Hotels and Parking

We plan to travel to Paris in late June with my husband, two children (9 and 11) and my mother. We are looking for a reasonable hotel. We will be renting a car in Germany and plan on driving to Paris for just a few days. Would it be more sensible to book a hotel in the suburbs of Paris and have a place to park the rental car and then take the public transportation into Paris, or are there hotels in Paris that accomodate with reasonable parking rates? Suggestions for hotels would be appreciated!!

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I would not recommend driving in Paris proper: road signs / names are difficult to see, and parking is very expensive.

You will not need the car while in Paris, so I%26#39;d consider parking outside the city and travelling in by train to a central hotel. It%26#39;s much better to stay in the city than in the suburbs. If you%26#39;re coming in from Germany then look in the area around Chessy /Marne la Vallee, for parking.

www.vincipark.com is a great site. Click onthe blue %26#39;P%26#39; at the bottom right, then %26#39;En Ile de France%26#39; then the area %26#39;77%26#39; and then Chessy. This is a huge parking area near Disneyland from where it%26#39;s an easy direct 45 minute train journey into central Paris. Parking will cost EUR10 per 24hours.

There are hundreds of hotels within Paris proper, if you post details of your chosen area, and budget, it will help in making suggestions for you.

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I dont think you will be happy staying in the burbs. You just dont get to experience Paris that way and the commute is a hassle. Some of the larger chain hotels will have parking. Some smaller ones may also although I dont know of a specific one. Maybe someone else will jump in on that. You can also park the car in one of the many many underground secure parking lots about the city. You will invariably be able to find one within a few blocks of your hotel. To give you a price example, the parking at St Suplice is 25 euros for day and has a 3 day price of 52 euros and 14 euros for each additional day. I dont know if that allows in / out or if you have to just park the car and leave it.

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Try searching the forum with %26quot;parking%26quot; using the text field in the upper right part of the screen, I had the same problem, made some research and you will find my answer somewhere in the past along with others...

Good luck!

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Could you return the rental car?

Like the other posters, I do not recommend staying in the suburbs unless they are Neuilly, Saint Mande, Levallois etc. And you will have to pay for parking there too.

Driving into Paris is not that difficult if you are used to driving in big cities.You have to do a mapquest search, find your %26quot;porte de Paris%26quot; and follow the signs that are pretty good at giving general directions.

If you come from Germany you will be entering near Bercy and you have to follow the Seine and rue de Rivoli.

I use the parking under the Madeleine church when needed. It is also there that I rent a car at Avis.

Some hotels I know in that area are:

Hotel de l%26#39;Arcade on rue de l%26#39;Arcade, Hotel Folkestone on rue Castellane, Hotel Queen Mary on rue Greffuhle. This is the right bank and posters tend to prefer the left bank with Saint Germain and Quartier latin. I find my area to be very practical for public transportation and easy as a starting point to walk to Louvre, Champs Elysees, Opera, Department stores etc. It also has many restaurants and cafes even though it is definitely quieter at night than the left bank (that you can reach easily by using bus 21, 27, 95 or metro line 12, exit rue du Bac, Sevre Babylone, Rennes, Notre Dame des Champs etc.

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Thanks for the link to Vinci Park, Kebabs! This is a great resource for those of us planning to drive to Paris:

http://www.vincipark.com/appli/wvncprk/wvncprkimp.nsf/(wv3villeframe)/Chessy?OpenDocument%26amp;i

To find the train into Paris, go to:

http://ratp.fr/

then click on %26quot;Plan Interactiv%26quot; on the upper left of the page (turn off your popup blocker), then click the %26quot;RER%26quot; box to see the lines, take the red %26quot;A%26quot; line into Paris.

ratp.fr also has the bus/metro plans as well.

Cheers,

Colin

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Removed on: 4:17 pm, August 28, 2009

Transportation from CDG

What is the best way to get from CDG airport to the latin quarter? Is there a train that runs there, or is it better to take a cab or a shuttle? Thank you

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Take a moment to search the forum for the answer to your question :)

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There are many ways to get from CDG to the Latin Quarter.

I take a taxi as it is the fastest, most comfortable and

direct. No luggage to haul around and right to my

front door. The downside is the cost but after a long

and tiring flight it is worth every (franc) euro !

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http://urlsnip.com/828538

http://urlsnip.com/262461

http://urlsnip.com/866859

www.parishuttle.com

www.beeshuttle.com

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From Terminal 2 at CDG follow the signs to the RER station. Buy your ticket before boarding the train, approx 8 Euro. Keep your ticket as you will need it to leave the RER system at the end of your trip. (If you arrive at Terminal 1 you will need to take an airport shuttle for the short ride to the RER station. If you arrive at Terminal 3, you can walk the short distance to the station.)

You want to take the train to St-Michel-Notre-Dame. Although all trains will take you there, express trains will get you there faster. If you look at the illuminated destination boards the express trains will be the ones with only a few stations lit. The trip will take about 35 minutes. When you emerge from the St-Michel station you will be on the front doorstep of the Latin Quarter.

Unless you are over-packed, this is easy and cheap

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Thanks for the info

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Definitely take the RER - easy, fast, inexpensive, and perfect for the Latin Quarter. There are 2 Latin Quarter RER stops -- Place St. Michel and Luxembourg. Which is best depends on where exactly your hotel is.

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Removed on: 3:23 am, August 29, 2009

Ski in Grenoble

My daughter will be studying at the Pierre Mendes Univ,Grenoble starting in Jan. I would like her to fly to Grenoble from Paris as she will have a big bag and skiis. I understand that the closest airport is Lyon and there is direct train from Lyon airport to Grenoble. I would like to confirm all of this.

Also, I would like to visit her for a ski week and wondered if you could recommend skiing areas, distance, as well as accomodation. I think I would prefer to stay downtown so I can

visit with her in the evenings.

Over the past few years, how late has one been able to ski in Grenoble. Is late March too late? Thanks

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Hello,

From Paris to Grenoble take the train rather than a flight. It%26#39;s only 3 hours by train, and you can find direct one.

From Lyon%26#39;s airport to Grenoble take the bus Satobus, one every hour, it%26#39;s cheap and it%26#39;s ok.

For the ski the only very very close skiresort is Chamrousse, but in march not sure to find some snow there, choose L%26#39;alpes du huez or les 2 Alpes, at least you can find snow there, other ski resort, smaller can be found around grenoble (in Vercors, or Chatreuse) after it%26#39;s just a matter of what kind of ski are you looking for.

Hope it helps

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Hi

I agree with Cliffer%26#39;s post. The direct train from Paris to Grenoble is 3hrs and cheap and efficient. sncf.com for booking tickets. The bus from Lyon to Grenoble is also recommendable. I live near Chamrousse and there is usually a fair amount of snow in Late March, but in mid April it starts to melt.

There are buses from downtown to Chamrousse and the Univ. that run frequently. The tram system also would help you get from downtown to the Univ. There is a variety of lodging close to the train station, or if you prefer to stay closer to the resorts, there are hotels in Uriage or right in Chamrousse.

Email me if you have more questions. nursears@hotmail.com

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Just back from skiing in Chamrousse in early April, excellent conditions and skiing, for half the price of some of the higher resorts. However, it%26#39;s worth checking snow and webcams before you go. If you are staying there, then I recommend the Auberge de Jeunesse in Chamrousse 1600. It%26#39;s about a two minute walk (under a pedestrian access tunnel) to one of the main access lifts. The hostel itself is clean and friendly and they serve indecent amounts of food.

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Removed on: 3:25 am, August 29, 2009

Report part 2 by nature woman

Once again, i am neither a city person or history fan and do not claim to know anything about paris other than my personal experience. After 2 days on the L%26#39;open bus, visiting Notre Dame, walking the Champs Elysees and checking out the shopping at le printemps and Galleries LaFayette(both within walking distance of hotel), my girls had purchased a scarf or two or tlhree and decided purchasing a prom dress would be too expensive(although they loved the Galleries Lafayette and i loved the stained glass on the inside) they stumbled into a store called Zaras right in the opera district they they found exciting and bought some jeans and shirts. monday night we walked to the cityrama office (5-10 minute walk) and boarded the bus to be transferred to the Eiffel Tower for our pre-booked dinner on the first level followed by a night trip down the Seine. The meal was mediocre at best but the view and not waiting in lines at the tower made it worth it. The Seine cruise that followed was great...full moon and twinkling tower and bridges. The bus returned us to the opera district. Tuesday was more walking, stopping by cafes(the weather was wonderful) conversing in my 30 year -old high school french with very nice french people and of course, with my girls checking out the stores. Tuesday afternoon we headed to Versailles on a bus with cityrama, getting headphones on the bus for the trip and a self-guided audio tour in the palace. Once again not having to wait in lines but Versailles was crowded, the Hall of Mirrors a disappointment, and the outside renovation kicking dust up everywhere so outside was not that nice. I was much more impressed with the Louvre on Wednesday. more later.

