Paris Pass? Is it worth it?

wife and I are heading to Paris for New years.

We%26#39;ll be there for a week and in London for a week.

I see a Paris Pass listed for $120-140 Euro for 4 days. Can anyone give me advice as to whether this is a good deal or should we just wait until we arrive and buy on an %26quot;as needed%26quot; basis? We are going to stay in Paris for the most part (day trips out are not necessary)...but we%26#39;re going to the Louvre and a couple other museums...I expect we%26#39;ll be using the metro to get around some (staying in the 7th district)

Any advice would be appreciated.

Don

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Hi,

The pass that includes entrance to museums + transportation is usually not a good deal.

In my opinion the best pass for museums is http://www.parismuseumpass.com/en/home.php

Regarding a pass for transportation: could you please tell me on what days of the week you%26#39;ll stay in Paris and if you%26#39;re going to use the public transportation from the airport to Paris?

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We%26#39;ll be in paris from Dec 28th until Jan 2nd - so a full week.

We%26#39;d like to take the train from CDG to paris and then take some sort of train from Paris to London on the 2nd.

so inter city travel is needed (although on dec 31st, I%26#39;m sure it%26#39;ll be very crowded and we%26#39;ll end up walking alot - and on Jan 1st, i would think alot of the city will be closed)

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the eurostar is the high speed train that you can take from Gare du Nord in Paris to St. Pancras station in London. The tickets are like airline tickets, the cheap seats go first. You can book 120 days out, look at www.eurostar.com and http://www.seat61.com/

for information

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The privately %26#39;..re-packaged..%26#39; PARIS PASS is RARELY a good deal....for your proposed itinerary--a week, beginning on a Monday...and especially bad deal.

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Wait until you arrive, it is cheaper and you will have a better idea of your needs.

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Don,

Since Dec 28th is a Monday and you%26#39;ll be in Paris for an entire week, the Navigo Découverte is an excellent option for you (it%26#39;s valid for a week, Mon-Sun)

Issuing a Navigo Découverte + charging it for a weekly pass for zones 1-2 will cost you 23.80. This pass is valid for the metro, buses and RER stations within Paris.

Notice, however, that since CDG is zone 5, you%26#39;ll need a special ticket from CDG to Paris (since you%26#39;ll only be in zone 5 once, the pass for zones 1-5 isn%26#39;t economical for you).

You can buy this pass in any metro or RER station in Paris.

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Ohadb, is this also good for Batobus (seine) and HOHO (hop on hop off Bus)? And is this the one that needs a passport size picture?

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It%26#39;s not valid for Batobus and the hop on hop off Bus.

Yes, it needs a passport size picture.

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Do NOT buy the Paris Pass you have listed, these sorts of bundled and repackaged items you see on the net are not worth it and you%26#39;re not sure what you are getting. Instead buy a %26quot;Paris Visite%26quot; pass at the train station in CDG airport. For 48 Euro, you can get unlimited use of ALL public transit for 6 zones for 5 days and upgrade it for another couple days for about 10 Euro. This will also get you to and from CDG, Orly, Disney and Versaille. The museum passes are not a good deal either unless you want to see A LOT of museums, but you can get saturated. Most museums in Paris cost 6-8 Euros for entry and this usually includes an audio guide.

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For a Mon-Sun week, the Navigo Decouverte is ALWAYS a better deal than the Paris Visite!

Cheap hostel / motel near the beach in Nice?

May 7th to May 9th, looking for a cheap hostel, motel, hotel.. my only requirement is that it%26#39;s a walking distance from the city and the beach (a good walking distance is everything less than 3 km). Two people so I want an own room, no dorms.. what can you suggest? I%26#39;ve found a few online I%26#39;m thinking of, but would like to check if there%26#39;s something good I%26#39;ve missed before I book anything.

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The only cheap hotel I can think of near the beach and town is the Hotel Solara in Rue de France (ne frills but friendly staff.)

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Couple of budget options

Two star Hotel: The Crillon rue Pastorelli - basic but around 50 euro a night and central

Youth Hostel: Les Camélias 3, rue Spitalieri off Nice Etoiles

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Removed on: 3:21 pm, October 23, 2009

Help, does this make sense, Paris to Lyon to Provence.

Hi we are leaving Tues night for Paris and have just in the last day or so decided to explore a bit more beyond, we are visiting friends in Lyon, and very much want to go to Provence. So does it make sense to fly into Paris, stay for a night to rest up.....drive to Lyon, stay two days, drive to Provence, and then eventually a few days later back to Paris and stay there a few days and then head home via CDG?

I know it might be a lot but we are fine with squeezing in a lot of traveling/as long as we are there,why not?

What are special things to do in Provence? Restaurants and hotel recommendations?

Please help us, asap....we appreciate it!!

Thanks.

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I wouldn%26#39;t drive if I were you, although you won%26#39;t get the best fares on TGV with such lates reservations.

I would take the TGV (high speed train) to Lyon (1 hour and 55 minutes ride), and then take an other TGV to Avignon after your stopover ( a little more than 1 hour train ride only).

