they won%26#39;t answer phone or e-mails-are they still open (Villa Goeland).
They were there this summer, but with the current economy, it%26#39;s difficult to say. We never know what’s going to happen. I would wait awhile and give them another call if they do not respond to your emails.
What is the best bet for sightseeing in Paris? I have read about Les Cars Rouges (buses you can get on and off all day, I believe) and then found the Paris Card with metro access and museum entrance fees and bateaux mouche included. Would appreciate suggestions. Then there was the Paris Museum pass, and my head is spinning trying to sort all this out.
Interested in also seeing Versailles which I believe is included in the Paris Card. Plan to take the train to Versailles. Something offered metro, bus, RER and SNcc for regions 1-3. Does that include getting to Versailles? Arriving Paris Thurs Mar 11, departing Wed Mar 17, which seems to eliminate Carte Orange. What about Carte Mobilis?
If you do a search of this forum, you%26#39;ll quickly find many discussions and answers to all your questions.
Can anyone tell me if it gets chilly in the evenings when you are sitting out eating and walking etc. Would I need to bring a light cardigan? I will be there from the 6th of September for 4 days.
Thanks Hannah
Its not usually chilly at night till october - lots of folk [well, women that is ] carry a pashmina or a light cardigan just in case though.
i suppose it depends how much you feel the cold.
Who can know what the weather is going to be these days but, if you want to know what it HAS been in the past on the dates when you will be traveling Hannah then check out the history tab on wunderground.com
Hope that is helpful.
Maybe it is, maybe it isn%26#39;t. Why wouldn%26#39;t you bring one anyway?
Hannah - only if there is a shower and then you will feel very chilly if you just have light clothes.
CapeCodCharlie - that wunderground weather website isn%26#39;t very comprehensive is it? I can%26#39;t see Antibes anywhere on it.
Ed
Thankyou all for your replies.
Hannah
Hello Hanna,
Unless you are very unlucky evening temp should be around 20C, so about the same as high summer in Ahoghill. The difference is that the sun will still be very hot during the day, so when it goes down it can feel chilly.
We will be in Portrush at the same time where I suspect it will be a little cooler!
All the best,
Bob
Hi LondonBob,
Thanks for the reply, 20 at night is brilliant for me and my friend. I am sure you will really enjoy being back in Portrush whatever the weather,have a lovely time.
Thanks again Hannah
Hi WB:The wunderground weather site has a great search function. I did a quick search for %26#39;Antibes%26#39; and found this:
wunderground.com/cgi-bin/…
I didn%26#39;t study these results, but you can also put in dates to get historical data. I use this site all the time for our travel needs and have gotten information for destinations all over the world.
Thanks fussyguest and apologies CapeCodCharlie!
Antibes wasn%26#39;t on the original drop down alphabetical list although there were plenty of %26#39;obscure%26#39; locations in Peru and Turkey etc. (places are always obscure if you don%26#39;t live in them !). Thanks to you I now have it and will put it in my Favourites list.
We generally have to put up with the Nice weather - although there is a weather station at Villa Thuret I believe.
Ed
Are we missing anything?
Day 1/August 24, 2009- Monday
1. Start in Paris%26#39;s chronological heart, on Île de la Cité. Climb up Notre-Dame%26#39;s tower for a panoramic city view (and helpful landmark orientation)
2. Then head over to neighboring Île St-Louis to wander the atmospheric streets and drink in the back view of the mighty cathedral. ( Stop for Berthillon ice cream.) %26amp; Lunch @ La Rose de France
3.Head back to Île de la Cité to see the stunning stained glass in Sainte-Chapelle. (for a Seine-level view of the city, go to place du Pont Neuf at the far end of the island to catch the Vedettes du Pont Neuf boat tour.)
4. Cross the Pont au Change to the Châtelet métro station to catch Line 1 to the Champs-Élysées; if you%26#39;d like to walk most of the broad avenue, get off at the Franklin-D.-Roosevelt stop.
• If not, get off at George V (near the top) or Charles de Gaulle Étoile (by the roundabout) and head to the Arc de Triomphe.
5. From the top of the arch there%26#39;s a great view of the %26quot;star%26quot; of avenues. If platinum-card shopping is on your list, head to avenue Montaigne, which branches off the Champs.
6. Hop back on the métro at the Charles de Gaulle Étoile station and take Line 6 to the Champs de Mars Tour Eiffel station to see one more monument (The Eiffel Tower).
NIGHT: Café de l%26#39;Industrie; (can be iffy) 16, rue Saint-Sabin, Paris 75011; Métro: Bréguet-Savin or Bastille
Day 2/August 25- Tuesday
1. Start the morning admiring the Impressionists in the Musée d%26#39;Orsay (closed on Monday); arrive early to avoid the crowds.
2. Lunch @ Le Divellec an execellent fish restaurant. then head west along the quais, passing the Assemblée Nationale (the French parliament), to the Pont Alexandre-III, an ornate Belle Époque bridge. Above you gleams the dome of the Église du Dôme in the Hôtel des Invalides; this is where Napoléon%26#39;s buried (in half-a-dozen coffins)
3. In the afternoon explore the Latin Quarter, using the Panthéon dome as a landmark. Take time to relax in the Jardin du Luxembourg or sip coffee in a neighborhood café.
• Or from place St-Sulpice you can take métro Line 4 a few stops into Montparnasse.
4. Afterwards, tour the Seine on the Bateaux Mouches; these boats depart regularly from place de l%26#39;Alma.
NIGHT: Bus Palladium; 6, rue Fontaine; METRO: Blanche (line 2), Pigalle (lines 2, 12), or Saint George (line 12)
Day 3/August 26-Wednesday
1. Get to the Louvre (closed on Tuesdays) early to avoid the crowds; in one morning you%26#39;ll only be able to see part of the museum -- it%26#39;s that big. Have a morning coffee in the Café Marly in the Museum.
2. From the Louvre, either visit the carrousel du Louvre’s underground shops or walk along the rue de Rivoli toward place de la Concorde. This end of the street is now filled with souvenir shops but avoid the overpriced cafes and turn right to rue Mondvi for a good lunch at Lescure, a little rustic bistro (7 rue Mondovi 01 42 60 18 91)
3. After lunch, wander along the ritzy rue St-Honoré west. Here you%26#39;ll find the French president%26#39;s home, the Palais de l%26#39;Élysée (closed to the public), and the Neoclassical Église de la Madeleine.
4. For good shopping and a look at Haussmann%26#39;s 19th-century Paris and the famous Opéra Garnier, join up with the Grand Boulevards.
5. Spend the late afternoon getting a sense of Paris%26#39;s village-like character by exploring Montmartre-- a funky, lively neighborhood that%26#39;ll clear away any remaining museum fatigue. Either walk (heading north along rue du Faubourg Montmartre to rue Notre-Dame de Lorette to rue Fontaine to place Blanche) or take the métro to the Pigalle or Blanche stop.
• On boulevard de Clinchy you%26#39;ll find the famous Moulin Rouge.
6. Continue up into Montmartre, via place des Abbesses. On this square are two Art Nouveau gems: the church of St-Jean de Montmartre, and the Art Nouveau Guimard entrance to the Abbesses métro station.
7. From here, walk through the winding, hilly streets to place du Tertre, and then on to Sacré-Coeur Basilica, where there%26#39;s a tremendous view of the city below, and settle into a bistro or café.
NIGHT: Le Bar du Plaza Athenee; 25 Ave Montaigne; and/or : The Ritz Bar; 38 Rue Cambon
Day 4/August 27- Thursday
1. Devote the morning to the Quartier Latin, wandering the cobblestone streets, rifling through the offerings of the bouquinistes (the open-air book vendors by the Seine), and peeking into bookstores and churches.