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naturewoman - thanks for your nice reports. I never tire of learning about other people%26#39;s experiences.

BTW you don%26#39;t have to start a new thread each time you want to put another chapter to your report, you could just continue the one you started, by adding a %26quot;reply to this post%26quot;.

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Removed on: 4:18 am, August 29, 2009

Paris arrival 7:30am 1st day.

Hi, we will arrive in Paris early in the morning, I figure by the time we get through customs, baggage claim and get to the hotel should be 9:30 am. I am not planning on sleeping, so my question is how would you spend your first dazed, zombie-like day in Paris?

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Store my luggage at hotel. Go to a cafe and have a coffee.

Wander around site closest to my hotel,,, have a leisurly lunch. Window shopping, pick up some brochures from hotel lobby to look at while having a drink at a cafe overlooking the Seine, or Notre Dame, or what ever site makes you think %26quot; WOW I am HERE!

Or, have a coffee , and then board one of those hop on and off buses( do a search on this site, many posts about them, a brainless and / but very relaxing way to be ushered around at your own pace , as you will be as you said in a %26quot;zombie like%26quot; state)

Alot depends on how long your stay is, if you are only in Paris for 3 or 4 days I wouldn%26#39;t waste too much time doing nothing, but, if I was there longer then 5 or 6 days I might just enjoy my first day doing nothing much, wandering around ,, eating ice creams, etc..

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At least an hour of reasonably brisk walking ASAP (or less of more strenuous exercise if you prefer) to get the blood circulating again and re-oxygenate it.

Re-hydrate. I don%26#39;t care how much water you drank on the plane. You are dehydrated. Trust me on this...

Get lots of fresh air, heaps and tons and scads of it. Don%26#39;t even think of going to an indoor museum even if it is blowing a gale and raining, sleeting, snowing and hailing all at once...

Don%26#39;t sit too much. You%26#39;ve spent too much of the last 15 hours sitting. Walk for a bit and rest for a short while then walk some more. pick an area that you really want to see and explore it. You may have to go back to see it properly but if it%26#39;s somewhere that isn%26#39;t a crashing bore for you, you won%26#39;t be quite so likely to turn into zombies.

Eat frequent but small and easily digested meals. The key here is to re-stabilize the blood-sugar level. if you haven%26#39;t eaten well on the plane have a good light meal ASAP and then eat every three or four hours until about 8:30 p.m. Go easy on both alcohol and caffeine.

Go back to your hotel in the mid/late afternoon. have a shower and change. if you feel you *must* have a nap, make it a short one.

Build the things you want to see into this framework. Don%26#39;t decide that you *must* do thus-and-so because you have it pre-programmed.

And get to bed at somewhere close to your normal hour, not early or late.

So anyway, that%26#39;s what is ideal for me. For you? Maybe this will work, maybe you%26#39;ll do better on some totally different regimen...

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When I get to my hotel it is usually after a long 28 hours trip including transfer and layovers and shuttle ride early in the am. I put out my luggage items that I will need then I take a shower.

I head to the nearest ATM machine. Then I go buy my metro tickets or pass. I head for a grocery for water etc. and fruit. I take all this back to the hotel room. I try to do this before I get a tired mind!

I always take ther metro or a bus to the Notre Dame area and walk around in the fresh air. I then decide where and what to have for lunch. I try to either do something that is not too tiring either a bus ride on #69 or the Seine River tour.

I usually have an early dinner and return to my room by 8:00 pm ish. I call to let hubby know I am ok. Then I need to hit the hay for the next day.

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Stay busy! Our first day looked like this (I%26#39;m lazy - this is a copy/paste from my trip report!):

Day 1 (Fri, 3/9):

We and our two friends (whom we travel with annually) arrived CDG around 8:45a, headed to our apartment (located 3 blocks from the Eiffel Tower), unpacked, and were out the door by noon, full of excitement as to what Paris had in store for us! It was cold, windy and drizzly, but who cares? We were in Paris after all – so what if it’s raining!?!

We started at the Point de l’Alma RER station where we purchased a carnet (10 rides). She spoke no English, we spoke very little French, and she was quite busy so this was not an easy purchase. We muddled our way through it nonetheless and hopped on the train for Ile de la Cite. The first order of business was lunch. We stopped at the Notre Dame Patisserie for lunch before crossing the Seine to the island. Suffice it to say our first dining experience was not our best dining experience, and I would not recommend this restaurant. Regardless, we were in Paris for goodness sake! So we ate our meal (food was good) and off we went.

First stop – Notre Dame. The place was magnificent and the architecture amazing! After seeing it in person I can understand why it took almost 200 years to build! There were small chapels all along the perimeter of the cathedral, each one as beautiful as the next. I was humbled by the fact that I was standing in a structure that was almost 900 yrs old!!! One of the great joys of Europe is care and pride around their old architecture. We don’t seem to quite understand that importance of that here in America, but I digress. It did feel awkward walking around talking photos of the perimeter while people were in the nave for mass, but everyone was doing it so I got over it and snapped away.

We left the cathedral and wandered both islands, stopping for café crème and Berthillon ice cream at La Brasserie de I’lle St. Louis where we were surprised by the 42 euro price tag for three café crèmes and four ice creams! By now the rain had stopped so, though chilly, it was nicer out. The treats were yummy and we were enjoying the view.

We wandered over to the Conciergerie and bought our 6-day museum passes (no queue!). From there we hopped the RER back to the apartment neighborhood where we did a bit of grocery shopping. That in and of itself was quite a fun experience! We bought some assorted meats and cheeses, stopped for a baguette, and headed back to the apartment for a light dinner. We forced ourselves to stay awake until 9p, then fell into bed for a good night’s sleep.

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Also if your flight is late it could be 10-10:30am, and also allow 20-30 min or so to check in. My flight was 1 hr late from Newark by the time we exited the plane. I would also suggest you pack a fresh set of clothes that you can access easily from your suitcase for a quick change at hotel or CDG. I think it helps wake you up if you feel at least somewhat refreshed.

Where are you staying? I would agree to stay close by so you can return easily to the hotel. We stayed in the 1st ARR, so we decided to just go to the Louvre. Although it was a lot of walking in the museum, the excitement kept us going without a problem. Followed it up with a early dinner and bed, and then started the next day bright and early.

T

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This has all been really helpful, thank you! I had planned on visiting ND and St. Ch the first day (I get in early as well) but may scratch the Orsay off my list as a first-day %26quot;do.%26quot; That might be too much!

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Hi --

I use the early part of that first day to locate the little shops I%26#39;ll need every day - where to get yogurt and cheese to supplement a continental breakfast at the hotel, the pharmacy/supermarket for the little odds and sods that may have been forgotten/too heavy to pack, the place I%26#39;ll buy wine for the cocktail hour, the shop with flowers so I can have fresh ones in my room, and etc.

Additionally, I begin my continuous survey to locate cafes, brasseries, or restaurants whose bills of fare interest me for dinner that evening.

I have to add that I%26#39;m not doing this in Paris, yet. I don%26#39;t fly into CDG except under pain of death or divorce. I fly into Amsterdam and spend a couple of nights there to get my act together after the 9.5 hours of flying, and then take a train to Paris (from downtown to downtown, no airport to ruin the day) and I arrive ready to get on with things.

In AMS I fly into Schipol, a much more pleasant experience than CDG, catch a train on the lowest level of the arrivals building that takes me into the Centraal Station for about 4 Euros, and I have the opportunity to get over my jet lag in a less expensive city which is safe and clean, has good food, and where almost everyone speaks English. It%26#39;s a great gateway to Europe.

I understand that I have more time than do most people, but you can all file this away for the days to come when you%26#39;re able to take an extra few days without incurring the risk of gross instability in your life, ie, getting fired.

Bon voyage.

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Thanks all of your replies, you guys are great. My thoughts like most of you are to go to the hotel (hotel Royal Opera, 8th I believe) get unpacked, a shower for sure and like you all mentioned take a walk to get to know my immediate area and stores I will need. I also thought of going to the Latin Quarter, thought that might me fun and funky to just aimlessly wander around. The idea of the red bus is an option, also the cruise along the seine! Of course there will be eating to be done, and yes as mentioned by someone light meals are the order for the day. Thank you all!

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Keep in mind your room may not be ready until the regular afternoon check-in time. Do you know what time that is? However, you can still check in and have the hotel hold your bags while you go out an sightsee.

Best chance to gain early access to room is to request it in advance, depending on availability. Email the hotel and inform them what time you plan to arrive, and request early check-in if available. Then they will know to try to have it ready for you. If none availabe when you arrive, they will know to clean it ASAP.