Regarding things to do and to see in Provence, I suggest that you start browsing the Provence forum and post your additionnal questions there, toutou, alpilles and many other experts will certainly be happy to help you!

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hi thanks, people have said that by driving we will get a different experience, we love to absorb the local cultures and feelings...and though the train is shorter, we like the idea of driving. if we did take the train any idea how much the fare is?

also how is the weather at this time? I am planning on bringing many layers to go with the weather. Any advice?

Thanks.

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Driving is great if you have time to take the small roads and make a few stopovers, not if you stick to the motorway. So it really depends on the number of days you have and on your plans.

Here is the SNCF website to check schedules and fare if you consider taking the train:

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/

The weather is unpredictible as you know : very nice spring weather during the weekend, colder with (little) rain now...

Here is the useful website to check the weather in France:

http://france.meteofrance.com/france/accueil

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Removed on: 3:20 pm, October 23, 2009

Hotel decision help

My son and his girlfriend will are renting a motorcycle in Nice and will be traveling to Paris (to meet up with me, mom). I%26#39;m looking for a reasonable ($100) room for them. I saw the post about the du Theatre and de Artiste but they are full for when they are in need. A few others I%26#39;ve found are from high to low are...

Des Savoies

Axotel Perrache

Berlioz

Hoteldu Simplon

any comments or other ideas would be helpful. They are in there 20%26#39;s and my son says he just wants a place to lay his head. They do need parking though.

The other places they plan to stop at are Nevers (?) and Normandy if any one can suggest for there as well.

Thanks

Dawna

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In the same central area, you may try this one that is in your budget range.

hotelcelestins.com/en/Room-rates-hotel-lyon-…

Perrache area is not as nice as place des Célestins, but hotel Simplon is also a good choice (I would choose this one over Axotel or Berlioz).

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Removed on: 5:16 pm, October 23, 2009

Hotel and dining recommendations?

Hi well quite last minute we are changing our plans. We are flying into Paris tomororw night...then two days later driving to Lyon to see friends, from there we are going onto Provence, where I have always wanted to visit for so long! First thing...what is the difference between Aix en Provence and Provence?

Where do you recommend we stay? We like top hotels but do have a 13 year old son with us, so we want to all be comfortable. Any memorable dining tips/places that you would recommend that are special to that area?

Thanks in advance...........

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Provence is the name of the region - I was told it was the original province of the Roman Empire, so that%26#39;s what they called it. Aix is a city in Provence - I%26#39;ve just found a list of 23 other places called %26#39;Aix%26#39; in France and surrounding coutries, so adding %26#39;-en-Provence%26#39; simply differentiates it from the other 22.

Out of curiosity, why are you driving to Lyon? If you take the train, you have time to look out of the window and enjoy the countryside rather than just the concentrating on the autoroute ahead. If you really want to drive and avoid the toll motorway (so that you actually go through towns and villages), you will need to allow at least 6.5 hours rather than 4, according to viamichelin. Otherwise tolls are 30€ and about the same for fuel. Actually, the trip from Lyon to Avignon is more convenient by train too, and there are plenty of car hire companies at Avignon TGV station.

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Hi fabfinds,

It would be very helpful if you could provide Forum members with some additional information such as how long yo plan on staying in Provence and what your interests are. Hope to hear from you soon since you are apparently leaving tomorrow night.

AlpillesGal

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thanks for responding....well we are open to maybe taking the train ,how long of a ride to Lyon? Would it be feasible to rent a car in Lyon and drive to Provence? Can anyone answer what the weather is like right now? I have packed many layering pieces...sandals, a raincoat, umbrella,sweaters,etc.....

Well, re interests, I like history, art, culture, great food, anything special to the area. We will have 2 days in Provence, we are squeezing in a lot of travel within 8-9 days.

Thanks for your help in advance!

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Two days is not enough time to see Provence, or did I misunderstand how long? Rent a small car as the streets and roads are very narrow in Provence.

The Vaucluce, the Luberon. The Alpilles are different from eachother. You need reservations for a hotel. Have your friends in Lyon try to book you.

Unkess we know where you are stayong we can%26#39;t give restaurant suggestions.

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Two days is not enough time to see Provence, or did I misunderstand how long? Rent a small car as the streets and roads are very narrow in Provence.

The Vaucluce, the Luberon. The Alpilles are different from eachother. You need reservations for a hotel. Have your friends in Lyon try to book you.

Unkess we know where you are stayong we can%26#39;t give restaurant suggestions.

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make sure you book your B%26amp;B hotel in Provence. As an owner I can tell you we are Fully booked for Easter as are most others.

ESCARGOT

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It%26#39;s about 2 hours by TGV from Paris to Lyon, then 1.25-1.5 hours on to Avignon TGV. You can also get a local train from Lyon to Avignon which takes 2-3 hours depending on stops. I don%26#39;t know when you are planning to travel on to Provence, but the sncf site shows at least one TGV is fully booked on Saturday 11th - there is no booking for local trains.

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Removed on: 4:19 pm, October 23, 2009

don´t rent a car with SIxt!!!!!

NEVER EVER AGAIN WITH SIXT.

