The Open Bus Tours and other Paris, France Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Paris L'Open tour is a great option for those who want to see the most of Paris with the least wear and tear on their feet. The buses have a recorded commentary that is heard through the headsets you get when you purchase your ticket. The tickets can be purchased for one or two days and riders can get off and on at the various stops, as they choose. There are 4 different routes that allow you to see most of the City.

If the weather allows, ride on top for the amazing open air views and the best photo opps.

Details can be found at: L'open Tour

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Phone: 33 (0)1 42 66 56 56
Website: http://www.paris-opentour.com/index_eng.htm

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tour is a very long walk. And there and back is even longer! While there is so much to see along the way, an easy way to save your feet (knees) is to take the Batobus. This is a boat/bus that navigates the Seine with eight stops along the way.

A one day ticket is 11 euro. The boat/bus operates from 10 am to 10 pm in the summer months, with shorter operating hours in the off season.

Information available at: Navette Batobus

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Website: http://www.batobus.com/#

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: At first blush one might think that the Bateaux Mouche tour might go in the "tourist trap" catagory but this experience is anything BUT a tourist trap. For a mere 7 euro (children under 4 are free and 4-12 are 4 euro) you can sit on top of the boat and watch the most amazing sites of the City of Light pass by.

We have taken a ride on these boats on every one of our trips to Paris and it still hasn't gotten stale. The trip is different at every time of day and in every season. Catch the tour near sunset to see the roof of the Petit Palace glow. Take a night tour to see the floodlights flash on the Louvre and the beautiful buildings on the Isle de Paris. Once we went on a stormy day and actually got sea sick! Always the view of the Eiffel Tower lit up as you sail past is magnifique!

For information: Bateaux Mouches

Important tip: Don't go on one of the expensive dinner tours. The food is said to be not that good. Instead, bring along a bottle of wine or champagne and sit atop at sunset for a poor man's cruise. You won't be sorry!

Final note: There are other operators who have very similar tours. Bateaux Parisiens is one that I've taken and enjoyed.

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Website: http://www.bateaux-mouches.fr/English_index.htm

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: Here's a map of the Paris Metro System

Let me say right off, at this point in life I am not a huge fan of the metro. And lest I be called a snob, I preface my remarks by saying I've spent plenty of time on the trains.

Certainly one of the best designed systems in the world, the metro will take you virtually everywhere you want to go. My only caveats are that it can be tricky figuring out which direction to go when you're in that underground maze of tunnels and corridors. Also, the stations can be very far down (meaning a LOT of stairs coming back up into the daylight) and many stations don't have (working) escalators. It's no wonder French women stay so slender with all that foie gras and wine and those rich sauces. They don't have to hit the stair climbers at the gym.

Just the architecture of such a below ground infrastructure of tunnels and stairs and routes is mind boggling. I'm sure there must be a museum somewhere that documents all of this.

With my lousy knees. I will stick to above ground methods of getting around. Every street and corner of Paris is a sight to behold. I'd much rather invest in a taxi ride and see the fantastic city, than spend my time underneath it!

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Website: http://www.ratp.fr

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: A dear friend of mine is headed to Paris today, for the first time in 45 years! She's flying on Air France, first time for her on that airline, and she's a bet trepidatious. Hearing her concerns made me think of my very first trip "across the pond".

There are two options for direct flights from San Francisco to Paris; United and Air France. I'm not sure why we booked Air France for our first trip. No doubt it was less expensive. At any rate, Janet and I were excited, fearful, happy, and a host of other emotions as we borded the flight.

Shortly after takeoff, the French flight attendant was making his first pass down the aisle with the drink cart. "Wuuud you care for zee drink?" he asked with his very French accent. Janet looked over the cart and said "Yes, please, champagne!" The flight attendant held the mini bottle of champagne for her to inspect, as if it were a very special and pricey bottle of Domaine Chandon; "CHAMPAGGNNNNEEEE", he proclaimed! Janet nodded and he unscrewed the top and poured it into her plastic up.

Aha, now we are living the high life!

Note: Since that first trip I have become a United frequent flyer and am dedicated to the acquisition of miles and the world of upgrades and benefits one enters as they work their way up the status levels. On one other occasion I had to fly Air France for some forgotten reason. I found the service grumpy and poor and the bathrooms terribly dirty a short way into the flight. Other than that, the seats in cattle class are all too small, too close together and they only get smaller and closer as the miles tick by.

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Website: www.airfrance.us