Day Trip from Paris to Mont Saint Michel

Hi:

I%26#39;m planning to do a one day trip to Mont Saint Michel via train and bus on my own ( I like to do things at my leisure and not be rushed throught things by tour companies ) around Tuesday, November 25th, 2008. I want to spend as much time as possible during one day exploring the place and taking pictures. I would like to know how late can I stay until late in the evening/late afternoon and still being able to make it back to Paris late at night. I only want to do Saint Michel. Please advise if this is doable via public transportation ( trains and buses ) or if you recommend a tour company that would give me more that just a couple of hours at the place. I would greatly appreciate your feedback on this.

Jhon

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Hi Jhon !!

It could be done, and it would be a long day with high speed TGV to Rennes, and local bus transportation to the Mont.

The TGV is about 2 1/2 hours each way, there are morning trains at 7 30 am, possibly earlier. This could leave you with a few hours there to be spent at your own pace.

Check out TGV from Paris to Rennes, and then google Rennes to Mont St Michel transportation.

Have agreat day !! Hope this pans out for you !!

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There have been any number of posts here (and on the Fodorforums site) about doing MWM as a day trip. It will be difficult but not impossible--I%26#39;d advise doing a search on both sites and seeing the pros and cons.

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lets try westcapades.com, they might help you for a great tour. this is so easy using tgv from paris to rennes and they pick up you just out of the train and lets go for 3 stops dinan mt st michel st malo, you will never forget that, plus you v got enough time for being comfortable good luck ! janies

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Hey thanks guys for the info.

I decided to do it this coming Tuesday via the train. It looks easy enough and it will give me at least 5 hrs to see the site. The only drawback is that it takes about 4 hrs each way to get there from Paris.

Jhon

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Jhon

What are you going to do with the other 3 hours when you%26#39;re there? It%26#39;s a very small site, with a so/so church and appalling restaurants.

Seeings you have all that spare time, you could use it (weather permitting) to walk back along the causeway to see the Mont from the best viewpoit, i.e across the bay. Check with the bus comapny, they may even be a busstop at the mainland end of the cuaseway. I can%26#39;t remember.

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it is a long trip from paris to mont st michel it takes at least 4 hours one way , check that with cityrama or paris vision! with this tour cie westcapades, they arrange for you high speed train to rennes city and pick up you from there , then you save time with that option

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I wish to the same sort of thing with my family in August of %26#39;09. Anything special we will need to do given it is HIGH tourist season?

kkikawa

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Removed on: 9:20 am, October 14, 2009

Train from Paris to amsterdam !

Hi All ,

I will visit Paris on feb 08 and i need to go after spend 5 days in Paris to Amsterdam by train , can anyone to help me with train timing and price and etc ..

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Go to www.thalys.com - Thalys operates the trains between Paris and AMS.

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Removed on: 5:22 am, August 21, 2009

Adriatic hotel

has anyone experienced staying at the Adriatic Hotel in Paris? Comments would be appreciated.

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Do a search here on this page - there are more than 10 reviews that I saw -

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Removed on: 11:15 pm, August 20, 2009

Centreparis Francs Bourgouis apartment review

Finally got round to this review and pictures.

As I have said before I really like this apartment an I have booked it for later in the year. It is on the second European floor. 30 (easy) steps.

centreparis.com/location-paris/…null

My pictures can be viewed on ourparisfoum.com under Paris guest apartments section

http://www.ourparisforum.com./index.cgi?action=display%26amp;board=apartments%26amp;thread=2585%26amp;page=1

Centreparis is a budget no frills agency so don%26#39;t expect luxury but I think they give very good value for money. I have used them before. All my dealings with centreparis have been fine. basic enquires are answered quickly within office hours Monday to Friday. Sometimes they take a couple of days to answer questions that are more complicated as I think they wait until fluent english speakers come into the office.

POSITIVES

1.Price... 70 euro per night, 80 euro if staying less than 5 nights.

No security deposit. 25 euro optional cleaning fee.

2 Location...Yards from Place des Vosges, my favourite square in Paris. In the Marais.

Two metros within 5 minutes walk. Bus goes past the front door.

Shop round the corner, cafe across the street, boulangerie across the street plus a wealth of cafes, shops boutiques,Carnavalet museum and other tourist attractions on your doorstep. Bastille and Richard Lenoir market within 5-10 minutes walk. River, Ile st Louis 10 mins walk.

3. New, minimal decor. Just my style. Although more Ikea than Heals! Good sized dining table and 4 chairs

4 Clean.

5. New bathroom with large fixed overhead shower and also detachable telephone head shower. Good water pressure.

6.Separate bedroom with comfy large bed. much larger than in the photographs on the website. Plenty of room to walk around each side.

7. Plenty of room for two. Comfy sofa to sit on. We didn%26#39;t use it as a bed so can%26#39;t comment.

8.Two wardrobes so plenty storage space. One in the bedroom and a cupboard as you come in at the door.

9. Centreparis has changed their supplier for linens and now have good quality sheets and nice fluffy towels. Fresh linens available from their laundry room.

10. Well equipped. All the kitchen equipment you need. Hairdryer, iron, ironing board. Radio.

11 New washer. I didn%26#39;t use it.

12. Safe and secure at the back of the building. Very quiet. David seems very conscious of security and will only tell you the exact location of the apartment, security codes etc a few days before your trip. I find this very reassuring as only people who genuinely are using the apartment know it is a holiday rental, especially if I am on my own.

13.Useful left luggage storage facility.

NEGATIVES

1. The arrangement for collecting the key.

David sends detailed instructions for public transport ( very easy to follow) to collect the key from a safe in a different venue and then it is about 4 metro stops to the apartment.

We only had carry on luggage and I know Paris and the metro, but if you were jet lagged and carrying large luggage or didn%26#39;t know your way about this would be a pain.

When I go in July for 10 days with my husband I will send him in a taxi from the Gard de Nord to the apartment with the luggage and collect the keys myself.

Alternatively if you were unfamiliar with Paris it would be easier to get a taxi from CDG or the Gard de Nord and go to pick up the key, then get the taxi to take you to the apartment. This may cost more but would save a whole lot of hassle.

2 The TV reception wasn%26#39;t very good. It didn%26#39;t bother us as we didn%26#39;t need to watch and couldn%26#39;t be bothered fiddling with the ariel.

3 Only six clothes hangars provided.

4.View was over the rooftops. Not unpleasant but not inspiring either.

5. Base of the bedroom lamp was broken. I am informed that this has now been repaired but I expect the cleaner to report these things and they are repaired before we arrive.

6. No dishwasher, for me this is a negative, I would much rather have a dishwasher than a washer!

Denise

love from England

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Sorry just notice spelling error in title it is

FRANCS BOURGEOIS

For search purposes

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Thank you for your thorough reviews. Im sure apart from me, someone else will find it useful.

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Yes thanks for a great report Denise. I found it very useful! You gave me some advice %26amp; sites to check out when I was doing my apartment search, for which I was very grateful. In the end, I chose an apartment in Rue des Francs Bourgeois, in the Marais, with VRBO. We needed a 2 bedroom. The location sounds great! So glad you had another enjoyable trip!You sound smitten with Paris. You%26#39;re so lucky to be so close!

