Anyone been to paris?

jonneymendoza · 14-07-2009, 7:56 PM

Hi. im looking to go to paris via eurostar in a months time and was wondering where is the best place to look at for some cheap deals that include eurostar+hotel reservations and some useful tips to lookout for when choosing a hotel?

I have checked Lastminute.com and seems to have quite a large range of packages their that i can choose from. any other sites i could check out?

I am also looking to stay in a hotel thats in a good location near the eifel tower as i assume thats where all the major tourist attractions are?

If im not mistaken, paris has an underground tube network like in london? What are the good places to visit besides the eifel tower?

cheers lads

mickevh · 14-07-2009, 8:09 PM

I believe Eurostar themselves do train+hotel packages.

Can't offer advice on where to go though - I only ever went there to work :-(

nheather · 14-07-2009, 8:10 PM

Underground = Le Metro

http://users.stargate.net/~iacas/images/met-map.jpg

You get around using Metro and Walking - maybe the RER for further out.

For the Metro, buy a book of tickets, called a Carnet.

Places to go - there are loads - seriously get a travel guide book before you go. Look through it to see what you like - as it's your taste that matters. They tend to have steet and metro maps.

My favourites would be

Boat trip (bateaux mouches)
Palace of Versailles - that's on the outskirts of Paris - need to take overground railway (RER)

Then there are all the old favourites

Notre Dame
Arch d'Triumphe + Champs Elysees (nice experience to sit at a cafe for one drink - but watch it - very expensive)
The Louvre
Sacre Coure is good
See the Night Life - try Pigalle (Moulin Rouge)
Maybe a show - can be expensive and watch you don't get ripped off though
Eating out in the Latin Quarter

How long are you going for?

Hotels near the Eiffel Tower will be expensive.

Sounds like you are going in school holidays so there may not be many deals.

Although the French all go off to their holiday homes and destinations in August.

Cheers,

Nigel

**Theydon Bois** · 14-07-2009, 8:32 PM

I have been to Paris a few times for single days and a long weekend, and really enjoyed it there.

I did the whole touristy thing when I took the missus there for her birthday, Eurostar (upgrade to first class, it is worth it for the free champers and meals and extra seating space) and we took a bus ride round the normal tourist places like the Notre Dame and (forgive my spelling) Chans a lys au (a massive wide shopping street leading up to the Arc de Triumph).

As the above poster says, buy caranets, they are bundles of 6? tickets that are cheaper than buying seperate tickets, and although at first glance there tube map looks a bit complicated, its actually very well done - and all of the tube lines are letters or numbers - no trying to work out the french for Victoria line for instance.

A very nice place and I would go again.

jonneymendoza · 14-07-2009, 8:46 PM

Carnet? Is that like a travelcard sort of thing? how does the metro work? in zones?

sleaver · 14-07-2009, 8:54 PM

I would say all the tourist places are near the Eiffle Tower. When I went we stayed a 5 min walk to the Place de la Concord and found that quite central. The Latin Quarter is susposed to be quite nice.

Most of the 'must' see places have been mentioned. If you go to Sacre Coure be aware because it is quite a different area. Also if you go and see Moulin Rouge while your in that area expect to see your more exotic kind of establishments if you get my drift!

Try the Eurostar site for train plus hotel!

Also try and speak French as we found out they are then more helpful and will likely speak English unlike if you go straight for English they may just speak French!

nheather · 14-07-2009, 8:57 PM

Quote:

Carnet? Is that like a travelcard sort of thing? how does the metro work? in zones?

No it's actually a book of single tickets. You tear them out as you use them.

Carnet literally translates as notebook - so imagine the tickets like pges of a book.

Cheapest way to buy them.

Though their may well be a travel card option now.

From memory the Metro is all pretty much one zone - one ticket from any station to any station.

Just read that you can use carnet tickets on RER and buses (within the city).

http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/a...ro-tickets.htm

Cheers,

Nigel

mda1974 · 14-07-2009, 8:58 PM

If you want a fab hotel near the Eiffel Tower then check out the Hotel Valadon

We stayed there last year and it was really good.

We have a friend who lives just around the corner so it's in a really nice residential area so as well as the tourist bits you can also get to see the real Paris.

nheather · 14-07-2009, 9:04 PM

Quote:

If you go to Sacre Coure be aware because it is quite a different area

Yep, Sacre Coure is a church high up on a hill so you get a good view across Paris - bit like a reverse view of the Eiffel Tower.

It's in an ethnic region (indian or muslim I think) of Paris so it has a different, more urban, poorer feel but I never felt ill at ease there - it's something different to see in Paris and the church and view are great.

