club level rooms

does anyone have a list of hotels in paris that have a club/executive level?

thanks

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We stayed at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe and they had an executive level and a great lounge with food, snacks, drinks etc. I%26#39;m not sure if it is only for Hilton Gold card members though.

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Marriott Champs Elysees has an executive lounge that you can upgrade to.

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thanks for the responses.

I was aware of the Hilton but hadn%26#39;t thought of the Marriott. I%26#39;ll check the website and the reviews here on TA.

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Hi --

I think you%26#39;ll find those floors only in the Big American chains

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Removed on: 10:16 pm, September 23, 2009

driving through the alps in may!!

My husband and I are planning to drive via %26quot;la route des alpes%26quot;. Apparently, many of the passes are closed till early June??

Does that mean that the drive is not possible? Alternatives? Would appreciate any advice.

Thanks

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The phrase %26quot;the pass is closed%26quot; means that the road through the pass is closed. This is not unusual in mountainous areas. You will have to find a different route at lower elevations, or travel in a different month.

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This sounds like fun, but yes, May is too early too drive the complete route.

First stop, if you haven%26#39;t already, check out the website: http://www.routedesgrandesalpes.com and on the English version, then click on the +info in the middle - the site gives lots of useful information.

The pass the I would think will definitely be closed (the highest in Europe I think) is the Col de l%26#39;Iseran above Val D%26#39;Isère - I drove it in mid-June a couple of years back and it was only just open and you could see snow all around.

It depends where you want to end up as to how to avoid it, but you may well have to go via motorway from Albertville to the Maurienne area (or vica versa if you are coming up from the south) - this means you will also miss out on the Cornet de Roselend.

Be warned also that in many of the mountain villages, there are only a few restaurants/shops open in May, or none in the smaller ones as it is out of season. La Clusaz, which I know well, is pretty dead (or beautifully quiet - depending which way you view it) at that time, but there%26#39;s always something open there.

Good luck - you will be driving through beautiful countryside whatever route you take between Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean.

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PS: sorry just realized it also goes over the Col de la Colombière near Le Grand Bornand - this is always closed until the end of May - to avoid it, if coming from Morzine, you will have to drive up to La Clusaz from Cluses/Bonneville (A40 motorway).

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Removed on: 10:18 pm, September 23, 2009

Paris Museum Pass

Do it. We questioned the worth before going but couldnt have been happier with the 4 day 45 Euro pass we bought. We definitely saved a bit of money but that was marginal compared to the ancillary benefits. On a cold and rainy Easter wknd we skipped lines at every place (except Saint Chapelle bc of security). Also we stopped in museums for a half hour or so that we wouldnt have waited to see (such as the Picasso Museum and L%26#39;Orangerie).

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Yes, one of the great benefits to the MP is the convenience of skipping the lines.

You really DO skip the lines at St. Chapelle, the line you encountered was the security line to get past the secure area surrounding St. Chapelle. Some genius(es) decided to build some important government buildings around St. Chapelle, requiring you to pass through them first before you get to St. Chapelle itself.

Also, I am not sure if the MP allows you to skip the lines to go up the towers of Notre Dame. Can anyone else confirm?

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I had the pass last year and it didn%26#39;t allow me to skip the line. I went early so I only waited about 20 minutes.

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i%26#39;ve been on the fence about buying the MP, but we%26#39;re only in paris for such a short time (4 days) i think it%26#39;ll be worth it to skip lines. can this be purchased prior to leaving the states (via a website?) or should i wait. if i wait, where do i buy it? thanks.

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We were on the fence about purchasing it as well, but because we were in Paris for only 4 days, we thought it was worth it to be able to cut in line. One of the best purchases we made.

We bought ours at the Lourve, since that was the first place we went that sold it. It was a mad house at the Lourve, we went into a small room, bought it and walked upstairs and went right in.

It does not allow you to cut in line at ND, but you don%26#39;t have to pay additional once you go through the line.

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You can buy it ahead of time, but it will cost you about a 12 euro premium. IMO this is not necessary.

The Museum Pass website has a complete list of places you can buy it.

www.parismuseumpass.com/en/pass_points.php

I buy it at one of the less crowded museums, so I don%26#39;t have to wait in line to make the purchase.

I%26#39;ve bought it without waiting at:

Conciergerie (close to St. Chapelle)

Musee de l%26#39;Armee/Napoleon%26#39;s Tomb

Cluny Museum

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Can someone tell me if the pass is worth it if you%26#39;re eligible for the many under 26 discounts paris attractions seem to have?

Thanks.

Link to my original thread:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k18534…

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I bought it right after I arrived at CDG (see the PMP website) at the visitor info booth. No extra fee, used credit card.

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Removed on: 1:27 am, September 24, 2009

Distance from Amiens rail station to downtown Amiens

Hi everyone

We will be arriving in Amiens in early May at the Amiens railway station and will be picking up a car at Europcar at Rue de l%26#39;ile Mysterieuse. Can anybody tell me how far this is as I can%26#39;t seem to locate a detailed map of the Amiens area.

Thanks

Jan

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5.7 kms between the 2 locations, the rail station is city centre and the location of Europcar is in Boves on the extreme outskirts of the town close to the airport

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Hi

Because the office is near the airport, send a message and ask if they have a shuttle bus from the airport to their location. It%26#39;s always easy to get to the airport, and if they have a shuttle as well, your transportation problem is solved.

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Many thanks for the information - it gives me a couple of alternatives :-)

Jan Sydney Oz

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Removed on: 12:28 am, September 24, 2009

Travel from nice airport to St.Raphael station

hi i am going to a holiday camp 8km from St.Raphael train station.I need some info on how to get from nice airport to st.raphael?Anybody know?

Also i need to know of some great days out ideal for a 3 year old.I know of the zoo and a marine show place any other places?

Also i heard it is a bit pricey in the south of france is this true are there any pointers on how to keep things cheap as im on a budget.

Im going in May

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Take a bus or taxi to Nice Station. I t won%26#39;t take long. The trip to St Raphael by rail is easy and beautiful.

Details of buses can be found on the Nice Airport website:-

http://www.nice.aerport.fr/access

Not being the owner of children, I cannot make any suggestions but try looking on the tourist info website for St Raphael.

Incidentally, if you would like a lovely, unspoilt, and relatively quiet beach, head eastwards out of St Raphael on the N98 towards Agay. Before you reach Agay, just the east side of Boulouris, is a beach variously called Camp Long, or Tiki Plage, at Cap du Dramont. It is a lovely little bay with fresh water showers, a cafe, and a lovely walk around the headland with spectacular views. The beach is very sandy and shelves about a foot or so but then is level, so should be ok for a 3 year old, with supervision. The beach is public, so there is no charge. You might see a few topless grannies among others, but this should not faze a 3-year old. It is not a St Tropez style parade, but is a family beach, popular with snorkellers and divers. Your child will be thrilled at the fish swimming in the shallow water around your feet. I guess you could reach it by coastal bus in about 20 minutes from St R. Go onto Google Earth and look for Plage de Camp Long, St Raphael, France.In May the water will be cool but you will soon warm up and get dry in the sun and of course the Med is so buoyant.