Regards,

Kat

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Removed on: 6:17 am, August 12, 2009

Bayeux from Paris in January

My husband and I will be in Paris for 5 days the middle of January. We are planning to go to Bayeux for 2 nights around 1/22 by train. I know this is a %26quot;cold time%26quot; of the year to go but my husband really wants to go to the Normandy area. We wanted to stay at the Hotel Churchill but it is closed on these dates. Any other suggestions for hotels that will be open? Does anyone know if any other sites will be closed at this time? Any help or suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

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Hi,

There are plenty of Hotels in Bayeux but as you have found like the Churchill could be closed. I have just looked at Hotel Luxembourg, a Best Western and in the centre of town which appears to let me book it for the dates you have said you may be here. Also a little further out of town but within walking distance is the Novotel Hotel. Will you be hiring a car? as public transport out to the coast is not that easy to find out of season but there are Mercure Hotels in Port en Bessin and out at the Omaha Golf Course, these may be a little isolated if you have no transport though and wish to shop and have a choice of restaurants. Bayeux is the best place to stay to be able to see most during your stay. The Battlebus Tour bus may or may not be operating at this time of year but the Museums and Cemeteries will all be open.

If I can help you further please let me know.

Happy New Year wherever you may be, yes and bring your warm clothes with you.

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Thanks for the info. I will definitely check out the Hotel Luxembourg. At present, we are not planning on renting a car. We%26#39;ve contacted Overlord Tours and they will be operating when we are there so we will sign up to do their one day Omaha/Utah tour. One other question: Will it be too cold to go to Mont St. Michel? Again, thanks for your help.

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It wont be too cold to go its just if you can stand it! I have been to MSN when its snowed but didnt happen until we got there I can only suggest that you bring hats and scarves and warm coats MSN is very exposed to the sea and it could be minus 1C so if you want to see anything and be confortable come prepared.

Good luck on your trip

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Just to give you an idea of temperatures at the moment, we live halfway between Bayeux and MSM and since 26th December daytime temperatures haven%26#39;t risen about 0 degrees celcius and often with a windchill factor of -4 to -7. After dark it%26#39;s been around -4 most nights.

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Removed on: 8:17 pm, August 10, 2009

séjour au coeur de st-tropez

Bonjour,

Nous désirons passer quelques jours à St-Tropez à la mi-juin. Nous aimerions nous déplacer à pied ou par transport en commun et visiter l%26#39;endroit. Avez-vous une suggestion de chambre d%26#39;hôtes ou petit hôtel, bien situé au coeur de la vieille ville. Toute suggestion sera appréciée. Merci!

cordélia

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tripadvisor.fr/ShowTopic-g187242-i667-k12576…

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Removed on: 2:17 pm, August 11, 2009

Affordable and good rental company?

Looking for deals for a rental car, 2 weeks in April-May. In Paris. Where can I find the most affordable deals, any suggestions? I did some search for this and found prices starting from €400 for this period. Possible to find a better price?

- Sara, sara@getpalmd.com

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Removed on: 12:24 am, August 22, 2009

One day in Cassis

I will be arriving by car to Cassis around mid october and me and my husband will spend the day there before heading at night for Marseille. I do not want to simply sit at the beach. Any suggestions on what we could do or what parts of town to visit?

Thanks

Estela

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You could take a boat tour to the Calanques http://www.ot-cassis.com/us/decouvrir/mer/

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Cassis is very pretty and very small. Lunch at one of the many restaurants around the harbour is very nice and a trip to the Calanques as already suggested is a must if possible - I am not sure if the operate all year round.

You are going in mid October so the weather will be changeable. So you might just want to have a look around the town, lunch and then perhaps a visit to Aix before heading back to Marseille for the evening.

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I am scheduled to go on a group tour to this area in February and our itinerary says we are going on this boat ride to see the calanques. Any one have an idea of what the weather is like in this area in the middle of February??

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Could be a choppy ride if it is on one of the boats that do the Calanques tours in the summer.And dress up warm.Who organised the group%26#39;s itinerary? Did he/she not know that February is not the time to see the Calanques at their best. I did the 5 Calanques tour in June 2008 and I wasn%26#39;t really impressed although the weather conditions were favourable.

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Thanks. This is a student trip, and this wasn%26#39;t our 1st choice in itinerary, but it%26#39;s what we have now. So we%26#39;ll make the best of it. I see on the boat%26#39;s website that they do have larger boats that will accommodate up to 70pp. So i%26#39;m guessing that they will pull out one of those? Cross your fingers for us. What might the temperature likely be around that time? Anyone know?

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I would reckon about 13C although it will seem colder than that out at sea.Good luck.

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Removed on: 7:23 am, October 10, 2009

Hen weekend in Paris

6 friends and I are off to paris in may 2008 for a hen weekend. We are staying in the Latin quarter and was wondering whether anyone could give us an idea of any nearby trendy restaurants/bars we can go to and perhaps clubs for later (not dance/garage music, more mainstream stuff)

Look forward to hearing your ideas

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Dear Katek1

Sorry I can%26#39;t help you here, but I think it%26#39;s interesting that NOBODY has replied to your post and also another recent post asking %26quot;where do are all the fun single Parisiens hang?%26quot; also got no response.

Are we all fuddy duddys? or are we all too knackered at the end of a day,%26quot;doing%26quot; culture, visiting museums and monuments and fine dining, that none of us go to bars and clubs?

Surely SOME people Know how to party!

Just a note of caution Katek1. I don%26#39;t know what kind of hen party you are planning but I have NEVER seen the traditional British hen (or stag) party in Paris. i.e.wearing matching tee shirts saying %26quot;Stephs hens 2008%26quot;, fluffy rabbit ears and tails and a veil for the bride with L plates!. Laughing in the street, making loud jokes and falling about drunk.

Don%26#39;t get me wrong, I have nothing against this British institution and have enjoyed many myself including my own, but the French are more reserved.

Denise

Love from Paris

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me again!

try this link

…parisinfo.com/shows-exhibitions-paris/festi…

or google parisinfo.com

Denise

Love from Bolton

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And again!!

There is always place de la Contrescarpe at the top of rue Mouffetard, always lively at night and full of young people. Also a %26quot;pub%26quot; caled the Bombadier not far from there behind the Panthenon opposite st Etienne du Mont church, on the corner, lots of young people spilling out onto the street having a good time. My daughter and her friends frequented it when they lived in Paris for a short while.

Both of these are in the Latin quarter. You can get food in place de la Contrescarpe and down rue Mouffetard and on rue Pot de Feu off there.. Not sure about %26quot;trendy%26quot; restaurants, depends what you want to pay. Paris is expensive.

Denise

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I love you Grndma and she is right. Bombardier by the Pantheon is a good spot. The Frog and Princess is a good choice for music and cocktails. There are a bunch of pubs in that area between the Mabillion and St. Germain des Pres Metro stops. The younger crowd hits rue de commerce for Cafe Latin.

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Good on ya flashbye!

Lets hope the OP has not gone away, although I am not sure Paris is ready for a full on British hen party!!!!

If you are still there ketek1 please let us know more details. I love weddings and hen parties (had three!) all that female bonding.

I just like wedding cake!

Denise

Love from Bolton

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Hi Katek1,

Just wondering how the hen weekend went in Paris? We are planning a hen weekend in Paris for our sister in September %26amp; don’t rely have any information on it. Were the pubs lively? did ye find an area in Paris with a few lively pubs??

Would you be able to recommend a hotel or area to stay?

