DINNER IN PARIS & Seine River Cruise

[mickym]

Thank you both so much. I would have loved to work Versailles in but I was afraid I was being a little unrealistic on that first day so maybe on the first day mostly just walk around, acclimate to the time change and surroundings, eat at the sidewalk cafe (somehow that one is important to me) and do the Seine River cruise and then do what I can on the second day. Thanks for the tip about using the stairs in the tower. How much time will this save approx? I would love to go up into the tower but just don't want to take to much of my day for it. Is the hop on hop off bus a good idea or just take the included tour and then go from there?

[TLCOhio]

Is the hop on hop off bus a good idea or just take the included tour and then go from there?

 

Given your narrow time window, it might be best to do your "tour and then go from there". Much of it gets to that key question of what and how do you want to “ENJOY" and "EXPERIENCE" things in Paris? Rush-rush and gulp it down like soda pop or beer . . . OR . . . sip and savor the moment like fine wine, doing people watching, sensing an enjoyment of life and the humanity, the architecture, history and charm?

 

It's your choice! Let us know any other questions.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

[mickym]

Very good point!! I think sipping sounds kind of nice.

Thanks again!!

[travelite]

You can do this tour through this group. Personally, I like to do much on my own in Paris, allowing more flexibility to move at my pace, spend as much or as little time at each place as needed. Tell us more on how much time you have for Paris and your budget flexiblity/range. Many group tours can give a feeling of being moved like "cattle" and does not allow for getting the "real feel" for Paris.

 

Although at the heart of Europe, Paris is very individualistic and intuitive. The city has attracted great writers artists and thinkers. Historically, it has been a city of unrest, rebellion and revolution (an idea they helped finance in America and that lead to the sharp-edged 1789 removal of the Royal family in France). Paris has a special style and soul. It is a high-flying mix of architecture, fashion, history, idiosyncrasy, style, texture, color and atmosphere. Paris is romantic, distinctive!

 

Below are some added options to consider, photo examples for what you can see and enjoy, etc.

 

SEINE BOAT TRIP (can board at Pont Neuf), great views of famous Paris sights, especially at night as major buildings are lighted. From this website (www. vedettesdupontneuf.com), you can get more detailed information on one of the companies offering these trips.

 

LE MARAIS Area, NE of Hotel de Ville/City Hall, has Musee Picasso (structure built in 1659, opened in 1985 to settle his estate, open Wednesday-Monday 9:15 5:15) and Musee Carnavalet (built in 1540, two adjoining mansions with decorative arts from the various periods in Paris history), older area starting around metro St Paul station, has Jewish section in area with special foods and historic areas. It has the super great park and architecture of the Place des Vogue area. The Place des Vosges was the prototype for the residential squares of European cities that were to come. What was new about the Place Royale in 1612 was that the house fronts were all built to the same design, of red brick with strips of stone over vaulted arcades that stand on square pillars. Cardinal Richelieu had an equestrian bronze of Louis XIII placed in the center of this charming park. Nearby is Brasserie Bofinger, one of the oldest and classiest places to dine. It has a gorgeous domed stained-glass ceiling over the main dining room.

 

ILE SAINT LOUIS, is one of the most charming little areas in all of Paris. So nice to stroll up its main street as you walk towards Notre Dame and other key highlights. Famed Berthillon ice cream: The only true Berthillon can be found at 31, rue St Louis-en-l'Ile, where it was born. This delicious ice cream has rich colors and equally intense flavors. It comes in myriad flavors, but the rum raisin, dark chocolate (chocolat noir) and mango (mangue) flavors are incredible. This is divine dessert territory. Lots of Boutique shopping and dining places line this street in the heart of Paris. Try Brasserie Ile St-Louis, 55 quai de Bourbon, 1er (tel. 01/43/54-02-59), that Frommers calls the last independent brasserie in Paris. They note: “Far from the polished restaurants that masquerade as true brasseries, this one has as its heart old Paris.”

