siteseeing in France - Page 2

look 171 · 10-30-2013, 06:35 PM

We always stay near the train station. Easy to find and easy to get to other places. If you get lost, everyone know hot to get to the central station.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

We always stay near the train station. Easy to find and easy to get to other places. If you get lost, everyone know hot to get to the central station.

Which one? There are 7 . . .

Ian

look 171 · 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imcarthur

Which one? There are 7 . . .

Ian

Gare du Nord for the both times we were in Paris.

Oh, other places like Brescia, locating the train station save my hide because I was totally lost.

Head416 · Head416's Garage

I'm going there for the first time in December on a work trip. Can't wait!

look 171 · 10-30-2013, 08:19 PM

We really enjoy the Loire Valley. See the chateaux and enjoy the simpler slower pace of the country side. Gotta eat at the Champs Elysses or at least have a glass of wine. As I am a rough neck, I had a beer. You will have fun.

rick-l · 10-30-2013, 09:09 PM

I'm starting to look forward to this. Is endpoint B on this map where the hotels suggested above are along with being walking distance from some sights? I figure I can walk since I did run a marathon last year. Did I see a recommendation against buying a 4 day subway pass and just buy a book of ten tickets?

Since I will get there free I wouldn't mind splurging for a room. Are we talking 150 to 200 euros or more?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amail

Here's the layout.

porwolf · 10-30-2013, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-l

I'm starting to look forward to this. Is endpoint B on this map where the hotels suggested above are along with being walking distance from some sights? I figure I can walk since I did run a marathon last year. Did I see a recommendation against buying a 4 day subway pass and just buy a book of ten tickets?

Since I will get there free I wouldn't mind splurging for a room. Are we talking 150 to 200 euros or more?

Like someone else suggested I would try the "Lonely Planet" guide. That one usually has good suggestions and contact information for hotels from low to high costs. Also it's a good primer for all the attractions, local transportation, museums, and all other subjects of interest. I had good experiences with the guide on the Greek islands some time ago and I am sure it works well in Paris also.

stuartj · 10-30-2013, 10:27 PM

Anywhere around "B" will be fine. Close to river as you can. Seriously- if youve got only a day or two, the red tourist buses are the go. I think about euro30 for a 2 day pass. You'll see much more than being on the subway (obviously) and they loop around all the Paris "must sees". There are several routes, and you get on and off as you like.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

For Euro cities, I like the DK Eyewitness Pocket guides with pullout maps because they are small enough to fit in your pocket & they are packed with tourist info. As Stuart suggested, stick as close to the Seine as you can - I usually suggest that you find the Place Saint Michel on a map & stay close to there. For hotels, check out the Best Western chain - many Parisian locations & much better than their NA counterparts. Expect a very small room for over 150 euro. With just a few days, stick to Paris except for a possible day trip to Versailles - easy to get to via the RER regional trains.

Ian

creaturecat · 10-31-2013, 04:49 AM

I second a trip trip Versailles.
Picasso museum, Rodin museum, Musee D'Orsay...................

abisel · 10-31-2013, 05:42 AM

IF you get a chance and have the time, rent a car and drive to Bayeux in the Normandy region. 4 hour drive.

Bayeux - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Get a room at the hotel Churchill √ Hotel Churchill Hotel Charme caractÃ¨re Bayeux Hotel Normandie

and sign up for a two-day D-Day tour. Overlordtour : battlefield tour in Normandy, D-Day Beaches, 6 june 1944 history, D-Day commemoration If you go to France, you should do this. It will give you a whole new understanding to what happened on 6 June 1944.

Also take in the sights of Bayeux such as the Bayeux Tapestry depicting the 1066 Battle of Hastings Norman invasion of England and the Notre Dame cathedral consecrated in 1077. Not to mention the restaurants and other medieval sights.

Bayeux Tapestry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bayeux Deals - Special Hotel Deals for Bayeux, France - TripAdvisor

Bayeux, France - Travel Guide, Info & Bookings

I did this back in August of '07 when I had a week vacation after a business trip. Very informative and enjoyable.