T

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Removed on: 3:19 pm, August 29, 2009

Eurail Pass Necessary?

Help please! Is it necessary to purchase a Eurail Pass (which my husband and I already have) to take the train from Paris to Darmstadt (Germany) and then to Munich? I am confused about the requirements. Is it possible to just buy point-to-point tickets without a Eurail Pass? We plan on making reservations, but don%26#39;t know if it is necessary to have the Eurail Pass to do so.

Also, I just read on Rick Steves that one must be under 26 (which we are not) in order to buy 2nd class tickets. We already bought 2nd class Eurail Passes.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated--thank you!!

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A Eurail pass is mostly good for travelling on a train for more than two days. For example, if you are just buying a round trip ticket, the eurail pass is not usually the cheapest option. You might want to look at sncf.com and check the price for paris - munich. Normally you should be able to stop in darmstadt and continue on to munich a day or two later (but i haven%26#39;t done this recently so you should check).

Eurail pass offers youth passes, which are 2nd class passes for travellers under 26 on the first day of travel, or adult passes which are good for first class travel (you can ride in 2nd class too). Those rules apply to a multi-country eurail pass. Passes for individual countries or other combinations, might be different. You can get all the info you need on raileurope.com (but the train ticket rates you find there for buying individual ticket -- e.g. without a rail pass -- will be much more expensive than if you buy the ticket locally when you arrive.

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%26gt;%26gt; Is it possible to just buy point-to-point tickets without a Eurail Pass?

So you mean millions and millions of Europeans all buy Eurail Pass(similar to the idea of a monthly/weekly ticket) to do their travel? Anyone can buy point-to-point tickets

%26gt;%26gt; Also, I just read on Rick Steves that one must be under 26 (which we are not) in order to buy 2nd class tickets. We already bought 2nd class Eurail Passes.

Either you read it wrong, or HE%26#39;s wrong. Anyone can buy 2nd class tickets.

However, you need to be under 26 to USE Eurail Passes, so basically you threw couple hundred dollars away. But I think they do issue refunds for unused passes.

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Oops...

%26quot;you need to be under 26 to USE **2nd CLASS** Eurail Passes%26quot;

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Thank you for your help. Appreciate your time.

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Removed on: 9:17 pm, August 29, 2009

1 Day in Nice - What to do?

We will unfortunately only have a little over 1 day in Nice, on transit, so can anyone suggest the best options to take in, in such a little time. We are arriving in a hire car, (flying out) so should we ditch the car straight away - should be have a look at Monaco also. Thank you LS

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Hi Gblyn,

For such a short period of time, I would definitely stick to Nice, doing the market on the Cours Saleya in the morning, taking a walk or elevator to the top of the chateau for some breathtaking views of all of Nice and the sea, in a park like setting, then strolling thru the old town, with its quaint little alleys, and squares, have a drink at a people watching cafe, and then dinner at one of the many provencal restauranrts there as well. On such a limited time frame, Monaco just isn%26#39;t worth the effort. Just relax and enjoy!

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Funkster,

For some reason I thought the Flower market was in Old Town. Is that incorrect?

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I agree with funkster1 and would recommend sticking to Nice. I could wander around Vieux Nice for hours...

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There are musts like walking on the Promenade des Anglais , both looking at the sea, the beach and the hotels.

The Old Town and the Cours Saléya: Start from Place Masséna and walk towards the Promenade on Rue de l’Opéra. Make a left on Rue St-Francois-de-Paule, check the boutiques but don’t buy there (touristy prices way too high). Walk straight ahead to the Marché aux Fleurs (Cours Saléya). There is a market every day except Mondays. Walk to the end of the market and you get to the Chapelle du St-Suaire. Make a left on J” Gilly street . It ends on Rue de la Préfecture. Make a left there and walk until you reach Rue Ste-Réparate. Make a right and you will see the Cathedral Ste-Réparate and get on Place Rossetti. Very typical (look at the warmth of colours if you are there 1hr or 2 before sunset). A left on Rue Rossetti until you reach Rue Droite. Make a left on Rue Droite and walk to its end. Stop by Palais Lascaris (free visit) and some nice artist shops (check Christian Dury’s gallerie =%26gt; he puts typical Nice things in Plexiglas frames). Rue Droite falls into Rue St-François the in Rue Pairolière. Both typical Old Nice streets with locals shops, food store, fish and meat stores, etc. Open your eyesand your ears and take a deep breath. Now you see the real thing. You get to the Place Garibaldi. Time for lunch. Help yourself, there are plenty nice spots at cheap prices.

From Place Garibaldi keep your right and stay on Rue Catherine Ségurane from where you will get a road that brings you up the Castle Hill (Colline du Chateau). Walk up to its top and have a look at the whole area (the Port, the beaches, the town). Stop by the Cemetery on your way down and wak to the Port. Look at the small fishermen boats on Quai des Deux Emmanuel. And walk back to town circling the Castle Hill by walking on the sea side to reach back Promenade des Anglais.

That one should take not far from a day long, especially if you stop often at boutiques or for an ice cream cone…

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Thank you kindly for taking the time to offer your suggestions. I only wish we had more time, but maybe next time. I will let you know how our visit goes on return. LS

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Thanks , Now I see the flower market on my map.

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Removed on: 9:17 pm, August 29, 2009

ST. TROPEZ- Is it necessary to stay in the "mix" or not?

Hello everyone, I am debating whether to stay in a hotel on the main street of st. tropez or stay off the beaten path. Any suggestions???? Also, I realize european hotels have very small rooms, I am looking for a hotel with a little larger room as I will be traveling with a child and adult. I am looking to stay in a decent hotel that is not $1000 a night but neither a dump. Open to suggestions...... Thank you!

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Hi SaldBowl,

Staying in our just outside of St Tropez probably depends on what you plan on doing, and whether you have a car. Mostly beach, people-watching, socialising, taking side-trips?

I stayed at Les Capucines last year, about 2 or 3km outside the village, and would definitely recommend it. It was spacious and had a lovely pool, lots of peace and quiet and beautiful views over the bay, plus ample free parking. i think the room cost about €200. On the downside, if we wanted to go out partying at night, it was a little out of the way, and we needed to spend €20 each way on a taxi (as you%26#39;ve probably figured out by now, nothing in St Tropez is cheap!).

This year I%26#39;m staying in the middle of everything, right off the street in Hotel Sube. It%26#39;s cheap by St Tropez standards at €160 a pop. The rooms are probably much smaller and I doubt we have a pool, but that%26#39;s not why we%26#39;re going! We%26#39;ll probably get a better chance to soak up the atmosphere and people-watch. Parking in the centre of St Tropez is scarce and very expensive so I%26#39;m glad I%26#39;ve ditched the car this year. Whatever you do, good luck, and remember you won%26#39;t get much room for your money! Try Hotel de Lices (it was full when I tried). Maybe an expert like JBart will have some ideas for you Bon voyage!

Susie

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We stayed in St. Maxime last summer and it was incredible.. We wanted to be in St.Tropez, but couldn%26#39;t find anything for the four of us, so we rented a villa in St. Maxime. We went to St. Tropez on the ferry in 15 mins. for dinners and strolling.. We wound up loving ST. Maxime so much more than ST. Tropez, which we never expected. St. Trop is beautiful, but there are just soooo many tourists, and so many speaking nEnglish it was kind of a turnoff... St. Max was the opposite, just French vacationers and locals.. I highly recommend.

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My husband and I stayed at Chateau Messardiere a couple of years ago and we%26#39;re going back this June. We love the hotel. It%26#39;s a bit expensive but we find its location to be great. It%26#39;s just a 5 minute drive from St. Tropez town or the beach and they have a 24 hours shuttle service so transportation is never a problem.

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I think it really depends on your sleep cycle. I you will be in bed before 1am then I would not stay in the center unless the hotel gtyd a very loud airconditioner.

On the other hand, it you are going to be out making noise until 2 to 5 am, then stay in the center so that you dont have to drive any where.

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Removed on: 9:17 pm, August 29, 2009

Day trip to Beaune and rail question

I%26#39;m trying to book a day trip to Beaune. I%26#39;m on the SNCF website and I%26#39;m able to book from Paris to Beaune . For the return trip from Beaune to Dijon it shows no reservation and no seats.

I%26#39;m confused, is there certain days that travel from Beaune to Dijon is not running?

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*Probably* all it means is that the particular train you are looking at from Beaune to Dijon is a local (Ter) train that does not have reserved seating. If that explanation does not seem to cover the case let us know the specific trains and the date you are trying to book and I will have a quick look when I get a minute.

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I think you are correct about that particular train.

We want to return June 5th from Beaune to Paris around 18h.