 

MUSEE D'ORSAY (door-say) (closed Monday, open 10-6, except Thursday 10 am-9:45 pm), covers 1848-1914 period and is especially great for Impressionist art. It is a former railway station and hotel with an excellent cafe in museum (doing lunch in this spectacular dining room is a nice way to break up the visit, re-charge and get nice food service). This dining area is a magnificent space defined by enormous windows, lighted by crystal chandeliers with gilded decoration bringing out the radiance of the sculpted ceilings. Thursday night is perfect for walk from museum west toward Assemblee Nationale and cross Seine River bridge towards Place de la Concorde seeing all of the building lighted and then looking back towards Eiffel Tower; Place de la Concorde was designed in 1775. From this website (www.musee-orsay.fr/en), you can get more detailed information.

 

Lots more options and suggestions that I can share if you have the time and interest.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

On a nice Paris day, people are enjoying the Louvre courtyard, the Louvre's famed glass pyramid by architect IM Pei and in the background the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel built in 1805: :

 

 

 

Dinner at Bofiner in the Marais area with its unique ceiling and charming interior:

 

 

 

On the wonderfully charming ille St. Louis island, this flower shop is so nice along with other shops there:

 

 

 

At the Tuileries, there are gardens, cafes and places to sit, watch and enjoy near the Louvre:

 

 

 

At the d’Orsay Museum, this was the grand dining room of the hotel that was part of the previous train station. Now, dining here breaks up the day during a long day of standing and walking:

 

 

 

Here is a sample from the small and charming Rodin Museum that features his studio/home and the grounds that are filled with his sculpture:

 

 

Interesting to find you on this thread also.

Not sure if you have returned from your Norway cruise.

Have any tips for a quiet day in Nice? We have one hotel day in Nice prior to a river cruise. Don't want to over do it because of jet lag.

[AnnieB925]

We've been to Paris on land vacations and have done the Seine River Cruise and then went to Ile Saint-Louis for dinner. I'll try to find the name of the restaurant. There are several and this area is not to be missed!

 

We are thinking about doing a Seine River Cruise and dinner at 58 Tour Eiffel (1st floor restaurant in Eiffel Tower)....an internet tour company Paris-trip.com for 138 euros per person including hotel pick up. HAS ANYONE DONE ANYTHINGT LIKE THIS....is there a less expensive way to do the river cruise and have a nice dinner somewhere else????Would love some suggestions.

Karen

[travelite]

We are thinking about doing a Seine River Cruise and dinner at 58 Tour Eiffel (1st floor restaurant in Eiffel Tower)....an internet tour company Paris-trip.com for 138 euros per person including hotel pick up. HAS ANYONE DONE ANYTHINGT LIKE THIS....is there a less expensive way to do the river cruise and have a nice dinner somewhere else????Would love some suggestions.

Karen

 

You may have traveled and returned by now.

That price seems a bit high. There are other companies that do dinner/river cruise for less. Be sure to check the dress code. Some of these require jacket and tie for men and evening attire for women.

Google these 2: Bateaux-Mouches;

Bateaux Parisiens

[travelite]

I forgot to include this one:

Vedettesdupontneuf

They seem to be the one must used on a walk up basis. They run several boats all day and into the evening. They are centrally located at Pont Neuf....easy to get to using metro. I don't recall if they have an evening cruise with dinner on-board.

[TLCOhio]

Interesting to find you on this thread also.

Not sure if you have returned from your Norway cruise.

Have any tips for a quiet day in Nice? We have one hotel day in Nice prior to a river cruise. Don't want to over do it because of jet lag.

 

YES! Got back a week ago from the Norway Coast/Fjords cruise, etc. I have traveled lots and lots all over France. In that area, I especially loved the Provence area and Eze. There are some good options in Nice, but it is also a fairly big city and there are many traffic-congestion challenges druing the peak summer tourism season. You're right to "take it easy" given the battles against jet lag, etc. Much that I might suggest depends on what you're doing with your river cruise and/or have done with your other, past France experiences. Just relaxing and walking around in the older, historic areas of Nice might be good.

