Wedding gift in Paris?

July 14, 2005 8:56 AM

My best friend is having a civil marriage ceremony and then going to Paris for two weeks with her husband and family (parents, etc.) to celebrate. What is something thoughtful that I could give them for the Paris trip, preferably something they could use in Paris but that I could buy or arrange here over the phone or by email?

I don't know much about where they will stay or what they will see, except that they'll definitely go to the Louvre. I might be able to figure out their hotel information in a crafty way. It's the couple's first time in Paris, though her parents know their way around. I've been crushed with work and my own wedding plans, and only have a week to think of something lovely for them. Help!

posted by onlyconnect to shopping (10 comments total)

Here's a question I asked that is along the same lines. It might give you some ideas!
posted by nitsuj at 9:06 AM on July 14, 2005

Nitsuj... I was posting a link to your question, but on preview I see you beat me to it. Psh.
posted by bjork24 at 9:09 AM on July 14, 2005

Find out where they will be staying in Paris, then look up the hotel to see if they have a concierge (with whom you should be able to communicate via email). The concierge can suggest and arrange thoughtful gift ideas specific to the area.

If the hotel does not have a concierge or you are unable to find out where they plan to stay, check out La Conciergerie. Through the site, you can buy passes for dinner shows (Le Moulin Rouge, etc.), book dinner cruises and other touristy things. A great option might be a multi-day Metro pass or museum pass.
posted by necessitas at 9:38 AM on July 14, 2005

The museum pass is brilliant! The beauty of a museum pass is that you get to skip the lines if you have one, lines of easily an hour wait in summer for the Musée d'Orsay or the Louvre. And if you buy the pass for them online, there's one more line they won't have to wait in.
posted by hazyjane at 9:59 AM on July 14, 2005

I third the multi-day museum pass. It's brilliant and can save so much time.
posted by Staggering Jack at 10:20 AM on July 14, 2005

Re: museum pass. Paris has a multi-pass called Carte Visite which gets you discounted admission and in some cases express line access at most of the major attractions in the city. It also comes with a handy guide and metro map.
posted by garbo at 10:22 AM on July 14, 2005

Off the top of my head, and some easier to administer from overseas than others...

A Segway tour.
A bike tour.
The best tourist map of Paris money can buy.
Tasting session at the Musee du Vin.
The museum pass.

If you can read French well enough to order stuff online then Fnac.com is a great French department store and "the French Amazon." The real French Amazon might also be good. They will be easy to order from and will be able to deliver to your friends hotel no problem.

On top of these, you could pick a few choice books about Paris that should be full of inspiration. There are loads of good walking tour books out there, as well as great novels set in Paris. And remember practical stuff is always good, especially somewhere like Paris. Camera memory, batteries, bags etc. Boring, but necessary.

Finally, this is a great site about Paris. Good, up to date listings of serious and fun events on each week, as well as a massive archive of weekly stories about life in Paris. It should give you plenty of gift ideas as well as practical addresses etc.
posted by fire&wings at 11:36 AM on July 14, 2005

Why not just get them a Visa gift card? Just like cash except in the form of a credit card. Or find out what hotel they're staying at and pay for a night. Or find out how they're getting from the airport to their hotel and arrange to have a car service pick them up instead.
posted by suchatreat at 12:07 PM on July 14, 2005

If the price extends to around $100, perhaps a GPS and the kind of mapping software that will bring up any destination you're after, and driving instructions, etc.
MS Streets and Trips, including a GPS received, is around $100, I assume there is something similar for Paris.

OTOH, it might be cruely denying them the fear and exhiliration of getting completely lost in a foreign city where the people don't speak your language and the roads don't make any sense you can fathom :-)
posted by -harlequin- at 1:10 PM on July 14, 2005

This was so helpful, all of you! I am still browsing links, but will almost certainly do a few things that are listed here. Thanks so much!
posted by onlyconnect at 3:47 PM on July 14, 2005