I went on weekend coach trip to Paris with my husband in June this year with Leger Holidays.
We had a lovely time. It was our first coach holiday and although the travelling was tiring , we still really enjoyed the experience.
The hotel we stayed in was a bit out of the way, about 45mins to 1 hour from the centre of Paris but we went on both night trips with the tour company into the city so it made getting there easy and the coach takes you into Paris on the first morning and picks you up later so you can sightsee.
Paris is very easy to get around and you can walk if you are fit enough. We also used the Batobus which is a boat that stops at the major sights and once you buy your ticket you can hop on and off all day as you please and you get to travel the Seine.
A word of warning for those of you want ing to go up the Eiffel tower. The queues are extremely long and you will queue for at least 2-3 hours for tickets. We were only there for a few days we didn't bother and the queues last throughout the whole day until it closes at midnight! You must make sure you see it at night when it it lit up and the lights twinkle at the start of every hour for 10 minutes.
Anyway, if you want a birdseye view of the city you should take a ride up the Monparnasse tower. It's almost as tall as the Eiffel and has the fastest elevator in Europe to get you to the top. The 360 degree view that you see when you get there is well worth the 10 euros.
The Louvre is a must see. Beautiful from the outside and you just have to see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo whilst you are there as well as the pyramid entrance. No queue here and it was mid-afternoon.
We went to Notre Dame but unfortunately there was a big religious ceremony that day so we couldn't get inside.
The Sacre Coeur is wonderful. Its ceiling is amazing to see but the church stands on a very steep hill so only suitable for the more mobile and fit although there is a cable car most of the way up if you want to pay (about 80p) .
The Arc de Triumph is another must see. You will be mesmerised by the traffic circling it. The roundabout has 12 exits and they drive like maniacs.
We went to the Palace of Versailles but we only had half a day so we had to choose between a tour of the gardens or the palace. We opted for the latter. It is massive and renovations are ongoing but you get headsets that explain all the rooms and sights.
We didn't find it expensive if you ate off the main streets and even a sandwich from a snack bar on the Champs d'Elysee was reasonable.
The French are helpful and all speak English. All in all a lovely trip but I would like to return for a full week to see things we didn't get time to see this time and to be more leisurely in seeing the sights.

We stayed in the colourful area of Montmartre on our visit to Paris..Although not exactly central to the main attractions,you can reach Montmarte easly enough by using the excellant metro system in Paris,and for anyone that enjoys the street entertainers of Covent garden in London,then this area and the adjoining Pigalle,could be just for you.I would however be extra vigilant in the evenings though,both these area's are well known for pick pockets.

Our hotel was a short walk from the beautiful Sacre Coeur which offers some spectacular views of the Paris skyline,and the Moulin Rouge was nearby as well.

We chose to do both the bus tour of the City and the boat trip down the Seine,you can actually purchase both tickets with the same company (batobus)and get a discount.You can buy these tickets near the Eiiffel tower on the banks of the Seine.

The boat operates like many bus tours,on a hop on hop off system and is great for visiting sites like the Notre Dame cathedral and the Louvre museum,and the beautiful Saint-Chapelle.My only regret was not using the service in the evening as Paris is such a beauiful city when it's lit up at night time.A word of warning to anyone who itends on eating anywhere near the major tourist attractions,Paris can be an extremely expesnive city, so it pays to eat and drink a little bit away from the likes of the Eiffel tower, and the Notre Dame.

For anyone wanting to visit the Louvre,i would strongly recommend affording the best part of a full day if you wish to walk round all of the it,this museum is huge and theirs so much to see.

No trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to the famous fashion districts,we just got off the bus and spent a couple of hours walking round the world famous shops.A short walk from here is the Place de La Concorde,for me the most beautiful site in the whole of Paris and a short walk from the Champs Elysees.
The walk along the Champs Elysees leads to the famous Arc De Triomphe,which is also well worth a visit even if only to clmb the many steps to appreciate the view from the top and to look down on all the crazy drivers below!

paris is possibly my favourite City, and one i intend to visit again in the not too distant future.

Again though,beware of the pick pockets.this is another area well know for thiefs!

