One night in Paris
Replies: 14 - Last Post: Dec 20, 2012 8:28 AM Last Post By: Upnorthincanada
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One night in Paris
Hi allI am surprising my wife with an all-too-short day in Paris this December, and was hoping for a little input.
1) As time is short, could anyone suggest a hotel that is very close to a metro station, and is easy to get to from CDG, so little time is spent getting there. Middle of the road to maybe lower high end would be great.
2) Any suggestions for a nice restaurant, preferably one close to any suggested hotels, but not necessary.
3) Any suggestions for entertainment. I was think the Grand Palais Opera house. Has anyone had any experience with websites selling tickets, namely Vienna Ticket House?
4) Any finally....any must-see's or must-do's.
Any and all info is greatly appreciated!!
1
Wow, with so little time I wouldn't bother with a night at the theater.But that's just me.
I stayed in the Marais at this charming little hotel called Hotel Saint Paul le Marais. It couldn't have been easier to get there from the CDG and that's coming from someone who take the NYC subway on a daily basis.
Instead of having dinner near the hotel, even though there are many options, I suggest going all out and booking someplace special (do it now) like Les Cocottes, or even the Jules Verne at the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Any musts? well, I don't know. What is important to you and your wife?
2
First of all, please give a price range in €. Terms like "Middle of the road" mean different prices from one person to another.In the past I have stayed at the Hotel Resident Monge in the Latin Quarter and it was a fine hotel with two metro's within a block of the hotel. The hotel is now the Acte V http://en.hotel-actev.com/ and has had a face lift and has been upgraded to to a three star and the prices are around 200€ a night. Rue Mouffetard is a couple blocks away and it lined with restaurants that I feel are to touristic for me, but I am sure your can find a fine dining experience not that far away.
I am sure if you liet us know how much you will pay in € for your hotel and restaurant there will be more that will be able to give you recommendations on this forum.
As to the Opera, I would love it, but what is important to your wife? Paris has so much to offer.
Also is this your first time to visit Paris?
3
With one night in Paris, I wouldn't bother with the opera either. Just go for a nice meal somewhere and go for a walk along the Seine. Or go have a look at the Christmas markets set up near the Champs-Elysées (towards Place de la Concorde rather than towards the Arch of Triumph), if that's your thing.It will be dark early and chances of nice weather pretty low, but walking around is still what I would do with that short amount of time.
4
I hope you are not flying to and from Canada for a day trip ;-)5
1. if access to CDG is importat, just stay near Gare du Nord. You hop on the RER and you're there. as you can see from this link, there are about 100 hotels within a 5min radius of GdN.https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hotel&hl=en&ll=48.878589,2.356567&spn=0.01009,0.021651&sll=48.87897,2.356331&sspn=0.01009,0.021651&hq=hotel&t=m&z=16
You can also use the map search function on booking.com to find a place in your budget range.
2. 100s. Pls provide budget, atmosphere, cuisine, and area. There is no point me recommending a lovely bistrot in the 17th is you want to eat Mexican in the 6th.
3. entertainment 'Grand Palais Opera house' does not exist. the Grand Palais is a museum/exhibition space. There are two operas: Garnier and Bastille. Buy tickets directly from the Opera, not through a middleman. Garnier has mostly ballets and is the more atmospheric of the two (but the seating in Bastille is much better)
4.The Eiffel tower? Pls be specific what your interests are. Otherwise, just google 'Paris top 10 attractions'
6
Thxs for all the responses! Great help. And yes, I am planning to fly there for the day! Montreal to Paris overnight, then out again on Sunday afternoon, unless my wife can somehow secure Monday off. But it doesn't look like it. But oh well, not too old for some spontaneity just yet! Its a surprise for her birthday.And have passes to get there, so not too bad.
And sorry, I meant Palais Garnier.
11
Could be....I've travelled a fair amount I think,but I've never been crazy enough to attempt a trans-continental day trip.(Ok...if you count Istanbul maybe yes..but that's something different ;-)
I'd guess that the OP wouldn't get any jet lag in Paris,but would get it after returning to Canada? Even if west to east jet lag is usually worse......
12
When your flight lands at 9am but your body thinks it's 3am, there will be physical consequences at some point in the day.If you don't sleep well on the plane you'll almost certainly sleep well during the opera.
Total travel time from the time you leave your home to the time you arrive at your Paris hotel (and the reverse for the trip home): approx. 18 hours.
Total time you'll spend from hotel arrival to hotel departure: 24 1/2 hours tops. That includes time you'll be sleeping.
One flight delay will expose the central, obvious flaw of this idea.
13
Actually, I understand that if the trip is really short, you don't really get jet lagged because your body doesn't have time to try to adapt to the new hours.
well, that's true bjd but only if you stick to your home time. Which is a little convenient as you will be sleeping during day time, when attractions are open, and awake well after midnight, with little to do. I use that strategy on 2 day trips from Europe to the US- get to the US, go to bed at 8pm, and wake up at 5am. , keeping a semblance of my European time schedule.
14
So an update, just in case anyone was curious.So we left Montreal on a Thursday night, landing Paris around 09:00 Friday.
Jumped on the RER B, one connection downtown, and arrived at Hotel Concorde-Lafayette around 11:00 am. Quick shower, freshen up, and off we went.
Walked to Arc-de-Triumphe, then all the way down Champs Elysees, checked out all the stores/markets/stalls along the way. Walked through the square, across the river, along the bank of the Seine all the way to Notre Dame. Got there just in time for a mass, which was beautiful. Continued on to the Louvre afterwards. Then back to the metro for a ride back to the hotel around 11pm.
Day 2 was spent with a trip to the summit of the Eiffel Tower, then off to Montmartre for the late afternoon, early evening. Great food around all the small stalls near Sacre-Couer.
back to the hotel around 9pm, then off to a local bar for a late night glass of wine.
back to Montreal early Sunday afternoon.
Never felt jet lagged, my wife felt great Monday at school.
All in all, it was a great long weekend, and would do it again in a flash!!
happy travelling everyone, and of course, Merry Christms!!!
