I'm back from DL. Here is the report that I posted on Trip Advisor after my trip to Paris in May. I wrote suggestions for London as well, but the file in on my laptop, so I'll post it later. Some of the things/places noted in this report are based on frequent questions/suggestions from Trip Advisor.
BASIC INFORMATION
I arrived early on a Sunday morning and left the following Sunday. I stayed at the Paris Westin (1st district). It was a solo trip and I hadn't been in Paris in about 15 years. I have passable french.
TRANSPORTATION
To/From CDG
Before I left, I had narrowed my options down to the RER/Metro (switch at Chatelet/Less Halles, the Tuileries stop on line 1 was very close to my hotel)or the Roissy Bus (drops you off at the Opera which was a 10 minuteish walk to my hotel). I ended up going with the Roissy bus into Paris and the RER/metro out of Paris. If I did it again, I would reverse things. My terminal was the first stop for the Roissy bus, which meant I had a lovely tour of CDG. Coming back, my terminal would have been the first stop again. Chatelet/Les Halles is really not that bad to transfer (I think I had to go down 2 staircases with a moving walkway in between). If the Roissy Bus is not within walking distance of your hotel, I'd probably stick with the RER/Metro (if you are going to end up on the metro anyway, it is better if the price is already part of your ticket).
Within Paris
I debated purchasing a Carte Orange or a Carnet. In the end, my uncle had a leftover carnet from a previous trip, so I just used that. I actually only used 4 tickets during my week, since I was able to walk to most places I wanted to go. I'd advise looking at your hotel location and deciding how much you'll actually use the metro and basing your choice on that.
MUSEUMS
I got a 4 day museum pass and was very glad that I did. I planned my itinerary such that I did things not on the pass on my first 3 days and did all the 'pass' things on my last four days. I did save money, but would probably buy the pass even at a slight loss for the ability to bypass lines (Musee d'Orsay had huge lines), to drop into museums that I hadn't thought about, and to split my visit to the Louvre over 3 days (my hotel was about 5 minutes away, so I could easily pop in for short visit). I prefer the Musee d'Orsay over the Louvre (sorry) and loved L'Orangerie.
FOOD
I mainly ate at small cafes/bistros or got food at Monoprix etc., but I had one "fancy" meal at L' Atelier de Joel Rubichon which was excellent. They only take reservations for the first sitting at dinner, but I went for a late lunch (I think it was 3pm) for which I could make a reservation and which fit in well for my touring plans. My only unpleasant meal was a surprising quiche that had apricots in it (I thought I was choosing a mushroom quiche). The quiche itself was well made, I just didn't like the taste (this was at BHV, near the Pompidou, which I do recommend for a quick/not too expensive lunch). The other lunch time that I was in the area, I had a Falafel at L'as Falafel.
I fell in love with salted caramel - especially as an ice cream at Berthillon (liked it so much I went twice) and as macarons at Laduree.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I took both the day and night tours with Fat Tire and loved them both (I did the day tour the day I arrived and the night tour on my last night, which worked well).
I took pictures at the Eiffel Tower, but went up Montparnasse Tower - cheaper, no line, and you have the Eiffel Tower in your pictures.
If you are looking for places to jog - Tuileries Gardens, Champs du Mars, and Luxembourg Gardens are ideal.
Now that I've written a novel, I suppose that I should stop. Hope that this helps when planning your trip!
BASIC INFORMATION
I arrived early on a Sunday morning and left the following Sunday. I stayed at the Paris Westin (1st district). It was a solo trip and I hadn't been in Paris in about 15 years. I have passable french.
TRANSPORTATION
To/From CDG
Before I left, I had narrowed my options down to the RER/Metro (switch at Chatelet/Less Halles, the Tuileries stop on line 1 was very close to my hotel)or the Roissy Bus (drops you off at the Opera which was a 10 minuteish walk to my hotel). I ended up going with the Roissy bus into Paris and the RER/metro out of Paris. If I did it again, I would reverse things. My terminal was the first stop for the Roissy bus, which meant I had a lovely tour of CDG. Coming back, my terminal would have been the first stop again. Chatelet/Les Halles is really not that bad to transfer (I think I had to go down 2 staircases with a moving walkway in between). If the Roissy Bus is not within walking distance of your hotel, I'd probably stick with the RER/Metro (if you are going to end up on the metro anyway, it is better if the price is already part of your ticket).
Within Paris
I debated purchasing a Carte Orange or a Carnet. In the end, my uncle had a leftover carnet from a previous trip, so I just used that. I actually only used 4 tickets during my week, since I was able to walk to most places I wanted to go. I'd advise looking at your hotel location and deciding how much you'll actually use the metro and basing your choice on that.
MUSEUMS
I got a 4 day museum pass and was very glad that I did. I planned my itinerary such that I did things not on the pass on my first 3 days and did all the 'pass' things on my last four days. I did save money, but would probably buy the pass even at a slight loss for the ability to bypass lines (Musee d'Orsay had huge lines), to drop into museums that I hadn't thought about, and to split my visit to the Louvre over 3 days (my hotel was about 5 minutes away, so I could easily pop in for short visit). I prefer the Musee d'Orsay over the Louvre (sorry) and loved L'Orangerie.
FOOD
I mainly ate at small cafes/bistros or got food at Monoprix etc., but I had one "fancy" meal at L' Atelier de Joel Rubichon which was excellent. They only take reservations for the first sitting at dinner, but I went for a late lunch (I think it was 3pm) for which I could make a reservation and which fit in well for my touring plans. My only unpleasant meal was a surprising quiche that had apricots in it (I thought I was choosing a mushroom quiche). The quiche itself was well made, I just didn't like the taste (this was at BHV, near the Pompidou, which I do recommend for a quick/not too expensive lunch). The other lunch time that I was in the area, I had a Falafel at L'as Falafel.
I fell in love with salted caramel - especially as an ice cream at Berthillon (liked it so much I went twice) and as macarons at Laduree.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I took both the day and night tours with Fat Tire and loved them both (I did the day tour the day I arrived and the night tour on my last night, which worked well).
I took pictures at the Eiffel Tower, but went up Montparnasse Tower - cheaper, no line, and you have the Eiffel Tower in your pictures.
If you are looking for places to jog - Tuileries Gardens, Champs du Mars, and Luxembourg Gardens are ideal.
Now that I've written a novel, I suppose that I should stop. Hope that this helps when planning your trip!