I believe I get Bus number 81 from Gare Routiere but could you advisewhat is the name of the stop for the villa. I have printed out the timetable but there is so many stops in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat/La Rade/Passable/Office du Tourisme/Villa Alexandra/Ferme de May/ Port de Saint-Jean
Thank you.
get off at the bus stop called %26#39;passable%26#39; -the villa is signposted from there
Hello,
I am going to Provence and trying to decide between heading west to St Jean de Luz or east to Collioure. Can anyone tell me the pros/cons between these 2 seaside villages? I am looking for a pretty area with a nice beach, some shops and restaurants to explore.
thanks
Not knowing either I would recommend Collioure based on the fact that you will be closer to some fanastic places to visit:
- Carcassonne
- Barcelona
And eat some pretty fantastic cassoulet...
Hi there, I am wondering if any one has been to Art Home at the Palais de Tokyo. http://www.art-home-electrolux.com/en/ for either lunch or dinner? I would like to know if it can be booked for a couple, or if it has to be booked as a group of 12? Also I have looked on the site and I can’t seem to find a price?
I have booked one of the tours for next Friday (I will be in Paris just for the weekend) but I will be going back again before Christmas. and I would be able to watch the availably and hopefully get a reservation. I would love to know if it is going to be worth my while to stand by the laptop to be first in the Q. Thanks for any help
I recently read about this on another website and it caught my attention as something I%26#39;d be interested in. Here is the link that should give you a couple of answers: mylittleparis.com/en/restaurant-palais-de-to…
It looks like you can make reservations for fewer than 12 on their website, although I have not attempted it. Based on what you have written above, you%26#39;re likely in Paris now.
If you get any more helpful info, would you post it?
Hi vlfrance,
We did the tour at of Art home on Friday evening, I have to say if you have a chance to book it then it is worth doing, the tour only lasts about 20 to 30 minuets and it is free.
We did not get to see the kitchen on the ground floor as there was a private session on there, so our first stop was the garden which was great, this was filled with vegetables and fruit trees all in pots and growing very well, there is a table with 12 chairs, and here the guides describe the concept of the garden and a little bit about the concept of the restaurant. It was lovely to sit out on a warm sunny evening in this little garden and I would imagine that if you were there for dinner, then you would have your glass of champagne out in the garden.
You take the outdoor stairs to the roof of the building and the view is great, the restaurant itself is a long box like building, that is all glass at the end, which is where you eat. There is a table and 12 chairs and a kitchen that was brilliant; there was a built-in wok that I wanted to take home with me
The guide said that the purpose of the restaurant is to make cooking and eating a performance and please don’t let this put anyone off, I feel that if you did manage to get a booking for lunch or dinner then I think that it would be a most wonderful night, they have designed the lighting in the evening to look like the northern lights, and you could not get a better view as the sun goes down over Paris. Lunch costs €60 and dinner was €80 this includes 2 glasses of wine per person, you can book for one person or for 12 people everyone sits and eats together, the booking opens at 10 in the morning French time on the internet I think that at the moment you need to book a month in advance, hope this is helpful
Fantastic hill1 - thanks so much for the helpful information and this goes on my to do list!
Hi!
We are taking a road trip and would love some ideas!
We will be leaving Frankfurt on the 1st of October and have a hotel in Paris booked for Oct. 3rd and 4th and don%26#39;t have to back in Frankfurt until Oct. 11th. I was wondering if anyone knew of any out of the way places to eat, any sights to see, or anything in general that would be fun to do during our drive to and from Paris. Thanks in advance!
Laura
I%26#39;ve done this road a few times already and it is very easy.
If you stay on the highway or close to it, there are several cities that would make sense to visit, usch as Reims, Verdun (1st World War)...
If you decided to do a bit more, from Reims you could drive to the Ardennes and cross Luxembourg.
In France the speed limit is 130 km/h on highways. In Germany, it is unlimited when you see a white sign with a blue border and 3 oblic blue lines. In Germany, never forget to remain on right lane since speedy vehicles will come on left lanes...
My travel buddy has backed out on me for our Oct 2009 trip to Paris. I was thinking of cancelling the entire trip but folks say I should go on my own.
So the questions are:
1)Is it safe for a single woman (38y.o.) to sightsee Paris by herself? I live in NYC(Bronx)so it might be similiar????
2)Are there any good organized tours I should use for all the different sights where I can possible meet people? i.e. boat tours, Versailles, around the city itself!!
Thanks for any answers you can provide this will help me decide whether I am going to go by myself. Although it sounds a little depressing not have this awesome city to share with a a friend or take pictures with while sightseeing.
Go by yourself and enjoy. I just got back June 9 from an alone trip. Great. I got up when I wanted, did what I wanted, ate when and where I wanted and did not have to consider anyone else in the plan. I have gone many times alone and really enjoy it. If you go to Versaille, go on the RER. If you take a tour thru Paris Vision or Cityrama, you have to dance to their drum. If they say to be back at the bus a certain time, you darn well better be there or you are going to be left. I have seen it done. Just use common sense when it comes to your surroundings just like in NYC. Put your money, passport etc in a money belt. Don%26#39;t wear flashy jewelry, You can go on line to Paris Vision and Cityrama to see what they have to offer. Sometimes to meet people when you are alone, you might have to make a comment in order to stsrt a conversation etc. Both Paris Vision and Cityrama are the main tour companies. By the way, don%26#39;t give your good camera to a stranger to take your pic. Get one of those cheap throwaways and use that for that situation.
Yes, go and have a great time doing what you want when you want.
For my 40th b-day i took myself to Europe for 2 months(London, Paris and Tuscany region). It was one of the best experiences I%26#39;ve ever had in my life. I%26#39;m under 5 ft tall and quite petite but I felt safe night and day--just use common sense. I agree with the advice on using a money belt.
I did a considerable amount of research before my trip so most days were well planned with tours and sightseeing with the help of a travel agent.
Much better to go solo than not go at all.
Go! By ALL means you should visit Paris!
But keep in mind that certain young %26quot;frenchmen%26quot; consider eye contact to be %26quot;flirting%26quot; Keep your wits about you, don%26#39;t smile unnecessarily, and don%26#39;t make direct eye contact with shifty %26quot;gentlemen%26quot; as you wander the streets.
If possible, avoid the %26quot;places%26quot; where single women travellers here have had %26quot;difficulties%26quot;. Les Halles is one, Chatellet another, some caution about Montmatre...............
Good tours? Many here recommend Fat Tire, they offer bike/segway/walking tours of Paris. There%26#39;s many other alternatives - such as the Hop-on/Hop-off Bus, etc......
Yes, boat tours/bateaux mouche.......... a cruise of the Seine with a flute of champagne in your hand - very Parisian, and a remarkable memory.........
Paris is a remarkably safe city despite some of the warnings you will hear and are posted here - much safer than New York!
Yes, I agree, any moment in Paris is worth sharing - with ANYONE - but it is possible to enjoy a visit to the city as an individual - if you have the chance, GO!, most of us here would support you.........
Ask us more about how to do it as a single traveller!
GO!! You might try taking a cooking course- There are half days at cooknwithclass and Magarite%26#39;s Elegant Cooking (? exact name)both of which are really very informal and the class is small and friendly. Paris Walks are great and you may meet someone but if you dont they are a great way to spend time. I too would avoid chatelet/Les Halles metro at night..I dont like the area near Gare du Nord and Est. Pigalle is also not a place I would want a hotel room.
goodlawgirl,, I am so glad you are considering going on your own.. I have travelled on my own to London and Paris. I am a bit older then you, and I have also taken my 12 yr old dd along on one trip, and on another seperate trip my 14 yr old son. So if it is safe enough for me( and I do not live in a big city like you) and safe enough for me to feel very comfortable visiting alone with a child,, it is safe enough for anyone with a modicum of common sense.
Versailles,, do on your own.. its easy and fun to spend the time you want to see what you want. My friend I took once did not enjoy museums as much as I did and I always felt obligated to hurry along..
Fat Tires bike tour,, yes, I know what you are thinking,, LOL . I was talked into taking the FT Night bike tour 2 yrs ago when I took a friend to Paris.. I hadn%26#39;t been on a bike for like 20 yrs.. and I am not a fitness person really,, LOL , but she wanted to do a bike tour so bad,, and she offered to pay.. so.. we did it and it was a hoot. There were a few solos on our tour too.
I also go on another website that is quite social,, and I know a bunch of the ladies are going solo this fall,, and plan to meet for drinks and dinners etc You could go and check out the forum . There are serveral posters from here that also post there. Its Our Paris Variations on a Theme( yes long name I know, LOL )
I will be going solo again in less then 4 weeks, and I will be meeting up with a poster from this forum for a lunch, and a daytrip.. its a fun way to meet people without any big obligations. Last year my dd and I met a lady and her dd in Paris.. through a different travel forum, but still, we spent a nice afternoon together and the girls had someone to play with at the playground in Tuilleries..