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Removed on: 3:19 pm, September 25, 2009

Guest Apartment Services

My wife and I are planning our second trip to Europe in Sept Oct 2009 will be spending 12 days in Paris. Everything so far has been handled by our travel agent except Paris accommodation. Has been unable to secure a reservation at a reasonable rate (mainly do to the poor exchange rate AU$ vs Euro - but that%26#39;s life). I have decided to go alone and discovered Guest Apartment Services on the internet - I have emailed a preliminary request. I have read through a number of forums looking specifically at the validity of Guest Apartments. Would be pretty inconvenient to arrive in Paris to find there is no accommodation at all or is actually far from expectations.

I note that Berkley_Travellers along with others have made very positive comments on this orgainisation but then I read a forum post from 2006 that gave me some doubt - (replies to a post from long term forum members seemed to indicate suspicion that the post was from the owners)

So for the very first time in my life I%26#39;m using rather than reading a forum - and hoping that our fellow travellers can give me help and confidence in this choice, and deposit payments in advance.

Thanks in advance

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I haven%26#39;t used this company so can%26#39;t comment on them.

While you are waiting for replies check out www.slowtrav.com. There are alot of apartment reviews there.

I know Berkley_Travellers from this and another forum, so I would trust in her advice. Not sure how forum savvy you are so I thought I%26#39;d mention you can click on her name and send her a private message.

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Hello

we are Australians living in London %26amp; we%26#39;ve stayed with guest apartments 3 times in the last 7 years. We%26#39;ve liked all the apartments although my favourite are the 2 modern ones at 29 Quai Bourbon - a studio %26amp; a 1 bedroom. Philippe who does the front of house/reception is charming %26amp; very helpful.

I%26#39;ve recommended friends from both Australia %26amp; the Uk %26amp; they%26#39;ve always been happy with the apartments.

Just one word of advice the rue de deux ponts is a busy little street - i%26#39;m not sure how quiet it would be staying on that particular street ?

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Hi,

I go to paris often..try for twice yearly for one month stays.

Guest Apartments is a very good company. For me, I use the www.parisperfect.com site as I do prefer the excellent location of their apartments..mainly in the 7th and for me, the St. Dominique/Bourdonnais area. Wonderful restaurants, excellent bus/metro to anyplace.

Another good site is www.parisvacationapartments.com

Enjoy your search....

Joan

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Removed on: 6:20 pm, August 21, 2009

do i need a passport to go to england

i have french and greek ID but no valid passport

do i need a passport to go to england for 3 days in january

if so how can i get 1 in 15 days???

help please

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A quote from the British Foreign Office website:

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;

What travel documents are accepted at the border?

You must be the legal holder of a genuine document. Your documents must be valid and issued by a government or authority. The most common examples of travel documents are:

* national passports; or

* 1951 Convention travel documents for refugees.

We also accept national identity cards for EEA citizens.

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

So it appears you are okay without a passport. Check for yourself though... google %26quot;foreign office, britain%26quot; etc...

Rob

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thanks a miliion for your prompt reply

i will check officially tomorrow but this is most reassuring

all the best

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Removed on: 10:19 am, August 23, 2009

D Day Tours

Hubby and I are heading for Bayeux the first week of September and want to take the WW2 tour. I have emailed every tour company I can find on the internet. And they are booked or don%26#39;t operate on the Monday. This is our only full day and it is the reason we came here. Anybody have any ideas???? Are there local people who offer tours who may not have a page on the web. Any idea how much a private taxis would be? We need to get to Juno beach which is the furthest away. Any help you be great.

Thank you, Halina

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Have you tried www.normandy-tours-hotel.com www.normandywebguide.com/index.htm www.normandy-landing-tours.com www.overlordtour.com

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I%26#39;d put my name on standby with any/all the tours. On the day of our tour, two people did not show up and instead of eight we only had six. I suspect if you were available they would take you at the last minute. The pick up point for Overlord and BattleBus tours is right by the Churchill Hotel so it would be easy for you to stand by ready if a vacancy came up. My second option and probably a good substitute would be to talk with the Churchill and see if %26quot;Maurice%26quot; is available for a private tour. He works with the Churchill and was our guide/driver on our trip to Mt St Michal; an extremely nice local Frenchmen and very knowledgable. I know one couple we toured with used Maurice one day for a tour around some the sights unrelated to the DDay events and were very happy with the experience. The DDay experience is a must do, so I%26#39;d do whatever it takes to get a tour, either with a company or on your our.

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If you can contact the local %26quot;Chamber of Commerce%26quot; or the Tourist information booth on Rue St. Jean in Bayeux, they may be able to supply you with a list of private tour guides.

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Thank you all for your help. I will try all the suggestion.

Halina

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If you have a car you can get a private guide through the tourist board at Caen

CDT Muriel Letourner m.letourneur@cg14.fr

a guide comes at 260€. If there are three of you that comes at about the same price as 3 minibus tours at 80€, and will be tailored to your requirements.

Or you can have an d day audio guide at 25€ which leaves you free to organise your day as you wish.

If you don%26#39;t have a car the only other way to Juno beach is the 75 bus from bayeux to Courseulles (juno beach).

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I%26#39;m guessing from your posting that you may not have a car. But if you do, and you are unable to obtain a guide, you could fall back on obtaining a good guide book and doing a self-guided tour. I would highly recommend MAJOR %26amp; MRS HOLT%26#39;S BATTLEFIELD GUIDE TO THE NORMANDY LANDING BEACHES. (ISBN 0850526620) Detailed, easy to use, etc. Certainly not the same as a personal tour, but a decent alternative and at least you%26#39;ll see the sites with some explanations.

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www.normandy-battlefields.org are available,

they are new this year but can provide referees if you want a recommendation

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Dear Halina - you should try a contact of mine. An ex-Royal Marine officer called Lt Col Edward Parks and his wife Sharon. email:normandytour@aol.com He lives in France and might well be able to help as he has accomodation too. All good wishes Johnny Walker a v much retired Brigadier in the British Army and now a Tour Guide in Normandy and the Western Front but on hols in France in early September!

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Removed on: 1:17 pm, August 23, 2009

Cheap Travel Rip-off

Give me the old days of professional travel agents so that I can stop wasting time and be faced with incredible travel problems caused by unqualified companies like CHEAP TICKETS. A simple trip from New York%26#39;s JFK to Rome and back ended up having me routed on four different air carriers. The number of different carriers was never discussed until after the ticket was purchased and then prior to the %26#39;confirmed%26#39; trip there were two additional changes that I got. Stay away from CHEAP TICKETS if you don%26#39;t want lots of hassles. They should change their name to:

CHEAP TICKETS = LOUSY TRIPS!

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You gets what you pays for.

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I book all my own and families flights and hotels, I am thrilled that we can now do it ourselves online, we defianately get deals and stay at places travel agents never even know about( smaller or family owned hotels)

You do have do some work though, and you do have to ask questions and know what to ask to begin with.

It seems to me to be routed on four different air carriers means you did not specify how many stops you would accept, but just asked for cheapest route. Careful.

|||

yep, you%26#39;ve further confirmed my preference in booking directly - airfare, hotel whatever. I really don%26#39;t trust the %26#39;middleman%26#39; and don%26#39;t want to deal with the complications that can arise. Also, I%26#39;ve never seen any %26#39;deals%26#39; for airfare on those sites that involved flying from my hometown.

|||

It%26#39;s one of the tough facts of air travel - if you want a budget fare, you%26#39;ll make a lot of stops. If you want a non-stop/direct flight, you%26#39;ll pay a premium fare.

|||

Sorry to hear things didn%26#39;t work out for you. No more travel agents for us we do it all online, direct. The last quote I got from a travel agent was simply nuts.

Hope you still had a great trip.

