Weekend in Paris

[ctid]

Hey

I want to take my girlfriend to paris for the weekend at easter. Has anyone here been, and could anyone recommend any decent places to stay? I'm looking for something that isn't too far away from all the sights. I'm not looking for something really fancy, as we'll be out of the hotel most of the time, but don't want anything crap either (plus I'm only a student ). Also, how easy is it to get around paris?

Thanks

[99Flake]

Paris is really easy to get around, has a brilliant Metro system (like our underground but far better).

As for places to stay I can't actually remember the name of the hotel but it was near Gare de l'Est and was very handy for getting around but as said as long as you are somewhat central the Metro makes it very simple.

How are you planning on getting there? Often the Eurostar does hotel train deals and they are very cheap, the brochures will give you an idea of what the hotels are near etc.

[Parm]

ctid, is Paris a must?

Only reason I ask is that I've been to Paris, and elsewhere in France on a few occasions and don't find it as nice as other areas of Europe. I love the French dialogue, but unfortunately I found a lot of people to be, well, rude.

If it's just a romantic weekend with some sight seeing and some very good food, I'd recommend somewhere in Italy instead. I loved Rome.

Sorry, that doesn't answer your question at all. Worse still, it raises a whole lot more!

[99Flake]

Ooh I don't know, Paris is a gorgeous city IMO, my second favourite city I have been to. The seine at night is so lovely. Plus it is far easier to get to.

Each to their own though.

[Parm]

To be fair, I've only been to Paris once and it was a while back. Could just have been a one off. I would definately visit again, just from my past experience I preferred Rome.

[directhex]

i like lyon as a city in france. a little off the beaten track, but just as full of history

[bledd]

whatever you do, use the metro system, and the trains (to get from airport), far cheaper & faster than the roads

just get yourself a metro map, and a paris train map (they share a lot of stations, and are colour coded, so easy to get around)

plus everyone we saw was dead helpful, the only french i know is 'merci'

[rox0r]

Have to admit we didn't really rate Paris, very overrated and as stated before the people can be quite obnoxious.

[streetster]

if you want somewhere nice to eat head for 'la taverne du sergent recruteur', its a set menu (€40.50) but you get oodles of food and unlimited wine and beer, very rustic place with a really nice atmosphere linky.

[zulander]

Paris is gorgeous at night there are loads of lights on so Notredamm the Seine and Eiffel tower all look pretty spectacular. Its dead easy to get to Versailles as well on a train so if you like big posh old buildings that’s an easy day out.
Some people can seem a bit abrupt but i think that’s more to do with city life - Londoners always seem the same to me. If you can make a little effort with the French language it does make a big difference to how people respond to you.
Trains and Metro are fab - metros run every 2 minutes and are pretty cheap. I would recommend having some change on you for the ticket machine. when we went we had to barrier hope because we only had notes and the ticket machines didn’t except them. We got away with it but you never know when u could come a cropper. Especially when some stations have armed police on them. WE stayed about 15 mins away from the Garde Du Nord (the station you come to if you take the train from PCG) on the Rue Poissonnière. I don’t remember the hotel name but there were a few on this street (which is massive) and many of them weren’t that expensive.