Personally I think it is a fallacy that the south of France is expensive. It depends what you choose to do and where you go to eat. I have found that food (and clothes) at the markets (and St R has several, as does Frejus which is right next to it)is very reasonable and we have picnic lunches made from the market produce: bread, salad, cooked chicken/ham from the rotisseries, fruit etc. prepared in the morning. All cafes/restaurants have menus posted outside so you can judge your budget accordingly.

Frejus has a number of Roman ruins.

Boat trips would be fun for your child.

Have a lovely holiday but please don%26#39;t tell too many people though about the beach.

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Hi

Thanks for the info i will let you know how i get on

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Hi .... yes, you can take bus, just outside the terminal the railway station (around 4 euro). Dont take a taxi.

But I know you also can take a direct bus to Saint Rahael at 900, 12.30, 15.45 and 19.30 at same spot, just outside the terminal. (around 21 euro)

There%26#39;s also another bus to Saint Rahael, but over Cannes.

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Not sure which holiday camp you%26#39;ll be staying in, but the beach in May is usually a winner for young kids.

As BarbaryCoaster mentioned, the Camp Long beach is nice. In fact, I posted a slide show about it here on TripAdvisor (under Video) - primitive video, but it shows you the sites. The beach is especially great for kids because it is very sheltered, it rents pedalos on warmer days and it has a very nice little restaurant right on the beach (plus snack next door).

Other fun things for kids in the area are pony rides in the Esterel (Les 3 Fers at Cap Esterel used to have them for 2-4 years-old, check their site/email for latest info), easy walks in the Esterel (I write guidebooks about gentle hikes on the Cote d%26#39;Azur, so I have a bunch of recommendations there).

St Raphael has some nice old merry-go-rounds (right on the seaside promenade), a playground that overlooks the bay (above Parking Bonaparte), a mini-golf by the sea.

I also enjoy the Parc Phoenix in Nice for little kids - they have a huge tropical greenhouse, lots of room to play among the flowered park. It%26#39;s close to the Nice airport, not too expensive.

As for keeping expenses down, if you buy local produce from the marchés, you%26#39;ll get not only fresh food but you%26#39;ll save on restaurant costs. St Raphael has a quiet local fish market every morning by the old port. Not exactly inexpensive, but they%26#39;re only allowed to sell freshly caught local fish. It%26#39;s interesting to see what%26#39;s caught out there.

Have fun!

AzurAlive.com

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Removed on: 3:19 am, September 24, 2009

In Cannes for 11 hours....what to do?

Hello Everyone,

We will be arriving in Cannes June/08 for approximately 11 hours and want to know if anyone has any suggestions on what to do.

We thought we may take the train to Monaco and then on the way back stop in Antibes.

Would we have enough time to just wander around both and find a place to have a glass or two of wine with a meal?

Do you recommend other stops to make?

How reliable are the trains? Can you buy a ticket to Monaco and stop where you want or do you have to buy a ticket for each stop that you may want to make?

Thank you in advance,

sabi

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You could just stroll around Cannes%26#39; Croisette promenade, with its tall palm trees, its long beach with parcels of private restaurants and beach chairs and its grand hotels on the other side.

Good shopping on rue d%26#39;Antibes and vicinity.

Check out the old part of town in the Suquet and the Musée de la Castre, for the views from above town.

If you%26#39;re not into shopping but prefer nature/beaches, hop on to the Lerins islands - 15 min away by ferry and fun to walk around.

Everything is easily accessed on foot in Cannes, including the train station and its schedules. I wouldn%26#39;t bother spending time in transportation to Monaco or elsewhere if you have just 11 hours.

Enjoy!

AzurAlive.com

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Removed on: 3:21 am, September 24, 2009

If you had to choose between the Somme and Loire Valley...

We have three and a half days to see these 2 areas and then we are heading to Paris for a week where we have an apartment booked. We will have a car but dropping it off once we get to Paris.

I%26#39;m thinking we might be better to just do one area rather than trying to squeeze in both but which one?

I know it is possible to do a day trip to Amiens once we are in Paris for a WW1 battlefield tour (our main reason for seeing the Somme) but the Somme area also looks very beautiful. I am worried we will regret not staying longer in the Somme area.

Any suggestions. Please share your thoughts. I%26#39;m a big fan of TA. It is a blessing!

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We stayed in Azay-Le-Rideau near the Loire which is south west of Tours about 5 years ago. We had 4 nights in October and found plenty to do. There are very many Chateaux along the banks of the Loire and it%26#39;s tributaries east and west of Tours. If you are interested in Chateaux, Michelin do a series of books called %26quot;The Green Guide%26quot; and there is a very good one %26quot;Chateaux of the Loire%26quot;. The scenery in the area is very picturesque with meandering streams and rivers with Troglydite caves along it%26#39;s river valleys.

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I would have to say the Loire for interesting countryside and things to see, if aim to fill 3 days. The landscape to the north of Paris is flat, and therefore somewhat uninteresting, for touring by car.

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Thanks for that. So where would be a good place to base ourselves in the Loire Valley? I have been looking at Blois but I am wondering if it is a little too quiet at night from the point of view of restaurants and entertainment. Any ideas?

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I am from the Somme (although, having no car, i have never toured the WWI cemeteries), and i wouldn%26#39;t choose the Somme over the Loire Valley. I don%26#39;t think you will regret spending more time in the Loire Valley. The Somme is very flat, so i just say do the day tour, visit the Cathedral in Amiens (and if you can, the quartier St Leu to the left of the cathedral)

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If you have decided on the Loire and you think Blois will be too quiet for you, Tours is the place to be. I suggest you post further questions on the Loire forum for more local knowledge.

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Blois would be an excellent choice as your base on the Loire Valley.

There is always something going on in the evenings , especially in the summer months, and there are many very nice restaurants within the city center.

Within 30 mins of Blois you have many of the more famous Chateau, including Blois, Chenonceau and Chambord.

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Removed on: 4:19 am, September 24, 2009

Le Relais d'Entrecote, couple of questions

hello all,

Interested in eating in this restaurant in the 6e as hubby is a big steak lover. Couple of questions:

1) Does it have a Prix Fixe menu, and if so, how much and what is included?

2) Can you request the steak well done, hubby won%26#39;t eat steak with any trace of pink!

TIA!

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Fantastic restaurant, great ambiance and always a line out front. Be there at 7PM if you don%26#39;t like to wait....there is only one price:28euros (last time I went was about 6months ago). That includes a small salad, sliced steak with an incredible garlicky sauce and fantastic fries. The dessert menu is long and good but extra. The only choice you have on the main dish is how you want it cooked, and yes, you can get it well done.

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Perfect, thank you, exactly what I needed to know!

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Removed on: 4:19 am, September 24, 2009

port of st florent

We are calling into st florent frim the cruise ship in may. What is there to do? Or should we book a trip with P%26amp;O.

Thankyou

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It depends on how much time you have. You can see round the little town and citadel in less than two hours, including taking the short walk to the Cathedral of the Nebbio. There are a lot of cafes and restaurants. There is also a pleasant enough beach, with pedalos and kayaks for hire, but not the best Corsica has to offer.

