Sorry for the later reply but I wanted to follow up. I was typing up some notes for some friends who are coming to visit us this summer and I thought you might be interested in this too. I'll follow up with some specific Paris recs.
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Money: bring your ATM card and know your PIN number. Getting cash from the ATM is the best way to exchange money and it will also give you the most favorable exchange rate. I do not think you will need to bring any Euros from the U.S. If you want to bring some extra cash as emergency backup, dollars are fine and you can exchange those if you want to (but the rate will not be as good as the local ATM).
Credit cards: all your credit cards should work in Paris. However, if you don't know your PIN numbers for credit cards, you should reset them ahead of time and write them down. Credit card cash advance is a good backup policy in case you lose your ATM card.
Credit/debit cards, part 2: for any card you're going to use in Europe, contact your credit card company ahead of time and let them know the dates of the trip and where you're going. Most credit card companies have an online form to do this. For example, here is the form I use for my USAA cards.
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/bk_ck_howto_travelnotification_landing_mkt
Definitely do this before you leave because otherwise your credit card may be declined on suspicion of fraud the first time you use it.
Passports: bring a photocopy of your passport ID page and stick it in your suitcase just in case you lose your passport. Email a copy of it to yourself and to key contacts back home before you leave.
STEP: register with the State Department before you go, just in case.
https://step.state.gov/step/
Phones: you can activate your phone for international calling/texting for the time that you are going to be in Europe. We have iphones through AT&T, but if you guys are on different carriers I can help you figure out the options. You will want to turn off roaming data downloading in your phone before you go, and stick to web browsing/email only when you are connected to wifi (which the hotel & airbnb will have, as well as nearly every cafe). (International data usage without a plan is ridiculously expensive). Sprint accounts automatically include free international roaming but the data download is extremely slow. Not sure about Verizon or others.
Electric: for recharging phones and your other devices, you'll need to get a plug adapter for continental Europe. It's got two round plugs, looks like this.
https://www.amazon.com/Ckitze-Round-White-Europe-Adapter/dp/B01C5TG278/ref=pd_bxgy_23_i...
You should not need a power converter, even for a laptop if you're bringing one. Just the plug.
Packing, clothes: Good walking shoes are a must. We're going to be walking a lot. Weather wise it could be anywhere from the 60s to the high 80s. It will likely rain at some point so you may want to bring a light rain jacket/shell or a small umbrella. I would say 1 "dinner outfit" is all you need in the way of nicer clothes, but only country club casual (no jackets/ties or fancy dresses). For churches, shorts and bare shoulders are fine in the summer (but no hats).
Packing, other stuff.
* Don't bring a hair dryer as they might short circuit in Europe. You can pick one up for like 10 bucks.
* Don't bring any expensive jewelry.
* Definitely bring any prescription meds, enough for the whole trip. Getting meds in Europe may be difficult.
Guidebooks
If you guys are going to do a little sightseeing research, I recommend Rick Steves' book
https://www.amazon.com/Rick-Steves-Paris-2018/dp/1631216678/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=U...
and the DK Eyewitness Paris book (lots of great pictures)
https://www.amazon.com/DK-Eyewitness-Travel-Guide-Paris/dp/1465460454/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14...
Tags:
travel
Just wanted to thank you all for another great thread.
by PAK, Saturday, May 19, 2018, 12:59 (2457 days ago) @ Jay
You all have been a big help! There is some great advice here. I collated it as best I could and sent it along to my family.
sights: must-do's
by Jay , San Diego, Friday, May 18, 2018, 12:20 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
edited by Jay, Friday, May 18, 2018, 12:24
There have already been a ton of great recommendations and I would echo all of them. This is my list of must-do things in a 5-day trip.
General tip: don't try to do too much in one day. Leave a lot of breathing room for just walking around and exploring and sitting in parks and cafes. You are going to find out that the best thing about the city is sipping a coffee or glass of wine in a corner cafe watching the city roll by. It's delightful.
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* Ile de la Cité walk, which includes Notre Dame & Sainte-Chapelle and environs. You could design your own walk, use Steves' "Historic Paris" (which includes a map and a free audio podcast) https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours/paris, or take a guided tour.
(For guided tours I highly recommend Paris Walks; definitely do at least 1 of them. Here is their summer 2018 schedule: http://www.paris-walks.com/summer-walks_m.html )
* Montmartre walk, which includes the village and Sacre Coeur. Again, self- or guided-tour would be an option here. This is hillier than the other walks in Paris.
* Le Marais walk, which includes some vintage Hôtels, the old Jewish quarter, fantastic medieval architecture, and the Place des Voges, which might be the most perfect city square in the world.
