Paris Itinerary... Any flaws???

I think that we can safely assume that your hotel has a financial stake in recommending a car service that is 30€ more expensive than a taxi. This hotel is not really near any métro station and I do not think that the RER B/RER C connection at St Michel is currently operable if you were thinking of using the Gare du Pont Alma (the closest station to your hotel). The train/métro combination would require your connecting at least twice in Paris to reach a station near your hotel. One option would be RER B to Denfert Rochereau, connecting to métro 6 to la Motte Picquet, then connecting to métro 8, exiting at la Tour Maubourg.

I would certainly take a taxi, from the official taxi queue to your hotel. Do not accept offers from clandestine drivers soliciting from within the terminals. Taxi drivers are not tipped.

If you purchase a weekly Navigo fare at CDG, it will not become effective until the following Monday. Taking the train means your purchasing a Navigo Jour fare or a simple one way fare for 10.30€.

ID have a backup plan for Versailles. I went last year and they wnt ont strike and didn topen till 10am, other days they went on strike and didnt open. Watch their Twitter account

I agree that a taxi from CDG to your hotel looks like your best option.

Seine cruises are great. In addition to the companies you mentioned, Les Vedettes du Pont Neuf also offers them. But I'd think twice about a dinner cruise. Your attention will be divided between eating and looking at the sights as you float by them (plus, in this case, into each other's eyes). And the quality of the food on dinner cruises has been criticized on this forum, perhaps unjustly for some companies. There are many fine restaurants for your anniversary dinner, if you don't get recommendations on this thread then maybe post a specific request for recommendations. Take a non-dinner Seine cruise on one of your days or evenings, when the weather's nice.

Happy anniversary!

Don’t even think of public transportation. This is a special trip. At least get a taxi or spring for the hotel transportation. Nothing like exiting immigration and seeing a guy holding up a sign with your name. You’re exhausted, jet lagged, just do it. As far as a dinner cruises, don’t. Food is crappy. Here is our favorite little place in Paris, book in advance http://pottoka.fr.

Dinner menu http://pottoka.fr/Menu%20carte%20paris-anglais.pdf

Alan -- That restaurant looks amazing! I can't tell from the website their hours and are they open on Sundays?

Many of the top restaurants in Paris will be closed on either Saturday and Sunday or Sunday and Monday. These restaurants are operated by top chefs and just like you, top chefs do not want to work every day of the week.

Anyone staying at the Julianna Hotel should definitely reserve for dinner at les Climats, which is closed Sunday and Monday. This is a fabulous restaurant a relatively short walk away from your hotel.

Thanks for the advise everyone! Taxi it is! Yeah I also don't want to bother finding my way around and learning the train system our first day there. I was told it was very easy to get around on the train in Paris. That is why I thought we would just take the train to the hotel but it sounds like it may be a little more complicated than I thought.

Tocard, YES I have already found out trying to make reservations at several restaurants of our choice for our anniversary night that they were closed on Mondays. LAME!!! We are looking over a few more recommendations and hopefully we will be able to make a reservation somewhere good.

Alan, Thanks for the suggestion. It is definitely a nice option.

Pottoka open every day Déjeuner : de 12h à 14h (tous les jours)
Dîner : de 19h à 22h30 (tous les jours). You can book on The Fork.
On cooking classes: I have no specific recommendation but book early as you can as many are in French only. Get the RS Paris book and use it, particularly for the Lourve. No need to spend more than a few hours there unless there are specific things you want to see with 2000 of your newest friends. L’Orangerie is close by and has the spectacular Monet water lilies as well as a small but terrific gallery downstairs. You did not mention buying the museum pass but sounds like you should. And, don’t risk your marriage over it, but Disneyland? We have a pefectly good one in California. You are in Paris for goodness sakes! You didn’t mention Sainte Chappelle, Notre Dame, Luxembourg Park and so many other wonderful places to visit. Maybe instead of spending a day with Mickey?

I'm different than the average person here these days. I always take RER into town. To me it's easy, cheap and reliable. That said, I travel by myself with only a 10-12 lbs. shoulder bag - not multiple or heavy bags. If I had lots of luggage, or four people, I'd likely opt for a taxi. Small bags with two people? I'd probably still use RER. The hotel is getting a kick-back for the shuttle. This is the kind of thing that gives Parisiens a bad name.

I haven't used a Navigo pass, I regularly get a Paris Museum Pass (and metro tickets ten at a time). Doesn't the Navigo pass work for seven days starting Monday? It won't be useful to get one at the airport when you arrive. After a week, you've learned your way around Paris, you can use the Navigo for a free ride back to the airport.

Your arrival day I believe is the free Sunday for museums in Paris. That's a good thing because free days are the worst days to visit museums, they are crowded with long lines. You should spend the day visiting gardens and taking long walks to help recover from jet lag. One good thing, the adjacent days may be less busy because many go on the free day.

Versailles should be seen as an all day trip. You can eat lunch on the grounds or walk a short distance then go back. Even in November, your best bet is to arrive at least 30 minutes before opening so your wait in line (for security) is reasonable. The grounds won't be crowded so it's best to see those midday when the bus tours fill the palace. If there is rain in the forecast, it's ideal. The crowds skip the day. You can keep a fold up umbrella with you but a full size umbrella has to be checked (from experience).

Disneyland? Even if no one says anything, we're judging you big time. Just kidding. It's your vacation, you should see what you're interested in.

I think you're smart to wait to see Eiffel tower on a clear day. I like the view from the Arc de Triomphe at dusk when the tower starts lighting up on the hour.

For your open days, I'd do a little studying with your wife before the trip. Review the different sight options and decide which are must sees for you, which might be nice if you have time and which you can skip. Check the hours for each and keep that info in your back pocket (smartphone). I also sort them into locations and group the ones that are close rather than go back and forth across Paris between sights. Having that information handy before the trip will save valuable time when you are in Paris. At breakfast you can decide what you feel like seeing that day.

Oh yes, David Toutain! I second that but book now, it’s a very tough table. They accepted my reservation by email. Fabulous food, not inexpensive.