Anyways,,, continue browsing the forums,, you will see many people choose to go solo for various reasons,, and enjoy it. I am married with children ,, but we have a situation at home that requires one parent to be around all the time.. so for some holidays we go seperately,, but of course we still do %26quot;family %26quot; trips. Other ladies have hubbys that work and can%26#39;t get away,,, or they themselves work and add extra time onto their business trips to enjoy themselves.. many many reasons.
Some have friends back out on plans,,,,LOL
Definitely go. I%26#39;ve traveled to Paris several times on my own by choice. Believe it or not, it%26#39;s fun sometimes. You can eat when and where you want, go where you want and stay there as long as you like once you get there. It%26#39;s great.
I know it%26#39;s disappointing when a friend backs out on traveling plans, but think of it as just another opportunity. You%26#39;ll be glad you went (and regret it if you don%26#39;t). Happy travels!
Do go. Coming from NY you won%26#39;t have any safety problems in Paris.
Walking tours are a great way to see sights, meet people, and don%26#39;t cost a bundle.
Paris Walks is very affordable and informal:
www.paris-walks.com
Contex Travel is more upscale:
www.contexttravel.com
Both companies have a wide range of tours (both outside and in museums).
Have fun
Go by yourself, you will enjoy it even more!
Here are my suggestions for meeting up with other travelers:
1. Attend church services
2. Have a morning coffee at Starbucks
3. Go to the Jim Haynes dinner on Sunday evenings
4. About a week or two before you go, put up a post on TA seeing if anyone else wants to meet up (only meet in public places, for safety reasons)
5. Spend some time at a wine bar
6. Try looking at www.traveldaddy.com
Thanks to everyone who has helped me here. I have booked the ticket. Everyone inspired me to go ahead and do it. I especially feel that I would regret it if I didn%26#39;t go. I have been wanting to go to Paris since I was 16 and I have the money so it%26#39;s time I go. I may not have a travel buddy, but I think there is something to be said about the freedom that everyone has mentioned when travelling alone. (I could spend two-three days in the Louvre and a friend may not want to do that)
Also thanks for the tour company information. I have all of them on my list and I will be setting up tours and doing everything I can during my 9 days in Paris. Now I must find a single room with a clean bathroom/shower to book for my stay. I am so excited.
Thanks for the encouragement. STACEY
You dont know how lucky you are! Ive had some really bad vacations with untested travel companions - cant imagine going to Paris with someone else who isnt a lover! A friend wants me to go with her for her first trip (she%26#39;s petrified to go anywhere alone) and I just cant do it.
Keep in mind the majority of adults in Paris are single. Dont hesitate to go alone to great restaurants. No one knows you anyway - and waiters will flirt and take care of you.
As for whether Paris is more dangerous than NYC - sorry, but I just dont buy it. We have more domestic violence here - they have more skilled pickpockets. Just be as careful on the metro as you would be in a packed subway and you should be fine. And dont feel bad being rude to people around the major tourist zones who ask you if you speak English or spot fake golden rings at your feet.
Since you have until October, I would pick up a CD or download a basic French course. You only need to know the basics but its good to make the attempt.
we are camping in keycamp soissons has anyone any idea the best way to get to paris and disney we have a car so we could drive to a different station thank you we are 2 adults and 6 children,
Hi there
Trains from Soissons and Compiegne go direct into Gare du Nord Paris. (Some trains from Compiegne stop at Creil so you have to change.) Trains are more regular, every 20 minutes or so, from Compiegne compared to every 70 to 90 minutes from Soissons. www.voyages-sncf.com/leisure/fr/launch/home/ From there you will need to travel to Marne La Vallee. You could also travel from Villers Coterets (sp) but I don%26#39;t know how often they run from there or where you need to change (if indeed you do). Check the link above
Also Keycamp do have a caoch that runs from site at around €20 per adult and €15 per child, so you may wish to consider this option. We used it once and the only draw back is you have to be back for a certain time (7pm in our case) and IMO I would rather be able to choose what time to return. Coming home at that time means you may miss some celebrations that can only happen when dark such as Fireworks
Personally, I would drive, especially with 6 children, much easier and simpler and cheaper too. If you use your sat nav it will take 45 minutes to get there - far quicker than the train. You will also see some of the area if you set your sat nav for quickest route as it will take you through the country lanes before the motorway. It%26#39;s much nicer drive than all main road.
HTH
Hi there
Trains from Soissons and/or Compiegne run directly to Gard du Nord. Trains are more regular form Compiegne although you may have to change at Creil
www.voyages-sncf.com/leisure/fr/launch/home/
You may even try Villers Coterets (sp) although I have no idea how often they run nor where they run to
I assume when you say you are camoing in Keycamp, you mean Berny Riviere? In that case the site run a bus trip to DLP for around €20 per adult and €15 per child. The only drawback with this option is you have to leave at a certain time and you may not have done all you wanted. It may mean, as we did, you miss the Fireworks, which would be a shame as it%26#39;s a fantastic show to see.
IMO, your best option, and also your cheapest, is to drive. Given you have 6 children I would also advise this for toilet stops etc. If you use your sat nav it should take you via country roads and and around the country lanes, giving you a nice view of the area. It will also take you just 45 minutes, compared to at least an hour by coach and even longer by train
HTH, and sorry it%26#39;s taken so long for a reply
KR xx
Hmmm, there must be a big delay somewhere - I thought my reply was lost, it wasn%26#39;t!
Thank you your reply was very helpful, we thought we were a lot further away from disney, my sister and i dont mind doing that drive, but will train it into Paris,Thanks once again, Cherry
Hi again
Yes, defidntely get the train to Paris - you will struggle to find somewhere to park plus driving is Paris is quite hairy! lol Trains stop as above which is pretty central for all the sights
Train travel in France is not really like what we have here in the UK. For a start trains are on time but they are, IMO, cleaner and more reliable too
have fun!
Hi Thanks again for the info, do they have post codes in France to set the sat nav or do i just put in the name of the village, sorry but its our first time, thanks Cherry
Hi Again =)
You can set your satnav to take the European codes - they are long and lat, quite confusing IMO - but ours has always found the town/vilage so we dont bother changing the settings, just put in the town.
HTH
KR x
Thank you again, cherry
I%26#39;m writing this post so that anyone else thinking of booking this apartment will know what to expect.
Our apartment was located via a web search on www.travel-library.com
Of course, you never really know what you are going to get when you book something over the web. However my experience with with booking a Paris apartment in 2005 was very positive (Bridgesteet apartment in Montparnasse was VERY good - exactly as it appears on the web), so I felt fairly confident booking another apartment this year.
We chose a Sacre Coeur apartment which was advertised at 110 euro/day for up to 6 people. There were only 3 of us but the problem was we were 3 individuals and needed 3 separate beds.
Anyway I contacted the owner direct via the website and made enquiries and finally we agreed on the Sacre Coeur apartment in Rue St. Vincent de Paul. The rate ended up being 137.50 euros per night. I provided my credit card details and the agreed 50% deposit was deducted right on schedule followed by the remaining 50% plus a refundable 300 euro breakage deposit in due course. The credit desciptor on my credit card bill read SCI Wunder, Paris FR. All seemed organised and in order.
Clear instructions were provided by the owner - Mr Wunder, on how to access the apartment. An important part of the instructions was that we should phone him on our arrival in Paris so that his colleague could meet us and hand over the keys.
Luckily we followed this instruction as when we phoned, Mr Wunder informed us that the Sacre Coeur apartment was not available and that we would have to stay in his apartment at Place de Clichy instead.
I was a little put out, but what could we do? We noted the new address and arranged to meet %26quot;Sebastien%26quot; there. The apartment was not available before 4pm.
The apartment in Rue de Clichy is on the 3rd floor. There is no elevator and the stairwell is rather grotty. The first set of stairs are particularly steep. Sebastien did not offer to help with the luggage.
On entering the apartment we found that the main bedroom had a double bed. The second small bedroom had bunk beds and the main kitchen/dining/lounge room had a click-clack sofa bed. So the 3 of us had a bed each.
The apartment was clean and appeared to have been freshly painted.
There was minimal kitchen equipment and nothing seemed to match but there was sufficient to get by ... although there was no fry pan and the toaster did not work (we discovered this at breakfast the next morning).
The best thing and the worst thing about the apartment was the location.
From the dining room window you had a fantastic view of Sacre Coeur. This was reflected in the mirrored wardrobe running the length of the kitchen wall, so the person sleeping on the sofa-bed could see it from bed at night.