Trish

|||

I completely agree with Joan on this one. If you are booking your tickets on any website you need to read the description before you purchase. It is really quite simple and can save lots of time and money.

|||

Thanks for the warning.

Before buying tickets it%26#39;s important to check if it%26#39;s a direct flight, if not, get all the details and always inquire about additional charges.

Also pay attention to which airport you%26#39;ll be landing at, some (smaller ones) are quite far out.

And make sure the time of arr. and dep. suit you. I avoid early morning flights from Europe so as not to have to go to the airport in the middle of the night.

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Removed on: 8:18 am, August 19, 2009

Sequoia Lodge-Providing tea/coffee facilities

Hey

I was just wondering if Sequoia lodge provide tea and coffee facilities instead of buying a travel kettle.Also what are the prices like for tea and coffee in the park and can you buy cartons of milk anywhere.

Thanks for your help

xx

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Have a look at the hotel reviews here at Trip Advisor... here%26#39;s a comment one person left:

%26quot;bring a kettle, tea and coffee if you can!! (No fridge or drink making facilities in room). We used the windowsill as a fridge but this would be tricky in the warmer weather!%26quot;

So it looks as if you%26#39;ll need your own gear.

I am not a Disney fan at all so perhaps you can enlighten me... the hotel doesn%26#39;t seem like

much and the price is something like 600 dollars a night! What%26#39;s with that?

Rob

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Surprised someone would answer who is not a Disney fan and hasn%26#39;t been to the hotel.

You can request a travel kettle via the concierge at the hotel. That part is free.

You then need to either take your tea and coffee stuff with you from home or buy a tea and coffee basket. That looks like this …photobucket.com/albums/jj212/rhcrawshaw/DLR…

In it you get paper cups, tea, coffee, some hot chocs, a packet of biscuits, sugar, little cartons of milks. So that will get you started.

My recommendation would be to take some cheap plastic mugs from home or make purchasing a souvenier mug one of your first tasks - that way when the paper cups run out you have something. And then the next morning at breakfast grab yourself a couple of extra tea bags/milk etc or as you go round the park and have a drink get some extra milks then.

If you need to purchase milk in pints for example you can get milk at the hotel shops. There is a minibar in some rooms (montana or lakeside for example) but its already full and as soon as you move anything it registers and charges you for it so no good for putting your own things in.

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2 reasons Ruthie...

1- it had been a while and nobody had answered the

question

2- I found another traveller%26#39;s experience in a T/A hotel review.

But seriously, and I don%26#39;t mean to be rude... but the hotel

is listed in T/A as a 2 star I think and it costs 400 pounds a night...is that the price people actually pay?

Rob

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Hey

Thanks for the reply it really helped =]

To ParisAmsterdam 2007

I have stayed in the Main disney hotel before and it is amazing if you can afford it! I have stayed in the santa fe and cheyenne but have been swimming in the pool at Newport Bay and enjoyed dinner at hotel new york.

Santa Fe and Cheyenne are great if your on a budget.I didn%26#39;t really enjoy the cheyenne so thats why i opted to go to sequoia lodge.

Remember that the price you ar quoted include your park ticket which are quite expensive especially if you want a Hopper (to go into the two different parks) and you are there 3 or 4 days.

…disneylandparis.co.uk/tickets/index.xhtml

I would say it can be expensive but thats part of disney and how they make money.

hope thats ok

xx

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It dosn´t cost 400 pound a night that has to be 3 nights inklusive tickets to the park and breakfast at the hotel.

Mutter

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Thanks! I was just curious. If it includes tickets

that makes the prices seem more realistic.

I have been to Disney in both California and Florida so

I know how efficient they are about removing money from

your wallet! ;^)

Rob

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Hi Parisamsterdam

We have just come home from Florida at thursday, and since I have been in Disneylandparis in February for six night I espected the same nivue on the prices over in Florida, how wrong could I gotten this. We paid a fortune on the holiday to eat and to go into the parks there. And on top of that they keep throwing a tax on the top and 15-20 % in drinking money .

Mutter

|||

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Removed on: 11:16 pm, August 23, 2009

calling Paris from US

I have read on here regarding calling France from US. I want to leave our apt phone number for some people in case of emergency. This is what I%26#39;ve learned:

The number to connect with the international line is 011 not 001. That followed by 33 1 plus the 8 digit number worked.

001 is the code when you call North America from France (actually it is 00 + 1).

When calling from North America it is 011+country code+local code (city or region)+phone number. Be careful France uses 01 for Paris, 04 is the Riviera, 06 for cell phones but you should NEVER dial the 0 in the regional code.

So here%26#39;s where I%26#39;m confused. I dial 011-33-1-then 8 digit number, or ........-01-then 8 digit number?

|||

When dialing France from North America, omit the leading %26quot;0%26quot; of the French number.

The French number: 01 23 45 67 89

becomes:

011-33-1-23-45-67-89

|||

thanks for clarifying that for me.

|||

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Removed on: 9:16 am, August 24, 2009

Alone in Paris at New Year - what to do!

Hi

I am going to be in Paris on New Years Eve .. alone! I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about places to stay and go where i could meet fellow travellers and have a good time!??

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Meet a few people before, in order to meet again on NYE, for example through a guided tour where you will meet fellow travellers, or meet parisian volunteer guides through Paris Greeters:

http://www.parisgreeter.org/global/

|||

I have the same problem at the moment if you%26#39;re still looking for something to do.

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and i%26#39;m in the same situation. and velvedire when are you going to paris?

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sorry, already moved on to chartres. next is budapest, vienna, then munich if you%26#39;ll be there

|||

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Removed on: 1:18 pm, October 17, 2009

Renting a car and meeting someone at Nice Airport

I rented a car for pickup at Nice airport this 26 December from Europcars. I have since learned that picking up a car from this company can sometimes take hours. Here is my question. I arrive at 15:20, my daughter arrives at 16:50 both in Terminal 1. Since it can take a long time to pick up a car, I planned on getting it and then looping back and picking her up at T1 arrivals. However I now suspect that private cars are not allowed to pick up at Terminal 1? Can someone confirm this? If so can someone please suggest a better way for 1) getting the car and then 2) getting back to pick up my daughter? Perhaps there is a better meeting place once I get the car? We are not going to Nice immediately but are going to drive on to Avignon that night so we would prefer not to wait for the car after we both arrive.

Thanks in advance.

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Area directly in front of T1 is restricted to bus and taxis. Just a fraction back from this area are car parks p1,p2 %26amp;p3. Check out niceaeroport.fr/acces_stationnement_en/parki…

Any of these car parks are close to arrivals.

Only Set-Downs (kiss %26amp; fly) are catered for.

|||

Peteram,

Thanks this is very helpful. I was on that site but managed to miss this page.

Regards

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TA32, where did you read about it taking hours to pick up a car through Europcar? Are there certain times of the day that are busier? I%26#39;ve rented a car through them as well, arriving at Nice train station at 4:00 and was hoping to pick up the car at the airport and be on the road by 6:00 as we have a 2/hr drive to our destination. Unrealistic?

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It is much easier and quicker to pick up your car at the train station. However, long lines for pick up are mainly confined to summer weekends when much of the world arrives at the airport.

