Paris Museum Pass
by Dabs
For the first time or return visitor who wants to see a lot, the Paris Museum Pass is not only a monetary bargain but also a time saver as you get to cut the sometimes considerable lines to get in. The Carte Musées-Monuments, which was sold for 1, 3 or 5 days, has been replaced by the Paris Museum Pass but it's essentially the same pass with different number of days.
The cost is (as of 7/1/08) 2-day pass: 30E , 4-day pass: 45E, 6-day pass 60E. We saved 9E per person on our last trip in August, 2008, on previous trips we saved even more because we visited more sights. The days must be consecutive days.
You can purchase the pass at any of the particpating museums or monuments, tourism offices and FNAC offices, you can see the list of places to purchase here. You can buy the pass a day or two in advance as it is not validated until you visit your 1st museum. We tried to buy at the Arc de Triomphe the night before but the ticket lady told us that they stop selling at 5:30 pm so we bought the next morning at Invalides. You do not want to try and buy at popular attractions such as Versailles or the Louvre.
Virtually all of the major sites in Paris are covered except the Eiffel Tower, the pass includes the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Rodin Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles, Fountainbleu, etc. For a full list visit the website.
Some of the museums have special entrances, most notably the Louvre which has a side entrance in the passage Richelieu so be sure not to stand in that huge line at the pyramid or at the Musee d'Orsay where there is a special entrance door. I believe there is also special access at Versailles.
The one place with very long lines that did not have a special entrance was the towers of Notre Dame which is restricted for security so go there early. St. Chappelle also had a security line that it did not appear that you could bypass.
Note: a lot of the museums included on the Pass are free the 1st Sunday of the month
The Eiffel tower... it's...
by theskydancer
The Eiffel tower... it's obviously an institution. I think everyone goes there to see it - there are nice views from the top, especially at night. With all the lights it's really one of paris' prettiest sights. My advice is to go at dusk... not only for the view but also because you normally don't have to queue up for hours to ride the two elevators to the top. On the tower there's also a restaurant (expensive) and a small caföteria (inexpensive). In my opinion it's much better than a night 'out' clubbing.
Traveler's Checks for 911 Only
by CALSF
There are lots of puzzled questions as to what payment method to use while in Paris. In short, travelers's checks are passe. The best thing to do is withdraw euro from ATM's (please refer to my ATM tip).
The reason is that you get a slightly better exchange rate there and also merchants are very reluctant to accept traveler's checks nowadays.
However, there is one instance in which traveler's checks should be used. This is when there is an actual emergency such as the ATM system is not functioning. In other words, use traveler's checks as an emergency backup only and not as your primary form of payment.
Kissing on the cheeks
by Mikebond
One of the customs that most shocks foreign tourists from outside Europe when they visit Paris (which is in most cases their first journey to France) is the social act of kissing people on the cheeks upon meeting and often upon departing, too. This gesture is called in French se faire la bise (litterally "to do the peck") and, unlike what people may think, it is not typically Parisian, since it originated in Bretagne before spreading across France and most European country.
Since the number of kisses on the cheeks varies from one region to the other, but also from a village to the neighbouring one, you should always know how many kisses are supposed to be exchanged. From what I have seen and read, Parisians give either two or four kisses, but I'm not sure of when they give two and when four. I guess that two kisses are for people one meets every day and four are for people one meets from time to time. I also suppose that when one meets a group of several people and has to do the bise to all of them (yes, that is socially compulsory!), one gives two kisses because four would take too long.
However, beware that in the rest of Ile-de-France the number of kisses changes, but I don't know what the praxis is, since I have never seen it. Follow the links above to learn more about the bise.
Packing List
by Gypsystravels
While I try to take as little as possible these are some items that I must take along with me on most of my travels. I travel during any season and adjust my packing list according to the weather, type and length of travel. Following is just a sample of the items that I usually take along:
2 pair of slacks one black, the other any color depending on the season (depending on the season, linen or cotton for the spring/summer, wool/wool blend or polyester blend for fall/winter
1 black jacket to dress up the slacks or for casual dinning)
1 black dress (for evening dinning, show, opera, etc, or for a night out at a club)
1 pair of jeans and a pair of khakis or Capri’s (again, depending on the season)
2 skirts or shorts which can be worn either during the day or into the early evening
2 white t-shirts or tank tops
3 casual/dress shirts (sweaters in the winter)
1 pair of walking shoes for daytime touring
1 pair black shoes or sandals
2 bathing suits and 2 cover-ups
one week’s worth of undergarments
2-3 pajamas or oversized t-shirts for sleeping
4 spare pairs of contact lenses
5-7 pair of trouser socks
contact lens solution
spare glasses
extra pair of sunglasses
blow dryer (never leave home without it)
travel iron
cosmetics in a travel case
my favorite shampoo and conditioner in travel sizes
hand and body lotion travel size
Tylenol, allergy medication and any other medication I am taking at the time
Hair accessories, brush, hats or caps
2 cameras, plenty of film and extra batteries for the camera
Guide books, itineraries, maps, copies of my passport, airline tickets, phone numbers to credit card companies, extra ATM card for withdrawal from savings if my regular card fails, 2 credit cards, $500 in cash for just in case of emergency, $200 traveler’s checks (again, for just in case something happens with my ATM cards)
Extra travel bag to put all my purchases in.
What I tend to do if I am traveling during the colder season, I usually wear the jacket, a heavy sweater, wool pants, along with boots (these are items that would take up more space in the luggage). In my carry-on bag I usually have an oversized T-shirt, drawstring cotton pants and a spare pair of socks which I change into about 1 ½ hours into the flight if I am going to Europe. I also carry my tooth brush (no morning breath here), something to read, glasses, contact case and travel solution, Tylenol (I usually get headaches during long flights).
Remember to adjust your packing to the location and time of year, and just go out there and enjoy your time wherever that may be.
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chambre de la reine
Grande Arche
Mosaic on the Red Cross building at no. 9.
Antiphonaire of charity dating from 1700.
