We are going to Paris for 2 week in less than 2 weeks. We'll be spending 4 nights at DLP, staying on-property at the Sequoia then spending the rest of the time in Paris in a hotel in Montmartre. I've read most of the travel accounts that I could get my hands on, plus advice from some other MP readers. However, I still have some more questions and could use some advice.

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Should I leave my rings at home? I'm used to wearing my wedding rings everywhere. Does that make me a target more than it would at home?
I plan on carrying valuables in a hidden security pouch, but what kind of purse is best? Should I invest in a wire-imbeded handle, a backback, an over the head/accross the body one?
In Paris, how does one stay comfortable, dry, cool, and fashionable all at the same time? I have this concern in most big cities I visit. I haven't figured it out yet. Maybe if I only wore black......
Best ways to minimize jet lag. Sleep on the plane, best way to do that, take drugs.....?
Any "don't miss" restaurants? We're both big foodies and will eat just about anything. Anyplace exceptional?
Anything else that you wish was in the guidebooks before you went (Paris or anywhere)?
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Our primary interest beyond DLP is art, archecture and gardens (I was an Art History major in college), French culture / lifestyle in general (experiencing and enjoying the diferences), Music (underground, techno, Rai, Chanson) and Food. No need to tell us about the best place to see sporting events.;)

And we only speak a very very very small amount of French.

We've both traveled quite a bit but its been a while.:crying: I promise a trip report when I return and wake up.

Thanks!

Lisa

Of course you knew you'd hear from me...right? Not that I have opinions or anything...

I did wear my wedding rings. I have no idea if it made me a target or not...but I wore them. I saw many women wearing lovely rings throughout the city. And I purposely looked for them...for the same reason you are worried about them. But, I didn't have any problem wearing mine.

Black seems to be the color for France. You will always fit in wearing...black.
That is what was told to my daughter before she went...so we knew she would fit in, because all she wears is...black. And, I did see a lot of black there...

I didn't think Jet-Lag would bother me...because I took melatonin on the plane so I could sleep. Wrong! Boy, it hit me bad. I could barely stay awake the first two days. I have no cure for you...but melatonin didn't help me with Jetlag...good luck. If you find an answer to it, let me know!!

I noticed the ladies of Paris carrying all kinds of purses. (and remember, the only mode of transportation we took was the metro...not one taxi while in Paris for us!). I saw ladies with over the shoulder bags, clutches, and satchels...
Just whatever will make you the most comfortable, and less vulnerable to pick-pockets. I'd wouldn't recommend the backpack kind...but I did notice ladies with those.

And all the restaraunts we ate at, our daughter took us to. But, we did get a hot chocolate at a place that was in the Frommer's book...Angelina's. They say that the waitresses there are "slightly snooty". Ha!! They were b***h's! The woman was so rude...and the service terrible. If it wasn't for the promise of the most decadant hot chocolate in the world on a rainy day...I would have left! The place is over priced, and the uppity help made the journey in not worth it.:mad: I'd avoid it.

Too bad you leave right as my daughter comes home. After living there all semester she probably could have told you all about the best night clubs and music scene places. She is big on that...plus, her being an Art major (She is going to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in August), she really went through all the museums, art shows, etc. with a fine tooth comb.
Either way...enjoy your trip. You will have a grand time!!:D

I would keep any jewelry at home because the less you take with you, the less you'll have to keep track of and you'll feel allot better knowing they're safe at home.

The best way to deal with jet lag is to NOT sleep in the daytime. It may be hard, but it works. If you sleep any time during the day , then you'll never adjust to the time. Stay up, and don't go to sleep until at least 6 or 7 in the evening.

That's my advice.

I know this isn't a problem for you, NA, but don't drink alochol on the plane. That's sure to mess you up jet-lag-wise. A good way to try to avoid jetlag is to try to get in synch with Paris time. I don't know when your plane leaves, or what your schedule the day before is, but if at all possible, for about 24 hours before, try to sleep while its night in Paris and be awake while it's day, no matter what time it is here. That should at least partially adjust your body and lessen the effects.

I'd recommend an over the head/across the body purse. Short of cutting the strap, there's no way anyone'll be able to grab it, plus it leaves your hands free.

I recommend Luxembourg gardens as a wonderful place to relax. And, though it's not exactly fine dining, at least poke your head into the McDonalds on the Champs Elysees. Nicest McDonalds you'll ever see :)

I really really wish I could remember the name of the restaurant I ate at every night for a week (hey, I was 16, like I was paying attention to restaurant names). The absolute BEST chocolate mousse I have ever had in my life. Hrmm, I think I took a picture of the front, I'll check my album tonight.

Oh, how could I have almost forgotten. This is a MUST, in my opinion. On Montmartre (a fun part of town to begin with) is a small museum called "Espace Montmatre Salvador Dali" with about 300 dali sculptures and paintings. I'd suggest finding it.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Well, there's the obvious stuff like the Louvre and Mousee Rodin (which was closed the day I tried to go :( ) etc. But you'll figure those out.

Lisa,

When does your flight get in? If you get there in mid-morning / afternoon, go to the hotel and take a one-hour nap, then get up, spend the rest of the day having fun, and get to sleep by about 10:00 local. Set your travel alarm to wake up at 7:00 or 8:00 the next morning, and then stick to a normal daylight schedule after that. If you are tired, take naps of no more than an hour.