If you have a good bit of time, I would recommend taking a boat trip to the beaches of the Desart des Agriates. These beaches are very beautiful. The problem there is if you arrive in a busy time you might not get on a boat right away.

Another suggestion is hiring a car to travel the very scenic road to Bastia. We met a family from an american cruise ship who did that. You can also hire bikes in St. Florent if you fancy that.

If time is limited and you don%26#39;t want to bother with a car, you could look around St. Florent, and then take a taxi to Patrimonio to visit some of the wine cellars in the village - a very pleasant pastime.

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Thankyou, I think we will take you up on your advice and not bother with a P%26amp;O excursion.

Natalie

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Removed on: 5:18 am, September 24, 2009

What time do ski hire shops shut in Belle Plagne

Does anyone know what time the ski hire shops (ski set) shut on a Saturday?

Thanks

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There are three skiset shops in La Plagne and here are their opening hours.

www.belle-plagne-sports.com/htgb/0001.htm

You do know it is cheaper if you reserve online before you arrive?

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Thanks

Yes i have pre booked the skiis i just need to collect them and i needed some idea of where i was going as have young child in the group who wont want to be searching for long!

Thanks for your help!

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Removed on: 5:20 am, September 24, 2009

Tour de France 2008 - Stage 9 & 10

I am planning a trip to see the TdF this year and wondered if anyone had actually taken the plunge and done this independantly?

I will be looking to arrive at Toulouse 12 July and stay for 3 nights to see the Toulouse - Bagneres-de-Bigorre stage and the Pau - Hautacam stage.

I%26#39;ve found varuous tours online, however, the flights do not match up with the pick up transfers by the companies involved, therefore we would have to hire a car - so I thought it would make more sense to DIY the tour myself.

Any help with this would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance - I look forward to any suggestions you may have.

Many thanks

Lindsay

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Hi Lindsay,

I have seen the Tour a few times in various places although never in the Pyrenees. I really don%26#39;t think you need to take a tour, it is not difficult to do it yourself. You may not need it but nearer the time the Tour de France website publishes a very detailed timetable for each stage with all roads and approximate times listed.

I don%26#39;t think the Pyrenees are as bad as the stages in the Alps but it will be very busy. Many people will have camped out on the mountain to get a good spot for the day, so if you aren%26#39;t going to do this and you want to see the best climbs I would say go very, very early both to get a good place and ensure you are up there before the road closes (they do this very early if it is busy - a couple of years ago the Alpe d%26#39;huez road was closed the day before). Take plenty of food, water, books and some means of keeping in touch with the race and settle down for a long wait. Also allow for a few hours to get back down the mountain after the riders have gone through. Once the road has reopened the traffic is horrendous. If you don%26#39;t mind the uphill walk you may even be better leaving your car at the bottom if you don%26#39;t intend to go too far up. (I think in the same year I mentioned before it took some people over a day to clear Alpe D%26#39;Huez as the road was closed until the next day). THe amount of people there may well depend on how the race is going, if a French or Spanish rider is doing well it will probably be busier.

If you are staying in Toulouse the first night I think it may be difficult for you to get to the climbs later on that day, especially when the roads are being closed and it is a Sunday which will probably have more people there, and it could take you a long time to get back. You may be better trying to get a hotel somewhere near to where you want to be on the route. Same goes for the next day.

It may be helpful (if you haven%26#39;t already done so) to post a similar message on a forum attached to a cycling magazine or something like that as I%26#39;m sure there will be plenty of people who have been to the same stages and can give you better advice.

I hope this is helpful and I haven%26#39;t said anything too obvious - you may well know all this as you are obviously cycling fans. I would definately go if you can, despite the long wait and some problems in getting up and down the mountains, the atmosphere is great, you will meet some really nice and always interesting people and seeing the race live is incredible

Alison

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Thank you so much Alison,

I now feel more confident about making my own arrangements, as the designated tours were rather expensive too. I didn%26#39;t realise the TdF site would have times, detailed maps etc. so that info is much appreciated.

I%26#39;ll take your advise and find a cycling forum and hope I can get everything sorted in the next couple of weeks. Fingers crossed!

Many thanks again - if you think of any other advise, please do not hesitate to contact me again. Although I am not a massive fan myself, I do take an interest as my partner loves it and this is a birthday surprise for him - so I am hoping it will all come together.

Best wishes

Lindsay

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We were in the same dilemma. We are flying into Toulouse, hiring a car and staying at a Gite at St Marie Campan. From what I can gather we will be able to see two stages from this spot.

The place we are staying is http://www.gite-chambre-bernatou.com/

We have also managed to hire bikes in the area.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Robyn

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Hi there Robyn,

Thanks for the reply.

Our flight is now confirmed into Toulouse also and currently I have a reservation at the Best Western La Miramont in Argeles-Gazost - although I still have to sort out our car hire !

How long are you staying for - we have a very brief visit planned from the evening of the 12 Jul to the morning of 15 Jul - just enough to see the 2 stages, I hope !

It%26#39;s all a surprise for my partner%26#39;s 40th birthday - last year we did the Velka Pardubice horserace in the Czech Republic and this is the next event on his wish-list - so I am hoping it all goes to plan as I am not a total officianardo of the TdF - which I hope will be easy to negotiate and work in our favour when we get there !

If you find out any other info about routes, how we get around once there for the race days, and best places to be, etc. - I would appreciate it if you drop me a message !

Many thanks - we may even see you there !! Will you be the one in the red devils costume !!??!!

Take care and safe journey

Lindsay

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Removed on: 6:18 am, September 24, 2009

A stop between Bordeaux and St. Bonnet le Froid

We are going to France in July and are planning to drive from Bordeaux to St. Bonnet le Froid. Does anybody have any suggestions on what route to choose, and where to stay for one night? We love wine, good food, small villages and beautiful nature.

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I would go Perigeux - Brive - Clermont, maybe with a detour to see one of the caves on the first day. Font de Gaume is one of the best: www.leseyzies.com/grottes-ornees/index.htm

but this will add about 1 hour to your journey time.

Stop somewhere around Brive for the night.

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Removed on: 7:16 am, September 24, 2009

Paris Accomodations

My 21 yr old daughter and I plan to stay in Paris for a few days in late June. We enjoy quaint pensions, in nice typical Parisian neighborhoods....any recommendations?

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what is your price range?

I personally prefer staying around Saint Germain des Pres, the atmosphere there is nice. same can be said of many areas around 7éme, 6éme and 3éme for example. is there anything in particular you%26#39;d like to be close to?

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Look at this, you may not get a room they fill fast , but try,

Hotel des Grand Ecoles

Good luck

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We stayed in a lovely apt in the 7th last week. check out www.allure-apart.com

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for under 100€, I%26#39;d look into Hotel du College de France. located in 5eme/6eme, a pretty nice basic place.

for €150, Hotel Louvre Sainte Anne should be a good place, right in the middle of 2eme. if youre looking to spend a bit more, Hotel Artus (in the €220 range) is really nice and perfectly located in Saint Germain

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Removed on: 7:17 am, September 24, 2009

Port Maillot Bus Terminal to Five Hotel Rue Flatters.

