metro timetable

Hi all,

Im travelling to Paris the next 25th of april. I don%26#39;t know yet where i will take my hostel but I know it has to be close to porter Maillot metro station.

Im taking my flight from/to Beauvais airport, so i need to take a bus from Porter Maillot to the airport at 5.25 am.

My question is: If i get a hostel a bit far from this metro station, can i go by metro at 5 am?? If not, is the best option to take a taxi?

Thanks everyone.

|||

NO....FIRST TRAIN of the day for all Metro lignes will run from it%26#39;s terminal station at approx. 05:30 AM.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 8:19 pm, September 23, 2009

18th arrondissement - safe?

I%26#39;ve read some good reviews here about a hotel in the 18th arrondissement, but I%26#39;m wondering if the area is safe for a single, female traveller.

Any insight will be helpful. Thanks!

|||

Paris is as safe as your own fair city - use the common sense you use at home.

If the hotel reviews are good I think that would also be a clue that the guests felt safe around there.

My other view would be if your post your dates and budget you may get some good recommendations.

HTH%26#39;s

ebabe

|||

Which area of 18th ? Anyway, I won%26#39;t recommend this area for a single female tourist. Far from center, and the more unsafe area of Paris.

Of course you can like 18th area, it is popular, mixed, but lots of poverty, and often hotels plays because they say they are close to Sacre-Coeur to increase their price. Iam sure you can find an other area, more central, for the same price.

Why did you choose the 18th ? For the price ?

David

|||

Yes, I originally chose the 18th for the price.

I was considering the Hotel Bonséjour, which is 11, rue Burq.

If you have other recommendations, I%26#39;d love to know about them. Thanks!

|||

Again, mention a budget and it will easier to make recommendations.

|||

I%26#39;d like to get something for 70 euros or less, if possible.

Thoughts?

|||

This place seems to be a youth hostel more than a hotel. Knowing that, the area is perfectly safe, it is located near rue des abbesses in Montmartre. Not centrally located but nice area. It is a rather upper class residential area.

I like the rue des Abbesses and rue Lepic neighborhood very much: nice food market, lot of shops, cafés and restaurants, lively even on Sundays, and there is a fantastic art gallery (Espace W, 44 rue Lepic). I don%26#39;t like the touristical part of the Butte Montmartre near place du Tertre.

A budget hotel frequently recommended here on TA is Hotel des Voyageurs in the 14th. It is also cheap : 55 €, and friendly. Have a look:

http://hotelvoyageursparis.free.fr/

|||

In that case, Laumiere in the 19th http://www.hotel-lelaumiere.com/index-gb.htm

Less than a minute from the metro, a nice middle class residential area, 59€ a night. Bars and restaurants nearby, a couple of supermarkets and specialist shops near as well.

Because youre so close to the metro, it%26#39;s actually quicker to the Loouvre from here than if you stayed in Montmartre or near the Eiffel Tower

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

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

traveling from Paris to London

I have to fly out of London Heathrow at 12:30pm, so I want to be there by 9:30am. Is it possible to leave Paris (we%26#39;re staying close to Ile Saint Louis, so we%26#39;ll have to taxi to Gare de Lyon, then train to Gare de Nord, then train to London downtown and tube to Heathrow)? Or would it be wiser to go to London the day before?

|||

You could check the earliest eurostar time, but going the day before would be the safest. It would take some time to just get from London St Pancras to Heathrow on the tube (I%26#39;d allow at least 60 minutes, just in case), never mind the journey from Paris to London.

|||

You will lose an hour travelling from Paris to London as you will put your clock back to GMT so a 7am train would get you into London around 8am even though it%26#39;s just over a two hour journey. The quick way to Heathrow from there would be a Circle or Hammersmith and City line train to London Paddington (15 minute journey, £4) and then the Heathrow Express to Heathrow (15 minute journey, £15). Pricey but quicker. Alternatively about one hour on the Piccadilly Line from St Pancras to Heathrow, cost £4.

|||

Could it be an idea to take an early flight from Paris to London?

Had a quick look and you could fly KLM from Charles de Gaulle airport at 8am, with one stop-over, arriving at Heathrow at 10.45am. The cost was £239 which sounds a lot, and you might think the timing is risky, but it%26#39;s another idea to consider.

At a very expensive £341.50, there%26#39;s a BA flight leaving Paris at 7.40am, arriving at 8am.

Or another leaving at 9.45am, arriving 10.05.

As you see, the time difference helps...I think you gain rather than lose an hour, which henneth said, but might be mistaken; even though I%26#39;ve changed the clocks twice a year for many years, I will never understand it.

There are other flights, I%26#39;m sure, that you could research if you are interested.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 9:18 am, September 24, 2009

Line at the catacombs

Hi lele2,

we are going in may too,may 2 to may 16 and will like to go to the catacombs too,I will like to ask a question to the experts.

The last time I was in Paris we made the line for about 1 hour or more and then where told they were not taking anyone anymore.

My question is at what time you should go there so you dont waste your precious time in Paris.

thank you

|||

Hi enjoytravell00

thats great aren%26#39;t you excited? I can%26#39;t wait I am going to Rome and Paris,

Thats a great question I would like to know the answer also

|||

An hour wait? Wow.

Remember, they do not take the Museum Pass.

|||

We went in August, we just walked right in,,, guess there are some advantages to going in the summer after all.

I guess the simple answer is , go on website, find out what time it opens, arrive 10-15 minutes early. Be first in the door.

Also, don%26#39;t go first day it opens after long closing.

I think it must have been a fluke ,, your hour wait I mean, I have never heard of that before. I do know they limit how many people go down there at one time, so perhaps you got behind a bus tour or some school groups?

|||

Ig you go in the morning you should be fine.

We went last November. The line was about 15 min. long. We went around 9:30am - It worked out well, quite an interesting experience.

|||

Try to get there before they open or in the first hour - - - if you wait until an hour or two before closing you can get locked out. They literally cut off the line at closing time regardless of how long you have been waiting. It%26#39;s worth the wait but you can avoid it by going early.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 1:20 pm, September 24, 2009

best way to get from cdg to hotel

best friend and i arrive in paris at 7:30am on a wednesday. i%26#39;m tring to determine the best way to get to our hotel. (hotel paris est lafayette, 7 rue de petits hotel 75010) should i arrange for a shuttle that will take us to the hotel or can we use the RER with our limited french skills, in the morning, after an international flight? i%26#39;m game for a little adventure, but i want to make it there and not start the trip off on a sour note. any help is appreciated. thanks.

|||

How much luggage will you be carrying? That was the deciding factor for me. I didn%26#39;t want the hassle of a shuttle and I didn%26#39;t want to navigate the stairs of the Metro/RER with my 2 suitcases and a carry-on, so I took a taxi from CDG to the 7th.

One person with two pieces of luggage was 50 euros.

Hope this helps.

|||

I wrestled with this same issue - I guess everyone does. We are staying right near the St. Michele RER stop, which provides a direct link to CDG. But I don%26#39;t want the hassle of carting my luggage up and down the metro steps, or trying to figure out which end of the platform has the escalator (that may or may not be working). I%26#39;ll be tired and maybe a bit grumpy (I don%26#39;t like carting luggage around) in spite of arriving in the most beautiful city in thte world! I%26#39;m going to book a shuttle. For the two of us, the comfort of knowing that we will be met at the baggage claim - no need to search for the RER exit - helped with our luggage and escorted to the hotel in comfort - worth the extra 10 euros or so. With my limited French - it could make the difference between a pleasant first day and a disaster. I%26#39;ll be scrimping elsewhere.

|||

I would have to say that there is nothing like having a man with a sign waiting for you with his Mercedes van when you stumble off a plane, in a fog, in a foreign country. Try Greyshuttles: www.greyshuttle.com As I recall, their rate is slightly higher than a taxi. The service was prompt, clean and efficient.

|||

thanks all! i have no idea how much luggage we%26#39;ll have. and you%26#39;re right, i don%26#39;t want to lug it all over.

|||

I ALWAYS take a cab into central Paris from the airport. It%26#39;s a bit pricey ($100 US) but worth it to avoid the hassle of the RER or a shuttle. After a long flight the last thing you want to be doing is wrestline with your luggage on the RER. When you arrive in Paris, some of the stations don%26#39;t have elevators and you would end up lugging your bags up multiple flights of stairs - yuck! Just walk out of the terminal and catch a cab.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 10:21 am, September 24, 2009

A couple of Catacombs questions

We will be in Paris first week of May, do you think they will open by then?

