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

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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.

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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?

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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

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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.

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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…

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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I bought some undies at Monopix.

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

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Ms. Beeks919 also likes Au Printemps...

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

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No offense taken....

MR. Beeks919....

lol

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

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I second Etam.

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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.

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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.

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