Solo Female Travel to Nice

I am planning to do some travel in Europe by myself next month, and was wondering if there is anything I need to know about Nice (safety wise) before I go.

I am a 24 year old married female, and will be traveling, likely, 100% solo.

Are there any areas to avoid in Nice, or anything that you would really recommend for a solo traveler to see or do? I like socializing, but don%26#39;t like it when men are too forward (as I am married and not interested in romance, at all, obviously). Just friendly conversation, especially at restaurants and bars would be super helpful. I am straight, but don%26#39;t care if a place is focused to gay/straight whatever crowds or clientele, so long as they are friendly.

I like meeting lots of different kinds of people, but unfortunately barely speak any Italian and Spanish, and NO French thus far. Can you suggest a few helpful phrases?

I thought I heard something about a female-only beach from a friend. Any idea where this is located or if it actually exists?

As this will be just a small part of 12 weeks of (getting expensive) travel in Europe, I%26#39;d like suggestions for affordable, safe, and good accommodations in Nice. Looking for 4 nights from 24 June 2009. I won%26#39;t be splitting the cost with anyone else on this leg, so I am hoping to spend less than $75 per night if possible. I am willing to visit hostels with female dorms, but can%26#39;t seem to find any available for those days :( B%26amp;Bs, budget hotels, and apartments also welcome!

Thank you for your help!

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Your questions suggest a degree of anxiety about this trip, but relax, Nice is a safe and female-friendly place, and you do not have any reason for concern. There is a large proportion of English-speakers among its many visitors and more than a few Americans. (I know as I can usually hear them, even from a distance!)

If you eat out in the popular Zone Pietone I%26#39;ve often ended up in conversation with fellow diners. Its a friendly atmosphere. There are %26quot;pubs%26quot; in the Cours Saleya and Rue de la Prefecture which are popular with the younger crowd, a lot of %26quot;girly-weekend%26quot; groups and again a lot of English spoken. (As for pushy men, the expression %26quot;go away%26quot; is generally well understood)

Whilst polite greeting locals in French (Bonjour, Merci etc) goes a long way, don%26#39;t raise their expectations - if they think you speak reasonable French you will immediately get a stream of unintelligable fast French back. In these circumstances nod vigourously with a %26quot;d%26#39;accord, a%26#39;accord%26quot; - I agree - it should get you out of trouble.

The only single sex beach I have come across is for naked men, at Golfe Juan, so otherwise I can%26#39;t help other than to say it is not necessary here - everything beachwise is friendly relaxed and a mix of couples, singles, families, kids, and babies.You won%26#39;t be bothered.

$75 a night will easily get you a room of your own in a two star hotel - pretty basic, but its just a room, and not the Hilton. There are lots to choose from, but we%26#39;ve used the Crillon in Pastorelli - very central, safe, and basic but low cost. Peronally I would avoid hotels around the immediate area of the railway station, as they are a little sleazy, like most cities. A good central hostel is

Les Camélias 3, rue Spitalieri 06000 email: nice-camelias@fuaj.org

Happy travels - should be warming up nicely!

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There isan%26#39;t anywhere specifically to avoid- Nice s a very safe city for women [or men] just take the usual precautions you would take anywhere, don%26#39;t get visibly drunk, don%26#39;t flash money around or use cash machines late at night , walk on the main streets rather than taking short cuts.

The tram runs till about 2am and is very safe , also the tram route is a good route to follow if walking home as its really well lit.

As far as being hassled is concerned,well France is not like parts of Italy where men will shout and stare and grope.

French men might speak or ask you for a coffee but a polite %26#39;non merci%26#39; suffices.

Saying %26#39;I%26#39;m married %26#39; generally gets an %26#39;i don%26#39;t mind %26#39; reply from the guy btw.

The station area is improving all the time - its quite safe but because it was a run down area [though the buildings are getting refurbished now] and there are a couple of sex shops foreigners often found it a bit offputting

My parents [late 60s early 70s and frankly quite prim and proper and not at all street-wise ] always stay near the train station when the visit us and never have any problems walking around at night

I%26#39;ve lost track of how many times they have visited Nice but its a lot.

I walk home alone regularly and never see any trouble or have any hassle - though i did once get asked to go salsa dancing, I just took it as a compliment .

I don%26#39;t worry about my teenage daughter coming home on her own -0except for the usual mum worries if you see what i mean.

I%26#39;ve never heard of an all female beach in the area- but them I%26#39;ve never looked for one.

A lot of women go topless, the only people who would openly stare are tourists . Topless sunbathing isn%26#39;t compulsory either.

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I was there last weekend with some friends, but got seperated after leaving a bar and was set upon by four guys. Luckily I managed to %26quot;fend%26quot; them off and got back to a busier street.

It can happen anywhere, so just make certain you know who%26#39;s around you especially in the windy back streets of the old town.

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Hi! I%26#39;m also travelling on my own for month so need to keep costs down. Thanks very much to above posts for helpful advice - except I actually hope people DO ask me out for coffee ha ha ha. My last 2 trips I didnt meet anyone except some married couples and the 2 ferry boys on the way over to Capri!! I gotta try harder! LOL

Anyway, I booked Hotel Rex in Nice at EUR50 a night. It has some good reviews on this site and old exteriors dont worry me as long as room is clean and tidy.

www.hotel-rex.com. Cant get better placed than Rue Massena for that price!

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Fingers crossed, Yasmine- hope you get loads of the coffee invitations.

As an addendum to the stuff about the station area, a new Monop%26#39; - a mini monoprix shop is going to open across from the station - i saw a lot of the shopfitting had been done when i passed yesterday so it can only be a few weeks away at most

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Good to know Yasmine I won%26#39;t be the only single travelling to Nice.For me,a 3 week stay - albeit a single male 50+!

Though my 2 daughters will be each with me over 2 out of the 3 weeks I%26#39;m sure they will want their own time also,it had crossed my mind about how to fill that time too.Definitely coffee,LOL

As Selkie says,fingers crossed!

Have a great holiday.

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rykar - fingers crossed for you too =]

Nice - Cannes- St Tropez - which order?

hi everyone!! We%26#39;re planning to fly into Nice for a day or 2, then go to either Cannes or St. Tropez for a day or 2, then the other (Cannes or St Tropez) for a day or 2 and then go back to Nice to fly back.

I%26#39;ve looked into buses, trains, and ferries and I don%26#39;t know what the best way would be to see all 3 and the best order (we don%26#39;t want to rent a car). I thought we could do the ferry to St Tropez, then ferry to Cannes then bus to Nice??

Also, We will be going the first weekend of september - Will all the beach clubs, restaurants and nightlife still be open?

Thanks for all of your help!!!

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The day ferries from Nice or Cannes to St Tropez only offer day return fares.If you are planning to stay overnight in St Tropez it might be better to take the train to St Raphael and a ferry to St Tropez from there- St Raphael boats offer single fares.

On the way back from St Tropez, take a ferry to St Raphael and then a train to Cannes.

Everything will still be open at the beginning of September. It%26#39;s a nice time to go because the big crowds will have left but there%26#39;s still plenty going on.

Would suggest the train from Cannes to Nice as the bus is very slow and the journey more scenic by rail.

Enjoy!

Artwork as carry on ?

We fly out of cdg Paris on June 2nd to Chicago. I bought a large oil painting on canvas which is rolled up. I am unable to put it inside my check-in luggage because it is a little long and won%26#39;t fit. Since I have to take it as a carry on, do you think anyone at the airport might object maybe because it is oil on canvas or due to its size? Does anyone have any experience or knowledge. Thanks for your help!

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As long as it%26#39;s in the 30-36 inch range (I assume it%26#39;s in a tube?) I wouldn%26#39;t think you would have a problem - certainly, not because it%26#39;s a painting, or in oil/acrylic. I have carried things like that several times, although not quite that size. Alternatively, the gallery (if you bought through a gallery) might be willing to arrange to ship it.

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Thanks for replying! Actually it is 36 inches and yes it is rolled in tube. I just checked United%26#39;s website and it says ..

%26quot;should not be more than 9 x 14 x 22 in. (23 x 35 x 56 cm) (length x width x height) or 45 linear inches* (114 linear cm)%26quot;

I am hoping that we should be fine because it is well under 45%26quot;.

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We brought home tubes with posters inside on Air France and no one said a word

Paris arrondisements

We will be in Paris the first week of August. We are thinking of staying in the Latin Quarter in 5e or 6e.