* Eiffel Tower and Arc d'Triumph, and then down the Champs-Élysées (or vice versa). Go up if you want, but definitely walk the Champ de Mars and spend time just gazing in wonder at the world's most iconic structure. I would skip going up the Arc.
* Pick one of the Louvre or Musee d'Orsay. I would lean towards d'Orsay -- the building is really neat, it is more digestible in a single visit and contains a ton of impressionism which I love. However, the Louvre is the Louvre. Late night Louvre as others mentioned is a great option if it fits in your schedule but make sure the hours are the same in August. Of course, if you guys are museum people then you must do both of these.
* Boat tour at night after dinner, specifically Bateaux Vedettes off of Pont Neuf. You shouldn't need an advance ticket. Bring a bottle of wine and get a seat on the roof. You can do this during the daytime too if you want, but seeing everything lit up at night is amazing. http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/home/
* Picnic lunch in a park. Be sure that at least one day (or maybe every day) to put together a picnic from a market and have a nice leisurely meal while you take a break between walks. There are lots of markets and boulangeries where you can get quick and easy stuff to go: baguettes, cheese, a little charcuterie, some fruit, maybe some cookies, and a little wine. Our favorite park is the Luxembourg Gardens, which is sprawling and has lots of different areas. You could hit the Grande Epicerie de Paris, which is a huge food market in the Bon Marche department store, get your provisions, do a walk around Saint-Germain des Pres and end up in the Luxembourg Gardens. That would be a lovely half-day.
Other favorite parks include the Tuileries and Parc Monceau, but there are dozens of them big and small.
* Splurge on a good evening meal at least once. See the previous restaurant thread for some ideas, but also let me know what you're looking for. I just booked a dinner for us, my mom, and my sister's family at Grand Coeur, which I heard about through a friend. It looks great. There are so many good options.
* Before or after dinner (preferably before), go get a drink on the roof of one of the department stores, Galerie Lafayette, Printemps Hausmann, and Samaritaine all have little cafes on their roofs with amazing views to all directions. I had written about the Printemps in my other post, and I just found out they renovated that and upgraded the food options, so we are looking forward to checking it out in July. This is an easy thing to do on the way to dinner but I think it is a must-do simply because of the unbelievable views.
* On Day 5, if you want to get out of town, a day trip to Versailles is definitely doable, but it's worth most of a day. I think I mentioned this in a previous thread, but you can rent an electric cart to tool around the Versailles gardens (which stretch for literally miles). It is a really fun way to explore and worth the splurge. It might be a perfect thing for your mom, too.
Tags:
travel
Have you been to Giverney?
by Jack , Friday, May 18, 2018, 13:27 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
We're strongly considering stopping there on the way north to Normandy.
haven't, but going this summer
by Jay , San Diego, Friday, May 18, 2018, 14:59 (2458 days ago) @ Jack
as a day trip out of Paris.
re: The Louvre
by MattG, Friday, May 18, 2018, 12:27 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
I don't really recommend trying to see all of it, really ever. It's just too big.
You'll see enough museum stuff if you pick the big highlights and chart a course between them.
Mona Lisa ->
Venus de Milo ->
Winged Victory ->
That Rembrandt picture that was the album cover for Rum, Sodomy and the Lash ->
Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People (the Frenchest thing.)
And there's the Rubens room
by Jack , Friday, May 18, 2018, 13:30 (2458 days ago) @ MattG
If you're into zaftig shiksas.
a book and a movie (fixed video)
by Jay , San Diego, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:25 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
edited by Jay, Friday, May 18, 2018, 17:25
book
If you can squeeze in one book before you leave, knock out Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast." It's a quick read and will give you a great flavor of Paris.
“There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other. We always returned to it no matter who we were or how it was changed or with what difficulties, or ease, it could be reached. Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it. But this is how Paris was in the early days when we were very poor and very happy.”
movie
"Midnight in Paris," even if only for the opening.
Music rec: buy an Edith Piaf collection
by HCE, Friday, May 18, 2018, 13:33 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
Everything she sings sounds like springtime in Paris.
UK-specific tip - they... replaced? all their money?
by MattG, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:06 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
It's weird, but my giant pile of 1-pound coins and handful of 5-pound notes I've accumulated over the years are WORTHLESS NOW.
Apparently there was a mass "trade-in" of old notes and coins a few years ago. You can still take the old money to the bank or something but who has time for that. I gave my 5-pound notes to my brother in law, but I'm keeping the old coins.
The new pound coins are super shiny and weigh less and I HATE THEM LIKE POISON.