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

If I had 2 free days in France, I know where I would go:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=about+normandy&ll=49.395223,-0.989285&spn=0.022875,0.043731&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&channel=rcs&hnear=Normandy,+Capelle-les-Grands,+Eure,+Upper+Normandy,+France&gl=us&t=h&z=15

5String43 · 10-31-2013, 06:30 AM

Be sure to see the Musee D'Orsay. It's a former railroad station not far from the Louvre that is filled with treasure. And the building itself is beautiful. Within walking distance of that is the home of Auguste Rodin. Its gardens are magnificent and the whole place is filled with his sculpture. The whole city truly is a feast. I'd also suggest a walk through the Tuileries, which is between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, so it's central as well. Very beautiful. Finally, you probably should look around in Notre Dame ("Sanctuary!), and then have a wonderful lunch at a killer little restaurant right across the river from the cathedral, right bank, called Le Reminet. This should put you on overload for good stuff.

jwasbury · 10-31-2013, 07:32 AM

Paris is awesome (and so is the rest of France).

One of my favorite ways to see the city is on a bicycle. Grab one of the VeLib bikes and pedal around. Paris - Vélib' - vélos en libre-service à Paris - Site Officiel. FYI, you'll need a credit card with the embedded micro chip...I've found that regular cards without the chip do not work in the velib kiosks.

creaturecat · 10-31-2013, 07:42 AM

The bums at the Metro stations etc. are eating better quality food, and are dressed nicer than the average N American.
: )

Cajundaddy · Cajundaddy's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuartj

Paris is most fabulous city in world, I don't understand the comments about it being filthy, it just isn't. Time of year is important, its the biggest tourism destination in the world and its gets hellishly busy in the peak season. Its much nicer, I find, to be there in the colder weather.

The Metro is great and easy to use, but the best way to see Paris is to stay somewhere central- the 6th is great- and just walk. It is a fabulous walking city. Also- its bit dinky- but the red tourist buses are really good- buy a two day pass, the routes do loops around all the major destinations- and just get on and off if you've had enough walking. The Louvre will consume a day, go early and be sure to find the excavated fortifications is the original corner. Everone seems to miss this. The excavations under the forecourt of Notre Dame also get missed- the original settlement of Paris. Most of the churches have pipe organ recitals after services on Sundays- and hearing Wagner pumping out of the biggest pipe organ in Europe in the magnificent chamber of Notre Dame cathedral was the best (and free) heavy metal experience ive ever had. There so much to take in Paris, its hard to explain where to start.

Sit in cafés, drink coffee, talk to people. Such a fantastic city.

check out "Air BnB"- you can stay apartments rented direct from owners- much cheaper and more betterer.

This^^

Now is a great time to be there as crowds will be lighter and Paris is grand in the fall. Almost everything happens near the river so stay close to it and walk or jump on the Metro. My personal favorite area is the left bank near the Latin quarter. Show appreciation for their rather marvelous customs and culture. If you attempt to speak in French and stumble, they will forgive you and often will respond in rather good English. If you open a conversation in English they will be offended and you will rightly be marked as just another "rude American".

rick-l · 11-21-2013, 12:20 PM

Hey made it to Paris and back. The advice about where to stay was good. The hotel was 200 yards from the subway (Denfort Reauchereau or something like that) and I bought a 10 pack of tickets. Hotels by the airport were 380 euros so I ended up taking the RER B the 20 miles to the airport during rush hour.

p.s. the wine was good also

Head416 · Head416's Garage

Awesome! I leave on the 1st. I'll be spending the first 4 nights by the CDG airport for work, then my wife and I are renting an apartment on île Saint-Louis for 6 nights. Can't wait!

j8tg · 11-21-2013, 02:13 PM

Here now! Flew in to meet my daughter who is studying in Prague and we head there on Sunday. It has been cold and a little wet but this city seems to work well in late fall. Catching the service at Notre Dame was a highlight as well as the Eiffel Tower at night. I was hesitant to spend time in Paris and now know there was no reason for it--friendly,beautiful and very easy to navigate.

Have fun!
TG
Littleton, Co
1986 930

j8tg · 11-21-2013, 02:18 PM

Forgot to mention that we rented an apartment in the 4th on VRBO and it has been a perfect location for walking to almost everything but the Eiffel Tower. The metro gets you everywhere and after a little trial and error it has become the best way to travel the city.

TG
Littleton, Co
1986. 930