What is this area like ? Is it better to stay by the Louvre?I would like to walk to some cafes for informal eating, be close to a metro etc. Any suggestions woiuld be a big help. We haven%26#39;t been to Paris in 10 years.

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I think you will enjoy the 5th or 6th (and le Louvre is within walking distance). There are a good number of cafés and the area is animated in the evenings. If you have not already chosen a hotel, the %26quot;Paris Hotels%26quot; link in the upper left portion of this page is a good place for ideas.

Everywhere in Paris is near a Métro station so public transportation is always convenient.

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Everyone will have their favourite arrondissement of Paris. For first timers, the 1st to the 7th are probably the best. Near to the Seine.

Everywhere is close to metros, it is the best transport system in the world! Cafes etc all over wherever you are..

1st. Big shops. Opera Garnier. Louvre. Palais Royal. Tourists, French people working. Expensive. Posh hotels Ritz.

2nd Love it! my favourite. More french people fewer tourists. Rue montorgieul market street. Handy to get anywhere in the city. Walk to river.

3rd and 4th. The Marias. also love it. Tourists. shops , narrow streets. lots of museums and houses to visit. Place des Vosges. ( wonderful square) near Bastille. Walk to Notre dame across the ile de st Louis in the centre of the Seine.

6th is full of tourists, cafes, bars,shops etc. Near Notre Dame, the river. Lots going on day and night. Musee d%26#39;orsay Louvre just across the river. Expensive tourist prices. Personally would prefer somewhere else.

5th also lots going on, lots of students and their parents, as near Sorbonne. Mouffetard market street. Panthenon. Luxemberg gardens. Still easy to get anywhere.

7th. Quieter but not dead, Overshadowed by Eiffel tower. Ecole militare. More upmarket. More Parisiens. Still tourists.plenty cafes and shops. Rue Cler. market street.

Denise

Love from England

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Have a look at the Henri IV Rive Gauche. It gets consistently good reviews here on TA and the location cannot be beat. It%26#39;s near the river, the metro, the RER as well as numerous good restaurants.

http://www.henri-paris-hotel.com/

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Thanks you all for so much input. We stayed very far out in Vanves 10 years ago and I want to be closer to everything. What are the best markets to shop in and when?

Thanks from Cin

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My favorite open air (farmer%26#39;s) market is on the Avenue Saxe, the Saxe-Bruteuil Market. It, and three others, are listed here...

www.parismarkets.net/Saxe-Breteuil.html

You must do some planning as these markets are only open on certain days of the week. The Saxe-Bruteuil is Sat and Thurs.

hth

Pjk

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Here is a list of all the markets in Paris.

www.v1.paris.fr/EN/Living/markets/markets.asp

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Another list of all food markets as well as other specialty markets:

paris.angloinfo.com/information/6/markets.asp

Paris cdg airport to disney - best option/price??

we arrive paris charles de gaulle on 17 july at 10 am and leave on the 19th at 10pm - what would be the best option (convenience and cost) to travel to and from eurodisney at this time of day for 4 people with some luggage?

many thanks

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Here are the options from CDG to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy (Disneyland)

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/

depart: AEROPORT CDG 2 TGV (95) arrive: MARNE LA VALLEE CHESSY (77)

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2. Bus (VEA)

http://www.vea.fr/uk/index.asp

Adults – 17€, children under 12 – 13€

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 Chatelet-Les Halles; change to Line A for Marne-La Vallee/Disneyland

This is probably the cheapest option (about 14€) but it can take up to 2 hours.

__________

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€+

__________

Most hotels have transportation from DLP/Chessy. There is a free %26quot;pink shuttle bus%26quot; that connects a large number of hotels in the area. This free shuttle can be very crowded and difficult to board at times, particularly with luggage and children.

7 Days in France

I have 7 days to spend in France and I am trying to decide if it would be better to spend the whole time in Paris with a few day trips or spend 3-4 days in Paris and then go to the south of France (Avignon/Nice) for 3 days? Is there enough in Paris to keep us occupied for a whole week?

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There is enough to keep you occupied an entire month in Paris.

I recommend either staying in Paris the entire time (taking a day trip or two) or spending 4 days there and 3 days somewhere such as the Loire Valley, Burgundy, Brittany, or perhaps Provence but to where you will need to travel after these 7 days is a very important factor in determining the best choice.

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There%26#39;s probably enough to keep you occupied for a whole year! I personally think you should spend the week in Paris, and save the south of France for another trip. But that%26#39;s just me.

What are you interested in? You name it, they%26#39;ve got it in Paris.

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Sarastro we posted at the same time :-)

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just came back from paris...spent a total of five days....my guess...it could take you over a month to cover the whole of paris and that%26#39;s being very very conserative......but...as far as the the ambiance, the environment and the attitude of Paris...you would have to basically move there to cover it all off :-)...guess you get the drift....spend the whole 7 in paris....you%26#39;d regret leaving for anywhere else...and 7 days is not an suitable amount of time cause you%26#39;ll feel like you been traveling all along.

Enjoy!!

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%26lt;%26lt;Sarastro we posted at the same time :-)%26gt;%26gt;

Just we did, but I think you are right about the one year to see all of Paris.

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Stay in Paris the whole time. It takes a couple of days to get settled in and over your jet-lag. Having to pack up again and travel after just a few days is a drag. Spending more time in Paris will allow you to discover this wonderful city at a more leisurely pace instead of running around trying to see the major sites quickly. I was just there for 6 days with my kids. I wish it had been 6 weeks!

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Thank you so much for your help. My husband and I will be there to celebrate our 11 year anniversary. I think we are going to stay in Paris the whole week based on everyone%26#39;s advice. I want to take a day trip to Bruges and maybe some other nearby places but still be able to roam around Paris without being too rushed. Thanks again!

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There certainly are those who venture to Bruges for the day but there are others who consider the distance too great to travel to and from in a single day.

Here is a list of day trips from Paris which you may want to consider:

__________

Giverny

http://giverny.org/gardens/

Open daily except Mondays from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm from April 1st to October 31st

__________

Vaux-le-Vicomte

http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/

Open from March 15th to November 9th from 10.00 am to 06.00 pm, last admission at 5.30 pm

RER D to Melun

Shuttle (3.50€) or taxi (15€ to 19€) from Melun station

Entrance: from 14€

__________

Chantilly

http://www.chateaudechantilly.com/

__________

Fontainebleau

http://www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/

Take SNCF train from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon in the direction of Montargis Sens and disembark at Gare de Fontainebleau Avon

Fare 9.40€

En route time 1+02

http://www.transilien.com

From Gare de Fontainebleau-Avon, take Aérial bus line A to Château

Fare: 1.40€

Buses every 15 mintues.

Entrance fee: 8€

Students: 6€

Free entry the first Sunday of each month

Entrance plus one hour guided tour (in French only): 11€

__________

Provins

http://www.provins.net/

Low Season

Open from January 2nd to March 21st and from November 3rd to December 31th 2008:

Weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Weekends %26amp; public holidays from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

High Season

From March 22nd to November 2nd :

Daily from 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m..

General closure December 25th and January 1st

__________

Versailles

http://www.chateauversailles.fr/

RER C: direction Versailles-Rive-Gauche-château

Gare Montparnasse: SNCF train serving Versailles-Chantiers

Gare Saint-Lazare: SNCF train direction Versailles-rive-droite

__________

Chartres

sacred-destinations.com/france/chartres-cath…

http://www.mymaze.de/chartres_technisch_e.htm

http://www.chartres-tourisme.com/

__________

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We took a day trip to Bruges and Brussels. It%26#39;s really worth it. Save it for the end. After all the visitors traffic in Paris, Bruges will be so calm and serene and a good break. You%26#39;ll be thankful.

Oh and dont miss Versailles. It%26#39;s about a 45 minute train ride from Paris and the palace is marvellous. Its a master piece. Dont miss it at all!!! They have the musical fountain show sometime in the evening - check out the time before you go. You%26#39;ll need a whole day there. You could probably have a romantic dinner or go to the Eiffel tower after that.

My husband and I did in 5 days Paris, 1 day Versailles , 1 day Bruges and Brussels last year. We would have liked to spend more time in Paris and Belgium - but with the time we had, it was perfect. Bruges is much more beautiful than Brussels.

Have a fun trip!! I am so jealous :)

Happy anniversary!

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I really do want to go to Bruges so it is nice to hear from someone who thinks the trip is worth it. I will check out all of the other great ideas for days trips though. I just bought my tickets today. We leave on October 11th. Now I have to brush up on my high school French (which was 18 years ago). I wonder what I can remember.