What is the best way to get there from the St. Germain Metro or St Michel Metro?

Do we need to bring a flashlight from home or do they sell anything there?

thanks

lele

|||

Hiya Lele,

The catacombs are expected to be open again by April, so in time for your visit in early May, but someone was saying on this forum the other day that a previous reopening was delayed by some time, so I would check upon arrival in Paris or just before leaving on the official site:

http://www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm

If I was you I would walk the little distance from St Michel to the Saint-Michel Notre Dame station, where you can travel directly (on the blue line, B) to Denfert-Rochereau. Once there the catacombs entrance is only a short walk away (but be aware that you emerge from the catacombs some way from this and the Metro was a further walk from the exit).

The catacombs are well lit by electric lights throughout so you will not need a torch (flashlight) of your own.

|||

Sorry, I should have also pointed out that the line I mentioned is not a Metro line but an RER one!

|||

Your guess is as good as anyone%26#39;s whether the Catacombes will have re-openned from its current renovation/repair by May. Delayed re-openning have been fairly common in the past.

The ENTRANCE to the Catacombes de Paris are at #1 Place Denfert-Rochereau (the building %26#39;looks%26#39; as if it could be a %26#39;pumping station%26#39; for a water works...and not especially well marked) so pay attention to the little signage. This is at the DENFERT-ROCHEREAU METRO (#4 %26amp; #6 lignes) %26amp; RER (%26#39;B%26#39; ligne) stop....so it shouldn%26#39;t be difficult figuring out how to get to DENFERT-ROCHEREAU from the neighborhoods of SAINT MICHEL or SAINT GERMAIN des PRÉS Metro or RER.

To the best of my knowledge, the Catacombes does NOT provide nor sell flashlights, candles or jack-o-lanterns to light your way through the damp, dimly lit (that%26#39;s sorta%26#39; the whole point of the place) passageways.

There is one thing that you should be aware of---you ENTER at one location BUT you EXIT at another. While you ENTER the Catacombes up at PLACE DENFERT-ROCHEREAU...you will EXIT then several blocks away, through a nondescript %26#39;hole-in-the-wall%26#39;, at #36 rue Rémy Dumoncel (btwn: rue Halle %26amp; rue Montbrun). So when you Exit and the surrounding area doesn%26#39;t look familiar...it ain%26#39;t your imagination...you%26#39;re not on Place Denfert-Rochereau anymore, Dorothy.

|||

Riostar,

Thank you for your response, what is the difference between a metro line and a RER line? Thanks

|||

Hi Lele , that always confused me too,, but the simplest way I heard it put that worked for me was, the RER is a suburban train system, mostly above ground, , serving suburbs and small close outlying satellite towns to Paris, in Paris each line only has a few stops. The metro is like a subway, mostly underground with many stops and serves only the city of Paris itself.

PS You don%26#39;t need a flashlight, it is lit, but dim,, but it IS easy to get lost when you emerge in a totally different place. I was not aware that was the case and we got so lost ,, now that I know I will look on map before I retrun to anticipate where to to once emerged.

|||

Thank you so much for your responses, I do have one more question, this is off my original post sorry, I am trying to understand the Metro, RER systems in Paris, I know that the Metro you take a train with a number and direction it is going, does that hold true for the RER you take a train with a letter and direction it is going?

Thanks

|||

Hi

The Catacombs are scheduled to reopen mid April according to the web information at

www.paris.fr

From Saint Michel take the RER B line to Denfert Rochereau.

You can also take the #4 line direction Porte d%26#39;Orleaans to Denfert Rochereau.

A small flashlight has always come in handy in the past, but perhaps the new renovation has installed more lighting. I still plan on bringing one on my next trip out there...

|||

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;what is the difference between a metro line and a RER line?%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

For your purpose---none at all---except for the station%26#39;s proximity to your departure point. If your departure location is nearer the SAINT GERMAIN des PRÉS Metro station, then Metro will be quicker....if nearer the SAINT MICHEL-NOTRE DAME RER station, then the RER %26#39;B%26#39; train will be quicker. EITHER Metro or RER will take you to the same DENFERT-ROCHEREAU station for your Catacombes de Paris destination.

|||

There is a metro stop directly across the street from the entrance to the catacombs so getting there is easy. When you exit the catacombs turn right and then right again at the first major street. The metro station is several blocks down on the right hand side.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 6:21 am, September 24, 2009

versailles

we leave Paris on a Saturday flying to Venice at 3:30...timing we need to be at airport by 2...is it feasible to visit Versailles that morning from 9:30-? - assume it is a little over an hour drive frm there to CDG airport..is that too quick of a trip? we are staying near Arc, so maybe 20 minutes to get to Versailles (Saturday)

|||

I don%26#39;t think I would count on 20 minutes to drive to Versailles, remember the train is usaully faster not slower then cars, no need to worry about traffic or wrong turns.

I think you could do it, but I would leave Paris by 8:30 ,, to be in line and in Versailles soon as it opens, spend two hours( perhaps three,) or so, and then head to airport, I like being EARLY so I double time allowed.

|||

Hi Jenann

We have just come back for paris. One tip re: versailles, if you dont have a pass you will need to queue for ticket and then que to get in.

When facing versailles there is an entrance marked %26#39;C%26#39; on the left, you can go straight to this if you have a pass. Might save some time.

Also the audio set is free with ticket, if you have kids under 18 and they have got in free them it will cost €6 for each set.

|||

When you were a kid, were you the one who climbed to the highest limbs on the tree....and then climbed out to the very end of the thinnest branch ??...%26#39;Cause that%26#39;s pretty much what you%26#39;re tryin%26#39; to do here.

You%26#39;re betting that you can drive to Versailles in 20 minutes, get in see the Chateau, then get from there to CDG in record time, drop-off your rental car without difficulty or problem, then get through airline check-in and airport security (at an airport that is INFAMOUS for inexplicable delays and problems) and make your outbound flight.

All it would take would be for a only one of the lesser %26#39;..gods-of-travel..%26#39; to step out for a coffee-break in the process....and next thing ya%26#39; know you%26#39;re standing at CDG....scratching the place on your scalp that you%26#39;ve just pulled your hair out of....trying to figure out what went wrong with the %26#39;best laid plans%26#39;....and how to re-book a later flight to your destination....that doesn%26#39;t require a connection in Helsinki or Karachi.

Bonne chance.

|||

Agree with KDKSAIL that you are risking the unknown. Versailles is in the opposite direction from the city than CDG. BUT, if this is a lifelong dream and the only time you can fit it in, my advice is: be there before it opens. Allow for traffic snags en route or back to CDG. Have a Carte Musee %26amp; Monuments (museum pass) in hand. DO NOT rent the audio- each room has small boards describing what you see. (The audio did not come with our M%26amp;M pass, anyway.) We rented one, tho I%26#39;ve been before; thought it might give my girls a better understanding. It drones on and on and will kill your time. Better to read a good tour book.) IF you can get in quickly and are not slowed by other tourists, you can actually do the main rooms in an hour. (Trust me, I did this once.) You%26#39;ll get some garden view from many of the palace windows. Or, fit this trip in on another day in Paris. It can easily be done in a half-day, total, with train.

|||

exactly why I was asking - as I have no idea as have not been to Paris since I was a young child...that is why I asked! we do have a private car and driver and it is a Saturday so I thought it might be a little faster but apprently I was wrong. thanks for the info anyway, I woudl prefer to stay out of the trees! at least the thin branches!

|||

I agree with some of the other postings...I think you%26#39;re tempting fate to try this but there are a few things you can do to make it more possible. You can probably do it on a Saturday if you get a very early start...

My family spent a month near Versailles in June/July and discovered a few tricks to make it cheaper and easier to access the palace and grounds if you have a car.

Don%26#39;t park in the main lot in front of the chateau - it%26#39;s very pricey and crowded. Drive around the chateau to the right (you%26#39;ll have to navigate with a map to do this but it%26#39;s not very far)and enter the gate nearest the Petite Hameau with your car. You can drive right onto the grounds and park in a number of places depending on what you want to see - it%26#39;s much cheaper and really interesting to drive around the palace grounds. We always parked in the trees right next to the grand canal You can also park next to the petite trianon or in a number of other lots around the grounds. You can probably find a map of this on the Versailles website.