As for purses.... I may not be the authority on this, considering I carry a camera (in a very nice camera bag from Lani), as a purse. If I take out my camera, all that is left are the credit cards and my ID. (I am just not a "My Purse is my Survival Kit" type of person)

Anyway, I put all of my credit cards and vital documents in a security wallet, which I wore under my sweater. I always knew where it was, I wasn't ever worried that I would drop it, lose it, leave it on a table, whatever. I did carry a larger bag to hold my press materials, but there wasn't anything valuable in it. If I had lost that, or someone had been trying to pick my pockets, all they would have gotten were some boring press releases and a pair of gloves.

AVP

(Oh, and Peggy is right - wear black!)

Haha! My Dad trained me well, I do indeed have a photo of the restaurant. It is called "Bistro Romain." From what I can tell, it is actually a chain and there is one at 78 Champs Elysees. The main courses don't stick out in my memory, but oh boy that mousse was to DIE for!

Have fun!

Originally posted by AVP
Lisa,

When does your flight get in? If you get there in mid-morning / afternoon, go to the hotel and take a one-hour nap, then get up, spend the rest of the day having fun, and get to sleep by about 10:00 local. Set your travel alarm to wake up at 7:00 or 8:00 the next morning, and then stick to a normal daylight schedule after that. If you are tired, take naps of no more than an hour.


(Oh, and Peggy is right - wear black!)


Flight gets in at 3:00 (CDG) so hotel by 5:30???? Nap, explore, eat, then bed by 10:00 pm. I think that's doable.

And black shouldn't be a problem for me. Its just finding that packable, comfortable black. I have been trying to branch out my wardrobe beyond black just a bit. Not such a good thing in this case.

Thanks everyone!

Great ideas so far.....Keep 'em coming!

Originally posted by Ghoulish Delight
Haha! My Dad trained me well, I do indeed have a photo of the restaurant. It is called "Bistro Romain." From what I can tell, it is actually a chain and there is one at 78 Champs Elysees. The main courses don't stick out in my memory, but oh boy that mousse was to DIE for!

Have fun!

Mr. G,

I had no idea you were such fount of Paris information.

Thanks!

Originally posted by Not Afraid
I have been trying to branch out my wardrobe beyond black just a bit. Not such a good thing in this case.

Oh, they wear other colors. They are called "scarves", and they come in a bazillion colors, and you will simply fall in love with the ones at DLP.

AVP

Originally posted by AVP


Oh, they wear other colors. They are called "scarves", and they come in a bazillion colors, and you will simply fall in love with the ones at DLP.

AVP

Yes, everyone did where scarves...everyone. And there was the cutest Mickey Mouse one at DLP...I still kick myself for not buying it. Oh well. :( Next time.

well,
I only spent two days in France, and only at the resort, so I can't really answer anything as well as your experts have been ;)

But I would make a comment about the jet lag thing. I think part of it depends on your position in the plane--we were able to stretch out totally and it helped dozing on the plane. If you are in coach, you may have trouble with this.

I really really recommend TRYING to sleep--my best friend was a nice puffy sleep mask. I used one every night on my trip. We tried the jet lag pills (melatonin). No earthly use...sorry. After laying awake in our hotel room the first night for three or four hours, we broke down and got some Nytol. Godsend. There is nothing worse than lying awake in your bed knowing you will feel like crap in the morning if you don't get some shut-eye. I took Nytol on the flight back and it helped with the jet lag coming home.

We pushed though the first day we were there. No nap. I have an aversion to naps anyway--I always feel WRONG when I wake up, you know? So we just soldiered on and tried to get right on the new time.

Anyway, we survived. You will be so excited when you are there, I think the sleep thing will be secondary. I hope so anyway. :)

Well, I haven't been to Paris, but my long flight to New Zealand was made a lot better because I had a seat next to an emergency exit and the bathrooms. No seats in front with plenty of leg room and I didn't have to get up to let my neighbors out. You could always try and request these seats if they aren't already filled. Sleep mask and earplugs are key if you want to sleep on the plane.

I e-mailed that kid of ours in Paris...I asked her what restaraunt we ate at on the Champs Elysees...

This restaraunt is just a few steps from the Arc De Triomphe...we could see it from the top of the Arc (which...is A LOT of stairs...be prepared!!).

The name of the restaraunt is: Chez Clement. We really enjoyed the food there. I guess it is a chain...but the prices were good, and the food very good. Smokers all over though....but you will find that everywhere. Like I said in the latest Mouse Planet Disneyland Paris article...the only restaraunt that we found that had a non-smoking section was The Rain Forest Cafe at The Disney Village,...oh, and that place that had the decadent hot chocolate had non-smoking section...but it was so crowded, that the smoke billowed over...and it even if it had non-smoking...it was still awful dealing with the extremely rude waitress.:(

So I surveyed my "packable" black clothing and felt it needed some sumplementation. But I want to save my money for Paris - what's a girl to do?

Well Ross Dress for Less is such a find! I got 7 new items of packable, but "citified" clothing - all black - for under $100.

I can sleep tonight (until I start thinking about the 3000 other things). :eek:

Originally posted by Not Afraid
So I surveyed my "packable" black clothing and felt it needed some sumplementation. But I want to save my money for Paris - what's a girl to do?Scarves, darling, scarves. Again, a reminder to visit my Web site (http://www.travelite.org) for ideas. I have a section specifically to help women pack.
If you have any wooden bead necklaces, they also serve to accessorize your wardrobe (and you don't have to worry about having them stolen).

Thank you everyone for your advice. We're leaving tomorrow with my fine selection of black clothing and plenty of layers. LisaP gave me a wonderful travel journal and I'll try to be studious about recording our experiences. We'll put together a trip report when we return (although, nothing could match the incredibly wonderful and funny Perkis Report).

See you back at the DL homestead and on MP.

Au revoir.

Lisa and Chris