Everyone enjoyed the view while we ate at the dining table.
The apartment was close to small grocery shops, bread shops etc and within walking distance of Galleries Lafayette and metro stations.
The problem with the location was that on Friday and Saturday night it seemed that every car in Paris drove down Rue de Clichy and honked their horn. It was extremely noisy! So much so that I ended up putting in ear plugs and taking a sleeping pill.
On Sunday night and the other week nights - No problem! The noise level returned to normal.
The strangest thing about the apartment was the bathroom and toilet. Mirrors on all the walls, ceiling and even the back of the doors. Quite kinky! Especially with the black and white tiles on the floor.
But the shower was great! Lots of hot water - even for the 3rd person. No-one ever had a cold shower.
Another good feature was the washer/dryer. This was located in the small bedroom and plumbed so that no trough was required.
Regarding the refund of the 300 euros breakage deposit. I had to prompt Mr Wunder for the return of this. The full 300 euros is not returned. In the small print of the contact you agree to pay 3.95% credit card charge and this comes out of the breakage deposit.
Overall, I would recommend this apartment for independant travellers. The minor glitches are part of travel.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post such a detailed and interesting review!
I, personally, would have been totally distressed to arrive and be directed to a different apartment than I booked! M. Wunder should have consulted you as soon as he decided to change your booking!
I%26#39;m so glad you were satisfied in the overall.
About the 3.95% - you do have to pay attention to the details! Actually, I find that very reasonable for the convenience of paying by credit card for an apartment in Paris. Most folks go nuts (and the fees are much higher, often with unfavorable exchange rates) meeting cash/wire payment requirements and/or having to pay the balance and the security deposit in Euros upon arrival.
Please know that even very quiet neighborhoods can be noisy in Paris. I stayed on a very quiet street last year. The day %26quot;glass%26quot; was picked up by the recycling trucks (ever other day it seemed) was deafening! And, that street seemed to be a favorite of motorcyclists in the middle of the night and early morning!
ahh the glass recyclers LOL -- one morning in our sixth floor apt across from pere lachaise we were awakened bolt upright with the world%26#39;s most horrible sound and rushed to the windows -- a crane was lifting up the glass recycle bell and lifting it about 20 feet above the truck and dropping the glass from that height -- presumably so it broke and took up less space -- unbelievably noisy --
Hello:
Sci Wunder is not to be trusted in returning your %26quot;breakage%26quot; deposit, anywhere from 300 to 500 euros.
We had emailed him that we were flying in early, and would like to put our bags in the room when we arrived. He agreed to early check-in in his email, saying the price was 800 Euros, 50% immediately, 50% eight weeks before + 300 euro breakage deposit.
This was my honeymoon, and I had a grand time in the city. Sci Wunder said we should call him as soon as we got into the city. We did, but got his answering machine. Three times. We found someone else was in our apartment who had been moved there because someone else couldn%26#39;t fly out. The good news was that we could get into the apartment because they were there! They said they would checkout at 11am, and we could keeps our bags there, but return, which is what we did.
The phone was rotary dialing which created a problem trying to get a lost item. Oh well, a minor glitch.
On our return, the couple that had been in the apartment asked about the return of the breakage deposit. I had forgotten about it completely! They said after a number of email exchanges, they got 400 out of 500 euros back. I wrote Sci Wunder and asked for my 300. He then claimed that I had checked in early, so there would be a 50 euro charge times 2. I replied showing his email where he said explicitly that an early check-in was OK. He never referenced that email, noting instead the contract. He then returned 160 out of the 200 he promised.
This is now three cases where Sci Wunder has not been diligent in returning the complete breakage deposit. If you read this note, do not be surprised if you get a little short changed. I know it would be trivial to win this case in small claims court here in Boston, but I guess this is one way he increases his profits. Incorporate the %26quot;extra%26quot; charge into your budget.
doug
We rented the Sacre Coeur apartment with this landlord in december and it was a great pleasure. We were picked up on airport and brought directly to the apartment where the staff of Mr Wunder was awaiting us.
As welcome gift there was a bottle of red wine, fruits and sweets for the kids. The staff Sebastien was very gentle, showed and explained everything, gave his phone number asking us to call him when necesssary. In the vening the owner called us just to welcome us and to check if all is fine.
The apartment had been completely renewed, a new bath-room, even new windows and new furniture. For kids DVD%26#39;s were provided. It%26#39;s was absolutely clean, very beautifull lienen and towels provided etc.
The breakage deposit was returned within 5 days after check-out. In fact 3 - 4 % were retained as agreed for transaction fees.
Hello Paul:
After exerting more pressure like the post here, it looks like the 100 euro early check-in charge will be returned.
I will suggest to Sci Wunder that the 3.95% transaction fee be charged at the time of the transaction, and clearly cited. For me, a deposit is something that is kept when you do something BAD. He did not send me an itemized bill via email explaining where the 40 euros had gone. I certainly would have been less upset if it was pointed out.
If he had treated my deposit as he did yours, I would have been a repeat customer.
I thought about renting from this company but by the time we decided to go the apartment we wanted was rented. Maybe that was a blessing. We rented from Paris pied-a-terre and they were great. Everything was exactly as said and I got my deposit back.
I would be furious at the bait and switch -- there is really no excuse for being fobbed off with an inferior apartment
since %26#39;Mr Wunder%26#39; didn%26#39;t apologize and explain just why he was sticking you with another apartment, I suspect he uses the nicer one as bait and frequently plays this game
Hi,
We were lodging in several times in different apartments of Mr Wunder. Our last stay was in the Sacre Coeur apartment in november 06. We had never problems with this owner and got always very clean and well furnished, maintained apartments for affordable rates ! And many additional services as pickup on airport, free bike rental, free restaurant and excursion reservation and much of help ! Even when we checked-in at 2 am, middle of the night, it wasn%26#39;t a problem.
And the best was: Always we were received by a gentle and helpful staff. We were asked to call %26quot; a n%26#39;importe quelle heure%26quot; when we needed help or just have questions.
We know the reason why Helen was accomodate in another apartment: There was a water damage in the Sacre Coeur apartment beginning november 06 and when we checked-in we got a completely refurnished apartment ! We met Mr Wunder and he told us all his apartments were just renewed. He%26#39;s master craftman and does it himself. Never-even in hotels - we had such good mattresses, clean bedlinen etc.
We think there must be a misunderstanding with Doug.
Goodness, the two posts reporting good reviews of this company seem to be written by the same person. Same language and descriptions of the service. Could Mr. Wunder be checking out this board?
And both of them have only one post each
One Hit Wunders....
My wife and I are going to fly from Paris to Nice. We have a 5 hour layover between the two flights. We%26#39;re flying into CDG airport and were wondering if there was any lockers etc. where we might be able to store our luggage so that we might see a bit of Paris before the next flight.
Also, any suggestions for sightseeing / food near the CDG airport?
Thanks!
5 hours might be awfully tight...
---------
1 hour to land, clear customs/immigration, collect bags etc
1 hour to get to Gare du Nord by RER
1 hour to return to CDG
1.5 hours ahead of flight
---------
4.5 hours So you%26#39;d have 30 minutes to spend in Paris. Sadly, I think you have to stay at the airport. ;^(
On the other hand... the TGV takes 5:30 hours Paris to Nice... you might be better off taking the train over sitting out at the airport between flights...
Rob
In a nutshell, if your luggage cannot be checked on to Nice upon your CDG arrival, you really do not have sufficient time to travel into and back from Paris.
Primarily as a security concern, there are no lockers at CDG.
You *might* have a couple of hours to spare. if you can check in early. That would make the baggage storage question moot. The problem is that CDG is out in the middle of nowhere and there really isn%26#39;t anywhere close to amuse yourselves for that short a time. I%26#39;m afraid I come to the same conclusion as the previous posters. Take the train or bring a good book.
There are no lockers at CDG as Sarastro has pointed out. However, in case anybody reading this has the same question, Bagages du Monde operates limited baggage storage at CDG but it is not cheap and not necessarily convenient in terms of their location and hours. http://www.bagagesdumonde.com/
Hey thanks a lot for the suggestions and comments. We%26#39;ve already booked our tickets from Paris to Nice on EasyJet so we can%26#39;t change the plan to a train. I think I%26#39;ll call up EasyJet and see if we can book our stuff in earlier. - wish us good luck!
I do not believe I am asking this question as I thought I had it all sussed out but have been reading that it could be cool in the late afternoon/evenings in Paris the begining of October.
So... what would your advice be for guys - mine wear shorts below the knee and jeans (maybe one of each?) and us girls - jeans and 3/4 capri? As we will be walking a bit we may get a bit warm. Any advice muchly appreciated. Thanks
The beginning of October is generally not a problem. It shouldn%26#39;t be frigid and sometimes it can even still be warm.