Itinerary help... Paris/London/English Countryside/Amsterdam

Suggestions on Itinerary and best way to get from one to the other would be greatly appreciated. We have been to London. Would like to see Paris this time and possibly include Amsterdam or Brussels?Also want to see some of the countryside in England. Wondering if may be better to concentrate on Paris with day trips to countryside then do England/London and skip Amsterdam. Just thought we could include as not too long of a train ride. We have about 14 days. Thanks...

Robin

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I would have thought two weeks would be enough to see all of the above, or alternately you could have a longer holiday in one of two places, it just depends what you want to do.

Them ore I go to Paris the longer my visits get, so you could easily have a week to ten days there alone, but equally it can be visited for just three or four days and you can see quite a lot.

What part of England do you want to see? Obviously, we have quite a large amount of %26#39;countryside%26#39; - North Yorkshire, Devon, the Norfolk broads, Dorset and the Jurassic Coast, Cornwall,and the Peak District amongst lots of others and Scotland and Wales have a lot, too!

I went to Amsterdam last November and feel that I got a good feel for the city and saw a lot in the space of four days, but then again I know people that go again and again.

So, it all depends, and would need to factor in how far you planning to travel in the UK, as well.

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Hi there, from Paris it is very easy to get to Amsterdam or Brussels.

Amsterdam is cerainly worth a visit, but I would strongly recommend Brugges over Brussels for its exceptionally preserved middle-age atmosphere.

Both cities are just a few hours by train, but it would be too long for a day trip, so maybe you should plan a few nights nights in each.

Enjoy your trip !

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If you fly open jaw, it%26#39;s fine. Amsterdam to Paris is a 4 hour train ride that goes through Brussels.

Amsterdam - 2 days in Amsterdam and 1 or 2 day trips to other Dutch cities (The Hague, Rotterdam, Delft.....).

Belgium - check your bags at the station in Brussels, take an overnight bag and go to Bruges and Ghent. There is a lot more to see in those two small towns than Brussels or Antwerp. Take a late train into Paris (this is the high-speed train, so you won%26#39;t see much anyway, I believe it takes about 1-1/4 hours).

Now you have 8-9 days left. I would stay in Paris. Actually I would just spend the 14 days in Paris (smile), but taking 4-6 days to see the Low Countries, if you%26#39;ve never been, would be nice.

If you very much want to return to London (I don%26#39;t think the train ride is long), you could spend less time in Paris, or skip the Low Countries.

I think 5 days is an absolute minimum for Paris and I don%26#39;t think there is another city in Europe that has so much to offer the visitor.

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If you do want to see some of the countryside in the north of England, like the lake district or north Yorkshire, fly easyjet to Liverpool and hire a car.

Eurostar only goes to London in the south, a long way from the beautiful countryside of the north.

Whenever I%26#39;m in Paris people assume I come by Eurostar, they don%26#39;t realise that for me, living in the north of England, it%26#39;s quicker and cheaper to get to Paris than to get to London.

Denise

Love from England

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PS. Forgot to mention, if you want to go to Yorkshire you could fly to Leeds.

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Thanks to all who took the time to share your thoughts and info. I have a strong desire to visit the Peak district. Would also like to visit York. Not sure if we will have time to make it up to the Lake District. Someone mentioned Easy Jet to me as an alternative to the train as it may be cheaper and faster. Definetly want to include Paris and figured 4-5 days which would give us an opportunity for a day trip. I have a cousin who resides in Lyon. Don%26#39;t know how far it is from Paris? He may end up meeting us in Paris. We want to do Paris, London and English Countryside. Only if we have time...include Amsterdam or Brussels...if worth the trip this time around. Considered these as possible add ons... since seems so close. My concern is how to go from one to the other and best way to do it. Presently flying into Paris and flying out of London. Any suggestions??

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I would suggest you fly easyjet from Paris CDG to Liverpool £50 -£60 return if you get the right flights.

http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/index.asp

You can hire a car and visit the Peak district in Derbyshire, it is not far away from Liverpool. The Peak district would be difficult to visit by public transport. You will need an overnight stay.

You could then get the train from Manchester Picadilly to London Euston. 2hours 10 mins.

http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/default.aspx

Second class is cheap one way. The prices are only released twelve weeks beforehand. If you wait until around six weeks beforehand you can book first class for around £35. I always travel this way to London.

You could then catch the eurostar from London back to Paris or catch a cheap flight to Amsterdam or Brussels. Easyjet, Ryanair, Jet2 are all British budget airlines. Just google cheap flights from London to wherever.

Denise

Love from England

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Just another thought. I know that the USA is a very large country and to you Americans places in Europe seem close together compared to the US, but here it is considered a LONG way from Paris to London to Brussels to Amsterdam, It%26#39;s all relative. I would not dream of attempting to do all this in two weeks.

Better to spend a week in Paris and a week in England. Also don%26#39;t forget you will already be jetlagged!

Although the train ride from Manchester is only two hours ten minutes, it can take me another one and a half hours in traffic to get to Manchester Piccadilly in traffic or stood up on the train and I only live 12 miles north. We are a small island with a lot of people, crowded roads and not a very good train system.

Will my luggage fit?

I can get a VOLKSWAGEN GOLF at Reims (Europcar)for 10 days for $880.00. I will be returning it to Zurich Airport. That is inclusive of insurance, drop-off etc. The site says 5 adults, 4 hand bags (?) and 2 luggage. We are 2 adults, 2 children (12 and 9) with 4 pieces of carry-on luggage. Does anyone know if the 4 carry-on will fit in a Volswagen gulf?

Also, does anyone know of any promo or discount codes for Europcar?

THanks

Bill

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The luggage will be a tight fit.

Back in the 1980s we rented a high top campervan for a month in Europe.

Hard sided suitcases would not have fit anywhere so we used soft sided bags that could be scrunched...

I%26#39;d try that at least for your children%26#39;s bags...

Here%26#39;s a link to pictures of a Golf%26#39;s trunk:

http://tinyurl.com/lxs2bm

Can%26#39;t help with coupon codes but check with AutoEurope as they say they will meet any other price you may find.

Rob

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If your luggage is no larger than 22%26quot; (the normal carry-on maximum) you should be able to fit 4 in a Golf.

For pickup and drop off in different countries, there is usually a hefty premium but I do strongly recommend your contacting Autoeurope:

1-888-223-5555.

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Thanks for the picture...

With the split rear seat, I have no problems.

Fortunately my kids are small...

Bill

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Thanks.

I called Autoeurope - they offered $891.00 but will match the $880.00. So it%26#39;s a toss-up.

Will still keep looking for a discount. Even KAYAK, Expedia, Orbitz and others are all about the same price.

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The boot capacity of a Golf with the seats up is 395 litres. When you hire the car make sure it is diesel engined. Diesel fuel (gazoil) is much cheaper than petrol in France and you should easily do 11 miles per litre (sorry cannot convert that into mpg using US gallons).

Bon voyage.

First Time Camper - Where to go in Vendee with 2 toddlers?

Have booked ferry. Now need to book campsite pronto! Where is a good site to book a mobile home - 2 adults and 2 toddlers. Don%26#39;t want a location that%26#39;s too high rise or very touristy. Something a bit quieter with good pools and good restaurants nearby.

Thanks a million in advance.

cdg airport to neva hotel(2 min walk from charles de gaule)

Hi all. Im leaving on Saturday (from the Western Isles of Scotland) and arrive in CDG airport at 3pm. I am trying to figure out the bast way (easiest way) to get from airport to the hotel which is the Neva hotel. It is on Rue Brey which is a wee walk from the metro and rer station.

** My question is.... do i get the RER to chatelet-les halles then change to get to my destination OR...

do I....get a bus straight from the CDG airport to the Place charles de gaulle etoile?

I have checked this hundreds of times and I still dont know whats best.

I cant wait to go to Paris, first time for me and my mother. Thanks if you can help me.

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Unless your budget is very tight I would recommend taking the Air France bus to Etoile. It leaves you at the top of Ave Carnot and costs €13 one way and €22 if you buy a return ticket. Rue Brey is a short walk from Ave Carnot.

The cheapest options are to take either the Roissybus or the RER into central Paris and transfer as folows: RER line B to Chatelet Les Halles and RER line A to Charles de Gaulle Etoile, or, Roissybus to Opera and take underground passageway to Auber and RER line A to Etoile Charles de Gaulle. Both those cost about €8.60 each way.