If you don%26#39;t take one of the tours inside the chateau you can walk the fountains and grounds and get a very good idea of the place. If you only have a few hours I recommend walking from the grand canal up to the chateau and winding through some of the gardens on the sides along the promenade leading up to the chateau. Then drive over to the Petite Hameau and pay to walk around the peasant village that Marie Antoinette constructed to amuse herself. You can also rent a boat and row around on the grant canal. There are a couple of little restaurants near the car park at the end of the grand canal closest to the chateau if you choose to eat there before you head to the airport - you can also rent bikes right there to ride around on the grounds but you can%26#39;t take the bikes up to the area around the chateau.

If you need to be a CDE by 2 then I would leave Versailles no later than noon. The traffic can be terrible and if you need to return a rental car this adds an extra thing that could go wrong.

Good luck and I hope it works out for you!

Anita

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

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

Best Guide for Paris

Which is the best guide book for Paris? I was thinking of Rough Guide or Rick Steve%26#39;s Paris.

I would like a book that has maps of the various area. Also has some suggestion about restaurants.

|||

Rick Steve%26#39;s Paris 2008

|||

If I had to absolutely pick one, it would be the DK Eyewitness Paris. The only caveat is that it ignores arrondisements and focuses primarily on neighhorhoods (i.e., Latin Quarter, Tuileries, Grands Blvds/Opera, and so on). It does have great maps of each neighborhood.

|||

I really liked Rick Steve%26#39;s Paris. All the information was correct. His commentaries are detailed enough to satisfy average tourist without becoming boring. Decent maps.

I like StreetWise Maps (purchase at Barnes%26amp;Noble). They are laminated, just the right size for purse or daybag..not too big or too small; plus there is a Metro map on the back. Metro stops are clearly marked on the street map.

|||

I%26#39;ve used the green Michelin Guide for Paris for the past 15 years and it suits my needs and has the adavantge of being issued in France, which IMO adds credibility and relevance.

|||

the little AA Paris Spiral guide is good, small and easy to carry around, gives you a good idea of what is where as far as each area is concerned. NOT so crammed with long histories and write-ups on each attraction, but that keeps it compact and easy to stick in your inside pocket or a small bag.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

TripAdvisor staff removed this post either because the author requested it, or because it did not meet TripAdvisor's forum guidelines.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 5:43 am, March 15, 2008


|||

Rick Steve%26#39;s Paris was the one we used most.

|||

TimeOut Shortlist Paris 2008 is a great %26quot;little%26quot; guide. Only 6%26quot;x4%26quot; it is a great pocket sized guidebook that is not %26quot;clunky%26quot;

www.timeout.com/paris

I also really like Rick Steves sources too.

|||

I think Rick Steves is good and accurate but not comprehensive. If you go for Rick Steves, I would also get something like the Rough Guide that covers all areas of the city.

|||

Rick Steve%26#39;s appears to be the guide used by Americans - the rest of the world use either a Rough Guide, Lonely Planet or Doring Kindersley.

I have never seen a Rick Steve - until I started posting in TA I had never even heard of him - but I think his are American Guides for American people. Certainly people I know who have used them and know Paris have a rather dismissive attitude to them that they don%26#39;t have with other guidebooks.

I have just about all the other Paris guidebooks,and my prefernce is for Time Out, the Michelin Green guide, and the DK as guidebooks. Lonely Planet and Rough Guide are good for hotels and stuff but a bit lightweight as far as information on tourist sites is concerned.

L'Open Tour Buses

Does anyone know if you can pay to do the L%26#39;Open Tour Buses(Hop on Buses)at the Gare Du Nore or if it is best to pay before you leave home.

|||

You can purchase tickets, and pay with a credit card, on board. There is no need to purchase tickets before leaving home.

We love riding around on L%26#39;Opentour - but, only in the nice weather. The views from the open air upper deck are fantastic. But, if it%26#39;s cold and/or rainy or too hot and sunny, you may as well take the city buses, rather than sit downstairs on L%26#39;Opentour.

|||

We purchased our tickets from the driver with euro. The tours and commentary offered are much more thorough than Le Cars Rouge. I would recommend you purchase the two-day since it is just a few euro more in case you don%26#39;t get to do all four routes in one day and make sure you find the specific location of the stop nearest you. We had a hard time finding the stop %26quot;at the foot of the Eiffel Tower%26quot;. Have a terrific time.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 1:18 pm, September 24, 2009

How do I get from Airport to Hotel?

We are arriving at Paris Beauvais airport at 6:25 pm on a Monday, and I need to get to the 11th District of Paris...any help? Thanks!

|||

www.aeroportbeauvais.com/bus.php?lang=eng

Then Taxi, Metro or bus to your hotel.

|||

There is a shuttle at Beauvais airport for about 13 euros. The tickets are bought right outside the airport door. It will take you to Porte Maillot. From there walk across the parking lot to the Hotel (can%26#39;t remember the name) and get a cab to your hotel. It%26#39;s very easy. Have a great trip.

Linda

|||

You can book a shuttle from www.cityrama.com which takes you to your door.

|||

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;You can book a shuttle from www.cityrama.com which takes you to your door%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

Probably not from CITYRAMA...but you can from other airport shuttle services. The potential problem with this is that shared-shuttle services between BVA and Paris have fairly high percentage of %26#39;no-shows%26#39; for pick-ups. BVA is located approx. 70-75 km./70-75 mins. north of Paris and is farther out and much less frequented than either CDG or ORY. So if the shuttle service doesn%26#39;t have sufficient bookings for runs on that day or at that time of day...it%26#39;s all too easy for a shuttle dispatcher to misplace your reservation (%26#39;..Je suis trés désolé...%26#39; In any event, the one-way cost of a shared BVA-Paris shuttle will run 35€-40€ per person...a private shuttle or TAXI PARISIEN will run 120€-130€.

Not sure whether you bothered to take the time to check the information on the BVA Shuttle (13€ per person) provided but the BVA Shuttle employs large motorcoaches. There are regular taxi stands near the Ave. Géneral Pershing/Ave de Porte des Ternes (north-east corner of the Palais des Congrés complex at Porte Maillot) drop-off point in Paris. Onward TAXI PARISIEN fare from here to most destinations within central Paris probably won%26#39;t run more than 15€-25€.

For anything smaller than a large traveling group...it%26#39;s impossible to beat the cost/convenience/comfort benefits of the BVA Shuttle/onward Taxi, Metro or bus transfer. Do the math.

|||

It%26#39;s easiest to just take a taxi. I printed out the address to give to the cab driver, in case my French pronunciation didn%26#39;t work out. I also had a mapquest map in hand to make sure we weren%26#39;t taken for a ride.

|||

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;It%26#39;s easiest to just take a taxi%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

You betcha%26#39;. Taxi is easiest...and the average taxi fare from BVA to central Paris will probably only run somewhere in the range of 100€-to-130€...or so. The only difficult aspect of the transfer for most will be counting out all of those €uro bills....but they%26#39;ll be a lot lighter on their feet from then on walkin%26#39; around Paris without all of that extra weight in their pocket or purse.

|||

http://www.parisshuttleservice.com/index.asp

Have a look at the above website. You can pre-book a shuttle from the airport to Paris downtown for E18 each.

I%26#39;ve just booked a similar complany for the journey between CDG and Paris as I am currently on crutches (see my earlier post) and the journey would be a nightmare using public transport - and I never trust taxi drivers not to rip foreigners off if they get the chance by taking the scenic(!) route...

I was pleasantly surprised to find how reasonable they were - and they go door-to-door if you%26#39;re lucky.

Good luck and have a great holiday.

|||

hi

Just back from paris, we flew into Bouvais. We got the shuttle bus as previously mentioned. There was no problem and the journey took about 1hour 15mins. they are scheduled to leave 20 mins after each flight arrives.