Thanks

|||

17h23 - BEAUNE

17h47%26gt; 18h18 via DIJON VILLE

TER 91428 2e classe Sans réservation

18h18 - DIJON VILLE

20h01%26gt; PARIS GARE DE LYON

TGV 07674 2e classe Période normale - Réservation obligatoire

Durée : 02h38

Rates are (prem%26#39;s) 26.40€ Normal 44.90€ 1st class prem%26#39;s 41.40€

+

18h21 - BEAUNE

18h46%26gt; 19h16 via DIJON VILLE

TER 91430 2e classe Sans réservation

19h16 - DIJON VILLE

20h57%26gt; PARIS GARE DE LYON

TGV 06776 2e classe Période normale - Réservation obligatoire

Durée : 02h36

same prices.

voila! :-)

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Thank you very much. The information was very helpful

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Yes, it is just the Beaune-Dijon part of the trip where you will not have reserved seating. The 18:21 departure is showing PREMS fares of ~26€. I don%26#39;t think there is any problem here. Just go ahead and book.

Good luck!

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Removed on: 9:19 pm, August 29, 2009

Renting an Apartment in Paris

Hello all:

We will be staying in Paris mid April this year and, since we are a family of four, are most interested in staying in an Apartment. Unfortunately, I have never rented a vacation apartment before and am a little leary of handing over money to people I meet on the internet.

Does anyone have advice on the best way to go about it?

Thanks

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One good site to get some reviews of agencies etc. is www.slowtrav.com. Figure out what area you want to stay in and also do a search on this forum for recommended agencies. This will give you peace of mind knowing that you are dealing with reputable people.

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As your time of travel is soon, many apartments will already be booked. Vacationinparis.com has an 800 number, and they will give you a list of what they have available for your dates of travel. It is a New Jersey based company, and I have found them very helpful.

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we have rented 22 times now -- mostly in Europe but also elsewhere -- we have never had a bad experience

it is VERY helpful to have this site because you can check out the reputation of the agency -- I just avoided a very attractive agency (on line) in Amsterdam because there were so many renters unhappy with them

one can get skinned but if you check out the apartment it is not terribly likely

if you can use an agency that uses paypal and credit cards this adds a little security with your credit card company

another safety issue is to see lots of pictures of the place -- if they don%26#39;t have pictures of the touted view or of the bathroom or bedroom, that tells you they are not going to be very nice -- and as a group, you will want clear descriptions or preferably a floor plan -- we had friends who discovered that the second bedroom was the entry way with cots

we have never been more than slightly disappointed and have often been thrilled

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We just got back a week ago after having renting a lovely apartment in the 7th w/a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower. We used parisperfect.com, which came recommended by a friend of mine. There were four of us (two couples) and we stayed in their St. Julien apartment.

The customer service and attention to EVERY detail that we received from them both before - and during - our stay was outstanding. I would highly recommend them!

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You have good advice already. I would second www.vacationinparis.com as it is nice dealing with a company in the USA and they send you the keys 2 weeks before your departure date. They are a well known company. Search %26quot;apartment rental%26quot; on this forum and you will see ones to check out and ones to avoid.

This is a good example of a very good company. Notice all the information they give. Inquire with them about their last minute rentals. One of those might save you a good bit of $$$$$$. We%26#39;ve used them. Super nice folks.

parispiedaterre.com/Pages/…CDM2.html

If you%26#39;re looking to go mid-April, you had sure better hurry!!!!!!!

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Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am absorbing these posts like a sponge and taking notes. Your advice is giving me confidence to book that apartment on Monday morning. (we still need to firm up or FF miles for the trip over, but it looks really good).

I noticed a lot of othe apartments offer free wifi and telephone service, even to the states! Is that true? And has anyone used craigslist for apartments? I have found some fascinating possiblities....

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Hi, we are a family of four (3 adults 1 child) and we stayed at a gorgeous apartment in the Rue Mazarine in the 6th. it was chosen and booked over the internet and turned out to be a very good experience for us. The site is www.paristay.com. Good luck.

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Acorns, on our last trip to Paris I looked at dozens of apartments and finally went with one from a newer company, based in Paris, for a price that was better than the others. Lesson learned the hard way! It was a comedy of errors (in retrospect, at the time it was less funny) from arriving in Paris and being told that we didn%26#39;t have a flat rented, to not being able to figure out how to get into the building, flat was DIRTY and in terrible disrepair (sink falling through the kitchen counter, broken shower, filthy sheets, etc etc etc), telephone and cable were turned off from non-payment, on our 3rd day the electric company came to turn off the power for non-payment (as I was in the shower rinsing the shampoo out of my hair, and my non French speaking husband was hammering on the shower door yelling %26quot;COME QUICK!!!!%26quot;).

What I learned was that, especially with our kids in tow, it really does pay to pay a bit more, go with a reputable, long standing agency or a VRBO type renter that has a long history of satisfied rentals (google everyone!). Maybe most of the time using Craigs List or something like that will work out fine, but when it doesn%26#39;t......oh doggies!.......it can be a nightmare!

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Parisperfect.com and parisianflat.com are two very higly thought of places. I rent from them..in fact I have a ParisPerfect for Oct. and a Parisianflat for April, 2008....there are many others. vrbo.com is a good place to look.....enjoy.........

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Okay,

My eyes have ben opened and I really appreciate all the wonderful sites. slowtrav was a real eye opener, and I now am feeling very confident about booking the apartment Monday morning.

My husband and I were just looking over the apartments I was considering when we stumbled upon the houseboats. Has anyone actually stayed in a houseboat in Paris? Are we insane to consider being on the river in April?

Thanks again.

Hotel near train station in Montpellier

Does anyone know of a hotel that is very close to the train station in Montpellier?

I am taking the train into Montpellier from Avignon, spending the night and leaving for Barcelona at 7:30am. I will have a car in Avignon and it seemed easier to deal with the car drop off the day before, take the train to Montpellier and then leave first thing in the morning.

Any hotel suggestions?

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lucy88: It all depends on your budget. the street across from the station (Rue Maguelone) has some nice hotels, the %26quot;Royal%26quot; (just shy of the Place de la Comédie) and the %26quot;New Hôtel du Midi%26quot; (directly diagnonal from the Opéra and the Place de la Comédie), for example. If you%26#39;re up for a bit of a walk (not too much further, but for less money), is the IBIS right near the Polygone Commercial Center (on the other side of the Place de la Comédie).

For some further information, here%26#39;s the Montpellier city website which lists hotels.

www.ot-montpellier.fr/index.php…

Too bad that you won%26#39;t have the time to stay and explore Montpellier; it%26#39;s a great town. Used to live there.

Whichever place you decide on, if you just want to relax.... just start exploring some of the old quarter around the Comédie area, then stop into a brasserie.

Bonne route et amusez-vous-y bien.

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Removed on: 1:21 pm, August 29, 2009

Confused about train transfer to hotel

Hi,

We are 2 adults and 2 kids (10 %26amp; 8) travelling via Eurostar to Paris. We are staying at the Best Western Premier Left Bank-St.Germain.

I%26#39;ve checked out the private transfers, and the cheapest I can find is 65 euros, which I%26#39;m thinking is an awful lot! I have lots of questions, hope you don%26#39;t mind.

1. From other info on this forum this hotel is closest to the Odeon Metro station, which I think is Line 4. Is this correct?

2. How much should I expect to pay for the metro tickets for the 4 of us (so I can compare price against car transfer)?

3. Are the different train lines marked as %26quot;Line 4%26quot;, or do they go by names?

4. We will probably have 2 large duffle (soft) bags with wheels. Would this be a problem on the Metro?

5. Our train arrives about 1 pm on May 1. Does France have May 1 holiday and does this make a difference to train travel?

Anybody have suggestions about the best way for us to get to our hotel?

Appreciate any and all advice. Many thanks.

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%26quot;Our train arrives about 1 pm on May 1. Does France have May 1 holiday and does this make a difference to train travel?%26quot;

Yes. May 1 is celebrated Labor Day in France but no problem with taking public transportation at all!

If you don%26#39;t mind going up and down stairs the metro is fine. Or you can just take a taxi.

65 euros is way too much money to pay!

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Hi Penny

As Discover suggested a taxi might be easiest, although you don%26#39;t have much luggage and your children are not so young that Metro steps would be a problem. Unless you were very unlucky with the traffic, the taxi fare would be unlikely to be much over 20 Euros even with the additional charge of about 2.70 Euros for the 4th person in the cab and the charge of 1 Euro per suitcase.

For your other questions:%26quot;

1. From other info on this forum this hotel is closest to the Odeon Metro station, which I think is Line 4. Is this correct?

Metro Odeon is closest at 100m from the hotel and is on Line 4. You can take Metro line 4 from the Metro station at Gare du Nord.

