Help please, Travelling to Paris

[~Wingnut~]

Hi!

Right! Hopefully we shall be going Paris at the end of this month for a short break for my Birthday. I have spent about the last 10 hours (I kid ye not) on and off trying to find somewhere to stay in Paris. I think I have finally worked out the different areas and wish to stay at a hotel in St Germain De Pres or the Latin quarters or fairly close to the Eiffel Tower area, not neccessarily right near it.

The thing that is worrying me is how do we get from CDG airport to that area by train? Is it simple to follow? I want to look forward to this and not worry about getting there etc. Does the train take you to centre of Paris and then we take a connection to that area?

Sorry I sound stupid but it is bugging me because I don't know and understand it having never been to Paris before.

Anyone been to this area that can recommend a cheap (ish) hotel? Any advice or experiences greatfully received :o)

Thanx everyone, I know I am probably worrying over nothing but need it clear in my head.

[Tobs]

Hi wingnut,

There are plenty of ways to get from CDG to the centre of paris,
you can get the train (RER B, 25 mins or so) from the terminal building to Gare de Nord, and then transer to the metro. you'll be able to travel on the metro to whichever area you are going to stay in.
you could also get the Roissybus (60 mins max), this leaves you in the Opera area of Paris, and again you can transfer to the metro
another option would be the airfrance bus, it goes through Porte Maillot and up to L'Arc de Triomphe.

Have a look at the link below, it is the website for transport in Paris, and is very helpful.

http://www.ratp.fr/

Finally get yourself a good map, download a map of the metro (it is so handy to get around on it), and enjoy.
It is a wonderful city, I love it and am incredibly jealous of you right now!!

P.S my favoured place to stay in Paris is around Porte Maillot, it is only 5 mins from L'arc de Triomphe.

[~Wingnut~]

Hi Tobs!

Thank you for your informative and excellent reply :o)

We have found this hotel;
http://www.heart-of-paris-hotels.com/hotel-EN- 5-vendome_saint_germain_hotel.html

Do you know it at all or the area it is in? It seems very reasonably priced. Would you say it was in the best place for us to see all the sights?

When you say about transfereing to the metro at Gare de Nord, is it fairly straight foward to work out for the area the hotel is in ?

You clearly are quite passionate about Paris which is lovely to see. I can't wait to go.
I was meant to go years ago with uni to but had to pull out last min as my husband became ill and have always said about wanting to eventually make it there one day so decided for my (big 3 0) birthday that I would treat myself (hubby just tags along lol) and go see what I missed first time round.

I feel more excited than worried now after your post, thanx :o)

[Tobs]

Hi again, Wingnut

I don't know the hotel, I do, however now the area and love it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Quarter
it is a lovely place to walk around during the day and at night there is a multitude of restaurants to eat in,
I see from the location map of the hotel that you are right beside the pantheon and very close to Notre dame, be warned though, if you are going to Notre Dame, go early, I was there last April and the queue was one and a half hours long at 11am. it's worth it though!
If you are a fan of the da vinci code, one of the churches mentioned(Sainte Sulpice) in the book is close by.
get a good map or download a few maps from google maps.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode= &q=d'arras+paris&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=3 2.114675,60.205078&ie=UTF8&ll=48.84783,2.35141 8&spn=0.00651,0.014699&z=16

There are so many small winding streets that it is very easy to get lost!
I also see from the location map on the hotel website that the RER B from the airport goes to Saint Michel Notre Dame, which is close to the hotel.
The metro is so easy to get around on, buy a book of 10 tickets for about 12 Euro.you can pick them up from machines in most of the metro stations.
The lines are numbered and colour coded, easier than the Tube in London if you ask me!
the metro line closest to that hotel is number 10

finally, a few words in french is always greatly appreciated by the locals I find, even if it is just to say "Merci" or Bon Journee"
I love Paris, I've been many times and I always enjoy it.
Enjoy!