We hired a car from Sixt in Paris in March 2009 for 2 days...we wanted to have a nice experience so we rented a Mercedes Benz...SURPRISE!!!! the driver mirror was broken and the car had some scratches...when we told that to the staff lady she was completlely indiferent and she never moved from her seat...when I told her that I was dissapointed with the car and that I want another, she asked me WHY?????

Worst....when we star driving the car (because they told us that it was the only one available) the oil alert notify us that there was NO OIL in the engine, so we stopped in the next gas station and tried to call customer service for advice...nobody paid attention to us!!! Finally another indiferent guy told us to put any diesel oil that we can find...we paid almost 50 euros in oil for our rented Mercedes.

We were very surprised because everybody in France was so nice and we had such a wonderful time in the rest of the places, hotels, restaurants, etc...what´s the matter with Sixt staff? I don´t know

NEVER EVER AGAIN WITH SIXT.

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Removed on: 5:18 pm, October 23, 2009

cost from CDG to Gare du Nord

Ive spent the last 40 mins trying to find the price but I cant find it. Can someone please give me an indication of the cost to travel from Gare du Nord to CDG for terminal 1 (on a Monday if thats important). We arrive at Gare du Nord on the Friday and we will have the weekend in Paris. As we will mainly walk here and there we are planning to take a hop on bus sometime and buy a carnet for the other trips.

Thanks everyone

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By RER to anywhere in the centre of Paris is €8.90 per person. This includes travel on the metro or other RER lines if required.

In the context of the costs of a holiday in Europe, it is hardly worth getting excited about it!

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Removed on: 5:18 pm, October 23, 2009

how safe around train stations?

just read about a stabbing near eurostar station in paris, apparently a migrant.

are there not enough police in these areas?

how safe for tourists?

regards

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I think you%26#39;re referring to a stabbing between Afghan refugees at the square Villemin (about half a kilometer from Gare du Nord), sunday morning. This small park has become a %26quot;refugee camp%26quot; of sorts, where sometimes hundreds of refugees wait for an opportunity to get to the UK. They get help from Médécins sans frontières and other organisations.

No matter how much police there is, this sort of thing can happen anywhere, anytime. Don%26#39;t worry too much. For tourists, pickpockets are more of a threat!

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I just did a Google for %26quot;stabbing,Adelaide%26quot; and found stories on a 24 year old a 2 year old and a 14 year old dying in stabbing incidents.

Do they not have enough police there?

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Around Gare du Nord is not the nicest area. However, if you use your common sense, you should be fine. I stayed at the Mercure Hotel across the street for a couple of nights and even walked around at 11:00pm. It was more deserted than dangerous.

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The fact that a stabbing in Paris makes Int%26#39;l news should tell you something. It was a fight between friends. Not a random act of violence.

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I%26#39;m not sure how relevant this is, but here goes... I used to live near a major railway station in London (Kings Cross) and there used to be a lot of prostitution and drug dealing in the area. This brought in the %26#39;wrong sort%26#39; and, on paper, it was a very high crime area - beatings, turf wars and the like. But it didn%26#39;t affect us locals at all really - the %26#39;bad%26#39; people attacked other %26#39;bad%26#39; people and residents actually felt safer because of the enhanced police presence.

So, I would venture that it%26#39;s perfectly safe for tourists.

I was at Gare du Nord a couple of weeks ago and the area didn%26#39;t seem %26#39;seedy%26#39; or %26#39;dangerous%26#39; to me.

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re adelaide

i think we would all like to see more police in particular on the streets where they maybe needed and not away in admin/paperwork.

a visual police presence on the street is reassuring and probably a deterent.

yes we would like to have more in adelaide and yes we do not seem to have enough.

i think they were even recruiting from the uk.

from my travels i know some areas are safer than others anywhere.

i can remember being told in KL at one time by a local that certain areas were not safe for tourists but if they were robbed then the robbers could not be blamed because some of the people had so little, so tourists were considered fair game?

an interesting perception.

it is certainly an education to travel and good to do some research and this forum is a good source of info i find.

would anyone like to comment as to why the pick pocketing and related crime is so rife? is it tolerated by the locals? if so i guess the best thing would be to blend in and be careful.

sometimes it seems we have not moved very fair from the days of Dickens.

regards

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Pickpockets are everywhere, and they are particularly good at their trade in Paris and in Rome. Unless you happen to reach into the pocket in question at exactly the time that there is another hand in there, you%26#39;ll never know exactly when the deed occurred.

It is a simple pocket picking. There is no threat, no attack, a simple reach into a pocket to see if there%26#39;s anything to be had.

Do not give money to anyone on the street - they may well be a shill for a PP, showing him/her where your money is.

All the police in the world won%26#39;t stop a good PP, the challenge will be met - and probably quite successfully. I think it%26#39;s a job done as much for fun as for profit.

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Removed on: 5:16 pm, October 23, 2009

Macarons - Laduree vs Pierre Herme?

Hi all,

my virgin trip to Paris will not be complete without tasting authentic macarons/macaroons from Paris. Which is more recommended? Laduree or Pierre Hermes?