If it gets colder, I believe you might find a shop or two that could solve the problem.
Since you%26#39;re from a warm climate and currently warming up to summer, I%26#39;d suggest that you bring mostly long trousers/jeans, and pack just a pair or two of the shorter ones.
If there%26#39;s an Indian summer, it can be really lovely, but it can also be downright chilly (10C/40F) in the mornings and evenings, doubly so for the folks with thinner blood.
long pants for sure. I was there 2 Septembers ago when it was pretty warm - with skirts - and never wore one.... And, I%26#39;m always hot!
you could throw in a pair of shorts or capris, but probably wont wear them.
I would layer the tops - a short sleeve shirt with a jacket or sweater so you can remove a layer if you get hot walking.
I lost my camera at st tropez last sept 8th…I reported it to police station that day before I left for that day tour…
i need to contact the police station to check is something comes up…I know it’s a long shot but, those have pictures of a lifetime inside it
camera is panasonic lx3...anyone?
Police Municipale de Saint-Tropez
Avenue du 8 Mai 1945
83990 Saint-Tropez
Tel : 04 94 54 86 65
Fax : 04 94 97 48 41
Isn%26#39;t Google amazing
Hope you find it...
Hi
I am looking to go to Paris for 2 nights by Eurostar from London. I am going to eat at Pierre Gagnaires restaurant 6 Rue Balzac and was %26#39;thinking%26#39; about going to the Moulin Rouge.
I was looking at 2 boutique hotels. The Kube Hotel and Five Hotel. I wanted to know which was best for location, considering I am travelling in from Eurostar AND the location based on the restaurant I am eating in. I dont really want to be travelling in cabs all evening. I dont mind a 15minute journey but want to base my booking on location.
Thanks in advance
The Kube is in the southeast corner of the 18th and is fairly close to Gare du Nord. The Five is in the extreme south of the 5th and is quite a hike from the GduN. Neither is at all close to PG which is in the extreme west of the 8th. That said, Paris is a much more compact city than London. Still, there are many good hotels in the 8th that would likely be better if you want to avoid longish cab rides.
Pierre Gagnaire and the Moulin Rouge combined??? De gustibus...
thanks for your reply.
Do you know of any contemporary hotels located near the hotel? kind Regards,
http://www.fouquets-barriere.com/
Hope you like.
its looking very very nice from the website
-thankyou very much
:-D
I am going to be purchasing the Navigo Decouverte pass and have my pictures all ready. I am aware that you must purchase these from a booth and not a machine. My question is- do all stations have a booth? Our closest station would be the Vaneau station, but it seems to be a %26#39;smaller%26#39; station and I am not sure if they would have a booth.
Thanks!
Even if there is a booth (I%26#39;m not sure), it might only be open during rush hours. But you could try one of the tabacs that sell metro tickets. According to the RATP website, they also sell the Navigo Découverte. There%26#39;s one at 43, rue Vaneau.
More addresses of official ticket sellers (%26quot;commerces agrées%26quot;) can be found at ratp.info/informer/les_commerces_agrees_ratp…
You will not find a real live person at every métro station. Vaneau is indeed one of the smaller stations and may not have an attendant. I don%26#39;t know one way or the other. In any case, if your French is not good you might do better at a larger station that is more accustomed to dealing with visitors. Montparnasse can%26#39;t be very far away if Vaneau is close. That would be my suggestion if there is no attendant at Vaneau.
The advice to go to a larger station is sound... we found some of the smaller ones only had a manned booth only for information....
Thanks so much for the tips! You are correct, the Montparnasse station is about a 15 minute walk (according to Google maps). I will pick up my pass there. Thanks! =)
I will be in Cannes at the end of the month. I have an early flight from Nice to Paris on a Saturday (8 am). What time should I leave from Cannes? Also, what is the best method of transportation? Do I need to set it up prior to my trip (ie a car service) or will the hotel help with this?
Thanks!
The bad news is the first Cannes Nice airport express bus 210 of the day is 07:00 arrives 10 minutes before your flight.
The railway site Gares-en-mouvement schedules show trains from Cannes to Nice St Augustin at 04:34, 05:04 and 05:34 for the 33 minute journey - this is the sort of headroom you need for your flight, allowing 15 minutes to get from Nice St Augustin to airport T1 on foot. Fare around 6 euro
If all trains sounds a bit too exciting I reckon around 50-60 euro for a taxi - your hotel will arrange sure - the Cannes economy is in large measure built on conference delegates on expenses - but you will find a taxi rank opposite the Hotel Gray d%26#39;Albion where there will be delighted drivers waiting for a dream fare
Thanks Nicelife...taxi it will be. I prefer to keep the trip as simple as possible.
What time should I allow for the drive? An hour?
Also, when landing in Nice earlier in the week, would you suggest a shuttle or taxi? Should I pre reserve either a shuttle or taxi?
Hi there,
On Saturdays, there are trains from Cannes to Nice St Augustin at 05.31 and 06.05 which get you to Nice St Augustin 06.05 and 06.37 respectively.
From Nice St Augustin it is about 15 minutes walk to Terminal 1 at the airport, or a walk and shuttle bus ride to Terminal 2.
If you decide to go to the airport by taxi, to be safe I would suggest that you allow about 45 minutes journey time door to door. Aim to be at the airport 1 hour before an internal flight to Paris.
Pre-booking a taxi in advance will work out cheaper than asking your hotel to get you one on the day. The Tourist Office in Cannes has numbers for local services or you can google Cannes airport transfer services. Expect to pay 70 euros plus at that time in the morning.
Hope this helps
For your arrival the 210 bus already mentioned by NiceLife operates regularly from Nice Airport to Cannes from 0800 to 2000 and costs around 14 euro. Maybe you don%26#39;t have to rush and could also take the bus 200 which does not take the autoroute and only costs one euro.
Thanks to all of you for your tips. I think we will take the express bus upon arrival, and a taxi for the departure.
This is my first trip to the Riviera, and we are looking forward to it!
This is our first trip to Paris.My husband and I are senior citizens. Would like some advice as to how best split our time. Traveling begining of October and will send 2 weeks and I think we will try to follow Rick Steve%26#39;s book on the historic Paris walks.
Has anyone booked through this site before:
http://www.budgetplaces.com
I%26#39;m a skeptical about sites i haven%26#39;t heard about, but they seem to have good deals for the hotel i want to stay at in Paris.
The site has been running for 2 years and is registered until 2013. The registrant is in Barcelona as is the company%26#39;s head office. It *seems* everything is in order.
awesome. that helps a bit. now i%26#39;m left to sorting, picking, booking something. YEAH!
We are looking for long term car parking near CDG airport for the Period Oct 4 To December 19.
Any ideas for safe reasonable parking please
Nous recherchons pour le stationnement de longue durée de voiture à proximité de l%26#39;aéroport CDG pour les PTOM période de 4 à Décembre 19.
Des idées pour le stationnement raisonnable, sûr s%26#39;il vous plaît
We are thinking of going to Lille by Eurostar just before Xmas for 2 nights, and are after a recommendation for a hotel. We are a family of 4 - with children aged 6 and 4 and are primarily going for the Xmas market so would like to be wihin easy walking distance. We would prefer quite a nice standard of accommodation and also we would want to be in the same room so would need a suite or large family room ( interconnectiong rooms are not an option). Any help greatly appreciated. Many thanks.
Have a look at Tripadvisor reviews for SuiteHotel Lille Europe.
Close to Lille Europe and easy walking distance to Xmas market and city centre.
They have family rooms for £70 per night in December.
Just to back up the previous comment - the suitehotel have large 30sqm rooms and can do a double + 2 single beds. The rooms have slide across dividers to partition the room if needed.
cheers
bfg
sorry to jump on your thread but didn%26#39;t want to start a second so similar.
just wondered if anyone had any other suggestions - we too are travelling in december with a 4yr old and a 18m old.
We are staying 2 or 3 nights 13/14/15 dec and need parking (but that doesn%26#39;t have to be included in price) but the rate for suitehotel is £127 a night plus extras which is more than we want to pay really.
Just want a room that is clean not too fussed about anything else. On the 15th will be getting train down to DLP for the day so would like to be nearish to train station as will get back late with the kids.
thank you
hi there. where did you get the £127 a night quote from? Was that including the parking? Our room is costing us £70 a night(no parking or breakfast). We also saved £11 on total cost of our train/hotel by booking the hotel through Eurostar.
i%26#39;ve tried loads of booking websites and thats the cheapest i%26#39;ve got it - maybe it%26#39;s those dates but we%26#39;re restricted to dd%26#39;s school holidays... what days are you going?
we%26#39;re driving thru the tunnel this time, did eurostar last year and it was a bit of a nightmare with buggy and luggage etc...
the hotel%26#39;s own website quoted us around £76 and I would have booked on there had Eurostar not given us that little bit extra!. We%26#39;re going sat 18th Dec - day after school breaks up round here.