Your choice. You won%26#39;t be jetlagged coming from Glasgow so if €5 means a lot take one of the less direct and cheaper options. Otherwise the comfort of the Air France coach would lure me every time.

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This was your original post and my pearls of wisdom in reply. I don%26#39;t know why it posted again a few minutes later.

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Thanks dalkeyraveller, Im going to go with your suggestion and take the bus, will be more convenient at the other side. Whey hey, im sooo looking forward to it now, was a wee bit stressed at the thought of ending up at the airport and THEN deciding how i was getting to the hotel. Cheers for that. Iona x

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Take bus. If you have a party of 3 or 4, take a large taxi for a similar price and a little added comfort.

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Thanks le photo.., Im going to tske the bus. Ix

Chantilly or Versailles??

Hi. I know it might be comparing apples to oranges, but if one has to choose, which would you recommend for a day trip? The reason my husband and I are considering Chantilly is because we both are horse lovers. If we choose that over Versailles will we regret not seeing Versailles? Will the chateau at Chantilly give us enough of the %26quot;wow%26quot; factor? Thanks, Diane

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I like Chantilly, Completely different from Versailles. Wow, maybe not but less crowds and more leisurly pace.

It is however more difficult to get there by public transportation. If you drive, stop at Senlis as well.

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Hi -

Go to the Versailles web site and check out the information on the Equestrian Centre. I wasn%26#39;t able to get the page to load when I first tried, and just haven%26#39;t tried again since. From what I was able to gather on the main pages, it%26#39;s similar to the Andalusian riding school in Spain and the Spanish School in Austria, training horses and riders in the skills of war and demonstrating them to music. Since you like horses, that might tip your decision in favour of Versailles.

I always recommend that folks trying to make this sort of either/or decision go back to their guide books and read them again and see which site piques their interest more. This is the sort of decision that is really important because it%26#39;s one that allows you to tailor your trip entirely to your own tastes, not to ours. What we consider the %26quot;wow%26quot; factor doesn%26#39;t matter in the end. It%26#39;s what jumps to the top of your list that counts.

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You will not be able to see all there is to see so cutting possible destinations is what we all must do.

If you are indeed horse lovers, Chantilly is a must for you. There is a combination ticket which gives access to both the chateau and the stables.

You%26#39;ll talk about visiting Chantilly for years.

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I would say Versailles because Chantilly is under renovation. I was there about 3 weeks ago and the gardens were under renovation. We didn%26#39;t try to go to the horse museum, but here%26#39;s a link to a post on another forum saying that the horse museum is closed until 2011. Note the post dated May 28 at 11:04am.

www.ourparisforum.com/index.cgi…

In need of assistance

I have been reading guidebooks and this valuable board trying to plan a trip to this are for the last days of August %26amp; first week of Sept. Flying into Orly..will probably fly to Monpellier and drive in a loop to fly back. ?as south as Colliour with Albi our most northern city. Looking for combo of reputed [eg Le Jardin des Sens] and quaint, laid back hotels %26amp; restaurants. We are foodies. Want to see Cathar castles [1 day], perhaps Sete. Can you help me get organized as I seem to be floundering. Thanks Paula

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In Sete, we have stayed twice in the Grand Hotel in a large corner room overlooking the canal. It is a good hotel, with secure private parking about 50 metres away. It is a good 3* hotel, nice indoor courtyard for breakfast, excellect modern cuisine restaurant, Quai 17.

www.legrandhotelsete.com/anglais/intro.htm

In the Cathar area, Mirepoix is very pleasant and old. Maison de Consuls is a very authentic hotel, on the covered arched square with good lodging.

maisondesconsuls.com/welcome_maison_des_cons…

In Collioure, I recommend Hotel Les Templiers for somewhere a little different. It is in the old town on the canal, with loads of original art by masters on display.

www.hotel-templiers.com/gb/sommaire.htm

While down that way, inland near the Spanish border is a lovely old walled town, Villefranche de Conflent, with nearly incredible limestone caves, La Grotte des Grandes Canalettes.

Another lovely old hotel within an old abbey, with fine dining is Abbaye Chateau de Camon, in Camon 09500, about 15km SE of Mirepoix.

http://www.chateaudecamon.com/

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Unfortunately, you are planning to be along the coastal areas of southern France at the same time as the annual national holiday month - August. It will be difficult to obtain reservations (hotel or restaurant) at this late date for many of the most popular places.

I can make several recommendations to help:

1. The network of Table - Auberges which are well know restaurants and corresponding hotels:

http://www.tables-auberges.com/

2. Purchase a copy of the Michelin Red Guide. This book lists a great number of the best places to eat and stay at all price levels throughout all of France. I consider it my most coveted resource for finding the best of what a region has to offer. The guide is sold at better bookstores throughout North America and on line.

3. The interior cities will be much less crowded. You will most likely want to include Carcassonne on your list of places to visit. If you do make it as far away as Albi, I suggest you include Corde-sur-ciel, at least pass by for lunch as this is one place that should be, but as of yet, has not been overrun by tourists.

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The last days of August will not be that bad as school starts on September 1st and many people will have left. But it will be difficult to find rooms in and around Perpignan during the first 2 weeks of September as the town holds the VISA International Photography Festival.

A few suggestions :

www.domaine-d-auriac.com near Carcassonne

www.chateau-de-floure.com also near Carcassonne

www.chateau-des-ducs.com , near Carcassonne

www.chateaulignan.fr near Beziers

www.couventherepian.com, a hotel in a former convent near Pezenas and Montpellier

www.terrasse-au-soleil.com near Ceret

www.verchant.com in Castelnau-le-Lez

www.lelodge.fr in Lattes near Montpellier

Also check gites at :

www.sejour-de-charme.fr

www.demeure-de-charme.fr

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Thanks to all for your generous replies and ideas. I am exploring all of them. The problem I am having springs from notknowing this region at all. First I need to get my route down adn then the reservations. We like to spend some nights in one location and do day trips from there. Would you comment on my current route idea [which seems too choppy to me].

Monpellier 2 nights

Sete 1

Colliourie [or Perpignan] 2

Mirepoix 2

Carcassonne 2

Toulouse 2

Are the Mirepoix and Carcassone rather redundant/un necessary?

Thanks Paula

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In my opinion, it is a lot of packing and unpacking! I would spend 4 nights in or around Montpellier and visit Sete on a day trip. The harbor is cute but there is not much else to see unless you want to drive around Etang de Thau and this can be easily done the same day.

From Montpellier I would spend 4 nights somewhere around Narbonne. From Narbonne you can visit Perpignan, Collioure, Carcassonne and the Cathar Castles (Peyrepertuse, Queribus) and then move on Toulouse or area to visit Foix, Mirepoix, etc...

Maybe you should look at a map and get an idea of the distances involved :

Montpellier to Perpignan is approx 150 km

Perpignan to Collioure : 30 km

Narbonne to Perpignan : 55 km

Narbonne to Carcassonne : 50 km

Narbonne to Toulouse : 140 km.

In other words, by basing yourself in the 3 places above, you can do a lot of day-trips without spending all your time driving.

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Hi Paula

You are probably the best judge of whether you are better off using 2 or 3 bases and day trips or 1 -2 nights in each place, even if they are only 30km apart.

I personally don%26#39;t have a problem with packing/moving/unpacking and I tend to get bored after a couple of nights in one place. I like to find nice restaurants in different towns and villages for long dinners, so I think your itinerary is fine, although I would stay in Collioure rather than Perpignan.

Guided private tour of the Eiffel Tower

I recently ran accross a web site where you could purchase a private guided tour of the Eiffel Tower. The tour lasted approximately 1 and 1/2 hours and I think cost around 14 euros. I think you also get to tour a bunker under Champs de Mars.

Unfortunately, I forgot to bookmark the site. Does anyone have information about taking a tour like this.

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Aside from visiting the bunker (?), there%26#39;s really not much that a tour of the Eiffel Tower could add to seeing it on your own. I wonder when a private tour might take place, given the hours that the tower is open to the public. But it%26#39;s an interesting idea. Let us know if you find out more about the possibility.

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I think you are referring to the Purple Beam Tour

tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/…

on the drop down on the left go to Professional Services-

you can reserve about one month out from what I understand

Best way (for me) from CDG to Paris?

