we'd love feedback on our itinerary in Paris

If your pinched for time, you can always skip the shower on Day 1.

You might have tons of bored time at your gate, BUT I recommend being in line at CDG 3 hours before your flight time. It's not the most organized, efficient place, AND approximately 750,000 lost and confused people are wandering around at any given time...and some of them are employees...Wait til you see the security lines...(ouch! head hurts!) Definitely go to the Musee de l'Armee later in the week; unless you're a much 'bigger man' than I, you won't do much of ANYTHING of 'value' that first day! I'm not saying lie down and surrender, but anything that keeps you vertical is just a bonus for me LOL! Plan on a VERY early night that first night! Definitely go see the Eiffel Tower twinkle on your first night...you're in PARIS!!! Make sure you get your 'must do's' in - either at the first of the week, or spread them out some and get them done first thing in the mornings. Don't save them up for a big 'bang' at the end of your trip; you might be sick, or just pooped out by then... Looks fine to me - just be flexible...you night need to rearrange/drop something, so be prepared for that and don't blow a gasket if and when the time comes! **Is 'Todd' available for just anybody?!? It'd sure be nice to go to 'Todd's' room to shower upon arrival in Paris...Does he have any brothers in Frankfurt, Rome, Berlin...;-)

What Eileen said ! Bobbie

Thanks Eileen. It seems the explanation part of my post did not make it. My husband will already be in paris for business, so it is his hotel and shower i would be using! Pretty goofy.

You are my kind of traveler, planning for full vacation. A few thoughts; on Thursday you mentioned Orangerie Museum or Rodin. I prefer Rodin but you are much closer to Rodin on Friday, just blocks away from the Orsay/Napoleon's tomb. Orangerie is great for its Monet, so a personal choice. For a rooftop view I would suggest considering Arc de Triumph, although there is a charge, you may want to shop while at the department stores.
Have a great time and I shall think of you in June wishing I was there too.

I think your plan looks great. You have plenty of opportunity to swap things around and make adjustments as you go - so as a rough sketch, I think you planned a great time in Paris. One thing that is just my opinion. I might reconsider eating dinner along Rue Cler on Day 1. Now I am definitely NOT one of those people that hate Rue Cler and think it is over-hyped. I quite enjoyed it. But what I liked was the Wine Shop, the Cheese Shop, the Pastry Shop and the Post Office. On my first day I had lunch at a restaurant there and it was disappointing. My chicken was dry dry dry and all I thought was "all I heard about was how awesome French food is - what gives?" Well the rest of my trip thru France showed me otherwise - but I am left with the impression that the cafes along Rue Cler may possibly suffer in quality just because it is a high traffice tourist area. Kind of like eating at a food court maybe? But again, that was one person's experience at one particular restaurant. Buyer beware. You may find much better dining by hitting up some other areas. But if you need picnic items - Rue Cler is really great.

I got horrible food poisoning at the large cafe on rue Cler which RS recommends : Cafe du Marche. I spent the last few days of my vacation on the bathroom floor, during the 2003 heat wave (105 degrees in Paris) with no a/c. Needless to say, it was a very miserable experience.

Susan, so sorry to hear about that. It is hard to know how to pick a restaurant so far from home and we rely on guidebooks... Everyone - thanks for the suggestions. Keep them coming!

Thanks Jodi. I've spent years in Paris and have never gotten sick eating anywhere else. It can happen here at home as well, I know. But I believe if it can happen once at Cafe du Marche, it can happen again, and I'd like to spare others from what I went through.

It takes time for bacteria to grow and multiply and create their toxins. Sometimes an infection is received earlier than the last meal and the producer of the last meal is innocent.

Believe me Nigel, it was the food I ate at the Cafe du Marche. I know for certain.

I guess I kinda think you are packing too much into your days, especially your first day. Donno about you, but I'm always insanely jetlagged the first few days. I would also recommend to not go to Versaille on a Saturday. Could you try midweek? Maybe go to Versaille on Wednesday or Thursday?

This is a planner's plan! However, you might want to allow time for some informal and leisurely elements; maybe a "picnic" here or there, a 2 hour sidewalk breakfast, etc. These times allow you to watch the locals, especially the children; muse about how tourists behave, and notice how the landscape and building façades change as the sun is filtered by clouds. I think it is especially nice to get out very early in the morning, just as shops are opening and street vendors are setting-up, and allow time for observing at dusk just as the lights begin to come on. In my opinion, dusk is the very best time for a Seine Cruise.

Response to Susan's food poisoning: the heat wave was probably a contributing factor in the food contamination. Thanks for making us aware.

your plans look exactly as thorough as did my plans last summer. ask anyone on here how that went! ;-) the main concern i'd have, as someone stated above, is your first day. i have literally never been as tired as i was on our first day in europe, after a red-eye flight from NYC. i didn't think it was humanly possible to be that tired. i contemplated laying down in the park across from westminster abbey and taking a nap. i do love your opera/galleries layfayette day. we did that, and it was fantastic. one of the best days of the trip. just don't sit on the railing of the top floor of the department storethey yell at you. as they should! ohand check out the galleries layfayette food market to the left of galleries layfayette proper. it is amazing. (i'm sure someone on here can be more specific as to what it is called/where it is, but basically if you walk behind the opera and then veer slightly to the left, you'll find it. you have to go up an escalator...oh the food...i took photos!)

Thanks everyone. I will take it easy on the first day, especially if I don't sleep on the plane. Just wanted to have some activities to keep me moving so that I can try to get my clock adjusted to Paris time more quickly.

Jodi I like what Jon said about leaving some time to look at the Paris world around you. A picnic with food, relaxation, and time to observe. Or a cafe on a square (place)! You will need the breather and so will your feet after all of your walking. In order to see the Versailles fountains, which are fabulous, I think it would be good to get there before the gates upon on Saturday as you suggested. The grounds get very crowded on the weekends, one reason: the fountains run only then. As well as purchase your ticket in advance. See RS Paris chapter on Versailles for details. Have a fabulous time! Bobbie

I think your day1 is too much, you will be so exhausted. I would pick just a few of them (the ones nearest your hotel). I think you'll get more out of a rue cler walk in the morning, when it is more active.). Sounds wonderful!

I think your day1 is too much, you will be so exhausted. I would pick just a few of them (the ones nearest your hotel). I think you'll get more out of a rue cler walk in the morning, when it is more active.). Sounds wonderful!