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There is no problem at all doing a pick-up from the Kiss-and-Fly at Terminal One, providing the people you are picking up are definitely ready and waiting for you. Unlike the Kiss-and-Fly at Terminal Two, the one at T1 is not just a single-track line, but also has a small car park attached to it. This car park is a common venue for pickups, and is also used by private car-parking companies to return cars to their owners.

|||

At the time I booked, I saved over 30% renting through Europcar over Autoeurope. Unfortunately they only have the pickup office at the airport (or so it seems from their website) but I though the savings would compensate for the extra hassle of getting to the airport from the rtain station. LondonBob, can you tell me, can one pick up a Europcar rental in either terminal? My registration confirmation does not say.

Many thanks!

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You can pick up a Europcar rental at their office just behind the hotel Le Meridien--and save the airport surcharge at the same time. However, if you can cancel the Europcar rental you could book instead with Sixt, which has none of Europcar%26#39;s current add-on surprise charges, and, at least in our opinion, much better service. Their airport rental office is right across from Terminal 2, where you can get the shuttle to Terminal 1.

|||

FYI, Autoeurope is a consolidator, one of whose suppliers is Europcar. You don%26#39;t ever rent directly from Autoeurope--they place your rental with one of the major agencies as a rule.

|||

At the airport, Europcar and the other rental companies are all based at Terminal 2 only, a short walk away from that terminal. Access is along a footpath which passes between the T2 multistorey car parks opposite the terminal, and the path begins exactly where the frequent shuttle buses from T1 make their only stop at T2.

As your daughter is arriving at a different time to you (I missed this when answering previously), rather than picking her up at the T1 Kiss and Fly (which is only free for 5 minutes and gets very expensive thereafter) you would be better to park in the T1 short stay car park so you can leave the car and meet her inside the terminal. Charges in T1 short stay are not too excessive for a short duration (in fact it%26#39;s free for the first half-hour), and most times that I%26#39;ve met people there I%26#39;ve managed to park very close to the terminal.

Also, once you%26#39;ve rented the car, they can%26#39;t force you to drive out of the Europcar car park, so you could wait there for a bit as well if you wanted.

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I was the original poster. Thank you all for your replies. My daughter and I returned yesterday from a very nice vacation. My experience with Nice Airport Europcars turned out to be very good. As a poster noted, the main problems with long lines are in the summer. They gave me an upgrade, which did not have covered storage, so they immediately gave me another. I ended up with a Citroen Picasso with an automatic transmission even though I booked a Renault Scénic with a stick (I was not familiar with either car so I think that was an upgrade:). In any case once I learned not to try to put the car in reverse using the windshield wiper lever I was very happy with the car. As to meeting my daughter, who arrived on a later flight, I got the car at T2 and drove around and parked in P2 in front of T1. Amazingly as I walked back into T1 arrivals, my daughter was entering from customs. So all turned out well. BTW, one poster asked where I saw problems with Europcars? I googled %26quot;Europcar Nice France Airport Problems%26quot;

selfcatering in Annecy

We are a family of 5- 3 children,8.6.and 4.We are hoping to travel to Annecy during late July.Any suggestions for campsites? We were thinking of booking a chalet or a moblie home.We have never visited the area befor and I was wondering if it would be worth staying for 14 nights rather than moving on after 7 as we usually do.

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I first came to Annecy with my family 2 girls 2 boys. We were in our caravan and intended to stay for a week or 2.

We stayed for 6 and kept coming back. We enjoyed the place so much that my wife and I now run Maison-du-moulin.co.uk here in Annecy.

We hail from Wales, climbed in Snowdonia and canoed Anglsey%26#39;s coasts.

If you like the outdoors you%26#39;ll love Annecy.

All the best Irwyn

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I first came to Annecy with my family 2 girls 2 boys. We were in our caravan and intended to stay for a week or 2.

We stayed for 6 and kept coming back. We enjoyed the place so much that my wife and I now run Maison-du-moulin.co.uk here in Annecy.

We hail from Wales, climbed in Snowdonia and canoed Anglsey%26#39;s coasts.

If you like the outdoors you%26#39;ll love Annecy.

All the best Irwyn

|||

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Removed on: 10:17 am, August 18, 2009

Winter Hours for Marmatton

Just got back from a week in Paris. We went to the Marmatton in time for the 10 AM opening and ended up spending an hour in freezing rain until it opened at 11 AM. The two guidebooks we had both had the opening at 10 AM. The wait was worth it.

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Guide books are helpful in many ways, but the museum websites are best to check the hours etc.

Glad you enjoyed it. It is a wonderful museum.

|||

Guidebooks often have some inaccuracies. The book you bought a few weeks ago may have been written years ago - and a lot may have changed since. The museums opening hours changed very recently.

The Musée Marmottan%26#39;s website is http://www.marmottan.com

|||

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Removed on: 11:16 am, August 25, 2009

best area to stay in paris

i am thinking about booking a surprise birthday present of a romantic few days in paris for my gf but i have never been to paris before.what area of the city i the best to stay at,somewhere close to the eiffel tower,the tourist attractions and the bars and restaurants.i dont want somewhere that we need to get a taxi too just to get to the main area,want everything within walking distance

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Ile St Louis! Very romantic and central - and a pretty wide range of hotel prices for a tiny island.

You can easily get to/from the Eiffel Tower for the 1 trip you will probably make there.

I never take taxis in Paris. I%26#39;ve probably been in 1 cab in 10+ trips and that was to Orly in the 80s! There is no need to take cabs. Great metro or bus system that%26#39;s very easy to navigate.

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%26quot;everything%26quot; isn%26#39;t within walking distance... most first-timers do like to stay in the %26#39;inner%26#39; arrondissements, which are single-digit numbers, ex. the 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th are most popular - the 7th has the Eiffel and a couple museums, but it%26#39;s a little bit %26#39;off center%26#39; (still, very popular).

Arrondissements:

http://xcelrents.com/plan_paris.png

www.halldis.com/content/documentLoad.action…

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FWIW, we%26#39;re in Paris now and are staying in a small studio apartment which I like a lot. It%26#39;s definitely walkable to some nice sights, like Palais Royal, the Seine, and the Louvre. (http://www.francefriend.com)

But it may not be the most romantic setting for your purposes. It%26#39;s a small room but very clean and a great bargain for Paris.

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I agree with Evening. L%26#39;Isle St Louis would be ideal for a romantic few days, and is a just stroll across a bridge to the Marais or Left Bank areas, which are teaming with restaurants, bars, etc. It is walking distance to most tourist sites, other than Montmartre, which is far from everything except Montmartre. More romantic than staying near the Eiffel tower would be taking an evening boat ride or dinner cruise, or a long walk along the banks of the Seine, and seeing the Eiffel tower in it%26#39;s lighted splendor. And make sure you are in view of it at the top of the hour at night, when it explodes with sparkling lights.

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We truely enjoyed the Rue Cler area in the Eiffel Tower area (7th) more for the hustle %26amp; bustle of the shops setting up in the mornings, the boulangeries, fruit markets, etc and the closed street, open air markets of Rue Cler. Loved wondering around every morning just soaking up the beginning of a typical day as the fish market, butcher shop, produce market, etc set up for the day.

In the evening, the cafes %26amp; restaurants come alive and the atmosphere was wonderful %26amp; charming. Stayed at the Relais Bosquet Hotel but there are many in the area.

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Some great advice so far, Jock. You won%26#39;t do better for a birthday/romantic/brownie points trip than Paris. Pick up a travel book (Lonely Planet/Rick Steves/Michelin/etc.) and book some seats on a flight. I%26#39;m partial to the 7th arrondisement but lots of choices out there and I%26#39;m old so different standards. You won%26#39;t do better than the best room at the Hotel Muguet and make sure you tell them why you%26#39;re there.

