Weddingbee Blog

For touring, I recommend the Green Line Bus Tours. They take you all over Paris. You don’t have to worry about transportation and they’ll take you past all of the hotspots.

The main loop tour will take you to the notre dame, the opera house, the eiffel tower, the museums behind the Eiffel Tower (I forgot the name!), The Arch de Triumph, The Louvre, and a few other places, I believe. It was awesome because it took us where ever we wanted to go. They have several other loops that will take you to other parts of Paris (our hotel was on the Moulin Rouge loop).

There are four loops and they all converage near the opera house. You just look for the bus with the right color and hop on. It’s come and go. You just have to wait for the next bus.

Hope that helps!

My boyfriend and I went to Paris in 2003. We stayed in a Best Western believe it or not! It wasn’t too expensive, we could see the Eiffel Tower from our window and everything was in walking distance.

I would recommend NOT going on a tour. You only have a little bit of time there, so do your own thing. We went to the Lourve, the Eiffel tower (it’s worth it, it’s only 10 euro to go to the top), Le Arc du Triomph and a few other places. I would recommend heading to the Lourve for a bit - we didn’t see it all, but we made sure to see the Mona Lisa and other famous pieces.

Definitly shop a bit too - there’s such great shopping in Paris. And before you head in for the evening, get yourself a bottle of wine (or champagne…like the REAL stuff) and toast yourselves on the green outside the eiffel tower. Every night on the hour it lights up and sparkles and it’s just about the most romantic place to be with the man you love. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking back to my time there.

I recommend you research what you’d like to see, and then go. Forget tour guides, they only slow you down. If you guys really love it you’ll just have to make sure that you go back NEXT year for your one year anniversary!

I’m not sure if you’re Jewish, but I would recommend staying in the Jewish section of the city. It was settled hundreds of years ago, so it is a bit older than the city itself and is absolutely breathtaking. There is an article here about it: http://www.paris.org/Kiosque/nov00/jewish.paris.html
I’ve been to Paris 3 times now, so I know quite a bit. Like M said above, do not go on a tour. There is so much more sightseeing you can do by yourself and all the tours are not really good at all.
Definitely go to the Tower and walk down the Seine…even a night boat ride would be lovely. But, aside from all the “hotspots”, try and find some “hidden jewels”. There is so much hidden in the city that is just as lovely. Here’s a site about that: http://www.jack-travel.com/Paris/ParisHtml/Paris_Hidden_Paris_Contents.htm
And another one: http://www.parisinfo.com/rub5906.html&id_article=6321

Lastly, go to the catacombs…it’s a MUST!

Have fun

http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75007laserre.htm

Without a doubt, Hotel La Serre. I stayed there back in 1997 for my HS foreign exchange and Fi and I went back 3 years ago and they revamped the place. It’s soooooooo charming, clean, showers are awesome (good thing when you’re backpacking). Service is wonderful and the place is still affordable. We paid $60-$80/night at the time. It’s very well located. Rick Steve’s even strolled on that street because it’s the street that has a little bit of everything. My advice, sleep on the flight and do as much as you can while you’re there. They have one of those bus tours. I would recommend putting the $$ on that. Take the tour so you don’t have to walk. YOu can get on and off at any of the stops and hop back on when you’re done.

If you like shabby chic, bonkers walls papered in wrapping paper, DIRT cheap and incredibly central, I’d recommend the little place called Hotel Esmerelda opposite the Notre Dame. It’s on the edge of the Latin quarter, within walking distance of le Marais (gorgeous for wandering but not very tourist destination) and they don’t cater at all so you can sample the goodness of Paris bakeries without feeling like you’re stuck with the hotel. It’s got little winding stairs and is utterly quaint/bizarre, but for location and price you won’t find better. Happy hunting and enjoy!
PS I went for two days for my birthday with my sis. Musee DOrsay, Louvre square (but not inside), Notre Dame (but not inside), tram to Eiffel Tower and park opposite. Don’t try to cram Louvre in one day- better to see outside and DON’T BOTHER WITH THE MONA LISA!!! She’s tiny and always crowded and severely underwhelming! Grace’s suggestions are PERFECT.

Mr. Lily might have some ideas next time you see him — he lived there for a summer!

Thanks for all the advice everyone!!

We are definitely not tour people, and have decided to save all museums (and other long time commitment spots) for a longer visit, so we’ll just focus on wandering around for the most part. But maybe we’ll look into those grayline buses since they do sound so convenient (although we do like local public transport!)

Anyway, keep the recommendations coming, and I’ll look up all these hotels to see which one we should choose! THANKS!!!!

1. Eat an Israeli style falafel at L’As du Falafel in the Jewish Quarter. 2. Gawk at the stained glass windows of Sainte Chapelle. 3. Walk along the Ille St. Louis. The rest are just details.

Staying in the Latin Quarter, as everyone said, is a good idea. I can’t imagine going to Paris and NOT doing the Musee d’Orsay, but if you are passing on museums, that’s out. Most importantly- have a great time!

i went to paris in the spring and stayed at hotel d’orsay (right behind musee d’orsay). the rooms are a bit small but clean and cute. hotel is reasonably priced also.

and like other people mentioned, don’t forget comfy shoes!