2. Visit the Musée National du Moyen-Age to see the unicorn tapestries, pay your respects to the great at the Panthéon, then loop back toward the Seine to see the dynamic facade of the Institut du Monde Arabe (also a good place to stop for tea) / LUNCH
3. Take the pont de la Tournelle to cut across the Île St-Louis to the Rive Droite and Marais neighborhood. Here you%26#39;ll find a cluster of terrific museums (the Picasso, the Carnavalet, and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, in particular), evocative architecture, and a buzzing street scene. The elegant place des Vosges is a good place to relax. If modern art%26#39;s your thing, go farther west to the Centre Pompidou. **
NIGHT: Buddha Bar; 8, rue Boissy d’Anglas in, Paris;
and/or: Slow Club;130 rue de Rivoli, 1er; Métro: Châtelet or Louvre-Rivoli
Day 5/August 28- Friday
1. Take a vacation from your Paris vacation by heading out for a day trip to Versailles, built in bicep-flexing Baroque splendor. Don%26#39;t forget to explore its vast park in order to take in the intimate Petit Trianon and Hameau, which was Marie-Antoinette%26#39;s toy farm
Day 6/August 29- Saturday
1. On your sixth day take a vacation from your Paris vacation by heading out for a day trip to one of the following:
• Champagne -Reims Champagne( Wed or Thur w/Concerige 155E no lunch), Cityrama, Fri, Sat %26amp; Sun-depending on with of the 3 tours 106E-169E- lunch %26amp; Drinks- $169E only
Yes i think you are crazy-at least the first day is packed.
Do Ste Chapelle just after ND, and then go to Ile St Louis, otherwise in the afternoon the lines at Ste Chapelle will be long. To go up twice on the frist day doen%26#39;t make much sense, tyou will exhausted, and the view from the arch is not as nice as the one from Notre Dame
You plan to go to the Latin quarter twice, it doesn%26#39;t make sense. Do it all in one visit : Musée de Cluny and Luxembourg.
Plus you go through the Ile St Louis again to reach the Marais.
Group everything on a map to make more sense
Well, whose itinerary is this,,, as it is obviously out of some book?
Day one is too heavey to me.
Its too much for me to absorb,, but, on day 3,, visiting the Louvre,, I have a few ideas. First. Be sure to enter THROUGH the underground shopping mall, its much faster then the Pyramid entrance. You enter it off Rue Du Rivoli and go down the stairs/escalator and buy your entrance ticket from the machines. I do this each time and have never had to wait more then 10 minutes to get through security this way. When leaving the Louvre leave through the Pyramid entrance, walking through the Tuilleries Gardens to the Place du Concorde.
Day 4 seems to suggest you walk BY two or three museums,, theres no time to actually go IN them?? I would go in the Carnalevet at least( and if you choose to go in the Piccasso or Pompidou then theres a full afternoon minimally). Also, while in the Marais, consider the Holocaust ( Shoah) Museum. It is very moving.
I would not take the tour on day 6,, lots of money. Stay in Paris as you just spent the day before out of Paris at Versailles. At Versailles be sure to spend lots of time enjoying the grounds and Marie Antionettes Hamlet. The Palace is wonderful, but , as always will be crowded,, but the ground allow will have lots of room for you to relax and enjoy.
I am not a fan of these premade itinerarys. I thinks its best to sit down. List all the sites YOU want to see,, then , with a map , cluster them into convenient groups. Then , checking for closing days( usaully monday or tuesdays) just make it up yourself.
I do agree Versailles it a great daytrip.
Great...thanks. I didn%26#39;t do it myself I also noticed that we%26#39;re in Montmarte twice as well. When we get there will it be easy to find out which metro line to take?
The metro is easy as long as you have a map - your guide book should have one or google %26quot;paris metro map%26quot; and print one out (in color).
The Middlemarch Paris Mapguide is an excellent map of the city that I find great for getting around.
the Picasso musee will be closed from the end of august.
I personally don%26#39;t mind a really busy itinerary, but, on the other hand, your plans for Day One are really impossible because you don%26#39;t take jet lag into consideration at all. Maybe you need to play it by ear on Day One. Check out/walk thru the neighborhood in which you are staying and enjoy as much of that atmosphere as your energy allows. Maybe you%26#39;ll be running on nervous energy and be able to see a lot, but maybe not.
I%26#39;d be curious to know where you found this itinerary - which is severely lacking in practicality and detail.
%26lt;%26lt;When we get there will it be easy to find out which metro line to take? %26gt;%26gt;
The metro is very easy to use, if you know where you%26#39;re going, the nearest stop to your destination, and how to get there from the metro stop.
Obviously, you%26#39;ll need a good street map.
For example, %26quot;Devote the morning to the Quartier Latin, wandering the cobblestone streets, rifling through the offerings of the bouquinistes (the open-air book vendors by the Seine), and peeking into bookstores and churches. %26quot;%26quot;
Which streets? Do you have any idea where the bouquinistes are located? What bookstores? Are you really going to go %26quot;peeking into churches%26quot;?
At the end of day one (if you manage to get all that in), I seriously doubt you%26#39;ll have the ambition to head out to the 11th to Cafe de l%26#39;Industrie, and once there, you may be disappointed.
It seems to have come from
wanderlustandlipstick.com/wander-tales/…
which was itself cribbed from
…nytimes.com/fodors/…fdrs_feat_117_3.html
Or the other way around who knows?
I wouldn%26#39;t do two boat tours, we did Vendettes du Pont Neuf and it was fine. On Wednesday, you might visit the Louvre at the end of the day (go late afternoon, it closes at 9:00 p.m., much less crowded and more enjoyable imo.) Give yourself some down time and flexibility to stray from the itinerary. Looks good, have fun.
I agree with Joan, make your own itinerary. That way you see the things you want to do. Most of the museums and monuments have a website with hours and nearby metro stops. Any guidebook will have that too, but may not have updated closing days. I usually plan one major thing a day, although if it%26#39;s something you are just looking at from the outside it doesn%26#39;t take as long. I make a list of things I want to see and what days they are open, and then if we have extra time, we can decide where we want to go. Also note when things are open late. I don%26#39;t plan meals ahead of time as I%26#39;m usually travelling with my daughter and we just eat at someplace she likes the menu of.
I am having some trouble figuring this out..
am looking at the 5 day pass
…parisinfo.com/express-booking/…
The only trips outside of Paris we will take, will be a day in Versailles, and a day in Reims.
I cannot specifically locate anything online that will allow me to purchase tickets on the metro to those place, so I am unsure of the cost.
Knowing those are the only 2 day trips we%26#39;ll do (the rest of the time, we%26#39;ll be staying directly in Paris to see the sights), is it worth it for me to buy this Paris Visite pass.
will this save me money vs. having to pay for the individual metro tickets for those day trips?
thank you, really.
Here you can compare various tickets/passes and find the cost of individual journeys:
transilien.com/web/…en
Depending on the length of your stay and days of your visit, purchasing a carnet of tickets (a packet of ten tickets than can be shared) for Zones 1-2, then separate return tickets for journeys beyond those zones, is usually the most economical.
superb.. thank you so much for that.
do you know if you can but the carnets on line ahead of time? or must i purchase them in person at the station.
There is just no need to buy them online ahead of time, as they are easy enough to purchase once in Paris.
Where are you staying? How are you getting there?
we are taking the train from brussels midi.
staying at Motte Picquet - right on Rue Cler. then departing from CDG back home 5 days later.
Reiems and Versailles are the only places we are going to go %26#39;outside%26#39; of paris..
i am going crazy trying to figure out if i would be better off taking an organized tour (to those locations), or just doing it on our own, which would involve the trains...
so much information, it%26#39;s difficult to do proper planning. especially since i am learing as i go, through the advice here on TA.
Assuming you%26#39;ll arrive at Paris Gare du Nord, the easiest way to get to Hotel de la Motte Picquet would be to just take a taxi. You could take the metro, but that would involve a connection. Or, you could take Bus 42 - this route originates at the station, so there would be plenty of room for you and your bags - to the stop Rapp/La Bourdonnais, then walk 10 minutes to the hotel.
The hotel is very close to Ecole Militaire metro station. When you go into the station, look for the ticket windows and one with a sign %26quot;Ventes%26quot; (as opposed to %26quot;Information%26quot;) to purchase a carnet of tickets. If there is no attendant selling tickets, just use the automatic dispenser - you can change the language to English. With an attendant you can use a credit card, with the machine you%26#39;ll need cash.
You can easily visit Chateau Versailles on your own. It is best to purchase your tickets online in advance, so you can use the advance ticket holders line there. To get there, you can either go to Ecole Militaire metro station and purchase return tickets for Chateau Versailles, or just walk to Pont de l%26#39;Alma RER Station (to me, much easier) and buy them there, which will save you the metro connections.