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We were in Paris 2 weeks ago and stayed at the Hotel du Louvre. It was a fantastic location and a magnificant hotel. We couldn%26#39;t have asked for anything better. We found it to be centrally located for all of our sightseeing.

|||

L%26#39;Isle St. Louis is certainly an excellent choice for the type of venue you%26#39;re seeking. However, my personal favorite is the 6th District of the left bank -- very close to St. Louis. The 6th is ripe with cafes, shoppes, winding streets, and the feel of %26quot;the Paris we all seek%26quot;. A great home-base to see the rest of the city, it%26#39;s walkable to many sites and well-serviced by the Metro to the others. The area bounded by Blvd St. Michel, Rue Bonaparte, Blvd. St. Germain, and the Seine is the heart of this most desireable district. Have a great trip!

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Paulalala,

The apartment you%26#39;re renting right now in Paris sounds great - I%26#39;m looking for budget accomodations for a week in March. I looked at the website for the studio...can you tell me what street it is on before I inquire further?

Thx

|||

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Removed on: 10:15 pm, August 11, 2009

bus to A lyen

Can I get a bus ot train to Alyen from Perpignan train station?

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Do you mean Alenya?

|||

Yes I mean Alyena,sorry Pvogaqcuse hope you can help.

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Sorry I mean Alyena,also for misspelling your name in first post.

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There are no trains from Perpignan to Alenya (near Saint Cyprien).

There is a bus service operated by

www.courriers.catalans@wanadoo.fr

As it is quite new (it was operated until now by another company) and you don%26#39;t say if you%26#39;ll be traveling in low or high season, I suggest you contact them directly to get their timetable.

Aleny is not far from Perpignan (approx. 7 miles)

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i may be travelling either in March, April,May or June.What will the weather be like during these months?Iwill be staying at Cela Alyena,Chemin De Las Ribes,Alenya62000 I think it is in the village.

|||

The 2008 bus schedules for Alenya are available here:

cg66.fr/routes_transports/…index.html

Check the schedule for Perpignan - Saint Cyprien

|||

Difficult to answer your question re weather !

It is usually a bit unstable in March and April and very nice in May and June.

You%26#39;ll have to take a bus at the new bus station in Saint Assiscle (not at the train station itself).

Please check the timetable with Courriers Catalans.

|||

Thankyou for your help.A very happy new year.

|||

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Removed on: 2:16 pm, August 11, 2009

Paris Day Trip suggestions, please

We would like to take a day trip during our Paris stay. We would like to take the train to some sort of countryside. Ideally, the destination would be walkable from the train station. Wineries/some sort of wine country would be wonderful. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

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The closest wine producing location would be Epernay, information available here:

http://www.epernay.fr/

I personally should find the following destinations very suitable as a day trip from Paris:

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

http://www.chateaudechantilly.com/

http://giverny.org/gardens/

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

http://www.provins.net/

http://www.chateauversailles.fr/

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

…wikipedia.org/wiki/…A2teau_de_Pierrefonds

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Chartres cathedral is very close to the train station and a wonderful experience. If you can get a guided tour from Malcolm Miller all the better. He teaches you how to read the glass windows and the carvings. Then wander into the medieval town below which is very pretty with some unusual buildings and churches.

Giverny is not on the train line and you would have to go to the nearest town, Vernon from memory, and get a bus or taxi. It can be VERY VERY full of tourists but the gardens are still a delight. There are also some American gardens in the town that are beautifully planted and maintained. The whole town closes on a Monday so don%26#39;t go that day.

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In September we took the TGV, the very fast train, to Reims for the day. Reims is famous for its cathedral which was where many of the French kings were crowned in the past. Reims is also famous for its champagne which is produced in the district.

|||

I second (or third is it?) the suggestion for Chartres. It%26#39;s only about a 1 hour train ride, and the town itself is quite beautiful. I also had the tour of the Cathedral with Malcolm Miller (many years ago mind you) and it was excellent.

|||

when i was visiting paris last summer, i made a day trip to giverny...french impressionist painter monet%26#39;s birthplace....was an awesome experience.

a train ride of under 2 hours from st lazare stn in paris brought me to vernon...from where a bus service (available right outside the stn) took me to giverny within minutes.

the gardens and lake are unimaginably beautiful...and one can enjoy tranquility even amidst the crowds.....the foundation has one a wonderful job of preserving monet%26#39;s house....worth a visit!!!

|||

this is great information. How do you contact Malcolm Miller?

Thanks

|||

If Malcolm is guiding that day, and he is an independent guide, he will be at the Cathedral gift shop just prior to the tour times

…about.com/od/chartresfrance/a/chartres.htm

also

Malcolm Miller

26, Rue des Ecuyers

28000 CHARTRES

Tel : 02 37 28 15 58 (+ 33 2 37 28 15 58)

Fax : 02 37 28 33 03 (+ 33 2 37 28 33 03)

Email : millerchartres@aol.com

|||

great and thanks for this information. will contact mr. Miller

|||

I have a wonderful book entitled %26quot;An Hour From Paris%26quot; by Annabel Simms which details all the wonderful places you can visit on the Ile de France within an hour%26#39;s train ride from Paris. I plan to see several of them on my next visit to Paris in September.

|||

Hi gnat, here are 2 suggestions not directly involving wine but nice all the same:

1) Normandy.

We did a whirlwind day trip to Normandy from Paris in Sept.

Caught the 7:12am from St Lazare station which was a very pleasant trip and then took a wonderful half-day tour of some of the D-Day beaches with Victory Tours. Had a late lunch (with wine) and then went to the Bayeux Tapestry museum, which was great!

Caught the 5:30pm-ish train back to Paris and were back to our apartment by 8:30pm. A full-on but memorable day.

2) Versailles

You can do it in half a day, but a full day is much more relaxed as it%26#39;s a large place with many parts to see. Spending the afternoon sitting by the boating lake eating a Violet icecream is just lovely!

Hope these are helpful.

Regards,

Karen

Nightlife and Beach Weather in early June

Hello,

I%26#39;ve heard that the nightlife (dance clubs) in Cannes picks up only from late June/beginning of July and that some of the nightlife spots are even closed during the first weeks of June. I wasn%26#39;t sure how true it is, so decided to post this question here, hoping to get an answer from experts and locals.

And another question is how warm it is in the beginning of June. Is it warm enough to swim and get some sun at the beach? What is the approximate average temperature during this season in Cannes?

Thank you!

|||

Hi Zaur !! We do. You should be able to swim and sunning for sure, really beautiful beaches. Have fun.

frommers.com/destinations/…0236020006.html

|||

Its generally warm enough to swim and sunbathe at the beginning of June.

It also usually more pleasant than july and august because the beaches aren%26#39;t heaving with people.

|||

Thank you for your responses! So, I%26#39;ve established that June weather is perfect for a visit.

How about the nightlife? Are there many clubs/bars closed until July or is it the same from begining of June through August?

Thank you!

|||

The Palais club usually only gets going in July, but rest should be open

www.cannes.travel/spip.php…

|||

Thank you SOOOZ, very helpful!

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Removed on: 5:17 pm, August 21, 2009

July weather in Nice ......

I would be grateful if anyone could tell what is typical weather for the Nice area in July. I am considering booking a holiday in the region but am worried it might be very hot...maybe my fears are groundless!!! We will be travelling with children aged 6 and 8. Many thanks!