One thing, on the way back, make sure you are there on time for your bus, again they are schedule for each flight departue. We missed ours, got the next one but it was cutting it fine.

|||

taxi, taxi, taxi- - - it%26#39;s a bit pricey but hassle free and easy. It%26#39;s worth it after a long flight or train ride.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 9:21 am, September 24, 2009

Day trip - Saturday 14th June

Hello, we are arriving at Gard du Nord at approx 10.30am and have approx 7 hours in Paris.

Thw sights we would like to see are

Moulin Rouge

Eiffell Tower (would like to go up)

Arc De Triomphe/Champs Elysees

Notre Dame

Louvre

We have two children with us and want to take them to Angelina%26#39;s for a hot chocolate as this is supposed to be very good and somewhere to try frogs legs and snails (they%26#39;ve been learning about Paris at school)

We would be happy to use a hop on-off bus but I dont know where the nearest point is from Gard du Nord and what way round these sights would appear.

Any help would be gratefully received

Thanks

|||

I took L%26#39;open bus Paris Grand Tour last week. The entire tour takes about 2 hours and covers the following on your list: Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysee, Notre Dame and Louvre. You can connect to a different bus that goes to Montmartre to visit Moulin Rouge. FYI, I stood in line for two hours last Monday afternoon to get to the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower (and that was in freezing rain).

Hope this helps.

|||

For more information on L%26#39;open bus tours...

www.pariscityrama.com/en/paris_open_tour

|||

The metro is so easy to navigate and will get you to all of these sights quickly and easily. Buy a carnet of tickets from a ticket machine (10 in a set) which is a cheap and easy way to travel.

My only reservation with children would be the Moulin Rouge - the area is considered the %26quot;red light%26quot; district of Paris and I had to direct my 9 year old child%26#39;s eyes in the opposite directions from the strip clubs which, in Paris, are not as hidden from view as they are in other places. He got an eye-full even with my attempts!

The Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triomphe and Notre Dame will be easy to fit into a day but the Louvre will be tough. It is HUGE - you will have to have a good plan in place to see what you want to see in a couple of hours. You can avoid the line for entrance at the pyramid by entering the Louvre through the metro station underground to the left of the pyramid, just outside the palace grounds. If you can at all get there on Friday night, the Louvre stays open until late allowing you to see the museum when it is less crowded.

Hope this helps! Good luck with your trip and enjoy -

Anita

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 11:16 pm, September 21, 2009

Riding bikes in Paris

I am interested in renting a Roue Libre bike in Paris- not the tours- I%26#39;d just like the flexibility for one day to ride around town.

When I take students to Florence some have starry-eyed visions of riding a bike or moped/scooter around town. I know that for someone who is not really used to the city it%26#39;s a good way to land in the hospital and I talk them out of it. (I%26#39;ve nearly been hit on many occasions and can only imagine if I was on the thing...)

Is riding a bike around Paris without someone to guide you around not a particularly smart idea? Or, can I pretend I%26#39;m Nino Quincampoix (without the motor, or Audrey Tautou for that matter) for the day?

|||

I%26#39;m not exactly sure of the answer but my instinct tells me that it would be risky without a guide. I say that partly because Fat Tire Tour makes a point of keeping its tour off the roads except when no other option exists and also because my experience is that its scary enough to be a pedestrian in Paris let alone on a bike. LOL :-)

Linda

|||

Thanks, I lived in NYC for years and never rode a bike, but the thought of doing it Paris sounds fun.

Well, maybe not.

Anyone else?

|||

My wife, two sons and I ride bikes all the time. Both rentals and tours are great. There are over 200km (I believe) of bike lanes in Paris. The streets along the Seine are also closed on Sunday mornings until around 5pm in the evening for bikers, roller bladers, walkers... and that is a great ride. No cars at all! For tours we always recommend Fat Tire as their tours are fantastic. They also do rentals or you can rent from Roue Libre too. I have not used Roue Libre%26#39;s bikes, but the seats, gears and fat tires (litterally) make the Fat Tire bikes really good. I%26#39;m pretty sure they charge either 2 or 2.5 Euros an hour.

|||

We ride the vélib bikes all over Paris to get from point A to point B, but we are used to riding bikes, and feel very comfortable. Many of our trips are in the bus/taxi lanes and that means that you have to be prepared to have a bus behind you or a taxi that brushes by missing you by inches. If you are not stable on a bike, I don%26#39;t think riding on the street in Paris would be a good idea. On the other hand, on Sunday, when some of the roads along the Seine are closed, is a great time to see Paris by bike. I still find it thrilling to breeze past famous monuments, feeling as free as a 12 year old.

|||

I did a couple of Fat Tire tours, and loved them, but what was really nice about them was the bikes. The extra cushy seats, the fat tires the good shock absorbers are so needed in Paris, were the roads are crappy, and most curbs have no ramp like they do here.

The only thing that really holds me back from renting a bike for a day is when ever you want to go INTO a site you have to leave the bike unattended, with perhaps, if they supply, a flimsy lock, and if the bike gets stolen ( and I bet that it is a target) you are most likely responsible , and I bet the bikes are not cheap.

|||

I haven%26#39;t rented in Paris (and still resisting doing so, except maybe the Bois) but have done so in Amsterdam a few times. The rental office usually offers a price with, and without, theft insurance. I imagine the Paris rentals would have the same benefit.

|||

My attitude is simple - if I won%26#39;t drive in Paris when I have the advantage of some slight protection from the automobile itself, why on earth would I ride a bike which gives me no protection at all?

|||

I recently signed up for the Velib program and riding a bike through Paris is not that scary. It is quite lovely. I do know the Velib program has a day and 7 day offer but my French is in the debutante stage so I can%26#39;t offer much more advice.

You just have to pay attention a lot more. Kind of like driving a manual after years of an automatic. Pay attention and stay alert. The taxis are the only vehicle to avoid.

|||

I ride all over the city on velib. It is wonderful. As for the safety issue, I also let my 14 year old ride, so I really don%26#39;t consider it to be risky at all.

|||

Absolutely rent a velib and go! It%26#39;s a great way to see the place. Try to get to the Seine on Sunday mornings like the previous post recommended. It%26#39;s wonderful way to see the city and interact with all of the residents of Paris who make this their weekly habit!

Do they still sell?

Do they still sell those little eiffel tower keychains in the street, I want to bring something back for my co-workers that is inexpensive, because there are 10 of them. Thanks

|||

Yes..they%26#39;re everywhere and cheap! Every tourist gift shop has them as well as the street vendors under the Eiffel Tower - they are your cheapest option.

|||

I%26#39;m sure if you%26#39;re near the Tour Eiffel you%26#39;ll find them. I was there with some teens and we bought quite a few for their friends as small gifts.

Drive a bit of a bargain as the price varied from seller to seller! Quite cheap though...

ebabe

|||

You should be able to get them for no more than 1 euro apiece; try to BOGO!

|||

I have a question like this also. Do they still sell roasted chestnuts on the street during the winter? I haven%26#39;t been back for a long time.

|||

Thank you all for your responses, yes when I went 2 years ago thats what I paid 1 Euro each, great cheap Souvenir, when you have lots of people to buy for Thanks again

|||

Yes, still chestnuts

|||

Last week I bought 10 of them for 5 euros from the guys around the tower. It was later in the evening and they would sell them for almost anything it seemed.

Hope this helps.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 8:20 am, September 24, 2009

Day trip outside Paris

I would like to go on a field trip to a chateau?

I have been to Versailles and love it. I am interested in architecture and gardens. What would you suggest? It can be byu a tour company or by ourselves.

|||

If you loved Versailles, I would try Fountainebleau next. The building is just as big as Versailles, much quieter, and the town surrounding is great!

|||

How easy is it to get to Fountainebleu?

|||

Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte--the inspiration for Versailles. Large gardens by Le Notre you can traverse in a rented golf cart. Check the web site.

|||

Here are my recommendations:

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

http://www.chateaudechantilly.com/

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

You really should take the time to visit here:

http://www.chateauxloire.com/

|||

Definitely Vaux-le-Vicompte! They have a wonderful evening candlelight tour with thousands of candles in the gardens and throughout the chateau. It is magic! Last time I went to this I was lucky enough to have a lightning storm going on and it felt like I was in some strange gothic movie - so cool!

