Comments on: Wedding gift in Paris?

Question: Wedding gift in Paris?

onlyconnect — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 08:56:16 -0800

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!

By: nitsuj

nitsuj — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 09:06:50 -0800

Here's a question I asked that is along the same lines. It might give you some ideas!

By: bjork24

bjork24 — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 09:09:14 -0800

Nitsuj... I was posting a link to your question, but on preview I see you beat me to it. Psh.

By: necessitas

necessitas — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 09:38:07 -0800

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.

By: hazyjane

hazyjane — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 09:59:25 -0800

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.

By: Staggering Jack

Staggering Jack — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:20:50 -0800

I third the multi-day museum pass. It's brilliant and can save so much time.

By: garbo

garbo — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:22:35 -0800

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.

By: fire&wings

fire&wings — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 11:36:17 -0800

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.

By: suchatreat

suchatreat — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 12:07:10 -0800

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.

By: -harlequin-

-harlequin- — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 13:10:40 -0800

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 :-)

By: onlyconnect

onlyconnect — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 15:47:34 -0800

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!