I read both websites and both seem to have great reviews

For your info:

Pierre Herme:

www.pierreherme.com/index.cgi…

fxcuisine.com/Default.asp…

Laduree:

http://www.laduree.fr/

Laduree definitely seems more accessible. On average, how long are the queues?

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I%26#39;ve been wondering this myself. Can%26#39;t wait for your responses!

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I like Laduree best; the Herme are too sweet, IMO.

The queues move quickly, and vary depending upon time of day. I would try to avoid %26quot;after work%26quot;, the day before a holiday, etc.

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We never had the ones from Herme but I can%26#39;t imagine them being any more delectable than the ones we had from Laudree.

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Pierre Herme was the head chef at Laduree and is responsible for many of their recipes. Notably, they both have his famous Ispahan, rose macaron with litchi cream and fresh strawberries.

I find many of PH%26#39;s newer flavours to be stretching it a bit, so Laduree gets my vote.

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Why not both?

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why does everyone try to say best and worst...I am sure that everyone is different..and really...what is the difference between fanfreakingtastic and absolutelyamazing....I mean really...tomato tomata....

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Actually, flying Geo, there are other big names in the macaron field. I have tried Laduree, PH, Dalloyau and Aoki and so far my favourite remains Laduree, but I%26#39;ve heard that Mulot is exceptional - on my list for my next trip. You may find that serious macaron tasting will take a lot of time! Just make sure that your very first macaron is a good one - mine was from Boulangerie Paul, and it was so awful that I almost decided that macarons were not my thing. Luckily I gave Laduree a shot.

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Forgot to say that I found the Rue Royale Laduree was always crowded, Champs Elysees a bit better but not much. On the other hand the Rue Bonaparte location had no queues at all, with the added advantage of Pierre Herme being close by.

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thanks for the tip! i will probably head down to the Rue Bonaparte Laduree since you pointed out that Pierre Herme is nearby!

Do they sell individual pieces, or must we buy in boxes of 12?

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You can buy individual pieces, that%26#39;s how you get to sample many flavours. There are large ones, which cost more, I prefer to stick to the smaller ones. You can eat more of them ;-)

Disneyland in Paris

Hi,

I have a free ticket to Paris Disneyland.

I%26#39;ve never been to disneyland in my entire life. Not sure if I will like it. I%26#39;m not a kid. I don%26#39;t sit rides. But I do find those disney characters kinda cute. And I heard disneyland has lots of fireworks at night. Which I%26#39;m keen.

But really, is it any point going? For the sake of the free ticket?

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Disclaimer: I am NOT a Disney fan.

Coming all the way from Singapore to one of the world%26#39;s great cities I wouldn%26#39;t waste 10 seconds on a bogus thing like Disney, especially if you don%26#39;t like rides anyway!

It would take a lot more than a free ticket to get me through the Disney gates in France! LOL

Just my 2 cents. But you did ask...

Rob

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I am not a Disney fan either, and I am also not a kid. But, I have had to take my kids there, once each, for one day each..

I normally say

%26#39;NO do not go to Disney%26quot;,, its alot of money and time wasted ,, BUT a free ticket, well I would go.. the train ticket is so cheap. Its a day of entertainment ( of a sort) for only the cost of the train ticket( and I am not sure, but its less then 8 or 9 euros return) .

Now, if you are only going to Paris for a few days, then free or not, please do not waste your time, but, if you are in Paris for at least 6 or 7 days,, why not. Free is a good price, LOL

PS You can always decide once you get to Paris right? Do not go if weather is bad, and do not go if you have been to Disney in States.

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I was in Disney last May and haven%26#39;t stopped missing it for a moment… It was a great atmosphere and a different experience. As a matter of fact the wallpaper of my computer is one of the photos I took there…

However, I agree with Joan that the number of days you%26#39;re going to be in Paris should be a major factor when making this decision.

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Removed on: 3:21 pm, October 23, 2009

2 Days in Paris

I might be going to London in May but decided to stop over in Paris for 2 days before heading to London. Any suggestions on must see%26#39;s in such a short time. Also i%26#39;d appreciate any advice on train from Paris to London. I%26#39;ve been looking at eurostar. I ought to be staying in the Latin Quarter, in Paris 75005.

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Hi Kim

There is a lot to see in Paris and two days might not b enough so u need to select really good what u want to see.

If you are into art u need to check the Louvre museum. Although is very very big and 8 hours walking fast inside the museum wont be enough to see it all, so I recommend u to check the website of the museum and select what u really want to see and plan your route.

U need to see the Eiffel tower I will recommend u to go at night to see the light show, it happens every hour and it is really amazing, do not go on top of the Eiffel tower there is a huge line and u will b wasting half a day.

U have to go to Notre Dame, check the church inside but also go on the top, there will b a big line to climb up but it is worth it, u will see many interesting things and u have also the best view of the city.

Around Saint Michel (Latin Quarter) there are a lot of nice restaurants and coffee shops, so make u sure u stop by some of them on your way back to the hotel.

Go and see the arch of triumph and take a walk in champs elyseé it is a must seen, and also u can find many nice stores there.