We are arriving into CDG from Venice at 5pm and leave the next morning 9:25am to the U.S. It is the last night of our two week trip in Europe. This is the only night in Paris. My question is, what is my best bet from CDG to a hotel near the Arc de Triumph and also back to CDG from the hotel very early in the morning. My goal is to walk a little, see the Arc, maybe the Eiffel, have dinner and go home the next day. Now, I will have luggage, my wife is not as brave(specially in a foreign country) as me, and I don%26#39;t speak French. Your help and advice is appreciated!

Bayland

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Air France bus runs from the airport to Arc de Triomphe.

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A taxi may be the quickest route if you don%26#39;t want to brave the metro. You wouldn%26#39;t have any extra stops like you would with a shuttle service - If all goes well and you are not delayed in flight, you should be in Paris central by 6 or 630 at the latest I would think. You will not need to speak French to negotiate your way around. English is widely spoken - just be polite and offer a Bonjour Madame or Monsieur and you will be fine.

Your hotel concierge service can get a taxi for you the next morning. You will need to be at CDG 3 hours prior to departure for international flight. Makes for a very early morning if you have a 9:25 flight. Allow 45 minutes to get back to the airport.

While you are in Paris, if you have time, Notre Dame is beautiful at night.

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Interestingly, as I read your post, I remembered that Continental not only changed their 777s from Houston to Paris to 767s, they also moved back the departure time from 6 something to 3 something (I%26#39;m taking Continental from Houston to Paris next week for a 6 week stay in mostly Provence). I personally find it easier to rest on the eastbound portion of a trans-Atlantic flight if the flight departs very late in the day (night).

What all of this means is that with an earlier departure time from the US, one will also have an earlier return time from Paris. Thus, it is no longer possible to commute into CDG for a same day IAH departure, at 9h25 it%26#39;s just too early for the TGV connections from Dijon, Avignon, Tours, or Strasbourg. As I am booked for my July return to the US through Houston, I%26#39;ll now need to preposition myself near to CDG. Staying in Paris the night before means departing the city before 6h00, something not easily done from many points in Paris.

You might consider doing what I shall be doing, spending the last night in France at a hotel near the airport. One could stay in the city the night before, but you%26#39;ll have absolutely no margin for error commuting to the airport the next morning.

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Take Air France bus to Porte Maillot/Arc de Triomple or take Roissy bus to Opera/Palais Garnier. Now you have to find a hotel near one of those two places.

An other option would be to stay near airport at Sheraton for example, and go to Paris luggage free for a few hours and come back to sleep and be ready for your morning flight/

Metro and RER - Carnets Question - Help Needed

Will the Carnet of 10 tickets cover the RER and the Metro? I think so... but can someone confirm.

So, can I use a carnet ticket for the RER B from CDG to my hotel? For RER C to Versailles. And for a trip to Basilique St-Denis which is in zone 5 or something like that.

I am thinking I should buy a carnet at the airport when I arrive.

Thank you so much for your help.

Best regards,

Ellen

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The classic %26quot;carnet de dix%26quot; a group of 10 single ride tickets are typically sold allowing zone 1-2 passage on the RER, Métro, or bus. Cost: 11.40€. Zone 1-2 covers all of central Paris.

CDG is in Zone 5 - outside of the area covered by a zone 1-2 ticket. There are various options allowing you to save money on public transportation but it depends upon the days of the week you%26#39;ll be in Paris, how long your stay is, and where you want to travel.

A summary of ticket options is here:

www.transport-idf.com/frontal…

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On July 1st, 2007, the normal %26quot;Ticket t%26quot; (which was valid for zones 1-2 of the RER) was replaced by the %26quot;Ticket t+%26quot; - which is only valid in zone 1 (central Paris) of the RER.

By the way, this doesn%26#39;t make any difference for the metro - both the old and the current ticket t are good for the entire metro network.

And you can reach the Basilique Saint-Denis by metro (line 13) so you can use a regular ticket t+ (€1.60, or €1.14 if you buy a carnet).

It is possible to buy a carnet for CDG - a single ticket (%26quot;billet Île-de-France%26quot;) costs €8.40, a carnet € 67.20. Unless you%26#39;re traveling with 5 persons, this is probably not practical.

(Previously, it was possible to buy a carnet for travel in a certain number of zones, for example, zones 1-4, but since the introduction of the ticket t+, this is no longer an option, I think.

http://www.ratp.fr/

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A carnet is only for buses and metros INSIDE Paris.

To Airport or Versailles you need a special ticket.

Saint Denis however is on line 13 of the metro and considered in town. So is la Defense if you use the metro. By RER it is considered outside Paris. Strange !

Louvre on First Sunday of June...Morning or Night

I am planning on going to the Louvre on the first Sunday of June. This will be my first trip to France, and after reading some comment threads on here, I would like to know what is suggested for visiting the Louvre. Should I try to get there early in the morning or wait until later in the afternoon like around 4. Will there be less of a crowd around 4 in the afternoon to see the Mona Lisa? Any help is greatly appreciated.

I would also like to know what the attitude is there towards Americans. I read somewhere that it is not as bad as it used to be. Do most people speak English? Thanks again for the help.

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First Sunday of June is free so expect museum to be crowded.

I would go when it first opens.

Attitude re. Americans is an old subject that appears frequently on the board. Do a search.

I think the attitude depends on the Americans. Not all of them are likeable LOL.

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Yes, that is what I figured about both topics. Thank you for the info.

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From what I hear the french are like Americans, everyones different.

Some people dont like tourists here just as some french people dont like tourists there(Tho I find this odd considering if it was not for America,Britain and Canada they would be part of the Reich right now)

Most of the people I have talked to have been very nice, they especially like it if you are atleast attempting to speak french.

Please and thank you, hello and goodbye. Go a long way.

If you meet any rude french people just start speaking German :P should brighten their day.

As for the Louvre im tolddont go on the first days of opening and go during midday.

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Get to Louvre as early as you can. The Mona Lisa will always be crowded. So if you want to see it close and alone, then go early and go to the Mona Lisa first. Louvre is huge - so plan what you want to see before you go there. We had a list of things we wanted see.It is huge - be well planned.

I dont think the French attitude is all that bad. It depends on the person. Some people are rude and uncourteous. I asked the lady sitting at the helpdesk in front of louvre if she knew english(I asked her in French). And she replied rudely - %26#39;Yes we also know English%26#39;. I didn%26#39;t find that nice. But just dont care. Most people are nice. I wanted to speak more french..but I figured they also wanted to try speaking English. Many people could speak English,though not fluently.Dont worry too much.. just go have fun.

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Thank you all. I guess I really should have read up as much about the attitudes as I did with the rest of my trip. I looked through the other forums, and have full confidence that the rudeness is not something to worry about.

I checked on the museum and will see the basics, but also will check out the roman artifacts which are in the same complex as the Mona Lisa. I think those are the only major things I want to see, and of course the artifacts along the way. And most likely will get there bright and early a little before the museum opens. We have to do it on Sunday, since we are leaving on Wednesday and have Versailles on Tuesday, and not too much time to see other things. Saving money on the ticket was just a bonus.

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I understand from others on this forum that the free Sundays at the Louvre are extremely crowded and not worth the savings. I don%26#39;t have first hand experience of this however. It might be worth spending the money to go at a different time. It is open late on Wednesday and Friday evenings, and the admission is reduced to I believe 6 euros after 6:00 p.m., when it is apparently much less crowded.

With respect to attitude towards Americans, did you happen to see the %26quot;What Would You Do%26quot; episode on ABC news with two actors pretending to be obnoxious American tourists in Paris? It seemed the French weren%26#39;t at all bothered by them, but the other tourists were appalled. Here%26#39;s a link:

abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo/story…

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Sorry sarcasm28, I just read the end of your last post and realize now that you can%26#39;t go on Friday or Wed. evening. Please disregard!

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%26lt;%26lt;some french people dont like tourists there(Tho I find this odd considering if it was not for America,Britain and Canada they would be part of the Reich right now)%26gt;%26gt;

I think that this may be an example of the sort of attitude that the French might find difficult to accept from visitors to their country. Being expected to be grateful all the time may not come naturally to them.

As a Brit I have never found any problems with French people, and we were at war for centuries.

Sarcasm28: many people in the tourist industry and elsewhere speak English; but of course %26#39;most people%26#39; in France don%26#39;t speak English.

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%26lt;%26lt;Some people dont like tourists here just as some french people dont like tourists there(Tho I find this odd considering if it was not for America,Britain and Canada they would be part of the Reich right now)%26gt;%26gt;

If we want to go back in history, you could also say that if it weren%26#39;t for the French, America might still be a British Colony! They were allies of the revolutionaries, giving both financial and military assistance. The treaty that ended the war and recognized the soverignty of the United States was, I believe, signed in Paris!

