Paris - A Fun and Romantic Weekend Getaway
Written: Jul 26 '05 (Updated Sep 02 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great sights, fabulous food, I loved staying in the Latin Quarter
Cons: Can be expensive
The Bottom Line: It's Paris, of course I loved it!
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| chelledun's Full Review: Paris |
I was lucky enough to be able to spend the last weekend with my wonderful husband in Paris. This was my second trip there and we’d been away from each other all summer so our trip was more of a relaxing getaway and less than a whirlwind tour than I typically engage in. Even by taking a more relaxed approach, however, I was able to see quite a few of the fabulous things Paris has to offer from Thursday through Sunday.
Arriving In Paris and Getting Around
From London, Paris is easily accessible via either train or a very short plain flight. We opted for the plane flight simply because it worked out to be less expensive but I took the chunnel on my last trip and it is easy and efficient as well. Once you arrive in Paris you can easily hop on the metro underground service and end up anywhere you need to go or grab a cab to your hotel to avoid dealing with luggage in the turnstiles. We took a cab from the airport and then used public transportation for all our comings and goings within the city.
On Friday during the day we took advantage of one of the tourist boat services. These services stop at eight major tourist attractions with narration in between. The ride is scenic and tourists can hop off and on throughout the day as many times as desired. I found this to be a very scenic and relaxing way to travel for a very reasonable 11 Euro cost per person for a day pass. A similar service by bus is available as well.
Staying in Paris
I would like to recommend our hotel, the Hotel Monge in the Latin Quarter. We picked the hotel based on fabulous reviews online and it truly lived up to the good reputation. It was ten minutes or less from the Pantheon, Sorbonne, and Notre Dame and about one minute from a metro station. The staff was friendly and helpful and the room was very clean and modern, if a little small. Hundreds of restaurants were within walking distance and there were seemed to be a lot of students in the area. Friends of ours stayed in the same area of the city during their visit and really enjoyed it as well.
Some Fabulous Sights…
It would be impossible to see everything Paris has to offer on a weekend trip, and I still feel like I have missed a lot even after two visits. I have been able to experience the following attractions during my time in Paris.
Eiffel Tower - This is the big daddy tourist attraction, and its virtually impossible to miss. Once at the tower you have the option of taking the stairs or a lift and traveling to the first, second, or third floor. Obviously each floor costs a bit more. The day we were there the third platform was actually closed because the tower was so crowded, but I was content to stop at the second floor. Once arriving at your destination there are a couple of very crowded gift shops and a café as well as an expensive restaurant with its own separate lift. The view was a great experience but the crowds make the experience slightly less romantic than one would hope. Claustrophobics be warned, the operators will jam you into the lift until there isn’t an inch to move. I bopped my husband in the nose because there was no other place to move my arm. Hey, better him than have an international incident, right?
Notre Dame - Honestly, massive historic churches sometimes all seem the same to me but I truly loved visiting this one. I recommend purchasing a guide at the front desk (ours cost 4 Euros) because you will get much more out of the visit. It’s fun to look at the little chapels that belonged to different guilds and candles are available for those who wish to light one. There are a variety of beautiful stained glass windows and paintings around the church. Also unique are the areas set aside where priests are always available to meet with anyone who desires to say confession or even just chat. These rooms look like little offices and you can see the Priests going about their work through clear glass walls. Admission to the church is free and admission to the treasury is available for a small fee. If you are willing to brave long lines, tours of the Church’s towers are also available.
Arc De Triomphe - Located at the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, the Arc rivals the Eiffel Tower for the title of “coolest big ‘ol monument in Paris.’ The Arc was constructed to commemorate Napoleon’s many victories. However, it was ultimately not completed until well after his death. It is beautiful during the day but even more so at night. If you do travel up into the Eiffel Tower, be sure to get a photo of the Arc and surrounding area.
The Louvre - I visited this museum on my first trip to Paris and although it was a whirlwind trip it did not disappoint. Even if you can only see the ‘biggies’ such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo there is an incredible thrill of being in a building which houses so much history. The campus is beautiful as well and makes for some fabulous photos.
Disneyland Paris - Ok for many of you, this will not be on your list of must-sees but I spent a wonderful and fun-filled day here last Friday. Crowds were low and the attractions were fabulous, arguably better than Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando. The Lion King show was fabulous and highly professional. We had a few customer service issues but on the whole a very good experience. The Disneyland Paris Resort is a convenient 40 minute train ride from Chatelet station on the metro. If you love Disney or are looking for a fabulous experience for your children during your visit to Paris, this park is a great pick. My complete report from my visit is available here.
Jardin des Plantes - This park was only a two minute walk from our hotel so we explored it on our last morning in Paris. Unfortunately it was a rather cloudy and rainy day which took away from the atmosphere a bit as we juggled our umbrella and tried to avoid the mud puddles. There are several museums on site including the much advertised Grande Galerie de l'Evolution. A zoo is also available. I’m a big zoo person, but the animal selection at this zoo is slightly less than exotic. I did enjoy the ‘labyrinth’ which leads up to a charming little gazebo. There are a large variety of flowers, trees, and plants neatly labeled, including some very old trees. I imagine on a sunny day a walk here would be a fabulous experience.
Lots of EATING
One of the highlights of my trip was indulging in the wonderful cuisine – sometimes five or six times a day. The streets are bulging with fabulous Patisseries, or pastry shops. You can grab a breakfast on the go at one of these for a very reasonable price. I couldn’t keep away from the fresh croissants and pain au chocolat. Also wonderful are the fresh crepes, available in both savory and sweet varieties. If either cheese or wine is your thing you are also in the right place. Most hotels (mine included) offer an optional complimentary breakfast in the morning, but I think it is more fun to branch out and pick some thing up as you tour the city.
One restaurant I absolutely have to recommend is Le Pre Verre in the Latin Quarter. This was my best meal in Europe to date and a fabulous value. We selected this restaurant because it was a Frommer’s Pick for the area and it did not disappoint. I had a fabulous steak and sweet potato dish and my husband opted for swordfish. The meal was accompanied with fresh bread and finished with a complimentary mini chocolate mousse. The service was great and the total bill including sodas was less than 40 Euros. Reservations can be made at (01 43 54 59 47) and the restaurant is located at 8, Rue Thenard in the 5th Arrondissement (Latin Quarter). Most restaurants require or advise reservations unless you are dining very early or very late.
I Don’t Speak French!
I just have to say that despite rumors to the contrary, I found the people of Paris to be very friendly and helpful. I tried to study some common French phrases but really never made it much past bonjour and merci. Through lots of smiling, pointing to items on the menu, and abundant thanks I managed to make it through all my commercial transactions with little trouble. Many signs are in multiple languages and the restaurants we visited almost all had an English menu which was provided to us.
I really enjoyed having conversations with some of the people in the city. Particularly fun and colorful was our taxi driver from the airport who carries her dog in the cab at all times for company. She was very friendly and continued to tell us about the horrible woman drivers she encountered along the way. We seemed to meet the dog’s standard of approval since he curled up and went to sleep after a few moments. I wish I could have known more French just to be polite, but it is definitely possible to get around the city with a very limited grasp of the language as long as you are polite.
Overall…
Paris was a lovely and relaxing weekend trip. I enjoyed slowing down a bit and indulging in some fabulous food while strolling around the beautiful city. The location of my hotel was good enough that I was able to see some of the city’s most major sights easily, and public transportation makes it easy to get around. I do believe everyone should make it to Paris at least once in a lifetime.
*Planning a trip to Paris?
Insight City Guide Paris Guidebook
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
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