 

There might also be some bus tour options to consider. Such tours give an overview without needing to do too much walking around, etc. I'm sure your hotel there can fill you in on those options. Trying to go to Eze and/or seeing some of that great, nearby, rocky coastline might be pushing it too much on that one "transition day" in Nice. Tell me more about your past experiences in France, your travel party size/background and your personal interests, travel style, etc.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For more details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle Silver Cloud experiences:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

The charming mountain top village of Eze is nearby and offers great view along the coast:

 

 

 

Along the scenic southern French coast west of Cannes:

 

 

 

Here is another view of Monaco with famed hotel and part of the Casino with the scenic mountains also shown:

 

[smtcan]

Thank you both so much. I would have loved to work Versailles in but I was afraid I was being a little unrealistic on that first day so maybe on the first day mostly just walk around, acclimate to the time change and surroundings, eat at the sidewalk cafe (somehow that one is important to me) and do the Seine River cruise and then do what I can on the second day. Thanks for the tip about using the stairs in the tower. How much time will this save approx? I would love to go up into the tower but just don't want to take to much of my day for it. Is the hop on hop off bus a good idea or just take the included tour and then go from there?

 

We spent three days in Paris in May this year. The first (short) day we took the HOHO bus from beside the Arche de Triomphe and got the general layout and decided where we would go the next day. We strolled the Champs Elysees, but found a sidewalk cafe on a side street - charming but much cheaper. The next day we took the bus again and stopped at the various places we wanted to see in more detail. The bus ticket was about 25 Euros and lasted for two days. On the third day we went to Versailles which was an amazing experience but needed a whole day to do justice to it.

 

Sheila

[Iwantsun]

I was in Paris last week and there is also the optioon of an hop on / hop off boat called le Batobus http://www.batobus.com/english/index.htm to get around the city. Based on the time of the year you are going, the hours of operations will change but you will have a chance to see Paris at night.

The metro system is the best and cheapest way to get around. The tickets are now at 12euros for 10 and you can buy them with cash or credit card.

We took the metro late at night with no issue; we had asked at the front desk of hour hotel if it was safe and they told us to be careful about pick pockets (but that is for anytime of day) and people who have partyed too much.

[KCcruisin07]

We were in Paris in May also, and we took the Hop on Hop off bus and also the Batoboat. By doing that we were able to see the Arc d'Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and so on and also go from point to point.

Since I love Impressionists and we had time, I went to the Musee D'Orsee, and my husband, an avid hiker, walked around the near the Seine.

Also since we were there on a Sunday we arranged to go to the home of Jim Haynes, an ex-pat who has lived overseas for years. There were guests from all over the world, including a few from CA, so it was an interesting evening.

[flrose]

TLCOhio, Moyaroo and everyone else,

 

Thanks for such amazing information! My DH and I will be in Paris next year prior to our Scandinavian cruise. As a special birthday treat to me, we will be staying in Paris 4 nights, then off to Copenhagen for a couple nights before boarding ship.

 

The information is very helpful for planning even though we are 9 months away, there is so much to learn! We are staying at the Grand Hotel Francais which has received very good reviews from Trip Advisor. We know it isn't right in the middle of the grand tourist area, but the close proximity to a couple Metro stations, and being close to the Marais area is appealing. We were in Rome prior to our cruise this past May and stayed in a very central part of the city, but people we met on CC stayed in more of a neighborhood and loved it. We thought we would give the neighborhood a try.

 

We have already decided to relax the first day and just stroll around pretty close by our hotel, then take a river boat that evening...after that then a good nights sleep and up and at 'em the next day.

 

We were trying to fit a Normandy day trip into our schedule, but really want to spend a lot of time at Versailles so hopefully there will be a next time to include that!

 

Thanks again for the amazing information...I will drop by this thread often to see what's going on...and I will ask questions as I have them!