Don’t take the eurostar train it is so expensive, instead try to find a flight in any low cost company, such as ryanair o easyjet, it will b way cheaper. Just remember to add the cost of transportation from the city to the airports to get the real price.

If u need any other information do not hesitate to ask

OHLuis

(All-Paris)

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Eurostar is the only train from Paris to London, and definitly recommended - easy, fast and generally cheap. Gets you from the centre of Paris to the centre of London with a minimum of fuss or bother.

What sort of things do you like to do? There are millions of things to do in Paris, but it depends on what you like! My recommendations for a flying visit would be a boat trip on the Seine, going up to see the gargoyles at Notre Dame, heading up for a wander round Montmatre and sitting on the steps below Sacre Couer and admiring the view, eating well, drinking well, people watching and, if it floats your boat, going up the Eiffel Tower. But other will say a completely different lots of things you *must* do!

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Thanks for the feedback, the price on both the euro rail and eurostar are 81US to London, not too bad and 2/1/2 hrs.

I might bypass the museums thou my hotel is walking distance from Notr Dame and the Lourve so will see those. The Eiffel Tour is a must, probably at night given the short trip. The boat tour might allow for me to see alot in a short time so all great ideas.

Thanks

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If you have any interest in medieval or Roman history, go see the Cluny Museum http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/ang/index.html

It is not overly large, is close to where you are staying, and has the wonderful Lady and the Unicorn tapestries.

National Museum of the Middle Ages - The Baths and Hôtel de Cluny

6, place Paul Painlevé

75005 Paris

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You%26#39;re quite welcome, I hope you have a great trip to Paris. Just be warned - it is addictive!!!

I prefer la Tour at night, actually, seeing all the lights of the city is brilliant. The Vedette du Pont Neuf do a very good boat tour, with a guide speaking in both French and English:

http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/

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Removed on: 3:20 pm, October 23, 2009

Day Trip from Paris for Picnic (Access by Public Transport)

Any suggestions on towns or villages (save for the obvious - Versailles, Giverny, Chartres) that are an hour or so away from Paris by public transportation? We are thinking of planning a picnic outside the city, so something scenic would be preferable as well.

TIA!

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This is a full day cruise, but it would be a lovely day out on the Marne, one of our favorite rivers, passing by scenery that most people never get to see. You can bring along a picnic or eat at one of the guinguettes.

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Thanks, slowpokesf. I will definitely look into that.

Would it be possible to find a small village/town along the river instead of cruising along the river?

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Invest in Annabel Simms%26#39; An Hour from Paris. Great read adn you will likely find just the right spot for you!

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I see that I forgot to add the link to my post above

www.canauxrama.com/produits/e_fiche7.htm

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khutson, thank you for the book recommendation!

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I Love Anabelle%26#39;s book and she has just come out with an update! But for a one day trip on a short visit, you don%26#39;t really need to make the investment.

I recommend Sceaux. It is easily accessible by the RER B. You can load up for your picnic in the village, which has good delis, an EXCELLENT bakery (L%26#39;Etoile du Berger, in front of the church) and is the home store for one of Paris%26#39; best chocolatiers.

If you happen to be there on a Wed. or Sat, it is market day. Even better!

Once you nave your picnic, you can enjoy it on the grounds of the chateau. It is beautiful and completely relaxed... you can sit on the lawns, or even run on them. And the trees are marvelously trimmed, in a completely French way.

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phread, that is exactly the kind of personal recommendation I was looking for.

I have ordered AN HOUR FROM PARIS!

Many thanks, all.

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Removed on: 4:22 pm, October 23, 2009

Thai restaurant review

Metromole, Only-Lyon, this is for you and any other locals who may be looking for food with a bit of heat. My apologies if you already have the address...

Last night I dragged my friend to Erawan, a Thai restaurant at 76 rue de la Federation in the 15th near the ET. I went because THREE local expats had mentioned the place to me in the last two weeks. And I only know four local ex-pats, so it seemed to be kismet.

The papaya salad was actually papaya (usually 80% carrots in Paris) and it was laced with bit of FRESH bird chili bits. None of the ersatz dried stuff.

The green vegetarian curry had a nice heat and the minced chicken was simply bursting with flavour. The morning glory shoots were steamed.

The place is large and clean with a friendly wait staff. Dinner for two came to 40E.

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Sounds like my sort of place! Did it have a large/varied menu?

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Thanks phread. You%26#39;ve never steered me wrong.

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Sounds delish ! Now, if you can just transplant the place to Provence !!

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We used to go in often when we lived near there, it was always great food, never disappointing. It may have gone up a bit in price now but they used to have an excellent lunch menu for 10 euro, more than well worth the price.

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Removed on: 5:18 pm, October 23, 2009

Help! Booked wrong tickets, what to do?

Hi everybody,

I desperately need help. Due to my carelessness, i got my holiday plans in France mixed up and hence i booked a pair of one-way train tickets on TGV Prem (For youths) (Non-exchangeable, non-refundable) for the wrong dates. The train departs from Nice and arrives in Toulouse, for 8May. I paid 92Euros for the tickets already and i dont want the money to go down the drain.