Which Metro Line?

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Rue Flatters in the 5th.

With luggage go RER C to RER B at St. Michel. Stop at Port Royal. A bit longer of a ride but it is nice, you pass the Eiffel Tower.

Otherwise metro line 1 to Palais Royal-Louvre switch to Line 7 to Les Gobelins.

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Thank You

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Removed on: 7:20 am, September 24, 2009

markets in Normandy

We have read about the Monday market in Saint Pierre sur Dives and are thinking about making a stop there in late April. It sounds like a great place to see the variety of Normandy cheeses on display. Will there be fresh produce %26amp; other vendors too? Will it be pretty much done by noon? Our other option would be the Wednesday morning market in Bayeux, but is that much smaller? Also, does anyone know if Rouen holds a market on Wednesday morning, since we came across only reference on that. We would very much appreciate your insights on these markets with respect to their sizes, variety of vendors and products, and best hours to visit. Thanks much in advance!

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Link to Rouen market details:

www.rouentourisme.com/default.asp…

Hope it helps a bit!

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Dear AllonsEU: Thank you very much for this link; it is very helpful. I think you also helped us with another useful link about train stations. Many, many thanks!

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Removed on: 8:20 pm, September 10, 2009

Disneyland Paris in May

I am booked to stay in the Dream Castle Hotel in May and really looking forward to it but just wanted to find out if the park is very busy at this time of the year, should I expect long queues?

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%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;should I expect long queues?%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;

Not as long as in summer.

Best days to attend to avoid crowds: Tuesday and Wednesday.

Rain can really clear the crowds but does not close the park for those who stay.

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I don%26#39;t know what happed.

Correction:

Best days to attend to avoid crowds: Tuesday and Thursdays

French children do not attend school all day Wednesday and the park can be generally fuller. Fridays and Mondays are bridge days used to extend weekend visits thus tend to be busier.

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Removed on: 6:16 pm, September 16, 2009

Marche Richard Lenoir

We will be staying on Blvd Richard Lenoir and plan to go this market on Sunday. What does this market sell? I have hear about the vegetables, fruit and

meat. Do they sell bread and crossiants? Do they sell clothing?

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I haven%26#39;t been in a few weeks but they were selling clothing, nothing of a great quality. There was some bread but you are better off finding a boulangerie for the croissants. Good cheese and flowers to be found at the markets.

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Inthegarden, if you have time befor you leave then you might try your local library or Chapters for %26quot;Paris in a Basket%26quot; ISBN 3-8290-4624-3. All the markets are profiled in the book. There appears to (at least when published) be a boulanger at the market

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The official name for this Sunday street marché along Blvd. Richard Lenoire, running north from Place de la Bastille is MARCHÉ de la CRÉATION. But it is actually a mix/jumble of all sorts of art, general merchandise and foods.

Perhaps some of this will help to give you a better idea of what%26#39;s available..at least in the way of art.

MARCHE DE LA CREATION PARIS BASTILLE

http://www.artistesparisbastille.fr/

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%26lt;%26lt;The official name for this Sunday street marché along Blvd. Richard Lenoire, running north from Place de la Bastille is MARCHÉ de la CRÉATION. But it is actually a mix/jumble of all sorts of art, general merchandise and foods.%26gt;%26gt;

The %26quot;MARCHÉ de la CRÉATION%26quot; is on SATURDAY and is worth the visit. We just took our (my) in-laws there today. There is absolutely no food at the Marché de la Création. It%26#39;s strictly art.

The SUNDAY market: Marché Bastille (Marché Richard-Lenoir) on Blvd Richard Lenoir at the Bastille (Same location) is 90% food. There is no art except for the culinary variety. There are a few clothing vendors and some vendors of books and what-not but it%26#39;s the place to get food on Sunday. As FlashBy sez %26lt;%26lt;you are better off finding a boulangerie for the croissants%26gt;%26gt; Don%26#39;t go there for bread or pastries. It%26#39;s a great market and should be high on everyone%26#39;s list but breads baked fresh at the location of the actual oven should be the goal.

We keep a copy of %26quot;Paris in a Basket%26quot; on our coffee table and gift it to our friends who are visiting for the first time. Great book, great pictures. The schedule for markets in the index is out of date but mostly correct. Get this book.

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Go to this website to see the food markets of Paris, there are so many of them, but the Marché Bastille is always said to be one of the best.

As you can see below, it is open on Thursdays and Sundays, but Sunday is by far the busiest day. The Thursday market has a few fewer stands.

This is our neighborhood weekly market, and we have learned to go early, before 9:30am, to beat the huge crowds. It is mostly food, there are a few stands selling clothes, but this is a serious food market, and if you buy just a bit of everything that appeals to you, you will have to invite several friends over to help you eat it all. We know because we did this when we first arrived, now we go with a list.

There are several bread stands, but I don%26#39;t think that I have ever seen croissants. But, since we don%26#39;t look for them, there may be there and we just haven%26#39;t noticed.

Marché Bastille

(anciennement Richard-Lenoir)

Bd Richard Lenoir entre les rues Amelot et Saint-Sabin.

Jeudi, 7h à 14h30 et dimanche, 7h à 15h

Métro : Bastille

Bon Appétit

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I forgot to add the above mentioned web site. Here it is:

paris.fr/portail/…

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;The %26quot;MARCHÉ de la CRÉATION%26quot; is on SATURDAY%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

Oooops...booted that. Nice catch. The Yankees are in need a quick, sure-handed second baseman this season. If you can hit a major league curve ball as well as you field; there may be a second career awaiting you in the infield in the Bronx.

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My experience is that is that it%26#39;s quite food orientated on a Sunday. We got a nice bottle of champagne and picnic food.

Have been by on other days when there seemed to be clothes and so on.

ebabe

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Thanks for all the great information.

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Removed on: 8:17 am, September 20, 2009

Family-friendly villa with pool.

Hello everyone,

Am trying to book a family-friendly 2/3 bedroom villa with pool for school hols. Help ! Am beginning to realise that I may have left it tooooo late to get anything decent. Would like to try Balagne/Cap Corse/ South this time as been to Propriano/Valinco area couple of times. Husband wants view, children, (2 boys of 7%26amp;6,) need garden and pool with shallow end - I%26#39;d like to be within striking distance, of a fair-size town with good restaurants so that I don%26#39;t end up cooking all the time. Have used these forums in the past for Crete and hoping that the kind of fab people I%26#39;ve met on Corsica in the past will take pity on me and inundate me with lovely properties and websites to try !

Here%26#39;s hoping,

Jacqueline

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We always stay in hotels on Corsica so have no villa knowledge, however some Americans we met in Calvi a year or so back were very happy with their villa rented via www.abritel.fr

You just log on to Corse and specify what you are looking for, and go from there. Good luck.

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Thanks for the tip. Here%26#39;s hoping we get something soon - will keep watching Forum !

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Removed on: 7:18 am, September 24, 2009

economic hotel in Paris, centrally located

Me and my husband will visit Paris on next september. We are looking for a budget 2 or 3 star hotel centrally located. Sould say 4th or 5th arroundissment. Anyone could give us any suggestion ? Many thanks !!!!

