Debbie Gracy couldn't get Mileage Award seats for Holly and me on SAA from Atlanta to Joburg on the dates we needed for our Namibia hunt next week. So she came up with a creative solution.

Air France and Delta are both part of the "Sky Team" so Air France accepts Delta FF Miles. Debbie booked us out of Savannah, GA, Coach, on United Airlines to Chicago. From Chicago we fly FIRST CLASS on Air France direct to Paris.

First Class on Air France only cost 20,000 points each more than Business Class on SAA out of Atlanta. We've done the Atlanta - Joburg trip several times before, so this will be a nice change. Holly has never been to France before, so she is really looking forward to having a quick look around Paris.

We have a 13 hour layover in Paris, so Debbie tried to arrange a car and driver to pick us up at the airport and spend the day doing a "drive by" tour of Paris, then drop us back at the airport for our flight to Joburg. The French tour company quoted her over $800.00 for the day!! I know the US$ is weak against the Euro at the moment, but there's no way I'm spending $800+ per day for a car and driver!!

We would appreciate your suggestions for the best way to pass the day in Paris without spending the Trophy Fee for a 40" Gemsbok!

We arrive at 9:50am and leave for Joburg at 11:15pm.

Should we take a cab from the airport to downtown, then walk around and find a quiet place for lunch?

Is there a Metro subway station at the airport that will get us into the city, then to the principal tourist attractions and back to the airport?

Debbie Gracy is now looking into "day rates" at downtown hotels so we would have a place to relax, take a shower and change clothes before returning to the airport.

Any suggestions?

Hit the Moulon Rouge and party it up!!!

Mark,
Can't help you with car and driver prices or taxi for Paris. Nothing is cheap but $800 does sound a bit steep.

Here's a link to the aiport web site ground transport links. PARIS AIRPORTS
It should be easy and fast enough to get the metro in to the city but you will need to know where you want to go so you can plan where to get off.

A quick Paris taster might be to start walking somewhere on the Champs-Elys�es coming back towards Jardin des Touleries, through to the Louvre, then on to Notre-Dame. (I probably wouldn't, but with a 13 hour lay-over you may have time to spend a couple of hours in the Louvre if art is on the agenda). If you did this kind of walking tour you'd at least get a small taste of the city's highlights. You could take it as easy or go as fast as you wanted to and still have time for lunch in a restaurant or spending a couple of hours in a day room.
Hope this helps,