There are excellent instructions for getting to and visiting Chateau Versailles
ricksteves.com/plan/…versailles.htm
You can also easily visit Reims on your own. Just take Bus 42 or the Metro to Gare de l%26#39;Est and purchase your return train tickets.
Rick Steves%26#39;s guide, and others, have detailed instructions for doing this on your own.
Your hotel, though, will no doubt have brochures for Cityrama, ParisVision, etc., for organized tours, which they will book for you if you wish. You can check tours ahead of time online on their websites. It%26#39;s probably best to wait to book in Paris, though, after you%26#39;ve had a chance to check the weather forecast, if that matters to you.
Sometimes, a bus tour, though pricier, is worth the extra for the door to door transportation, tour in English, and not having to worry about all the details yourself.
I%26#39;m visiting paris for the first time in early september and have related questions. First, isn%26#39;t a Passe Navigo Decouverte pass a better value than that visite pass? Here%26#39;s a link with the 2008 prices (I can%26#39;t find the 2009 prices) - this lasts 7 days rather than 5 for less money it appears.
stif.info/IMG/pdf/Guide-tarifaire-2008.pdf
Also - I guess I%26#39;m just ignorant on how a %26quot;Carnet%26quot; of tickets work. Myself and my wife are going to paris and will be in zones 1 and 2 the entire time (Wednesday through monday am) except when we travel from cdg to our hotel in the city, a day trip to versailles and then when we leave to go to nord train station on monday am. Should we just buy the Pass Navigo Decouverte for wed - sun and use those carnetts for the other train trips? Does it cost a ticket per zone? and if so...would we use that card for zones 1 and 2 and then use carnetts for the remaining zones travelled?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
For bfunk:
All depending, the Paris Visite is usually the least economical pass. And, much depends on how you plan to get to your hotel on arrival day, then from there to Gare du Nord the day you depart.
As you probably know, the weekly Navigo Decouverte is valid Monday through Sunday.
A carnet of ten tickets for Zones 1%26amp;2 costs €11.60, or €1.16 per ride. You need a ticket each time you start a journey on the metro or bus and need another to transfer between the two.
Navigo Decouverte costs €5 for the pass (can be refilled for up to ten years) and €17.20 for one week Zones 1%26amp;2. So, to %26quot;break even%26quot;, versus individual tickets purchased in a carnet, you%26#39;d only have to ride 4 times per day Wednesday-Sunday.
Chateau Versailles is in Zone 4, and tickets each way cost €2.95, or €5.90 round trip.
Or, you could load your Navigo Decoverte for Zones 1-4 for €27.90.
For me, a Navigo Decouverte is worth the extra for the convenience, and to not have to worry about using up tickets, running out of tickets, walking instead of riding when you%26#39;re tired, versus having to purchase another carnet and perhaps having tickets left over.
Those individual tickets get to be annoying. Sometimes, for no particular reason, one or more in your packet will not work, and you have to return to a ticket agent to get it replaced. In many stations, there are no ticket agents, so you have to wait until you%26#39;re in a station with an attended window. This is especially annoying when the last ticket or two in your packet!
You also have to be very careful to hang onto your ticket until your journey is completed, in case of RATP inspectors. If you don%26#39;t have a validated ticket, you can be fined on the spot. So, you must keep your ticket handy until you%26#39;ve exited the metro or gotten off the last bus. Then, you must keep used tickets straight from unused.
With a Navigo Decouverte, you simply wave your card over the electronic scanner in the metro or on a bus.
I endeavor to ride whenever possible in Paris. When you look at a map, and where you%26#39;re going is %26quot;right over there%26quot;, so you may as well walk - keep in mind that once you%26#39;ve arrived, there%26#39;s more walking - especially at places like Musee du Louvre (with miles of hallways and stairs), Tour Eiffel, etc.
I also much prefer the buses to the metro. The bus stops are much closer to most destinations and you get to enjoy the magnificent scenery all along the way, versus traveling underground with all the stairways and hallways, and pickpockets.
We enjoyed a wonderful river cruise along the Danube in 2007 with Avalon Waterways and would now like to do a river cruise in France. Friends have suggested a barge rather than a cruise ship but I am concerned about the size of the cabins and missing out seeing the scenery passing by from a large window in the cabin. Is there anyone out there who has experienced both and can convince me that barging is better than being on a ship? All suggestions and cooments for or against welcomed. We are planning to go in May 2010. Two senior couples.
Hi memsahib
I%26#39;ve spent a bit of time on the rivers and canals of France and holidayed in France six times in the past 8 years for 2-3 months at a time. I have to say that I have not seen a waterway that was suitable for a cruise %26quot;ship%26quot;, the likes of those that ply the Danube. There are some Eurpoean cruises that include Paris in the itinerary, but they transfer to coach at Trier.
It may well be something I have missed and I would be interested to hear of any such cruise.
The %26quot;hotel barges%26quot; that travel on the French waterways have small portholes in the cabins, but as they only carry 10-20 people max (and most less than that), you would spend most of your days sitting on chairs on deck while underway.
We have now lived (rented) in an apartment for 3 months. It should be interesting, both for owners and prospective tenants to share some of our experiences.
Earlier topics on this forum have addressed the local building standards, specifically in domaine Juan Flore. Building design and construction quality are genrally sub-standard in this area compared to Northern European levels. Recent heavy rainfalls have soaked both the garden areas and flooded garages. There is no proper drainage around the buildings. Water was rushing into the basement (about 10 liters per minute) through the wall and along electric cables into the garbage room. For several days we could not access this area and had to park outside. Apparently the drains are below sea level and do not discharge properly. The beach is no longer only 200 meters away since the storms have flooded the tunnels (under the railway) and filled half way with sand. Now you have to walk almost 2 km to get to the beach. Hopefully, this will be OK for next summer.
Security is very lax. Gates stay open for weeks. No patrols at all. Doorhandles of entrences have fallen off and are not replaced after 2 months. Elevators are not properly tuned and stop working sometimes. The domaine has no central cable/satelite TV service nor Wifi hotspots. We have also wondered if there is any type of health inspection. The area seems infested by cockroaches. And, of course all these dog dumps everywhere, even in front of our entrance!! Not the dog%26#39;s fault. Therefore, and since the outside lighting is not working either, we avoid walking in darkness. We have lived in France for many years and love the French culture. Also dogs are part of the culture.
The worst thing is traffic. Our access road can only be used one way. An uninterrupted line of illegally parked cars on the South side of the road makes passing impossible. After having observed an ambulance being blocked by meeting traffic I talked to the police. I pointed at the %26quot;parking forbidden%26quot; sign and asked why the police does not act. The answer was very casual: %26quot;We can%26#39;t do anything nor give tickets, it%26#39;s a private road, but hopefully the road will be opened for through traffic next year. Then it will be public and we%26#39;ll react.%26quot; I have practiced a lot of reverse driving since then. Not easy with a stiff neck!! --- Happy to answer any questions.
Viking in Juan Les Pins
What a shame , Viking.
Unfortunately new builds anywhere are prone to problems
New builds are attractive here because the fees are smaller
A friend of mine bought a fairly new build in juan les pins but after it was 5 years old so that the teething troubles had been sorted out.
the fact that often these places are deserted in winter has an effect on the speed of repairs too.
Bestioles such as blattes [not blettes lol] are a common problem in apartment blocks and exterminators quite often come round apartment blocks every few months to clear them-its cheaper when everyone in a block is having it done but you need to pay for it yourself unless you can force the opwner to do it. There is usually a notice placed in the common areas showing when the exterminators are in the area if that helps at all.
Hi, we are due to pick up our keys in March 2009 and are very worried now we have read this. Could you tell me if this is still happening or if they are rectifying any of these problems? Thanks
Hi I am looking at booking here for the summer have things improved
Regards
Mark
Hi Viking,
I am hoping to book a 3 bedroom apartment in August ,09.
Could you please let me know have things improved in
Domaine Juan Flore apartments.
Thanking you in advance.
HOB.
Dear Hob,
My family (husband, two kids and myself) own an apartment in the Domaine Juan Flore since May 2007.
We got the key in 2008 and finalized furnishing etc. that summer.
I must say it is a beautiful domaine (still not completely ready), perfect location by the sea etc. but there are a few things that are still not well organized yet:
Till now we have not experienced that the swimming pool was open. In May and July 2008 it was closed and we were there last week and it was also not yet opened while the official papers indicate May 1st as opening date.