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%26#39;Budget%26#39; accommodation is an oft discussed topic/question.

I suggest you first use the excellent search facility in this forum to see previous suggestions. That will give you something to work too and you can check feedback here and/or in the TA Hotel %26amp; Accommodatins feedback section.

ebabe

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Hiya, don%26#39;t know if my idea of budget is the same as yours but I use the TimHotel chain and in particular stay at the TimHotel Jardin Des Plantes in the 5th which is nothing special but nice, clean and in a good location.

Have a look at the website -

http://www.timhotel.com/us/home.html

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If you would prefer a small Parisian hotel rather than a chain hotel the Jeanne D%26#39;arc hotel in the Marais district would be a good choice. It is in an excellent location is surrounded by cafes and is very good value.

http://www.jeannedarchotel.com/

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That%26#39;s a nice looking option Helking. I%26#39;ve book marked it for future use.

ici175 Here are the TA reviews for the hotel which are also favourable

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d189228…

ebabe

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Hi,

We have booked Hotel de Ruoen for our Paris trip in May 2008. It is just a few minutes walk to the Lourve Museum. Very centrally located! And it is only 55 Euros per night! Here is the web site:

http://www.hotelderouen.net/uk_location.htm

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I woud be careful of the Hotel de Rouen - so long as you understand claerly what basic/budget truly means in this case.

The reviews are mixed - small, cramped, dirty etc but all are happy with the location.

ebabe

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We stayed at Les Hauts de Passy last fall, and loved it. It%26#39;s very central (10-min walk to the Eiffel), and it%26#39;s located in a very nice part of Paris. The hotel itself is on a quiet pedestrian-only street and everything you need is within a block. The accomodations are very clean and comfy, and it costs about 100Euro a night. We got a package deal through Travelocity, and it was very affordable.

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The best budget hotel I have stayed in is the Hotel du Marais, 2bis rue Commines. It%26#39;s in the 3rd, but only a few minutes walk from the livelier part of the Marais.

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I just came back from Paris the other night. I traveled by myself. I was looking for a 1- or 2-star hotel for cheap.

You must remember that Europe is not like the States; it%26#39;s much safer. So long as you%26#39;re near a Metro stop, you%26#39;ll do fine.

I used Rick Steves%26#39; book to narrow my search. Then, I came to TA to check out real people%26#39;s reviews. I checked out the website. I wanted a hotel that took online bookings.

I ended up staying at Hotel Royal Phare for 74 Euro per night for a single room (although they sometimes have specials). It%26#39;s in the 7e arondissement (not far of Tour Eiffel) in the Rue Cler neighborhood (tres chic et tres cher (expensive)). The metro stop Ecole Militaire is literally right outside the front door of the hotel.

I booked online with a 5 Euro upcharge for booking online (although you could just call them). After booking, I showed the TA reviews to my mom, who suggested that I request a room with a view of the Eiffel Tower. There was no such request on the booking form, so I emailed them. I recieved a response within hours honoring my request. As it turns out, I was received by the same receptionist who responded to my email.

Bottom line:

Clean

Friendly

Near to transportation

Cheap

Speak English (although I didn%26#39;t try this, I heard them speaking English to other clients)

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Removed on: 8:16 pm, September 20, 2009

Paris

going to paris in May staying at Caron De Beaumarchais. How far is the Eiffel Tower from hotel,can we walk?

want to take night tour and tour of Giverney (Monet home) should we buy these tickets in advance, thinking about the bus tours.

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It is about 5 km to the Eiffel tower - partly along the Seine river banks. So definitely doable, should take about 1 hour.

You can use www.mappy.com to plan the trip (the %26quot;Tour Eiffel%26quot; is in postcode 75007).

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Removed on: 6:18 am, September 24, 2009

Best area to stay the first week of November

My wife and I have never been to Corsica and see that the weather in November is rainy. Which area has the least rain or is about the same all over the island. We were planning to rent a villa.

Thankyou

David and Cynthia Huber

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In November Corsica will be colder with some rain and approaching winter. October would be a better month to catch some late summer sun, and there would be more life and activity on the island. In low season, I would have thought that the Balagne area around Calvi would offer the best scenario for a holiday, and possibly for better weather too.

The latest in the year I have visited Corsica is 2nd week of October and we enjoyed a week of gentle sun and blue skies, no rain, but of course we may have been lucky. Good luck !

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I%26#39;ve been at my cottage in southern Corsica during every month in the year, over the last 30 years, and so experienced just about everything the weather can through at you*. Certainly November can be very changeable (although you do have the chestnuts to compensate!) In my experience east is best in terms of the weather in November. I%26#39;ve often been across to Solanzara starting in the cloud and rain and finishing in the sun as the cloud breaks on the peaks. The very north-east however (Bastia northwards) can be extremely windy in November.

* fortunately I missed the catastrophic floods of late October 1993

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Thankyou very much for the quicky and helpful replies. This is my first time on a Tripadvisor Forum and my goodness, it works efficiently.

Checking the weather, it looks like Calvi is a bit warmer and a few less rain days than other parts of the island in Oct and Nov. YOur note on the wind in November in the far North is good to know too. Don%26#39;t want to get sand blasted.

Thank you so much for your help

.

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Removed on: 8:17 am, September 22, 2009

Charles de gaulle to Disneyhotel

I have just booked a 3 night/4 day break to Disneyland Paris with hubby and my 2 boys at the end of May. We are staying in one of the Disney Hotels (Sequoia Lodge), I%26#39;ve booked seperately, not as a package to keep cost down. I%26#39;m now trying to figure the best (and cheapest) way of getting from Charles De Gaulle airport to the hotel and back on our departure.

If anyone can let me know what they did, it would give me an idea as to where to start looking. Many thanks in advance.

Katiecat51

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To reach Chessy/DLP from CDG,

(In order of my personal preference)

1. TGV

(non refundable fares vary depending upon departure time from 15€ to 30€)

Travel time 9-10 minutes

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

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

2. Bus (VEA)

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

Adults – 17€, children under 12 – 13€

Departures every 20 minutes from 8:55 a.m. until 8:05 p.m. except:

Until 8:25 p.m. on Monday %26amp; Thursday

Plus 10:25 p.m. on Friday

Plus 9:55 p.m. on Sunday

Travel time about 1 hour

3. RER (train/métro)

http://www.ratp.com/

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

This is probably the cheapest option (8.20€) but it can take up to 2 hours.

4. Shuttle

paris-blue-airport-shuttle.fr/index_en.php

Private shuttle from 1 to 8 people – 60€ to 100€

Shared ride from 1 to 8 people – 45€ to 12.50€ per person

http://www.paris-shuttle.com/

Private shuttle from 1 to 6 people – 80€ to 95€

Shared ride from 1 to 6 people – 45€ to 15€ per person

Travel time about 1 hour

Reliability varies

5. Taxi

http://www.taxisg7.com/

Convenient but expensive

Travel time about 1 hour

Cost estimate: 75€+

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Thanks a million.

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Removed on: 11:17 am, September 22, 2009

Paris Info

hi,

I am planning a trip to Paris sometime in June.