Well it looks like the suitehotel have stopped their weekend offerings in December, which has in effect increased their night rate to about £120 for Friday and Saturday nights and £127 for all other nights.
The 3 night weekend specials (Friday - Sunday) at about £54 a night are available till end November%26#39;ish and January.
Well that%26#39;s put the stop on our plans for a weekend in Lille in December, as the Hilton in London works out cheaper.
Whether eurostar can offer hotel inclusive deals at the old reduced rate, remains to be seen.
cheers
bfg
that%26#39;s a shame. I%26#39;m not sure what dates you decided on but I just had a quick look on the hotel website and if you were to go on sat 12th for 3 nights it would be £87 per night. Not quite as cheap as mine, but a lot less that £120!
The rates seem to vary depending on whether you are staying friday, saturday, sunday and combinations there-off.
It%26#39;s a shame - as we were looking forward to our usual visit to lille.
Have a look at Hotel Continental.
They have a family room with two double beds at around £83 per night in December.
Is it worth a day trip? Whats the best way to get there ie train and how long a trip is it?
The train takes about 3 hrs 15 to Avignon TGV station which is not in the centre of the city, so you would spend about seven hours travelling. Avignon is interesting but not that interesting. There are many interesting places within a much shorter distance.
Time is the same whether you take the TGV (bullit train) ~3h + transit from TGV station to Avignon Center 30 mn or take Corail or Teoz trains 3h 1/2 from center to center.
what other day trips by train would you recommend from Antibes?
If you want more nature than cement you can try the Train des Pignes. It runs from Nice (you need to get there and back) to Digne through the Alpes de Haute Provence. See the website at:
trainprovence.com/pages/en/76/train-touristi…
I agree with the Train des pignes suggestion but only go as as far as entrevaux- otherwise its too long.
Entrevaux is beautiful and the train trip itself is fabulous scenery-trin runs along the river valley with moutains rising up all around
or train des merveilles route to Tende/sospel/la brigue/breil sur roya etc - a train through the mountains but high up rather than in the valley so a different experience
or Antibes to st raphael or frejus - the coastline is quite lovely esp after cannes
train des merveilles also starts in Nice but from main train station in Nice rather than chemin de fer de provence station like train des pignes
I would second the St Raphael trip. It%26#39;s easy from Antibes - just one train and no changing- and the coastline of the Esteril is indeed wonderful - also surprisingly different ( red cliffs) than that of the %26#39;Riviera%26#39; i.e east of Nice. Another worthwhile day trip I would suggest , not by train, is to either or both islands of Lerins off Cannes.
Re inland Provence I wouldnt even think about a day trip - but if you were prepared to stay for one night I would consider Arles ( first choice)or Aix en Provence ( second choice) but definitely not Avignon.
Ed
I would go to Eze, and also (by bus) to St Paul de Vence.
We have just booked a room at the Comfort Hotel on Rue Tholoze in District 18. After reading so many %26quot;unsafe%26quot; posts about this district I am unsure if the area we will be staying is safe or not. Any info would be so welcomed. Thank You
Hi -
I just read several of the reviews of this hotel - two to one in favour of it, BTW, and I realized that I know exactly where it is. The hotel is near Pigalle, and although there may be some ladies of the evening plying their trade in the vicinity, it%26#39;s a perfectly safe place to be. When you%26#39;re going out, ask reception which way Pigalle is, and then the whereabouts of the Metro station, in the opposite direction.
Take some ear plugs with you, because there are restaurants, etc. on the block and there may be noise when folks leave them. I always pack ear plugs since a %26quot;very quiet street%26quot; wasn%26#39;t because of a puppy that howled all night. Now, I%26#39;m prepared.
Rue Tholozé is just off rue des Abbesses and it is an excellent location, if you don%26#39;t mind hills (it is rather steep). It is also the location of the Studio 28, one of the two oldest cinemas in Paris. The interior lamps were designed by Jean Cocteau.
I have stayed on this street twice. Perfectly safe. In fact it is really nice. A short stroll to Abbesses for the metro, past the local shops selling fruit, veg and some very smelly cheeses! This being Montmartre, it%26#39;s Paris with a village feel.
I have passed the door of your hotel, but havent been inside. I stayed at the Hotel des Arts, about 10 years ago, then about 5 years ago. In my many trips to Paris I have called back to this area on many occasions.
Don%26#39;t worry. You have picked a good area.
Thanks for all the information. I feel much better now. I%26#39;m sure we will enjoy our trip. And sleep well with our eye plugs if needed.
Rue Tholoze really isn%26#39;t near Pigalle. Not so you%26#39;d see streetwalkers or be kept awake by noise from nightclubs.
The hotel is a block above Rue des Abbesses. If you use Google Maps/Stretview, the hotel is on the corner of Rue Tholoze and Rue Durantin.
I think it is quite safe, a few cafés are on rue des Abbesses so good to go out, don%26#39;t miss rue Lepic on a saturday morning
Trying to decide between Cookin%26#39; With Class%26#39; morning market and evening classes. Has anyone done both?
They are the same price, but a market visit and lesson is included in the morning class while the evening class is a full dinner.
I am sure I can%26#39;t go wrong with either! Just seeking any advice that might tip the scales for one of them.
You didn%26#39;t say when you were going but I am going to take the evening class on October 9, 2009 and I will write you and let you know what I think of the class if you want.
I picked the one that fit into my intinerary, but I do think the market walk and then cooking the food sound really cool.
I%26#39;ll be in Paris on the 9th. Will lots of people have cooked lots of delicious food they%26#39;ll need eaten up (he asks, hopefully)?
:-D
Too funny, Jdbri! Unfortunately, I%26#39;ll be there later in October after both you and goodlawgirl.
Goodlawgirl, thanks for your offer of a review! I%26#39;ll probably need to make my reservations before that time since we are a group of five, but I%26#39;d love to hear about your experience with the morning class!
My husband and I just took the morning class a week ago Sat. It was AMAZING! I would do the morning, because in addition to the great morning market visit (we learned all about the cheeses, etc.), you also get to pick your own menu. The evening class, while I am sure is great, has a menu pre-chosen by the instructor. The morning class gets to decide based on what everyone likes and agrees on.
The morning class lasted from 9:30am-3:45, but worth every minute! We loved our instructor Pinot and our classmates. It was truly a Paris highlight.
I took the am class and I too really liked the market visit and the informality. In addition, my SO has no interest in cooking but there is an option that a visitor can join for lunch but I think there is also an evening option too. I would suggest that you look at your schedule and just figure what works best...you cant go wrong with either!
Hi Lexi,
Daughter took two classes last month.Afternoon pastry and morning market.Loved them both
If you can stretch to two classes you get 30% off the second one.
ie afternoon pastry was 100 euro then the morning markret was 150 euro less 45 euro = 105 euro..real bargin.
Regards
We took the morning class and LOVED it. The market experience was fabulous and Eric, the chef was very very good. I thought we had a full meal. It included a salad, entree, desert, cheese, bread and wine. I didn%26#39;t leave at all hungry.
I would love to do the pastry class one day.
I don%26#39;t think you will regret either choice.
arriving tgv at antibes going to golfe juan I assume local train service is available but with suitcases etc anybody know cost of taxi?
It%26#39;s not very far - two stops - about 8 minutes on the local stopping train. Taxis ( quite dear in France)- there are plenty usually - from outside the Antibes station will probably cost around 20 euros.
Ed
Hi Ed, many thanks for taking the time to reply
Pat
Pat - One other thing - if you do decide to take the train to Golfe Juan you would be better getting off TGV at Cannes - stop before Antibes. This is because local trains pull into same platform so you dont have to go down /up steps as you are going in the same direction. Don%26#39;t get off at Cannes though if you decide the taxi is best because it is about twice as far to Golfe Juan from there. Also, if your ultimate destination is quite a way from the Golfe Juan station you will be better to take the taxi from Antibes anyway as I dont think there are taxis at Golfe Juan - it is a very small station.
Ed
Hi Ed, thanks for your tips re train to golf juan, had a hectic w/end in paris then as you suggested got off tgv at cannes at 2.55pm then stepped on the local train at 3.05 pm our apt. was 10 mins from station, we were sitting on our balcony in the sun by 3.30pm local bus services and trains were great, and got us all along the coast, coming home got bus from outside the apt. to airport, for 1 euro each
Thanks for letting us know how you got on and that you had a good experience of our local transport system.
