apts on Avenue Victoria or 12 rue Jean de Bellay

Hello, everybody!

I and my husband plan to spend the first week of July in Paris and so far we picked two apartments:

1. Avenue Victoria b/n Rue Edouard Colonne and Place Du Chatelet:

1.http://www.multimap.com/maps/#map=48.85806,2.34651|18|4%26amp;bd=useful_information%26amp;loc=FR:48.85806:2.34651:17|Avenue%20Victoria,%20Paris%2075001|Avenue%20Victoria,%2075001,%20Paris,%20Ile-de-France

2. 12 rue Jean de Bellay

maps.google.com/maps…

Both places claim that the apt located on the quiet street. Could you please comment on this? It doesn%26#39;t look so from google map, but may be the street is lack of traffic?..*-))

First place is on the 5th floor - no A/C. Second apartment is on the 2nd floor, facing courtyard - no A/C. How hot is in Paris on average in July?

I would really appreciate any inputs on my questions.

Zoya

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It seems like the first apt. is in the exact location of my hotel, Hotel Britannique, 20 Avenue Victoria. We stayed there in 2006 and will be staying there again this month because we LOVE the location. In 2006 we had a room facing the street and requested a street view this time as well. We found the street to be very quiet and pleasant.

As for the A/C issue, many posters tend to differ with me, but I personally wouldn%26#39;t stay any place without it. The heatwave we experienced 3 years ago made us extremely grateful to be able to return to a very cool comfortable room. I know that you cannot predict the weather in Paris, but I believe that July can get very hot.

disneyland paris site question - winter 2009/2010

does any one know, when they extend the booking period, does it go online the same day or before?? just curious as they are meant to be putting the new booking period (for hols after 8th november to early 2010) for sale tomorrow but am wondering if it is likely to be online tonight or first thing tomorrow am

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The webmaster is the only one who could answer, for certain.

Just keep checking back on the site -- don%26#39;t know what else you could do.

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Ooh. Today (1 June) is a holiday here -- so I highly doubt they%26#39;d have new rates online today.

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thanks for the replies everyone, checked last night and they werre not online. just checked again, they still have not updated the site yet

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I was able to get on the site, and could get the dates I wanted on 7 January. The cost for 2 nights for 3 adults and a 17 year old at Hotel Elysee was GBP 624. I tried to get a Euro price, and then was unable to get any dates over the winter period. Now no luck in any currency. Is the computer system just unstable?

Also, are there usually special offers for January? In other words, should I hold off booking until just before we go? I don%26#39;t want to miss out as the Elysee is the only hotel in the resort with the bedding we need.

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Hi For the last post

There will be good periods of offers If we look back from the previuse years in January

The offers would probably start on January 7 th

and with One night free or some thing like that

So If You can hold on some more I would do that to see what best offer can be given to You.

Mutter

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thanks Mutter.

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ouch its high!

2 adults only 4 nights 5 days basic at sequia lodge 18-22nd jan £570

+1/2 board = £762

+ 1/2 board and montana room = £813

cant get prices for transport (eurostar)

its cheaper on disneylandparisdirect.com (clippers quay travel) so am considering them, nothing on expedia yet though for these dates for the hotels

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disneylandparis direct was GBP2 dearer than the DLPR website.

I think I will have to wait to see if any winter specials come up. Our budget, which I think was based on this year%26#39;s prices is half the current costs.

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i ended up booking afterall, just have to hope that quidco pay the cash back also! that will help a bit

Chamonix breakfasts?

I%26#39;m staying in (central) Chamonix for a week in early July, and wish to get reasonably early starts on day tramps/hikes. Are there a selection of places in town that open early for breakfasts? I%26#39;m going to be in a hotel, but would rather grab something - including a takeaway lunch - on the trot...so to speak.

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How early is early? Most hotels do breakfasts from 7 or 7.30. I seem to remember the bakeries open pretty early too, about 8 am.

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Noted, Firebug. Thanks. I hope to get out prior to rush hour, and thought I would/could catch something in town, already geared up. The primary goal is to get good pics before the haze cuts in.

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Supermarket opens at 8ish so you could pick your own stuff up and eat on the hoof.

Loads of cafes for coffee and croisants

Also a few sandwich shops.

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Not sure what time it opens, definitely by 8 am, but the salon de thé/boulangerie on the rue Dr Paccard (next to buthcher) does breakfast. Several of the boulageries are open by 8 and sell coffee to go with your croissants, and ready made sandwiches to take up the mountain with you. Also the Elevation (opp the SNCF station) do a great breakfast fry up, or coffee and croissant and are open early.

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Thanks Guys, for your helpful responses. We%26#39;ve got early snow here, so hopefully the Chamonix Valley has had a reasonable dump.

Grocery stores

We will be arriving in Nice around 4:30 on a Sunday. We will need to pick up some coffee, milk etc. as we are going to a condo. Does anyone know of such a store near Rue Meyerbeer 3? And are these stores open on a Sunday? Thanks.

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Lots of shops are open till 1pm but shut on sunday afternoons

There are a couple of shops in meyerbeer but i%26#39;m pretty sure they are only open on sunday morning- you might be lucky though

I think your best bet would be to head to rue maccarani as there are two small shops [spar and coccimarket] there that are generally open in on Sunday afternoon.

Further afield-there is a shop by the tram stop gare thiers that is open almost all the time -and is open till very late on a sunday or public holiday and the 8a8 in ave malaussena which is open till 8 on a sunday.

I think %26#39;Marche plus%26#39; on rue de Lepante is usually open on sundays

There will be others that you might come across when out wandering

Hotel rooms

I will be in Paris for 9 days the end of October. I will need a room for 3 adults. Anyone ever stay at Letita..Concorde St. Lazare..Le Meriden Monparnasse??

We are looking for a 4 star hotel, within walking to the sites( or near the Metro). Thanks for any info.

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Be very aware about going on star ratings alone, as your expectations of what a 4 star hotel may not actually match your expectations. I%26#39;ve found that 4 star hotels in Europe do not necessarily equate to the standards that we have set here. It%26#39;s been very confusing actually! You may come across three (or lower) star hotels, which are actually better in quality and service than a higher star rating hotel.

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I agree about the star ratings. Stars represent only features - not quality or service.

And, a good place to start is with the TripAdvisor hotel reviews...

Not only have many stayed at the places you%26#39;ve mentioned and reported, you can also pick up tips regarding location, transportation, what%26#39;s nearby, etc.

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Thanks. I know the star rating is NOT the same as in the states. Anyone know how the Du Louvre hotel is?

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The Du Louvre has been recommended around here many times, and the reviews give an impression that its rather quite good. So, it might definitely be one to consider! :)

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We stayed at the Du Louvre but a number of years ago. The rooms were well decorated in traditional French style, gold silk drapes etc, and we looked out on the square where kids did skateboard tricks. It was our first visit to Paris and we enjoyed the central placement right across from the Louvre.

Make sure you walk around the back through the Palais Royal to the arcade and garden. It is a lovely little oasis.

nickbooth.id.au/Images/France08/Lynn/265Pari…

Something different to do in Paris.

I just came across this site accidentally. It has great info and photos about Canal Saint-Martin.

anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi…

Cheers,

Brizlion.

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Thanks Brizlion

It brought back lovely memories. We rode it down to the Seine, using a smaller carrier. The guide played the clarinet as we went through the tunnel where it echoed beautifully. It was a good day, first the science museum then that gentle ride down the canal, finishing with the sight of Notre Dame from the river.

nickbooth.id.au/Images/France08/Lynn/273Cana…

nickbooth.id.au/Images/France08/Lynn/275Pari…

nickbooth.id.au/Images/…NotreDame.jpg

Paris City Trip

I travel to Paris froé 15/06/2009 to 18/06/2009included (4days).

I made a litle planning regarding this trip

Day 1

Butte de montmartre and sacré coeur

Galerie lafayette

Notre dames

Day 2

Versailles

Tour eiffel and a little boat trip

Shopping rue de renne

Day 3

Louvres

Day 4

Arc de tryomphe

Champ elysee

tuileries

Shopping Halles

what do you think of this agenda?

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Day one,, sounds ok. You could visit the Opera House also, it is very beautiful inside. If you want to go up the Towers at Notre Dame, then you need to do that first thing in the morning, ,get in line 1/2 hr before the Towers open to avoid the very slow moving line eating up too much time. I would go around 8:30 am and tour inside the Cathederal , then get in line for Towers by 9:30( I am assuming Towers open at 10,, but check website to see if I am right, I am going by memory.

