Hi everyone,
We just returned from a fun 9 days in France. Here is a recap of our trip.
Flew Minneapolis to Stuttgart Germany and spent a day at the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart and they drove through the Black Forest to Strasbourg France. We definitely will return to the Black Forest during better weather conditions. It was gorgeous!
Loved Strasbourg! The Cathedral was beautiful, walking the streets and shopping was wonderful. The Christmas markets were still open so we enjoyed many a glass of %26quot;Chaud Vin%26quot;. The Christmas lights were beautiful. This will definitely be on our agenda for a return trip. Plan on 2 days. We actually had our first experience with a Citadines and it was great. We had a large one bedroom. (2 adults and 2 teenagers) 160 euros per night.
From Strasbourg we drove to Metz to see the Cathedral which was stunning. I wish we would have planned for at least a full day in Metz. Back on the road we headed to Beauvais. On the map this looked like a straight shot, but it took twice as long as expected because of all the round abouts and the small towns we went through. In Beauvais we stayed at the Chenal Hotel across from the train station and a 5 minute walk to the center of town. It was an older hotel, but I think the best in town. 89 euros per night. We enjoyed the ice skating in the town square amid the Christmas lights and the markets. And again another beautiful Cathedral. We returned our rental car to the Beauvais airport. Warning.....there was a 300 euro drop charge for renting in Stuttgart and dropping off in Beauvais. At the Beauvais airport there is a bus every half hour for 13 euros which took us right near our hotel Le Meridien at Port Maillot in Paris. (this was also on the RER line to Versailles and the #1 metro line) Very easy!
The Le Meridien was great. We had an executive room (226 euros) and the boys had a classic room (177 euros). It is right across the street from the convention center (Palais des Congres) so there was an indoor shopping mall (TIP - there is a 2nd Angelinas in this mall) and many restaurants near by. It was about 1 block from the metro. This was the first time we had not stayed in the areas 5 or 6. I think in the winter it does not matter as long as you are near a metro, but in the summer it is much more enjoyable to have a leisurely stroll after dinner and to just enjoy wandering around the areas 5/6.
We were reminded (too late) that the Louvre was closed on Tuesdays, but entered the next day from underneath and saved a ton of time in the line. We bought our Eiffel Tower tickets at the hotel so we saved about 2 hours of waiting time on that, but the top level was closed because of weather. At Notre Dame we were able to see the ceremony of the presentation of Jesus%26#39; Crown of Thorns. This is the first Friday of every month at 3 pm. If you go, get an aisle seat up front because they will come right next to you.
Our most exciting (and somewhat frightening experience) was going to the Eiffel Tower on New Years Eve. I am still amazed that I didn%26#39;t get trampled in the metro tunnels or smashed to death on the metro car. The crowd was very, very energetic and we had no choice but to RUN in order not to get trampled. We survived and it was spectacular to see the tower at midnight. It was lit up in blue and there were 10 or 12 stars in a circle around the lower arch. As the count down began the stars went dark one by one. At midnight, the whole tower twinkled and the sound of champagne corks popping was deafening. We were not sure how to return to the hotel because there was NO way we were getting back on the Metro. We just followed the crowd (had no choice) and ended back at the Arc d%26#39;T.
We were there the week after Christmas, but Paris was still beautifully lit up with thousands of Christmas lights. There was a huge Christmas tree in front of Notre Dame, the Champs E%26#39; was lit from the Arc to the Tulleries in blue lights, Galleries Layfette had a large tree suspended from their dome and their building were ablaze with lights.
Other than still missing one suitcase, we had a great time. (My son bought a $30 Angelina%26#39;s chocolate scented candle for his girlfriend and that is in the lost bag) The weather was usually around 30 degrees F. It was chilly, but we were dressed for and were grateful that we packed long underwear.
Thanks to all of you for your never ending tips and ideas.
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Thanks for the wonderful report. You did some things that many people on this forum either haven%26#39;t done or haven%26#39;t written about here. I really enjoyed it.
In addition, in Sept %26#39;09 I am staying near the Port Maillot Metro and I had no idea there was a second Angelina%26#39;s so I will need to check it out. Did you notice what it looked like inside? What was the decor? The ambiance? I so love Angelina%26#39;s on Rue de Rivoli. I imagine that the other one can%26#39;t compete--but I would love to know.
I hope you get your suitcase back--and the special chocolate scented candle from Angelina%26#39;s. We want the girlfriend to be happy with her beaux and it sounds like a lovely gift!
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In love,
Because the gift shop is separate, I only had a quick look through the window of the cafe. It looked large and full, but I did not pay any attention to the character of the room. Since it is in a new mall, I would guess that it in no way compares to the original one. However.....you can get a cup of hot chocolate at the shop to %26quot;take away%26quot;.
We ate at the main store and I will never forget the scornful look the waiter gave my son when he ordered french fries with his hot chocolate!
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Great trip report! I leave in a week for the 1st time!!! I am interested in the fact you were able to buy Eiffel tower tickets ahead of time! Is there any other place to do that? Is it more expensive that way? How do you know what to pay, if you don%26#39;t know if the top is closed or not? I am all for saving time, bby not waiting in lines! I am getting the museum pass, but I know the tower does not take it. I am staying in an apt, not a hotel.
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OClisa,
I don%26#39;t know if other places sell Eiffel Tower tickets, but I would guess they do. Try the SNAF or the other places that sell museum passes. The concierge wouldn%26#39;t take cash or credit card and insisted that they be charged to the room so they most likely won%26#39;t sell to non guests. They were 10 Euro each and I think the regular price was around 7 Euro. He told me that the top deck was closed. When we got to the tower, there was a lit up sign that also confirmed this. I must say that we waited a total of 15 minutes in a line that said %26quot;.....reservations et tickets%26quot; to pass through security and then up to the elevator so I hope someone can help you. We also bought our Louvre tickets from the hotel.
Have fun and don%26#39;t forget to pack a corkscrew!
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Update - my son%26#39;s suitcase finally arrived so he is heading off to school this morning with a smile on his face and the all important Angelina%26#39;s candle in his backpack.
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