I think most tourists try to be respectful and most natives try to be helpful wherever you are in the world. It%26#39;s the few bad eggs on either side of the equation who end up feeding misconceptions.

Happy travels!

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THANK YOU Harmony and Brittravller,, for your posts.

NCreptile.. ,, not well done at all.. go back in history a bit further.. how soon some of you forget...

Paris to Orly

My husband and I will be flying from Paris to Rome via Ryan Air which leaves out of Orly airport. We will likely have 1 carry on piece of luggage each. How easy would it be to navigate public transportation (we will be starting from a hotel near the Louvre)? Would it be better/easier to take a taxi? Thanks

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For 2, a taxi (about 35€) might not cost a lot more than the RER and of course will be a great deal easier. The RER B will require a connection at Antony.

Call Taxi G7 the day before your departure to arrange for pickup should you decide upon taxi.

http://www.taxisg7.com/

English speaking operator 01 41 27 66 99

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Orly is closer to Paris than CDG so a taxi is not so bad if at least 2 people share it.

You can also take metro to Invalides and catch Air France to Orly there.

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you can go to Paris RATP (rail/metro) website and enter addresses and it will guide you on trains or metros to take your location. The 2 of us bought a 3 day visite pass for 39 euro each which got us from Orly to our hotel at Champs Elysee and also to Versaille the next day and everywhere else for 3 days and nights. The Paris metro is pretty easy to navigate and if you do screw up and end up going the wrong way just get off at next stop and reverse. There can be a lot of steps and walking but I am 50 and out of shape and I still managed

pau airport

Good news for those booked to travel to Lourdes via Pau.

Please note that for the period July 27 – August 9, 2009, Pau airport will be closed for upgrading works and all flights will land instead at Lourdes airport. It is possible that during this busier period there may be taxis available at Lourdes airport, however, to avoid inconvenience it may be advisable to prebook, either through your hotel or by contacting a taxi service directly. Contact details for taxis, along with other information about Lourdes can be found in the faq sticky on this page.

Hospitalier

DE Lourdes.

last minute train to Dijon from CDG (Paris airport)

Hello,

Is it possible to book a train at the last minute ...once you get to CDG to Dijon at around 10.00 am on the week end or do you have to book it way in advance . I don%26#39; t feel like going to gare de Lyon to catch one and I don%26#39; t want to book someting in advance.

Thank you !

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The SNCF web site is showing only one train each day from CDG to Dijon, leaving at 19.41, so you may need to go into Paris anyway.

You can buy tickets on the day of travel, but there is always the danger that all seats will be sold. You can usually get a better price by booking in advance.

You can get train times and costs, and make bookings, at www.tgv-europe.com/en but say you are from Great Britain. If you say you are from USA (or probably Canada), you get another site that has much higher prices.

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I don%26#39;t know when you%26#39;ll be leaving CDG but from the 5th of July there is an extra TGV leaving at 11h16 arr 13h18. On the 6th you can get tickets for 17€, normal rate is around 40€. Bon voyage.

Lourdes - June 9th to 13th

I will be visiting Lourdes from June 9th to June 13th. I will be visiting with my mom and two aunts. I would like to know:

- What kind of weather should we expect for the beginning of June?

- Is this a high season for visits to Lourdes? What kind of wait times should we expect, for example, at the Baths, the museums, etc etc.

Thank-you!

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Expect Lourdes to be quite busy at this time, with the usual unpredictable weather. Temperatures can be high during the day, but cool after sunset. Be sure to pack a roll up raincoat with a hood just in case! Don%26#39;t think you will have a problem at the museums (choose carefully, some are lacking in taste), but you should allow for about a 2 hour wait at the ladies baths. Best time to line up would be around 12 noon so you would be ahead of the line for the afternoon start at 2pm. For further information check the faq sticky at the top of the forum page.

Have a pleasant pilgrimage

Tours out of Lorient, or Larmor-Plage...

Hi all,

I have a limited amount of time in the area of Lorient, and I would like to do something a little %26quot;touristy%26quot; at least. I%26#39;m a young woman travelling on business, so my options of getting around are limited and i really would prefer something guided. I speak very little French as well. Can anybody offer any good tour groups that leave Larmor-Plage or Lorient, perhaps for a day excursion somewhere?

I%26#39;m sorry if I%26#39;m being vague, but this trip was pretty rushed and I have had very little time to research the area!

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I have spent years travelling France. Of all of the places I have explored, I have a list of two locations I consider having little to nothing to offer tourists.

The first place on my list of %26quot;to avoid%26quot; is Albertville. There is really nothing there after the Olympics, not even a glimpse of charm it may have had before being industrialize by the games. This city seems to have been completely consumed, its humanistic elements exhausted by the Olympic games. All that is left here of value are the memories of the events which occurred years ago.

The second on my list of %26quot;to avoid%26quot; is Lorient. It admittedly has an interesting name but that%26#39;s where the attraction ends. If you are spending any time at all here, you%26#39;ll be ready for a change - why not take an excursion to Ile de Groix (the island of Groix). Just 45 minutes by boat from Lorient, Ile de Groix is a beautiful get away. This is not a fast paced destination, but it has genuine charm, a wonderful location to inspire and re-invigorate the spirit.

http://groix.tourisme.free.fr

Boat information here:

www.compagnie-oceane.fr/fr/groix/ile_f.php

There are some guided tours in and around Lorient but unfortunately I cannot find any in English.

If you ask at the Tourist Office, you might be able to take a bus down to Vannes, a charming city just to the south. If you have a couple of days, I recommend a boat trip to Belle Isle en Mer - a beautiful island full of things to do. Belle Isle is very popular among French tourists but virtually unknown to the traveling public outside of France. It%26#39;s a real gem.

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Oh my, I wish I had requested this information earlier because now I am dying to get to Belle-Isle. Unfortunately, I feel like I would not be able to navigate very easily without much French knowledge. Perhaps I can get a coworker to assist me.

And yes, I agree, Lorient is a cute, tidy little town and the people are very friendly, but there does not seem to be much to do. Thanks for the information!

* Best way from Paris to Amsterdam? *

Train? if so, which one? Plane? Bus? What%26#39;s the less stressful, route?

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Actually this would be even more helpful! :

Ok,

I%26#39;m going, in order from :

London

Paris

Amsterdam

Berlin

Prague

Italy(florence)

Italy(Rome)

I have transportation set from London to Paris.. I was wondering what would be the best way between the other cities?? Could someone give their opinion on each transfer? Train, Plane, etc.. I get restless on journey%26#39;s beyond 8 hrs, but open to suggestions.. If you suggest trains, or planes, can you specify which company to go with?

Thanks!

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Each of the countries you will be visiting (except UK) has one national train operator, so you don%26#39;t get a choice of companies. You do best to book direct with the operators. Do not use RailEurope, which charges a substantial fee on top of the ticket price.

Rather than my going into detail here, I suggest you consult www.seat61.com which has comprehensive independent advice on rail travel in Europe.

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Thalys has numerous trains daily from Paris to Amsterdam, approximately 4 hours 15 minutes. Both train stations are convenient to center of cities. Booked early on Thalys site for 32 euro for Comfort 2.

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As mentioned the Thalys runs direct from Paris to Amsterdam. You can then get a train from Amsterdam directly east to Berlin. Check out this Dutch website for international tickets : www.nshispeed.nl/en

Best way to get from Airport to Hotel

Hi,

Can anyone help..i have just booked the Radisson sas disneyland paris hotel for a family of four,and i am now wondering after reading a few threads ,what is the best form of travel from the Airport(CDG)to the hotel....someone has said the shuttle bus does not stop at this hotel????????????? i have fairly young children (5+11)so would appreciate not too much hassle!

Also how much does the Golf course near the Hotel cost and how do you book it,and finally,what is the best way to get cheap tickets for the park?i hope i don%26#39;t sound too desperate but cost is an issue unfortunately!!!!

many thanks Tonijo xx

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Here are the options from CDG to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy (Disneyland)

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/

depart: 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€

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 Chatelet-Les Halles; change to Line A for Marne-La Vallee/Disneyland

This is probably the cheapest option (about 14€) but it can take up to 2 hours.

__________

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€+

__________

From the hotel%26#39;s website:

A free shuttle runs our hotel and the Disneyland parks every 20 minutes (depending on traffic) from 8:30am to 8:00pm.