The old pound coin was the best money in the world. I think it actually weighed a pound. It ruled.
Is money from 2013 still good?
by CK08, Friday, May 18, 2018, 12:28 (2458 days ago) @ MattG
When did they make the switchover?
Not the pound coins or 5-pound notes.
by MattG, Friday, May 18, 2018, 12:45 (2458 days ago) @ CK08
The coins stopped being accepted last year. Not sure on the notes.
I was in London over New Years, and my old money was universally rejected. I just gave it all to my brother-in-law in exchange for him picking up a round.
You can put those old notes in a decoy wallet!!
by Jack , Friday, May 18, 2018, 13:20 (2458 days ago) @ MattG
- No text -
Not true with the coins. They're still perfectly good
by Jack , Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:09 (2458 days ago) @ MattG
edited by Jack, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:33
They aren't any different from changing the looks of quarters and nickels here. The old ones still work. The shapes and sizes are the same, only the designs are different (since 2008), with the exception of the new pound coin issued last year. But the old one is still accepted. Hell, there are still occasionally 1 shilling coins that pop up (same as 10 pence).
Notes are replaced every few years to foil counterfeiters. Old notes trade side by side with the new for an extended grace period with a public deadline while being culled by the banks.
Now for real confusion on notes, there's Scotland, where not just one set of notes exist, but four (the Bank of England notes that work everywhere in the UK, and three Scottish banks all different from each other), and Northern Ireland with four more banks for a total of five sets of notes. Oh, and one more each for Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.
OH NOW ITS ON. They are not legal tender
by MattG, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:41 (2458 days ago) @ Jack
https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/old-one-pound-coins-expire-9832465
They ceased to be legal tender last year on October 15.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/2132666/old-pound-coins-expiry-deadline/
Ah, but that article says you can still exchange them
by Jack , Friday, May 18, 2018, 13:11 (2458 days ago) @ MattG
edited by Jack, Friday, May 18, 2018, 13:15
So I say we're both right, and can declare victory.
That is a first for the UK since the change to the decimal system.
Why we don't do the same as they due with expiration of currency is totally mysterious. But why we still have $1 bills is just as mysterious.
Well, yes. That’s what I originally said :)
by MattG, Friday, May 18, 2018, 13:28 (2458 days ago) @ Jack
“You can still take the old money to the bank or something but who has time for that.” -MattG, two posts ago
That’s why I traded my expired money to my brother in law in exchange for him taking my turn to buy a round.
I have an easier method
by Jack , Friday, May 18, 2018, 13:33 (2458 days ago) @ MattG
edited by Jack, Friday, May 18, 2018, 13:37
In case you don't have a friend or relative to provide that service.
Use them for tips. They have more time to get to the bank because they live there.
Awesome info. Couple of things to add...
by PAK, Friday, May 18, 2018, 10:15 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
Check your passport! I thought for SURE that mine was good to go, but it expired in December. Same for several of my family that are going with us. Thankfully we have enough time to get them renewed.
Credit cards often have foreign transaction fees. It may be worthwhile to apply for a card that doesn't have them. Cards that offer extra cash back for travel always seem to have no foreign transaction fees.
Most countries have pay as you go phones available which are an alternative to activating your phone for international use, which can be expensive. Google maps allows you to download maps for offline use, which will be convenient.
I'm a big fan of packing a power strip when I travel. Most hotels were designed before the days when everyone had multiple things that need to charge overnight.
Thanks for the guidebook recommendations. I know my mom got one already but I may pick one up as well.
Also, we booked a hotel in the 1st Arr.
by PAK, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:31 (2458 days ago) @ PAK
It's like 3 blocks from the Louvre. My brother convinced everyone a hotel would be a better idea than an AirBnB, if only for a concierge. It seems relatively well reviewed and the location seems very nice. I didn't feel strongly enough about it to bother arguing and didn't want to sign up for picking where we'd be staying.
can't be more central than that
by Jay , San Diego, Friday, May 18, 2018, 12:21 (2458 days ago) @ PAK
Which one, by the way? I'll see if I know any good cafes or restaurants nearby.
Normandy Hotel on Rue de l'Échelle
by PAK, Friday, May 18, 2018, 13:08 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
We figure it'll be ~$500/person for the entire stay. Reasonable considering the location IMO.
Angelina is right around the corner
by Jay , San Diego, Friday, May 18, 2018, 14:58 (2458 days ago) @ PAK
Parisian tea room famous for its hot chocolate and pastries. Fancy. Worth a stop.
If? Hah!
by Greg, seemingly ranch, Friday, May 18, 2018, 12:35 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
I'll bet you know bartenders, wait staff, and the name of the dog who sits out front.
