It is true that Paris has more dog crap on the streets than any other city!Originally Posted by Barrichello
Sounds like you went to the worst parts in both capitals by the sounds of it. Sorry to hear
To op, Montmartre was our favourite area as well in Paris, lots to see and great views from the top all around. Enjoy
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There are some nice hotels just around the Montpanasse Station area.
Don't worry too much about staying in spitting distance of the Eiffel Tower. The Paris Metro is VERY good and incredibly cheap.
If you fancy a 20 minutes train journey whilst there, i can highly recommend jumping on a train from Motpanasse and getting over to Rambouille.
This town is beautiful with a Chateau right on the edge. It is 'the real' France.
j.o.s.h.1408 (15-07-2009)
Quick question lads. do i need to apply for any sort ofvisa or anything like that or do i simply just bring my passport alone and show it in the Terminal hear in london and then in paris?
Only going to stay their for 2 nights so i imagine i dont have to?
Nope.
If you don't have one already it might be worth applying for an EHIC card (European health insurance) - basically a reciprocal agreement between the EU countries for free (or cheap) healthcare if you need it.
The card is free so stupid not too if you have enough notice.
more info at: ://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/Healthcareabroad/pages/Healthcareabroad.aspx
Funkstar (16-07-2009)
You don't need any kind of visa or written permission for any country in the EU. Technically you don't even need a passport, to cross borders, but as we are an island, you need a passport for planes and I presume the tunnel. Though you might actually get away with some other form of photographic ID. crossing from France to Germany for instance, is like crossing from Scotland to England or England to Wales.
I don't even think you need anything if you wanted to go and work in mainland Europe. Unlike the US where they have the Visa waiver program for visiting, but you need either a green card or a Visa if you want to stay there long term or work there.
Even thou this is a must.
Also get cheapo travel insurance, a friend of mine managed to hurt herself quite badly whilst in france a couple of years ago, luckily she had been seeing this very generous friend, the kind able to pay £4,000 of travel costs (moving hospital) without blinking, but she would have been in all kind of pain otherwise.
You can get annual europe non danger sports multi trip insurance for like £10, i've seen single trip advertised for £2.80 before now. Its worth it just in case, whilst its a very remote chance, for the sake of a pint its well worth it imo. (and it even covers simple things like cash theft!)
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The last time I went to Paris I noticed it was largely covered in poo from the back of dogs.
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I live here; on the Rue de Rivoli, to be precise.
My recommendation is that you look at Fastbooking.com for hotels, they are who I used while I was commuting. They are definitely the best prices available and have a goodly selection.
I commuted for 8 months, living in hotels and eating out, so I know the area. The Banque de France, where I work, is in the 1st Arrondisement, where the Louvre is found, the Tuilleries, Palais Royale etc. I like the hotel Emeraude Hotel Louvre Montana if the price is right; the rooms are huge by Paris standards and it's just off the Rue Rivoli, so could be a bit noisy, but it is air-conditioned and double-glazed. Prices vary hugely according to demand; if there's an exhibition in town prices can be triple the usual rate, so it's worth looking at a wide period.
Note that A/C is a must in August.
For eating out, you need to avoid the Rue Rivoli, as it's all about double the usual price. If you want restaurant recommendations I can give them, but try the Marche St. Honore for a really good choice of top French eating. Paris is always expensive, but if you try to avoid places near the tourist areas the eating is much more reasonably priced and generally better.
The Metro is excellent, but I think it much more fun to cycle. You can rent bikes from the velib stations for peanuts (by a ticket either at the station or from a Metro station) and you can return the bike to any velib station when you don't need it. Velib Transit System. The price is cheap in order to encourage biking over cars, and if you use them for a trip and then park them before taking another you can do Paris for a Euro a day in travel costs. It's best to get a good map though, as Paris is mainly one-way.
(Thanks Evilmunky)
Eagles may soar, but weasels never get sucked into jet intakes.
That was then, this is now. The fine for letting your dog poo anywhere without picking it up is €475 for the first offence, so now poo is pretty scarce.