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radissonsas.com/cs/…

Down at this page it stands somethings about golf.

The thing is to get to marne le valle with either traine / vea shuttel busses, and then take the free shuttle to the hotel

But when traveling with kids it would be much cheaper to maybe rent a private shuttle

who can drive You direct to the hotel from the airport.

Take contact direct to the hotel and ask them for the best optstion, You might be surpriced what they can do for You.

Mutter

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Thanks for your help you have given me good options

which i can now check which one is the best for us...thanks xx

Le Meridien Montparnasse

to Roland Garros and back. Any idea of cost and ways to get there please?

How crowded is the eiffel tower at crack of dawn?

Planning on wednesday morning in late July just before I leave for bayeux.

Im wondering how many people to expect? Lets say at 8am?

I would love to visit it when almost noone is around but I still want a little daylight so I can take pictures.

Thanks for answering yet another one of my odd questions.

Alden

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In July, the Eiffel Tower doesn%26#39;t open before 9.00 AM - so there probably won%26#39;t be too many people at 8 AM. If you get there early enough, you%26#39;ll be first in line.

http://www.tour-eiffel.com

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There is plenty of daylight at 9:00 when the Tower opens.

Hope you get what you are looking for. Eiffel Tower is one of those unpredictable places. You can go and there are 20 people in line or 200 people in line and more. Cannot figure it out.

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Thanks for the replies! This is what has be amazed with Paris, seems to be very unpredictible.

I hope by the time I get there I have learned more of your beautiful language :)

Thanks, Alden

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The first time I went up the tower by the lifts (in 2006) we got there to queue at about 08:30 and were in the second set of lifts to go up.

We were amongst the first to the top floor, however, as many people only went to the second and this was the most exciting thing, as usually the top floor is so packed.

One thing though, it was fog bound when we went up, we hung around for it to clear, but if your on a tight schedule this may be a bit annoying.

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ncreptile - Your definition of %26quot;crack of dawn%26quot; and mine differ markedly. Crack of dawn to me is about 6am. :)

Spendings on food

i%26#39;m heading to paris next month i%26#39;m wondering if i can bring instant noodles for my own consumption as i have cravings for food at night. anyone have any experience with customs at CDG with regards to dried food and all that?

and how much should i expect to spend on meals at roadside cafes? any recommendations for cheap and good food in Paris? i should be staying at the 10th District or so. many thanks!

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I had no problem with bringing instant noodles in my suitcase, except that I brought 4 cups for 2 of us and ended up throwing away 3 cups.

1 wholesome sandwich about 4 euros

good 3 course lunch 14 euros in a restaurant

good 3 course dinner 25 euros in a restaurant

big bowl of noodle 8 euros in Chinatown (district 13)

a cup of cappuccino 5 euros in a sidewalk cafe

1 soda (coke or sprite) 3-5 euros

Just some examples for you. I will post my report on food and drink later.

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thanks for the information. It definitely help me alot on my planning. would love to have more information if you have any to share!

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I just posted the same reply on another thread, but here%26#39;s a repeat:

You can find inexpensive food all over Paris. For cheap lunches, look for boulangeries selling personal-sized quiches, sandwiches and tartines. Crepe stands sell both sweet as well as savory crepes. Grab a bottle of water and there%26#39;s your lunch. All for the princely sum of 5-7E. Or you can buy a baguette, some cheese and fruit and have a picnic if the weather is favorable. There are parks, both large and small, all over the city for picnicking on a bench.

For low-cost dinners, get off the main streets. Even one street over can make a big difference in prices. All eating establishments in Paris post their menus (with prices) outside the door. I find it pretty easy to eat well and inexpensively in Paris.

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Don%26#39;t bother about hauling instant noodles, you can have those in any supermarket in Paris.

And if you want Asian food, there are so many take-aways in Paris, where you can buy small portions (by weight) of all those amazing dishes, plus fried rice etc. They even offer you to heat it, before you take it with you.

And if you walk on the boulevards there will be sandwiches, shawarma, crêpes, hotdogs etc. till after midnight.

But if you mean %26quot;at night%26quot; quite literally, e.g. at 03:00 - then of course you need some instant solution ! LOL! How about a Knorr instant %26quot;cup-a-soup%26quot;, plus a chunk of baguette ? That should cure the worst hunger !

You can live on a low budget in Paris and still get the most delicious food: a warm crêpe with ham, egg and cheese plus a cold beer, consumed on a park bench - or a demi baguette ripped open and stuffed with slices of dry saussage, paté or cheese, which you bought on a market ! Life doesn%26#39;t get any better than this !

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i like what i%26#39;m reading now. at least i know i wouldnt go hungry in the middle of the night! many thanks for the advice!

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This is great advice from GitteK. I also tend to get hungry at night, and believe me, nothing beats a baguette with cheese!

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If you get angry at night, fast foods are opened till very late in Paris, 12am or 2am.

Besides, you can order to delivery on website such as Alloresto which refers hundreds of restaurants that make deliveries !

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Hi -

You won%26#39;t find any hawkers malls in Paris, and I%26#39;ve never had any Asian food to match what%26#39;s available in Singapore in Paris, either. I%26#39;d stick with what the French do better than anyone else, which is French food, of course.

Affordable food can be found in every area of Paris, but again nothing to match what%26#39;s available in Singapore. You%26#39;ll find no €1 lunches there, but as has been posted there are lots of ways to keep within a budget and still eat well.

As sydneynick says, you can get instant noodles in Paris, although I expect that you%26#39;ll pay a good deal less for them at home, so I%26#39;d bring them. There is no problem with them as long as their seals aren%26#39;t broken. They%26#39;re a little bulky but very light, and once you%26#39;ve eaten them all, you%26#39;ll have room in your bag to take home all your souvenir purchases.

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Being an Asian female, my advice is to bring at least 2 cups, of your favourite brands. Unless you%26#39;re a fan of Knorr cup, it simply wouldn%26#39;t do.

Also, bring the cups, not the packs. If your hotel has a kettle in the room, it%26#39;ll be so handy. Also bring some pairs of disposable chopsticks.

One other good place for the instant noodle is ... the airplane. Most Asian airlines have it, even United serves it, but like I said, nothing compares to my favourite brand. It%26#39;s so refreshing and gave me the energy I needed on a long haul flight.

It could be just me, but if you know what I am saying, you%26#39;ll understand.

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Not many cheap Paris hotels have kettles in the rooms.

I f you havn%26#39;t already booked.The Libertel Duperre near the Pigalle metro does. Make sure you get a confort room.

Denise

love from England

The easier way to drive from Stuttgart to Strasbourg-centre?

Hello everyone,

In July I%26#39;m coming to Strasbourg for 1 night. I booked a room at the hotel Ibis Ponts Couverts (rue de Molsheim).

I am coming from Stuttgart on A8 / E 52.

I hope someone who knows the city and the roads to tell me which way is faster and with lighter traffic:

* to enter France at the 500/D4 bridge, continue south along A35 and enter Strasbourg from the north

or

* to continue on E 52 until Kehl and enter France on Pont d%26#39;Europe and enter Strasbourg from south?

many thanks!

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%26lt;which way is faster%26lt;

Via Kehl/Pont d%26#39;Europe. Most traffic problems on your route are to be expected between Stuttgart and around Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden.

flat – hunting in Avignon/area

I’m flat – hunting in Avignon/area, needing a 2-bedroom flat. Anyone suggest good agents and/or good places to look? I’m planning for a long-term let, since I’ll be working in Avignon for 12 months (at the AgroParc, near the airport), probably starting this July/August. I’m spending a few days in Avignon next week (Sunday 31 may to Thursday 04 June) to try and find somewhere to live, but I’ve nothing lined up yet, since this has all happened in something of a rush.

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When you get here you will see the Agro Park is out of the center of Avignon. There is university accomodation on the Agro Park and a lot of new flats have just been built. When I passed the other day there were a few for rental. My advice would be to drive out %26amp; look before contacting any agencies. Don%26#39;t forget everything in France will be closed on Monday for Pentecost! Another National holiday.

ESCARGOT

Eating out well without paying through the nose!

A must is the new Bistro 44 at the sea-end of bvd Albert 1er. Used to be called Le Tea Pot, has changed hands twice since then and is now an excellent Bistro. Menus at 22€ and 29€ - both really good and good value for money - and ,what%26#39;s more important, your taste buds!

I can also recommend L%26#39;Aubergine, rue Sade in Vieil Antibes - good and consistent quality.

And the Auberge Provençal on Place Nationale is well worth a visit.