Can someone please advise me? Is there anyway which i can get an exception or somewhere which i can sell my tickets and people will actually buy them?

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You may be able to sell them here:

trocdesprems.com/recherche-billet-train.html

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Thanks so much for the link!

What are the chances of the ticket being sold?

And is there anymore of such links available?

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You%26#39;re welcome. No idea on your likelihood of success though. But I do know one thing for sure... if you don%26#39;t at least try that 92 E is gone for good! ;^(

Try http://google.fr and use %26#39;vente des prems%26#39; as your search term... it will turn up a bunch of potential sites...

Bonne chance!

Rob

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Removed on: 4:21 pm, October 23, 2009

5 and a half days in Paris - is this itinerary reasonable?

We arrive on Sunday May 16th around 10 am and here is what I%26#39;ve come up with so far:

Sunday:

Notre Dame

Musee Cluny

Saint-Chapelle and Conciergie

Eiffel Tower

Monday:

Louvre

Orangerie

walk Champs-Elysees starting with Place De La Concorde and ending at Arc De Triomphe

Tuesday:

Rodin Museum

Napoleon%26#39;s Tomb/Army Museum

sewer tour

Sacre Couer/Montmarte

Wednesday:

Versailles

Seine river cruise (evening)

Thursday:

Musee D%26#39;Orsay

Musee Carnavalet

Pompidou Center

Friday:

Rue Mouffetard (street market)

Catacombs

Pere Lachaise Cemetery

Saturday:

depart for Normandy

Does this seem like a reasonable plan? Thanks!

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I actually think this is a great schedule. I just have two comments:

My favorite building in Paris is the Opera Garnier. I encourage you to take an English guided tour or at least do a self-tour of the building. It is nothing short of spectacular. It is where the Phantom of the Opera was filmed. Be sure to notice the beautiful ceiling painted by Marc Chagall.

The other thing is that friday is a little ghoolish--Catacombs AND Pere Lachaise Cemetery in one day. I enjoyed them both so I think it is great to do them both--but I would split them up and put them on two different days.

Have a great trip.

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All looks very reasonable and nicely done!

You may have to plan around services visiting Notre Dame and Ste-Chapelle on a Sunday...In fact, you might want to switch Sunday and Monday.

You%26#39;ll probably want to shower and change after your sewer tour and before heading to Sacre Coeur/Montmartre.

When you go to Pere LaChaise, stay on the metro or bus until Gambetta, and start at the northern entrance. On your way, you can pick up a very detailed map at almost any florist shop for about €2. (The maps online and in all the tour guides leave out a lot of roads/lanes, making it difficult to find things and easy to get lost.) This way, you%26#39;ll be exploring downhill. If you enter from the south, it%26#39;s uphill all the way, and the place is enormous!

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I agree with djkbooks: You absolutely have to have a map of Pere LaChaise cemetery. It also is much more enjoyable, as was said, to start from the top of the cemetery and walk down. It is very hilly--down is much better. When you get off the Metro at Gambetta, you are about one block from the cemetery. Just before you get to the cemetery gate there is a flower shop. I think you can get a map there. It isn%26#39;t easy to find your way around the cemetery with a map, let alone without one. You won%26#39;t get lost as in SCARY but it is hard to find particular grave stones, e.g., Jim Morrison, Sarah Burnhardt, Marcel Marceau, Chopin, etc.

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There are lots of florist shops on both sides of the street between Gambetta and Pere LaChaise entrance, and most sell the maps.

Oscar Wilde, for example, is near the %26quot;top%26quot; and Jim Morrison is near the %26quot;bottom%26quot;. As we were exploring downhill, we passed a couple and the lady exclaimed, %26quot;There is just NO WAY I%26#39;m going to make it to Oscar!%26quot; And, %26quot;I wish we had saved Jim Morrison for last!%26quot;

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hey all

im just curious since ill be vaisitng paris in about a month

whats the sewer tour?

thanks

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Quite literally a tour of the sewers of paris, well the walkable ones

viamagazine.com/top_stories/…paris00.asp

and you won%26#39;t need to work around Sundy mass at Ste Chapelle, it is no longer a consecrated church.

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Thanks everyone for your comments! It was time consuming to figure out so I%26#39;m glad to hear that it seems workable.

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Removed on: 5:17 pm, October 23, 2009

Where best for high tea in Paris?

Hi. We will be coming to Paris for 5 days in late June and I%26#39;m looking to book %26#39;high tea%26#39; akin to the %26#39;Tea at the Ritz%26#39; or %26#39;Tea at the Savoy%26#39; you might typically find in London, ie, tea and coffee, sandwiches and cakes in pleasant surroundings, perhaps with someone playing the piano gently in the background. It%26#39;s not clear from the Ritz in Paris%26#39; website quite what their %26#39;Tea at the Ritz%26#39; entails, and it looks like it would be very expensive (compared to the £37 pp being charged by the Ritz in London). Does anyone have any alternative suggestions which would definitely offer what I%26#39;m looking for, and where I could look at a website to check it out for myself please? Thanks very much

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I thought %26quot;high tea%26quot; was not the fancy type of tea that one gets at the Ritz but rather a simple meal that families eat at home?