What would be the best hotels to stay considering the economical rates, all the tourist attractions should be nearby, and should be accessible via public transport?

what are my options of transport to the hotel from Paris airports and also to various attractions in Paris?

what will be best way to visit all attractions?

Thanks in Advance,

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Hello and welcome to Trip Advisor.

There%26#39;s a wealth of info within this forum, which will answer many of your questions (and probably raise others!). There%26#39;s a search function - if you type in %26quot;1st timer%26quot; or %26quot;budget hotel%26quot; you will get loads of hits. If you can advise your nightly budget for your hotel, then there will be loads of people able to give you specific advice. Paris hotels charge per room, not per person, and basic, clean places start from around EUR65. However, you%26#39;ll be lucky to get that kind of price in the dead centre. Public transport - bus and metro - is cheap and efficient so everywhere is easily reached; within the peripherique ring road you are never more than a 10 minute walk from a metro station.

As regards transport from airport to city centre, have a look at this thread:-

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187147-c58647/Paris:…

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Sorry - search box is just above - near the green banner.

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***YOU*** really need to take a bit more responsibility for and make a bit more effort in personal research for ***YOUR*** trip....applying your own personal preference, priorities, interests, special needs and budget to what you learn.

There are at least several hundred possibilities for hotels that meet the %26quot;..economical rates, all the tourist attractions should be nearby..%26quot; criteria in central Paris. EVERY major--and minor--attraction in Paris will be %26quot;..accessible via public transport..%26quot;.

There are a dozen different ways to get from an airport (there are 3...which one?? CDG?, ORY?, BVA?) to hotel (which hotel?)

But okay...here%26#39;s where and how you start.

1st---DECIDE on what your basic budget range is for this trip...particularly how much (Parisian hotel rates and most other costs are most usually quoted in €uros, so make the mental transition from £s to €s) you can afford or want to spend on a hotel per night....this with an eye also to your own personal preferences, priorities, special needs.

2nd--Pick up any good guidebook(s) for Paris at local libraries or bookstores and browse then....making notes of the places, attractions and things that attract your interest and attention.

3rd--Pick up a good street map of Paris (..the STREETFINDER PARIS, compact accordion-fold maps are hard to beat for general research, planning and touring purposes..). With this map %26#39;..orient..%26#39; yourself to the city, it%26#39;s lay-out, the relatvive locations of places and things that interest or attract you. This...perhaps more than anything else...will give you some idea of where you want to locate yourself (hotel location) within Paris as your %26#39;base%26#39;.

4th--Scroll back though and learn to use the %26#39;..SEARCH IN:..%26#39; feature of this TA site (located below the Green line on the main PARIS FORUM topic page) to search the archived threads on various topics and specific items of interest. As practical and informative %26#39;exercises%26#39; use topics like %26#39;..CDG to Paris..%26#39;, %26#39;..Best Paris Guidebook..%26#39;, %26#39;..Budget hotels in the 5th..%26#39;, %26#39;..Restaurants in Marais...5th %26amp; 6th..%26#39;, %26quot;..Public Transportation options..%26#39;

5th--return here for much more specific, detailed and directed responses, recommendations, advice to more specific, detailed and directed questions....as examples: %26quot;..What%26#39;s a good hotel...in the 75€-100€ range...in the 3eme or 4eme-Marais, 5eme-Latin Quarter, 6eme-Saint Germain des Prés...with air conditioning ??..%26quot;----rather than, %26quot;..What a good economic hotel in Paris ??..%26quot;. BINGO...you%26#39;ve norrowed the field of possibilities that will be %26#39;..juuuust right..%26#39; down from several hundred to a few dozen....and from there your refinement and selection process becomes infinitely more manageable...and next thing ya%26#39; know it%26#39;s %26#39;..EUREKA !!! Found it !!..%26#39;.

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Removed on: 8:19 pm, September 22, 2009

camping brittany

can anyone recommed a good campsite in brittany

thanks in advance

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The Castels Group are a good group. Camp sites in the grounds of Chateaux.

www.les-castels.com They have a number of sites in Brittany.

Also look at keycamp and eurocamp.

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Depends on what interests you, ages of kids etc.

I have been to two, but would only recommend one - Le Ranolien in

Perros-Guirec

http://www.leranolien.fr/en/index.htm

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spent 2 weeks at www.campingquinquis.com this summer.

Would highly recommend it - large companies (keycamp/eurocamp etc dont use it)

You can hire mobile homes direct from owners. Also tourers/tents can hire pitches.

I have been in Brittany with keycamps in the past and thought that quinquis was a better site probably beacuse the owners (an english family) handle the day to day running of the site

Superb beaches are 1 mile (5min drive away)

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We enjoyed a near perfect week at camping des isles this summer on our first trip to France. It`s in southern Brittany in the Gulf Of Morbihan

Check it out at www.camping-des-iles.fr

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We stayed for two weeks in Les Mouettes in Carantec, just a twenty minute drive from Roscoff. Venue holidays have lovely lodges, and the other companies like kaycamp and canvas do tents and hire out pitches. An up and coming site, it has one of the best pools we have been to, three slides, a lazy river and a pool for toddlers with a separate jacuzzi for adults and chilren. A good place to travel from along the coast or Brest is an easy hours drive away.

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Le Raguenes Plage in Nevez. Is great. Has private access to the campsite beach. Swimming pool with slides into seperate pool, shop which contains everything you could ever need, laundrette, restaureant, bar, two childrens play areas and very clean wash blocks. Only 10 min walk to little port, 5 minute srive to closest supermarket and 1.5 hours max. from Roscoff ferry port.

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Removed on: 3:21 am, September 24, 2009

Things to see, do and places to eat near Giverny

Hi, we are visiting Haute Normandy, near Giverny in October 2006. We have already sorted rooms. Would very much value ideas and recommendations for things to see/do in this area at this time of year and nice places for lunch. We like walking, gardens, history and nice shops (especially bargains!!) Look forward to hearing any advice and ideas.

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Be sure to visit Richard the Lion Heart%26#39;s castle at Les Andelys. It has a wonderful view of the Seine River valley. Vernon has several historical buildings as well as restaurants. One of my favorite places to eat is a small auberge on the left just past the entrance to Giverny. A romantic place to eat is the restaurant in the Hotel d%26#39;Evreux in Vernon center.

Be warned that it is difficult to find restaurants (or anything) open on Sunday and most tourist areas are closed on Monday. Look for the words %26quot;sauf Lundi%26quot; (except Monday).

If you go to the Giverny.org web site, they have recommendations and links.

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Go to Les Andelys, in particular Petit Andely, and go to the Chaine d%26#39;or hotel for a meal and a look at the rooms on the Seine...

Down the street is a husband and wife rest. serving wonderful food.....sorry forgot the name.

ok, just suggestions....