 

Bye for now,

Julie

[TLCOhio]

TLCOhio, Moyaroo and everyone else, Thanks for such amazing information! My DH and I will be in Paris next year prior to our Scandinavian cruise. As a special birthday treat to me, we will be staying in Paris 4 nights, then off to Copenhagen for a couple nights before boarding ship. Bye for now, Julie

 

THANKS, Julie, for your follow-up and nice comments! Tell us more about your visit to Copenhagen and your Scandinavian cruise. Where are you visiting and focusing for that 2011 trip??? We super love Copenhagen, including being there a little over a month ago. Below is just one picture from that charming city. We can share many more items on that area if you post some specific questions on the Baltics board, etc. At the below post from our Norway Coast trip are many wonder night pictures while touring Tivoli before starting our cruise.

 

You can also look at this posting:

Copenhagen: Why Walking Back Is Super Great!!!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=975779

 

Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For more details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle Silver Cloud experiences:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

Copenhagen’s Nyhavn or “New” Harbor is actually old and charming with lots of outdoor dining options and nearby shopping:

 

[kcbarker]

Can you please supply me with your list of Paris Hotels and restaurants that you would recommend? We will be there for two and a half days next Summer (2011). This will be are first time there and we are looking forward to it.

[TLCOhio]

Can you please supply me with your list of Paris Hotels and restaurants that you would recommend? We will be there for two and a half days next Summer (2011). This will be are first time there and we are looking forward to it.

 

We can offer some suggestions, but Paris has a very, very wide range of options and potentials. Much depends on your budget range, personal taste and travel style, etc. Tell us more about what price range, type of place, etc., you seek and need. What areas of Paris are you considering for where you might stay, type of things you want to do and see in Paris, age group, number in your party, etc. Then, with more detailed information from you, we can make better, more specific suggestions on what best fits your needs and interests.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[kcbarker]

We can offer some suggestions, but Paris has a very, very wide range of options and potentials. Much depends on your budget range, personal taste and travel style, etc. Tell us more about

what price range - 4 or 3 star Hotel (with a/c)

type of place - something that reflects the French charm

What areas of Paris - Versailles, monuments in the city, night river cruise, looking to cover just the highlights with only two and half days available, nice restaurants (non-tourist type)

age group - 60 to 65

number in your party - 3 couples

[TLCOhio]

what price range - 4 or 3 star Hotel (with a/c)

type of place - something that reflects the French charm

What areas of Paris - Versailles, monuments in the city, night river cruise, looking to cover just the highlights with only two and half days available, nice restaurants (non-tourist type)

age group - 60 to 65, number in your party - 3 couples

 

THANKS for your added details and info! There's lots to love and see in Paris. For our last few times in Paris, we have done apartments, allowing us more room and comfort. So many hotels have very small rooms and their pricing can vary greatly depending on the "luck" of when you are trying to book there. For "French charm" we like the Marais, Left Bank and Ile Saint Louis island. Those more interesting parts of town don't have as many of the more interesting and historic hotels. Those larger, more commercial hotels are in the "newer" and more boring parts of central Paris. You might check some for your dates using http://www.tripadvisor.com or

http://www.hotels.com. Are you planning on getting around by the Metro? Then pick your location wisely to be near the Metro stations that connect well on the main/best rail routings.

 

You might check these two hotel options:

http://www.pavillon-de-la-reine.com is right overlooking the wonderful Place des Vosges. From walking around in this hotel, it seems super nice, but it might be priced accordingly.

Hotel Gabriel Paris Marais

 

Here are some dining options, area ideas/tips to consider:

 

LE MARAIS Area, NE of Hotel de Ville/City Hall has the super great park and architecture of the Place des Vogue area. The Place des Vosges was the prototype for the residential squares of European cities that were to come. What was new about the Place Royale in 1612 was that the house fronts were all built to the same design, of red brick with strips of stone over vaulted arcades that stand on square pillars. Cardinal Richelieu had an equestrian bronze of Louis XIII placed in the center of this charming park. Nearby is Brasserie Bofinger, one of the oldest and classiest places to dine (http://www.bofingerparis.com). It has a gorgeous domed stained-glass ceiling over the main dining room.

