2018 Paris Itinerary
ARCHIVE (2018)
Here is an draft of the Paris Itinerary
What follows is simply a suggestion
Saturday, December 22nd 2018
Depart for Paris
This year we don’t have a non-stop flight
With One-Stop in a European city, we saved half of the ticket price
Although we leave one day earlier and stay in Paris another night
Sunday, December 23rd 2018
It is going to be a long day
Most of the day will be occupied by Travel
Be Careful: It’s Jet-Lag-Day – your nerves with be frayed and your patience has been spent,
So it’s time to engage your “sangfroid”
Stopping for a couple hours on our one-stop flight
Arriving in Paris late in the day
Maybe too late to conduct Airport Business (Museum Pass, Postage Stamps)
Buy an RER ticket into Paris and a stack of 10 Metro Tickets “a Carnet” for travel through Paris
Check-in to Montmartre Hotel
Our best way to adjust your body-clock to Paris time is to go to bed early and get up and get out of bed early the next morning.
Evening Theater Performance (which turns out to be too late given our flight)
Monday, December 24th (Christmas Eve)
Because of our travel arrangements, this is an extra day
Sleep in
Have a Special Lunch (Chez Denise?)
Tour of Bridges, Fountains or Cemeteries
Visit venues not covered by the Museum Pass
A great and storied area to explore along with the Montmartre Cemetery
Sometimes there is a first run movie worth seeing, Christmas Evening
Buy a Museum Pass
Discover Montmartre, the Artists District
Climb up to Sacre Cour
Shop for Groceries and Supplies in some stores which will be closed on Christmas Day
Purchase Advance Tickets for a Christmas Day Movie
Lets Run Paris
Tuesday, December 25th (Christmas)
Moving Day
A Sunrise Church Service at Notre Dame is a good plan
(Notre-Dame de Paris)
Afterwards, the narrow streets of the Latin Quarter are uncharacteristically desolate, so are the iconic (overpriced and touristy) cafes which we have yet to visit
Breakfast: Last year we visited Au Pied de Cochon after mass for a great bowl of onion soup, served on white table cloth (and maybe some oysters)
It’s an easy walk over to Centre Pompidou, which is open of Christmas morning
Then it’s back to Montmartre and up to Sacre Couer
Back to Montmartre for Check-out
Travel to Versailles on RER train
Matinee Performance at l’Opéra-Comique (Hamlet) CANCELLED (how can Christmas Matinee be Cancelled?)
Check-in to Versailles Hotel
Palace de Versailles is CLOSED
Garden and Park de Versailles is OPEN every day
Wednesday, December 26th
Up and Out, Early and in-line when the Museums Open
Breakfast in Versailles
Museum Pass Day #1
Le Louvre
Up and Out Early onto RER into Paris and In-Line when Musee D’Orsay Opens
Get in line early after visiting Eric Kaiser for a Pain au chocolat or Pain aux raisins and our daily Baguette aux céréales
Back to Versailles on RER
Tour the Chateau or the Grounds of Versailles
Discover Versailles, located in the western suburbs of Paris
Tour the Chateau (if the line is manageable)
Otherwise tour the grounds and outlying buildings
There are a variety of bakeries and groceries in historic Versailles, we avoid the other touristy side of town
Tour the Chateau or the Grounds of Versailles
Day #1 of Velib 7 Day Pass
Thursday, December 27th
One of Our Favorite Days:
RUN Versailles
Breakfast in Versailles
This is a day to enjoy the morning, sleep-in, RUN the grounds of Versailles and buy something for breakfast at the outdoor Marché
The hotel has an excellent breakfast, it’s one of the few Paris Hotel Breakfasts worth paying for
Check-out of Versailles
Moving Day (from Versailles to Pere Lachaise)
Museum Pass Day #2 A Six Day Museum Pass used Four Times
Friday, December 28th
Museum Pass Day #3
Discover Père-Lachaise/Gambetta Neighborhood
Saturday, December 29th
Up and Out for a Saturday morning RUN
Moving Day to Montparnasse
(this is a new neighborhood for us)
Museum Pass Day #4 (Not Used) A Six Day Pass Used 4 Days)
LETS RUN PARIS (Cancelled Due to Saturday Riots?)
Travel over to Montparnasse
Check-in to Hotel
Discover Montparnasse, a less congested area with local grocery and parks
Le Louvre
Then bike to L’Orangerie, Centre Pompidou or the Pantheon.
Maybe enjoy a Flaffel or Soup
Chicago. Le Musical (Théâtre Mogador)
Sunday, December 30th
Up and Out Early (maybe bike)and in-line when the Le Louvre Opens
Museum Pass Day #5
Perhaps an early Church Service before the Museums
Monday, December 31st (New Years Eve)
Moving Day (from Montparnasse to La Defense)
Museum Pass Day #6
Discover La Défense, a major business district just west of the city limits of Paris
Or return to Paris and Climb up into Arc de Triomphe or Visit the Opera House
Lunch: It’s a weekday in Paris, you might find someplace for lunch
Grocery Shopping downtown (we haven’t found any grocery stores in La Defense)
Evening Meal at Chartier or a concert
Ride Metro through Paris to La Defense
Check-in to La Defense
It’s guaranteed to be a wacked-out crowded, crazy day in Paris
Up and Out Early and in-line when the Museums Open
Le Louvre
OR maybe we join a Paris Meetup Group (Run Paris) for their Saturday morning run
Then Tie Up Loose Ends
Do some final shopping
Finish your correspondence and write Postcards
(Best Selection of Postcards on ground floor of le Louvre and a post office to buy French stamps)
Buy some groceries and New Years Eve goodies, maybe some Champagne
Relax and enjoy your last afternoon in Paris
The last two (3) years we purchased theater tickets, but it is not the best night to be out in the Metro returning to our hotel at 11p while people rush through the subway on the way to midnight celebrations. So celebrate early and visit churches and theaters the night before (you can be practical in Paris or you can succumb to the tourist experience)
There have been no fireworks in Paris on New Years Eve for several years
Last year there was an impressive light-show at the Arc de Triomphe
Although we are seldom up for midnight, La Defense has an spectacular plaza overlooking the City Lights of Paris
Tuesday, January 1st 2019 (New Years Day)
Final Day in Paris
Breakfast in La Defense
This is the usual day of our departure, but in a surprise twist, our flight was cancelled
This is the third time that our New Years Day flight has been cancelled
(when that happened before, we were notified the night before, but this time we had several months notice)
This is mostly good news: We have another day in Paris, Our flight was replaced with a non-stop flight (at a lower price) and we get to experience New Years Day in Paris for the first time.
Maybe a good day for a Movie
Ride the Velib
Wednesday, January 2nd 2019
RUN La Defense
Breakfast in La Defense
Up Early and Out for a RUN, with several paths about La Defense
Mail your postcards (or leave them at the Front Desk – to amuse the staff)
Check-out then ride Metro into Paris and RER train to Airport
(All trains are free from late New Years Eve through New Years Day)
Departure from Paris (CDG)
* A good traveler has no fixed plan and is not intent upon arriving” – Lao Tzu
Les Quatre Hôtels provides further information on the Four Hotels where we stay
Subscribe to Paris Memos (our email list)
Waiting List
Why should I join the Waiting List?
Paris for the Holidays 