best of paris

The first thing I would recommend is for you to buy a RS Paris Guide Book, if you do not already have one. Lots of good information that we used in planning our Paris tour.

Most everybody loves the Paris subway/metro to get around in but I would suggest picking a hotel near a bus line. Firstly, you get to see quite a lot of the city taking the bus and secondly, you avoid the many stairs and endless corridors in many, if not most, metro stations. Also, I'd be sure to pick a hotel with bathrooms attached, not down the hall and where they have tv with more than French stations if your seniors get tired before you do and want to spend the evening in the room. The bus (more than one line) will take you to the Eiffel Tower and near there is a stop for the Seine river boats. Various bus lines also go right past the Louvre museum and stop near Notre Dame cathedral. Attached and behind Notre Dame is a nice large garden with benches and public restrooms (not that easy to find in Paris). Your local library probably has Rick Steves' Paris 2011 guidebook. You ought to get that if you haven't yet - it spells out all the best of Paris and how to enjoy it.

I second the suggestion for using the buses. I like the metro to get places somewhat quickly but since I have bad knees, sometimes those steps can be killers. What do you want to see? Museums, parks, shopping, etc. When are you going to be in Paris. The other poster is correct about using a RS book but I also liked a little DK book about the top things to see and do in Paris. It was very helpful. Most posters will have lots of suggestions but we need a little more information about how mobile you are in terms of walking and in what you are interested. Thanks!

tks for the info. bus sounds best for us. we are staying a few blocks from the louve. we have rs book and it looks good.

You also might consider the hop-on/hop-off bus. I think L'Open Tours (yellow buses) is the better of the 2 companies. You can get a 1 or 2 day pass from the driver. They have 2 routes that pretty much cover most of Paris. I'm sure they are mentioned in the RS book. If you decide to go to Monmartre, I would suggest that you take a taxi. Ashley

Another vote for the bus, rather than the Metro, for anyone who isn't up for tons of stairs and very long (sometimes smelly) tunnels. The RATP website has bus maps by line here: http://www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/plans-bus/plans_bus.php. You just type in a route number where it says "Afficher un plan de ligne de bus." I was in Paris with my mother (76) and her sister about a year ago, and have to point out that just because someone is a "senior" they don't automatically like what all the other "seniors" like. My mother is an artist, and could have spent her entire trip in museums. My aunt is a foodie, and preferred eating and rambling in outdoor markets. So - what do your "seniors" like to do? I'd ask them, and then check back here for specific pointers on what things are the most/least accessible (if that is an issue).

In addition to trying the appeal to the interests of the group, try to tackle the city by arrondisement. You could do the first day on the Champs Elysee, all the way down to the Louvre (maybe visit the Louvre at night if you are there on the correct day). The next day you could hit the islands (do St-Chapelle; Notre Dame), and swing over to the Latin Quarter if you have the energy. Day 3 could be the 7th arrondisement, Eiffel Tower, Invalides and Musee d'Orsay. Day 4 could be the Marais and the Bastille. Remember to use public transportation, including the bus. Depending on where you are staying, the Batobus river bus could be a fun way to get to one of your starting points. Enjoy!