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Afternoon Tea is what I know a the fancy one. In either case. That is not a French tradition, we%26#39;re more into wine bars by that time of the day.

But we do love our pastries. For a wonderful French treat in beautiful surroundings, I recommend Laduree on the Champs Elysees.

The local %26quot;ladies who lunch%26quot; have traditionally headed to Angelina%26#39;s, but that may be so over run with tourists that it is no longer the same. Regardless, they have the richest hot chocolate on planet earth.

And I am sure that Paris%26#39; premier tea house offers something. They actually provide the tea for Claridge%26#39;s in London. Mariages Freres, in the 4th. The room is very relaxing.

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Here is a thread from September that has many recommendations:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k22528…

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Thank you for your contributions.

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Removed on: 3:21 pm, October 23, 2009

Motorhome parking in disney Paris?

I have stayed in the motorhome park at Disney , many years ago but would like to stay there this year in Late June. Is the facility still available and if so how much , and who to contact. I am not sure but I think that you pay for the overnight camp fees as you enter the site . If I remember it was only a concrete pound , but had wc facities. Is that correct? I have stayed at another site about 10-15 minutes away called Jablines, and would thoroughly recomend it, but it is more convenient to stay on site for the night. Thanks.

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Removed on: 5:19 pm, October 23, 2009

Villages in Languedoc

We are planning a self catering holdiday and have narrowed the choice down to 3 villas - Village of Mirepeissett, Sainte Valiere or Prades. the first two are near Narbonne and the third closer to Carcassone. Does anyone have any views? We don%26#39;t want to be too isolated - like to walk into a village - visit the local bakery etc.

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If you are referring to Prades near Perpignan, it is not closer to Carcassonne than the other two, rather the opposite.

Prades is a lively little town and there are lots of things to see in the area (Abbaye of Saint Martin du Canigou, Abbaye of Saint Michel de Cuxa, the coast 40 km away, the Pyrenees (and the Yellow Train) etc.

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Removed on: 7:56 pm, April 01, 2009


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Prades is very nice. There are many other nice villages in between Carcassonne and Perpignan such as Tautavel and Tuchan which have outdoor pools,bakeries and restaurants. Villefranch du confluent is out toawards the Pyraneed and has a lovely also with shops and cafes within its walls.

Have a look at holidaylettings.com or ryanair.com - they have gite and villas in this area.

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we highly recomend the little village of canaules

www.canaules.com

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Removed on: 12:29 am, October 05, 2009

Rough Draft of Itinerary---would love feedback!

I am planning our first trip to Paris and would love any and all feedback on our itinerary. I%26#39;ve been pouring over this website as well as travel books and this is what I%26#39;ve come up with so far:

Saturday, May 2

o Arrive CDG at 11:30am

o Shuttle to hotel in 9th

o Attempt Fat Tire Bike Tour at 3:00 (depending on how we feel)

o Relax in Trocadero

Sunday, May 3

o Notre Dame

o Ile. St. Louis

o Latin Quarter

o Luxembourg Gardens

o Sainte Chapelle

Monday, May 4th

o Louvre

o Musee Orangerie

o Tuileries Garden

o Walk Champs Elysees

o Arc de Triomphe

Tuesday, May 5th

o Musee Orsay

o Musee Rodin

o Sacre Couer

o Walk around Montmarte

Wednesday, May 6th

o Tour Eiffel

o Walk Rue Cler

o Rest of day left open to catch up on anything we missed

o Overnight train to Rome (6:50pm)

I hope that I%26#39;m not being overly ambitious! We are in our early 30%26#39;s and in good shape, but don%26#39;t want to overdo it on vacation either. I%26#39;m still working out places to eat, but I%26#39;m crossing my fingers that the weather will be decent and we can enjoy several picnics. Thanks in advance for helping this worried planner!

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Actually I think it looks very nice and quite do-able if you like staying active. You have grouped things well geographically and have cleverly avoided closed days in museums. Your Saturday relax in Trocadero will put you just across the river from the Eiffel Tower so you should see it light up in the evening.

If you can fit it in, some time around the foodie area near the Madelaine, for a visit to Fauchon and Hediard will give you some wonderful take away food for a picnic or evening meal as well as just seeing what beautiful food, from roasts barded with special fats to artichokes stuffed with salmon mousse to berry flans. Just wonderful.

The Madelaine itself is worth a visit, very Greek Temple with austere marble statues inside, then one little plaster statue of Mary with all the devotional candles lit in front of it.That seems to be where the people pray, despite the grandiose art work around.

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I think you planned it well, the itinerary doesn%26#39;t seem overly ambitious.

Both St-Chapelle and Notre-Dame are on Ile de la Cité so it is convenient to see one after the other and then go on to tour Ile St-Louis.

Very close to the Lux Garden is the Panthéon, you might want to go by and see it (even if just from the outside).

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Thank you SO much for the food recommendations and for the suggestion of the Pantheon...how did that get left off my list?! :) I can%26#39;t believe I will be there in less than a month (If my nerves don%26#39;t get the best of me first!!). Thanks again!

