First Trip To Paris?

Question

I am planning my first trip to Europe/Paris and I want to visit the Louvre of course and also the Eiffel Tower, can you suggest some other must sees or activties that aren't necessarily a traditional tourist hot spot. Also do what is the safest way to travel w/ money. Should I get my money converted to Euros or use Traveler's Checks. Thanks

Answer 1

Leave the Traveler's Checks at home. I found them a waste. You have to hunt high and low for a place to cash them for you. And if you go to a bank, their fees will end up biting you in the ****. Stick with Euros and a credit/debit/ATM card.

You can either exchange your money prior to departure (all or you can get enough to last you one day) or hit up an ATM. Make sure you inform your bank that you are going overseas if you plan on using a card. If not, they may think your card has been stolen and freeze your accounts.

To keep your money safe, get a moneybelt or a neck pouch. Keep all your important stuff (money, ATM/Debit/Credit cards, plane tickets, passport) in the pouch and operate with a day's worth of spending money in your wallet. If you are pickpocketed, your trip can still go on because they didn't make off with everything.

As for siteseeing...depending on how long you're in Paris and how many museums are on your itinerary, I would get a museum pass...you can get one at any metro ticket booth. They are available in 2-, 4- and 6-day passes. It allows you to bypass most museum lines. If you're going to be using the Metro (fast and cheap), buy either a carnet of metro tickets...un carnet du dix. This is a packet of 10 metro tickets. If you're going to be there Mon-Sun...you can buy a Carte Orange. It's good for a week and you'll need a 1x1 photo of your face for the pass.

As for sites of interest...the Louvre and Eiffel Tower are definitely the must-sees. Check out the Eiffel Tower after dark when it sparkles at the top of each hour, I believe. I love the Rodin Museum...the gardens are beautiful. It's not far at all from the Church of Invalides where you can see Napoleon's Tomb. Neither one are too crowded. Same with the Picasso Museum. A bateau mouche ride along the Seine (either during the day or after dark) is a great way to get a different view of Paris. Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore is just across the street (left) from the Notre-Dame Cathedral. The Carnavalet Museum is all things dealing with French history...it's quite a nice museum and free. Pere Lachaise Cemetery is great...Oscar Wilde, Chopin, Jim Morrison, Heloise and Abelard. Black & white film looks great here. The flea market is always an adventure: Porte de Clignancourt is huge. Sacre-Couer Basilica...stand on the steps and you are blessed with a phenomenol panoramic picture of Paris. No photos inside the church, please. You will be "escorted" out. Montmarte is a lot of fun, though heavy with tourist traffic...stroll around Place du Tertre and check out the artists. A particularly fun restaurant on the weekend is Auberge de la Bonne Franquette, not far from Place du Tertre. Check out the entertainment but watch out for the accordion player. Musee Marmottan Monet is great...it was kind of difficult for us to find, but well worth it and not crowded at all. The bouquinistes along the Seine...great for old books, souvenirs and such.

The two best places to buy souvenirs: Rue de Rivoli, across from the Louvre and Tuileries Gardens, has very inexpensive souvenir shops with great deals. The other place to go is by Notre-Dame. The further you go from a major site, the less expensive the souvenirs seem to be.

Answer 2

Your first trip to Europe... wow, you will have many memories to last you a life-time... just to comment on the Louvre: do not rush your visit... it takes several days to get a good idea of the Louvre and a life time to truly understand it... considering that you are probably on a limited schedule and the fact I just noted, I would truly recommend that you take atleast a full day to see the Louvre, that is if you truly want to see it... don't pass up the great pyramids by Iam Pei at it's entrance either... the great art is not simply inside the museam.... Another fantastic place to visit in Paris is Notre-Dame de Paris... the church celebrates gothic architecture (the first truly gothic church, thus also being the first ot utilize the flying buttress), housed the Virgin of Paris statue, and celebrates the beatification of Jeanne d'Arc... truly a must... keep your money with you at all times and hidden from sight... just think of it like you are in New York City wearing a big sign that says I am a tourist... just be cautious... Probably will need to get some spending cash transferred to Euros... tc's are never bad... check into your credit card's abilities in Europe.... Most of all have fun!

-Peke

Answer 3

You should definitely visit the Arc de Triomphe and Sacre Coeur, as well as le Jardin de Luxembourg and le Quartier Latin. If you have time before you go, watch the French movie Amelie and you will be able to appreciate it more. :o) Also, you should use euros not travelers checks because they are too time consuming to get cashed and they don't often get good exchange rates. If you can, call your bank and tell them you will be in Europe and take money out of machines as you use it (the screen has an English option) and that way you will never be carrying around too much money. However, if you don't call your bank, your card most likely has identity theft protection on it and it won't work. Have a good time!