Let me guess. Fideaux?
by Jack , Friday, May 18, 2018, 14:59 (2458 days ago) @ Greg
- No text -
Worth it.
by MattG, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:48 (2458 days ago) @ PAK
We were near Le Madeline last time - not in the 1st, but close enough.
I've also stayed in relatively out-of-the-way places.
Being right in the middle of everything costs more, but it's a solid investment IMO, especially if it's anyone's first time in Paris.
In the 1st, you've got the Louvre, the Tuileries the river - right next door the Concorde & Madeline, Orsay right across the river, Pont Neuf to the Latin Quarter - there are just a ton of things to see that are right on top of each other.
You really get the Paris-as-a-movie-set overwhelming feeling down in the center of things.
Some notes
by Joe I , Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:05 (2458 days ago) @ PAK
Regarding EU plugs and power strips, we have a Conair All-in-One adapter and love it. We take it on every international trip and don't have to think about power conversion or extra plugs. https://www.conair.com/c/32e73g91/allinone-adapter-with-usb/358
Regarding phone service / wifi, I swear by a pocket Wifi rental. We've gotten one on every recent international trip, and I highly recommend it as alternative to activating International phone / data on your cell plan (depending on required speed / cost of your cell plan, obviously). A pocket Wifi typically costs around $10 / day for unlimited data. Not the cheapest, but a ton of flexibility. Try HIP Pocket Wifi or TEP (there are a number of options, but factor in quality of service when researching)
1) They will deliver it wherever you want, including your hotel and sometimes to the airport directly, for pickup on landing.
2) You can connect as many devices as you should need. (phones, tablets, laptops, family, friends, etc), so there's only the cost for one device rental instead of activating every phone.
3) Data speeds are fast
4) Bring a USB power bank as backup, and you can keep the pocket wifi active 24/7.
Apps we regularly use on our phones when travelling abroad include: Google Maps, Google Translate, local Metro/rail app, local food / restaurant app (try Le Fooding or La Fourchette). One thing I really like to do is research some restaurants / visitor sites in advance and drop pins in Google Maps for them. This makes for a great backup plan if you are in a specific area and are looking for something to do / eat in a pinch.
One place I'd recommend visiting not already mentioned (that I'd seen), is the Rodin museum. Indoor / outdoor sculptures abound. Another would be to simply hit up local farmer's markets.
Adding, macaron
by Joe I , Friday, May 18, 2018, 15:37 (2458 days ago) @ Joe I
I was never much of a macaron fan until visiting Paris. I always thought the flavors of the bites were heavy handed and not worth the hype.
Until I tried Laduree. Changed my opinion completely, and I do love the preciseness of the fruit profiles in the filling. I recognize there are a million different opinions on everyone's favorite shop, so we hit a lot of stores in Paris. Laduree, still my favorite. YMMV.
I'll second the Rodin museum. I thought that was the
by BillyGoat, At Thanksgiving with Joe Bethersontin, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:13 (2458 days ago) @ Joe I
coolest art museum of the bunch.
Obviously, doesn't have the consolidated star power of the Louvre or the D'Orsay. But Rodin was obviously awesome in his own right. And you get The Thinker out of the deal. The indoor/outdoor aspect was very nice.
Agreed. It's worth it for The Gates of Hell alone
by HCE, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:22 (2458 days ago) @ BillyGoat
- No text -
Agreed, and it's also right near Les Invalides
by Jack , Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:21 (2458 days ago) @ BillyGoat
So you can view The Thinker and then boogie on over to Napoleon's Tomb.
Les Invalides is one of the great military museums in the world.
Yep. It's pretty amazing.
by BillyGoat, At Thanksgiving with Joe Bethersontin, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:30 (2458 days ago) @ Jack
- No text -
it's the next must-see after the big 2
by Jay , San Diego, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:21 (2458 days ago) @ BillyGoat
even for the gardens alone. It's such a peaceful place. And it's so centrally located you can easily do it as part of a half day that also includes Invalides and the Eiffel Tower.
good tip on temporary phones
by Jay , San Diego, Friday, May 18, 2018, 10:25 (2458 days ago) @ PAK
If you're savvy you can also swap in a European SIM card to your existing phone (if it's unlocked). I have always bucked up for the international plan (since I want to keep the same number available in case people need to reach me) but there are definitely cheaper options out there. Another option is simply to make calls via Skype while connected to wifi.
If you have T-Mobile ONE, it works in any country for free.
by MattG, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:02 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
I know they aren't the BEST network, but they're adequate, and that's a pretty gigantic perk.
