France and Channel Hopping Discussion

Discussions regarding holidays and channel hopping in France.
Paris...
111 Posts
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There is a website, but I can't for the life of Riley remember it, though I used it a week or so ago!!! Try putting Lido de Paris into a search engine and you'll get the right place. You could also try the Moulin Rouge and the Crazy Horse (the latter is a bit cheekier and lacks the traditional feathers but makes up for it in great and precise routines!).

These joints are PRICEY and the dinner may not live up to your expections as per the glamourous menu, but you'll certainly have a night to remember!
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You can go to the Lido without the meal which would make it cheaper as it is an expensive night out.
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Hey again people, was just wondering is the Paris Visite Zone 1-5 ticket for the RER trains, does it cover using the metro lines as well?? and is it worth the 45 euros? as im only staying in Paris for a weekend.
Thanks
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Hi Neil

How long are staying in Paris? As the 3 day Paris Visite zone 1-5 (which will get you from CDG to your hotel at Bussy St Georges and to and from Paris, plus all around Paris) is only 37.35 euros. It's well worth it in my opinion as it take away all the hassle of travelling on the trains and purchasing tickets etc. You can buy it on arrival at the station at CDG and you can use it for everywhere you go, both on the metro and RER.

A taxi from the airport to Bussy alone would cost around 60-70 euros, so you're quids in with Paris Visite!
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We found the Paris Visite ticket was cheaper to buy through Thomsons (where we booked our City break when we went) than it was at the Eurostar terminal at Waterloo (where we bought them).
I think for the 5 day one it was £13.50 via Thomsons and £19.50 ish at Waterloo. Not sure if you have to have booked with Thomsons to get that price though.

We found the tickets a good idea, they definitely cover the metro and I believe you can use them for the RER, but be warned - my ticket got bent in my pocket and then wouldn't work on the electronic turnstiles which was embarrassing :oops:

Hope you have a great time, have you looked at the paris thread in the City breaks section? :)
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It's the 5-day zone 1-5 pass that costs €45.70. A 2-day pass costs €26.65.

If you intend to do the sights and need transport from the airports then a Paris Visite pass zone 1-5 is definitely worth it. It allows unlimited rides (on consecutive days) on the Metro, RER trains, bus, tram, suburban Transilien SNCF trains, Montmartre funicular, Montmartrobus, Noctambus and Optile bus system within central Paris as well as to places such as Versailles, CDG/Orly Airports and Disneyland Paris.
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Yes, the prices I gave earlier might only be for the smaller zone area, as we travelled by Eurostar into the centre of Paris and weren't worried about going to Versailles, Disney etc.

But you still might be able to shop around for the best price......
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for anyone visiting paris for a weekend and not planning to leave the city, a cheaper option than the 'paris visite' ticket is just to by 'un carnet'. this is ten metro tickets for a set price with no expiry date so any left over can be kept for the next trip :D
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If you are going to be in Paris for a while one of the cheapest options is the Carte Orange - you will need to get your photo taken and ask at the desk for 'un carte orange pour un semaine' (or something like that - my French isnt all that brill but it got me a weekly ticket for what I'm sure it costs for a 3 day Paris Visite!
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Jsst a reminder that there is a bit of a s c a m in Paris at the metro stations when you arrive, :shock: where somebody offers to buy your season ticket, takes the money, and returns with just a single fare ticket. My sister was caught out that way. :(