I believe in August 2008 it was open...
You can imagine being thre with kids wanting to swim!!
I believe it will be open this summer.
Furthermore there are a lot of problems with the locks of the gates and doors but each time it does get repaired but the systems do not seem to be quite good.
Because we come from the Netherlands and we would like to watch Dutch tv, this is a problem as the dishes are not receiving Dutch tv.
We will have to place our own dish in the garden which is in fact not allowed!!
Well if you have any more questions on the domaine, we would be happy to answer them.
Remains to say, when the weather is good (which is mainly the case in May - October)and you sit on your terrace with some nice French wine and the gambas are on the barbecue and you can see the sea in the distance you could imagine you are in paradise...
Regards,
Bruis
Hi
I have agroup of friend going over in august this year to another friend%26#39;s apartment.
We are lokking another apartment for ourselves in the complex.
would you by any chance know of anything available.
Thanks
Hi,
We were in Domaine Juan Flore last week (to the 9th May) and earlier in April and January.
The flooding was surely due to exceptional weather at the end of last year and in early January, they actually had snow in Antibes -- un-heard of.
Anyway the east tunnel has been open for a long while now and the west tunnel never closed. In many years visiting the area we have not had any problems with bugs or beatles and none at all in Juan Flore (the apartment is on the top floor here which may have some effect, I don%26#39;t know).
They had some safety problem with the pool water slide feature and it had to be re-designed to have no sharp edges and angles to prevent injury to children climbing on it. It was finished when we were there in April (it looks great) and the pool was cleaned and working last week but still not open, I understand it will open this week or next, I%26#39;ll post again when I know it is open.
The security has not been great because people are moving in all the time and one of the gates has been left open from 8:00am to 5:00pm to allow access for builders, gardeners, moving trucks etc. It was much better last week and should be fully secure soon.
All in All it is a lovely Domaine and when all is working!! Will be fantastic.
GP
Hi Tim,
We will be in Juan Flore ourselves in August but I am attaching a site with several apartments on the same domaine which you can rent, there are still some weeks free in August...!
Good luck!
Soraya
holiday-rentals.co.uk/juan-les-pins/s/623/fa…
Hi Tim,
We have one week free at the end of August here%26#39;s the link:
www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/417209
GP
fjekjrom
Can anyone recommend good campsites in Dordogne for family with 3 and 7 year old for next Summer? Interests, Fishing, Cycling, Canoes, Swimming.
Has anyone tried Soleil-Plage or Le Moulin de Paulhiac or St. Avit Loisirs?
When is best time to go for Reasonable weather?
Good choice -- for a great Dordogne website ---- Go to www.best-of-perigord.tm.fr then on the main page , click the %26quot;Accomodations%26quot; tab (then %26quot;campsites%26quot; sub-tab) for camping ---- then, back on the main page --- click the %26quot;leisure and sports%26quot; tab (then %26quot;canoeing%26quot; sub-tab) for boating options. You%26#39;ll also see some great alternative activities as well (ballooning , boating , cycling etc.). The beautiful riverside villages of La Roque Gageac and Beynac would be a great places to stay. The weather database at www.wunderground.com can give you the weather info you%26#39;re after.
Are you taking your own tent or are you looking for a campsite with pre-erected tents?
We are also considering the Dordogne for next july and also contemplating solieil plage and st. avits. I like Soleil plage as it has a river beach and is in a great location with cycle hire , canoeing on site etc. However, I believe that the vast majority of its customers are dutch and I would like my kids to have somebody to play with. we would like a site that has a good mix of nationalities. Has anybody been to either of these sites or maybe la palombiere? Some advice would be great.
Also considering doing a two center with a coastal site. Any comments welcome
Thanks.
Any time from May through at least early September should be good for weather (although this year, which was an aberration, there was bad weather most of the time all over Europe - we were in the Dordogne in late May and early June, and it rained every day, including some thunderstorms). We don%26#39;t do camping, but there certainly are many signs for it all along the Dordogne valley so you should be able to get knowledgeable help here. The area is fantastic - enjoy it.
Went to La Palombiere in August. Excellent site with lots to do for children. Good pools. Reataurant Very good. Canoeing is good fun and close to site -about 20mins drive. Plenty of sights to see. Sarlat beautiful town. Weather hot some days but all over france pretty bad last year!!
we stayed in Limeuel at the convergence of the Dordogne and Vezere a summer ago and there is camping there -- you can book a canoe trip down either river and just end up back %26#39;home%26#39; -- they drive you upstream (I definitely recommend the Dordogne from Le Roc Gageac or so on down for the most scenic area to drift down -- the Vezere was a bit of a bore
I am also thinking of going to the Dordogne next summer, but with two teenagers (they will be 16), and am wondering if anyone can reccomend any good teenager-friendly sites?
this year will be our 7th year returning to St Avit de Loisirs, first went with eurocamp, now fully independant with caravan, excellent campsite for children and teenagers, my eldest i have 3 children 15, 19 and 21 and they all still want to come with us, they meet up with friends they have made over the years. The weather has always been good with the occasional storm. Wood definitely recommend. There is somehing for everyone. heck out st avits web site gives you full details of all the facilities . www.saint-avit-loisirs.com
We also have booked with Keycamp for 2 weeks at St Avit for the first 2 weeks in July. The campsite looks great - but i hope to put a review here afterwards. It appears from my Rough Guide to the Dordogne that there is at leat 1 month;s worth of sightseeing in the area so I hope I can drag my 4 year old away from the pool long enough to at least scrape the surface. Looking forward to some good food too. No reviews on Tripadvisor for St Avit - anyone stayed there?
St avit is one of the best campsites we have stayed at now our 7 th year
We are travelling from Perpignan Airport to Palais de la Mer camp site at Sainte-Marie La Mer this Sunday.
Does anyone know what Bus/Train we should get from the Airport?
There is no direct transportation from Perpignan airport to Sainte-Marie de la Mer. I strongly advise you to take a taxi.
If you want to take a bus, you first have to take the shuttle from Perpignan airport to Perpignan s tation. Then walk (or take a city bus) all the way down Avenue du Général de Gaulle until you reach Place de Catalogne and bus stop Nb 14.
Here is the bus timetable :
www.ctpmperpignan.com/ctpm_ligne14.php#
Thanks Pvoyageuse,
I think we are coming to that conclusion, that a taxi will be the best solution.
Thanks for the information.
Hi there
I am looking to travel to Languedoc-Roussillon region to taste the south of france, but can anyone please recommend where to base yourself to get the most out of this area in one week and top places to visit- we loved Dorgegone region, so would like to stick to pretty little towns/villages but to have access to the coast - any suggestions for a great self catering apartment?!
Or this region not prefered vs. others in southern france?!
Many thanks!
Hi
it is really too big to expect to explore everything in one week. I%26#39;ve lived here for 10 years and not seen everything yet.
So, I%26#39;d say aim to stay somewhere near Sete. You have :
rail and road connections
provence and spain are under 2 hrs away
Worth researching these places :
Montpellier, regional capital of Languedoc Rousillon, and Herault is an old university town. Medical schools were established during the occupation by the Moors around the 9th century. The Moors, at that time, were the most advanced scientific culture in the Mediterranean basin. Today Montpellier has stunning modern architecture alongside an ancient centre. The tram makes it easy to visit the numerous art galleries and museums.
Nimes, the capital of Gard, was the Nemausus of Roman history. The arena (built AD or BC 0) is still in use. The old city and Maison Carre are worth visiting.
Arles is of interest for its extensive Roman remains and also it%26#39;s artistic history.
Narbonne, just outside Languedoc, has fine Roman remains.
Mountain areas include Mt Aigoual, Anduze, Florac, Ganges, Gorge du Tarn, Mt Lozere, Mende, Millau, St Guilhem le Desert, St Hippolyte du Fort, St Enimie, Sauve, Le Vigan,
Coastal towns include Beziers, Bouzigues, Camargue, Canal du Midi, Cap d’Agde, Grande Motte, Grau de Roi %26amp; Port Camargue, Maguelone, Marseillan, Meze, Sete.
Historical interest in Aigues Mortes, Beaucaire, Lodeve, Pezenas, Sommieres, Uzes, Pont du Gard, Lunel (inc Ambrussum).