We just returned from visiting my parents in France.
We wanted to do the main sights of Paris in a limited time.
We took a shuttle from the airport (usually free) to the RER train station at the airport.
There are ticket vending machines , but we advise queuing up to ensure you are purchasing the correct ticket and ask questions, they usually speak good enough English.
Buy the 18Euro all day ticket or just to your destination.
The all day covers busses and metro too.
The 1st day we did to our destination and it was 12Euro return trip.
We got off the RER to Paris train at Notre Dame.As you leave the station ask for directions as you can't see it from there. It's very close though. If you don't speak french just say " Notre Dame?" in a high questioning voice!! This works for all situations! We viewed the beautiful cathedral, which is free to enter, unless you want to go up to the gargoils.
The lines may be long though.
Here we boarded the wonderful, inexpensive "bato bus!!!" Check out the web site as there are more stops than we made if u have the time.
Again, ask for directions, not far. On this river Seine boat you may get on and off like a bus. there were no lines and the boat came every 15 mins. WONDERFUL!!!
We got off at the Louvre.
BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE BEFORE YOU GO!!!
Ticketnow.com I think, but google it.
With these tickets you DON'T STAND IN LINE! You enter the museum by the pryamid RICHELIEU entrance. Walk right in thru security . Tickets are checked at each wing on the inside.
The mona lisa, venus de milo etc are very well directed and posted. BEAUTIFUL time, our favorite in Paris.
If you do the all day ticket and not bato bus, you take the RER to Chatelet les halles or Metro to musee de Louvre.
From here we got on the bato bus to Eiffel tower. Amazing!
Lines too long though. The only way up with my husband's limited patience is to do the steps(which is cheaper too), but he also is not athletic, so he passed. I passed as it's too high for me!!
It was enough to admire from the ground.

Ignore all gypsies...it's a scam.

The arc de Triumph is a fair walk from here.You can also walk to it from the Louvre, one straight shot down the champs Elyses.Again, too far for us though.
We took the METRO to Charles de Gaule etoile. It is above you as you exit the station. accross the street is under ground access to it and the tomb of the unknown. The only way to the top is steps(unless u r disabled).
Avoid cafes and restaurants.VERY EXPENSIVE!
Grab a crepe, baguette( sandwich) etc en route from a street vendor.(note- a galette is a savory, ie cheese, crepe made with brown flour!)
Food not brilliant. Samll portions, expensive and unusual menu options, horse, shark etc. Watch out for the fish, it will be whole and mine had an egg sack too.Nasty.

Hotel rooms are again expensive. the cheap end of the scale($60)Pemiere First Classe ( by the airport). Clean but TINY. If you are fore warned then it's ok. We were, so it was actually kind of funny.
Make sure you have change for the vendings.Had a free airport shuttle.
3 tiny beds in each room, one is a bunk.Bathroom like one you find in a camper.But, if u r tired, it serves a purpose!! Caution Maid walks in unannounced !!!

On our return we opted for Holiday inn Express. Use Hotwire.com for a good rate. $150. This saved us because we had 2 kids and most hotels sleep only 2-3. More of an American standard room. 2 queen beds. roomier bathroom, drink facilities. Put the room card in the slot to power the electricity!!! They didn't tell us at front desk and took us a few mins to figure out!
This shuttle was 5euro per room round trip. They don't really check the tickets though, your choice!!!

My best tips are to ask, ask, ask. Don't waste time looking, the French are actually, contrary to belief, very friendly.
However, they tend to say everything is 10 mins away, so don't take that literally!!!!!!!!
But, most importantly, savour every second. the beautiful buildings, the history, even the smells!!! ( worse in markets and stores!)
The critical factor to enjoying your trip to France( and most of Europe) is that you leave your American expectations behind. The rest of the world doesn't match the conveniences and service known to the US. You might have to pay for the bathroom, you will have to stand in queues, you won't get much ice in your beverage, milk might be warm and the bread rock hard, but it's part of the experience!!!!
You can't beat the coffee!!!! Ask for cafe au lait or cafe creme, if you take milk, or I recommend it anyway as the coffee is so much fuller bodied that in the States. Also, ask for grande as it will come in a demi tasse, which is the tiny little shot glass size!
And, surprisingly enough, Mc Donald's kicks butt in France!!!!!! Very fast and efficient!!! Your food is being put on your tray as you order.......just good luck finding a seat in some locations!!!!
Bon Voyage- we did!!!!!!!!

I have a wonderful time in Paris, France
The people were great. The hotel room was small - but clean and great location. The tour guilde from www.goaheadtours.com
was great.
I wish to visit Paris again