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New Year's Eve in Paris and other Paris, France Tourist Trap Tips

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Paris Tourist Trap Tips by Dabs

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Dabs   
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious


Real Name: Kristi
Lives In: Chicago, US
Member Since: Jun 26, 2002
VT Rank: 14

 
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Tourist Trap: New Year's Eve in Paris
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  • Updated by Dabs on Jan 28, 2005
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  • Paris - New Year's Eve in the Latin Quarter
  • New Year's Eve in the Latin Quarter
  • by Dabs
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  • We didn't want to get dressed up and pay big money to eat out on New Year's Eve so we headed to Champs Elysses with about a million other people. Anticlimatic is not a strong enough word for this street celebration in Paris, had I not looked at my watch, I would not have even known that midnight had arrived.

    No countdown, no fireworks and the increase in noise level at midnight was imperceptible!

    Another note, certainly not unique to Paris, virtually all of the restaurants increase their prices for NYE starting around dinner, some under the pretense of a price fixed menu, some blatantly gouging by plastering prices that are double over the usual price on the menus. The only restaurants that didn't seem to be gouging were fast food and the take away places (crepes, Greek, pizza).

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    At Least Do This: Stay clear of the metro close to midnight unless you want to be one of the sardines in the metro car.

    The metro going back was very unpleasant, people pushing and shoving to get on the next train, I even thought their might be a possibility of someone getting trampled on. If you can avoid getting on at the stops on the Champs Elysses (FDR or Concorde) do it!
    Alternative: Have a really nice lunch and then go to the supermarket like many of the locals seem to be doing, buy yourself a picnic dinner and a bottle of champagne and have your own celebration in the comfort and warmth of your hotel room.
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    Eiffel Tower: Not worth the wait
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  • Written by Dabs on Jan 4, 2004
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  • I just read of someone's four hour wait in the cold December air to ascend the Eiffel Tower and recalled the coldest I had ever been, the day that we waited atop the platform on the Eiffel Tower, waiting to go to the next level, on an equally cold December day many years ago.

    Just my opinion, of course, but I think of all of the things you could be doing in Paris with four hours....

    And then there's the real problem with being on top of the Eiffel Tower-you can't see the Eiffel Tower!

    Don't get me wrong, the Eiffel Tower is a wonderful monument, especially when it is lit up at night so go see my must see tip before you think badly of me :-)

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    At Least Do This: If it's December, wear lots and lots of clothes! And try to figure out when it will be the least busy, it seems that early am might be the best.
    Alternative: Go for the great views on top of Notre Dame, La Samaratine or the Arc de Triomphe
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    Comments for Dabs about Paris
    Nemorino Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:49 UTC
     Me again, coming back to look at your fine updates since August 14, 2008. You're right that the Museum Pass doesn't get you into Saint Chapelle faster; I suggest going to a concert there in the evening. Thanks for including the link to my Velib' tips!
    deecat Wed May 6, 2009 10:22 UTC
     Outstanding updates. Welcome home! I had not seen your Paris pages since 2004 so I caught up.Lots of excellent, useful tips. Food tips were practical and helpful. You certainly gave lots of choices for activities. Look forward to more.
    high_d Mon May 4, 2009 04:26 UTC
     Nice foodie tips...It seems Paris is synonymous with banana et nutella crepes as well as Angelina's hot chocolate. If I ever get a chance to visit, I am also after the French macaroons. I heard they're just out of this world:))
    rexvaughan Thu Feb 26, 2009 00:19 UTC
     Ah, Kristi, I just had another visit to Paris here. Thanks, it was wonderful. BTW the Muguet is now our hotel of choice. You should have seen my granddaughters go after the hot chocolate at Angelina's!
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