There are many other towns, outside Languedoc, but within reach and worth visiting. The majority of these can be reached by car within less than 2 hours, but Barcelona is just under 3 hours from Montpellier.
A small selection -Aix en Provence, Andorra, Avignon, Banyuls, Barcelona, Les Calanques, Carcasonne, Ceret, Collioure, Figueras (Dali museum), Girona, Gorge d’Ardeche, Larzac, Les Baux de Provence, Marseille, Martigues, Mont Ventoux, Orange, Perpignan, Tautavel, Toulon.
Have fun
Peter
Hello, thanks for this wonderful review! I am looking to base a visit for about a month or so, to practice my French and paint and draw. Would this be a good place for a single middle-age woman to light? I%26#39;ve travelled alone quite a bit and am not afraid to plug into the cultural life of places I visit. Since you have lived there for quite some time, do you think it a safe place for a single woman? I am certainly amenable to travel the bus and rail roots, as well as rent a car to spread out.
Can one rent a little self contained apartment where one can go to the grocery and provide for oneself? Many thanks for a reply.
Unless you need to be on the coast, it would be better ( easier %26amp; cheaper!) to stay in Montpellier, Beziers or Pezenas. They are all close to the transport links and have in city activities.
Peter
-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-
TripAdvisor staff removed this post because it did not meet TripAdvisor's forum posting guidelines with prohibiting self-promotional advertising or solicitation.
We ask all of our members to keep their forum messages free of self-promoting advertisements or solicitation of any kind - members affiliated with any tourism-related business should not include commercial contact information or URLs in their forum messages.
To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html
We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
Removed on: 1:02 pm, September 04, 2009-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-
TripAdvisor staff removed this post because it did not meet TripAdvisor's forum posting guidelines with prohibiting self-promotional advertising or solicitation.
We ask all of our members to keep their forum messages free of self-promoting advertisements or solicitation of any kind - members affiliated with any tourism-related business should not include commercial contact information or URLs in their forum messages.
To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html
We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
Removed on: 1:02 pm, September 04, 2009can any1 give me up to date details please
when are you travelling? what time of day?
what sort of details do you need?
we get into nice at 1pm and i just want to know how we get to la baume from there plz thanx
To camping la baume you take either of these buses from either st raphael or frejus
these tiemtables are vaild to 1st spetember inclusive
agglo-frejus-saintraphael.fr/images/bus/Lign…
agglo-frejus-saintraphael.fr/images/bus/Lign…
To get to frejus or st raphael it would probably be easiest to take bus 99 to the main train station in Nice [4 euros] as it gives more train choices and is about the same time as getting to Nice st augustin which has very few options for refreshmenst etc whilst waiting for the train. Though there is the option of taking a local train from Nice st augustin to antibes and changing trains there
There are alos a lot more train options for st raphael than frejus.
see timetable here-
ter-sncf.com/Images/FH03-Les_Arcs-Nice_ete_t…
From the airport its also possible to take an express bus to either st raphael or frejus
the phoceens car bus you will miss as it departs at 1.15
the next Beltrame bus departs at 15.45 =but you could be in st raphael by then if you take the train.
On the topic of hotels, I%26#39;m looking for one room with 1 Queen %26amp; 1 single, non-smoking in district 1, 2, 6, 7 or 8 for $200 Euro or less in April/May. I prefer a fridge or mini-bar, 20+ square meters, air conditioning, non-smoking, ability to eat %26amp; drink in the room, a safe and proximity to a grocery store. I%26#39;ve gone through the Paris Hotels section a fair bit but not all the details are readily available online. Any suggestions other than the Concortel and La Bourdonnais.
P.S. Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
if you are there for more than five days, you might consider an apartment. You can rent directly from owners (though a few agencies slip in) at
http://www.vrbo.com
http://www.flipkey.com
Also, there are a range of agencies. The ones I%26#39;m familiar with are:
http://www.vacationinparis.com
http://www.haveninparis.com
http://www.athhomeinfrance.com
http://www.villeetvillage.com
If you look through the apartments and find some that interest you, you can post the link and I%26#39;m sure others can provide feedback.
To be honest finding a triple room that has a queen sized bed plus single that%26#39;s approximately 20 sq. m. between April %26amp; May will be challenging for 200 euro. That%26#39;s the beginning of the high season, queen beds are not that common in small hotels, and rooms are not typically as large as 20 sq. m.
But you can try the Hotel Left Bank St. Germain in the 6th. http://www.leftbankstgermain.com/ and Au Manoir St. Germain also in the 6th http://manoir.parishotelsaintgermain.com/.
For the 1st try Hotel Brighton at www.espritdefrance.com.
Sorry I%26#39;ve no specific hotel suggestions for the 2nd, 7th, %26amp; 8th yet.
I do agree that you ought to consider renting an apartment. You%26#39;ll get more space plus kitchen facilities and even perhaps laundry facilities for the same cost.
If you have 3 nights or more, you could have a look here:
www.centreparis.com
Thanks you for the responses so far.
In late June/early July this year my wife and I stayed at the Grand Hotel St Michel between the Boul St Michel and the Pantheon.
We enjoyed the hotel very much. The whole hotel is non smoking and the place has been renovated within the past year or 2.
We were upgraded at no charge 2 room classes to a Deluxe. The room had a queen bed (a real one) plus a sofa/hide a bed.
There was a minibar and it was replenished daily free of charge with 2 cokes, 2 oranginas and 4 bottles of water. There was no bizarre %26#39;no eating%26#39; policy.
The hotel is not only air conditioned but the A/C actually coped with the 32C temperatures... I%26#39;ve stayed in French hotels where the a/c was just a rumour.
There%26#39;s a large Monoprix grocery a block and a half down Boul St Michel and a cafe with 1 Euro coffee just around the corner! ;^)
Have a look at their site:
hotel-saintmichel-paris.com/pages/rooms_3.ht…
Their rack rates are higher than your target but look at their internet rates. We paid 160 E a night.
As I said, we were very pleased with the accommodation and the service and will most likely stay again on our next trip.
Rob
Thanks Rob. I%26#39;ll look into it.
Any other hotels?
Please do not list apartments. (I%26#39;m already looking into it.) Thx
Okay... I%26#39;ll give you another idea... last year we stayed at the Hilton Eiffel Tower which is now a Pullman.
We stayed there for a couple of reasons... kids stay free (at Hilton anyway) and we had our teenage daughter with us. We knew the rooms there would be bigger than the %26#39;average%26#39; Paris hotel room so would not be over crowded for 3.
We like the location. A lot of people don%26#39;t find it ideal but it%26#39;s right under the tower and only a 2 minute walk to the Bir Hakeim metro.
Being quiet at night is not a problem as my late night party days are years behind me.
But the main reason we stayed there was the price... $141 USD a night via Priceline. I have see it this year, now it%26#39;s a Pullman, on Hotwire for $159 US. Drawbacks:
- it has one of those minibars where if you move something for more than X seconds it goes on your bill. They might empty it for you...
- internet access was pricey
Aside from that I found it to be a real deal ...
Rob
I stayed in a twin at the Hotel Brighton that was definately big enough for an extra bed,, and room was brigt and airy,, it was the deluxe Tuilleries view room, and is over you budget most likely,, but , I managed to get it for 160 euros per night about 5 years ago by booking an online special,, so maybe you will get lucky.
I have seen the triples at the Hotel Eugenie,, they are clean and functional, with a/c and fridge,, but , bed is double, and hotel is clean and functional not luxe.
Hi everybody,
I%26#39;ll be in Nice airport at 10.00 and I%26#39;d like to go to Montpellier with a direct train (weak girl with lots of luggage), which means possibly without going before to Nice city...
Is it possible?
How do I browse on my own the sncf website to look for it? I don%26#39;t know how to look for the airport station, at least when I look for Nice stations never find %26quot;nice airport%26quot; nor %26quot;nice cote d%26#39;azur%26quot;...
There is no train station at Nice airport. You have to take a bus or a taxi to Nice station.
There is only one direct train at 1.36 pm - all the others go through Marseilles or Toulon and you%26#39;ll have to change.
Just enter %26quot;Nice%26quot; on the SNCF website.