 

ILE SAINT LOUIS is one of the most charming little areas in all of Paris. So nice to stroll up its main street as you walk towards Notre Dame and other key highlights. Famed Berthillon ice cream: The only true Berthillon can be found at 31, rue St Louis-en-l'Ile, where it was born. This delicious ice cream has rich colors and equally intense flavors. It comes in myriad flavors, but the rum raisin, dark chocolate (chocolat noir) and mango (mangue) flavors are incredible. This is divine dessert territory. Lots of Boutique shopping and dining places line this street in the heart of Paris. Try Brasserie Ile St-Louis, 55 quai de Bourbon, 1er (tel. 01/43/54-02-59), that Frommers calls the last independent brasserie in Paris. They note: “Far from the polished restaurants that masquerade as true brasseries, this one has as its heart old Paris.”

 

MUSEE D'ORSAY (door-say) (closed Monday, open 10-6, except Thursday 10 am-9:45 pm), covers 1848-1914 period and is especially great for Impressionist art. It is a former railway station and hotel with an excellent cafe in the museum (doing lunch in this spectacular dining room is a nice way to break up the visit, re-charge and get nice food service). This dining area is a magnificent space defined by enormous windows, lighted by crystal chandeliers with gilded decoration bringing out the radiance of the sculpted ceilings.

 

MONTMARTRE/BASILIQUE DU SACRE-COEUR (church started being built in 1875 on one of highest points in Paris, dedicated in 1910); dome is second highest point in Paris, took 35 years to build with public conscription, great views at dawn and dusk plus from dome area over city, area made famous by artist Toulouse Lautrec, cubism born there; do direct Metro here, nearest station is Anvers or Pigalle. With its narrow cobblestone streets, gardens, steep steps and view over the city, this area is the emblem of romantic Paris. This church was mainly dedicated in the memory of those thousands who died in the uprising of the Paris Commune of 1870-71. Two dining options to consider in this area are: La Cremaillere on the famous Place du Tertre, where artists and intellectuals would meet. Just before World War I many artists such as Picassso, Modigliani, Utrillo and Apollinaire lived nearby. +33 1 4606 5859, info@cremaillere1900.com, Open Hours: 9a-12:30a M-Su. http://www.cremaillere1900.com/

Au Lapin Agile gives a flavor of Montmartre as it was at the turn of the century when it was a favorite of local artists and intellectuals. Open Tuesday to Sunday 9pm to 2am. 22, Rue Saules, 75018 Paris, +33 1 46 06 85 87, http://www.au-lapin-agile.com

 

VERSAILLES: By suburban subway/train (RER-C5 line, from St-Michel, every 15 minutes) or train (30 minutes) from Saint Lazare; started being built in 1660's for Sun King Louis XIV (during 1661 to 1715 period, involved 32,000 to 45,000 workers) in French classical architectural style; conceived as a world unto itself as seat of government, permanent residence of the royal family and the cream of nobility, was previously modest hunting lodge in swampy area; palace highlight is 236-foot long Hall of Mirrors where the treaty was signed ending WWI; a three-year restoration of this spectacular Hall of Mirrors was just completed in June 2007; through 2020, they are completing a $455 million project to upgrade Versailles with cleanings, new roofs, other restorations, etc.; this property has 700 rooms, 2,153 windows, 352 chimneys and 28 acres of roof; in the huge garden areas are Grand Canal, Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and Hameau used by Marie Antoinette; town population of 100,000; possible bus tour or car drive options out to Versailles; open 9:45-5, park open sunrise to sunset; tour palace first and gardens later (closed Monday). From this website (http://www.chateauversailles.fr/en), you can get more detailed information.