There is also a chateau west of Paris (sorry I can%26#39;t remember the name but I%26#39;m sure you can google it - I found it in the book %26quot;Paris With Kids%26quot;) that has a wild animal drive-through park and zoo that is owned by the family. If you are going with kids this is a must see - especially during the lion feeding time. There is a plexiglass walk-through tunnel through the lion enclosure that is at ground level and they throw out raw meat to the lions who proceed to pounce onto the tunnel to get the meat. You are inches from them and you can see their true beauty.

Enjoy!

Anita

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 9:23 am, September 24, 2009

Short term French school for kid

Hello friends,

Does anyone know if it%26#39;s possible to place a 4 yr. old into a French school (public or private) for only two months so that she is not bored (she already speaks French)? THANKS

|||

There is a children%26#39;s international school on Boulevard Gambetta. I don%26#39;t know what the terms are, but it could be a good bet.

I only know of this because it was close to a place I stayed in and they have banners outside. I don%26#39;t know how helpful this will be!

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 3:18 pm, September 24, 2009

Paris to Italy

What is the most economical and quickest way to get from Paris to Italy? About how far - miles - is it? thanks so much

|||

I am flying from Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport to Rome (FCO) for 80 euros one way in July. I am flying on Vueling airline. Booked online.

Prices may have gone up now. Look at Easyjet and Ryanair also.

The train to Rome takes hours, like 10-12 I think. I looked into a nighttrain but it was expensive and I didn%26#39;t want to waste a day of travel.

|||

Just make sure and check the baggage fees when you look at these discount airlines. The rates may look attractive but some charge very high fees for excess baggage weight. Their baggage allowance weights are usually also quite a bit less than on the big airlines.

|||

Do not take Econolines bus service. It was a nightmare when I went from Lyon, France to Florence, Italy. No working bathroom the entire time, bus broke down 3 times, we arrived 8 hours late, and our driver kept yelling at us to be quiet--in a really mean way. I barely held it together!

|||

I could answer this question if I knew where in Italy you are going, Italy is a pretty big country. I%26#39;m guessing Rome???

|||

I have done this route a number of different ways.

Bus - cheapest option but the least comfortable. You often get seedy characters and people from the fringes of society. I once watched a guy break out the front window of a bus because he was mad that the driver was kicking him off because he was high. Not always a bad experience but can be a little dicey. It also takes a long time because of all of the stops.

Train - Can be kind of fun. Last summer we took an overnight train from Paris to Rome. Left Paris at about 5 PM and arrived in Rome the next morning at about 10. Even though we paid for a private car we ended up being put in with an Italian couple. They turned off the air conditioning in the middle of the night and it became unbearable!! Not the best experience but it%26#39;s a fun thing to try once.

Plane - With so many short flight local airlines in Europe you%26#39;d be crazy not to take advantage of this option. You%26#39;ll be there in no time and spend very little. Easy Jet has great deals and is well-established.

Good luck and have fun!

Anita

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 2:18 pm, September 24, 2009

We need a sitting plan

Our 10 night visit this month will not be a high energy -let%26#39;s see all visit. So if the weather cooperates I need to know different spots to sit for 10 days.

Suggestions?

|||

Some of my favorite sitting spots are: Sq Vert Galant, Place Dauphine and the park at the Memorial de la Deportation

|||

Luxombourg Gardens, Gardens of the Rodin Museum.

|||

Parc Monceau - peaceful and beautiful. Less than 10 minute walk from Arc de Triomphe. Also Luxembourg Gardens, Rodin and the little park on LaMotte Piquet near Les Invalides. We always take a book and stop many times a day to relax, read and people watch. We%26#39;ve done all the museums and sites and now enjoy the neighborhoods and parks. Very relaxing.

|||

Parc Montsouris. It is very beautiful. When I was there in Oct. %26#39;07 it had murmuring benches. (It was an artistic experiment.) Very interesting.

Le Jardin de Tuilleries.

on the grass at Hotel de Ville looking at that masterpiece. (Is there always grass--I can%26#39;t remember. Last time I was there people were camped out in front watching football/rugby (?) footage on a big screen. (I saw both while there so now I can%26#39;t remember what was in front of Hotel de Ville on the screen.)

I loved Parc Monceau too.

I have a beautiful new book called Quiet Corners of Paris (Borders had to order it for me). Perhaps you could get some nice ideas here. It is copyrighted in 2006 and translated into English in 2007 by David Downie who wrote one of my favorite books Paris, Paris, Journey into the City of Light.

A Priori Tea in the Passage Jouffroy.

|||

Thank you--I have begun mapping these!! Many fit in with visits to nearby sights, or are sights themselves! Dave

|||

You are going to discover that Paris is well fixed for parks--small, neighborhood %26#39;pocket parks%26#39;, like the Square George Cain tucked in, in a nook formed by the rear facade of Musée Carnavalet--to grand jardins--like the Tuileries and Luxembourg. There are quais and bridges all along the Seine dotted with benches, and likely looking cafés with interesting views or street-scapes scattered about in every neighborhood in Paris. So NO MATTER where you happen to be in Paris at the moment, there will probably be a pleasant parc or likely-looking café just down the block or %26#39;round the next corner....and if that one doesn%26#39;t quite suit, simply walk a bit farther down that block or turn another corner. Odds are the next one will.

PARCS, JARDINS, SQUARES--

www.paris.fr/portail/Parcs/Portal.lut…

It%26#39;s also worth noting that in Paris, %26#39;..Comparative Café Chair Comfort..%26#39; testing (%26#39;..this one%26#39;s toooo soft...toooo hard....juuuuust right..) is a greatly under-appreciated %26#39;..occupation..%26#39;.

|||

Check this older piece from the New York Times out for a few more specific %26#39;locations%26#39;--

%26quot;..PARIS; A Revelation of Secret Gardens..%26#39;--

query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html…

|||

On Ile St Louis, to to the tip at the downstream end (toward Notre Dame) and there is a lovely small park there that%26#39;s very peaceful.

I agree re Luxembourg (of course) but one of my favorite %26quot;sitting%26quot; experiences was on a hot summer day when I got an ice cream cone (Berthillon, mai oui) from a stand on bd St Germain, and sat on a bench under a tree along the street just watching everything go by while eating the world%26#39;s best ice cream.

|||

Sorry, that%26#39;s %26quot;GO to the tip . . .%26quot;

|||

BT-- thanks for replying The plans are shaping up. Got the VIP apt on Rue St Honore. Getting a countryside tour in a traction car from Vernon and my cousin from London is coming to visit. Got your gallery for a souvenir art piece noted--that is how our house is %26quot;decorated%26quot;. Got a few cafes noted and a short list of museums - Marine, Rodin, Picasso and the Louvre in the evening. Got my cheese shop, wine shop listed. Now we have places to hang out. Could life be any better--We are so fortunate. Dave

Jazz in Paris

My mother and I are going to paris on thh 11th. It will a first time visit for the both of us. We will be staying in teh Latin quarter and I have heard that there is a lot of good Jazz there. Does anyone have any good recommendations for a club or a lounge? It would be nice if there was someplace that we could both enjoy. I%26#39;m 19 and shes in her ealry 50s. Merci Beaucoup!!

|||

Hello!

There is two main jazz clubs in this area, the Petit Journal and Petit journal Montparnasse. Plenty of others, tho, mainly in the Saint Germain des Pres area (rue Saint Benoit and rue Bonaparte for instance).

I personnaly prefer the petit journal montparnasse, where you can have a dinner while the jazz session starts (at around 10 pm).

The program is really good, a constant sense of quality is there. Any additional info on their website http://www.petitjournal-montparnasse.com/

It is far from the Quartier Latin, but note that the hotel Meridien Etoile on Porte Maillot has a *very* good jazz bar on the top of it, that%26#39;s where i discovered Joshua Redman and since then my life has changed : ))

|||

Thanks so much for your reply! I will definitely check these places out!

|||

Surprisingly, there isn%26#39;t a lot of good jazz in the 5th--Latin Quarter. Your best bet will be Le PETIT JOURNAL--SAINT MICHEL--71 Blvd. St. Michel--http://perso.wanadoo.fr/claude.philips/

Just across the Blvd. Saint Michel, in the 6th--Saint Germain des Pres is LE BILBOQUET (just around the block from Eglise Saint Germain des Pres)--13 rue Saint Benoit, 75006, Metro: Saint Germain des Pres--with usually good music...sadly the Alliance which used to be next door is gone)

There is also Le Caveau de la Huchette but any time I%26#39;ve stopped at this place the music hasn%26#39;t been at all good.