Many thanks, pat-7, for the feedback. That was an even smoother transition than even I would have expected! Also we do rant a lot here about the overcrowding on the 200 bus, but Golfe Juan is exceptionally well placed for picking it up going towards the Nice Airport = before it gets too full.
Ed
Our trip in Paris ends on November 1, the day we will be %26quot;falling back%26quot; in Chicago. Do they set the clocks an hour back in Paris as well?
European Summer Time ends (clocks go backward) at 01:00 GMT on 25 October 2009. So, it looks like we%26#39;re a week in front of you.
Cool you get two extra hours - one in paris on the 25th and another when you get home! :)
There is a thread like this for NYC and an almost on-going thread for Key West, Florida.
For me, as of today, I have 61 days until I am back for a 6th visit Paris and I am just starting to get antsy.
How long for you? And how many times will this make?
Pjk
124 days, and this is my first time.
OHHhhh... I live here. ;) I%26#39;m an australian expat, been in Paris for 6 years.
Returned a month ago. It was our 8th time. Would love to go back this spring.
Only 1 more sleep before we leave for my %26quot;milestone%26quot; birthday celebration.
I%26#39;m putting the finishing touches on our itinerary, and started to pack this afternoon. We are so excited to be returning to Paris for our second visit. The first time was September 2005.
We just need to keep our fingers crossed that we don%26#39;t have another %26quot;snow day%26quot; here in Southern Ontario that will mess up our flight out. Good karma please. J
Hi Pjk
234 days. Seems alot when you say it like this but I%26#39;m now counting down!
This will be my tenth time I think (if you include the wonderful school trip when I was 14. I remember the taste of the ice cream,the smell of chestnuts roasting in the street and the romance of Versailles)
I found this forum last year and I now realise how much I have NOT seen and done during those visits.
We only visit one or two museums each trip and spend alot of time just wandering around without really DOING anything. Still we have had wonderful times and very romantic too. We have visited places during our trips but there is so much more.
This year, inspired by all you organised Americans I am planning a more structured itinerary ( still leaving some time for wandering ) The organisation is all part of the pleasure.
Still counting!
61 days - I%26#39;m starting to get really crazy and just want to GO already. We%26#39;ve been planning for over 9 months now.
About 132 days!! Seems like forever!!
218 for the 4th time - but it%26#39;s Barcelona first up and then Paris this year ;-)
6 longs days....
61
After reading on here about buses often being full and hard to catch, is it better to catch taxi to and from Nice Airport to my Hotel, The Dortoir? Or are buses to and from the airport not too bad? Just dont want to have to wait and wait for a bus and be late for my flight or check in time....do you have to book taxi in advance from Nice Airport to Hotel or are there loads at airport available? What kind of price sholud I pay?
thanks
Le Dortoir , rue Paradis , off Place Massena? No, you do not need taxis from the airport - its a huge rip-off and entirely unnecessary. Do not confuse the day to day hassle of TAM buses between the Riviera towns with the airport run - they are entirely a separate issue.
The Nice Airport Express bus at four euro is a gold standard premium service is no probblem and not to be confused with the one euro cattle-truck up and down the coast.
If you are indifferent between four euro and thirty five euro for the same journey, by all means take a taxi. Sensibly, most people take the route 98 airport express from either Terminal 1 or 2 to Albert 1st Garden/ Place Massena, and its a short 5 mn walk to rue Paradis.
Thanks for your reply. I know you off virtual tourist,, read some of your pages on there. Will take the bus now for sure...
cheers
RachNorfolk - our usual rants on this forum are about specific longer distance services like the 100 and 200 bus routes that connect Nice with Cannes, Antibes , Monaco etc. As NiceLife says you will have absolutely no problem in getting a bus from Nice airport into town or on the services within Nice.
Ed
Hah, you have seen through my cunning disguise. Perhaps using the same name and photo on VT was a bit of a giveaway. (Thinks...Perhaps I should adopt a bird picture, like some of my fellow posters. An owl,may be - %26quot;wise%26quot;...)
Cheers!
Hi RachNorfolk,
just got back from Le Dortoir, it was beautiful %26amp; i followed the advice of forum replies got bus, it was very easy %26amp; found the accomodation easily as well.Enjoy!
Sounds perfect, thanks for your reply. Cannot wait now.
I%26#39;ve been reading a lot about all the meat they have...but do they serve things like duck, chicken, etc. in addition to beef?
jerseygirllisa, the specialties of the house are traditional French fare and their most wonderful specialty is the %26quot;Cote du Boeuf pour deux%26quot; but they have different pork, lamb and chicken dishes available on different days. There is a regular carte that offers things other than beef that changes seasonally.
This isn%26#39;t the kind of place that has a web page. That should say a lot about it.
When we were there we had a great side-dish of grilled (or sauteed) mushrooms, and the sausage appitizer, several grilled sausages served %26quot;naked%26quot; but which were also very good. There was a prawn dish on the menu but the waiter said no to them. He suggested a meat dish so we ordered the entrecot, but if you were persistant...
Pjk
Thx, folks! Going on Sat. My BF %26amp; dad aren%26#39;t super big beef eaters, so I was just wondering...As long as there are other types of meat, I think it%26#39;s fine!
I would imagine yes, but just checking
it was closed for Rosh Hashanah, so probably, but I dont like to assume!
Saturday is the Jewish Shabbath (sundown Friday until Saturday night). So yes, closed on Saturday.
SoundDiva
Yes, I ended up calling, but thanks! They close at 6 pm on Fri %26amp; this Sunday they%26#39;re closed for the holiday.
my partner is attending an exhibition at this venue and I guess staying near by ...if i was to go to , how far is it from the main Paris sites as i would have to entertain myself during the day ...how far is it from the euro star terminal ? as i would travel alone
thanks
It is not far. I think it is on line 8 of the metro. It is a very neighborhood area, not at all touristy. But safe with lots of up and coming restaurants nearby.
And it is Porte de Versailles - no export !
meant to write paris expo porte de versailles
It is at the south-west edge of central Paris - the Paris Expo complex is built around the périphérique (ring road around Paris) there. Metro station Porte de Versailles (line 12) is next to the (main) entrance of the complex.
From the Gare du Nord (where the Eurostar terminal is), you can take line 4 (direction Porte d%26#39;Orléans); change to line 12 (dir. Mairie d%26#39;Issy) at Montparnasse-Bienvenüe.
Another option is to take RER line B (dir. Massy-Palaiseau) to Cité Universitaire; from there, you can take the tramway (T3) in direction of Pont de Garigliano.
thanks ...most helpful
Hi everyone :-)
We are taking our second trip to DLP this August (will probably be our last too as the kids are growing up fast lol!). We%26#39;re self driving and I%26#39;ve booked us a cottage through Holiday Rentals for 7 nights.
I had originally planned to buy a 5 day pass but have now decided that I think 3 days will be sufficient which leaves us 4 days to fill. We%26#39;ll probably be spending a whole day in Paris as the kids are desperate to go up the Eiffel Tower. Can anyone recommend anything else within an hours drive for a day out? FYI our kids are aged between 10 and 15.
Thanks in advance.
GT
HI there
Depends really what they are into :-)
casteland.com/puk/…pierrefonds.htm - this is where Merlin was filmed and could easily fill half a day. The town it is in has lovely little restaurant for lunch. The other half could be filled by visiting www.webmatters.net/france/ww1_rethondes_2.htm
Of course, Versailles is pretty near
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Versailles
Also Fontainbleau and Meaux (THE French capital of Brie) are also both near and within distance of a train station should you wish to leave the car behind
Just a couple of things to think about
HTH
KR x
I would second Key-camp traveller about Versailles if You not has been there. The only thing is If You want to go inside You Have to be there early.
Or You can Just go in the park around the Versailles we did that since we was to late to get in there and the que started at the parking lot.
Mutter
Thank you both :-) some great suggestions there!
I went to Versailles as a teenager on a school trip and loved it!
GT
There%26#39;s also Vaux le Vicomte, a spectacular chateau with gardens designed by LeNotre, and the medieval city of Provins, just down the D231 from DLP.
Did you know that Louis Braille, inventor of the Braille typeset that allows the blind to read, was born in Coupvray? It%26#39;s just outside the border of DLP, and is a very pretty village on its own right -- and Braille%26#39;s home is now a museum.
Reims is just 1-1/2 hours away -- Champagne for the grownups, and a lovely old city (and the Cathedral where Charlemagne was crowned King of France) for everyone.