Day two,, well, I assume you will do Versailles in the morning, then shopping in the afternoon, then ET and cruise in evening ,, as the shopping seems to close early , 7 or 7:30 ,, but the ET stays open later.

Day3.. well, I love the Louvre, but you could likely fit something else in, a walk in the Tuilleries Gardens, and maybe a visit to Orangerie? You could also choose this day to do a day cruise if you didn%26#39;t have time from day two( you may stay longer at Versailles then you planned)

Day 4, Since the Tuilleries Gardens are right beside Louvre it should be on day three. Do enjoy going up the Arc De Triomphe, I love the view from the top. I do not like shopping ,, so if you do then I guess you will do some today.

What is this golden ring scam?

What is this golden ring scam? I%26#39;ve been reading about it here and there but nobody is really explaining exactly what it is? Please enlighten me so I can be aware before my vacation to Paris! Thanks. :)

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Someone pretends to find a gold ring right in front of you, asks if it is yours, says it is your lucky day and presses it on you, then asks for some money for a sandwich or similar, in some cases asks for cash for the ring. It preys on people%26#39;s greediness and dishonesty, getting a gold ring for a few dollars. Of course it is plated brass even though it may have a hallmark.

You may also be approached by children asking if you speak English. When you say yes they hand you a paper with a hard luck story and ask for cash.

Or you are sitting in a cafe and someone comes by and without a word places a small toy on the table with a note saying they are deaf and please buy to help them. In a minute they come back and collect the toy or the money.

Some people get on the Metro and do the toy thing or play a musical instrument then pass the hat.

It is find just to say non, merci. There is no need to be rude or aggressive, it is just creative begging.

You may be approached by someone who puts a woven string around your wrist and then asks for money for it. There are some reports of this being intimidating, in which case make no eye contact and walk past keeping your hands to your sides.

If you intend to give money to any beggars it is a good idea to have a few loose coins. Don%26#39;t reveal where you keep your main wallet as this may tip off pickpockets.

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If you put %26quot;ring scam%26quot; into the search box, you will get many many pages of information.

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Enclose an extract of my trip report to Paris last November, may be of some use.

On the first occasion we were walking in the grounds of the Louvre when a young pretty girl picked up a ring from the floor and said in perfect English “Is this yours?”. We said no and continued to walk. On the second occasion we were crossing the road by the Place de la Concorde and an older well dressed man dropped the ring on the floor. As before, we said no and ignored him. This also happened on the Point Alexandre III Bridge and the Eiffel Tower. We never felt threatened and as soon as we said no we were immediately left alone. It actually became a joke - can you spot the ring man (or woman)?

Have a good trip!

Booking a ferry from Nice to Calvi online

Hello forummers

I%26#39;m in the midst of planning our summer holiday. We are flying to Nice and are going to spend 3 weeks on Corsica and Sardinia. Now, I want to book our ferry tickets in advance. My problem is, when I try to do it online, I have to produce the registration number and make of my car. This is impossible for me to do, since I%26#39;m renting in Nice omn arrival. Anyone know a solution to this problem ?

thanks in advance

/Steffen

things to do with teenage boys

Looking for activities to do in/around St.Gervais les Bains for 2 active preteen/teenage boys (12, 15) Any recommendations for mountain biking, hiking, etc..?

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Hi, we were there for 2 weeks last summer with our kids. Activities include hiking, mountain biking (easy to hire), white water rafting, canyoning, climbing (including coaching if needed), parapenting, swimming, ice skating, tennis and mini golf. there is a superb adventure park up the road in Les Contamines, with some great high level tree adventures and other activities. You should consider buying a %26#39;pass loisirs%26#39; at the tourist office (which is very good). It costs 90 Euro for a family of 4 per week and includes free unlimited access to the cable cars and chair lifts in the area (good for starting your hikes off!), free swimming, ice rink and mini golf, as well as free use of the shuttle buses. Just remember to take a passport size photo of each of you for the passes. If you haven%26#39;t been to Saint Gervais before, it is a real treat, both in summer and winter. Food at both the 4 Epices and L%26#39;Eterle (Pizzas) is very good and reasonable. Hope this helps.

A6 one night stop over

Hello there we will be travelling on the 16th of June this year from Cherbourg to Frejus and I am looking for good / cheap accommodation for my wife, our 3 kids and myself for a one night stop over to break the long journey. Anyone got any good hotel locations on or near the A6 pls.

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Roughly half way would take you to Dijon/Beaune I have had a look at Campanile Hotels which you can usually be sure of a certain standard for the price which is reasonable, but they appear to be fully booked for the night of 16th June.

You didn%26#39;t mention the ages of your children so I%26#39;m not sure if you%26#39;re looking for 1 or 2 rooms but you might find it difficult to get rooms large enough for 5 people.

At Beaune I have found this hotel which has 2 connecting rooms which might suit you - I haven%26#39;t stayed there so I would suggest you read the reviews to be sure you%26#39;re happy with it.

Beaun%26#39;Hotel 2 stars

55, Rue du Faubourg Bretonnière, 21200 Beaune

It comes up on Booking.com if you search for hotels in Beaune.

Hope this helps.

Sue

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Hello Sue, thanks for getting back to me. My bambino%26#39;s age%26#39;s are 7 (Special neeeds) 2.5 and 5 months. We are leaving Rosslare on the 16th, arriving in Cherbourg on the 17th, so it would be the 17th that I will need a room not the 16th, sorry for the misleading dates in my original post.

Thanks for the info you provided, I will check this out and I will let you know how I got get on.

Once again thanks for your help

Overnight stay - advice needed

I hope someone can help. We will be driving back up to Calais in September and thought about stopping overnight in the Champagne region before leaving the following afternoon for Calais to catch the ferry.

The thing is, we don%26#39;t know where would be best to stay (a B%26amp;B or small hotel will be fine, not too expensive), ideally with parking and be near somewhere we can go our for a meal in the evening. I%26#39;d quite like to do a champagne house tour the following morning, have lunch and then drive up to Calais in the afternoon.

Any suggestions as to where to stay or best champagne house to visit would be most welcome.

Many thanks

M

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Consider http://www.lechevalrouge.com/ at Sainte Menehould.

Sainte Menehould is approx 350%26#39;peage%26#39;Km from Calais.

The town is not much to write home about but the hotel is very good and has an excellent restaurant and also bistro and the staff are kind.

There is ample street parking adjacent to the hotel.

The only downside is noise from the absurd teenagers mopeds!

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For about €40 for a double room with gated parking you could try the Hotel Premiere Classe, Tinqueux, Reims. We have stayed there a couple of times and found it very convenient being only about 5 minutes drive from the centre of Reims. Hotel Premiere Classe website has further details.

Plenty of restaurants in Reims for lunch and dinner, as well as numerous champagne houses which offer tours and tastings. The tourist information office in Reims will have details of the champagne houses and tours.

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Thank you both for your suggestions. Will look into them.

Caulaincourt Square Hostel or Paris - Cité des Sciences

hi there!

we%26#39;ll be going to paris in july, and we%26#39;re deciding between the two hostels mentioned. basically, i%26#39;d like to know how far away the hostels are from parisian attractions such as the louvre museum, champs de elysee and such, and how much it will cost to get to the attractions by metro/bus from the hostel. thanks lots!

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Both of these hostels are within Paris, so the cost of travel to the center of the city would be the same.

Both are a métro trip away from most tourist attractions.

The Caulaincourt Square Hostel is located in a lovely residential area of Montmartre, within walking distance to Sacre Coeur, but still peacefully residential, safe and much more of what you would think that Paris should look like than the Cité des Sciences location. We like the restaurant next door to the Caulaincourt Square Hostel, and there is a nice bakery there too. Because we live on a boat and move about Paris from time to time in our home, we also spend time at La Villette near the Cité des Sciences, and while this area of the 19th is safer than it was a few years ago, I still think that the Caulaincourt address is better and that you would be happier there.

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Get the Caulaincourt one.

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thanks for your replies.. is the cites des sciences in an unsafe district? or are there other reasons why you guys think caulaincourt square is better?

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No, no - Cité des Sciences is a great area to explore, but being in the north-east corner of Paris, there would be many modern buildings and it would look like the suburbs of any other modern big city.

Square Caulaincourt is just so pretty,the area is so nice and %26quot;real%26quot; Parisian. The north side of Montmartre is very pleasant, great ambiance.

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Take a look at this other post about Hostels in Paris

tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k283…

Train trip in France

We are a couple in our late 60%26#39;s, planning our first visit to France in September-October. Will be travelling by train in between cities (no car rentals for us), so we need to use public transportation. Will probably start with 5 days in Paris, and wish to end our trip in Nice where we would stay 4 days.