2. How much should I expect to pay for the metro tickets for the 4 of us (so I can compare price against car transfer)?

A Carnet of 10 metro tickets is 10.90 Euros and cheaper than buying single tickets at 1.40 Euros each. You can use the rest within Paris on buses and trains (RER and Metro).

3. Are the different train lines marked as %26quot;Line 4%26quot;, or do they go by names?

The Lines are indicated by number and you will travel from GduN in the direction of Porte D%26#39;Orleans

4. We will probably have 2 large duffle (soft) bags with wheels. Would this be a problem on the Metro?

You will probably have to carry the bags up stairs using the Metro

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If you do decide to take the train do make sure your valuables are in a secure place. Upon my return this past week I talked with a young school teacher in the customs line who, sadly, had been robbed of all of her money, passport and credit cards on her way from the airport to her hotel via the Metro.

I rode the Metro for 6 days with no problems whatsoever, but it can and does happen. So wear a money belt or whatever and take precautions to safeguard your property. Juggling luggage and managing youngsters could make you more of a target.

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Thanks so much to you all.

It seems like taxi would be a good compromise between the transfer service and the Metro.

Have a nice day. :)

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Take a taxi, it is easy and no where near 65 euros( never heard of anyone paying that much to travel from Gare Nord to the left bank.

Kids and luggage , spend the 10-15 euros. There is a taxi stand right outside.

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Removed on: 4:17 pm, August 29, 2009

travel from Nice to Paris

We are traveling from Nice to Paris on May 20th, what are the best suggestions cost and time wise. Saw that flights are upwards of 500.00 cdn $ which is more than we want to spend. Are there any discount airlines or would you recommend travel via rail. Thanks so much for your ideas.

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EasyJet flies from Nice to both CDG and ORY. In general terms ORY is a bit easier to deal with than CDG. Advance purchase train fares *can* be as low as 35€ but probably not that low for a date in mid-May. IIRC even full fare second class tickets are only about 90€. The TGV takes about 5.5-6 hours depending on the train. If you%26#39;ve never been oin one it%26#39;s a worthwhile experience and some of the scenery is splendid.

The plane will save you at mist a couple of hours when you take transfers and check-in times into account. Don%26#39;t forget to factor in the cost of airport transfers, at least 15€ each and up to about 40€ each if you use taxis at both ends.

For train timetables go to voyages-sncf.com. Read this useful %26quot;how to%26quot; by MorganB *before* trying to book your tickets: http://tinyurl.com/qpdef

Whichever you choose the sooner you book the better. Fares will only go up as your travel date gets closer.

www.easyjet.com

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thanks so much IrishRvr, I was just on the sncf page, would someone be able to share with me the differences between booking first class and second? much appreciated.

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First class has *slightly* wider and *slightly* more comfortable seating. Because the seating configuration is 2 plus 1 versus 2 plus 2 the ailsles are also somewhat wider. Also there is a bit more legroom in first class but it is adequate in second class.

On a 5.5-6 hour trip I would probably opt for first class if the price differential were not enormous. But you will be required to pack a more gourmet picnic and better wine if you travel first class! ;-)

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Removed on: 9:32 am, August 29, 2009

air tickets from sfo/lax to paris/nice

hi,

i will be traveling to nice around 20th of june. i was looking for fares to nice or paris and they were around 1300-1500 dollars. should i buy the tickets now or wait. is it possible if the ticket prices may come down?

tahnx in advance.

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I am seeing RT fares from LAX to Dublin (DUB) as low as ~$810 in late June. It would definitely be worth considering this and add-on flights with Aer Lingus (preferably) or Ryanair. You would probably have to spend at least one night in Dublin on your return trip. (How tough is that?)

Also check fares to London, Brussels, Frankfurt or Amsterdam. You never know what will come up.

I would not expect fares to drop between now and mid/late June. More likely the opposite will happen.

I like mobissimo.com for fare searches but there are other good sites too. Always check the relevant airline%26#39;s site before booking through any third party.

Good luck!

|||

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Removed on: 11:16 am, August 29, 2009

Help with itinerary...1st time to Paris

We are going to Paris next month (wow, I can%26#39;t believe it%26#39;s next month!!). And I%26#39;ve been on these boards and researching as much as I can and I%26#39;ve read Rick Steve%26#39;s guidebook...but it is still so overwhelming! Any help with creating itinerary would be great! Obviously I don%26#39;t expect anyone to actually create an itinerary for me (although if you%26#39;ve got the time and are up for it be my guest!). I was just hoping for maybe a little guidance.

We will be arriving in Paris at CDG at 9:45pm after our 4 day trip to Rome. So question number one...(and yes, I%26#39;ve read the sticky), would an Air France shuttle be a good option to get from CDG to our hotel on rue du Champ de Mars at this hour?

Below are some of the places that we would like to see, pass by, visit, etc. Do you think it%26#39;s feasible in 4 days? Also, given these places, what passes do you think we should get for our 4 days(museums and metro)

Tulieres Gardens

Louvre (just for the main touristy attractions)

Possibly the Orangerie if we have time

Notre Dame including the tower

Eiffel tower (climb and view from Trocadero Sq)

Invalides

Pantheon

Luxembourg Gardens

Champs Elysees

Arc de Triomphe

Sacre Coeur %26amp; Montmarte

Versailles

Maybe head down Avenue Montaigne

Tacky I know, but I%26#39;d like to at least stop at the Hard Rock Cafe

Boat ride on the Seine (should this be done day or night or both?)

Since I have such a sweet tooth I%26#39;d like to stop at Laduree, but other than that I think we%26#39;re just going to eat wherever we are at the time that we get hungry (but not in touristy places).

Is it too much? Everything just sounds so great! I can%26#39;t wait!!!

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It depends on how long you spend in certain places. The Louvre could easily be an all day site as can Versailles.

I would get a map, photocopy it and mark all the sites you want to see or visit. Then you can group them by location so you aren%26#39;t back tracking.

I would also %26quot;loosely%26quot; do an itinerary so you know approx what you are doing but can change it according to weather or mood (ie change the Louvre/Orangerie day from Wed to Friday if need be). Also keep in mind days that Museums are closed.

I would take the Seine cruise at night. I did that with my mom the second to last time I was in Paris and she said it was one of the highlights of her trip.

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I too would take the Seine boat ride at night.... we did it during the day, and because the river is lower than the roads, you don%26#39;t really get a good perspective of things but night time with the lights would be very romantic. We did the hop on/off bus as soon as we arrived in Paris - we had 3 days - and fitted in most of the things you have on your list, plus shopping time. We didn%26#39;t really have an itinerary, we would just get off the bus when we decided we wanted to see more of something eg the Louvre, wandered around, and when we had had enough, got back on the bus to the next place of interest. On our second day, we did a bit more walking than bus, and the boat trip. We also had my elderly parents with us, which dictated less walking, but as I mentioned in 3 days we still managed to fit in most of your listed places - maybe not loads of time in each place, but enough to satisfy. (Didn%26#39;t do Invalides, Sacre Coeur %26amp; Versaille - when you are doing a long trip as we did (4 1/2 weeks of sightseeing) you do overdose a bit on looking at things, and tend to want to chill out at times but we could have fitted them in timewise). Have a great time. LS

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i think the shuttle would be easier for you, but the train system runs in paris until around midnight...i think all of the things you have listed are fantastic...i would add going to the catcombes to your list. it%26#39;s a great sight to see and something a lot of people don%26#39;t know about. don%26#39;t worry about the hard rock cafe. the one in paris isn%26#39;t that great. i would recommend checking out les halles which is a great mall in paris. i always have fun there people watching and it%26#39;s in a great area....paris is fantastic!!! one of my favorite cities! i%26#39;m lucky enough to have my sister live there so i always have an excuse to go!

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I had a first visit a few weeks ago and did many of the things you mentioned. L%26#39;Orangerie is really a great museum-try to see it if you can. Laduree is a must visit and if you have a sweet tooth, you must go to Angelina%26#39;s for the famous hot chocolate. If you search on this forum for it, you will see many raves!

Notr Dame is awesome, really long lines thougn, especially for the tower-buy in advance if you can.

Champs Elysees is on the way to Arc de Tromphe-

I loved Sacre Coeur and Montmarte-we spent all day there and it was just great.

I hope I don%26#39;t offend you-but there are so many wonderful and unique things to do in a short time, seriously reconsider Hard Rock Cafe. I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll regret having the extra time.

Enjoy!

Veggie

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Heres our itinerary for 2 and a half days, very hectic but all more or less grouped into areas and very flexible (more of a note to remind us of stuff), we are staying near to your hotel area so feel free to adapt ours to your stay. We have been before though so pretty much know our way around.

