First, I would like to be going to Paris next weekend...but since I'm working in STL on Saturday, I'll just type out what I would do for 24 hours in the City of Lights.

Yes, get some Euros at CDG...there is a cash machine right by bag claim and you won't regret having some bills for the day.

Are you staying on points/miles? Have you looked into the cost of a 2* hotel in the city? There are lots and given your short stay and the travel time in and back, I would opt for a cheap hotel in the city and an early train ride out to CDG in the morning. This would give you the benefit of a place to leave your luggage until your room is ready or, if you're lucky, your room might be ready and you can grab a refreshing shower before hitting the city (we are 4 out of 5 stays where this has happened coming off of early morning flights...just say NO to the bed...you don't have time for a nap!

OK..yes the Louvre is ab-fab, but my suggestion would be to play tourist for most of the day then hit the Louvre at 3:00 when the entrance fee drops.

http://www.louvre.fr/anglais/billets/billet_f.htm

My day in Paris...

A cafe' au lait and croissant at Cafe Bonaparte (a wonderful cafe just around the corner from Deux Magot overlooking St. Germain-des-Pres). Great people watching and much cheaper than the Deux.

Walk down Rue du Bac, take in the wonderful little antique and homeware shops. End up at Bon Marche' and hit the grocery department (the most fabulous grocery store I have ever been in) and pick up some goodies for lunch (sausage, cheese, olives, wine,bread).

http://www.lagrandeepicerie.fr/fr/ht...il/accueil.asp

Walk (or Metro) back toward the Seine and find the little park that is down at the point of Cite' (cross over Pont Neuf to the island and look for the stairs that lead down)...stake out a bench and have lunch watching the boats on the Seine.

Continue over Pont Neuf to the Right Bank and head over to Place du Opera. Just walk into the lobby area of the Opera Garnier and take in the glitter and glamor of the Grand Staircase (you can catch glimses of it without paying for the tour).

I love to walk through the big department stores behind the opera (Galeries Lafayette/Printemps) then walk up Rue Tronchet towards La Madeleine. There you will find Fauchon and you might want to pick up a treat or 2 for the folks back home.

Continue around La Madeleine (actually go into the church and see the amazing alter sculpture) and continue on down Rue Royale towards Place de la Concorde. You are now ready to enter the Tuileries and enjoy a stroll down towards the Louvre where you enter, make the rounds of what you want to see (I must always take in "The Raft of the Medusa" which literally brings tears to my eyes everytime I sit and gaze at it.) You will need to move quickly, but I was able to take in everything I wanted to see prior to closing time.

Now, it is nearly time for dinner and you have decisions to make. Come out of the Louvre, walk along the Seine towards Cite', cross back over Pont Neuf to the island, and walk down to take in Notre Dame. Continue past the church, cross the pedestrian bridge over to the Island of St. Louis and there is a wonderful Alsatian bistro right there...wonderful food and you can sit outside or in (I've done both).

Or, head over to the wonderful Left Bank restaurant Thoumieux...

http://www.thoumieux.fr/resto/f_resto.html

Now, it is evening. After dinner, I would walk over to the Eiffel Tower then cross over and walk up Ave. George V and stop in the Hotel George V for a drink (just walk through the lobby to see all the flower petals if nothing else) then continue up to the Champs-Elysees, turn right and look for Laduree, http://www.laduree.fr/ which is a pastry/cafe/slice of heaven place. Order the hot chocolate and a pastry then just sit back and let the cocoa do its thing.

Well, now it is up to you, back to the hotel, explore a little more, that is up to you. But this has been my 2 cents for what to do with 24 hours in Paris.

If you can't tell, I love Paris! Have a wonderful time.



[This message has been edited by mwp2paris (edited 02-16-2003).]