I am leaving tomorrow for a five day trip to Paris with my 16 year old daughter. This is her birthday present and a chance to hear and speak the language she has been learning for five years in school. She is a fashionista with a mother more comfortable in LLBean. We are staying at the Coste. My question is where to shop. She likes the whole chic %26quot;boho%26quot; look right now and thinks that street flea markets would be fun but where are they? Also, will we be safe wandering around at night or should I set up reservations close to our hotel for dinner? Is there a %26quot;must do%26quot; English language tour we should do? %26quot;Have to%26quot; restaurants? I need to bring back toys to three younger brothers. Which toy store is great? All advice is appreciated.
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as someone with the fashion sense of lands end I can%26#39;t comment there although my recollection of the flea markets was that they were not full of great treasures especially in clothes -- but that may be the eye of the beholder -- it looked like cheap mass produced garbage to me
but on the safety issue - you really don%26#39;t have to worry about wandering around at night -- and in fact should definitely do some of it
my favorite walk is to stroll along the Seine at night and then around Notre Dame -- all lit up -- stunning sight == the streets are full of strolling people -- Paris is quite safe especially in the central parts -- I have walked alone there often
I wouldnt bother with a tour -- get a good guide book -- Rick Steves is good for such short visit -- and do some %26#39;paris walks%26#39; -- and plan together for YOUR must sees
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Another LLBean mom but my daughter was NCHS %26#39;85.
Run to Barnes and Noble and get the Rick Steves%26#39; Paris book. If they are sold out, get the France 2006 by Rick Steves.
Flea Markets: %26quot;The Puces ST. Ouen is the biggest and oldest of them all, with more than 2,000 vendors selloing everything from flamingos to faucets. Saturday 9-6, Sunday 10-6, Monday 11-5. Metro: Porte de Clingancourt. www.st-ouen-tourisme.com and www.parispuces.com
Fun stuff: climb the Arc de Triomphe at night and watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour. Seine boat ride (not the dinner cruise) after dark.
Toy Stores: no clue. I have granddaughters and they love t-shirts. Some of the souvenir stores near Notre Dame will have something for the boys.
Have a great trip and pack light.
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The boho look is everywhere and at all price points. Your daughter should have no trouble finding what she is looking for.
For toys, Au Blue Nain, the most traditional of the toy stores (though never my favorite) was closed for renovation last month when we were there. Both Galeries Lafayette and Bon Marche both have good toy departments, but much of it is just what we have here. I have gotten board games in french, t-shirts and so on. For boys, depending upon their ages, Tintin and Asterix might be good. I also once got a v-tech %26quot;computer%26quot; with games in french that went down very well with my older daughter.
If they are also learning French, then Chantelivre, 33 Rue de Sevres, is THE best bookstore for children. I regularly break the bank (and my back) there.
Walking around at night shouldn%26#39;t be a problem.
Have a wonderful time.
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SKIP Rick Steve%26#39;s, he is NOT for the 16 yr. old crowd. Look for the Lonely Planet, Frommers, or just about any other guide.
You will be FINE getting around at night the two of you (I do it on my own and with my 12 yr. old).
For chich boho, you could try Clignancourt, but the clothing part tends to be new knock offs. for older stuff, you could try the consignement shops on the rue de la Pompe int he 16th. And there is always the little Black Dress shop in the Palais Royale ( a MUST for vintage fans).
The area around the Etienne Marcel metro is quite cool with the younger set, too, but my hippie styled daughter loves Zara on the rue de Rennes.
For a Have to Restaurant with a 16 yr. old, I%26#39;d say. hands down, Cafe de L%26#39;Homme, with a dj, funky food and an unbeatable view of the Eiffel Tower. My 12 yr. old also loves Le train Bleu in the gare de Lyon train station. Sounds like a strange place, but this is a Beaux Arts historical monument that is worth the visist. And finally, the cafeteria at the Galleries Lafayette, over looking the Opera and the Eiffel Tower. This dept. store and Printemps both have free fashion shows that the two of you may enjoy. Have your concierge get you the info.
Other meals: Lunch or tea at Laduree, Lunch at the cafe Marly (also Costes) overlooking the pyramids of the Louvre.
Le Nain Bleu on St Honore is THE toy store, but the Galeries Lafayette have an impressive collection, and you will probably be there anyway.
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SKIP Rick Steve%26#39;s, he is NOT for the 16 yr. old crowd. Look for the Lonely Planet, Frommers, or just about any other guide.
You will be FINE getting around at night the two of you (I do it on my own and with my 12 yr. old).
For chich boho, you could try Clignancourt, but the clothing part tends to be new knock offs. for older stuff, you could try the consignement shops on the rue de la Pompe int he 16th. And there is always the little Black Dress shop in the Palais Royale ( a MUST for vintage fans).
The area around the Etienne Marcel metro is quite cool with the younger set, too, but my hippie styled daughter loves Zara on the rue de Rennes.
For a Have to Restaurant with a 16 yr. old, I%26#39;d say. hands down, Cafe de L%26#39;Homme, with a dj, funky food and an unbeatable view of the Eiffel Tower. My 12 yr. old also loves Le train Bleu in the gare de Lyon train station. Sounds like a strange place, but this is a Beaux Arts historical monument that is worth the visist. And finally, the cafeteria at the Galleries Lafayette, over looking the Opera and the Eiffel Tower. This dept. store and Printemps both have free fashion shows that the two of you may enjoy. Have your concierge get you the info.
Other meals: Lunch or tea at Laduree, Lunch at the cafe Marly (also Costes) overlooking the pyramids of the Louvre.
Le Nain Bleu on St Honore is THE toy store, but the Galeries Lafayette have an impressive collection, and you will probably be there anyway.
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There are many toy stores in the Passage des Princes on Blvd des Italiens, pretty much at the level where it meets Boulevard Haussmann.
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I appreciate all of your posts. The Tripadvisor forums are so incredible and really serve to make the world a better place. I hate to sound so %26quot;we are the world%26quot;, but it is refreshing how helpful strangers are! I love the dining and shopping tips and am relieved to know we will be safe strolling around at night. I know it will be hot. What do people wear? Is everything dressy or jeans and cute tops? Should we make the trip to Versaille (sp)?
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