We would love to visit chateaux/wineries, but cannot decide where we should stop for 3 days in between Paris and Nice. Should it be in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Dijon-Beaunes or in Avignon? As we are celebrating our wedding anniversary, it would be nice to stay at one of the chateaux, as long as it is not too far from the train station and that we can get transportation somehow.

Your advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.

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My choice would be Avignon, because I like the town and the area. Other may have different views.

Don%26#39;t get sucked in to buying a rail pass or booking through RailEurope: point-to-point tickets are cheaper, especially if bought in advance. You can get train times and costs, and make bookings, at www.tgv-europe.com but say you are from Great Britain. If you say you are from North America, you get switched to a site with much higher prices.

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I recently bought a train ticket from London to Perpignan and I am fairly sure I was told that if I wanted to I could break up my train journey with one stop with no extra cost. I think it had to be done in a certain amount of time such as within the same month but its worth further investigation if the alternative is more expensive.

River Cruise

We need to stay overnight in Lyon before boarding the Princess de Provence for a Rhone/Saone river cruise - does anyone have a suggestion for a good quality hotel close the Quai Bernard where it sails from.

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Could you please specify your budget range?

The closest hotel will be the Sofitel which is located on the opposite Rhône bank: just the bridge to cross! The price will be approx. 200/220€, don%26#39;t know if that fits your budget; have a look:

sofitel.com/gb/…index.shtml

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The Sofitel looks really good - many thanks for your help - I%26#39;ll try and ring them to see what their best price is.

La Rochelle area - advice for first visit

We are planning to visit the La Rochelle area in first week of July. We will be arriving from Paris by train. (Does TGV line go to la Rochelle - the TGV site wont give me price for this journey?)

My husband , 13 year old son and myself like to combine sightseeing with activity - swimming, cycling, and relaxation. Should we stay in town or countryside? Any advice about the area and train connections very much appreciated

Thanks in anticipation

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Hi scotfam, yes the TGV goes to La Rochelle, usually 3 hrs. Planning a holiday in the area depends on how long you will be staying. For a few days I%26#39;d recommend staying in town, for longer then maybe somewhere like the Ile de re. Let me know how long you are staying and I can suggest some ideas

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Thank you very much for yor prompt reply. We are spending 2 or 3 days in Paris followed by 6 or 7 days in the La Rochelle area. We enjoy good walks, cycling and sightseeing. We will travel to La Rochelle on a Wed so guess self catering is out as usually sat change over. I thought guest house or small hotel might suit. We are happy to hire a car if necessary once we get to La Rochelle.

Do you know why TGV site won%26#39;t issue ticket to La Rochelle but will to Surgeres? I am new to train travel so finding it all a bit confusing!

Many thanks for your help

Margaret

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Hi Margaret, your holiday sounds fantastic. It may still be possible to self- cater from midweek at some campsites. If you stay at a campsite or gite out of town, or even on the Ile de Re, then a car is a must especially for a stay of over a week - all the car hire shops are just over the road from the station. If you do stay in town then a car is not needed, if you want to see the islands you could take a bus journey or even boat. I think for the activities you like and the time you will be here, you should maybe look at being just outside La Rochelle, or on the Island. You can then come in for day trips to the town, whilst discovering the area maybe by car or even by bike.

Details of all types of accomodation can be found on the la rochelle tourisme website.

I%26#39;m not sure about buying tickets as we usually just go to the station,sorry that%26#39;s not helpful to you... but I%26#39;m sure someone on here will be able to help,as there a few Train experts on hand! maybe a UK travel agent could help?

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There%26#39;s a destination expert for trains called sydneynick who may be able to help as I know he has posted on the french forums, maybe you could ask him about fares etc?

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Thanks very much for the advice. Will let you know how we get on with our plans.

Margaret

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Try

www.voyages-sncf.com

Maybe it%26#39;s too late, you%26#39;ve got already your reservations.

Aroud 200 euros round trip for three.

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Hi Scotfam,

I want to drive to la Rochelle and park the car and get the tgv to paris, is there somewhere I can park for 3 days. There does%26#39;nt seem to be any information I can find regarding this.

thanks,

Catherine

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Hi Catherine,

Where are you coming from , maybe the poitou charente region? if you want to park the car for 3 weeks to embark on a holiday in Paris, both the train station and the airport has long term parking, but it would help if you were more specific with your plans? let me know I%26#39;d love to help

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Thank you for your prompt reply. I am delighted to know there are parking spaces at the train station as we are dropping some family to La Roschelle airport my daughter and I would like to visit Paris for a short trip. Is it just the one train station in La Rochelle or are there a few ?

Thanks

Catherine

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At the moment 2, with plans for more. Its really only a light rail link from Porte Dauphine (nr the swimming pool ) to the main Gare SNCF and onwards to Atre / Angoulins/Chatellaillon Plage/ Rochefort and Saintes. Great for the local beaches, but not good for connections as of yet.

You should stick to the main Gare SNCF as this is where the TGV line begins.

Port Cassafierres to Castelaundery

I am so excited as I am off for a week on the canal du midi next week!! Woo Hoo! As this is our first time boating in france I wondered if anyone had any recomendations of any places to vist on route that shouldnt be missed, or any fantastic restaurants that are worth a visit. Ive tried to get a guide book but that gives details of things like this but cant seem to find one. We have a day in Carcosonne at the end of the trip, but apart from that, we dont want to miss out on anything worth seeing. Also does anyone recommend a good place to eat oysters - I am a bit of an oyster virgin and have only had them once before so dont want to get a duff one! Thank you so much

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I have written several narratives about travelling this route. A forum search using the words %26quot;Canal du Midi%26quot; and perhaps %26quot;sarastro%26quot; should find the information. You will be (or should have already) receive a canal guide outlining local points of interest and restaurants.

One of the largest oyster beds in the world is just east of Port Cassafierres - the Etang de Thau. You can take your boat out onto the etang but with only 7 days to reach Castelnaudary, you probably will not have time. Oysters from here are the only oysters I eat, I don%26#39;t really trust those of unknown origin. These oysters are known as Bouzigues oysters, the same name as the town on the far side of the lake. Here are some pictures:

france-travel-photos.com/tourism-photo-949-f…

Bouzigue oysters are generally available everywhere in this region. If you enjoy wine, the local Picpoul de Pinet is often drunk with oysters. It%26#39;s a very dry white and goes extremely well with seafood. As an oyster virgin, you may find a glass (or so) of Picpoul might aid in beginning the oyster consuming process.

Wheelchair-Accessiibility in low-end Accor Hotels

I will be travelling throughout southern Europe with a friend in September. We are considering staying at the Etap, All Seasons or Ibis hotels since we are on a limited budget and upscale hotels don%26#39;t impress us. Many of them advertise %26quot;reduced-mobility%26quot; rooms. That is an abstract term, I require more information on what they mean. Specifically:

- Is the bathroom larger than the one in a regular room?

- Is the bathroom doorway at least 66 cm wide?

- Are there grab bars beside the toilet and in the shower?

- Is there a fold-down seat in the shower?

- Is thsere an opening under the sink for my legs?

- What type of bed(s) is in the room, twin or double?

They are not responding to my inquires either because of the language barrier or they just can%26#39;t be bothered. As well, since I will be staying at several hotels during my travels I would like to know if all hotels advertising %26quot;accessible” rooms conform to some corporate standard.

If you have any experience with these hotel chains, I wulld appreciate it hearing about it.

Thanks,

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I haven%26#39;t seen a fold down seat in the shower, in my experience there has been a wet room, not uncommon for any sort of accommodation in Europe.

Sometimes there is an opening under the sink. I%26#39;m not sure if there was an all of those hotels that I have stayed in. I don%26#39;t use a chair, so I don%26#39;t necessarily notice those things.

I have had both single and double beds.

The answer to all your other questions is yes, in my experience.

The rooms I have been in have all been on the ground floor, whether or not the hotel had an elevator.

These chains are about the same standard as a Days Inn or Motel 6 in the US - clean and basic, but generally comfortable.

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Thanks for your quick response. It sounds like you get around. It sounds one hotel is about the same as another for accessibility. Have you been to any other European countries. Any noticeable difference in the hotels between countries?

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I%26#39;m probably telling you what you already know, but there is quite a lot on-line under such headings as %26quot;accessible rooms France%26quot; which may help.

I also found sites like this

globalaccessnews.com/parispasserelleswheelch…

and this

wheelchairaccessibleholidayhomesfordisabledp…

www.accessible-accommodation.eu

Hope you have a great holiday

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Thanks, I%26#39;ll check them out. Cost is also a big constraint.

http://www.go-nice.com

Hi,

I am sorry again me about go-nice... what is a bit confusing for me is that they are communicating trough hotmail email address. Isnt this strange? Please reply to me if you think I can trust this, I emailed their official email from website but no reply... How strange right! How can I be sure??