There are lots of very pleasant villages all round -- try tourism77.co.uk
The town Fontainebleu is about 35 miles south of Paris and relatively easy to get to – you can take the train from gare de lyon or driving is easy too. The town is very historical and has a fantastic castle to visit, which no doubt your kids will enjoy too. Also the forest of Fontainebleu is really lovely to walk thru and as a nice escape from the city/Disney resort!
You could also visit Parc Asterix which is like the Universal Studios equivalent!! It%26#39;s quite easy to get to as well.....tho maybe u will have had enough of theme parks after disneyland!
Hope that helps ;)
Sorry I missed this - thanks for the suggestions - plenty there to fill our days :-)
GT
Re %26#39;Kids growing up fast%26#39;. My eldest son is now 23 and in the Royal Navy. When he has leave due he phones me and says %26#39;can you book Disney Paris%26#39;.We also go to WDW together, as our friend lives there.
Younger son went to DLP with his girlfriend for his 18th, as his first independent trip(apart from paying for it of course!)Wants to go back to WDW next year.
You never outgrow Disney!
Hello,
I thought I would post my itinerary for Corsica and see what people think. I have gotten such great advice here from reading the forums and hotel reviews. We are leaving NEXT week and staying for two weeks and relying strictly on public transportation. Also, any tips or restaurant recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
We arrive in Bastia and stay for two days. Since we arrive on a Saturday, it is difficult to get out of town until Monday. We got to Macinaggio for a few nights at Hotel des Iles. We hope to explore La Capandula.
Next we head to Algajola where I booked four nights at Hotel St Joseph. I am starting to think that was too long and might trim it a day. I am not sure how well we can get out of the town for day trips but the wife is excited about lying on a beach and we heard there are good restaurants.
After that I have not made any reservations but thinking about heading to Porto for a couple of nights so we can see Les Calanches and I am hoping they still have boat trips this late in the year. Does anybody know? I would think so and I have tried searching on the internet but my guide book says only in July and August so I am hoping that isn%26#39;t true. My book is also pretty old.
We would also like to take the train through the island so we might head down to Ajaccio and take the train back to Bastia. We are not sure where and if we should stay in the heart of the island. I was thinking about going to Ota for a night for a little hiking and then heading to Ajaccio. Of course, everything needs to be well-planned as we are relying on the limited public transportation resources. They are actually not so limited but need to be carefully scheduled.
Thanks for any help and/or suggestions.
Sounds reasonable to me.
4 days in Algajola isn%26#39;t too much, you can always walk out of Algajola, as well as taking the train to Ile Rousse and Calvi and beach stops inbetween. Get a local map (from the Presse)and walk up to Pigna, St Antonino, Corbara, Aregno, and/or Occi, Lumio, Lavatoggio. Or along the coast to the Punta di Spano, Orinella plage Lumio, and get the train back.
Although if it%26#39;s pouring with rain that won%26#39;t be quite so much fun...
If you are staying in the centre I would base yourselves in Corte rather than Ota, more to do if the weather is bad, and more choice of walking if it%26#39;s good.
Looking at the weather forecast, all I see is rain and might have to make some changes. Hopefully it will clear up when I get to Algajola. Thanks for the tip on Corte. If you have any other recommendations of better towns to spend time in when it rains, I would be happy to hear them. I think I might need to plan something else for next week if the forecast is right.
It seems to be awful at the moment, but it would be most unusual for it to rain solidly for a whole three weeks. %26quot;Météo-France prévoit de fortes chutes de pluies sur la Corse jusqu%26#39;à la fin de la semaine. %26quot; so by Saturday it may be fine. Good luck!
French Airline Passengers Panic Over Wrong Announcement
French passengers aboard a recent Aer Lingus flight panicked after pilots broadcast the wrong announcement warning them to prepare for an emergency landing.
Announcements in both French and English were played during the Dublin to Paris flight, with the correct English version asking passengers to return to their seats because of turbulence. But the French-language announcement warned passengers that the plane had to ditch, a story by the DailyMail reported, scaring those passengers who understood French.
After a few minutes, the crew realized the error, apologized for airing the wrong French-language announcement, and clarified the message to passengers. An airline spokeswoman said the mistake was the result of an %26quot;unusual%26quot; malfunction of the PA system that has since been fixed.
Yikes! I guess I%26#39;m very lucky that my pilot actually spoke both fluent English and French on the flight I had into CDG airport a few weeks ago. I could see how easy it could be to mix up the recorded announcements. And what happens if there%26#39;s a situation they don%26#39;t have an announcement recorded for?
First visit to Paris in Nov. Tour group with 3 days free time. Looked at rapt.fr for bus info. Staying in 15th. Leary of Metro (dupleix) due to husband%26#39;s bad knees. heard there are lots of steps at all Metros. Confused about the %26quot;tourist bus sschedule%26quot; which has a %26quot;great route%26quot; according to others; however, this route is not on the regular bus route map. It is line 69. Unclear if you can use bus pass to ride these tourist routes. Other xportation on site has prices if it is extra, like Batobus. Can someone help clear this up? Also, can I send for a map in advance? The bus pass I looked at is Visite Paris %26amp; has discounts for other attractions, plus Metro. Trying to work out schedule to avoid wasting time. Also, do I have a chance of getting the discount %26quot;Lido%26quot; show tickets using my visitparis pass after I get there? Thanks so much for info from someone %26quot;in the know.%26quot;
Keep looking on the ratp.fr website.
You can download a brochure for the Paris Visite that lists all the discount coupons included. The pass does include unlimited rides on the buses.
You%26#39;ll definitely want to use the buses rather than the metro if your husband has bad knees. Many (such as myself) much prefer the buses to the metro anyway. To ride the Batobus many steps are involved to/from the stops on the docks along the river.
Find the bus routes with streets map. You can download this to your PC and print sections of it for folding up and tucking into a pocket. You can get a copy of this at most metro stations once you arrive in Paris.
If you%26#39;re staying near Dupleix metro station, you%26#39;ll be near bus route 42, which does connect to bus route 69.
Have a look at this map (tourist bus) - ratp.info/picts/…bus_touriste_simple.pdf You can see the 69 goes from near the Eiffel Tower.
I quite like Line 80 - www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan.php…
And if you want to see Montmartre the Montmartro bus does a nice circuit - www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan.php…
You can use ordinary tickets and ParisVisite.
What other maps would you like? You can print all sorts off the RATP site.
Does Montmatrobus run 7 days a week or just Sundays?
Montmartrobus runs every day, early until late (just after midnight).
It%26#39;s the Balabus that runs only on Sundays.
There is a color map of every bus stop, superimposed on the street map: %26quot;Plan des bus avec rues%26quot;
It is 130cm x 101 cm, too big for me to print (even if I had a color printer!).
Is this %26quot;Plan%26quot; available at metro stands for free?
(It looks most helpful to have each stop on the map for somebody with a knee injury like me.)
www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan.php…
Thanks for help.
The 69 bus is not a %26#39;tourist bus%26#39; per se... it is a regular Paris bus route but it happens to be a very handy route for tourists to use to sightsee
as it passes by or close to many popular tourist sights.
For anyone still reading about the bus map, here%26#39;s an old reply:
%26lt;%26lt;Once arrived in Paris, be sure to stop at a Metro or RER station ticket kiosk and pick-up a copy of the RATP%26#39;s FREE %26quot;Paris--GRAND PLAN--Lignes et Rues%26quot; large-format transportation system map.
This map has a colour-noded, numbered/lettered diagram of the entire Paris Metro %26amp; RER system, over-laid on a serviceable Paris street map on one side
AND
a colour-coded, numbered, directionally-indicated diagram of the entire Paris Bus system over-laid on the same serviceable strreetmap on the reverse side.%26gt;%26gt;
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k20697…
You should be able to see #69 route on the ratp interactive map. It is not a loop if you wanted to ride all the way around. Get off at Giambetta(I think )( this is near Pere Lachaise cemetary) and change buses to go back the other direction.
Thanks so much for all the helpful info and links. I am still quite overwhelmed, but will study and %26quot;play with%26quot; the ratp maps. The bus seems the way to go for us. I saw that the evening schedule is needed if you are out after 8:30 p.m. Also, some of the individual bus routes are kind of confusing with the arrows, then no arrows, etc. so you are not sure if you can get from point A to point B, as you are not sure if the bus goes that way or not. Maybe I don%26#39;t know how to read it. The site is very detailed and will take some time. I got a lot out of the suggestion to put your hotel address in the middle and print maps, etc. Once there, it is nice to know you can get a big free map.
On the tourist bus map the %26#39;arrows%26#39; (more like %26#39;1%26#39;) are the OpenTop buses. They%26#39;re the tourist buses with commentary and costs €29 a day. The %26#39;regular%26#39; buses have numbers. They%26#39;re not tourist buses specifically, just buses that go on routes tourists might be using.