So it's best to work out what you need to do for yourself, and put up with queueing at the ticket office, if you're not sure about the machines.
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Just a bit more info about the 'Carte Orange' pass mentioned above. It's a weekly travel pass you can buy at RER and Metro stations and is very cheap. The first day of the week always starts on a Monday and the pass runs out the following Sunday. Anyone can buy one but it requires a passport-size photo of the pass holder on the card. However, a weekly carte orange pass for zones 1-5 is only €27.65 which is not much more than a two day Paris Visite pass! Between Monday and Wednesday, you can buy a ticket for the current week. Between Friday and Sunday, you can buy a ticket for the next week. Obviously, it's even better value the earlier in the week you buy it.
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hello,myself and boyf are thinking about going to paris for a few days but dont have a clue where to start looking for hotels etc,would like somewhere decent but not too pricey also what would the weather be like towards september / october time?
I am a vegetarian,would this be a problem when eating out?
Whats the drink like?expensive?
sorry so many questions,advice would really be appreciated!!!
Thanks,x :D
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I've always stayed with friends when I've been in Paris, but these seem reasonable!!
http://www.hoteldirect.co.uk/paris/
http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/cont_recherche_prov.php?lang=en
http://www.expedia.co.uk/daily/stores/destinations/paris/hotels.aspx?rfrr=-28244

Drinks can be expensive, but I found it cheaper to go to a McDonalds I'm afraid and buy the whole meal!
Food wise depends where you go and what you eat.
Sept/Oct temp will only be a few des more than here.
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as said drinks are expensive especially around the champs elysees and the main toursist areas , in places like montparnasse they are reasonable and around the student areas , but not the latin quarter arrondisement 7

veggie foods you may struggle , the french tend not to be veggie and althou they are getting better when i went on a works trip ac olleague who was veggie struggled

as for hotels the cheapest ones are near the Gare du Nord and there are a lot of decent ones near the Opera area and again Montparnasse which i would say is the best place as its more french than tourist

there is a brilliant hotel called hotel trancontinental on rue de maine in montparnasse which is in a busy area but not overly busy and also has lots of bars and eating places around it also the montparnasse metro is a major hub so you can get all over paris from there and teh metro is better and easier to understand than the tube

as for weather i havebeen in most months and last time was september and it was very warm and as its a city it gets very humid in the centre

hope this helps and if you need anymore info just shout
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Don't know if you've already got travel to Paris but thought these were good value
http://www.railbookers.com/breaks/france/paris/5130 conpared to how much some of the hotels are coming up at :shock:
and these
http://www.shortbreaksbyeurostar.com/ you can add a chauffur driven 2cv tour of Paris :roll:
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Having been to Paris last month in the company of a vegetarian I would think that you will not go hungry ... IF you can drink ordinary milk and eat ordinary cheese. Lots of restaurants have vegetarian options and you can also ask for omelettes - 'nature' if you don't want a filling. Avoid quiches as they often have bacon bits in them! There are plenty of Indian and Chinese restaurants also Italian ones (Pizza/pasta possibilities) and for a real treat a Lebanese restaurant will give you a filling and enjoyable meal. Oh and don't forget that Morocco and Tunisia had/has links with France so you should be able to get Couscous and Tajines without meat.

Bon appetit!
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Hello Mabel

We have just booked again for next February through http://www.hotels.me.am/ and we got a very good deal. The cheaper hotels are around Pigalle which although fine during the day is a bit dodgy at night. I suppose it depends on what you are prepared to put up with but as we have children we were not prepared to put up with anything, hence a hotel by the Eiffel Tower!

There is no getting away from the fact that drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic are expensive in Paris. Actually the non-alcoholic are extortionate when you are buying for children too! Sitting outside adds to the bill.

Last year we went during the last week of October and the weather was beautiful if a little chilly. Bright blue skies, no rain over five days but a brisk wind. It was perfect weather for sightseeing.
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Ok

I know this aint one of the questions but dont drive there if you can help it
stay as central as you can
The weather in september is the same as old blighty :wink: if not worse :shock: but who cares :wink:

enjoy
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Thank you all so much,replies very appreciated,Paris does sound excellent-we want a change from the usual sun hols,No we wont be driving as are living in Ireland-Aer Lingus have some great deals on at the minute,I know im going to have loads more questions but you all have been a great help oh one thing is the language?is it much of a barrier?my french is very minimal,
Cheers :lol:
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