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Also, will the areas of Ile. St. Louis and the Latin Quarter have restaurants/shops open on a Sunday? Thanks!

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I think your schedule looks great. I would add the Opera Garnier. You can do an English guided tour or a self-tour. I think it is the most beautiful building in Paris and an absolute MUST SEE. Perhaps you could see it on Wednesday during your %26quot;catch up%26quot; time. Not far from there is the Musee Jacquemart-Andre. It is a small mansion that was ownered by husband/wife art collectors. It is beautiful and included in the price is a headset to get everything explained as you walk. In addition, on the premises is a beautiful belle epoque restaurant where you could have lunch or tea/dessert.

The first priority, however, in my mind, is the Opera Garnier.

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Yes, certainly not as many as during the rest of the week, but you%26#39;ll find plenty of places open on Sunday. Not too sure why you feel the need to see r. Cler specifically...but...I guess I%26#39;d be interested in your opinion after you see it. I don%26#39;t get the allure of it myself.

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I love the idea of the Opera Garnier...maybe switch it out with the rue Cler walk? Honestly, I picked the walk b/c it was listed in a travel book, but if it%26#39;s not much to look at, I%26#39;d be just as happy to skip it. I truly appreciate everyone%26#39;s feedback and personal insights!

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Excellent idea!!! lol...

For sure, I%26#39;d choose a tour through Opera Garnier over a walk down r. Cler.

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It all sounds great!

Can I just copy your itinerary for June? As mentioned before we are following right on your heels. We get there the 8th of June and leave for Switzerland the 15th, then to Rome on the 17th.

Where are you staying in Paris? Did you get an Apt? If so which one and with whom?

My son (20) doesn%26#39;t want me to plan anything!! He just wants to go and enjoy Paris spur of the moment like. LOL I%26#39;m to old for that and just have to have things in order.

Can I message you directly or give you my cell # and we can talk?

Thanks,

Dawna

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Hey Dawna,

My itinerary is compiled from many other posts on this website, so help yourself to it! :)

We are staying at the Pax Opera in the 9th district...having never traveled overseas, we went with European Destinations to reserve things for us. BUT.....after booking, I found this website and now am wondering if I should have booked an apt instead...never crossed my mind!

I like to have some type of schedule, but I%26#39;m an %26quot;over-planner%26quot; sometimes, so I have to remind myself to enjoy life as it comes....what I don%26#39;t accomplish this trip just means that I have to schedule another one! :) Feel free to email me directly (or send your number)....enjoy your vacation!

how is paris during easter

I am planning a trip to Paris and may be there over Easter time. How is the city affected by the holiday, i.e. is transport limited , are musuems and restaurants open or shut?

Is this low or high season and would that affect the hotel prices? Any info would be appreciated.

Thank you.

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I will be there over Easter as well. So far I know that museums are open and that Monday after Easter is a holiday as well.

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Would the museums be open on Monday? Thanks.

How long are you going for, I%26#39;m really interested in how the weather is this time of year as well.

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I was in Paris last year during Easter and the museums are open. I visited the Louvre and the Tour Eiffel on Easter Monday, which is the official holiday in France.

I hope this helps.

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About the weather... Easter was a couple of weeks earlier last year and the weather varied from cool to cold with some snow and freezing rain. I certainly needed a coat/gloves/scarf/umbrella.

Rob

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Dear Henry and Lily

Easter and tourists Paris are synonymous - or used to be, especially for Americans, but there are a lot fewer of them about and businesses are definitely feeling the pinch. This is probably the time to go - even the queues for the Eiffel Tower are much shorter than previous years. That said, the prices would still be mid-to-high season. The metro works more or less as normal as does public transport, but hailing a taxi on the street is ever hard in the city, especially at night, so best to ring for one in advance. Most of the museums are open on Good Friday and Easter Saturday and the Louvre will be open Sunday and Monday as well, but the Quai d%26#39;Orsay museum will be shut Monday. An awful lot of the restaurants shut on Sunday anyway and many will be shut on Monday as well, but you should find plenty open in the Latin Quarter (pretty naff tourist traps) or along the Boulevard Saint Germain and a side street off it called rue Saint Benôit. A good fallback is the Ile Saint Louis - the next island along from Notre Dame - plenty of very nice French restaurants will be open there....

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Thanks for the detailed reply, I%26#39;m just happy to be there and thanks to a current trip report called %26#39;Back from Paris%26#39;, I%26#39;m doubly inspired.

Just a bit worried about the %26#39;size%26#39; of the city and getting around, it has been likened to NY and we don%26#39;t have cities that big here in Oz.....bit intimidating. Hope we don%26#39;t get lost!!!!!

cheers.

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I saw on the Galeries Lafayette they would be open from 10:30 to 19:30 this Easter Sunday. Definitely will be heading there for a quick peak!

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70F yesterday, 55F today. Intermittent showers predicted these days, but didn%26#39;t show up today. You can watch weather.com for the 10-day forecast.

%26quot;I love Paris in the....%26quot;

Well, it%26#39;s alllmost here.

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i...

mean...

%26lt;=== THAT!

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Removed on: 6:20 am, October 23, 2009