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Hi

Have just returned from the area, stayed in an awful place in Le Goulet. Loved Monet%26#39;s gardens and Les Andeleys Castle, beware most things closed on a monday although the castle is open and closed tues. Vernon is not very exciting but Giverney is a lovely village, Le Petit Andeley is very nice down by the Seine. We also visited Versailles which is only 45 minutes by car, very busy but enjoyable. There is an excellent value self service restaurant just outside the Champion supermarket in Les Andeleys, it was so good we went back for a second meal. If you are there for much longer and like castles Falaise is not too far away we vivited it from our next base in Arromanches. Enjoy your stay hopefully you will not get mosquito problems in October.

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Any thoughts from anyone on Le Bec Hellouin? I am staying in Bayeux for total of 4 nights and am planning to use that as my home base for day trips to Mt St Michel and the Normandy Beaches.

I%26#39;ve heard Le Bec Hellouin is a great spot but have no idea where it is and what closest train station would be...no car on this trip.

Thanks!

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Le Bec is a beautiful monestary. I have a collection of dessert plates painted by the monks. I had a car, so don%26#39;t know about train etc. I was worth a visit!

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Removed on: 9:18 am, September 23, 2009

Paris to Barcelona - need advice!

Hi i%26#39;ll be going to barcelona this summer from paris by train and i%26#39;m just wondering if anyone has any advice. So far it%26#39;s seems the quickest routes are through Narbonne or Montpellier, but does anyone else have any suggestions.

It%26#39;s quite a long trip - are there night trains at all?

thanks for any help~

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Is your heart set on train travel, air is probaly alot cheaper. Try checking out prices on Vueling Air. It is nice to have the extra time at your destination sometimes.

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ELIPSOS Trainhotels run the night train to Barcelona from Paris

spanish-rail.co.uk/trains/international.html

for info or try seat61.com for all sorts of info on rail travel in Europe.

Otheerwise I would have though you could take the TGV to Perpignan and an onward train from there.

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Yes as Joan said some of the flights are very cheap. We also found the Elipsos Trenhotel, it%26#39;s a Spanish train it leaves Paris around 8:30 at night and arrives in Barcelona at 8:20 in the morning. They have different category of cabin. I%26#39;m sure if you google it or use the French train site you should find it.

Here is the site we usually use in Canada but I think you can do better by booking in europe

raileurope.ca/canada/…train_hotel_elipsos.htm

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We took the Elipsos Trenhotel from Paris to Barcelona in November. It was fantastic! It%26#39;s an overnight trip with comfortable beds and excellent service. We had a nice cabin with shower and toilet. A fantastic dinner and breakfast were included. I used the Rail Europe site (in the US)for information, but you can Google up some others that you can use in Ireland. Good luck with your trip.

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I%26#39;m taking the train from Paris to Barcelona in May. I have taken the overnight train last year but I was thinking of trying the TGV to Montpellier and then the train from Montpellier to BCN this time around. The benefit of this choice is that the trip would be during the day and that way I could hopefully see some of the French countryside...

I use the SNCF site to purchase tickets and get info...

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I haven%26#39;t taken the time to compare trains to planes (and maybe you are inter-railing or something) but you can fly with easyjet (cheapest one way fare in July/Aug is 64 euros) and RyanAir also.

ebabe

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Yes, take the plane!

I took easyjet three weeks ago, just 1h15 for the actual flight. Very quick and cheap. The flight out was just delayed by one hour, but that is still much faster and cheaper than train

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I agree...take a budget airline like Easyjet.

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Removed on: 3:21 am, September 24, 2009

High-quality, affordable dinners

We will be in Lyon in early October and would love recommendations for affordable (the dollar is so terrible now!), but delicious, authentic dinners. Thank you

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You should start with a search on this forum. I recommend that you first try Lyon specialities; here is a list of my favourite %26quot;bouchons%26quot;:

tripadvisor.com/…7685980

There is a lot of affordable restaurants in Lyon! For a great dinner experience, here is an other list you may check:

tripadvisor.com/…7826344

And I shall add these 2 trendy places with delicious fish specialities:

- Cuisine et dépendances acte 1, 46 rue ferrandière

- Cuisine et dépendances acte 2, 68 rue de la charité

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Merci Beaucoup only-Lyon. You have rescued us once again!

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You%26#39;re welcolme Travel Lover! Which hotel did you finally choose?

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Bonjour! We will be staying at the Bellecour sur Cour B %26amp; B that you recommended. Thanks again.

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Removed on: 8:16 am, September 24, 2009

Boulogne daytrip advice

I am a single woman and need advice about driving in France. Has anyone got anyone helpful advice/experience to share about driving in the area?

How does it compare to Calais? Can I avoid the Hypermarket rush?

Where would it be best to park in Boulogne to explore the town?

What is the Market (Wednesdays?) like? Is it just a food market?

Best nearby towns to visit?

I would be grateful for any advice as I would love to look around the area and make the most of a day trip.

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This website should help quite a bit:

www.day-tripper.net/channelportboulogne.html

and this wiki will tell you something about the town:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boulogne-sur-Mer

there is a lot of information about Boulogne on the web if you do some SIMPLE research of your own.

It is a long time since I have been there myself, in fact probably over 25 years since ferries stopped going Dover-Boulogne. I seem to remember some large hypermarkets though, even back then.

Driving in France is not too bad, but it helps to have a good idea of where you want to go, also driving on the left in a RHD car is a little more tricky. As you are on your own, you may find a sat-nav useful.

There is a Castle at Boulogne that you might want to go to.

Le Touquet is fun to visit, or if a nice meal is more your thing, then there is a famous restaurant at Cap Gris nes which is along the coast north of Boulogne.

This website:

viamichelin.co.uk

is very useful for plotting up routes for your travels.

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Not much in the way of hypermarkets the way there is around Calais - mainly the kind of shops local use, rather than catering for tourists

Assuming youre travelling by speedferries, there is parking as soon as you leave the ferry area, then walk across the bridge rather than drive into town.

No idea about the market.

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there is a massive AUCHAN hypermarket quite close to Boulogne, in fact, Wiz, and the day-tripper website has information about others, it also says that the wednesday market is local and regional produce.

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We go over regularly - in fact we are visiting next week. There are many parking areas in Boulogne, all well signposted.

realfrancerealclose.com/docs/Boulogne-RealFr…

As Boulogne is on a hill - the old town on the high ground and the modern town close to the port - the choice is yours on where to park depending on your interests. Market days on Wednesday and Saturday (mainly food and flowers) reduce the options on where to park.

The hypermarkets are all on the outskirts but as a town IMO Boulogne has more to interest the visitor than Calais, particularly on a day trip.

theotherside.co.uk/tm-heritage/visit/visit-b…

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Many thanks for all your help.

All the link pages are very helpful.

Good to know - there is a market on Saturday.I prefer the local market to the hypermarkets - they are far more interesting.

I will park and walk into the town as recommended or if I am feeling confident, drive to Le Touquet as there is more to see other than shopping!

Merci beaucoup.

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I have two nineteen year males with me (on holiday from Uni) and we are in Calais/Boulogne tomorrow (Monday) just for the day - with car. Apart from food and drink (not MacDonalds please) how can we keep them buzzing?

I know Escalles and Wimereux where I occasionally walk the coast and am not mad keen on Calais.

Come on, some inspirational ideas please .............