PARIS ITINERARY

Thursday Afternoon ---------

Get some lunch before going out

grab any supplies needed

walk down champs de mar

maybe go up 1st level of tower

walk across to pont d%26#39;alma

walk across to champs elysee

walk up to laduree, get macaroons

grab something for tea

walk up to arc d%26#39;triomphe

Thursday Evening ------------

Walk down to trocadero

watch the tower twinkle

take a cruise down the river

slow walk back

Friday Morning ---------------

Metro to concorde

walk through garden tuilleries

go in the louvre

walk around to angelinas for hot chocolate

walk to place vendome

Friday afternoon/evening --

Metro from concorde to chatelet

walk to ille st louis

grab some berthillon ice cream

walk around latin quarter

have evening meal

visit st chapelle and notre dame

metro back to hotel

Saturday Morning ------------

metro to pigalle, sacre cour and mont martre

walk around and get some lunch

Saturday afternoon -----------

metro to pantheon

jardin du luxembourg

walk around st germain du pres

get something to eat

Saturday Evening ------------

one last walk down champs de mar to say goodbye!

|||

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Removed on: 11:08 am, April 06, 2007


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Just a quick question -- because it would make helping you with an itinerary so much easier: what days of the week will you be in Paris? As I%26#39;m sure you know from scouring guide books, museums are closed on certain days, and sometimes it is best to avoid certain other museums that are open on those days because of the crowds.

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You just like another poster today who posted their itinerary, sound like you reseached and know what you would like to see on your trip to Paris.

I recommend that you try to map the areas and see what is in each area instead of backtracking.

Use your plan as a guide.

Have a wonderful trip!

|||

Ah! A %26quot;Rick-nik%26quot;, can I assume you are staying at the Hotel Champs du Mars on Rue Champs du Mars?

I think that by the time you retrieve your baggage you can still catch the RER B line from CDG to Gare du Nord and transfer to the Metro line 4, transfer via Strassbourg-St. Denis station to line 6 to Ecole Militaire which looks 2-3 blocks from your hotel (if it%26#39;s the Hotel Champs du Mars).

The last %26quot;Roissybus%26quot; leaves CDG at 11:00 PM to %26quot;Opera%26quot;. it says 45-60 minutes. The Metro closes at 12:30 althogh some stations may close earlier.

Here%26#39;s the website for RATP www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/aeroports.php#

Since you%26#39;re staying close to the Eiffel Tower, to avoid a long line, go early. Also use this same logic for the tower at Notre Dame and the %26quot;greatest hits%26quot; at the Louvre. I%26#39;d start any of day 1, 2, or 3 visiting any of these sights due to the lines. You can get in %26amp; out of the Louvre (Mona) pretty quickly. Louvre opens at 9:00 but is closed Tuesday.

As previously suggested, group the sights you want to see by marking them on a map and try to cover each of them on one trip so you don%26#39;t keep going back to the same area. Since you read Rick, page 43 of his 2006 Paris guidebook gives a breakdown of sights by neighborhood. His day by day suggested itineraries also work well since you seem comfortable w/ Rick. I%26#39;ve used them, no shame in that, and they do give you a good structure as to how to see most (if not all) the sights you want to see.

The Pantheon does nothing for me, but I was surprised at your omission of the impressionist collection at the Musee D%26#39;Orsay or the gothic beauty of St. Chappelle. Orsay has a much larger collection than Orangerie and St. Chappelle is very convenient to Notre Dame - also easy to combine churches into one trip. The Rodin Museum is literally across the street from Invalides

Versailles might be a bit of a stretch. For me, it%26#39;s difficult to get out to Versaille and back before 2:00-3:00 PM. It%26#39;s pretty much the bulk of one full day because so many other sights close at 6:00 PM (It%26#39;s also a LOT of walking, so you might not feel like a lot more walking when you get back into Paris). Although the Louvre is open until 9:45 on Wed/Fri and Orsay is open until 9:45 on Thur.

4 consecutive day Museum pass is 45 Euro. It covers most sights except Eiffel Tower, Picasso Museum and the Boat tours on the Seine. For the Metro, just buy a Carnet for each of you. You probably won%26#39;t need more than 10 Metro tickets for a 4 day visit.

The actual day of your arrival will determine which sites are open on day 1, 2, 3, etc, so your itinerary will change accordingly.

Finally, if you REALLY want to go to the Hard Rock, go ahead. I haven%26#39;t been to the one in Paris, but on my trip to Sydney, we had to make a stop for t-shirts for our friends back home. I wouldn%26#39;t go, but hey! It%26#39;s your trip.

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I agree with the last poster that the Pantheon can be left out. The musee D%26#39;Orsay is a must. Also, a vote for the l%26#39;Orangerie and Sainte Chapelle. Sainte Chapelle is a short walk from Notre Dame. By the way, the museum pass does cover the Picasso museum just not the Eiffel Tower or the Seine boat cruise. We also stayed in the 7th last March at the Hotel du Champ de Mars because Rick Steves recommended it. But, for our second trip last November, I have become much more sure of myself and my research and rented an apartment for my family. We did like the Hotel Champ de Mars though. Less than 100 euros a night. Very hard to beat that. There is a restaurant right down the street by Cafe du March that we loved called Tribeca. Wonderful Italian food and a good staff that really tries to help. We ended every night by walking down to the Champ du Mars park and waiting for the Eiffel Tower to twinkle. For a first time visitor to Paris it was just magical.

Train or plane?

We will be departing form a hotel in the 6th on Mon, June 4th for Nice. Taking the TGV it will be around $150 one way. Taking Easyjet from either CDG or Orly would be only around $45 one way. Obviously we would be saving a lot of time going by air, however you still will have the headache of having to get to the airport early. If we go by plane, how early do you have to get to the airport by, and which airport would be closer to fly out of? Saving aprox. $200 is very tempting but is the hassel worth it.Thanks

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There are still a substantial number of trains on 6/4 with fares lower than the $150 you quote. The lowest second class fare I am seeing is 45€ on the 07:54 departure, The lowest first class fare on this train is only 50€. In fact I see very few if any trains where the fare is as high as the $150 you quote.

The lowest EasyJet fare I am seeing is ~38€ or ~$51 including taxes, leaving CDG at 08:20. later flights are more expensive. You would need to be at CDG at about 06:50 for this flight. The 15:10 flight from ORY with fares at ~46€ or ~$62 would probably be a better choice.

A taxi to Orly would probably cost you ~35€, to Gare du Nord ~15€, and to CDG ~50€. The train would take you to the center of Nice. If you fly you would ahve to factor in the cost of the transfer from the aiport. Nice taxis are notoriously expensive but there are buses from the airport into the city. Overall you will probably save no more than 1.5-2 hours if you travel by plane

IOW the least expensive option all round would be the 07:54 train which would be more convenient and cheaper than the 08:20 flight ex CDG. If convenience and speed were the bigger issue I%26#39;d probably go for the 15:10 flight from ORY.

I hope this hasn%26#39;t complicated the issue.

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On the RailEurope website the 11:50 train from Paris to Nice that gets in at 17:26 on June 4th for 1st class is $142 one way. If you know of another site with a lesser fare for this train please let me know.

Thanks

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voyages-sncf.com

Read this %26quot;how to%26quot; by MorganB *before* attempting to make a booking: http://tinyurl.com/qpdef

Don%26#39;t forget that RailEurope will add shipping charges and possibly other fees also.

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We took the train from Paris to Nice last June and really enjoyed it. We had seats in the %26quot;quiet%26quot; car- %26quot;ambiance iDzen-no noise, no kids- very nice. We really liked seeing the countryside and it was very relaxing after a hectic week of sightseeing in Paris. Our cost was 99.80 Euro each for a one-way ticket.

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The iDZen cars are a feature of the iDTGVs. The early departure from Paris on which the 45€ second class/50€ first class fares is still available is an iDTGV.

It%26#39;s a kind of interesting concept, dividing the train into different %26quot;zones%26quot; depending on your preferred style of travel. I sometimes wish kids were confined to their own compartment on planes!

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Removed on: 11:17 am, August 29, 2009

Am I crazy...

For thinking I%26#39;ll be able to manage 2 (smallish) suitcases plus my carry-on on the RER and Metro?

Going from CDG to Gare de Lyon to pick up the TGV. Flight arrives in at 740am. TGV leaves at 1145am. I%26#39;m kind of on a budget or else I%26#39;d definitely opt for the taxi!!

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Hmmmmm.....I would find that difficult. Seems a bit too much to try to manage IMO. Is that all just for you? Can you condense a bit so you%26#39;re not taking so many bags?

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If the suitcases can be rolled behind you and they aren%26#39;t too big, and the carry on can be slung over a shoulder, and you don%26#39;t mind a bit of frustration and sweat, you can probably do it. In my student days I did more than that and survived!

