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10 days in Paris....Go!

post #1 of 23
2/13/12 at 6:37am
Thread Starter 
Ok, girlfriend and I are headed there in mid May. My first time, her second time.

My ideal:

First 4-5 nights in Paris. Then, take 3-4 nights somewhere else and wrap up the trip with the last 1-2 nights back in Paris.

The question, though, is the "3-4 nights somewhere else" part. I had a few options...

1. Take fast train to Avignon, set up base camp. From there, check out places like Arles, Gordes, or, make it a wine focused trip and tour the Rhone valley (Lirac, Chat de Pape, etc.).

2. Take fast train to Avignon, set up base camp and from there, tour the south of France.

3. Brittany/Normandy

I was thinking of hitting Champagne, but only as a day trip out of Paris (same goes for Versailles). I understand that Burgundy is tougher to just stroll through - wineries are trypically more "by appointment only" and they are more spread out.

I am not opposed to renting a car. I figured I'd rent a car on option 1/2.

Any thoughts/recommendations?

Many thanks.
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post #2 of 23
2/13/12 at 7:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gumercindo View Post

a wine focused trip and tour the Rhone valley

 

When do we leave...?

 

Bon voyage !
 

 

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post #3 of 23
2/13/12 at 8:13am
I wouldn't bother leaving Paris for four days. You'll need a lot longer to really experience a new setting like Bretagne, dep. Rhône etc. Besides that, Paris has more than enough to offer for 10 days. Enjoy your time there, don't unnecessarily create stress.

There are at least a dozen threads in the short past about Paris, go have a look at them. Just two random recomendations:
Mariage Frères in Marais. Enjoy tea and cake.
L'Épi Dupin for lunch. Book in advance. Moderately priced. Many locals.
And all that other standard tourist stuff like Dôme des Invalides with the awesome museum of weaponries and armors lasting from the 12th century til present. Unless your girlfriend is the most pacific person out there, she might enjoy it, too. Persuade her to at least have a look. Go to the 12th-15th century sections first. If she doesn't like it, you can still go. I'm sure she will enjoy it, at least for the artful finishing of the armors and swords.
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post #4 of 23
2/13/12 at 8:15am
Thread Starter 
Many thanks. That was going to be my other question - is it even worth it spend 3-4 days outside of Paris?

I will check out the other threads. thanks!
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post #5 of 23
2/13/12 at 9:13pm

Paris is an extremely large city. You should have plenty to do. Between viewing art, eating in restaurants, exploring your personal interests, and other random things other people have recommended you do, you should have plenty on your hands.

 

Of course, I'd make a list before you go of the things you have in mind and add/subtract things to make sure you spend enough time on each activity.

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post #6 of 23
2/14/12 at 10:52pm

Day trip to Brussels is possible... I left at 7am and arrived at 845 am... Had the whole day there and was still able to have dinner in Paris at 9:30 pm.

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post #7 of 23
2/15/12 at 2:59am
Don't.
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post #8 of 23
2/15/12 at 4:32am
take the tgv for 3/4 days in AIx, Avignon, Arles. Very nice trip, and comfortable.
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post #9 of 23
2/15/12 at 8:46am
Yeah, well, if you go to the Provence, you should visit Cannes, St Tropez, Nice, too. And obviously Monaco. And, and, and.
As I've said. Stay the ten days in Paris. Next time you want to visit France, spend 10 days in the Provence. There's so much to see that you won't be happy to just stay 3-4 days there.
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post #10 of 23
2/15/12 at 9:00am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Britalian View Post

take the tgv for 3/4 days in AIx, Avignon, Arles. Very nice trip, and comfortable.

It's on the table - this idea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by b1os View Post

Yeah, well, if you go to the Provence, you should visit Cannes, St Tropez, Nice, too. And obviously Monaco. And, and, and.
As I've said. Stay the ten days in Paris. Next time you want to visit France, spend 10 days in the Provence. There's so much to see that you won't be happy to just stay 3-4 days there.

I hear you. A trip to the south of france, to me, is its own trip. I agree.
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post #11 of 23
2/15/12 at 9:07am
Not enough time for Brittany / Normandy and weather won't be good yet
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post #12 of 23
2/16/12 at 10:01am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by b1os View Post

I wouldn't bother leaving Paris for four days. You'll need a lot longer to really experience a new setting like Bretagne, dep. Rhône etc. Besides that, Paris has more than enough to offer for 10 days. Enjoy your time there, don't unnecessarily create stress.
There are at least a dozen threads in the short past about Paris, go have a look at them. Just two random recomendations:
Mariage Frères in Marais. Enjoy tea and cake.
L'Épi Dupin for lunch. Book in advance. Moderately priced. Many locals.
And all that other standard tourist stuff like Dôme des Invalides with the awesome museum of weaponries and armors lasting from the 12th century til present. Unless your girlfriend is the most pacific person out there, she might enjoy it, too. Persuade her to at least have a look. Go to the 12th-15th century sections first. If she doesn't like it, you can still go. I'm sure she will enjoy it, at least for the artful finishing of the armors and swords.

btw, thank you for these recs. I have decided that the best way to go is spend the whole time in PAris and take side trips to Champagne, Versailles, Giverny and Loire Valley.
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post #13 of 23
2/16/12 at 10:24am
Good choice. Have fun! I love Paris.
I wish you good luck with the weather. I was in Paris last year in April or March and had five days of beautiful weather. Every day a sunny day. If I remember anything you might need to know, I'll post it.
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post #14 of 23
2/21/12 at 6:45am
I think you could take a day trip to Rouen which is in Normandy. It's the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. The cathedral was painted many times by Monet. The buildings in town are famously half timbered (do a google image search on rouen half timber to see what I mean). It's about an hour from Paris by train, which means it would be an easy day trip, and you'd probably enjoy a brief respite from the city.
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post #15 of 23
2/21/12 at 7:09am
To the OP - we did a France trip like what you're planning, but I would take those days and instead of going south would go to champagne for a day or two and then to Versailles. I'd take the time during the Champagne trip to visit the World War I memorials to the east and northeast of there. The TGV is fast, but it still will take up a substantial amount of time for how long you have to devote outside of Paris.
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