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Hi Duck,

This is Paul Manion - you can contact me through paul@go-nice.com or enquiries@go-nice.com (as you have done)

You have asked to change your date of booking - so we have sent you a booking form and we are waiting for you to return this - we use rivierabookings@hotmail.co.uk as our booking email.

Re taking 25% this is standard procedure by law - that to reserve 25% is taken and the balance 75% can be taken up to 1 month prior to arrival.

I have operated a fully registered and insured rental business in Nice since 2003.

Full details can be seen at link below

go-nice.com/about_go_nice_holiday_rentals.as…

Also if you wish you can see feedback from over 400 satified clients in our guestbook at link below.

http://www.go-nice.com/blog/index.php

Of course also as published on our web wite you can ring us directly on our office number

Office: 00 33 (0) 4 93 87 71 80

again as published on our link below.

http://www.go-nice.com/contact_go_nice.aspx

Hopefully that clarifies things - and of course many thanks to the people who have endorsed me here and your comments - dont hesitate to come back to me - and we will arrange some excellent accommodation for you.

See you soon in Nice - very hot and sunny today!

regards Paul

|||

Thank you very much, we are looking forward to staying at Nice. I was a bit worried as it is not only my money and I did not want to be the one to blame at the end.. Now it is all clear.

Kind regards from Prague,

Duck

Rhone/Saone river cruise

We are taking a Rhone/Saone river cruise with Peter Deillman in July - any tips from anyone

|||

Coul you please elaborate: what exactly are you asking for?

I suggest that you start with a little search on this forum, there are a lot of tips on everything already (walks, sights, restaurants, museums, etc) and also that you first browse these two useful websites to discover a little bit about Lyon, and then come back with more precise questions:

http://www.en.lyon-france.com/

lyon.fr/vdl/sections/en/tourisme/fil_quartier

|||

Thanks again for your reply - sorry I did not make myself clear - I was thinking of tips for the river cruise itself rather than the itinerary which I have researched eg what to take with us like fly repellent etc. Thanks for showing interest.

|||

OK then I am afraid I%26#39;m not able to help. Have you already searched the previous threads about river cruises, I remember there are a few feedbacks that might be useful?

|||

Thanks anyway. Lyon looks such an interesting place that we intend returning for a long weekend with some friends later in the year.

Can I trust this?

www.go-nice.com/property_details.aspx?i=6

I wanna go to Nice this summer and found this aparment for rent... however they want me to pay some money in advance - Shall I trust this? How will they assure me its not a scam? Please help, thank you...

On completing of this form please save a copy for your reference and return by email (within 48 hours) By completing this form the renter agrees that the 25% amount (above) will be deducted immediately from their credit card and the balance deducted as below.

The balance 75% (above) will be deducted from your credit card at the end of the month prior to arriva

|||

It looks OK. There is a link to Go-Nice from both Tripadvisor and Flipkey, with reviews on Flipkey. You may not have heard of Flipkey but it is a US web site which lists reviews of holiday rental properties and Tripadvisor has recently invested in this company.

The terms are reasonable and not unusual - 25% deposit at the time of booking and remainder at end of month prior to arrival. There is no security deposit, which is good. Note that there is a 100 euro cleaning and linen charge.

Maybe someone else who has rented from them can comment.

|||

Go-nice.com is run by Paul Manion, formerly riviera-rentals.com. We rented from him in 2008 and were very pleased with the service provided. We had the same financial arrangement and it worked out fine.

Hope this helps to reassure you.

|||

We also rented from Paul Manion (now go-nice)

last year, and he was very helpful; the same arrangement was in place for payment of the apartment with no problems. He%26#39;s an English ex-pat and we met him while we were over there, and really liked him.

He does pop up on this forum from time to time, so may be able to reassure you in person.

|||

I am a bit worried as they answer from a hotmail email address. Is that ok?? The address is rivierabookings@hotmail.co.uk

|||

If the posters are correct and Mr. Mannion is in charge then there are a lot of TA posters who use his apartments without a problem.

I don%26#39;t have a good experience with him since he totally ignored my e-mails for info. and we subseaquently booked elsewhere.

I would always recommend www.nicepebbles.com because they have great apartments and have worked very hard to get the business esablished.

|||

Go-Nice has been in business for many years and I don%26#39;t recall bad reviews or negative comments on their operation or apartments. I would have no problems trusting Mr. Manion%26#39;s organisation.

|||

We have booked ten days with Go Nice and Paul Manion. I have read nothing but good comments. They have answered my emails and everything has gone smoothly. We leave Thursday but do not arrive in Nice until the 14th June. I will give a review on our return but I am optimistic we will have a great condo.

|||

Hi, can I ask did they communicate to you trough hotmail email address aswell? I am a bit worried about that, isnt this strange?

|||

Hi Duck,

This is Paul Manion - you can contact me through paul@go-nice.com or enquiries@go-nice.com (as you have done)

You have asked to change your date of booking - so we have sent you a booking form and we are waiting for you to return this - we use rivierabookings@hotmail.co.uk as our booking email.

Re taking 25% this is standard procedure by law - that to reserve 25% is taken and the balance 75% can be taken up to 1 month prior to arrival.

I have operated a fully registered and insured rental business in Nice since 2003.

Full details can be seen at link below

go-nice.com/about_go_nice_holiday_rentals.as…

Also if you wish you can see feedback from over 400 satified clients in our guestbook at link below.

http://www.go-nice.com/blog/index.php

Of course also as published on our web wite you can ring us directly on our office number

Office: 00 33 (0) 4 93 87 71 80

again as published on our link below.

http://www.go-nice.com/contact_go_nice.aspx

Hopefully that clarifies things - and of course many thanks to the people who have endorsed me here and your comments - dont hesitate to come back to me - and we will arrange some excellent accommodation for you.

See you soon in Nice - very hot and sunny today!

regards Paul

|||

Thank you Mr. Paul Manion, that is graet. I feel much better that

Regards from Prague

Mauriac for 1 week in June – what to do??

We are staying in a friend’s holiday cottage in Fignac (near Anglards-de-Saler) from 16th-23rd June, and wondered if anyone had any recommendations of what to see and do in this area? We would be willing to travel a couple of hours to see / do something special, but generally would like to stay locally (less than 1 hours drive from here). I am hoping to have a bit of a chill out holiday (unlikely, but fingers crossed) so would mainly be interested in relaxing things to do, like visiting town / cities, castles, good restaurants / vineyards etc.

We fly in and out of Toulouse and will have a hire car, and have the option of staying over somewhere else on our last night, preferably somewhere in the direction of the airport, so may be Toulouse!

Any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

P

paris pass [combines museums and metro]

hello

i%26#39;ll visit paris 2 oct 09 for a week. it%26#39;s the first sunday of the month and i have some qustions:

1. Has anyone used the Paris Pass (combines museums and metro)?

2. i wish to know about the Palaces of Versailles.

i want to visit the gardens, the Trianons and the queen villege (Marie-Antoinette Estate).

Does the paris pass provide an acsess for there?

and what abot the little train that give you a ride from place to place at Palaces of Versailles?

3. i understand that the fountains works only at sunday. i wonder if it%26#39;s better to go on sunday to visit the Palaces of Versailles for that reason or mabey fo to the disneyland or maby stay at the city and visit the louvre %26amp; center pompidou. as i said, it%26#39;s the first sunday of the month, and i worry about the standing in the long lines.

can you help me to deside what to do?

sorry for my bad english.

Thanks for the help.

shirley.

|||

Search the Paris Pass in box above -many comments-generally I think folks don%26#39;t think it is good deal but I have no experience with it.

The Paris Museum Pass covers all buildings at Versaille-the train/tram is extra as is audio guide .

I would think free Sunday would be crowded at Louvre. I like to go in the evenings it is open -Wed and Fri. -

crowds much lighter.

|||

Shirley,

I apologise to the person who posted this as I don%26#39;t know who to credit.

planetware.com/map/versailles-map-f-versaill… good map of vesailles

The train is called %26quot;Les Petits Trains%26quot; and it%26#39;s located on the right side after you go pass the chateau and facing the garden. There will be signs for you. The cost is now 6,5euro and you can hop on, hop off all day. There are 3 stops: The Chateau, the Domaine de Marie Antoinette (trianon) and the Grand Canal. First train departs at 10am and last train comes back from the Grand Canal at 6.45pm, so time your visit.