The train station closest to Nice airport is Nice st Augustin but no direct trains use it so its easier to go from Nice ville by bus [see other reply]
There are 4 direct trains per day
You will miss the direct trains that go at at 08.32 and 10.01 from Nice ville
The next direct trian is the 13.36
The last direct train leaves at 18.32
There are luggage lockers at Nice ville station if you decided to go on the last train and see a bit of Nice first
Just realised the exact number of direct trains and the time of the last train per day will depend on your exact dates of travel- it seems its more accurate to say there are a minumum of 2 per day , many days there are 3 and in holiday periods there are often 4
go here and you can just put in %26#39;Nice%26#39; and %26#39;montpellier%26#39; plus dates to get seat availability and prices and buy online as far advance as possible to get the best fares
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/
Thank you,
sorry for my same-posts! I wasn%26#39;t sure I did it correctly! (newbie on triadvisor!)
Merci!
Planning to visit Loire Valley on a 12 hour bus trip from Paris. I know some places are closed on Mon and Tues and would like to know if there are certain days Chambord, Chenonceau and Cheverny are closed during the week. Any advice on Loire tours appreciated.
I seriously would consider not bothering. What you%26#39;ll be able to cram into 12 hours won%26#39;t even begin to scratch the surface of what the Loire can offer you. You%26#39;ll be tired, won%26#39;t see enough and not have an enjoyable trip at all. Take my advice and stay in Paris. %26#39;Do%26#39; Paris, perhaps Chartres, leave the Loire alone until you have the time to do it justice. If you%26#39;re insistent, then none of the major chateaux close during the week to my knowledge. Outside of the high season, that may be different, so it%26#39;s best to check their respective websites, easily done by googling.
%26lt;%26lt;a 12 hour bus trip from Paris%26gt;%26gt;
Before you undertake such an adventure, have you already visited the following châteaux near Paris?
__________
Chantilly
http://www.chateaudechantilly.com/
For instruction on how to reach Chantilly by train
www.transport-idf.com/frontal…
__________
Château de Pierrefonds
…wikipedia.org/wiki/…A2teau_de_Pierrefonds
__________
Château de Vincennes
http://en.chateau-vincennes.fr/
Located at the end of Métro line 1
__________
Fontainebleau
http://www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/
Take SNCF train from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon in the direction of Montargis Sens and disembark at Gare de Fontainebleau Avon
Fare 9.40€
En route time 1+02
http://www.transilien.com
From Gare de Fontainebleau-Avon, take Aérial bus line A to Château
Fare: 1.40€
Buses every 15 mintues.
Entrance fee: 8€
Students: 6€
Free entry the first Sunday of each month
Entrance plus one hour guided tour (in French only): 11€
__________
Vaux-le-Vicomte
http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/
Open from March 15th to November 9th from 10.00 am to 06.00 pm, last admission at 5.30 pm
RER D to Melun
Shuttle (3.50€) or taxi (15€ to 19€) from Melun station
Entrance: from 14€
__________
Versailles
http://www.chateauversailles.fr/
RER C: direction Versailles-Rive-Gauche-château
Gare Montparnasse: SNCF train serving Versailles-Chantiers
Gare Saint-Lazare: SNCF train direction Versailles-rive-droite
__________
Hi, I will be in Paris next Sat/Sun. Would someone recommend the cheap %26amp; safe hotel in Paris please. Thanks?
You%26#39;re going to have to define what you mean by %26quot;cheap%26quot; to get any help with that.
I want to book the cheap price hotel in Paris but able to stay and safe. Thanks.
You need to state a price per night. That is what the other reply to your post was asking you. Preferably in euros.
And, if you are planning on being there in a week%26#39;s time, you may find availability an issue.
a=can anyone suggest me good budget hotel near paris city centre, which is safe for a young couple ? rate could be approx EUR 100 per night per room.
Since this is my first paris visit, I am looking for a hotel which is at walking distance for attractions.
Best if you give dates as rates vary widely by what date you%26#39;re coming. Also, indicate whether or not shared bathroom is okay.
Your question is a very common (frequently asked) one.. have you tried seeing what has been recommended before by using the forum search? Try typing %26quot;budget hotel%26quot; and see what kinds of threads pop up. You should find quite a few good suggestions.
Hotel Vivienne--look it up. We%26#39;ve been staying there for years.
-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-
This post was determined to be inappropriate by the TripAdvisor community and has been removed.
To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html
Our staff may also remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. Thanks for being a part of the TripAdvisor travel community!
Removed on: 8:29 am, September 17, 2009I%26#39;ll be driving from London to Nice in October, and thanks to some helpful folk in the general France forum, have decided that Troyes would be a good place to stop overnight to break the journey.
I now have a little dilemma. Someone in the previous thread recommended a hotel very close to the motorway (Le Val de Moret), which would certainly make my journey easy, but the alternative is to look for a city centre hotel, which would mean I get to have a little wander round, see the sights, and find a pleasant place for a glass of Champagne.
So 2 questions really:
1. What%26#39;s the traffic like driving between central Troyes and the motorway? Would that significantly slow my journey?
2. Is Troyes a nice enough place to wander round that the detour would be worth it?
1. I had no great problem when I stayed in Troyes last year. We stayed at Relais St Jean, which has its own reserved places in a central car park. See www.relais-st-jean.com/en/index.htm
2. Central Troyes is very nice to wander around.
Hi again
Not sure of your budget but the Ibis in town had a good review last year
tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g187138-i2558-k1…
My improverished son stays in the Etap. My hotel of choice is Les Champ des Oiseaux
http://www.champdesoiseaux.com/
The first two have their own car parks and the last you get a place in an underground car park.
All are walking distance to restaurants and good for a wander. I have never found it a problem coming off of the motorway and into town. Of course the next morning it is a Sunday so very quiet.
Another recommendation for Relais St Jean. Stayed there twice. Direct underground access from car park to hotel, then step out the front door of the hotel to the beautiful old pedestrian town. Lots of good restaurants, vibrant scene. The hotel has good rooms, quirky decoration and excellent hosts.
Troyes is without doubt one of my favourite destinations in France.
Just as an aside, there are 2 huge designer outlet centres in Troyes.
mcarthurglen.com/locations/…index.htm
outlet-malls.eu/shopping-center/france/troye…
Thanks for the replies.
Just to clarify my budget, the Ibis is probably fairly appropriate. I%26#39;d normally stay in something a bit smarter, and could do so here if there%26#39;s somewhere nicer that%26#39;s not too expensive, but given I%26#39;ll only be there fairly briefly I%26#39;d probably err on the side of something basic.
I wouldn%26#39;t want to be in anything less comfortable than the Ibis, however.
I have stayed twice at the Hotel de Troyes which is about one mile from the centre of town (see my review). It has gated parking at about €4 a day. It is either a 20 minute walk into the centre of Troyes or five munutes drive. There is plenty of parking. Try the Boulevard Danton for free parking.
As a late mediaeval town, Troyes is a great place to walk around. Have a look above the main door to the Hotel de Ville and see one of the few mottos of the French Republic in its original form.
In the centre of the town, by the Hotel de Ville, there are numerous restaurants, most of which have their tables outside, and in early October it should still be possible to dine outside.
If you are coming from the south, consider visiting the three villages of Les Riceys. One of the villages is Le Magny and Champagne Bauser is based there. It produces at least five champagnes including a rosé and a couple of rosé wines. Well worth a visit not just for the tour and degustation, but also for stocking up your supplies for Christmas. Check out champagne-bauser.com
Have fun, it is really a very attractive town and so is the surrounding countryside.
My wife and I arrive on October 1st. Fashion week will be going on while we%26#39;re there. Aside from attending shows (we couldn%26#39;t get in anyway), are there any fun things to see during that week? I%26#39;m sure the people watching will be fascinating. Are there any places in particular to hang out and watch?
You know, this is strictly a guess. I wonder if there would be a lot of activity on Ave. Montaigne and r. Faubourg St. Honoré. A lot of the couture houses are there. The Chanel studio is on r. Cambon just of r. de Rivoli. Maybe there too? Really just guessing. The shows aren%26#39;t at the fashion houses so maybe I%26#39;m all wrong...
I work in the middle of the %26quot;Golden Triangle%26quot; and the various fashions weeks go completely unnoticed, except when passing some of the chic bars of the neighborhood. You will sometimes see a table or two of impossibly good looking young people -- fashion models on a break.