(You also get 30 minutes of in-flight GoGo internet - unlimited if you're on ONE+)
In the last 6 months, we've used our T-Mobile iPhones in the UK, Iceland and Mexico with absolutely no additional charges.
And we use a ton of data. We were streaming videos, for crying out loud.
"Don't bring any expensive jewelry."
by Grantland, y'allywood, Friday, May 18, 2018, 10:09 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
Was just discussing with my parents - they have a friend who brought and wore nice jewelry in France. Someone figured it out saw the bag she was carrying it in. On the highway got them to pull over under the ruse that something was wrong with the car. While one was "explaining" to them, the other somehow go the bag and they hauled ass. If you ain't royalty you do not need jewelry.
To reiterate language discussions. I have never been to France but dad says they are great people, and a little effort on the language goes a long way.
I found this to be true in Italy as well.
transpo tips
by Jay , San Diego, Friday, May 18, 2018, 10:04 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
edited by Jay, Friday, May 18, 2018, 10:21
Transpo
Uber & cabs are ubiquitous, but since you are a group of 5 I would opt for the public transpo as your primary mode. In some stations there are a lot of steps, but your mom should be fine unless she walks with a cane/walker.
Public transportation includes the Metro (subway), the RER (commuter rail through city and to suburbs) and buses.
You can buy books of individual tickets (carnet). Single tickets are 1.90€, book of 10 for 14.90€. They are good for any metro, RER, or bus ride within zones 1-3 (the city limits).
There is also a "Navigo" pass that runs weekly from Mon-Sun only; they're meant for local commuters but anybody can buy one. You would need to supply a photo. Might not be a good fit depending on the weekdays you'll be there.
"Paris Visite" is the tourist pass and you can get it for 3 or 5 days I believe. It works on all public transit for zones 1-3. It's 38€ for the 5-day version.
https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/paris-visite-travel-pass
Visite may or may not be worth it depending on how many trips you think you're going to take. The pro is you don't have to fumble around with individual tickets; but the pro for carnets is that anybody in your group can use one.
You can use the ticket machine in any station to buy any of these except the Navigo (where you have to go to the window). Machines have English as an option.
BTW Versailles & Disneyland are outside zone 3 so if you have a 1-3 pass you would need to buy a separate ticket to get to those.
Metro lines are identified by color & number, and the direction named by the end stop on the line. It is very easy to navigate. Maps are everywhere. Just find the station you want, identify the line and the direction you're going, and look for the name at the end of the line to know which track to wait on. Google maps will also find metro routes for you, including station transfers.
Metros run until about 1AM (2AM on weekends, schedules vary).
Metro etiquette includes letting people get off before you step in; keeping conversations at a low volume; and not using the retractable pull-down seats if it is crowded. Offering seats to older people is common. If you are stuck behind people and need to get off, say "Pardon" (or "Pardon, s'il vous plait") and move on through.
There are definitely pickpockets working the trains and the busy stations but if you don't offer an easy target (like hanging a purse open) you'll be fine.
As in NYC you'll find musicians working the metro. Some are very good! You'll be hustling to make a connection and then have to stop to appreciate. I took this the last time I was there:
For pickpockets, use a decoy wallet
by Jack , Friday, May 18, 2018, 10:55 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
edited by Jack, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:07
May sound silly, but I'm serious. If you don't have an old wallet to use, of course there are websites that offer them.
It's kind of fun putting worthless crap in the wallet and almost hoping that some pickpocket ends up with spent Starbucks cards, credit cards from long gone organizations like Circuit City, a Blockbuster Video card, 10 year old business cards of people you don't remember, a Get Out of Jail Free card and maybe an old 500 lire note you might have found in a drawer.
Yes, all of the above are in my decoy wallet. My real wallet stays home. My passport and money are in my money belt (or the passport is in the hotel safe). But I'm carrying a phone and a camera, so the decoy is still necessary. Pickpockets want cash above all else and will go for a wallet first.
On medications
by ReginaldVelJohnson , Friday, May 18, 2018, 09:43 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
Bring some immodium and/or Pepto as well. As I found out, neither are OTC in France. Same goes for naproxen/Aleve if you have a specific need/preference.
good point, I think basic allergy stuff may not be OTC
by Jay , San Diego, Friday, May 18, 2018, 10:05 (2458 days ago) @ ReginaldVelJohnson
If you use Claritin or something like that regularly you will want to bring some.
That is a terrific checklist, Jay
by Jack , Friday, May 18, 2018, 09:26 (2458 days ago) @ Jay
edited by Jack, Friday, May 18, 2018, 09:34
And I am saving it for exactly that purpose for my trip.