Les

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I agree with the previous poster. If your suitcases are wheeled I guess you could put the carry-on on top of one and do a push-pull deal but gad what a awkward, and probably dangerous, mess. Any possibility of getting a larger wheeled suitcase? We found that going from a 20%26quot; to a 26%26quot; wheeled case made a huge difference in capacity for extended trips and was just about as easy to handle.

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Hard work, but do-able, plenty of walking between RER, metro and station. Depends how much you want to save 40euros.

Zas

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You may be way ahead of me on this one, but I thought I%26#39;d chime in just to make sure you know there%26#39;s a TGV station at Charles de Gaulle. If you%26#39;re planning to catch one of the trains that goes through there, then that would make it easy.

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There are a *few* direct TGVs from CDG to Dijon, but I don%26#39;t think there is one at a time that will work for you. I will take a look at the timetables later this evening (the SNCF site is acting up right now) and get back to you if I am wrong.

But there is no need for you to struggle with your suitcases through the RER and métro (with a change, yet) to get to Gare de Lyon. Air France has a coach that will take you there direct and in comfort with your luggage safely stowed in the baggage compartment. It won%26#39;t even cost you much more than the RER particularly if you take it both ways.

www.carsairfrance.com

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Hmm. could you do it?

Of course you could,,

but I would feel like ahad a big sign on my back that said %26quot;pickpocket me I am overloaded and distracted%26quot;

I would really consider the taxi or the Air France shuttle.

An old saying is %26quot;penny wise pound foolish%26quot;

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I took my own largeish suitcase and backpack from Gatwick to the Eurostar and from Gare du Nord to Courbevoie in the same day all on my own. It can be done... just be ready for grunt work! The Metro is mostly stairs, which means picking up the suitcase and carrying it. You certainly won%26#39;t be the only person on the Metro with suitcases. But yes, do be careful of your backpack. Take it off while on the train, or even carry it in front of your (like carrying a baby) while walking to keep a better eye on it.

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Thank you all for your suggestions. I do know that there%26#39;s a direct TGV train to Dijon from CDG but it leaves at 7pm...12 hours after I arrive. I%26#39;m going to look into the Air France shuttle.

My carry-on is a shoulder bag, the other 2 are on wheels. I know it%26#39;s easier to bring one suitcase, but I always come dangerously close to my 50 lb limit every time I travel. Plus I know I%26#39;ll be coming home with all sorts of goodies to make it even worse.

I%26#39;m not used to travelling for 8 days and having to dress business casual for the conference only adds to my issues. I%26#39;m trying to save money bec I%26#39;m a grad student taking advantage of a research conference to see Paris while I%26#39;m in the country. I may be coming into more money for my trip via travel awards, in which case I%26#39;ll be all over the taxi!

Do you think I have plenty of time between my flight arriving and getting to Gare de Lyon? I think 4 hours %26quot;should%26quot; be enough but you never know!

Thanks again everyone!

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Yes, you have tons of time.

Take the coach. Even if you do have all that extra cash a taxi really won%26#39;t be any more convenient. At most it will save you a few minutes sitting around waiting while the coach makes other pick-up stops. There are better things to spend that extra cash on in both Dijon and Paris!

Summer of 2008

I am planning a trip to Normandy in June or July of 2008 for eight couples. We will be driving from England and will be spending 10 - 12 days. We are interested in seeing the D-Day beaches and museum as part of our trip. Any suggestions for absolutely %26quot;must visit%26quot; towns?

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With that amount of time you can do a nice tour of the various regions of Normandy. My list of %26quot;must visit%26quot; towns and villages would include Honfleur, Bayeux, Coutance, Pont Audemer (a charming small village), Rouen, les Andelys, Giverny, and Etretat. You might also do a tour of the many abbeys near Rouen, including le Bec Helouin, Jumiéges, St-Martin de Boscherville, and others.

Now would be the time to invest in a copy of the Michelin Green Guide to Normandy, which includes considerable information on sightseeing and recommended driving itineraries.

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Thank you . . . I%26#39;ll start my homework right away.

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I have a pamphlet i picked up in 2004 which lsts the major sites associated with the Normandy campaign. It was published by the tourism departments in the Normandy area. It was titled %26quot; The D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy%26quot;. Try contacting the Comite Departemental du Tourism du Calvados at www.calvados-tourisme.com or the Comite Regionale Tourisme de Normandie at www.normandy-tourism.org.

Its a great little guide and lists the important sites organized by the phase of the campaign from the lands through Operation Cobra and the capture of St. Lo. It has simple maps and contact information for all the museums. I must have picked it up for free at one of the local hotels.

One little known museum is the Musee des Epaves Sous-Marines de Debarquement in Port-en-Bessen. (near Bayeux) They have numerous large artifacts that were recovered from the ocean including two duplex drive tanks from the 741st Tank Battalion.

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You say you are %26quot;driving from England.%26quot; In rental cars?

If so, I%26#39;m not sure that you will be able to take rental cars from the UK to France. Even if you can I wouldn%26#39;t recommend it. Most people have a hard enough tie dealing with the unfamiliar sign-posting, right of way conventions, and so on in France without the added complication of driving a car with the steering wheel and controls on the %26quot;wrong%26quot; side.

If you are renting in France, manual transmission cars are usually cheaper than automatics and diesels will save you a LOT of money on fuel.

Get a good map of the region, preferably Michelin 1:200 000

There is a TON of must see stuff in Normandy besides the D-day beaches and all its associated sites and museums. Don%26#39;t miss the Peace memorial at Caen, Bayeux and the tapestry, Honfleur, possibly Deauville/Trouville, Pont Audemer, Le Bec-Hellouin, l%26#39;Abbaye de St. Wandrille, Jumièges, Rouen, Château du Champ de Bataille, Château Gaillard, Giverny — and that%26#39;s just a few places off the top of my head.

A good guidebbok such as the Michelin green guide to Normandy would be a worthwhile investment. And while I%26#39;m generally a big fan of travelling independently I feel strongly that using a guide for at least a day (preferably two) to take you round the D-day sites is a very worthwhile expenditure. There is so much to see and you will miss much of the story on your own.

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Regarding rental cars: We did a trip in 2001 where we landed in Germany and drove through France ending up in Calais to take the

chunnel to England. We rented the car from Hertz and it included the

price of the chunnel. We left the Germany/France car at Calais and

picked up the English car there at Calais and drove onto the Chunnel train. It was so easy. Then you just drive off on the other end and you%26#39;re in the %26quot;right%26quot; type car to just continue on. I am sure it works the same in reverse as you will be coming from Dover to Calais. We made the reservation through Hertz here in US and about 6 months in advance. We got a good deal that way. Our car for Germany and France was a diseal which is much less expensive fuel wise.

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Removed on: 3:15 pm, August 29, 2009

Getting from CDG to Versailles

I need some assistance. What is the best way to get from Charles DeGaulle Aeroport to Versailles (Le Cheval Rouge Hotel). This is m first time in France. Thanks for the help.

Kevin

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It will depend on your budget...and how much effort you want to expend. The most direct mode of airport transfer out to Versailles will be TAXI PARISIAN from the regular rank just outside of all CDG arrival terminal buildings. Not sure of the taxi fare...but at a guess 70-75 € ??

The least inexpensive...but relatively efficient mode of public transportaion out to a hotel in Versailles will be to take the RER %26#39;B%26#39; ligne--ROISSYRAIL--train from one of its two(2) stations within CDG to the SAINT MICHEL-NOTRE DAME station in central Paris and then make the quick train change (pretty much just %26#39;up %26#39;n over%26#39;) to the RER %26#39;C-5%26#39; ligne train (any train heading in the direcection of Versailles-Rive Gauche...any train with a %26#39;..V xxx..%26#39; designator) all the way to the end of the %26#39;C-5%26#39; ligne at VERSAILLES-Rive Gauche station. From here either walk the few blocks to the hotel or take a taxi from the VERSAILLES-Rive Gauche station to the hotel (print out the Map from the hotel%26#39;s web site to carry with your as either an aide memoire if you take the train or to show to the taxi driver) The one-way RER fare should be somewhere around 11 €. The trip should probably take approx.90 mins form the RER station at CDG to VERSAILLES-Rive Gauche station

It is also possible to take the RER %26#39;B%26#39; train to Gare du Nord, transfer to the RER %26#39;E%26#39; ligne at SAINT LAZARE and then transfer again to a SNCF-TER surface train to the VERSAILLES-Rive Droit station, which will be a bit closer to your hotel...but the connections are much more complicated and the Correspondences between train lignes longer. The RER %26#39;B%26#39;-to-RER %26#39;C-5%26#39; to Versailles-Rive Gauches is just easier all %26#39;round.