Note that The Châteaux de Trianon and the Domaine of Marie-Antoinette [Marie-Antoinette Estate] do not open until Noon, so it%26#39;s best to plan on touring the main Chateau then the gardens in the morning.

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I believe that if you look closely at the %26quot;Paris Pass%26quot; it%26#39;s really a bundling of the other existing instruments. So you are really buying the same Paris Museum Pass and Paris Visite cards, plus you might gain a few extra discounts or access to a few venues not covered in the Pass. But my impression is that it doesn%26#39;t offer additional value vs. simply buying those passes directly from the metro station / fnac / etc.

J

Taxi from Perpignan?

Hello,

My partner and I are arriving into Perpignan on a saturday night at about 9.30 and need to get to Torreilles Plages on the coast. I tried to arrange with Eurocamp a transfer to the site but they don%26#39;t organise them from the train station only the airport. We did think about hiring a car but my parents arrive 2 days later with their car so it seems a little pointless unless there is no alternative. I wondered if it would be easy enough to get a taxi from Perpignan that would take us the 20-30km to the camp site?

Thanks

|||

To make sure to have a taxi waiting for you at the station, contact

www.accueilperpignantaxi.fr

and make a reservation a few days in advance.

a month in paris

my wife and i just returned from a month in paris if anyone has any questions feel free

|||

I%26#39;m going to Paris from a Friday to Monday. How do I get a pay-as-you-go travel card for four days?

|||

My wife and I returned about 3 weeks ago from our 4th trip there. After a month there, can you tell us what specifically you enjoyed seeing, visiting, or taking part in--like street markets, out of the way shopping, or just walking along the back streets. As we left this time, we both were maybe thinking we need to leave Paris alone for a few years and find another attractive city to learn about and visit. Your insights after a month there would be of interest to many on TA.

Thanks,

oprah44

|||

Hi oprah44

We had made a few trips to paris so had been to all the major tourist sites so on this trip thought we would just try to see new places and not be and explore the way of life a little more .We rented an apartment on the rue rivoli by the saint paul metro and shopped at the richard lenoir and the hotel de ville markets along with the local shops like Miss Manon and Versaille de Marais patisseries we got a navigo card for a month and rode the buses and once in a while the metro that was a good move on our part as the service was great went to chateau vincennes and parc floral along with the bagatelle rose gardens in the bois de boulogne both great tried to find a local spot where the clientele were mainly french probably ate out 40 percent of the time in general just wandered about and try ing to live life at paris speed it was great

jim

|||

Hey Jim, welcome back. I%26#39;m still hideously jealous that you and your wife were there for a month, while we had to settle for just a long weekend.

Sounds like your plans were just perfect - enjoying Paris without the running around. I think from a prior post you said that you usually get a batobus pass (was that you?). Did you do that this time around? And did you have a drink at the Scottish pub?

I%26#39;ll still have to play the 6/49 to see if we can go for a month next time too! Glad you had a great time.

|||

hi pmmcTO

you will have to wait till we win the 6/49 first that shouldn%26#39;t take too long we only used the batobus for one day when my cousin and wife came down from edinburgh for a couple of days and yes we had a pint at the auld alliance but this trip we tried to do things a little differently hence the ratp pass and the french bar/rstaurant all in all it was great and within budget thank goodness

Montpellier to Agde

I am arriving at Montpellier airport at 21.oo and need to get down to Agde. Taxi%26#39;s are really expensive however I cannot see any other way to get there.

It looks like the trains stop at about 21.00 and it doesn%26#39;t look like there are any buses.

Has anyone have any suggestions or ideas please

|||

As train schedules change often, it is very difficult to offer assistance unless you explain when you are travelling. There is usually a west bound train departing St Roch (Montpellier) after 22h00 but this service typically starts late June/early July.

If you are travelling earlier in June, a taxi is the only way to reach Agde to my knowledge. I should guess given the distance one could expect to pay upwards of 90€ for the trip.

|||

Thank you so much for your reply. I arrive on the 20th June.

Trans from Airport to Hotel de Buci

What is the best way to get from airport to this hotel in the Saint Germaine area?

|||

I stay at the Artus practically next door to Hotel de Buci. I always take a taxi. Pretty lazy I guess, but works for me after a long plane flight.

|||

Taxi is always the best way. Take one outside on the curb. Ignore drivers who may want to approach you inside airport.

|||

After a long international flight, it is a mystery to me why anyone would do anything other than take a taxi directly from the airport to their hotel or apartment. I can%26#39;t see where you are from, but if you have just gotten off a flight longer than 5 hours and waited for your bags and stood in line for customs, you deserve the comfort and convenience of a taxi.

We just went out to the airport to have a short visit with friends who were arriving and then taking off again, and on the RER back to Paris we were in a rush hour crush that was very, very uncomfortable and would have been worse with lots of luggage to look after and travel fatigue.

|||

I like how you think thanks for the advice. Cheri

Train From Carcassonne to Beziers

We need to get a train from Carcassonne to Beziers in October. I%26#39;ve checked on www.voyages-sncf.com and it showed a direct train at 15.18 which would be perfect but when I try to buy the ticket that one disappears and it only shows a couple of trains where we%26#39;d need to change at Narbonne. Can anyone help as my french isn%26#39;t that great.

|||

Tickets are not available for purchase beyond a 3 month window before any given departure date.

You will need to wait until August to purchase tickets.

|||

Thanks for that. I%26#39;ll wait till August then or can I just buy the ticket at the station when I arrive?

Hotel Dieu memorial

Does anyone know what the memorial is in the courtyard of the Hotel Dieu? It appeared to be for interns who died from their duty between 1802 and 1902. There was also a similar one from 1902 to 1952.

There were also memorials in the area to those who died in WWI and WW2, but I wasn%26#39;t sure why there would be one just for regular interns or if I was reading the wording correctly.

Best way to get from Paris to Normandy and Back

We are planning to take a side trip from Paris to Normandy one morning and back the next evening as we pass through to go to the alps. We want to see the D-Day beaches and Mont St Michel. It looks like by train we would need to go to Rennes and head north or Caen and head south. But from what I read, the interconnecting trains and busses are a pain in the behind. Also, when you are touring like that, with no base to leave your stuff, what do you do with your bags? We are just bringing large wheeled backpacks, but even that will get burdensome to lug around all day.

We looked at one day car rentals but they are really high over there - almost $200 right now. I cant see spending that much for one day. But I am not sure if the alternatives look much better. Any ideas on how to do this mini-tour of Normandy more efficitively w.r.t. time and money?

|||

To get d-day and mont st michel in a short trip a car is the best bet.

With a car you can use a d-day audio guide which will save you the cost of several minibus trips or a private guide. Don%26#39;t try to visit without a guide of some sort. The zone covers 60 miles by 10.

At Mont St Michel guides are available in the ticket price. You just have to wait for the next english tour.

For car rental have you looked at

rentacar.fr

or

ada.fr

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If I am correct that you are planning an overnight in Normandy, I would suggest that you choose Bayeux as your base. Choosing between a car rental and train/tour packages would probably be determined by the number in your party. Train travel is usually faster than car routes, but all of the tickets and tour costs can add up to more than car rental. I just find train travel more relaxing than driving, but others would recommend differently. It%26#39;s really a matter of choice.

I%26#39;m not sure from your post if the trip to the Alps is included in these two days. If it is, I think The D Day/MSM visits would be too much. MSM is about an hour and a half from Bayeux, so I would choose one or the other.

It is possible to visit the sites you mention without renting a car. Here%26#39;s how:

1) There is a direct train from Paris St. Lazare to Bayeux. This train goes through Caen, and if you choose to rent a car, I would suggest you that do this in Caen as rates are more competitive than in Bayeux. The cost of this train travel is as little as 28 Euros one way. Read more on the %26quot;France%26quot; forum for discussions on how to purchase your ticket;

2) If you take an early morning train, you can catch a 1/2 day afternoon tour of the Normandy sites. Overlord and Battlebus are two companies that are frequently recommended on this forum, and the cost is about 45 Euros/person for 1/2 day. If you are staying in Bayeux, you can leave your bags at your hotel;

3) The Hotel Churchill offers a minivan trip to Mont St. Michel. Visit their site for the exact cost, but it%26#39;s not cheap. From Bayeux, it is possible to take a train to Pontorson (spelling?) and a bus to MSM. I haven%26#39;t done this, but you should be able to find info on the MSM site. Three hours seems to be the consensus of the time you should plan for your MSM visit.

