Planning a trip from London and hoping for an early train into Paris. My parents are not interested in Museums but would probably enjoy the historical sites. What area would be good to stay to be central? Where can I find a good inexpensive tour guide for the day? what to do? I would love to see Versailles but not sure we can fit that in as well. We are doing a 2 wk trip of England and adding Paris so looking for reasonable pricing which I know probably doesn't exist in these countries lol
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8886 posts
I'm a little cautious on these questions since everyone's definition of "elderly" seems to be so different. I know my definition has changed over the years! You also don't mention mobility. How far can they walk and how long can they stand? Have you asked them what they want to see? I'm pretty sure most people have at least one or two places that have intrigued them about Paris that would be on such a list.
First of all, about Versailles. You only have two days in Paris. I don't think you want to take the 1/2 day to 1 day that this side trip would take away from your time in the city.
I think that you might want to consider activities that show Paris off, but don't require long walks or long standing. A hop on, hop off bus tour would allow them to see the city and give an opportunity to stop at places that seem to interest them the most. This keeps them away from the stairs in the metro. A river cruise on the Seine would have a similar impact. Lots to see without being too tiring.
Posted by
Grand Rapids, MI
768 posts
I agree about skipping Versailles. That is a LOT of walking.
I also recall that if one looks elderly/disabled, they can take the elevator to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. The rest of us have to use the stairs.
If you want inexpensive tour guides, you can't do better than FREE. Google 'Paris free tour', and I know there are at least 2 of them. One, Sandeman, leaves daily from the fountain at St. Michel, and the other from the Charlemagne horse and rider statue outside Notre Dame. Those tours last about 60 to 90 min. and of course you should tip them. They hope you will investigate their other tours.
Posted by
Paris
2466 posts
I agree with the heat and exhaustion your parents will face. There is no shade at Versailles, and gravel is common.
If you look for a hotel with air-conditioning, it will help.
Here's one on a quiet street:
Hotel Residence Henri IV - there's an apartment with a kitchen and good transportation.
I would not look for a tour guide, but let yourselves do the walking and sitting.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
Buses No. 42 and 69 are excellent for sightseeing. To insure you all get seats, look up the routes on google and find where the route begins, or ends. Bus No.73 runs up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. If the parents want to go to the top, ask the attendant to use the elevator. It is sort of hidden away.
A boat cruise on the Seine is always a hit. There are small museums, not devoted to art, that may interest them. The Nissim Camondo comes to mind. A stroll in a park or on the Promenade Plantee, where benches are available to rest, is always nice if the weather is pleasant.
Posted by
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
3101 posts
My top sights:
1) Cathedral St Chappelle: possibly the most spectacular in all of France
2) Hotel les Invalides: Tomb of Napoleon, French Military museum, models of the fortified towns of France (also seen by Peter the Great in 1612)
3) Tulleries
4) Batou Mouches - boats on the river - take them at night
5) Eiffel Tower
6) Restaurants - none in particular - Paris has a bunch - find a restaurant district, and look at menus for an hour or so - then take the last one - stay away from big streets and squares
Posted by
Boston, MA, United States
1806 posts
With elderly parents along, plus just 2 days to see Paris, I'd skip Versailles - the crowds can be overwhelming, as are the size of the grounds. If you decide it still has to be on the agenda, at least plan accordingly and rent one of their golf carts to make getting around the gardens less of an ordeal for your parents - or consider a day trip to Vaux le Vicomte instead as it's far less crowded than Versailles.
Honestly, I would not do a walking tour - you'll do enough walking on your own. And while the Hop On/Hop Off big tour buses might give you a relatively inexpensive tour with a good general overview of the city, I'd vote for booking one of the vintage 2CV Citroen car hires and having one of their drivers give you and your parents a private tour for a few hours - they usually have standard tour routes you could choose from, or you could work with them to create a customized tour if you have specific places you really want to explore.
I also wouldn't jam pack the 2 days with tons of historical sites - at most, I'd say pick 2 places per day max and then just do things like spend time in parks, at sidewalk cafes having a glass of wine, or having leisurely lunches. Maybe go on a boat ride down the Seine and then book a table at Les Ombres for dinner with a view of the Eiffel Tower.