HÔTEL du CHEVAL ROUGE (2-star)-- 18 rue André Chénier, Versailles 78000--

http://www.chevalrouge.fr.st/

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Removed on: 3:15 pm, August 29, 2009

Centrally located hotel in Bordeaux.

Looking for a hotel in Bordeaux around the Theatre Grands Hommes area. Looking for luxury...

I was also told about two restaurants: La tupina and Chapon Fin. We will be in Sarlat, so I thought the cuisine at La tupina is very much similar to what we%26#39;ll be having in Sarlat, and apparently Chapon Fin in closed on Sundays. I will be in Bordeaux on May 6th.

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

TaloBalo

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Alas, luxury accommodations are not very thick on the ground in Bordeaux. There is currently nothing in the Intercontinental or Four Seasons, or Ritz range here yet. It%26#39;s not sure to be open by the time you arrive in early May, but Bordeaux will get a luxury establishment when the new Grand Hotel opens in late spring right across from the Grand Theatre. It is in the final stages of a multi-year renovation and will be operated by SAS-Radisson. Just for information%26#39;s sake, you can see more here:

%26lt;http://www.radissonsas.com/cs/Satellite?pagename=RadissonSAS/integration/hotelInfo%26amp;hotelCode=BODZH%26gt;

Otherwise, the longstanding luxury hotel in Bordeaux has been the Burdigala, which is quite comfortable but is somewhat less centrally located.

%26lt;http://www.burdigala.com/welcome.html%26gt;

As for restaurants, La Tupina will be similar to the fare in Sarlat, so even if it offers exceptional dining you may want to look elsewhere if you want to diversify your gastronomic experience.

For something offering classic Bordeaux elegance, you might try Le Noailles, which is on the Allées de Tourny. This is across from the Bordeaux Wine Bureau (CIVB) headquarters, and is a preferred address in town for people in the local wine trade.

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Removed on: 3:16 pm, August 29, 2009

Le Petit Journal Montparnasse

Does anyone know if I can go to listen to jazz and just have a cocktail? or do I have to have dinner? I will be a 52 year old woman alone. Any problems with that you think?

I there another place that someone thinks is better?

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Hi Lucy, I read somewhere that admission includes a free drink for 20 Euros so it seems you can just sit at the bar and listen to the music. Are you staying in Montparnasse?

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No, I am staying near de Republique in Marais. Do you have a better suggestion for jazz?

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Like many Paris jazz clubs, there%26#39;s a fixed %26#39;..cover..%26#39; that usually includes your first drink (subsequent drink orders are supposed to be less..but different clubs have different arrangements...so it pays to ask the deal) that runs anywhere from 15-to-20 €s for non-dinner patrons.

Le PETIT JOURNAL MONTPARNASSE—13 rue du Commandant Rene Mouchette (across the street from Gare Monteparnasse), 750 14th , Tel: 01.43.21.56.70, Metro: Montparnasse-Bienvenue

http://www.petitjournal-montparnasse.com/

When you arrive in Paris, pick up a copy of PARISCOPE at a newsstand to find out who%26#39;s playing what, where, while you%26#39;re there.

Closer to REPUBLIQUE will be another well respected venue--

NEW MORNING—7 rue des Petites Ecuries, 750 10th Paris. Tel: 01.45.23.56.39, Metro: Chateau d’Eau

http://www.newmorning.com/

There is a small %26#39;..concentration..%26#39; of good clubs around CHATALET, along rue des Lombards, in the 1er---

Les DUCS des LOMBARDS—42 rue des Lombards, 750 01st , Te:. 01.42.33.22.88, Metro: Chatelet

Le SUNSET %26amp; Le SUNSIDE—60 rue des Lomabards (near rue Saint-Denis), 750 01st , Tel: 01.40.26.46.60 %26amp; 01.40.26.21.25, Metro: Chatelet

Le BAISER SALÉ—58 rue des Lombards (near rue Saint-Denis), 750 01st , Tel: 01.42.33.37.71, Metro: Chatelet

Some other good clubs around the city are---

Le SLOW CLUB—130 Rue de Rivoli (at rue de Pont Neuf) 750 01st Paris. Tel: 01.42.33.84.30, Metro: Pont Neuf

7 LÉZARDS—10 rue des Rosiers, 750 04th ,Tel: 01.48.87.08.97, Metro: Saint Paul--

http://www.7lezards.com/

Le PETIT JOURNAL SAINT MICHEL—71 Blvd. Saint Michel (at rue Royer-Collar—across from Jardin de Luxembourg) 750 05th , Tel: 01.43.21.56.70, Metro: Luxembourg--

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/claude.philips/

CAVEAU de la HUCHETTE—(more ‘swing’ than ‘jazz’) 5 rue de la Huchette (at rue Saint Jacques) 750 05th , Tel: 01.43.26.65.05, Metro: Saint Michel

http://www.caveaudelahuchette.fr/

BILBOQUET--13 Rue Saint-Benoit (at rue de l’Abbaye), 750 06th Paris. Tel: 01.45.48.21.84, Metro: Saint Germain des Prés--

http://jazzclub.bilboquet.free.fr/

L’ ARBUCI—25 rue de Buci (at Carrefour de Buci) 750 06th , Tel: 01.44.32.16.00, Metro: Odéon

Le PETIT JOURNAL MONTPARNASSE—13 rue du Commandant Rene Mouchette (across the street from Gare Monteparnasse), 750 14th , Tel: 01.43.21.56.70, Metro: Montparnasse-Bienvenue--

http://www.petitjournal-montparnasse.com/

Le JAZZ CLUB LIONEL HAMPTON—88 Blvd. Gouvion Saint Cyr (In Hotel Le Meridien--Etoile), 750 17th , Tel: 01.40.68.30.42, Metro: Porte Maillot--

www.jazzclub-paris.com/gb/page_jazz.htm

It probably should go without saying that as a woman travelling alone....the same common sense that would apply if you were out at a club at home on your own...applies in Paris. Keep your your own personal %26#39;..weird...%26#39; meter tuned up.

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KDKSAIL,

Thank-you so much for all the great info!

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Lucy -

The area around rue Oberkampf/rue St. Maur/rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud close to your hotel has some of the liveliest bars and cafés in Paris. You can find just about any kind of music there, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. True, most of it won%26#39;t be jazz, and what is jazz may not be the kind of jazz you are looking for but I would still strongly urge you to wander the area especially with your ears and mind open. You will hear everything from an a capella choir singing Baroque music in the upstairs room of a café to rock-a-billy to North African music to cutting edge fusion jazz to most kinds of contemporary music.

Granted most of the people will be younger than you are, but I am quite a bit older and I love the area. There are some great places to eat around here too — L%26#39;Estaminet on rue Oberkampf is cheap, fun and friendly; Mémère au Piano on rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud has very good food, is very fairly priced and pleasant (reserve); Astier, also on rue J-P Timbaud is a long-established traditional bistro with an excellent cheese board and good wines, especially good value at lunch (reserve); L%26#39;Auberge Pyrénées-Cévennes on rue des Folies-Méricourt is another long-established and excellent bistro, a bit more expensive (reserve); Le Grand Méricourt on rue des F.M. gets consistently good reviews but I have not tried it.; Le Villaret on rue Ternaux is serious food and wine, seriously good, good value but not cheap, and very popular (reserve several days ahead).

My fave café in the area is L%26#39;Autre Café on rue J-P Timbaud just east of av. Parmentier, but there are a lot of good cafés around. There is a terrific N. African boulangerie on rue St. Maur between rue J-P T. and rue Oberkampf, La Bague de Kenza. If you do nothing else, have a look.

And have fun!

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Hi Lucy

As well as the suggestions by kdk and Irish rover, there are a couple of other jazz places that have been mentioned on this forum

The Czech Centre on Fridays at 18 rue Bonaparte in the 6th looks good value. Métro Saint-Germain-des-Prés on Line 4 or Metro Mabillon on Line 10 which goes to Gare d%26#39;Austerlitz where you can change to line 5 to Republique.

http://www.centretcheque.org/jazz.html

This link gives details of a place called Aux Trois Mailletz at 56 rue Galande in the 5th near the 2 Islands (Metro Saint-Michel) and also gives descriptions of some of the places kdk has already mentioned on the same page and by following the link at the bottom

http://www.parisbestlodge.com/jazz3.html

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Paris may be the best city in the world for jazz...and as noted, there are a lot of places that offer music.....but schedules tend to be a bit hit %26#39;n miss and erratic....so your best bet will be to buy a copy of PARISCOPE magazine or ZURBAN at almost any newsstand and check out who%26#39;s on, where...and then check this against the good paris street map you will carry with you to find out where, where is at. Make sure you make a list of the places alredy recommended or suggested as an aide memoire when you scan the listings.

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Removed on: 4:19 pm, August 29, 2009