mbp727

So I just booked my family's tickets to go to France August 1st-13th. We plan on being in Paris for the last 4-5 days of the vacation to celebrate my mom's birthday with her brother who is flying in from Athens. We land in Paris at 6 AM the 2nd and planned on immediately heading down to somewhere in the south, however we are not sure yet.

Where are some nice places to go outside of Paris
Where do you recommend we stay
If we do decide to heard to the south should be take a flight, or use the TGV?

Thanks!

C's Bimmer

If you can make it south, I love Juan-les-Pins. I spent a lot of time there.

mbp727

That looks nice... where do you stay when you go?

C's Bimmer

Family friends.

mbp727

do they have room for 5?

sdg1871

I've vacationed twice in Paris and am going again in early Oct so I can give you stuff I like there if interested. If you get a chance to ride the TGV take it. High speed rail is such a great experience.

mbp727

If you have any recommendations it would be greatly appreciated

sdg1871

Food if you like cafes/brasseries): Cafe' de Flore (172 bd. St-Germain, 6e) or Les Deux Magots (6 place St-Germain-des-Pres', 6e)

Best ice cream ever: Berthillon (31 rue St-Louis-en-I'lle, 4e). This ice cream shop is located on the main drag on Ile St-Louis. It is absolutely amazing.

Top Sights to see:

Basilique du Sacre'-Coeur (a beautiful, large church overlooking all of Paris from high on a hill)
Cathedrale de Notre-Dame (the most famous cathedral in all of Paris)
Musee de Louvre (where the Mona Lisa is)
Musee de Orsay (houses one of the world's best collections of impressionist art)
Arc de Triomphe
Hotel des Invalides/Napoleon's Tomb
Saint-Chapelle
Eiffel Tower
Musee Picasso
Pantheon

We really enjoyed a cruise on the Seine. We went on a Bateux-Mouches cruise (departs from the Right Bank next to pont de l'Alma.

Some of the best neighborhoods to visit:

Ile de la Cite -- http://www.aparisguide.com/ile-de-la-cite/index.html
Ile St-Louis -- http://gofrance.about.com/od/paris/a/ilesaintlouis.htm
St-Germain-des-Pres (located in the 6th Arrondissement) -- this area is beautiful and studded with amazing cafes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-G...-des-Pr%C3%A9s
Le Marais: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Marais
And Montmarte (if you are into skin....)(18th Arrondissement): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmartre

Shopping:

9th Arrondissement (home to the City's big department stores which are in the row on Boulevard Haussman including Galeries Lafayette and Au Printemps -- but no bargains there)
1st and 8th Arrondissements (includes the Champs-Elysees (Paris' most famous street) and rue de Faubourg-St-Honore' (home to the major designer botiques)

There is sooo much to do in Paris that I could write about it for pages and pages and pages. It is a fantastic city and one of the most beautiful in the world. Oh, and as for getting around, take the Paris Metro. It is well-run, cheap to use and gets you everywhere. Here is a link to the map: http://www.gites-in-vendee.com/metro_2.pdf

stoic1

Don't forget the Palace of Versailles. It's not too far away.

sdg1871

Absolutely. I pm'ed the op about that when I realized I'd forgotten it in my post. A must see