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It will be hot, average daily max of 29C and quite humid. Uncomfortable for anyone used to a cool climate but great for swimming and other activities in the water. I like the heat during the day but need aircon to be comfortable at night. Almost no chance of rain apart from the occasional thunderstorm.

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It is generally hot but oddly it feels less hot to me than it can be in Britain or Ireland.

we have been living in this area for about 13 years and when my kids were small we would go to the beach in the late afternoon - after 4pm and often have a picnic on the beach. They are teenagers now so they are now learning the wisdom of going to the beach late. =]

Outings and wandering around is ok as long as everyone is well hydrated , t-shirted, hatted , suncreamed etc and plenty of rests if folk are feeling the strain.

The buses, trams and the modern trains are air-conditioned.

i%26#39;d suggest Antibes juan les pins/golfe Juan or villefranche or menton if a sandy-type beach is wanted and for kiddie swim activities.

Nice has a stony beach and its not the best beach for swimming as it slopes off and the stones make getting out of the water hard

I am a mère poule though.

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Hot and humid. Tolerable during the day but aircon in your accommodation is absolutely essential.Keep the children well hydrated with drinks during the day.Buy the drinks in supermarkets not hotels or bars for best price.

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I%26#39;m not sure i agree with air con as i think it means everyone ends up with a throat infection or cold -but definitely buy drinks from supermarkets etc BUT from the ordinary soft drinks selection not from the refrigerated area which means higher prices [nearly the same as from a cafe]

cheapest genuine coca cola is from lidl at the moment one euro 92 per 6 cans

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The micro-climate of Nice is one reason we want to make the move to there. On our trips to Antibes it has always felt hotter than Nice - is this my imagination or is actually the case?

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I was in Nice this past July and the weather was beautiful. Yes, it was hot, but not too hot. We were able to enjoy all of our sightseeing. We had no rain, which was also a plus. We had a magnificent time!

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Removed on: 10:16 am, August 11, 2009

Navigo Decouverte at CDG

We land at CDG airport in March and want to buy a Navigo pass to use on the metro, bus etc. Has anyone bought one at CDG, was it easy to buy there and use afterwards? Any hints and tips more than welcome.

Many thanks

K.

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The Navigo-system%26#39;s DÉCOUVERTE access %26#39;device%26#39; is readily available for sale (5€) at manned ticket booths at either of the two(2) RER train stations located within CDG. These are the ONLY locations within CDG where the DÉCOUVERTE access %26#39;device%26#39; may be purchased at the airport. You may also purchase and %26#39;.load%26#39; the fare for the weekly CARTE ORANGE transportation pass product onto the DÉCOUVERTE %26#39;device%26#39; at the same time.

Unless you plan to use the RER %26#39;B%26#39; ligne train or perhaps ROISSYBUS as your mode of airport transfer between CDG and Paris (Zones 1-5 required), there is no advantage to purchasing the DÉCOUVERTE %26#39;device%26#39; at CDG upon arrival...and unless RER %26#39;B%26#39; or ROISSYBUS is part of your %26#39;plan%26#39; seeking out and making your way to a RER station at CDG may be more inconvenient than necessary. The DÉCOUVERTE %26#39;device and weekly CARTE ORANGE pass fare can be quickly and easily purchased at any RER or METRO station in Paris.

The weekly (valid from First Train on Monday, AM thru Last Train on Sunday, PM) CARTE ORANGE transportation pass for the CURRENT week is available for sale through WEDNESDAY of the CURRENT week%26#39;s validity. The weekly CARTE ORANGE pass is NOT available for sale on THURSDAY. It becomes available for sale again on FRIDAY...but only for the FOLLOWING week%26#39;s validity.

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Many thanks for all your advice KDKSAIL.

K.

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Removed on: 2:17 pm, August 26, 2009

Just-right hotel?

We%26#39;re making our 3rd Paris trip in May. I%26#39;d appreciate suggestions for a hotel that would be ideally:

1. Located in a pedestrian area of town.

2. Super-clean and well-maintained.

3. Priced at less than $400 per night for a large well-lit room or suite.

4. Very convenient to Metro stops.

5. Not in Montmartre.

Any suggestions appreciated!

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If you are willing to go up to $400, you could try the Hotel Lotti.

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If by %26#39;pedestrian area%26#39; you mean no vehicular traffic, you%26#39;re probably not going to find anything.

For ref. purposes, $400 is about 290€.

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Best Western Jardin de Cluny is in the Latin Quarter, walkable to St-GFermain, the Panthéon, the Jardins du Luxembourg, Notre-Dame, etc. and has Junior Suites in your price range.

…bestwestern.com/bestwestern/priceAvail.do…

Compare their best price on the BW site with Expedia, sometimes price is a lot better on Expedia, even though you have to pay in advance.

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We have stayed at the Hotel Muguet just blocks from the Seine in the 7e arrondissement(which is near Eiffel Tower). The hotel is immaculate and it is located on a quiet side street. The hotel is not a chain and it is only a 2 star...but it was recently renovated. The hotel is just a few blocks from Rue Cler which a neat market area. The rooms range in cost from about $125 to $220 per night.

A hotel can make or break a trip for us.....this hotel was perfect for us.

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Check out these excellent choices in the upper-6eme--Saint Germain des Prés--(check individual hotel sites for any special %26#39;promotional%26#39;/%26#39;package%26#39; rate offers)

http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/

http://www.paris-hotel-vieuxparis.com/

www.hotel-paris-relais-saint-germain.com/

http://www.villa-saintgermain.com/

http://www.hotel-bel-ami.com/en/index.php

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Paris has simply LOADS of decent, clean, small Hotels in quiet streets that you will never have heard of, yet these quiet streets can be literally YARDS away from the main action!!

I once stayed in the Fleche D%26#39;or in Rue D%26#39;Amsterdam, close to Gare St Lazare, the famous big department stores of Galleries Lafayette %26amp; Printemps, Place Clichy, Pigalle, Moulin Rouge and all that %26#39;stuff%26#39; and yet a quieter street you would be hard to find (in Paris terms that is!!).

Fleche d%26#39;Or is another Best Western Hotel, but there are great deals to be had all over the internet for this place.

If you don%26#39;t like this location though, have a look at Best Western website, they have hotels all over paris and many of them in simmilar vein!

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You might look at the Villa d%26#39;Estrees in the 6th. The location is good and the rooms are large.

www.villadestrees.com

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How about an island on the Seine, just west of Notre Dame. This island may get as pedestrian as one would hope. It would be walking distance to quite a few tourist sites as well as restaurants on both the right and left banks of Paris.

There are four hotels on the Ile St. Louis: Jeu de Paume, St. Louis, Lutece, and Deux Iles. Lutece and Deux Iles are owned by a M. Buffat who owns two other hotels, the Galileo in the 8th and the Henri IV Rive Gauche in the 5th. If any of these appeal to you then check the TA for recent reviews.

www.saintlouisenlisle.com

www.Paris-hotel-lutece.com/en.html

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Ile St Louis is an ace idea, you can%26#39;t really get more %26#39;pedestrian%26#39; in Paris than that!!

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I stayed at the Hotel Select a few months ago and can recommend it. It%26#39;s on Place Sorbonne, which has now been pedestrianised.

Help with approx Taxi cost!

Hi Folks,

We are off to Paris next Thursday and will arrive via shuttle bus at Porte Maillot. We are staying at Astor Saint Honore, 11 Rue d%26#39;Astorg and I have looked at RATP for some help in getting to the hotel but it%26#39;s two lines and still about a 5 minute walk to the hotel.