These are just options that you can consider when choosing the one that is right for you. Have a great trip and let me know if I can answer any questions.

nice brasserie

Can anyone recommend a nice brasserie for an elderly lady travelling and eating alone in the Opera House or Grand Boulevards area. Thanks

|||

There is a book called The Brasseries of Paris by Francois Thomazeau. We checked out from our local library or you can go online. It is published by The Little Bookroom. It is fabulous!!!! It does Brasseries by arrondismont. We loved it, bought it and itis going to Paris with us in September. We are staying in the same general area. Hope you enjoy your trip.

|||

Can check Le Vaudeville on rue Vivienne, a very pretty brasserie (http://www.vaudevilleparis.com/endroit/en/) and for a menu with prices: bestrestaurantsparis.com/restaurant-paris/de…

|||

And they have a %26quot;Munu%26quot; (2-3 courses at a fixed price) for 20 something.

|||

That%26#39;s %26quot;Menu%26quot;.

|||

Hi -

I have found over the years that a %26quot;nice brasserie%26quot; is one where the staff treats me like a regular when I return the first time. I usually start at the one nearest my hotel, and move outward from there, if the service has been pleasant and the food good.

There is no problem for anyone eating alone in any area of Paris, or of France, for that matter. It isn%26#39;t uncommon for ladies of any and every age to be eating alone in their neighbourhood cafes and brasseries, and the waiters (it%26#39;s a predominantly male profession) don%26#39;t show any difference in behaviour toward them that I have noticed. I most often travel without my husband, so I have a lot of first-hand experience with this.

|||

I have been trying not to sound like a broken record or one trick pony by constantly suggesting this place but I absolutely adored the staff and service.

Au General LaFayette at 52 r. La Fayette at the r. Drouot corner. Le Peletier metro stop. 10 minute walk to the opera.

|||

Here is the menu for General Lafayette bestrestaurantsparis.com/restaurant-paris/de…

A question for the ladies only!

Hi - I would like to go bra shopping in Paris. I%26#39;m not talking the noted French lingerie luxury bras in boutiques.That would be nice %26amp; they are beautiful, but with the exchange, forget it. I%26#39;m talking about a decent everyday bra that most French ladies will buy. They can%26#39;t all buy those lacy VERY expensive bras, can they?? So, where do you buy a good bra at reasonable prices? Do they have their own brands like we have here in NA? (Warner%26#39;s, Wonder Bra etc) I was hoping that maybe their regular bras are a little bit better than ours?

Thanks

|||

I buy at Etam Lingerie. You have a lot of outlets all over Paris. Like in the basement of the one Boulevard St Michel. Price is nice, like 20 to 40 euros max a bra, about 10 euros for a knicker

|||

I bought some undies at Monopix.

|||

i like the selection in Au Printemps - very wide range of styles and prices.

|||

Ms. Beeks919 also likes Au Printemps...

|||

Thank you for the replies ladies. I will write them down and try them all out in September. Au Printemps looks huge - 3 buildings!

|||

No offense taken....

MR. Beeks919....

lol

and yes, a cool place to do some shopping...

|||

I second Etam.

|||

You wouldn%26#39;t think it would be so difficult to find those that fit properly - for no back/side overhang but proper cups!

I found the perfect fit, beautiful styles, exceptionally comfortable, with a brand called Vogue Dessous, and I%26#39;m glad I stocked up, because they went out of business some years ago.

In Paris, I%26#39;ve found that the prettier styles are predominantly available for smaller ladies.

The best I%26#39;ve found in Europe were at Marks %26amp; Spencer in London! And at a shop along rue Saint-Dominique in Paris, though I have no idea of the name, but the sales ladies were amazing (and so patient)!

I would say good luck on this in Paris, especially with the dismal exchange rate.

|||

I like the DIM, which I can pick up at Monoprix, just after picking up some shampoo and before getting my eggs. Always cracks me up.

In addition to ETAM, there is Women%26#39;s Secret that has some fun, comfortable wear.

|||

Great thread - shack, when you get back would you mind posting your recommendations based on trying these possibilities? Thanks!

Amsterdam to Paris

Hi travelers,

Can someone please guide me on how to get from Amsterdam to Paris? Im staying at a hotel in Montparnasse and I know there is a station there (Gare de Montparnasse) but I%26#39;m not quite sure how to get there? What form of transportation do I take? Thalys train? Eurorail? TGV? This is my first trip to Europe so I am completely unused to taking the rail (Im from California :P Which station should I take and which rail? Im on this website:

raileurope.com/train-faq/…index.html

But it keeps sending me to Paris Nord station, not Montparnasse! I would appreciate anyone%26#39;s help. Thanks!

|||

Train travel is different than airports. You have to go in the direction of the tracks. thus to get north, you head to the Gare du Nord to get to Northern countries (England, Belgium, Netherlands). Montparnasse station serves south and southwest destinations (Bordeaux). Your hotel should have access to buses and metro which can get you to Gare du Nord. www.ratp.fr for all public transportation within Paris.

Thalys is a nice way to travel to Amsterdam. Try going directly to thalys.com.

|||

There are six major train stations in Paris - all are terminus stations. The trains to and from the North (Belgium, UK, Netherlands) all leave from/arrive at the Gare du Nord. The gare de Montparnasse is for trains to and from the west and south-west of France.

So if you arrive from Amsterdam by train, you will always arrive at the Gare du Nord (unless you take an enormous detour). From there, you can take the metro (or RER, the train that connects the suburbs to Paris) to your destination in Paris (or to another train station if you%26#39;re only passing through).

The fast speed train to/from Belgium and the Netherlands (also some German cities) is called Thalys. Reservations are required, ticket sales start 90 days in advance. Ticket prices vary according to availability and conditions of sale - the cheapest tickets are non-refundable and cannot be changed, more expensive tickets offer more flexibility in case you have a change of plans.

www.thalys.com

The Thalys website links you through to the RailEurope website if you%26#39;re trying to order from the US - but the RailEurope prices are significantly higher. I think the trick is to order the tickets via the Thalys site, and pick them up after your arrival in Europe (instead of having them sent to your home by RailEurope). Do a search on this forum for more detailed hints.

|||

The train from Amsterdam is going to take you to the Gare du Nord station. Thalys train direct from Amsterdam to Paris: I will be taking the same ride in October but from Paris to Amsterdam. The ride is between 4-5 hours and you will take the train from the Amsterdam Centraal Station to Gare du Nord in Paris. And I would book directly with Thalys and not raileurope which is awfully confusing, and I find th tickets less expensive.

|||

Wonderful info. Thank you all so much!

Accomodation in Paris

Hi

I will be spending 4 days in Paris in July, and want to book a place to stay. I am looking for informaton on what area I should consider, it should be connected to the public transport, not very far from the tourist attractions and not very expensived as well.

I see that there is an option to stay in hotels or bed and breakfast or hostels but I am not sure what to expect and how much to pay for it. Is there a reliable website to get this information?

|||

perhaps posting in the Paris forum would get some useful results.

Dinner cruise in Paris on the river Seine

Are the dinner boat cruises good? Can someone recommend one along the Seine?

|||

Yeah, I thought they were good. I think I would just take a cruise, w/o dinner, then go to a nice restaurant.

Here is a website:http://www.bateaux-mouches.fr/la-fete-se-celebre-aussi-dans-lassiette/

|||

I am in Paris right now and took a dinner cruise Monday night. It was the best part of our trip so far. Go to Mygenieinparis.com and book the cruise. Choose the Premier level, it has seating along windows ($135euros per person) Dinner was great and very romantic.

overnight at charles de gualle airport hotel. any sites?

We are transiting through Paris. Will arrive 11:30 am and depart next day at 10:50 am. Staying at airport hotel. Pretty much only have afternoon and evening available. Have visted Paris before. Wud appreciate advice on whether to go into the city, or anything in terms of good restuarants/sites in the area around the airport?

|||

I suppose after baggage claim and customs, you wouldn%26#39;t be able to check into your hotel before 12:30 at least - but you still have enough time to get into the city.

I would allow 35-45 minutes for a taxi or RER into the city. I don%26#39;t really think there%26#39;s much to do around the airport (but I could be wrong).

So you could concievably get into the city by 2:00-2:30 PM - see a few sites, relax in a cafe, have dinner and catch a taxi back to your hotel in time to get some sleep before your flight the next day.

I%26#39;d go into the city, even for an afternoon/evening - I would never waste a chance to spend time in Paris!

