's good we can fit a bit more in. Good to know not to waste my time looking at perfume.

[Mama Fergie]

That's great that you have 5 days CP 

[judydawn]

Oh yes, 5 days anywhere is better than 3.  Glad you don't have to bore DH by looking at perfume, that must be like watching paint dry for men

[CreamPuff63]

He is not one to hang around shops. If he's not going 100mph he's asleep. What normally happens is he gets up early about 5am and goes for a run checking out all the sights to see. Then when I get out of bed he's already got the days agenda planned  its a shame we're not going with friends cos its nice to palm him off for a couple of hours as he is hard to keep up with sometimes. I know we'll probably see twice as much as most people see in that time 

[trudy]

CP I'm so glad that you will be there for 5 days instead of three.  Get a good guide book and start planning!!!!

[Frozzie]

Wow really trudy.. Ive Rarely had to queue for the Louvre for more than10/15 mins and def never for hours wow!! The Eiffel tower yes.. Nearly everytime you Will wait forever..i know you do in summer but never had à prob in spring... In any case cp it would be better to prebook whatever you CAN to save as much time as you CAN..jam pack those 5 days..!!

[trudy]

Yes Kim, we just couldn't believe how busy everything was.  Said we would never go back at that time of the year again- although saying that we would, but would make sure to  prebook anything that we felt we may have to queue for.  As you know we also had bad weather so perhaps everyone wanted to be inside!!!!!

[MEP]

I actually thought Monet's Garden was over rated. Much smaller than I had expected. Versailles, however, that was magnificent. All the chateaux's in the Loire Valley were good too and the gardens around the Lourve were fab.

[meganjane]

Oh wow, just catching up with this topic!

Kim, your info is invaluable.  What time of the year would you recommend to miss the high season and crowds, but still have nice weather?

We had planned April/May which doesn't suit me as that's a busy time for us on the farm. Definitely can't go June, July or August either.

I will make sure we pre book everything such as the Louvre and other popular places.

[Mama Fergie]

Usually September and October are still ok weather wise  Megan. I have been in December/ January and we were lucky as it was dry and not too cold at all. Also it wasnt so busy but still advise pre booking as its hassle free. Nothing can be guaranteed as the world weather is so changeable    Each season has its own qualities but I still prefer springtime in Europe. In saying that we are going August/ September this year . Whatever time of year you go you will love it 

[trudy]

Megan, I agree that each season has it's merits and you can never be sure of the weather.  Last year we were there April/May and early June and we had rain, rain and more rain as Europe decided to have it's wettest Spring and early summer since 1941 so you can be unlucky!!!!  We usually go late August/ September and have only had great weather with just an odd showery day but when ever you go there is so much to see even on the wet days. 
I love Monet's gardens.  Have been there twice during two different seasons and if I go back will visit again.  The little village there is also nice to walk around and the cafe down the lane from the entrance is also nice to just spend some time in before you catch the bus back to meet your train back to Paris.
The main thing Meagan is to do your research.  Read, read, read, I also print off opening times and directions from the web and guide books give you great hints which a write down in a note pad i.e what station to catch the train to Vernon.  Make sure you have a bag that you can turn onto your chest and hold in the metro, stations ect as there are pickpockets and never carry your passport in it.  Have that on your body not only in a bag but pinned with nappy pins as well to your clothing.  Make sure your Husband doesn't have his wallet in his back pocket and that he is only carrying enough cash for the day in it.  My Husband also has some cash in his shirt pocket i.e about 20 euros just incase!!!!   

[Frozzie]

Megan definately september if you cant do any of the other months as oct is starting to cool down and some things dont have so much on offer once school goes back and the weather cools down....september most years still has lovely weather.. School starts back sept in france so you wont be bombarded with kids and local tourists everywhere either..you will always have to line up for the eiffel tower its just one of those things that everyone wants to see when they go to paris..

Trudy i think you must have been unlucky to queue so long but as i said before for anyone visiting parisien sites its always better to prebook when you can as any day is unpredictable!! We had the same issue in italy.. We had prebooked and some poor ppl waited all day to get into museums and some didnt even get in then..

Monets garden i love .. But i love monet and his house gardens and history interested me.. You must go there in spring though.. Have been at other times and it just didnt have the same charm as when the gardens are in full bloom.. Chateau de versailles is impressive as are several of the chateaux.. They each have their history and stories attached although im no history buff lol just ask trudy!!  Its like days of our lives meets dallas keeping up with who was in which chateau with whom at a given date lol...