Given that we are going to have luggage we are thinking that a taxi might be the best bet. Can anyone tell me how much roughly we can expect to pay and what the traffic is likely to be like at 10.30am??

Thanks in advance

Kat

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Hi;

You say you are taking the shuttle to Porte Maillot.

Are you taking the Air France Shuttle?

If so you might consider staying on past the Porte Maillot stop and get off at the Arc de Triomphe stop.

The cost is the same.

There is a taxi stand right there and the fare to the Astor would be around 7 euros...

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The distance is roughly 3.5 km per car. You can find the rates at http://www.taxi-paris.net - it will probably be the minimum fare: 5.60 euro (not counting extra charge for luggage).

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Hi,

We are getting the shuttle from Beauvais and I understand it only goes to Port Maillot.

It looks like it will be worth taking a taxi at around 7 euros it will save a lot of stress.

Thanks for your replies, it has been most helpful and much appreciated!

Do you know if there is a taxi stand at Port Maillot or will we need to walk somewhere to get one?

Thanks

Kat

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Hi,

The shuttle will drop you close to Hotel Concorde Lafayette, and you can have a try to get a taxi there, there are always some waiting there. There%26#39;s a taxi station a bit further, walk the opposite direction (mind the hotel tower will then be behind you, on your left), pass the main entrance of Palais des congrès and walk 5 minutes to %26quot;Avenue de la Grande Armée%26quot; (there%26#39;s a %26quot;café-restaurant%26quot; at the corner), the taxi station is there. If there%26#39;s any taxi waiting, just pay attention to those passing by to hail one, it is free if the sign on the roof is lit up.

Enjoy your trip !

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Depending on the time of day and vageries of surface traffic, the fare for a Taxi Parisian from the BEAUVAIS SHUTTLE drop off on Blvd. Général Pershing to the Hôtel Astor Saint Honore, 11 Rue d%26#39;Astorg, 75008 should run 9€-10€ or so.

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Thanks everyone fot your help it is much appreciated and I feel better prepared for our visit now!

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Sorry for my question but I am also trying to find out what i ashould for my family gtransportation from my hotel (Novotel paris montaprnasse) to olry airport by taxi. I would like to ask if you could tell me what is this sign

http://tinyurl.com/8mg3o7

is it a taxi station ? it is right in front of my hotel !!!

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Hi,

Not exactly a station, this is where taxis can stop and let their passengers step out of the car. Best thing would be to ask the reception to call you a taxi.

If you can walk and don%26#39;t mind taking the Air France bus, it is not that far (http://tinyurl.com/axvcfc ), in front of Le Méridien Hotel.

Bye !

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I really thank you for your advice.

I believe I will prefer the taxi solution, but by the way the air france bus operates 5:00 in the morning ??

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You%26#39;re welcome .I think the air france bus starts later, around 6 am. Enjoy your trip !

Bye,

Bruno

Paris - MSM- Bayeaux - Paris

We will be visiting Paris in April. We would like to take the train to MSM, spend the afternoon there, then travel by train to Bayeaux and spend the night there. Then do the WWII tour the next day and return to Paris that night. Can we do all of the above in two days, or is it just too much?

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Removed on: 1:25 am, August 27, 2009

Wine Road Tour from Strasbourg

Hi, my husband and I will be staying in Strasbourg for 3 days in September. Is there an organized tour(small group preferred) that will take you down the wine road? Also, does anyone have a hotel or Bed and Breakfast recommendation that cost between $100 and $200 a night?Prefer central location, so that we can just walk around.

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I don%26#39;t know of any guided tours - I normally drive around myself - but I%26#39;m sure the hotel you find could help. The below link could be useful to give you ideas

visit-alsace.com/winstub/vins_ang_road.html

As I live nearby I don%26#39;t use the hotels but the below link looks nice. I stayed in a %26quot;chateauxhotels%26quot; place just before Christmas and it was exceptionally good.

chateauxhotels.com/public/hotel-2395/Cardina…

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Writer Sue Style (www.suestyle.com) who writes the Alsace wine travel guides, recommends Hotel Cathedrale and Hotel de Rohan both in the middle of Strasbourg, which should just about fall into your budget, though September might be expensive ...

Self-drive is definitely the best way of touring the vineyards if you can rent a car for a day - vineyards near the villages of Obernai, Molsehim and Mittelbergheim are not very far away. It%26#39;s a lovely time to visit - could be harvest if the end of the month.

Sorry, don%26#39;t have details on organized tour, but the Strasbourg tourist office might help. Also you should find the following site about the wine route useful:

http://www.alsace-route-des-vins.com

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Thank you so much for information. We were trying not to rent a car, but may change our mind. We are taking the train from Basel on the 27th after a Viking Rhine River cruise. I will check the hotels you mentioned. Thank you again.

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Thank you for your quick response. I will check into the hotel chain you mentioned. We are trying not to rent a car, but may change our minds. We lived in Germany for 4 years, so use to driving in Europe, but we find it expensive with insurance, etc.

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Removed on: 3:21 am, August 27, 2009

Where were we?

We were exploring Paris and wandered into a park with 2 rows of trees leading a path through a park. Part way down the path between the trees were several sculptures of wolves chasing each other. We were in the vicinity of the Louvre or Palais Royal. I am trying to label my pictures and don%26#39;t know where this was....Any help would be appreciated.

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Probably the gardens of the Palais-Royal? See if these ring a bell...

…gouv.fr/culture/…comestoppey.html

www.flickr.com/photos/gherm/3155094819/

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This is it. Thank you very much.

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Removed on: 6:22 am, August 19, 2009

restaurant reservation websites???

I have read on here about websites to make reservations for restaurants. I would use the rest. own website, but if it doesn%26#39;t have one %26amp; I want to use a website, which ones are the best %26amp; most reliable. I have read on here some bad experiences with some. I know I can stop by to reserve for another time, or call, but I want some options. Thanks!

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Which restaurants are you interested in?

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Very bad option: www.bestrestaurants.com

Before I went to Paris in Sept. 2007 I used this website to make 10 or 11 reservations (as I was staying a month in Paris). It was truly a nightmare. Some of the sites responded positively and when I got to Paris and reconfirmed on the phone they didn%26#39;t know anything about my reservation. Other reservations I made through the site were not confirmed by email (and I had to write them again and again without ever receiving confirmation). Even though that was the case, several of those restaurants, who never confirmed, said I had a reservation when I got to Paris and actually called them.

What a mess! The woman who runs that site even came on Trip Advisor and said that when there are problems she helps people fix them. I emailed her with my problems and she never responded to me.

You can%26#39;t trust the results of what you do on that site. With such bad service as I received, I like to discourage people from using them.

I have found that when I make reservations through the restaurant site itself, everything goes smoothly. I know some restaurants don%26#39;t have websites. Most of the big ones or famous ones do though.

I have this dilemna with the restaurant Spring. I want a reservation there. They only take phone reservations and they fill up 6 months in advance. They aren%26#39;t taking reservations until some time in February now. I have to call at 2:30am to make a reservation. So far--I don%26#39;t have a reservation for my Sept. 2009 trip. But I will--one way or another.

Good luck to you!

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I have to agree with ILWP. I always email the restaurant directly and have had excellent results, even when my French wasn%26#39;t grammatically perfect. They seem to get it right anyway and respond in a timely fashion.

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Contact the restaurant directly either with a call or email to make a reservation. Using third parties (unless it%26#39;s your hotel concierge) to make reservations add needless complexity.

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Removed on: 3:16 pm, August 11, 2009