When going on a tour to Paris, take the opportunity to visit the varying neighborhoods of Paris. Some are sophisticated, some are smutty, some are charming and others are cheap. They all have an element of "je ne sais quoi" making each of them appealing in their own way. I have written about two neighborhoods to visit while on your tour of Paris, and I have listed one, that may be of a surprise to you, that I recommend avoiding.
Of course Paris has the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Orsay, and Notre Dame. But how about some other great museums that are not on everyone's radar when going on a tour to Paris? We try to visit them on The Traveling Professor's tours to Paris and perhaps you should give them a try to. Read my blog post to find out more about my favorite lesser-known Paris museums.
A cruise around Paris is a great way to get off your feet for a few hours and relax. On our tours to Paris we usually do a Seine River cruise. When I travel solo to Paris, I like to do the cruise down the Canal Saint-Martin. Read the blog post and enjoy your next tour to Paris.
The Traveling Professor's Guide to Paris by me, Professor Stephen Solosky, was first published in 2009. To my great surprise, it was purchased by thousands of people. The success of the book launched my small group tours to Paris business. Since the publication of the first book, I have traveled to Paris over 20 times. I have led many group tours to Paris. I have learned much and it is all incorporated into the 2nd Edition of The Traveling Professor's Guide to Paris which came out earlier this year. For details on what's in the book and how to get an autographed copy, see the blog post.
Paris hotels can be expensive, as expensive as any city in the world. Whether it be on your personal tour to Paris or one of my small group tours to Paris, the cost of a hotel makes up a major part of the expense of a trip. However, there are times to splurge. In today's blog post I have listed some of my favorite luxury Paris hotels. My picks are based upon location, comfort, amenities and value. So, if you want to go "all the way" on your next tour to Paris, check out my hotel choices.
We recently returned from a small group tour of Italy. In Rome, there were masses of people at the Colosseum and the Vatican. The lines to see "David" at the Accademia snaked over a hundred yards around the block. The Uffizi, with it's rich Italian art, had a wait of hours and hours to get in. In Venice, the lines looked liked those in DisneyWorld, only on steroids. On my small group tours to Italy, we just don't wait in lines. Look at my tips for getting into those popular attractions like a VIP, with no waiting in line.
2014 is the 70th anniversary of the invasion of France at Normandy and it will surely be a top travel destination. On several of my small group tours to Paris, I offer an extension to visit the Normany Invasion Beaches. Personally, I have made the trip about 10 times and I recommend it highly. In this blog post I have detailed an itinerary that will help in planning a trip to the Normandy Invasion Beaches.
Paris has something for everyone. Whether traveling on one of my small group tours to Paris or traveling on your own, everyone always wants to pick up a remembrance of their tour to Paris. The small specialty markets of Paris provide an opportunity to take home something unique. Personally, I have all the souvenirs I need of Paris but as an experienced traveler, I still enjoy looking around at Paris markets for those interesting knick-knacks that I can't find anywhere else. Read today's blog post to find out more about Paris specialty markets.
Looking for something unique and unusual in Paris? Have I got two hotels for you. They are both in VERY desirable locations and priced well below average. One of them offers typical Paris rooms but the location (probably no other Paris hotel is more centrally located than this one) and situation is very unusual. The second one is eclectic and each room is different, a throwback to a different time. So, read my blog post and find out about two very unique Paris hotels.