For the best music you will have to venture a bit father afield to:

PETIT JOURNAL MONTPARNASSE-- http://www.petitjournal-montparnasse.com/ (one of the best jazz clubs in the world)

Le DUC des LOMBARDS--42 rue des Lombards, 75001, Metro: Chatelet

Le SUNSET/SUNRISE--60 due des Lombards, 75001, Metro: Chatelet (always great music)

NEW MORNING-- 7 rue des Petttes Ecuries, 75010, Metro #4 Chateau d%26#39;Eau

|||

I just got back from Paris and there are 3 great jazz clubs side by side; in fact one of them is actually called the Sun Side club and features a vocal jazz backed up by a 5 piece band fully in sync: guitar, bass, drums, piano and of course the voice.

She even did a %26#39;standard%26#39; for me: which is what I like: %26quot;I%26#39;ve Got You Under my Skin%26quot;.

The Latin jazz at the club next door was technically excellent, not just what I like. I also lost my Patriots hat there, so in case you see a gay Parisian with a navy wool Patriots hat, tell him %26quot;You%26#39;re Welcome%26quot;.

Of course, the first jazz club I ever went to in Paris is the one at the corner after you come up from the Chatelet Metro: %26quot;the Lombard%26quot; on the Rue de Lombard, but prices were way too high for my taste this time.

What do you know about %26quot;the New Morning%26quot;?

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 12:20 pm, September 24, 2009

RER or Metro question??

This may be a stupid question, but I usually walk all over Paris and don%26#39;t really know the answer. This year when we come to Paris, we will be bringing friends that have never been, and cannot walk everywhere like we can. I noticed on one of my tours of the day, we need to take the metro a few stops and it is actually the RER line (the one that goes to Versailles). My question is... is it the same price to ride the RER or is it more expensive than a regular subway ride? We need to catch the RER at St. Michel and ride to the Invalides stop. Can someone tell me how much this would cost? Do either of these stations have elevators or escalier roulant? (did I spell that right :)

Thank you for any advice.

|||

I don%26#39;t know which stations have escalators or elevators, but I do know you use the same ticket for the metro and the RER within Paris, completely interchangeable. The city bus, too, actually easier for people with limited mobility.

|||

We did exactly the same journey several times last month as like you on this occasion we were with friends. Generally we try to walk everywhere.

The RER you will find is usually fairly close to the surface and often has just stairs and if I remember correctly (it was only 3 weeks ago but age creeps up on you!) the two stops you are using do not have escalators.The trains are not far below ground here.Unless your friends have very limited mobility it should not be a problem though.

On the RER you need to concentrate a bit more on checking you are taking the train in the right direction. It is not particularly difficult but it is not signposted as simply as the Metro.

Also if you are using an RER/Metro interchange station you can find that some of them have extremely long distances to walk between services. (Montparnasse for instance).

If that is a problem maybe a local T/A poster could advise if you know you need a specific interchange.

Neal

|||

Make sure you have the correct tickets. On what was possibly an oversight due to sheer excitement, we attempted to go to La Defense yesterday with a ticket we had purchased as a book of 10.

Apparently you cannot go to La Defense on the RER with these tickets, the zone stops at Charles de Gaulle. We were fined 25 euros for making a mistake and taking the RER one stop too far. When is was pointed out what we had done (it wasnt made clear in any literature, french nor english) we offered to simply go back to CDG Etoile with our ticket. Apparently we could not do this and the jobsworth inspectors demanded 25 euros each, before we bargained them down to 25 euros for us both (slightly corrupt from the outset).

To make it even worse, using the Metro to get to La Defense on the yellow line is fine.

We left Paris on a sour note as this was our last day before the train back to London.

Whats even worse is that i work for Transport for London and know fully well that you would only ever be charged the top up fare for making this mistake on the underground. ESPECIALLY if you%26#39;re a tourist.

Rant over.

|||

If you could walk to the Odeon metro stop or just up to rue Des Ecoles(NE corner), Bus 63 picks up there and drops off at Invalides. It also continues to Trocadero to Port Le Muette in the 16th. My favorite bus line! One ticket and right through the 6th.

|||

You can use the same tickets on the RER as on the Metro, but you will need to check that your ticket is good for the zones you travel through. The normal tickets are good for zones 1-2, AND the entire metro network (even if that stretches into zone 3 sometimes - like La Défense).

www.ratp.info/orienter/plan_plan_zone_pdf.php

Note that this map only shows the RER lines and stations.

As you can see, both Saint-Michel Notre-Dame and Invalides are in zone 1, so you can use a regular ticket (€1.50, or €1.11 if you buy a carnet).

It is well known that the RATP inspectors know no mercy - although it appears they%26#39;ve given one of the previous posters a break (only to be called %26quot;corrupt%26quot;...)

|||

so how do i know when to take the rer and when to take the metro?

|||

hannymom: which ever route has the fewest stops and or correspondances. if one RER will get you there, go for it. ie Notre Dame to the Eiffel tower. or if you have to take 2 metros and change lets say AT Chatelet (notorious for its blocks of walking between metros). go another way.

i would like to reinterate using the bus. there are lots of routes that from one side of the city to the next. Yes they take longer but you get to see and hear the city. Much better for the non-walkers.

|||

thank you, flashby, that makes sense. but are the rer stations and metro in the same place? also, do you use the same ticket for the bus as you would the metro?

|||

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;so how do i know when to take the rer and when to take the metro?%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

It will depend on where you%26#39;re going. You take the mode of transportation that getts you there quickest. Basically, the regular METRO is an inter-city mode of transportation, that with a few exteptions, primarily serves the confines of the City of Paris. The RER is primarily a mode of surburban transportation that serves the Greater Île de France....and in doing so, has numerous stations within and across Paris for this purpose.

For intra-city transportation, within the City of Paris (use the Périphérique--the %26#39;ring road%26#39;--that runs all around Paris as your %26#39;rough guide%26#39;) you can condsider the regular Metro as the %26#39;..local..%26#39; and the RER as the %26#39;..express..%26#39;, making fewer stops.....and so long as your destination is WITHIN the City of Paris, BOTH systems are completely interchangeable and transferable for the SAME ticket...or with the same Zone 1-2 transportation pass.

Simply looking at a Metro/RER system map will usually tell you which is the fastest and most direct route from wherever you are, to wherever you want to go.

|||

## When is was pointed out what we had done (it wasnt made clear in any literature, french nor english) ##

I%26#39;m sorry, but it /is/ made amply clear in RATP literature. For instance, it is made clear above the turnstiles that give access to the RER platforms : %26quot;ATTENTION RER TARIFICATION SPECIALE%26quot;.

Trip Report - February 2008

Our first trip to Paris was February 17-23. Thanks to Tripadvisor and this forum, I was extremely prepared and we had a good trip. We had 5.5 days of sightseeing and walked 8-10 miles a day. Yes, walking is the best way to see Paris, but not good for my feet. My first trip to a podiatrist was after our return and he confirmed that I should limit walking to avoid pain and surgery. I was in a lot of agony through most of the trip and for weeks later, which is why this report is late.

Highlights (in order of importance):

1. My favorite part of the trip was experiencing French food. Except for a croque monsieur at a small left-bank cafe, all the food we ate was fantastic. But the best meals were lunches we had at two right-bank restaurants. I had pulled menus from the web, so I was prepared for the cost, which was approximately $140 per lunch for two people.

Our first full day we slept late, so started with lunch at the Royal Madeleine. After reading about the Royal Madeleine on Tripadvisor, I did more research and found in was in our backyard and recommended by many others. We didn%26#39;t have reservations and believe we got the only walk-in table. We were also the only tourists. The place was full the entire time. The 2-hour lunch was fantastic! I had wine, French onion soup, veal stew, creme brulee, and cafe creme. This video gives a good feel for the Royal Madeleine:

geobeats.com/videoclips/…french-bistro

On our last day, we had lunch at Auberge Nicholas Flamel. Our reservations were not necessary, at least not for lunch on the day we went. Again, we were the only tourists. I had a cheese artichoke entree, lamb, creme brulee, and cafe creme. At any restaurant anywhere, if it%26#39;s offered, I usually have creme brulee for dessert. This was the best creme brulee I%26#39;ve ever had!

http://www.auberge-nicolas-flamel.fr

2. After much research, I decided on Hotel de Vendome. Yes, it%26#39;s pricey, but I got a good deal on Expedia and this trip was in celebration of 35 years of marriage. Unfortunately, we are now spoiled for future Paris trips! Our suite included a foyer, sitting area and large bathroom. We faced the street, but heard nothing and the blackout drapes worked beautifully, keeping sun out while we slept in most mornings. The location was perfect for our itinerary. It was within minutes of the Musee Louvre, Champs Elysee and Opera Garnier. And several days we walked to and from the islands.

