Q: I am taking my daughter to Paris for a week in late November to celebrate her 16th birthday. I have been there before, but this is her first trip. What activities or experiences would particularly appeal to a teenager? We are renting an apartment by the Opera area. Merci!
- Sheila Collins, Scottsdale
A: Well . . . really, the coolest thing for a teenager would be to have an hour on her own to wander and get to feel So! Grown! Up! But you might not be ready for that, so here are things you can do together.
I assume you've got the classics covered: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc. Yes, I was impressed with the cultural stuff as a teen (I was 16 and 18 the two times I've been there), but I was really into the shopping and just the excitement of being in Paris!!
First, the shopping: I'm not assuming all teens are bubblegum heads who just want to spend money. But there is a certain excitement to being able to say, "I bought this (scarf, necklace, etc.) in Paris." The Galeries Lafayette department store houses floors and floors of fashion amid Belle Epoque architecture, topped by a dramatic glass dome. It's also near where you'll be staying: The store, at 40 Blvd. Haussmann, is just around the corner from the Paris Opera. I hope you'll tour the Opera - part of the fun for me and my teen friends was sneaking around and trying to find the Phantom's secret stairway.
The Champs-Elysees, in addition to offering more shopping (check out the Disney Store for soundtracks in French; just avoid non-Region 1 DVDs), is a great place to bask in the thrill of being in the City of Light.
Other ways to soak in the excitement: people watching at a cafe; taking a bateaux mouche tour on the Seine (nighttime is preferable, to see the lights, but bundle up!); wandering Montmartre and seeing the street artists work; seeing a play in the Latin Quarter and then getting dessert while watching the young people gather in the Place de la Contrescarpe; and learning how to use the Metro.
I know that last one may not sound exciting, but it really is a cool feeling for a teen (especially one from a car-centric place like the Valley) to learn to navigate a subway. Teach her how to read the maps and then let her plan your route.
Remember that liberté I mentioned at the start? One way to do that is to let her go around the Louvre or a store on her own. Set a meeting time, and then let her have an adventure!
Q: We will be traveling to England, Ireland and Scotland in a few weeks. Where is the best place here at home to exchange U.S. money for euros and the pound? We bank with Bank of America and Desert Schools Federal Credit Union.
- Maureen and Bob
A: I know I'm going to get e-mails telling me that people should wait and use an ATM at their destination, but sometimes you just like to have cash in your pocket before you go.
Desert Schools Federal Credit Union does not handle foreign currency, but Bank of America does. Call your local branch to order the euros and pounds; there is a delivery fee of $7.50.
The ease of ordering by phone is the good news. The bad news is that Bank of America says it's a two-week turnaround, and I'm not sure how soon your trip is.
But fret not. I spoke with a lady at the American Express office at 2508 E. Camelback Road in Phoenix (602-468-1199), and she said they have euros and pounds on hand. They charge a $5 fee if you are an American Express member, $6 for non-members. There are complications for larger amounts, but I assume you are just getting spending money and don't plan to buy a yacht over there.
If you are reading this on your way to the airport, there's one final option. In Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor, Travelex runs an exchange desk on Level 3 by Security Checkpoint B (602-275-5779). It is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
Have a travel question? E-mail traveleditor@arizonarepublic.com. Put "Compass Points" in the subject line, and include your name and city.
- Sheila Collins, Scottsdale
A: Well . . . really, the coolest thing for a teenager would be to have an hour on her own to wander and get to feel So! Grown! Up! But you might not be ready for that, so here are things you can do together.
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I assume you've got the classics covered: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc. Yes, I was impressed with the cultural stuff as a teen (I was 16 and 18 the two times I've been there), but I was really into the shopping and just the excitement of being in Paris!!
First, the shopping: I'm not assuming all teens are bubblegum heads who just want to spend money. But there is a certain excitement to being able to say, "I bought this (scarf, necklace, etc.) in Paris." The Galeries Lafayette department store houses floors and floors of fashion amid Belle Epoque architecture, topped by a dramatic glass dome. It's also near where you'll be staying: The store, at 40 Blvd. Haussmann, is just around the corner from the Paris Opera. I hope you'll tour the Opera - part of the fun for me and my teen friends was sneaking around and trying to find the Phantom's secret stairway.
The Champs-Elysees, in addition to offering more shopping (check out the Disney Store for soundtracks in French; just avoid non-Region 1 DVDs), is a great place to bask in the thrill of being in the City of Light.
Other ways to soak in the excitement: people watching at a cafe; taking a bateaux mouche tour on the Seine (nighttime is preferable, to see the lights, but bundle up!); wandering Montmartre and seeing the street artists work; seeing a play in the Latin Quarter and then getting dessert while watching the young people gather in the Place de la Contrescarpe; and learning how to use the Metro.
I know that last one may not sound exciting, but it really is a cool feeling for a teen (especially one from a car-centric place like the Valley) to learn to navigate a subway. Teach her how to read the maps and then let her plan your route.
Remember that liberté I mentioned at the start? One way to do that is to let her go around the Louvre or a store on her own. Set a meeting time, and then let her have an adventure!
Q: We will be traveling to England, Ireland and Scotland in a few weeks. Where is the best place here at home to exchange U.S. money for euros and the pound? We bank with Bank of America and Desert Schools Federal Credit Union.
- Maureen and Bob
A: I know I'm going to get e-mails telling me that people should wait and use an ATM at their destination, but sometimes you just like to have cash in your pocket before you go.
Desert Schools Federal Credit Union does not handle foreign currency, but Bank of America does. Call your local branch to order the euros and pounds; there is a delivery fee of $7.50.
The ease of ordering by phone is the good news. The bad news is that Bank of America says it's a two-week turnaround, and I'm not sure how soon your trip is.
But fret not. I spoke with a lady at the American Express office at 2508 E. Camelback Road in Phoenix (602-468-1199), and she said they have euros and pounds on hand. They charge a $5 fee if you are an American Express member, $6 for non-members. There are complications for larger amounts, but I assume you are just getting spending money and don't plan to buy a yacht over there.
If you are reading this on your way to the airport, there's one final option. In Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor, Travelex runs an exchange desk on Level 3 by Security Checkpoint B (602-275-5779). It is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
Have a travel question? E-mail traveleditor@arizonarepublic.com. Put "Compass Points" in the subject line, and include your name and city.
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