Elaine

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

Paris has an excellent public transport system. (OK, the Metro trains can get very crowded and the buses seem to sit in permanent traffic jams with everyone hooting their horns but it works and it's quite cheap!). That means that it's not too important where you stay. However, the hotel you've mentioned is well located for access to the Latin Quarter (which is where you'll find dozens of cheap, but good, restaurants).

Clicking on the 'location' tab, from the link you've provided to the hotel details, tells you how to get there from CDG airport but I'll just expand (and correct that information).

At CDG airport, buy a 5-zone 'Paris Visite' ticket. That will cover your journey to your hotel and then give you unlimited travel throughout central Paris for the rest of the day (on RER trains, Metro services and buses). Then look for the 'RER' signs. The airport is at the end of the line, so you can't go the wrong way. Take the train, for 13 stops, to St Michel-Notre Dame. You now need to transfer to Cluny La Sorbonne station. It's linked to St Michel-Notre Dame station by a long passageway. Just look for signs that say 'Cluny La Sorbonne' or 'Correspondence 10'. (The '10' is the number of the Metro line you're transferring to). At Cluny La Sorbonne, ensure that you take a train in the correct direction. The platform you require will be indicated with a sign showing '10 - Gare d'Austerlitz'). Take the train for 2 stations (not 3 as indicated on the hotel information page) to Cardinal Lemoine.

[Buenchico]

There are loads of maps and guides to Paris available but I strongly recommend getting the ones published by 'L'Indispensable'. They're almost impossible to find in the UK but they're available from the 'Relay' newsagents at CDG airport (and from plenty of other outlets in Paris).

When travelling around Paris, always take an RER train service, rather than the Metro, if there's a suitable route. The RER trains tend to get less crowded and (because the stations are further apart and there are thus fewer stops) they tend to be much quicker.

On a day when you're not travelling to or from the airport you won't require a 5-zone Paris Visite ticket. You can just buy a 3-zone Paris Visite ticket or (since nearly all of the main attractions lie within zones 1 & 2) you can get the cheaper ordinary 2-zone ticket which the locals use.

If you look at the map on the hotel's 'location' page, you'll see that the streets at the top left are marked in yellow (which indicates that they're theoretically pedestrianised but watch out for guys on scooters!). That area is within reasonable walking distance of your hotel and it's the part of the Latin Quarter where you'll find loads of good restaurants vying to sell you a 3-course lunch from about �10.

Enjoy your visit!

Chris

[~Wingnut~]

Tobs and Chris, you both are just the best! Thank you so much for your detailed replies and for taking the time to type them out for me :o)

I am printing them out and taking them with me!

Paris here we come!

Thank you xx

[~Wingnut~]

Hi Tobs & Chris!

Just wanted to let you know if you come back to this thread that I have just booked our trip to Paris!!! Flights, hotel etc We go on the 31st March and I can't wait!!!!!!!!

Thank you again for all your help! xxx

[Buenchico]

Thanks for the post, Wingnut.

While I've already given you some advice about getting around, I thought that you might like to know about the Batobus. It's a hop-on, hop-off river service which runs from Notre Dame Cathedral. (The stop is just over the bridge, on the opposite bank of the narrow arm of the Seine which runs alongside Notre Dame). The full journey takes about an hour, and takes you to the Eiffel Tower but, as stated, you can get on and off where you like. (A ticket for one day of unlimited travel costs �12). It's a lovely way to see the best of Paris. (It's also much cheaper, and far more flexible, than the various guided tours which are on offer):
http://www.batobus.com/english/8escale.htm#

I hope that you have a great time!

Chris

[~Wingnut~]

Hey now that looks good!! Thanx for telling me about it I think we have just found our way to travel round Paris!!
12 euros! just incredible prices over there when you compare with attraction costs over here. I have managed to get flights and hotel for less than staying in London for the same amount of time, hadn't even added on train price for getting to London (from Yorkshire) or for paying for any of the sights once there!!

Merci Chris, votre une �toile! :o)

.... Hope that's right and haven't called you anything rude!...