 

For private, personal tours, check with

parisphototours@aol.com

Or, her websites of

http://www.lindamathieu.com/paris

 

Assuming you're not looking for the high-end, pricy places, the great news is that most any place will be very good to great to excellent. It's hard to have a bad meal in France!! An added secret is to do some asking where you are staying and/or of others you meet there for their local suggestions. Then apply the eyeball test! If it looks touristy and the people sitting there (or the staff) are bored and uninterested, then that place probably should be avoided. If it looks like there are locals there and/or they are enjoying it, then it will probably be very good. Or maybe even better!

 

Here are some other Marais options to consider:

• Chez Nenesse 17 rue de Saintonge, 75003 Paris 01 42 78 45 51

• Chez Omar 47 rue de Bretagne 75003 Paris

• Le Progrès 1 rue de Bretagne 75003 Paris 01 42 72 10 44

• Les Enfants Rouges 9 rue de Beauce (and 90 rue des Archives) 75003 Paris

 

Splurge Potentials:

Ambroisie (L')

9, pl des Vosges, 75004
01 42 78 51 45, Open Tues-Sat. evenings; Chef: Bernard Pacaud

Zagat Rating: 27, 26, 26, €159

You may well feel “as if you’d drunk the nectar of the gods” after a “transporting” trip to this small site in the 4th; it’s “the epitome of class from a bygone era”, from the “superb”, “sophisticated” Haute Cuisine to the decor that recalls the Renaissance – “inlaid stone-parquet floors and Aubusson tapestries hanging on honey-hued walls”; “beneath the Gallic bravado, the staff has hearts of gold”; naturally, this heavenly experience commands “astronomical prices.”

 

***Le Grand Vefour, 17 rue Beaujolais, Palais Royal, 01 42 96 56 27 grand.vefour@wanadoo.fr (Metro Palais Royal-Le Louvre) Zagat says: At this “sans pareil” Haute Cuisine in the Palais Royal, the “divine” Directoire decor (“Napoleon and Josephine ate here”) is “sublimely transforming”, and as for chef Guy Martin’s “mind-boggling” meals, “the gods don’t eat any better”; many “expect to be intimidated by the staff, but they are kind and helpful”; in short, “everything is extraordinary, including the bill” (“to avoid a third mortgage, go for the prix fixe lunch”). Be sure to order the cheese cart, complete with “cheese ‘sommelier.’”

 

*La Truffiere, 4 rue Blaineville (5th arondissement) 01 46 33 29 82 http://www.latruffiere.com

Zagat says: Time stops when you’re seated by the fireplace” in the vaulted cellar of this “cozy, welcoming” 17th-century house in the 5th; the “refined” menu, a combo of Classic and New French dishes, is “laced with gorgeous truffles”, “the wine list is phenomenal” and the “cheese cart is huge”, so no one minds that “it’s a bit of a tourist trap” where “your money disappears without even waving good-bye.”

 

Reactions and other questions?

 

Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[KCcruisin07]

We can offer some suggestions, but Paris has a very, very wide range of options and potentials. Much depends on your budget range, personal taste and travel style, etc. Tell us more about

what price range - 4 or 3 star Hotel (with a/c)

type of place - something that reflects the French charm

What areas of Paris - Versailles, monuments in the city, night river cruise, looking to cover just the highlights with only two and half days available, nice restaurants (non-tourist type)

age group - 60 to 65

number in your party - 3 couples

We stayed in an apartment built in the 1600's (but updated) in the 1st arrondissement near Montorgueil, which is a pedestrian shopping district. It is close to the Louvre, Les Halles, and the 7th arrondissement. Rick Steves usually recommends staying in the first-seventh arrondissements. While I liked the area where we stayed, I would suggest the 7th arrondissement, Rue Cler (a street Rick Steves recommends for accommodations), Les Halles, which borders the 7th, or St. Germaine, a district with fascinating history.

To get an overview of Paris and see the highlights, we took the Hoho bus and Batoboat. If you like Impressionist art, you would enjoy Musee D'Orsay.

I believe Versailles would take a half day or more.