Ok I finally pulled the trigger and booked Paris and the Hotel Observatoire Luxembourg for middle of July.
I so hoped I did ok in choosing this hotel! I confess my wife ususally picks the hotels, but this is a surprise Birthday Present Trip!. Now the real planning and I need help.First, I want to take her to Versaille for the day. Tour suggestions anyone?
Also I would appreciate any comments on the hotel or restaurant suggestions.
Thanks All
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Well, personally, I would do Versailles on your own. The train tickets are cheap and it%26#39;s easy to get there on your own.
Do a little research before you go and be your %26#39;own%26#39; tour guide. (You%26#39;ll thoroughly impress your wife!) A lot of people actually take guide book pages (instead of the whole book) with them on vacation.
The formal tours may be informational, but they also require you to go/stay at their convenience, and they%26#39;re a bit expensive.
For a really %26#39;different%26#39; and/or %26#39;unique%26#39; restaurant experience, consider Dans le noir. The wait staff is made up entirely of blind individuals, and you eat in pitch dark. You can order from a small menu or let them %26#39;surprise%26#39; you. They will teach you how to eat and drink without seeing. This is not for everyone!
Have a wonderful trip!
Vicki
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If my husband surprised me with a restaurant where I ate in the dark I would head home immediately and stop at my attorney%26#39;s office on my way from the airport.
I%26#39;m one of those people who takes only the appropriate pages from my guide books. The books themselves are too heavy and cover too much territory. If it%26#39;s a borrowed book, I copy the pages and then use the backs of the pages for my travel journal.
Do Versailles on your own, it will make a much better birthday present if you don%26#39;t have to share it with half the immediate world.
I usually go to the town early in the morning and have my breakfast near the station. I can then be at the Palace when they open and before the tour buses arrive.
I%26#39;ve taken 3 or 4 visits to see everything, but you can do it in a half day. However, since you%26#39;re going in mid July, I%26#39;d do the Palace in the morning, leave the site for lunch, and then return for the gardens and fountain spectacle. That will make for a full and enjoyable day - and an excellent birthday surprise.
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The hotel you have booked is just a couple of doors down from where we are currently staying. It is a nice area, with the lovely Jardins du Luxembourg just near by. The only slightly annoying thing is being on a RER linge rather than a Metro one, but this is not a huge problem.
We ate at a wonderful place last night, it is at the nearby Place d%26#39;Odeon, called La Mediterranee. The menu was €32 and was quite, quite delicious. The place itself was relaxed and pleasant.
For more %26#39;creative%26#39; food try Maceo in the 1e. We are returning tomorrow night - I cannot wait!
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Thank you so much for the feed back. I have started a restaurant list and your%26#39;s is the first. As far as Versaille, I have decided to NOT do a tour. Now the question of how to get there from our hotel. Any suggestions? I saw a van/bus service for something like 45euros, seems ok. Any suggestions?
Anyone have comments on the Hotel Observatoire Luxembourg?
Thanks all. Much help!
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Is it better to take a bus or train or metro to Versaille for the day? Any suggestions? Also can you purchase the entrance tickets there? Cost?
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I went with a friend to Dans le Noir on my last visit to Paris. It is quite a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I actually lost my equillibrium from not being able to see anything and felt motion sick. My friend had a glass of wine (which I did not) and didn%26#39;t have this happen to her at all. The food is quite decent and it certainly is an unusual experience. It isn%26#39;t for everyone. I especially think that families with kids ages 9 and up might really enjoy the experience. It would be a fun, memorable adventure. By the way, there is also a Dans le Noire in London (if I remember correctly) and there is one in Moscow too. Apparently it is quite a successful venture.
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Thanks for the reply.. I think we will pass on that restaurant, although sounds like fun with a group or so..I%26#39;m reading that the Latin Quiarters and Montmartre area seems like there might be interesting restaurants.
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