Dream Trip Vacation to Paris, France

France

Wherever you choose to begin or end a sojourn in Europe's largest country, and however long you spend exploring you'll simply be scratching the surface of this vast and varied land. France's geography stretches from rugged coastline to seemingly infinite beaches, from bustling cities to quaint countryside villages and from a sun-drenched isle to luxury mountain ski resorts. A civilization dating back to 50,000 BC and a history spanning Roman and Frankish invasion, wars of power and religion, a wealthy and powerful monarchy ultimately crushed by revolution, the rise of Napoleon and a new battle between monarchy and republic, and two world wars, has left the country brimming with a rich heritage. Cave paintings, castles, cathedrals and battle scars are scattered across the land, yet much of the French countryside remains untouched, and traditional rural life still flourishes.

This is a country that has inspired Monet's reinvention of color, Toulouse Lautrec's dark underbelly of Paris society, and the haunting harmonies of Debussy. It has tantalized our taste buds with foie gras and frogs' legs, and captured the imagination of the world's jet-set with the resorts of St Tropez and Port Grimaud. Discover France, and rediscover the meaning of joie de vivre.

Paris

It is impossible not to fall in love with Paris. The city's people are stylish and flirtatious, its architecture seductive, its restaurants and nightlife devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and its streets are scattered with dreams. There is no 'best time' to visit Paris; in every season the city is always alive. Summer days are spent lazing on the banks of the Seine, sipping coffee at a sidewalk café, or idling in one of the city's many gardens or forests. In autumn afternoons the brisk walk from the Eiffel Tower through the Parc du Champ de Mars and up to the glittering Champs Elysées is accompanied with a carpet of leaves crunching underfoot. Winter nights induce a warm glow ice-skating in the outdoor rink at the Hotel de Ville, and in spring the passions of performers fill the air outside the Pompidou Centre and the nose is tickled with the subtle scents of flowering gardens.

There is otherworldliness to this city, where beauty and elegance are favored over purpose and practicality. Centuries of urban development have the appearance of having being mastered by a single hand with a strong sense of balance, contrast and aesthetics. The views from the Eiffel Tower or Sacré Coeur reveal hundreds of iconic attractions for the snapshot visitor, but the best way to see this city is by tucking your map back in your pocket and allowing yourself to get lost on its streets and avenues, discovering the city for yourself.

However long you spend in Paris, on departure you will know you are sure to return.

Dream Trip Itinerary
Paris, France

Fly from the Unites States direct to Paris, France.

Land itinerary:
Upon arrival you will be met by a private driver who will transfer you to your hotel.

Suggested Hotel: Four Seasons GEORGE V:

Steps from the Champs-Elysees, with private terraces that command all Paris; 17th-century tapestries, lovingly restored; and a spirit that lives on in thoroughly reborn, highly advanced spaces; Four Seasons George V Paris redefines service in the City of Light. Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, an eight-story landmark 1928 building, offers 245 guest rooms, all with unique architectural details and many featuring private terraces overlooking the world's most romantic city. With beautiful views of the Hotel's courtyard and garden, Le Cinq is a very elegant dining room, dressed in grey and gold. The table cloths, china and silver were all created specifically for the reopening of this legendary hotel. Whether it is for business or pleasure, the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris awaits you.

"Mind-blowing service" and "phenomenal attention to detail" are the hallmarks of this landmark in "the top neighborhood in all of Paris." Expect "gorgeous, unreal floral arrangements" in rooms, which have Louis XVI furnishings and desks praised by business travelers. Spa services include evening touch-ups from a makeup artist. At Le Cinq, savor French cuisine that one guest calls "some of the best food I've ever had."

Suggested Dream Activities for Paris:

Jules Verne Restaurant in the Eiffel Tower:
If you're looking for a gastronomical experience with a difference, why not ask for a table with a view in the Jules Verne restaurant? Located on the second platform of the Eiffel Tower's south pillar, this is France at its very best: succulent food by Alain Reix, palate-tingling wine, superb views - and an inevitable touch of romance for which Paris is famous. It's a good idea to book well in advance, and the meal will not come cheap, but once you've been greeted by the staff after making your way up to the restaurant in a private elevator, the concerns of the real world will seem far away. Dinner at night is particularly enchanting, as the lights are dimmed discreetly so as not to distract from the awe-inspiring view of Paris itself, but lunchtime is not exactly a hardship either in one of the world's most evocatively situated restaurants. With its black leather and haute cuisine, the Jules Verne experience manages to be chic and tasty at the same time. No trip to the French capital is complete without it.

Paris Walking Tour:
The best way to discover Paris is on foot. Our favorite walks are along the Seine and down the Champs-Elysées from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre. In this section we highlight the attractions of Montmarte, the Latin Quarter, and the Marais.