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Is La Rustique still open in the square in Antibes?

PARIS Visite Pass

Hi, we will be in paris for a 26hours getting down 11am june6th leaving 2pm june7th, should we buy 1 day pass or 2 day pass? we would need transportation between zone5 (CDG airport) to Zone1 both days.thanks.

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If all you want to do by public transport is travel between CDG and central Paris, just buy tickets for those trips.

For travel within central Paris, you might do better to buy a carnet of 10 metro tickets.

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here are all the ticket / pass options for Paris:

transilien.com/web/…en

The single ticket between CDG/Paris for the RER costs 8.40 euro.

Good Hotel Room in Paris that will take 2 adults and 2 kids

Trying to book a hotel room in Paris that will accomodate our family- 2 adults and 2 kids- really having a problem finding hotels that will allow 4 peple to stay in one room. HELP!

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There have been posts on this forum re. quad rooms, Do a search.

Hotel des Bains has one quad room and Sydney Opera also has family rooms, These are the only 2 hotels that I know first hand. If kida are teenagers, many hotels will recommend 2 connecting rooms.

You can also look into apartments. More space.

Affordable hotel for students in latin quarter

I%26#39;m panicking as I%26#39;m looking for an affordable, clean, safe hotel for my college age kids for June 8 to 12 in Paris, near sights. They would like to stay in a lively area, thinking about Latin Quarter or St. Germain area. The budget is up to $ 200 a night.

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Coincidently enough I%26#39;m staying in the Latin Quarter those dates, (I just graduated from grad-school-- sorta college age). I%26#39;m staying at the hotel familia, it had good reviews on tripadvisor and recommended in a few guide books. I think the rate was about $100 a night.

http://www.hotel-paris-familia.com/

It seemed a great rate at a great location. The only hostels that seemed adequate were too much an inconvenience to get to the city center. I wanted the ability to walk to at least some sites.

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Thank you! I just called them and they are fully booked for the third and forth nights!

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Hi Marmara (and fellow Canadian), last summer my 24 yr old daughter and I stayed at Hotel de College du France and we really liked it. Nothing super fancy but clean and charming. We really just were looking for a clean, safe, inexpensive place to sleep...after all we were in Paris...who wants to spend time in a hotel room! I think we paid around 100 euros per night for a twin room with a balcony. Two french doors to a little balcony with a bistro set! Not sure what prices are like this year. It was in a fantastic location, we walked everywhere, though buses and trains were close by too. Lots of great places to eat in the vicinity. We never ate at the hotel. I think they serve breakfast only. Check out their website for instant availability %26amp; prices.

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Thank you Juanita58!

Unfortunately I had to book a more expensive place; everything seems to be booked. Especially because a friend of the kids is joining them and they need a triple room.

Your help is appreciated!

Two days in Paris!

I am in Paris for a couple of days only, but would like to make the most of it! Suggestions on what all to see, where to stay (looking for very cheap accommodation for backpacking couple) and food. Any advice would be welcome!

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I%26#39;d really recommend the Musee Rodin, its really beautiful and serene and you will see all of his most famous works such as The Thinker,The Gates of Hell, The Kiss.Then I%26#39;d think about going on one of the many cruises on the Seine, you really get some nice shots of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and all the ornate bridges if pictures are your thing.

I did climb the Arc De Triomphe when I was there but I think it was more impressive from the outside looking in than it is from the top looking off.

If you absolutely must see the Louvre I%26#39;d advise going on one of the late opening days after 6 maybe as there will not be many people around or at least this was my experience and you shouldn%26#39;t meet too many crowds at the Mona Lisa and Venus De Milo.

After this I would head to the Eiffel Tower, having been during both night and day, I favor the experience at night as the tower will sparkle for about 15 minutes on the hour and if your on it when this happens its spectacular. And all the major attractions in the city are illuminated so they%26#39;re that bit easier to spot ;).

I think Notre Dame is always great to visit after all what%26#39;s a trip to Paris without visiting this beautiful piece of architecture. You can also climb the towers here and get up close and personal with the infamous gargoyles just beware that its a small stone spiral staircase going up so if your claustrophobic you probably should avoid it.

But to be honest there%26#39;s so much to do in Paris you%26#39;ll find it hard to do everything you want I was there for 5 days and still didn%26#39;t see it all.

As for accommodation I%26#39;m intending to stay in Citea Philippe Auguste on my next in visit in September as they only charge €87 per room per night and its an apartment style set up so your not in a total shoebox room as so often happens in Paris hotels. It is a little far out but the metro is absolutely brilliant and you should never have much of a problem getting in and out of the city.

As for food I%26#39;m not of much help as I ate fast food most of the time, I%26#39;m not a terribly adventurous eater:D

Hope I%26#39;ve given you some helpful info and enjoy your trip

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On this forum you can search for budget accommodations. There are lots of suggestions. Try for something in the Latin Quarter (5th arr) because I know there are some good values there and because it is so centrally located. You will need a central location if you%26#39;re only going to be there for 2 days. Do not stay in the hostel near Gare du Nord. Find a different place/neighborhood.

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Thanks a lot for all the replies! I still need some more help on a budget place to stay. I have basically no clue about Paris!

And perhaps a brief itinerary for two days.

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Why would you want us to tell you where to go and what to see? Since it%26#39;s YOUR trip, wouldn%26#39;t you rather tell us where YOU want to go? Then we can help put it into logical order for you. Do you have a guidebook and a map? It%26#39;s not as if you won%26#39;t need it once you%26#39;re in Paris anyway.

Tell us your interests and your budget and you%26#39;ll likely get more help if you don%26#39;t want to plan your own trip.

Btw, this isn%26#39;t meant to be snarky. You really will get more help if you give us more information and do some homework of your own. Your trip will be the richer because of it too.

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Ok here is my plan:

Must see - Effel Tower, Louvre, Arc de Triumph, Notre Dame and maybe a ride in the Seine and eat some good French food with wine.

I would also like to experience the night life of the city, I really don%26#39;t care about sleeping and can be awake the whole night if its worth it.

Another thing I really want to do is romance with my girl friend, quite walks, strolls etc. I love old heritage places and it would love to visit some which are not frequented by many tourists.

Perhaps even go for Moulin Rouge.

My major constraint is money, but since its a once in many years kind of of trip, I may still spend if its really worth it.

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Okay, some generally economical ideas:

Of all the places to enjoy a view of the city from above, ditch the Eiffel Tower in favor of either Notre Dame or the Arc de Triomphe; both for economy of money AND time. Where you only have two days, you don%26#39;t want to waste precious time standing in lines.

Enjoy the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero across the river at sunset. The romance-o-meter is high at this event. Plus it%26#39;s free.

The Seine river cruise can be enjoyed inexpensively. Go to vedettesdupontneuf.com and print their coupon for a few euros savings. Print the schedule so you%26#39;ll know when to be there.

Instead of the Moulin Rouge (expensive and tourist-tacky), why not head to Au Limonaire or Vin Qui Danse (google both). They are restaurants with good entertainment. I understand they are way more fun than the MR too.

Another romantic and inexpensive thing to do is to pick up a baguette and some cheese, maybe some fruit and a bottle of wine. Head to any of parks in the city. There are many to choose from. You%26#39;ll find them easily on your map. You can drink wine if you%26#39;re discreet.

Another idea is to head to the Ponts des Arts. It%26#39;s a pedestrian bridge. Lovers are entwined like snakes all the livelong day and night on it.

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No-one can help you with accommodation recommendations unless you define your idea of %26quot;very cheap%26quot; (preferably in Euros). To some people that%26#39;s €40/50 - to others it%26#39;s €150-200.

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Hi thanks for the detailed feedback. I really appreciate it. I am doing a lot of googling already :)

For me %26#39;very cheap%26#39; would be approx. 40-50 euro/ night for both of us.

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%26lt;%26lt;For me %26#39;very cheap%26#39; would be approx. 40-50 euro/ night for both of us.%26gt;%26gt;

In that case, I think you%26#39;ll be looking at %26quot;backpackers%26quot; accommodation.

Try this site - Backpackers Travel Guide to Paris:

thebackpacker.net/destinations/…

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If you only have a couple days ... then I recommend taking one of the bus tours ... take 4 hours one day and see as much as you can. (Unless you will have a car and you can do this on your own.)

You do need to see the Eiffel tower ... but you don%26#39;t need to go up to any of the observation levels.

I%26#39;m big on seeing as much as you can ... relax and assume you will return some day.