Another Eurostar Ticket Question

We%26#39;ll be flying into Paris from Venice this fall and want to take the Eurostar to London, returning to Paris 3 days later. Because the flight might be delayed, I%26#39;m reluctant to book a nonexchangeable ticket on Eurostar. With the semi-flexible option, I can exchange %26quot;before departure%26quot; for a fee. Does this mean before the scheduled departure of the train I%26#39;ve booked or before I actually leave Paris? For example, if we book a train leaving Paris at 1400, but find that our flight from Venice will be 3 hours late (or worse, cancelled due to bad weather)such that we can%26#39;t make that train, do we need to change the ticket before 1400, and if so can it be done by phone? Or can we just show up at Gare du Nord sometime after 1400 and get a ticket for a later train?

|||

You would have to phone them beforehand.

Make sure the airline knows you have this connection to make, and chase them for any extra cost you may incur. Provided always that you have adequate time to make the transfer from aircraft to Gare du Nord. And be at Gare du Nord half an hour before train time.

|||

You can find answers to your questions on the Eurostar website (and it%26#39;s always best to rely on the official source).

If your tickets are exchangeable, you have to change your reserved travel time BEFORE departure. There is a fee, PLUS you have to pay the difference between the fare you booked and the whatever fare is still available for your new departure.

How to rebook depends on how you originally booked your tickets. If you book them online, you can make changes online (and pay the fee and additional fare), or there%26#39;s a phone number to call if you won%26#39;t have internet access. Note that you can do this only once.

If you don%26#39;t book online, you have to contact the agent with which you originally booked your tickets.

I%26#39;m wondering why not just fly to London from Venice, rather than fly to Paris, get yourselves to Gare du Nord, then take the train to London?

You%26#39;ll pay a significant premium for Eurostar tickets that can be exchanged, especially if you are booking round trip. And, then there%26#39;s a fee, and probably additional fare, if you do need to rebook.

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Actually, I checked the air fares and it really does makes more sense to fly to London and back to Paris than it does to take Eurostar.

Thanks to all for the responses.

b and b in france near invidales &th and and ruc clar

am am trying late april to early pay and would a nice boutiquie b$ b tht would give ne the feeling of some staying wit nice old relaivies.i am not one for hi tecg gagdgetc, althouh acomputet would be ncie to catfch up with loved one.lathough we do not generally spend nuch of our time in our room while sightseing, paris just seems to beckin us to have nice, mut not over the top bedroom...i%26#39;m thinkin alsong the lines of country french. what a lovely secene to fome homw to every night!we do like the hotel champs de mars and would prefere to stay in the eiffel and invalides area. any ideas wouod be greatly appreciated.

thanks so much for your time

andrea

CDG Airport to Gare de l’Est

What is the best way to travel from CDG Airport to Gare de l’Est? How long does the trip take?

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Hi;

The best way,IMHO, would be a limo...

But using public transport consider taking the RER B line from CDG to Gare du Nord and changing there to either the metro line 4 direction Porte d%26#39;Orleans or line 5 direction Place d%26#39;Italie, one stop to Gare de l%26#39;Est.

The distance between Gare du Nord and Gare de l%26#39;Est is about 500 meters so you might consider walking.

From CDG to Gare du Nord is about 25-30 minutes.

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I can%26#39;t remember, but does any one know if it is standard practice to leave the RER and actually have to exit a booth into the metro? It would be hard with bags.

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Anyone ever take the RER?

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Can someone help me..I am also arriving at CDG on 6th June and need to go to Gare du nord

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Hi;

When in the terminal look for signs that say

%26quot;RER Paris Centre%26quot; or just RER.

That is the name for the regional train system from the suburbs of Paris to the City.

From CDG take the RER right into Gare du Nord. It will take you about 25 minutes and cost you under 9 euros.

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From my blog:

Bus

There are two bus options:

Roissybus (http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/aeroport_roissybus.php ):

Travels between CDG and Paris Opéra Garnier (rue Scribe and rue Auber). It takes 45-60 minutes. It runs every 15 minutes between 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. and every 20 minutes between 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. Cost: 8.90 euros. You’ll need to take a taxi/métro/bus from Opéra Garnier to your final destination.

Air France Bus (http://transfer.airport-paris.com/air-france-coach-service.htm ):

There are 2 routes to/from CDG:

Route #2: CDG-%26gt;Porte Maillot-%26gt;Arc de Triomphe. Cost: 13 euros 1 way, 20 euros return (R/T).

Route #4: CDG-%26gt;Gare de Lyon-%26gt;Montparnasse. Cost: 14 euros 1 way, 22 euros return (R/T).

There are signs in the airport as to where the bus will pick you up. Pick up locations at CDG are close to gates B1 and C2. Pay the driver in euros when you get on the bus. Travelers with heavy luggage, disabled persons, or families with small children in tow may find this option to be uncomfortable.

Private Shuttle

There are a variety of private shuttle operators at CDG. They are usually chauffeur–driven vans or min-vans that will take you directly to your hotel, sometimes with stops in-between. The cost for a single person is usually about 30 euros with further discounts depending upon the number of people in your party. It is important to make reservations with a shuttle service prior to departing on your trip. Make sure that you have a firm agreement on the price before you contract with a private shuttle company. Shuttles are good options for people with heavy luggage and/or limited mobility.

RER Train

This is probably the cheapest, fastest, and most reliable choice. It runs about every 15 minutes from 5 a.m. until about midnight. It is 8.40 euros (5.80 for children 4-10). The express trip is about 22 to 30 minutes, depending upon your destination.

Route: CDG Terminal 2-%26gt;CDG Terminal 1-%26gt; Gare du Nord-%26gt; Châtelet-Les Halles-%26gt;St-Michel-Notre Dame-%26gt;Luxemborg-%26gt;Port Royal-%26gt;Denfert-Rochereau

When you arrive at CDG, take the 10 minute walk down to the direction of the “gare” (train station). There is a shuttle bus but it isn’t worth waiting for and dragging your luggage on and off. Go downstairs and you will see a ticket office with a line of other travelers waiting. You will see other people purchasing tickets at the ticket kiosk, but unless you have a credit card with a computer chip in it (American credit cards don’t have these), you cannot buy your ticket at the kiosk. Purchase your one-way or return RER ticket to Paris. The ticket will give you a ride to the RER terminal in Paris and a métro ride (if necessary) to your destination. Hold onto your ticket, you may need it to exit the station.

The upside of taking the RER is that it is cheap, reliable, and quick. It will get you close to your destination in Paris. The downside is that there is some walking and escalators/stairs involved. If you have lots of heavy luggage, it may not be a good choice. Sometimes on the RER you will encounter beggars and buskers.

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A taxi will cost 50 Euro, plus/minus. I just stayed at a Parisian friend%26#39;s apartment, on the same street as the station. He and I took a taxi, from CDG, to his apartment, on a Wednesday at around 6-6:30PM. Happy Travels!

Hotels near CDG

an anyone recommend a hotel neard CDG for a quick overnight stay. We fly out early next morning?

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Suite Hotel An Accor hotel Happy Travels!

Bestwestern univers/Snc Hotel/Beau Sejour/ruc /Cannes Gallia

i am planing to stay in cannes for 3 nights on 26 july 09 and planing a day visit to monaco and st tropez ... which hotel do you advise? location and view? thank you

Avoiding lines at the Louvre

I read somewhere(but forgot to save it) where to enter the Louvre to avoid the longer lines. We will be there the second week of june.

Thanks,

Chesapeake Bay House

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There really are no long lines at the Louvre, as there are so many entrances now. If you see what appears to be a long line at the Pyramid entrance, that%26#39;s the line for security. Actually, there are two lines - one for those with bags (long) and one for those without bags (short), and the line moves very quickly. Tickets are purchased once you%26#39;re inside.

There%26#39;s a diagram on the Louvre website with the many entrances.

The problem is more crowds once inside. For whatever reason, we%26#39;ve always had very good luck visiting on Wednesdays just after lunch - perhaps because the morning crowds have thinned and those choosing Wednesday for later closing haven%26#39;t yet arrived.

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Thanks ..that is very helpful.

Chesapeake Bay House

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The Carrousel entrance is often mentioned as an one that doesn%26#39;t have lines (if you search for it, you%26#39;ll see some recent trip reports where the folks used it). When at the Louvre on this past busy Easter Sunday, we used the Pyramid entrance. The security line was long, but moved quickly; the ticket lines though, were really, really long. Luckily, we had Museum Passes, so we could go right in.

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You can also use the automatic ticket machines. You can select English and use cash or an American credit card. We%26#39;ve never had a problem finding an available ticket machine.

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Thanks,

I am not sure the museum pass works for us , but thanks for the info.

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thanks, I didn%26#39;t know about the automated ticket machines. I wlil look for them inside the museum.

Thanks again.