Answer 4

Bring a little bit of cash or traveller's checks for emergencies, but the easiest (and cheapest) way to convert money is just to bring your ATM card and withdraw cash directly from ATM machines. It's more convenient than going into a bank, and you don't have to pay a fee for the conversion. Just be sure to let your bank know you're going out of the country, so they don't see the withdrawals and cut off your account thinking your card's been stolen.

Check out the Rodin museum and Napoleon's tomb, and take a day trip out to Versailles. If you're into ballet/opera/theater, most of the theaters in the city discount tickets 10 minutes before showtime. I was able to see Swan Lake in the 2nd row for $10. Find a crepe stand on the street and try a crepe - even if you've had them at home, they're nothing like what you'll get in France.

Oh, and always keep your money in a deep front pocket or in a pocket inside of a pocket inside your bag, and always keep your hand on the zipper, especially when travelling on the subway. The pickpockets are professionals, and dress in business suits, so you'd never expect them to rob you. Don't carry your passport with you, but keep a copy of it in your wallet or bag. Make copies of all your credit cards, atm cards, insurance card, passport, etc. Leave one copy with someone at home and put one in your suitcase (which you should lock whenever you leave the room). That way, if anything gets stolen, you'll have the information handy to call the bank or take to the embassy.

Answer 5

- Can't say enough about the Louvre (although the British Museum and Vatican may beg to differ, I think the Louvre is the greatest museum in the western world in terms of both size and quality). Ask your hotel to make reservations for you and just show up at the appointed time. Don't waste time standing in line.

- Likewise, nobody needs to be told to go to the Tour Eiffel. It's spectacular at night, and there will be a shorter line to get to the top after dusk (no reservations allowed here).

- The Louvre isn't the only cultural venue in Paris. There are literally dozens of little other museums dotted around the Paris area covering everything from medicine to music to evolution, visit the ones of interest to you.

-I find Versailles dissapointing (especially after the Louvre). It's crowded, stuffy, and the tours are surprisingly uninspired. Besides, there are copies of it all over Europe thanks to 17th century "Louis Mania". I personally think the older chateaus in the Loire Valley are a lot more romantic, interesting, and varied.

- Definitely visit Paris' two famous churches, Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur. They're well worth the time.

- Paris has great visitor friendly cemeteries (and served as the model for New Orleans' macabre delights), with lots of tombs, sanctuaries, and interesting gravestones littered all over the place.

- It's good to get some perspective on France as a society that hasn't stood still for 200 years. Definitely take the trip out to La Defense (modern Paris) to see the new Grand Arch office building lined up with Napoleon's Arch right down towards the Place de Concorde. It's quite a sight.

- The Jardins de Luxembourg is Paris' busiest park (and home to France's Parliament). The vast stretches of the Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes are the place to go for tranquility.

Generally, Europe isn't like a road trip, meticulous planning is required. I learned that the hard way many years ago when I arrived at CDG airport with no hotel reservations, sightseeing plans, or knowledge of the local transport system (in the middle of summer tourist season, no less) - and got burnt badly in terms of being overcharged and wasting valuable time in lines.

Take care of as much of this stuff online or over the phone as you can before you leave...using debit/ATM or credit cards if necessary to secure reservations/tickets/tours etc. If you do this, your cash needs will be confined to daily spending and unexpected events only. Once in Europe, you'll simply move from place to place as planned on your itinerary without having to worry about carrying too much cash or doing complex currency calculations.

Do note that pickpocketing and stealing is common in Paris, but an outright armed robbery is unlikely. Take the usual precautions about attending to luggage and don't take your money out unless you're absolutely sure it's OK.

If a situation looks suspicious, there's probably something amiss. Theives in crowded Metro stations will often grab your purse after creating a distraction and make a run for it. That's why they're standing around there specifically (and not somewhere else).

Sometimes scam artists in Paris will try to confuse you by dressing up or carrying props (like clipboards with charity logos like "UNICEF")...don't fall for it. Those "donations" aren't going to the United Nations.

Answer 6

You can't go wrong. Be sure to walk around the parks and the left bank. Aside from that get any tour book and have a blast. FWIW, when I've been there I've actually found the non-french restaurants (like greek, italian, etc) cheaper and friendlier. Don't care for classical french food much though....

Answer 7

Definitely visit the catacombes, montmartre, moulin rouge, and of course le Jardin du Luxembourg, and if you want to save money and have damn good food, eat at the kabob places, they're on every corner and are about 4-5 euros, and money wise, just draw money from the atm when you get there and you'll be fine.

Answer 8

Use Euros, it's easier. There are so many things to do in Paris that you can't go wrong...well, just don't go to the Moulin Rouge. The show is terrible.

Answer 9

Well if you want beauty go just outside of vegas to Red Rock Canyon. Its beautiful mountain with lots of fun things to do. Dont forget to stop by Bonnie Springs Ranch for a great meal and ranch experience. As for hotels stay at MGM Grand! It is a great hotel! And its also a good price!

Answer 10

Hi. When are you going? I'm planning my first trip as well...