3. I loved the islands! After dropping off our luggage upon arrival, we headed to Notre Dame. Especially on a sunny Sunday, the islands are so enjoyable with street entertainers and cute shops. We had our first Paris meal at Cafe Med on Ile Saint Louis and ended our day with an evening boat tour. We spent more time on the islands two additional days, including eating our last Paris meal at a small cafe near Notre Dame.

4. I can%26#39;t stop talking about the food and my husband can%26#39;t stop talking about the Tower Eiffel. He was not prepared for it%26#39;s size and keeps telling people how %26quot;big%26quot; it is. He also now better appreciates the engineering involved in it%26#39;s construction.

Observations:

1. Paris is very expensive! Yes, the exchange rate is horrible, but I wasn%26#39;t prepared for how much Parisiens pay for everything. I had hoped to buy some fashion items, but just couldn%26#39;t stomach the cost. Instead, I carefully observed what the locals were wearing and what was in the stores. In particular, I noticed many women wearing short swing jackets with 3/4-length sleeves and huge buttons. Within days of returning home, I purchased a similar jacket online for a fraction of what I would have paid in Paris. Another trend I noticed were colorful sneakers. Often they were metallic. We probably won%26#39;t see this trend in the midwest for a year or more.

2. Everyone wears a scarf. Yes, I had read about this accessory statement (and we were prepared with our own scarves). But I had to smile when a French mother put a scarf around her toddler%26#39;s neck before getting off the plane!

3. There are eyeglass shops everywhere. Honestly, I couldn%26#39;t get over it. I didn%26#39;t even see that many people wearing glasses!

4. The French in Paris are extremely friendly. Several acquiantances warned us about how rude the French are -- not true! In fact, 98% of our interactions were with *overly* friendly and helpful people. The other 2% were cordial, professional and certainly not rude. Maybe outside of Paris this is different?

In summary, 5.5 days is not nearly enough time to see all that Paris has to offer. But that was all the time away from work we could take and, honestly, we could not have afforded more. But I now will tell people to go to Paris no matter how little time they have. It%26#39;s an experience I remember fondly. Of course the beautiful weather we had didn%26#39;t hurt. It was sunny and in the 50s for all but one day of our visit in the middle of winter!

|||

It sounds as though you had a lovely time. Glad you enjoyed yourselves.

Anniversary Congratulations.

|||

Great report, me and my new Mrs. to be are heading to Paris in May. We can%26#39;t wait! I have a knack for finding some bargains on the road. I find that near train stations or inside of them for that matter they have fabulous deli%26#39;s that display their sandwiches etc. they are reasonable.

I loved Paris the last time I was there. I can%26#39;t believe it%26#39;s been 9 years since I%26#39;ve been there, time moves way to fast.

Can%26#39;t wait to get to the Louvre and all those cool places once again.

|||

Great trip!

In Paris we have the reputation according to other Frech people, to be the rudest in France, so i think outside Paris would be even more friendly?

|||

Great TR; thanks for the detailed restaurant reviews. I hope you will have many, many more trips to Paris to look forward to.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 5:19 am, September 24, 2009

25 Years!!!!!!

Hubby %26amp; I are celebrating our silver wedding in August this year. We spent a couple of nights in Paris for our honeymoon back in 1983 and thought it might be nice to celebrate our anniversary there too. At the time we stayed in Hotel Suffren La Tour. I%26#39;m not sure if it%26#39;s still there as I can%26#39;t find it on Google, although it may be just under a different name.

Anyway, what I%26#39;d like to ask is can anyone suggest a nice romantic hotel in a good but quietish location (I can%26#39;t stand traffic noise outside my window!)on a budget of up to £150 per night? A bit of a tall order I know but you never know......

Any assistance much appreciated!

|||

Have you tried searching the address of your honeymoon hotel? That may find it if it%26#39;s still there but under another name. There are a couple of similar names, one a Mercure.

Otherwise I would say Pavillon de la Reine which is, sadly, wildy above you budget. Why not take a look at

Henri IV Rive Gauche Hotel

TA reviews here

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d282186…

ebabe

|||

Hi, thanks for your hotel suggestions I shall have a look at them. I had thought of the address search for where we stayed before but I can%26#39;t remember exactly where it was. I know it was near the Eiffel Tower......!!

I%26#39;ll have to do a major search to see if I still have anything with the hotel details on and take it from there.

|||

Hotel Suffren La Tour was in the Rue Jean Rey, in the 15th arrondissement. It is nowadays called the Mercure Paris Suffren Tour Eiffel.

mercure.com/mercure/…fiche_hotel.shtml

geocities.co.jp/HeartLand-Gaien/…suffren2.jpg

|||

If you want a small, boutiquy hotel I recommend the Hotel Du Pantheon. It is located just a few blocks from Luxembourg Gardens facing the Pantheon. It is a very small hotel but very nice. The rooms are small but very Parisian and comfortable. As with most hotels in Paris, the elevator is the size of a broom closet and the breakfast room is in the undercroft on the level below ground but, to me, that is the charm of Paris!

There is a metro station at the bottom of the road right at the entrance to the Luxembourg Gardens (just a few blocks down a slightly sloping road) and many places to eat in the immediate neighborhood. I found the hotel to be very quiet except for a neighbor playing the piano across the interior courtyard - but I thought that was incredible charming!

Have a wonderful anniversary trip and all the best!

Anita

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

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

Trip Report (Very Long)

I recently got a lot of good tips from this forum and I want to say thank you to everyone. For those who are interested, here is a long trip report (I was in Paris with my husband 10/8-10/18).

Airport

CDG was smaller than I thought it would be, which made things like immigration go faster than I thought. We arrived early for our flight back and couldn’t help but notice the food was terrible except for the pre-packaged baguettes. Bring your own from a bakery near your hotel/apartment if you can remember.

Transportation

We used the Blue Van shuttle. They were there when we arrived at the airport (we were the only ones in the van). They were about 15 minutes late picking us up at our hotel, but they called to let us know we would be late (there was one other passenger in the van). In Paris, we used our feet (our preference), the subway and cabs. The subways were clean and came about every 3 minutes - amazingly frequent. The cab drivers were all very nice and did not try to rip us off (one driver even told us to just give him 10 euros when the meter fare was 10.20 euros - I’ve never seen that in the U.S.!). It’s also fun when your cab is a high-end Mercedes or Audi.

Hotel

We stayed at the Hotel Saint Louis Bastille, near Place de la Republique. The room was clean and modern. The location was awesome - walking distance to a lot of places and near several subway lines. The staff was not very helpful. Biggest issue was the noise, which was only a problem because we like to sleep with the windows open. Lots of traffic noise. Very loud. Very annoying (how do the French handle this?!). The first day we asked for a quieter room in the back and instead on the third day got another front room on a higher floor which did not help. Good price, however. I would go back if guaranteed a room in the back or I was traveling in the winter when i want the windows closed.

Food

Definitely go to local bakeries, wine shops, grocery stores and markets. We made a habit of breakfast at our local bakery, followed by espresso at our local bar, followed by a big lunch, then wine/cheese/fruit picnic at about 4pm somewhere spectacular (foot of the Eiffel Tower, top steps of the Sacre-Coeur), and a late dinner. Yum. Food was great. Cheese was unbelievable. We had everything from fancy bistros to the corner brasseries to the neighborhood favorite (a French-Greek place that sang “Happy Birthday” to us to help celebrate our wedding anniversary!) to pizza (served with a raw egg on top?!) to a to a chain restaurant based in Belgium specializing in mussels (we called it “Red Mussels”) to street venders with baguettes and crepes. Also we got Asian fusion when we couldn’t take another rich French meal. Note that martinis are Really Expensive (25 euros) - at least that’s what we noticed when we went to the Ritz Hotel (we stuck with wine after that).

