Post Trip Reviews

Since TA closed Les_68%26#39;s post I thought I would make a some suggestions regarding research, etc.

Visitors Please post your reviews. they can be an invaluable source of info for others.

Please brief, stick the important things, i.e, close to metro stop, close to attractions, booking sites may show a view of Eiffel Tower but only 1 room has it, etc. Staff did not speak English, (don%26#39;t have to but would be nice to know for us those who only know the briefest French but cannot understand it at all) Let us know.

Yes, in the lower price hotels the rooms are extremely small but don%26#39;t give the hotel a low rate because of it. and let your rating = your comments. Same with the language barrier don%26#39;t give a lower rating.

and review the attractions, very few have reviews.

Post comments on forum. I found this great website. This metro station/stop was a problem if you have mobility problems, etc.

Suggestion to TA, would it be possible to delete the older reviews? i.e. 3 years or older. Could drastically change some ratings.

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In response to this I can tell everyone about our family trip over the Thanksgiving 2006 holiday.

1. We rented an apartment in the 16th off of Rue Passy. We thought the apartment was very nice. It was big enough for the 5 of us (parents and 3 kids aged 16, 19, 20). The only issue we had was the exceptionally small toilet that was in the hall. My husband is 6%26#39;4 so the door would not shut totally when he sat down. We had to have noone walk down the hall. Quite funny though. We paid 1400 euros for the week. The asked for a $1400 dollar deposit for the apartment which I mailed a personal check for. We were pleased with the apartment and with the service. They will mail your deposit check back after your visit or destroy it for you, whichever you choose.

My husband and I went last March 2006 alone and stayed at Hotel du Champ de Mars in the 7th. Room was ver small, but we paid around 88 euros a night so we could not complain. The owner is very aloof but we went to see Paris and did not pay him much mind. My Texan husband got quite a kick out of trying to make the man hold a conversation with him.

2. We bought Carte Orange passes both times we went as we take the metro alot. Saves time if you know exactly where you need to go. We also bought museum passes for ourselves and our 2 older kids. The 16 year old got in free all I had to do was say his age and he walked right in with us. Worth ever penny just not to wait in line.

3. Sunday we walked around our neighborhood. We were tired from the overnight flight from Houston so we walked around and looked at our surroundings. We walked to the Eiffel tower but it was sprinkling so we ended up eventually going back to the apartment and sleeping.

4. We went to the Louvre on Monday and saw the big three. We went in through the underground mall entrance and bought our museum passes at a Tabac there. We went to some of the stores in the mall and let our kids see the inverted pyramid from the Da Vinci Code which they got a kick out of. We then went to see the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo. We also went through the sculptures and to see the paintings of Liberty Leading the People, the Raft of the Medusa and Napoleon crowning himself. My daughter was in an art class at the time so she knew many of the paintings. We then took the kids to the Marais and looked around. We loved this place the first time we went so we went there alot.

5. We started this day at the Orsay. My daughter had to see the Gates of Hell and all of the paintings(art class kicking in). We ate lunch at the cafe there. Not the sit down place, the other one where you have to fight almost for a table. It was much easier this time with the kids as we staked them out to find a place to sit. Afte the Orsay we bought some street art form the guy selling outside. (I know it wasn%26#39;t real, but what the heck we didn%26#39;t pay much and after we framed it it looks like a million bucks.). Then went to Rodin and to see Napoleon%26#39;s Tomb. Rodin is so lovely. The gardens are just awesome. Then the highlight of our day CHANEL. It was really only the highlight of my daughter%26#39;s and my day. The boys and husband were just patient. I love this place. No cash registers. Just women waiting on you and then setting you down and bringing you something to drink while you wait for your turn in the little room to pay. Unique.

6. Wednesday was Versailles day. Made the family go on the guided tour which I loooved. They were not so enthused. We left there and went to Notre Dame. My husband has a bad back so after that we ended up eating at (I am Ashamed to say) Pizza Hut in the Marais. They felt they needed beer and pizza after my Versailles torture.

7. We went to the Pantheon. There was a weird exhibition going on with what look like giant balls hanging down from the ceiling. You can only imagine the fun my husband and boys had with this. Next to the Galeries Lafayette to let the kids have a breather and shop. Bought the most amazing Vans shoes for the 16 year old there. Never seen anything like them here.

8. Went to the l%26#39;Orangerie (the highlight of the trip for me) on Friday. Left there and saw place de la concorde and the Tuileries but it was drizzling so not much outside time. Then we went to the Marais as husband and son were getting a tattoo the next day and had to set it all up. After that went to the Eiffel tower and went to the top at night. It was windy, rainy,and cold but spectacular.

9. Saturday went to the Marais to get tattoos. After, we stopped in front of th Pompideau and watched a comedian put on a show. The kids loved this

We spent alot of time people watching. It was so much fun. There were things we meant to do but forgot (Picasso museum again). But, I wouldn%26#39;t trade what we did for the world. We saw more the first time we went by ourselves. The first ime we went in March we also saw the concergerie and Saint Chapelle, went on a river cruise and walked the Luxembourg Gardens. However, it rained alot over our week during Thanksgiving so we didn%26#39;t walk outside quite as much. Not pouring rain, but just enough to get you wet and make you miserable. And it never failed, someone always forgot their umbrella. (Kids).

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