One thing I must advise is to plan your visiting carefully. If you don't you can spend a lot of time waiting to get in somewhere and miss the point. Paris is, whatever anyone says, the most beautiful city in the world, even beating Barcelona. It was trashed by Baron Haussman from 1852 and 1870-odd and rebuilt in the classy Haussmannian-style. Haussmann destroyed 60% of Paris, leaving only the existing beautiful buildings, and replaced all of the rubbish with buildings that mainly look like this:
This is why I recommend the Velibs. Cycling through Paris brings home to you just how much beauty there is. London is a dump by comparison.
Arrondissements: Paris is divided into 20 areas called Arrondissements, these spiral outwards from the 1st in the centre to the 20th miles away to the East. The 1st is where most posh stuff is, 8th is shopping (The Grands Magasins will delight any woman), 7th is the Eiffel Tower, 6th is cool artistic stuff, 3rd mad, 4th gay and mad, etc.
Things to see:
The Louvre and the Musee d'orsay (if you like art) See the Louvre first, then walk from the Louvre courtyard down to the Eastern end of the Tuilleries then turn left to the seine and cross over to see the Orsay.
The Eiffel Tower, though it's cool from a distance, and a pain to actually go up it. The Champs de Mars are really nice gardens to the South of the Tower itself, and you can see the tower really well without getting into the crowds.
My apartment, though I won't let you in.
The Marais (the area around the Pompidou Centre) is lively, full of great restaurants and bars and not touristy.
Paris generally, just walk around from place to place, stop to eat off the main roads, take a Velib for a long stretch. It's such a gorgeous city that for me i am happy with the walk from Invalides across gilded horse-bollock bridge or whatever it's called, past the Grand and Petits Palais' turn left down the Champs Elysees to Place de la Concorde and you are back in the Rue de Rivoli. Take a tube to Hotel de Ville or cycle along the Rue St. Honore up to the Ile de la Cite and you can see Notre Dame.
If you feel up to it, from there you can walk South to the 6th Arrondissement. The 6th Arrondissement is lovely just to be in. It exudes charm and effortless cool, and has the best eating and drinking.
The advice about using what French you have is good. Most Parisites speak a bit of English, but they are unlikely to pull it out unless they hear you desecrating their national tongue first. The odd "Bonjour", "Merci beaucoup" or "si'l vous plait" go a long way.
And don't worry, outside of tourist areas the Parisians are usually very polite, pleasant and friendly.
Last edited by Brucelles; 16-07-2009 at 12:34 PM.
(Thanks Evilmunky)
Eagles may soar, but weasels never get sucked into jet intakes.
j.o.s.h.1408 (16-07-2009)
Brucelles, any chance of re-sizing that pic?
Scolling left to right to read your post is doing my head in. Never mind the fact is it half a meg!
I think I'll have to delete it and put in a smaller version. It looked OK when I chose it.
(Thanks Evilmunky)
Eagles may soar, but weasels never get sucked into jet intakes.
I definately agree with Brucelles; and they are much less rude in Paris than Barcelona.Paris is, whatever anyone says, the most beautiful city in the world, even beating Barcelona.
I have to disagree; they're as friendly and polite as Londoners!And don't worry, outside of tourist areas the Parisians are usually very polite, pleasant and friendly.
The only tips I can think of:-
Avoid the gare du nord and the surrounding areas if possible (i.e. get south as soon as you arrive).
As with all foreign travel; check with your bank how much they charge if you get money out abroad; if you're happy just use ATMs.
The public transport is great but often overcrowded and pickpockets are common.
You do need a passport for the tunnel.
The check-in is very similar to the airports.
No messing around with luggage though (which is a god send), as it comes in the carriage with you.
The seats on Eurostar are 100000x more comfortable than any plane aswell
I actually like the Gare Du Nord area (where the Eurostar arrives).Avoid the gare du nord and the surrounding areas if possible
Its very french and is an interesting place to spend an hour or so.
Not in cattle class! They aren't bad, just not that much leg roomThe seats on Eurostar are 100000x more comfortable than any plane aswell
Amazingly, you might also find it cheaper to fly from city via cityjet!
With very short notice you are often able to get tickets for £50 each leg, including all taxes (and they are not a **** carryer like easyjet or ryainair so it is EVERYTHING even breakfast + luggage etc!)
But when you have enough notice the eurostar drops to £60 return, so becomes cheaper, but city airport is very nice and low hassle to fly out from.
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One of the guys i was with in paris almost ended up in a fight with a guy selling little moddels of **** cause they all mob you and can get really angry - also some times there clearly working with pick pockets
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