Anyone been to paris?

[j.o.s.h.1408]

Hi. im looking to go to paris via eurostar in a months time and was wondering where is the best place to look at for some cheap deals that include eurostar+hotel reservations and some useful tips to lookout for when choosing a hotel?

I have checked Lastminute.com and seems to have quite a large range of packages their that i can choose from. any other sites i could check out?

I am also looking to stay in a hotel thats in a good location near the eifel tower as i assume thats where all the major tourist attractions are?

If im not mistaken, paris has an underground tube network like in london? What are the good places to visit besides the eifel tower?

cheers lads

[Funkstar]

Montmartre is nice

[Funkstar]

Also, http://www.kayak.co.uk/ is supposed to be really good.

I've heard of a few poeple recomending it recently. TheAnimus is one.

[IBM]

I got punched in the face saving some fat Japanese tourist from a pickpocket - the thieving blighter then had the nerve to pull a knife when I went after him - right next to the Whiffle Tower.

I know a couple of nice cheap hotel on the Rue de Fauberg Saint-Honore which is five minutes walk from Champs-Elysees and the Arc de Triumphe....more cheap than nice tbh. 1st is Le Royal Garden and the other is the Etoile Saint Honore Hotel...

[Funkstar]

Don't make the mistake of walking down the Champs-Elysees in summer thinking "oh, it's not that far". You are wrong. It is.

Take the Metro

[j.o.s.h.1408]

metro is like the underground that runs through around paris?

[Whiternoise]

Speaking of the Metro, look in there for cheap travel deals, they always have cheap getaways to paris.

My dad lived in paris for quite a long time, and he had an apartment near Trocadero (the Palace that's opposite the Tower). I've "done" a lot of the major attractions, and there's plenty to keep you busy..

1. Montparnasse Tower is better than the Eiffel Tower for a few reasons. You can't see it when you're on the top floor, so it won't spoil the view (it's widely considered one of the ugliest buildings in Europe). It is also pretty much the only way you'll get a decent view of Paris including the Eiffel Tower at night. It's less touristy and is, as far as i know, slightly taller.
http://www.tourmontparnasse56.com/uk...noramique.html

2. Visit the Catacombes, either legally or otherwise. There is a museum style attraction where you can view thousands of skulls underneath Paris - an old plague burial site. "Les Catas" as they are known are extensive and span hundreds of miles. They are closed off to the public and there is a fairly heavy fine for trespassing, though there is a big underground (literally) scene and there are people who spend their time wandering the tunnels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacombs_of_Paris

3. La Defense, the modern district of Paris, full of skyscrapers and modern architecture, some good photo ops and an interesting counterpoint to Paris as it is.

4. The Seine River is always a fun way to spend a lazy afternoon, either go for a walk or take a boat.

5. Montemartre is a lovely little district, with Sacre Coeur (the large church) being the pinnacle. It's a pretty cliched romantic parisian place, but it's nice and the view from the top of the church is great.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmartre

6. And of course the bog standard places, Eiffel Tower, Arc d'Triumphe, the Champs-Elysees (full of shops where everything is prix-sur-demande), Notredame et al.

7. If you want a bit of fun and younger night life, the Latin Quarter is where it's at.

8. There are of course plenty of museums to go to, some great, some not so great. All are, of course in French, but many have English translations. There are also some graveyards with some very famous people buried, if that's your thing.

Finally, don't worry about distance too much. The French metro system is basically just like the London Underground.. but more froggy. It runs like clockwork unless they're striking

[j.o.s.h.1408]

cool thanks. some nice tips here one question, would i survive their without knowing how to speak french? im looking to stay their for two days and just wondering if some of the people there can speak english.

[PeterStoba]

I went there with school and got along just fine, almost everybody speaks English.

[Whiternoise]

You'll get on a hell of a lot better if you learn some basic phrases, i.e. the bog standard:

Oui (wee) = yes
Non (noh) = no
Merci (mercee) = thankyou
S'il vous plait (see voo play) = please (literally "if you please")

+ numbers, etc


Some other handy ones are..

Ou est <place> (oo ayst <place>) = where is <place>
C'est combien? (say combi-an) = how much is?

Stuff like that will get you a fair way, especially in France. They're stubbornly proud of their language and whilst they will speak English, they will appreciate it if you're obviously trying. I've only needed to speak French when we went with school - as part of my French GCSE, you can get by with surprisingly little.

Of course, if that doesn't work, it's common knowledge that the louder and slower you talk, the more the other person will understand

Just pick up a phrasebook from amazon or any bookstore, you'll be fine. My personal favourite for going abroad is this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Point-Travel.../dp/3980313026 it's basically a picture book with photos of literally EVERYTHING - toilets to vegetables to cars, you name it, it's in there. The idea being that you point at what you're trying to discuss and you don't need to know the language at all.

[TheAnimus]

Kayak is fricken awsome, saved me so much money!
along with just checking the few people who operate the route directly (ie if i want to fly from city (save taking any time off) i check the route plans, and each person individually, this has saved me so much money!)

With french places, because they are cleaky barstards, if you can get a french person to ring and ask for a reservation, with 12 hours notice i got a very nice suite at the Hotel d' abusson i think, for about a third of the advertised rates, amazing suite for the price of a double room!

Hotels.com or airmiles.co.uk if your collecting are often good calls if your wanting to splash out. Failing that, international youth hostel ascociation is excellent.

This confuses many friends of mine, i'm quite extreme, either i want luxury, or i want to pay pittence, as such i've found the iyh membership thingie good value.

Le hotel De rocry, i think i stayed there once with a friend of mine, we'd decided we wanted to squander all our money on food, at the time this place was about &#163;20 a night, recommended by a college, it provided more 'intimate privacy' than you get in a hostel, but was cheap as chips with a decent location!

[TheAnimus]

Also there is quite a good BBC series book, 'Get By in French'
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Get-French-B...7608442&sr=8-1
At that price its a bargin.

Of course its a damn sight easier if you get a friend who speaks the lingo to come with you, much more fun for all involved!

[rox0r]

I went with the missus some years ago to Paris, I have to say we were less than impressed to be honest. By all accounts it's a bit of a dump, not much different to visiting London really and we didn't find the people to be very friendly whatsoever.

[Barrichello]

I went with the missus some years ago to Paris, I have to say we were less than impressed to be honest. By all accounts it's a bit of a dump, not much different to visiting London really and we didn't find the people to be very friendly whatsoever.

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

[BigFatCat]

I think we picked a decent deal up from eBookers, with eurostar and a decent enough little hotel right by Grand Boulevards Metro.
Even Disneyland Paris isn't too far away on the train, likewise Versailles for the bling-watchers.
A little effort in speaking French goes a long way too, I was expecting much worse but I think my sub-O level efforts were appreciated.

[GheeTsar]

Trip Advisor is not a bad place to start when looking for hotels in Paris. Start at the top of the list of best hotels in Paris and work down until you find one that suits you. Take reviews with a pinch of salt though!