Sights

Centre Pompidou is spectacular if you like contemporary art (also has a great view %26amp; a fun gift shop!). Musee Rodin is filled with stunning sculpture inside %26amp; out, is small but not too crowded. Louvre was of course filled with incredible art, but was packed with people to the point I was pretty uncomfortable. Pere-Lachaise Cemetery was worthwhile - particularly considering the fact that it will probably be some time before visitors will feel comfortable in the cemeteries of New Orleans (which are similar). Notre Dame was great - don’t forget to walk around the back - and try to get there when there is an organ concert (we did just by chance - amazing!). Luxembourg Gardens were a nice place to stop and rest and watch the Parisians at leisure - really fun watching the kids play (we did not observe ONE Playstation during our visit - yea!). Ste. Chapelle is stunning - forget about taking photos like everyone else, just enjoy it. With 10 days in Paris, we thought we would have a few day trips, but there was so much to see and do in the City, we only ended up taking one day trip: to Fontainbleau - a nice village adjacent to the King’s “hunting lodge” - actually a large palace surrounded by some formal gardens and acres and acres of old-growth forested hunting grounds. It was a great mid-trip visit to a relatively rural area where we could stomp around in the woods. Also had pigeon (with wild cherry sauce - yum!) for the first time in Fontainbleau.

People

I cannot emphasize enough how nice the French were. I am relatively well-traveled (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Western Europe) and I have never been to a place where people are nicer. Several times people heard us speaking in English and struggling with a map or a menu and just walked up and asked if they could be of assistance. Everyone we met spoke at least some English, but we had much more satisfying interactions with people if we tried to speak French (and our French is pretty bad). They humored us for a minute and then started speaking English.

Dogs

Dogs go everywhere...restaurants, stores, you name it. When being walked on the streets they are stunningly well-behaved. The owners carry the leashes and don’t hook them to the dog - they don’t have to - the dogs stay within 10 yards of the owners and are very obedient. The only exception was dogs that are often problematic (Rottweilers, Pitt Bulls) always have muzzles and are on leashes.

Most special moments

1) My husband (a professional jazz guitarist) brought his guitar with him. We went to a jam session (“Les Boeufs”) one night at a club in an area that was very “off the beaten track”. Even though my husband had an electric guitar and it was an acoustic Django Reinhart, gypsy-type jam (“Jazz Manouche”), the leader immediately asked him on stage and asked him to keep playing for 2 HOURS-just rotating the other players. The crowd applauded a lot, and several people in the bar came over at various times as I sat alone with my wine to ask “is he your husband? He is very good - he must be famous!” Very, very nice people. He had fun, I had fun, everyone had fun. At the end of the night the club owner came over and asked us to come back again before we left town.

2) At a Café in St Germain we noticed that someone from a large table next to us was getting us to take a photo of the table - we heard her speak English so we asked if we could take the photo for her so she could be in the picture. She said yes, then the gentleman at the head of the table (a local) started talking to us, invited us to the table for digestifs, ended up giving us a tour of his nearby art gallery and a few days later met us again for drinks and gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Wow! He expects to visit with us when he %26amp; his wife are in the U.S.

3) Romance: [I am self-editing this part - suffice it to say there was a lot of romance]

Regrets

Should have made reservations at a couple of high-end restaurants before we left - we couldn’t get in to a few places we wanted to go. Should have eaten more chocolate - the few pieces we had were stunning. Should have taken a photo of the artichokes in the market - they were HUGE - never seen anything like it.

|||

Wow, really a great report and you had such an amazing time in the Jazz Club!! I can%26#39;t believe it!! So good to read a nice trip report for a change (I mean it is a change from the posts about the riots in Paris).

Thank You!

|||

:) I love trip reports. glad you had a great time and thanks for sharing your trip info.

|||

I loved the jazz club entry. I would have loved to be there. When you come back, make sure you tell us where you plan to jam. GREAT trip report!

|||

What a great report. I%26#39;m going to be in Paris in 2 weeks.... my first visit...just put me more in the mood after reading your great review... Thank you for sharing!!

|||

What a great trip! I was hanging on every word!

I%26#39;m headed to Paris myself, but not until March, so these trip reports are what keep me sane while I%26#39;m waiting.

|||

Please please let us know... which jazz club was it?

|||

Queen,

Wonderful report, great stories!

May I ask what restaurants you tried to get into that you weren%26#39;t able to?

P.s. if you want, I%26#39;ll take a photo of the artichokes and send it to you!

|||

Loved Your Post. I didn%26#39;t think it was long at all. I loved the Jazz club story. We are heading to Rome in 10 Days (I can%26#39;t believe it) and We also will be hitting some Jazz and Blues Clubs. I told My Husband to bring a Suit (That Went over real well) Because WE WILL BE GOING TO THE OPERA. I informed Him With or Without Him. I also threw in %26quot;I heard the Italian Men Love American Women%26quot;. And My Husband is Italian. I%26#39;m sure He will be going along. I hope to have as much Romance as You all did.

Thanks again...Theresa from Detroit

PS Everyone in France Were so Nice to Me. I had some Amazing conversations with some People, and made a Lifetime Friend with a Tour Guide. Can%26#39;t wait to go back. The Riots? Hey I%26#39;m from Detroit...We%26#39;ve seen it all.

|||

The jazz club was called the Blue Note and I believe it was a few blocks from the Chateau Rouge stop on the #4 Metro line (we found it in the listings in a weekly paper/magazine we got at a newsstand). We were there on a Monday night (most of the jam sessions in Paris seem to be on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday). Not sure what happens at the Blue Note the rest of the week. Note also that on the plane back to the states I was reading an American magazine (Vanity Fair?) which informed me that jazz manouche is the current %26quot;hip%26quot; music (!!!). Most of the jazz clubs in Paris seem to have jazz manouche at least one night per week.

The restaurant I remember really wanting to try but not getting in was Chez L%26#39;ami Louis in the 3rd. We then started following the advice from the forum and went to the big places at lunch. We really had a good time as Brasserie Lipp in the 6th.

oiseau, I see you are from Chicago. Those artichokes are as big as a Chicago softball, my friend. Wild stuff. Definitely post a photo.

|||

Fabulous report about a fabulous sounding trip! Thanks!

Bed and Breakfasts in Paris

We are going to be staying in Paris for a few days and would like to possibly stay in a B %26amp; B. Does anyone know of a clean, decent place?

Thanks,

JLB

|||

friends have stayed here anglofrenchbedandbreakfast.com/select.php…

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 5:15 pm, September 24, 2009

Charles de Gaulle Rail Connections

I%26#39;m landing in Charles de Gaulle at 18.05, and need to make a connection from the station at 19.15, but I%26#39;ve no idea how close the two are. Allowing for baggage collection and possible delays (within reason), does that sound possible?

Furthermore, the connection is the SNCF to Brive la Gaillarde, which I cant yet book as it is outside the 3 month window. Is it likely to sell out? Is it necessary to book over the internet or could I just buy on the day, ensuring that if i miss the connection I could just start travelling down regardless?

All advice welcome!

Thanks xx

|||

Assuming that you mean that your train is from the CDG rail station (not some other rail station in Paris), the closeness depends on which terminal you fly into.

The station is in terminal 2, so you could walk to it if you arrive in that terminal (though some parts of the terminal also provide a shuttle bus). If you arrive in a different terminal, you%26#39;ll need to shuttle to the station.

Here is a map for terminal 2E (note at the far left it shows the walkway to the TGV station:

http://tinyurl.com/ysewj9

I got it from this site (it has maps of all the terminals, and maps for other Paris airports):

http://tinyurl.com/yuwssg

Hope that helps!

|||

Thanks.

Yeah I meant the CDG station.

I%26#39;m intending to fly with Vueling, but havent yet booked the flight as I cant decide whether I%26#39;ll make the train; but I cant find out which Terminal we will land in.

Obviously CDG is a big airport, will it be possible to make it to the station in roughly and hour regardless of terminal? If necessary I could travel hand-luggage only to minimise time.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 5:16 pm, September 24, 2009