Museum Tour of the Louvre and D' Orsay:
The Louvre is the world's largest palace and museum. As a palace, it leaves us cold except for the Cour Carrée. As a museum, it's one of the greatest art collections ever. To enter, pass through I. M. Pei's controversial 21m (69-ft.) glass pyramid -- a startling though effective contrast of the ultramodern against the palace's classical lines. Commissioned by the late president François Mitterrand and completed in 1989, it allows sunlight to shine on an underground reception area with a complex of shops and restaurants. Ticket machines relieve the long lines of yesteryear.

Architects created one of the world's great museums from an old rail station, the neoclassical Gare d'Orsay, across the Seine from the Louvre and the Tuileries. Don't skip the Louvre, of course, but come here even if you have to miss all the other art museums in town. The Orsay boasts an astounding collection devoted to the watershed years 1848 to 1914, with a treasure trove by the big names plus all the lesser-known groups (the symbolists, pointillists, nabis, realists, and late romantics). The 80 galleries also include Belle Epoque furniture, photographs, objets d'art, and architectural models. A cinema shows classic films.

Moulin Rouge:
This is a camp classic. The establishment that Toulouse-Lautrec immortalized is still here, but the artist would probably have a hard time recognizing it. Colette created a scandal here by offering an on-stage kiss to Mme de Morny, but shows today have a harder time shocking audiences. Try to get a table -- the view is much better on the main floor than from the bar. What's the theme? Its strip routines and the saucy sexiness of la Belle Epoque, and of permissive Paris between the wars. Handsome men and girls, girls, girls, virtually all topless, keeps the place going. Dance finales usually include two dozen of the belles doing a topless cancan. Revues begin nightly at 9 and 11pm.

Seine River Cruises:
Nothing like a romantic dinner cruising down the Seine to make you appreciate the French art of living! An excellent meal will be served with musical background while the monuments of Paris, enhanced by the special Millennium lights, unfold before your eyes.

The cruise passes the Saint-Louis Island and the City Island with the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, and then continues by passing the Alexander the III Bridge. You'll have a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower before making a U-turn at the Radio France Building.

Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) could never have guessed that it would become Paris's signature sight and attract more than six million visitors a year.

Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame looms large over the Place de Paris, on the Isle de la Cité, and is the most enduring symbol of Paris. Built between 1163 and 1345 the Cathedral is considered one of the of the world's Gothic masterpieces.

 

Louvre
One of the world's great art museums, this vast edifice houses an extraordinary collection of paintings, sculptures and antiquities from all over the world. The Louvre was opened to the public in 1793, soon after the Revolution, to display the spectacular treasures looted from the royal palaces.

Pompidou Centre
Built in the 1970s and named after former French president Georges Pompidou, the futuristic Pompidou Centre is now considered part of the Parisian landscape. The outrageous design complete with its glass elevators, was the inspiration for the Lloyds Building in London and attracts visitors by the million.

Musée d'Orsay
This great museum is fairly new by Paris standards. It is situated in a railway station by the Seine and houses a vast collection of works from the significant 1848 to 1914 period. There are important works from the Art-Nouveau movement but the Orsay is best known for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art.

Musée Rodin
The Rodin Museum is situated near the Musée d'Orsay and is housed in what was once the Hôtel Biron, the beautiful hotel where Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) once lived and worked. Inside are many of Rodin's great marble sculptures including The Kiss and The Hand of God.

Excursions:

Versailles
The Château de Versailles stands 15 miles (24km) southwest of Paris and is one of France's noted attractions. Most of the palace was built between 1664 and 1715 by Louis XIV (known as the Sun King), who turned his father's hunting lodge into the grandest palace ever built. The 'Old Château' still exists but is enveloped by the vast white stone façade of the New Château. This lavish statement of monarchical power was to become a symbol of the excess that would lead to the revolution of 1789. Perhaps the most famous room in the palace is the Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces) where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, signifying the end of the Great War. Within the palace visitors can also see the former Royal bedchambers, the grand staircase and other staterooms, and within the vast landscaped park and gardens are many wonderfully ornate fountains and ponds. There is a small train that ferries visitors from the palace to the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon, former love nests where both the Sun King and Napoleon enjoyed the company of their mistresses.

Fontainebleau
In the 16th century, Henry II and Catherine de Medici commissioned architects Philibert Delorme and Jean Bullant to build a new palace here within the Fontainebleau forest 40 miles (64km) south of Paris. Italian Mannerist artists Rosso Fiorentino and Primaticcio came to assist in the interior decoration, helping to found the School of Fontainebleau. Visitors will see the long Gallery of François I, which the artists adorned with scenes like The Rape of Europa and the monarch holding a pomegranate, a symbol of unity, as well as the richly adorned Louis XV Staircase and the Ballroom with its monumental fireplace and frescoes. The palace was a refuge for French monarchs from the days of the Renaissance; they valued it because of its distance from the slums of Paris and for the rich hunting grounds that surrounded it. Many important events have occurred here, perhaps none more memorable than when Napoleon stood on the grand steps in front of the palace and bade farewell to his shattered army before departing for Elba. Compared to the glories of Versailles, however, Fontainebleau can be a bit of an anticlimax; it is best to see it before Versailles.