Naturist Beaches & Gay Friendly Areas

Anyboby any tips on the best naturist/gay beaches and gay friendly areas in Nice. Would be nice to hear from like minded people or Nicosians who know the best areas. Also the best bars were travellers are welocomed. Thanks.

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Gay guide to Nice

http://www.geocities.com/peejeepee/

gay provence directory

http://www.gay-provence.org/en/

gay guide

www.absoluliving.com/Nice/Guide/index.en.asp

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%26#39;Thy Jeffs%26#39; is a small bar at the end of my road, on the corner of Place du Pin. It%26#39;s a gay bar or very gay-friendly I believe. I%26#39;ve had a drink or two there with my young daughter - there is pavement section as well as the inside bar. The Thy Jeffs staff will be able to advise you about other clubs and bars too.

Castel Plage is a gay-friendly private beach right at the end of the Prom by the Castle Hill - you will see the rainbow flag flying from the roadside. You can pop down for a drink/coffee/lunch/dinner without an entrance fee or pay an entrance fee to use the sunbeds/parasols on the beach part. Gays men seem to be put on the left hand side as you gaze down from the prom and straight couples and families on the right.

Photography Tips for Nice

Hi,

I travel to Nice next week for a 9 day holiday and am really looking to getting out and about with my camera (I%26#39;ve just finished a digital photgraphy course) and I am looking for ideas of where to photograph and where the best spots and times of day to get scenic pictures.

I also like taking pictures of architecture, repeating patterns and bright things. Any advice would be great and if you have pics of Nice already on flickr that you are happy to share then pls let me know your flickr name.

Thanks

Kathryn

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Top of Castle Hill and Old Town Nice

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I think you%26#39;ll find the old town (Vieux Nice) to be very inspiring with its narrow streets, quaint houses, markets, etc.

For aerial views, the Colline du Château is a great place.

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The port - lots if repeating pattern and possibility for abstracts in the port area with the traditional fishing boats and newer boats , bundles of net and weights , reflections

Musiciens and Cimiez , old town areas for architectural detail - mediaeval, belle epoch and art deco architecture

Russian cathedral

lots of colour and repeating patterns at the markets - especially lay out of veggies , fruits etc

Also before lunch or dinner; tables set for al fresco dining, sunbeds and chairs and umbrellas on the beaches

Personally i prefer to go to Mont Boron/ Mont Alban rather than colline de Chateau as I do a lot of nature photography as well as architectural details -to me there are better views, higher up , and you have the views over Villefranche and cap ferrat as well as over colline de chateau, the port and the baie des anges - and fewer people

But colline de chateau can be good for roof tiles and patterns if its not too hazy.

Look out for the sailing school boats and kayaks they can make amazing patterns especially looking down on them

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I was testing my brand new camera on my holiday in Nice and find that I took most pictures in Eze and Villefranche, stopping along the way snapping aerial views of the riviera. Definitely worth a trip out. Nice old town, the castle hill %26amp; the port have a lot of good spots too!

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Best locations IMO: Eze-Village, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cours Saleya and the Old Town before sunset, old streets in San Remo and the food market in Vintimille and San Remo (the ones where the locals are going), old villages behind Menton (Sospel, Peillon, Touet L%26#39;Escarène, the Old Town in Menton and so much more...

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Kathryn - thank you for asking that question. I too am into digital and am now shooting in raw. I have made a list of the suggestions given here. I am sure we will both have some fun photographing Nice.

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Thanks everyone what great advice - i thought i was excited about my holiday before but I am even more now!

Selkie and YMCA you are great ambassadors for Nice - I have found the advice you have given throughout this forum invaluable when planning the trip!

Weather for next week in Calvi

I%26#39;m going to be in Calvi on Sunday for a week and the weather forecast doesn%26#39;t look great. Should I stop worrying because showers won%26#39;t last long or should I pack my waterproof and boots and turn it into a hiking holiday?

Thanks

P

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I%26#39;d take the waterproof and boots - I%26#39;d take them whatever the forecast, because it is often changeable, with wind as well as rain meaning that you may not always be able to spend all your time on the beach.

And you wouldn%26#39;t want to miss the wonderful walking in Corsica, anyway.

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That%26#39;s good advice. When we%26#39;ve gone away in the summer to other countries we%26#39;ve wanted to go walking but it%26#39;s been too hot to consider it. I%26#39;m thinking positively now!

Thanks

P

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when i looked at the forecast it looked really sunny?

trip reporrt day 6........

DAY 6:All slept in a bit and headed off to montparnasse tower about 10.30. No waiting time here for entrance or lifts.Wonderful view from the 56th floor.You can see all of paris from here including a fabulous view of the eiffel tower.We walked up a few flights of stairs onto the roof which was very spectacular.If you take kids to paris they will love this place-not so crowded and best views ever.Bought some lovely tea towels from gift shop,10 euro each.Also had lunch at tower cafe which was very good.

Mid afternoon decided to make our way to sacre coeur on the metro.Lots of people around here,but still easy to walk around and get into church.Encountered string men walking down main steps but they were not aggresive at all-easy to say %26quot;non Merci%26quot; and keep walking.Loved all the little shops around this area- kids bought some quirky pens from a shop here somewhere.

Dinner at Cafe de champ des mars which was nice and quick after another busy day.

DAY 7:This morning we moved from Paris perfects Cognac apartment to their Chateneuf which is simply beautiful.Like a home away from home to us and would easily go back here in a heart beat.

After quickly unpacking we went to l%26quot;armee museum and Napoleons tomb.Fantastic time here,loved all the cannons and mediaeval armour displays.Teen son was very impressed with all here and thought it was pretty cool that Napoleon had such a magnificant burial place.

Afterwards we walked to Rodin museum(no wait to get in) and enjoyed the beautiful gardens and sculptures.Spent a couple of relaxing hours here.

Evening we had pizza from Pizza Emporter on rue Augereau-great pizzas.

DAY 8:Got to St Chappelle about 9.15,15 mins before opening so not many people in line.What a beautiful place this is and we got to enjoy it in full as the crowds were not about yet.Enjoyed sitting quietly gazing at the rainbow of colours in the stained glass windows.Hubby sure went crazy with the camera here!

Afternoon took teen girl to champs elysee and we all enjoyed the shops here.Found a couple of t-shirts at esprit for 12 euro.

Evening we walked to eiffel tower and line wasn%26#39;t too long so we decided to go to top.Only waited about 20 mins for the lift. Was nice to go to top,but view was a little hazy as it had been a very warm day and a storm was on the way.Got back to apartment about 10.30 and shortly after a storm came over the city and we had the spectacular sight of lightening around the eiffel tower.This was the stuff you see on post cards and movies -truly amazing.Finally crashed out about 1am.

DAY 8:Went to catacombs thismorning.This was the only day we had any rain and we got caught in a shower waiting to go into catacombs.Really enjoyed our visit though- this was a favourite of the kids.

Afternoon hubby went to st sulpice while teen girl and I loked around le bonne marche.

Dinner we went to La Terrasse and finally got to try snails!They were delicious (in garlic butter), even the kids enjoyed them.Other dishes we had were steak,bass fillet,chicken and rice, salad.For dessert we shared crepes,chocolate cake and berthillion sorbet and ice cream.Really enjoyed our meal here,great waiter.Total 127 euro.

DAY 9:Last morning in Paris so we took a relaxing river cruise before heading off to the airport.Great way to finish our trip.

We saw so much in 9 days and the advice from TA members was very valuable in the planning stages.A little research for a big trip certainly pays off. We saw gypsies,ring scam,string men ,beggars,street peddlars but had no problems at all simply due to the fact we were aware of their way of operating.

Any way back to reality this week.So wish we were still watching the eiffel tower sparkle while enjoying mouth watering pastries.Maybe one day.......

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You really covered some ground in 9 days! I%26#39;m impressed with your organisation. That%26#39;s the way I like to do it - get organised and make best use of time. What a shame to be back home - esp now it%26#39;s getting colder and darker!

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Loved your report - we had to Paris in 16 days with 3 teens! Thank you!

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thank you for the great report

The ET in the storm sounds magical!

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thanks for another wonderful report,, really enjoyed it.

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enjoyed the reports blinki, apreciate the time and effort

4 weeks till we do an aussie invasion of our own!

T

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enjoyed the reports blinki, apreciate the time and effort

4 weeks till we do an aussie invasion of our own!

T

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St Chappelle is my favorite .... the dark rich colors, in the church will always be my vision of Paris. My personal highlight.

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Thankyou all for your kind replies.We had a fabulous trip, a trip of a lifetime. Hope all of you heading to paris soon have a wonderful time.Enjoy every moment and soak up as much as you can.Bon voyage