The fashion shows themselves are held in the most original places that can be unearthed at the moment. Such places have ranged from abandoned metro stations to the Louvre pyramid to art deco swimming pools. Only people with invitations are informed of the venue, for obvious reasons, and even so there is an ultra strict control due to all of the attempted gate crashing.
We will be dropping off a hire car at CDG on a Monday and departing by plane from CDG on the Friday. WE are staying in the the 2nd arrondissement.
We will only be visiting fairly central locations - not travelling out of Paris. So once we get to our accommodation, will only need basic transportation.
What is the best Metro pass for us to get? What do we ask for when we get there? Or should we buy a ticket from a machine?
Help please.
%26lt;%26lt;What is the best Metro pass for us to get?%26gt;%26gt;
If you are in Paris during warmer months, I recommend a carnet of 10 individual tickets - 11.60€
If you think you will be moving about a great deal, the Navigo Découverte/Carte Orange will be the most economical - 17.20€ for the week (zone 1-2, Monday - Sunday)
Plus a one time 5€ charge for the card itself
You%26#39;ll also need a passport size picture of yourself for the card.
%26lt;%26lt;What do we ask for when we get there?%26gt;%26gt;
Either %26quot;un carnet de dix%26quot; book of ten
or
%26quot;Navigo Découverte/Carte Orange%26quot;
%26quot;Or should we buy a ticket from a machine?%26gt;%26gt;
Which ever you like.
We%26#39;d like to stay near the coast during our visit - I was considering Collioure - any feedback or suggestions of other towns that are suitable for family activities (hiking, biking, diving, swimming, markets, restaurants, et.c) would be appreciated!
Collioure is the Parisians favourite. So, it is difficult to find accommodation in peak periods.
Because both the rail and autoroute follow the coast, anywhere between Collioure and Sete would be easier to book (significantly cheaper) and put you within reach of day trips to Provence and Barcelona.
Peter
-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-
TripAdvisor staff removed this post because it did not meet TripAdvisor's forum posting guidelines with prohibiting self-promotional advertising or solicitation.
We ask all of our members to keep their forum messages free of self-promoting advertisements or solicitation of any kind - members affiliated with any tourism-related business should not include commercial contact information or URLs in their forum messages.
To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html
We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
Removed on: 1:02 pm, September 04, 2009We are staying at Connelles in late October, and wondering how easy it might be to visit Versailles from there. Is it easy by public transport? If so, how would we do it, how long would it take, and how much would that be?
Or would it be better to drive? If so, by what route, and how long would that take? Many thanks!
The best option is to drive. It%26#39;ll take you an hour 10 minutes along the A13.
Thank you very much!
Hi there,
We stayed in Connelles in March and drove to Versailles.It%26#39;s an easy drive on the A13.We parked in an underground car park near the market.I think it took us about ten minutes to walk to the chateau.
Be prepared for crowds.Although it didn%26#39;t take TOO long to get tickets and go through security,it did take a while to get audio guides and the apartments themselves were heaving.And this was only March.
Thanks, Mummygaot. We are staying at Le Manoir de Deux Amants. Is that where you were? Have you any other tips, ideas for sightseeing etc? Thanks again!
This campsite almost tops my list for next year, but however, i would still like some views of others who have stayed here, can anyone recommend it, who has been and enjoyed it? any downsides? i am thinking more about my 3 young girls, there seems to be a lot of activities at this particular site.
Know I%26#39;m a tad early, but wanted to wish you a %26quot;happy travel%26quot; message. Have a glorious time, I know that smile will endear you to many!!
%26quot;Silkie%26quot;
Hey Jetsetter,
Have a wonderful trip! Cant wait to hear the stories.
Melissa x
Oh, lordy, you%26#39;ll love Paris and vice versa. Have some Pernod for me! xx
Yvonne, we%26#39;ll be searching out the Green Fairy!!
Safe trip Jeannette and Kelly - we%26#39;ll see you next week!!
Santé!
Hope you have lots of fun and a wonderful trip. xx
lol, i was just checking the forum trying to see if there was some post of valuable info i must have before leaving, going down the list and see this? Jeannette? is that for me ????? LOLLLLLLLLLLLLL,
ty guys , so much........
how am i going to sleep tonight??
this morning i woke up -- looked at my suitcase lovingly telling it, ahhh are we going somewhere again?? yessssssssssssssssssssssss we are :)
it%26#39;s been a real real close call with kelly almost having to cancel but by last night, a solution was found !!!
kathleen, julie and kelly.........paris baby here we come :)
i got my confirmation this morning for the Normandy tour, i%26#39;ve got my boat ride confirmation, orbitz writing me hey your trip is almost here,
noblesavage your turn is coming !!! and THANK YOU for all your help, advise and music, btw read his report on %26quot;my first trip to paris%26quot; lovely read....hope my first time will that enchanting !
bon voyage Jeannette !! will see you in Gay Paree on Monday !!!
safe travels tomorrow for you and Kelly, see if you can find a nice bar near our hotel !
xxxx
Bon Voyage, Jeannette!
Have a great time, Kathleen!
Good luck with everything Julie!
Say hi to Paris for me.
Hey, B, thanks!!!
Jeannette and Kelly should hopefully have landed safe and sound - it%26#39;s 8.30gmt now, so is that 9.30 est? Hopefully they%26#39;ll be out and about and enjoying the glory of Paris!
Roll on Monday!!
Hi Kathleen!
They were supposed to land in Paris at 6-6:30 am this morning. That was 12-12:30 am here, just after midnight. So, by now (eight hours later) they must have been all over the place! (haha)
I am going to Florence in May and will be flying through Paris. That way I can leave a day or so early and spend a day in Paris on the way to Florence and then I plan on staying for five days on the way home. But, I am now thinking of the NEXT year (if I%26#39;m around) and staying in Paris for- I hope- a month. We%26#39;ll see!
My sister is hoping to get married in Port Grimaud / St Maxime areas - could anyone please offer any advice on wedding reception venues? They are finding that it is necessary to hire entire hotels (something unique to France, that%26#39;s not the case in the UK where you can just hire a function room) - are there any specific alternatives anyone could suggest in that area?
Many thanks, jc
it depends on the numlber of people attending to the wedding..
I know a very nice Hotel wher can leave the direct falmily of the young couple: %26#39;Le Verger Maelvi%26#39;, in Grimaud.
You can book for the fiest the %26#39;Chateau St Maur%26#39; close to this very nice Hotel
I am going to Cote d%26#39;Azur from end september and I would know what place is better for two weeks stay. First, I want to stay 14 days in Antibes of Juan-les-Pins, but now I think may be better to change with another place like Menton or Nice or ;;;
what do you want to do when you get here?
what age are you ?
what are your interests?
I haven%26#39;t stayed in Menton but I stayed in Antibes this year and visited Juan les Pins. Juan is mainly a beach resort, whereas Antibes has beaches and a very nice old town too. All depends whether or not you want to spend your days on the beach really. Antibes is not far from Nice, and you can get the train all up and down the coast and visit other towns too.
Hi Anisa
Most of us will have some negative opinions of towns along the Riviera which you can find in these Forums ( e.g. over priced, pretentious, over hyped and so on....) but there are few places which you can call Dull. Unfortunately Menton is one of those few.
Ed
Menton gives you a glimpse of what the rest of Riviera might now look like if they had not curbed the property developers to protect its heritage. Except for a few gardens, its a mile of ugly holiday apartments, most of which appear empty the year round. Its a good place to visit for a day to see its old town and its gardens, but the idea of a week or two there - not while I still have a pulse.
Nice is the travel hub, and the gateway to visiting everywhere else, so many people make it their base.
Of your choices, JLP is a very small seaside resort -good for nightclubs and cocktails after dark if that is your thing, but Antibes has more depth and variety
Thank u very much, after your describing I have understood that Antibes would be my best choice. I have bought TGV tickets for two weeks stay to Antibes, but was not sure.
And what about another towns of the Riviera from St-Trope to San-Remo like Frejus, Monaco etsetra, also for visit them.
