Two Nights in Paris (Side trip from London by Train) May 18-20,2011
Apr 19th, 2011, 07:48 AM
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Two Nights in Paris (Side trip from London by Train) May 18-20,2011
Hello,
Need assistance with a side trip from London to Paris via Chunnel with mother. Two women traveling together so we want to ensure it will be somewhere nice and safe, with easy access to metro, etc.
Looking to leave London via train on May 18th and returning on May 20th
Never been to Paris before so looking to make the most of these days by seeing highlights (E. Tower, Lourve, River Cruise, Notre Dame, Orsay...any other recommedations)
Do you recommend we pre-purchase our train tickets from home in the States (California)? If so from where?
Also not sure if we should pre-book a hotel on-line now and if so I am looking for hotel recommedations. I've been told that Champs Elyees is the best area to stay in, but I'm not sure. As for pricing I guess we'd be looking for a minimun 3 star hotel.
As I mentioned I've never been to Europe before so this is all very new to me. Any information you can provide is greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Stacy
Need assistance with a side trip from London to Paris via Chunnel with mother. Two women traveling together so we want to ensure it will be somewhere nice and safe, with easy access to metro, etc.
Looking to leave London via train on May 18th and returning on May 20th
Never been to Paris before so looking to make the most of these days by seeing highlights (E. Tower, Lourve, River Cruise, Notre Dame, Orsay...any other recommedations)
Do you recommend we pre-purchase our train tickets from home in the States (California)? If so from where?
Also not sure if we should pre-book a hotel on-line now and if so I am looking for hotel recommedations. I've been told that Champs Elyees is the best area to stay in, but I'm not sure. As for pricing I guess we'd be looking for a minimun 3 star hotel.
As I mentioned I've never been to Europe before so this is all very new to me. Any information you can provide is greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Stacy
Apr 19th, 2011, 08:05 AM
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I would not stay in the Champs Elysee section, but it does have some $$$ hotels.
The 4/5/6th arrondissements would be my choice for a first time visitor. They are busy at night, lots of restaurants, and walking distance to a lot of sights
All of the central areas have good access to Metro, so that won't be a problem.
You have not hotel? You need to get going. Do a search here on the two hotel threads: Paris Right Bank Hotels and Paris Left bank Hotels.
You can buy Eurostar tickets online.
Have a look at the Destination Guide for Paris elsewhere on this sight. With the time you have, you will need to slim down your list to the personal must-sees. Also, allow some time for walking. Paris is a city to be enjoyed by strolling. Museums can use up a lot of time too, so decide how much, if any, time to allocate to this.
Day one could be Right Bank: Louvre, Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, Palais Royal, champs Elysee, Arc de Triomphe...then finsish off at Place des Vosges and Marais area.
Night time cruise on Seine
Day 2: Left bank: Notre Dame, St Chapelle, Ile St Louis, Ont des Arts, Blvd St Germain,Luxembourg Gardens, Rue de Buci,.etc..
The 4/5/6th arrondissements would be my choice for a first time visitor. They are busy at night, lots of restaurants, and walking distance to a lot of sights
All of the central areas have good access to Metro, so that won't be a problem.
You have not hotel? You need to get going. Do a search here on the two hotel threads: Paris Right Bank Hotels and Paris Left bank Hotels.
You can buy Eurostar tickets online.
Have a look at the Destination Guide for Paris elsewhere on this sight. With the time you have, you will need to slim down your list to the personal must-sees. Also, allow some time for walking. Paris is a city to be enjoyed by strolling. Museums can use up a lot of time too, so decide how much, if any, time to allocate to this.
Day one could be Right Bank: Louvre, Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, Palais Royal, champs Elysee, Arc de Triomphe...then finsish off at Place des Vosges and Marais area.
Night time cruise on Seine
Day 2: Left bank: Notre Dame, St Chapelle, Ile St Louis, Ont des Arts, Blvd St Germain,Luxembourg Gardens, Rue de Buci,.etc..
Apr 19th, 2011, 08:11 AM
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Yes, make your train reservations on the Eurostar asap to get the best prices (you are already too late for the real bargains, I believe: http://www.eurostar.com/static/micro...tar_faq_en.htm).
And yes, you should book a hotel immediately (whether online or over the phone or by fax or whatever). The Champs Elysées is most definitely NOT (IMO) "the best place to stay in." It's sterile and expensive and a big bore. I would recommend, for first-time visitors with a very limited amount of time to visit, that you choose a hotel in the 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th arrondissement (search on this site - there are thousands of recommendations). Not sure if you know that the star rating system in France bears little relationship to that in the USA, so perhaps you don't even need a 3-star hotel. It would be more useful if you named a per-night budget and listed any hotel amenities you can't live without.
Now is the time to invest in a detailed map of Paris so you can begin to see where things are located in relation to one another and to figure out how to use the métro system.
And yes, you should book a hotel immediately (whether online or over the phone or by fax or whatever). The Champs Elysées is most definitely NOT (IMO) "the best place to stay in." It's sterile and expensive and a big bore. I would recommend, for first-time visitors with a very limited amount of time to visit, that you choose a hotel in the 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th arrondissement (search on this site - there are thousands of recommendations). Not sure if you know that the star rating system in France bears little relationship to that in the USA, so perhaps you don't even need a 3-star hotel. It would be more useful if you named a per-night budget and listed any hotel amenities you can't live without.
Now is the time to invest in a detailed map of Paris so you can begin to see where things are located in relation to one another and to figure out how to use the métro system.