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Removed on: 6:21 am, September 16, 2009

cab fare or shuttles to airport from Hotel Welcome area

Does anyone know of any shuttle services from there to the airport? Or any idea about how much cab fare would be?

Thanks

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Cab from the airport to Villefranche is around 50 euro. Varies a little according to day or night. The alternatives are the express coach 98 to Nice bus station and switch there to the 100 bus for Villefranche, or the 99 coach for Nice Gare Ville train station then a train two stops to Villefranche. Either way you have around a ten minute walk through the town to the Welcome.

The best but a little trickier is to make your way to the Nice St Augustin train station around a half mile from the airport T1, and there you can pick up a train direct to Villefranche

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Thanks,

We%26#39;re coming in from elsewhere by train. Since we have a 6 am flight on the return it sounds like the taxi is the best way to go. I know there%26#39;s a lot of shuttle services in Paris, but I haven%26#39;t been able to find anything like that for this area.

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6 am flight? - Thats a punishing timetable. In that situation I would consider booking into a hotel like the Campanile or Novotel next to the Airport the night before, and then stroll to the airport for 6am

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Removed on: 9:17 pm, September 23, 2009

Hotel La Malmaison Anyone Know About

Does anyone know anything about the Hotel La Malmaison? 48 Boulevard Victor Hugo - Nice. 3 day stay Wheelchair Friendly? Thanks!

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I haven%26#39;t stayed here personally, but I met a friend who was and he wasn%26#39;t that impressed. I think it might have about six steps at the entrance lobby, but it was over 2 years since I%26#39;ve been.

I would suggest the Hotel Ellington to you as I think that is great (www.ellington-nice.com) but it has about eight stairs to the reception desk.

I can%26#39;t think of a hotel that has ramps or a lift on the ground floor but if I do, I%26#39;ll post again. Have you tried searching for a guide for wheelchair access on the internet - I%26#39;d like to hope there is something. Otherwise, I think a guidebook and calling around the hotels is a good bet.

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Yes, we stayed there just a few years ago. It%26#39;s located about four blocks from the sea. It is located among other hotels, yet it is in a very quiet and residential-type neighborhood. Certain areas of Nice can be very loud and touristy, but this area was clam and relaxing.We felt extremely safe.

The lobby is rather charming and inviting. Our room was very nice, rather spacious, and very clean. Clean is a biggie with us, and we felt it was maintained well. A hotel and make or break a hotel for us, and this hotel was just fine.

Google this hotel and I am sure you will find some photos online.

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Hi GeorgiaGing

Email the hotel about being wheelchair friendly, their website doesnt tell you. info@lamalmaison.com

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We were in Nice earlier this week, and we stayed at the Le Royal Hotel. We absolutely loved it! It is right on the sea and, as I remember, there were very few steps. We highly recommend the Royal.

I distinctly remember that the Malmaison did have several steps at their entry, and I remember that the breakfast area was located on the lower level, so that means more steps.

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Thanks to everyone for the replies. Will check give them an email about number of steps. Mom can do a some walking and manage a set of steps if need be. She%26#39;s a real trooper and this is an 80th birthday trip for her. The hotel pictures look fine, and a nice quiet area of town sounds good for mom for relaxing evenings. It will be close enough to the beach for a stroll and also close to the train station. We will send a trip report when we return.(trip is in Aug.)We will be taking her to Italy and Germany as well. Happy traveling everyone!

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Removed on: 9:19 pm, September 23, 2009

Avignon or Aix-en-Provence?

We%26#39;re spending 3 nights in Provence (this is our first time here), and want a place that is a good location for us to drive and see area sites and visit Cotes du%26#39;Rhone vineyards during the day, but has a charming town to walk around with dining options for the evening. We%26#39;ll be coming from Paris, and then heading to the Cote d%26#39;Azure after our Provence stay, likely by train (though we%26#39;ll most definitely have a car in Provence).

Which would be the best place - Avignon or Aix-en-Provence? We%26#39;ve also read a lot about Gordes and Chataneuf-du-Pape...perhaps on of those would be best?

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You may want to make a forum search about %26quot;bases in Provence%26quot; as this question is asked a great deal.

I like Avignon. I believe it to be more centrally located to the largest number of common tourist destinations. Arles is another popular choice. Unless the city officials have recently cleaned up the graffiti problem in Aix-en-Provence, I find this problem too distasteful to make it a base. Otherwise Aix is an excellent choice also.

http://www.aixenprovencetourism.com/

http://www.tourisme.ville-arles.fr/

http://www.ot-avignon.fr/

If this is your first time in Provence, I recommend staying with one of these 3 main cities. For return trips many may suggest St. Remy or other locations. Gordes is a unique location. It is perhaps the only city/town in France which does not have a tourist office. Why? Because it does not need one. It becomes completely overrun by tourists, like ants swarming over moist bread. I do not recommend it as a good base for first time visitors.

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Since you have a car I would suggest St Remy, Arles or Aix. Avignon is useful if you are relying on public transport, but it has a city feel to it. St Remy is probably best for food, Aix for watching the neighbourhood go by, Arles has a bit of both. Gordes is very small, and prettier from the outside than it is once you get there IMO.

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Removed on: 11:20 pm, September 23, 2009

getting around Provence without a car

I have the good fortune to be spending 4 days in Provence in early May. I am a single 61 year old woman with not robust mobility. I%26#39;ve reserved a hotel in central Marseilles. I need advice and suggestions about getting around and exploring the region as extensively as possible. Thanks in advance for your ideas. ME

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Exploring within Marseille, start with the Petit Train. It%26#39;s an easy way to get an overview of what is available:

http://www.petit-train-marseille.com/

Bus/train schedules and other transportation links may be found here:

http://www.lepilote.com/english.asp

While you can certainly easily visit many places within the city, exploring the region will present some unique difficulties: limited time and access to the train/bus stations.

There is good service to Aix-en-Provence, Cassis, Arles, and Avignon but these types of excursions generally require a great deal of walking.

Those for whom mobility may be an issue may be interested in cars with drivers:

http://www.le-privilege.com/

http://www.ssk.fr/ssk-dreamliner.php

For general information about what to see and do in Marseille, consult:

tourisme.fr/office-de-tourisme/marseille.htm

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Are there local tour bus companies that travel between the towns or offer tours in mini vans or such?

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Behind the Musee des Beaux Arts in Marseille there is a very nice park where French families hang out at weekends. It%26#39;s a great place to lap up the sun and peoplewatch.

You can also get a bus from Marseille to Cassis town centre. Once you are in Cassis itself, it is very good for someone who can%26#39;t walk too far. There are two beaches, and a minitrain that runs from the western end of the port and will take you up to the top of the calanques (cliffs). Lots of very good fish restaurants, nice shops to potter around in and a small park round the town hall, less than a minute%26#39;s walk from the port. Hope someone can advise you re finding the bus stop to Cassis - I did the journey from Cassis to Marseille and took the train back, but I don%26#39;t advise that as Cassis train station is 2 miles from the town. Stick to the bus.

If you can get a direct bus there, I would suggest you visit St Remy which is very beautiful and has a small compact town centre with fountains and nice restaurants.

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Removed on: 1:27 am, September 24, 2009