St tropez is awkward to get to without a car.
by public transport you need to take a strain to st Raphael then a boat or bus. Bus would be the slowest option and isn%26#39;t particularly cheap unlike the buses in the cannes/antibes/nice area
boat timetable
bateauxsaintraphael.com/files/…20TROPEZ.pdf
sanremo- take train to ventimiglia then a local italian train to sanremo
frejus -train
monaco train
cannes -bus or train
Nice-train
valbonne- bus
Biot- bus
Ed %26amp; NiceLife,
I wonder why so many Italians have chosen Menton as their second home? Do you reckon it%26#39;s only because it%26#39;s so close to the border and they can rush back to Italy the minute they start feeling suicidal?
The Italian are probably there because it%26#39;s only a few yards from civilization and real food back across the border, but not much further from Monaco where they have hidden their money from the taxman!
And if Menton is dull, thank heavens for dull. Of course I can see why some would think it dull. There are no English food shops, no English bookshops, you can%26#39;t listen to the happy sounds of English and Japanese on every other street corner, and it does have rather fewer of the multi-million pound mansions and expensive cars and yachts belonging to people who in another time and place would have been put up against a wall and shot. And the arriere-pays of Antibes is a blighted wasteland of identikit villas with pools, whereas Menton has beautiful steep valleys and mountains and lovely perched villages. And (OK, mostly not in Antibes proper - but I suspect a lot of what has been complained about in Menton may be in Roquebrune Cap Martin) what about the aesthetic delights of the out-of-town shopping sheds along the road to Villeneuve-Loubet, possibly the least attractive piece of near-coastal highway between Genoa and Marseille.
Having got some of my own prejudices off my chest, the OP has probably been given the right advice - Antibes is more central for a holiday on the Cote d%26#39;Azur.
We all have our prejudices - vive la difference! I found the cemetery the most interesting part of Menton. If only because so many British are buried there (that should cheer you up, Perilizia! They came, they saw, they died! ;-)
I%26#39;m none too keen on the British abroad - never been in Heidis English bookshop or Geoffreys of London groceries in Antibes - horrid. I come here to get away from that! I just think Antibes has more going for it. Sandy beaches, culture, restaurants, the yachts, JLP and the Cap, access easy to Cannes. And better still twenty minutes on the train to Nice.
I guess the Italian residence secondaires in Menton is the same reason so many British buy in Northern France. Its not very far, and they are welcome to it. Seriously, the stretch between Carnoles and Menton I find depressing. I walked it once and it was once too often.
Was I hasty in my assessment of Menton? Possibly the excitement of the Lemon Festival every February makes up for the rest of the year.
Nicelife - Heidi ( of the English Bookshop) is actually Swedish. They have a very good second hand section downstairs although it tends to be patronised by elderly English gentlemen wearing bicycle clips.
A visit to Geoffreys can help if feeling down - if only to laugh at the ridiculous prices - but on the other hand they are about the only shop in Antibes where you can buy chilled ( French) white and rose wines from the fridge at reasonable prices.
Ed
I have reservations at this site; Has anyone visited the cave? I am wondering about terrain inside - any climbing, ladders etc involved? we were advised about shoes and jackets.
Thanks
jhg
I%26#39;m having trouble making sense of the prices for the trains between the villages along the coast - for example, between Nice and Antibes.
Europrail says it is $11 (not euro which would be about 15 euros) one way to Antibes which seems high. Then a few topics here say they bought tickets for just 5 euros recently. Can someone advise as to an average cost for train rides between the villages?
Much appreciated.
There isn%26#39;t realy an average fare -however a lot of sites mark up the fares with insurance or a higher re-seller ticket price
Nice to Antibes is about 4 euros single on TER trains and about 5E50 single on the TGV
Nice to cannes - 6euros single on local trains about 8E50 on the TGV
Nice to monaco - 3E30 single on local train
If you are travelling before the end of september there is an all day rover ticket called the carte isabelle which gives unlimited travel on local trains - frejus to vintimiglia to grasse to Tende for 12 euros per person
Thank you so much. This is very helpful to know. Sadly, I will be arriving in Nice on Sept 30 so I will not be able to take advantage of the day long train pass but the prices you have mentioned for the local trains are much more reasonable than the ones I had been finding.
Again, thank you for taking the time to respond.
%26lt;%26lt;Europrail says it is $11 (not euro which would be about 15 euros)%26gt;%26gt;
Perhaps the confusion is in your assuming $11 equates to 15€.
At todays mid market rates of $1.42/1€, $11 equals 7.75€
we have just returned from a very relaxing weeks break in this self catering accomodation,the villas were lovingly restored by the owners Wayne and Dave,and finished to a high standard, we found them to be helpful on all information we required on the area. It is 12kms to velez rubio a lively village with plenty of bars, cafes, and restaurants.we will def return next time we need to unwind. sandie and keith.
Maybe you should post this on the Spain Forum ??
Velez Rubio is quite a distance from Aix-les-Bains !
Just visited another forum in which someone asked if it is necessary to keep passport on person at all times when in Paris for ID purposes, or if a copy of such will suffice? I thought that I had read in a previous post that carrying a copy of passport was sufficient. Can anyone address this issue?
Legally, a copy is not sufficient, but many many travelers carry only a copy and 99%* of them have never needed a reason to produce the real thing. Just don%26#39;t get arrested or mingle where you don%26#39;t belong (ie. signs of unrest, strikes, etc). and don%26#39;t forget to retrieve your real Passport before you depart your hotel or apartment!
* disclaimer: this %26#39;statistic%26#39; is for illustration only
** we always keep ours with us in a security pouch under clothing
Thanks for your reply--as we are travelling for pleasure in a couple of weeks, can I assume that we do not need the passport while in Paris if we are only sightseeing, dining, etc.,? Our plan was to leave the passports in hotel safe at check-in (front desk) and only carry copies. I assume we do not need original passport to enter museums, etc. Can anyone clarify?
I was in Paris this past January %26amp; didn%26#39;t carry my passport. I just left it at the hotel.
As far the museums, I have no reason to believe you would need your passport for that. Then again, I bought the Museum Pass so I never stood in line to buy tickets or anything.
Thank you--any other replies?
By the letter of the law you DO need to have your passport with you at all times. But are you likely yo run afoul of the law? Most likely not.
So do what you are most comfortable with.
If you have a child with you who is under 18 and therefore allowed to enter free, it is possible a museum might want a passport for proof of age.
Rob
The Louvre will ask for your passport for a security deposit when you rent an audio guide,, I personally would never give it to them,, they just throw it in an open file box on the desk ,, I give them my British Columbia Drivers Licence and they have never refused it .. I don%26#39;t carry PP for sightseeing, I leave it in safe and have never needed it myself.
My 14 yr old was never asked for id at museums,, but, he looked young ,, not like some kids that can pass for much older. I would carry their picture student id if they looked close to 18.
The risk of loss/theft of your passport while carrying it around Paris outweighs the chance of you being asked to produce it by authorities.
My suggestion would be to carry around an official piece of ID (driver%26#39;s license) and a photocopy of your passport.
Also, on the back of the photocopy, write down any essential info (hotel name, emergency contact info, pertinent medical info) in case an unfortunate incident should occur where you are unable to communicate such important information to those trying to assist you.
No student/child travelling with us. Thanks for the replies-likely we will just carry copies as we plan to only sightsee and eat w/o leaving Paris. No day trips planned. Thanks again!
What Joan mentioned about audio guides happened to us as well, so do bring along some other photo ID if you plan to rent an audio guide at any of the museums.
I was also asked to show my passport at Zara on the Champs Elysees when I purchased something with my credit card. It wasn%26#39;t a lot of money, so I was pretty surprised by the request. I wondered if it was because I didn%26#39;t have a chip %26amp; pin type of credit card. If memory serves (and it doesn%26#39;t always) the store clerk pointed to a written policy about requiring a passport when purchasing with a credit card (I assume it was for travellers only). I didn%26#39;t have to show my passport at any other store in Paris.
would you mind helping me a bit more?
I intend to spend 15 days at riviera to know all these places. is it better to rent an apartment at nice?
Wht%26quot;s tyhe best zone? Near the beach? or to stay at antibes is better?? I read that the beaches at antibes are better than in nIce. Is it true?
If I have to go to a hotel, I expect to pay no more than 100/150 euros or dolars.
Please, could you give reliable sites to rent an apartament?
Thanks for all !!
Jackie
For any kind of accommodation in Antibes I would recommend the tourist office web site :
www.antibesjuanlespins.com
Ed