Apr 19th, 2011, 08:13 AM
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You are really too late for cheap fares from London to Paris. Train fares are just like air fares - the earlier you purchase them the cheaper they are. Still, I should not wait any longer to purchase them:
www.eurostar.com
www.tgv-europe.com
You can pickup tickets at St Pancras before you leave London so do not indicate that you either reside or want to pickup tickets in the USA, doing so will bump you to Raileurope where tickets cost more and only partial schedules are shown.
The Paris Métro is much more comprehensive than London´s tube so you will never be far from public transportation no matter where you stay. Many first time visitors like hotels in the 5th or 6th arrondissements. Without a budget window it would be impossible to make useful hotel recommendations, keeping in mind that most 3 star hotels probably start at about 150€ per night for two people ($210). I should resist the temptation to fixate on stars. France´s star system is a complete criteria based upon many factors which may not be important to you in the least. There are many 2 star hotels which I prefer over many 3 star hotels.
However, booking now is a good idea. The most interesting hotels are not part of corporate chains and can only be booked by using the hotels own website or calling. Many of these properties have no difficulty keep occupancies high without paying a third party booking entity.
www.eurostar.com
www.tgv-europe.com
You can pickup tickets at St Pancras before you leave London so do not indicate that you either reside or want to pickup tickets in the USA, doing so will bump you to Raileurope where tickets cost more and only partial schedules are shown.
The Paris Métro is much more comprehensive than London´s tube so you will never be far from public transportation no matter where you stay. Many first time visitors like hotels in the 5th or 6th arrondissements. Without a budget window it would be impossible to make useful hotel recommendations, keeping in mind that most 3 star hotels probably start at about 150€ per night for two people ($210). I should resist the temptation to fixate on stars. France´s star system is a complete criteria based upon many factors which may not be important to you in the least. There are many 2 star hotels which I prefer over many 3 star hotels.
However, booking now is a good idea. The most interesting hotels are not part of corporate chains and can only be booked by using the hotels own website or calling. Many of these properties have no difficulty keep occupancies high without paying a third party booking entity.
Apr 19th, 2011, 08:22 AM
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Apr 19th, 2011, 08:36 AM
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For ease of reaching your hotel when you arrive, I'd suggest choosing a hotel whose nearest metro station is on line 4 then you won't have to change lines. We sometimes stay at the 3 star Hotel Britannique about $240 a night for a double room (don't be misled by the name, there's nothing British about it) which is near Chatelet Les Halles metro, one of the major interchange metro stations, so very central and convenient for getting around.
You can get a metro map at http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/tourists/ along with lots of useful information about getting around Paris.
You can get a metro map at http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/tourists/ along with lots of useful information about getting around Paris.
Apr 19th, 2011, 10:22 AM
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Hi stacy,
As noted, purchase your tickets online from www.eurostar.com
Prebooking hotels is always a good idea for Paris.
In Paris, we always stay at the Hotel Bonaparte, 61 Rue Bonaparte in the 6th. From 138E dbl w/bkfst. It is just around the corner from Place St. Sulpice, near 3 metro stops and 4 bus routes. Has AC and an elevator.
The staff speaks English well, and is very helpful. The front desk is staffed 24/7
They can arrange a shuttle pickup to/from CDG for you.
Tel 33 1 43 26 97 37
FAX 33 1 46 33 57 67
[email protected]
www.hotelbonaparte.fr
For more info, enter "Hotel Bonaparte" in the "search the forum" box.
You might also find these helpful.
Paris Superthread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34519236
100 Great Things to Do in Paris
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...=2&tid=1277898
Degas’s Paris Walks
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=34712768
Kerouac’s Ethnic Walk
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=35095155
Jacquemart-André Museum
http://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en/jacquemart/
As noted, the Champs is expensive. Also the number of stars is based solely on a check list of amenities, not on hotel quality. A good 3* is often better than a mediocre 3*, usually for less money.
Enjoy your jaunt.
As noted, purchase your tickets online from www.eurostar.com
Prebooking hotels is always a good idea for Paris.
In Paris, we always stay at the Hotel Bonaparte, 61 Rue Bonaparte in the 6th. From 138E dbl w/bkfst. It is just around the corner from Place St. Sulpice, near 3 metro stops and 4 bus routes. Has AC and an elevator.
The staff speaks English well, and is very helpful. The front desk is staffed 24/7
They can arrange a shuttle pickup to/from CDG for you.
Tel 33 1 43 26 97 37
FAX 33 1 46 33 57 67
[email protected]
www.hotelbonaparte.fr
For more info, enter "Hotel Bonaparte" in the "search the forum" box.
You might also find these helpful.
Paris Superthread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34519236
100 Great Things to Do in Paris
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...=2&tid=1277898
Degas’s Paris Walks
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=34712768
Kerouac’s Ethnic Walk
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=35095155
Jacquemart-André Museum
http://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en/jacquemart/
As noted, the Champs is expensive. Also the number of stars is based solely on a check list of amenities, not on hotel quality. A good 3* is often better than a mediocre 3*, usually for less money.
Enjoy your jaunt.
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Apr 21st, 2011, 12:54 PM
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Still trying to find a nice hotel within our $200-$250 a night price range. Hotel Britannique seems perfect but they have no availability 
Also with the two days there arriving around 12:30 p.m. on 5/18 would like to ask for recommendations on a day by day itinerary. (E. Tower, Lourve, Notre Dame,River cruise any other must sees) Is it worth buying a off on buss pass, how does that work? Has anyone eaten at the Grand Colbert? Would you recommend it? Thank you in advance for your time and assistance!
Also with the two days there arriving around 12:30 p.m. on 5/18 would like to ask for recommendations on a day by day itinerary. (E. Tower, Lourve, Notre Dame,River cruise any other must sees) Is it worth buying a off on buss pass, how does that work? Has anyone eaten at the Grand Colbert? Would you recommend it? Thank you in advance for your time and assistance!