Cheers,

Nigel

**Theydon Bois** · 14-07-2009, 9:34 PM

There are zones, but not sure how it equates - we got out to DisneyLand Paris on one ticket from the Carnet, but couldnt get back as we were out of zone, so had to buy seperate tickets. Pretty much all of central Paris is covered though.

JUS · 15-07-2009, 9:01 AM

We got a "top 10 things to do in Paris" which was pretty good. I took my wife and 11 year old daughter there last week for 3 nights.

L'Orangerie (I think it's spelt) is my favourite art gallery...it's got Monet's water lillies there among other quite incredible artists I can't spell :o)

Le Louvre was a good gallery but not my cup of tea really...all the art, in my opinion, is old, dark and boring

Have to get to the Effel Tower early if you don't want to queue for hrs.

We went to a Science museum on the metro which was great. Good day out with 3d movies and all sorts. Daughter loved it.

We stayed in the Opera area which was great...felt like Mayfair

I was absolutely shocked at the price of everything. Made me whimper everytime I sat down for something to eat.

johntheexpat · 15-07-2009, 9:08 AM

You may like to consider a hotel in the Saint Germain des Pres area. Quite central, not too over-priced and famous as an area for its jazz and general cool ambience. Generally a nice friendly area, with buskers, cafe based jazz and a great atmosphere.

jonneymendoza · 15-07-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JUS

We got a "top 10 things to do in Paris" which was pretty good. I took my wife and 11 year old daughter there last week for 3 nights.

L'Orangerie (I think it's spelt) is my favourite art gallery...it's got Monet's water lillies there among other quite incredible artists I can't spell :o)

Le Louvre was a good gallery but not my cup of tea really...all the art, in my opinion, is old, dark and boring

Have to get to the Effel Tower early if you don't want to queue for hrs.

We went to a Science museum on the metro which was great. Good day out with 3d movies and all sorts. Daughter loved it.

We stayed in the Opera area which was great...felt like Mayfair

I was absolutely shocked at the price of everything. Made me whimper everytime I sat down for something to eat.

i will stick with mcdonalds or something for eating out

ldoodle · 15-07-2009, 4:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonneymendoza

i will stick with mcdonalds or something for eating out

Why spend all that money getting to Paris for a maccy d's then.................................don't you have any a bit nearer?

jonneymendoza · 15-07-2009, 4:14 PM

im not going their for the food though, im going their for the site seeings etc

i am VERY VERY picky when it comes to certain foods

**fizl** · 15-07-2009, 4:15 PM

Eiffel tower isn't the handiest place to stay to be honest. You can get cheap hotels near notre dame, and from there very easy to walk round and get a feel.

Carnets - they are the easiest tickets to use, you rip one off and use it for one journey

Cujas pantheon is incredibly cheap and close to the centre of town (that is my cheap seat). Staying in a posho hotel on the next trip though, cos that is our honeymoon (8 weeks to go!!!).

Shows - I have been to moulin rouge and Lido, and I admit I think lido is much better out of the two

shaz

pandy92 · 15-07-2009, 4:21 PM

A good place to check out hotel recommendations is Trip Advisor - Holiday Reviews - Hotels, Resorts and Holiday Packages - TripAdvisor

jonneymendoza · 15-07-2009, 4:22 PM

i will check out notre dame area and see what the hotel prices are like. i just assumed that where the eiffel tower is located, thats where all the other major attractions are

**IronGiant** · 15-07-2009, 4:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fizl

cos that is our honeymoon (8 weeks to go!!!).

May I go off topic briefly and say

Congrats

Dave

jonneymendoza · 11-08-2009, 2:21 PM

quick question lads. seeing as im staying near the eiffel tower. are their any boats along the siene river that do a hop on hop off kinda deal? there are quit a few places along the river that i would like to see and wondering if there is a boat that goes across all of them and i can freely hop on and off the boat.

Are they cheap?

JUS · 11-08-2009, 3:37 PM

There are boats you can get. Its the usual touristy hop on/hop-off type of thing. Sorry, I don't know the price as I didn't use it. It cost round £12 a day when I used one in a different city and that covered unlimited bus & boat...so I'd guess around the same price.

Not sure where you are but there is a underground station near the tower.

As IG said, congrats

Grrrrrowler · 11-08-2009, 3:53 PM

Paris is well nang...

jonneymendoza · 11-08-2009, 6:55 PM

nang?

grantsteve · 11-08-2009, 7:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonneymendoza

nang?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Dictionary

1. nang - something that's cool

e.g. Damn, that car is nang!