On the Montmartrobus the arrows show the direction of travel. It%26#39;s a loop, and the bus only goes one way round it.
Sometimes there are one-way street that mean buses have to go up one street and down another but, generally, most buses go up and down the same roads most of the time.
Can anyone who has been to L%26#39;Hotel recently shed some light on the hotel and staff? I heard mixed things about the upkeep of the hotel and the youth of the staff and do not want to be surprised. Please share insight regarding recent L%26#39;hotel experience.
Thanks!
Please help! We are trying to make an informed decision on where to stay in paris in October. Out first 2 choices were D%26#39;Aubusson and Relais Christine but neither worked out. We are now looking at hotel de vendome or l%26#39;hotel and possibly banke Hotel. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
L%26#39;Hotel is in the exact same neighborhood as Aubusson and Christine. It is in an absolutely enchanting location on a beautiful street, as is Christine. Go for it!!!!
The other 2 choices change the neighborhood and vibe completely. And i would definitely not choose the Banke.
Another option to try (a bit farther south than L%26#39;Hotel/Christine/Aubusson) is the Relais St. Germain. It%26#39;s in the same class/decor and basic neighborhood.
i think you are the one taking the 80 yr old mom? If that%26#39;s correct (and i apologize--my memory is shaky these days), the L%26#39;Hotel offers a perfect location for walking without trekking.
Have you been in L%26#39;Hotel? We heard the staff is young and inexperienced and that was our hesitation. My mom is not 80, though that did give her a good laugh! The L%26#39;hotel reviews are mixed so we are trying gauge the current feeling...
Sorry! I must have confused this post with another one--poster had an 80 yr old mom!
I have not been in L%26#39;Hotel for 3 years, so sorry that I cannot comment on the current staff.
But definitely as far as area/decor, the Aubusson, Christine, and L%26#39;Hotel are beautiful boutique hotels within blocks of each other.
I suggested the Relais St Germain in my previous post--very nice hotel, but on the other side of Bl St Germain. The Madison is also nice/traditional but directly on Bl St Germain, which makes it less charming.
The 8th and 9th arrs, where the Vendome and Banke are, are just completely different vibes.
If you wish to change arrs (from the 6th), you might check out the Hotel Bourg Tibourg (Marais) and Pavilion de la Reina (Place de Vosges) The Tibourg is funkier than the suggested hotels in the 6th, but the area/street is fabulous. The Reina is very traditional like the Relais Christine, except in a different location--right on Place des Vosges, very lovely.
But I still say you can%26#39;t go wrong with the location of L%26#39;Hotel--and, again, you%26#39;ll be on the same blocks as the hotels you previously checked out.
Now, if you%26#39;re looking for consistent SERVICE and don%26#39;t mind a more modern vibe, the Hotel Artus (6th arr, around the corner from Aubusson) is top notch. Excellent with service, directions, etc. But the decor is somewhat sparse/austere/bland--not the decorative froufrou of the other hotels discussed here. GREAT location--right on rue Buci. I%26#39;ve stayed here several times. (More street noise than L%26#39;Hotel gets, however, because rue Buci is a maket street.) L%26#39;Hotel has a serene location just around the corner.
Have a great trip!
Sorry--spelling is Pavillion de la Reine, not Reina.
thanks so much! i will look into these suggestions
Hi,Hoping to get the train from cdg to dlp. Does anyone know how far the train station at dlp is from the Sequoia hotel. Will have 2 young kids and suitcases in tow, so would like to know how long a walk or cab ride it would be.
I cannot tell by the way you ask your question if you inquiring about train options but here are all of the travel methods from CDG to DLP
1. TGV
(non refundable fares vary depending upon departure time from 15€ to 30€)
Travel time 9-10 minutes, last departure about 9:55 p.m.
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ (in French only)
http://www.tgv-europe.com
départ: AEROPORT CDG 2 TGV (95) arrive: MARNE LA VALLEE CHESSY (77)
__________
2. Bus (VEA)
http://www.vea.fr/uk/index.asp
Adults – 17€, children under 12 – 13€, children under 3 are free
Departures every 20 minutes from 8:55 a.m. until 8:05 p.m. except:
Until 8:25 p.m. on Monday %26amp; Thursday
Plus 10:25 p.m. on Friday
Plus 9:55 p.m. on Sunday
Travel time about 1 hour
__________
3. RER (train/métro)
http://www.ratp.com/
RER Line B towards Châtelet-Les Halles; change to Line A for Marne-La Vallée/Disneyland
This is probably the cheapest option (about 14€40) but it can take up to 2 hours.
Note: Mobilis tickets are not valid for travel from either CDG or ORY
__________
4. Shuttle
http://www.paris-blue-airport-shuttle.fr/
Private shuttle from 1 to 8 people – 60€ to 100€
Shared ride from 1 to 8 people – 45€ to 12.50€ per person
http://www.shuttle-inter.com/
Private shuttle from 1 to 3 people – 70€
Private shuttle 4 to 8 people – 75 to 110€
Travel time about 1 hour
Reliability varies
__________
5. Taxi
http://www.taxisg7.com/
Convenient but can be expensive
Travel time about 1 hour
Cost estimate: 75€+
__________
I don%26#39;t believe the walk to the Disney hotels exceed 15 to 20 minutes but most all have a shuttle. The VEA bus will also drop you off at your hotel.
Hi.
Sarastro has answered your travel questions, so I will just mention the Sequoia part.
There are 2 exits at the railway station- front and side.
If you exit the side, the hotel bus stops are opposite.There is a board showing wchich stop number for each hotel. The buses run quite frequently early til late.
If you exit the front main doors, you will see the entrance to the Disney Village on your left.Turn left from the station, go round the corner, and the bus stops are on the right.
It only takes 10 mins walking from the station through the Disney Village to the lake, turn left, go round the end of the lake past the New York hotel, and the Sequoia is on the other side.
Probably quicker than waiting for the bus, but depends if your cases have wheels, and how old your kids are. It is quite a pleasant walk, and you will see things on the way, and get an idea of your bearings.
Read my review on TA of the Sequoia if you havn%26#39;t already, we have stayed there a few times.
Also look at my review of the Disney Village. I have posted photos taken from the hot air balloon above the lake, so you can see the station, parks, Village, bus stops, and hotels from above. It will give you an idea of where things are, and distance.
Any other questions, please ask on the forum, or send me a message. Happy to help.
Thanks for all the info, I will have a good look into the options. It%26#39;s mainly to find the cheapest and quickest way between both destinations.VEA will charge E60 each way for the 4 of us which seems a bit steep.
Thanks for the useful information! We%26#39;re going in November,arriving mid morning, so depending on the weather, I think we would like the walk from the station. If the TGV is so quick and cheap and convenient, why is it not advertised more widely? I also need to find out what terminal Flybe land at, and if it%26#39;s not Term2 where the TGV stop is, how easy is it to transfer to Term2?
I think it may be because the TGV gets booked up, and you have to book tickets on a specific train, which can be difficult when flights can be delayed etc.I read a comment on a forum where someone wrote they had wanted to book it, but it was full.
The RER is an ordinary train, so you don%26#39;t have to book.
I%26#39;ve never used it, so I%26#39;m only guessing.
I have used the RER to go in to Paris for a day from Disney.
Thanks. I was worried about flight delays etc. Maybe I will book the VEA going, and the TGV coming back as we will have got our bearings by then. 20E in my pocket, or Mickeys is better than on expensive transport!!
We have never booked the VEA bus, because it%26#39;s just a frequent shuttle to and from Disney, supposed to be about every 20 mins. You just pay on board.Again, you can%26#39;t guarantee your arrival time when flying.We used to book a package, and shuttle tickets were included.We did have a long wait once, but that was at peak time with lots of flights coming in, so there was a queue at the bus stop.Then 2 buses arrived at once.They used to take you to your hotel door, but not sure if they still do that, or stop at the bus stop by the railway station now.
Maybe someone else can confirm this?
Anything else you need to know? You can send me a message if you prefer.
Your hotel room may not be ready until 3pm. You can leave your luggage at the hotel luggage store( no charge)and then go into the park, as your tickets are valid for arrival and departure days when you stay in a Disney hotel.
If your kids are tired after travelling, and the park is too much, you could just use the pool( check it is not closed for maintenance, as they close at different times)until your room is ready, so pack swim things on top.
Suggest you book somewhere for your main meal before you arrive.You havn%26#39;t said the date you arrive, or how long for.My son went on 1st Dec last year, and said the parks were not busy,only small queues for most rides.
Have a look at dlpfoodguide.com. Describes all the restaurants and cafes in the resort, with reviews.
The Buffalo Bill Wild West Show in the Village now has Characters.
