PrisianFlat.com

I wonder if anyone has rented from ParisianFlat.com ? We are about to send them a deposit on an apartment rental for the fall of 2008 and I want to make sure they are legitimate before I do.

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PDZak,

I rented from Parisian Flat last December. They are easy to deal with and were at the apartment waiting for us when we arrived. We set up the wifi on my computer to make sure it worked, and after a tour of the apartment we were set.

There are good reviews of Parisian Flat here, on Fodor%26#39;s, and on Slowtrav. Have no fear. Everything went smoothly.

What apartment did you choose?

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thank you Ting - I appreciate your information ! We have selected the Rue Saint Didier apartment...

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We stayed at the Ave. de Breteuil apartment but it is no longer available, according to Philippe. Too bad, it was perfect for us.

We would definitely rent from them again. I completely understand your feelings before sending off the deposit. There%26#39;s always that moment of wondering. But they are first-rate. Enjoy.

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We have also rented from them on multiple occasions....all very positive experiences. We enjoy the central locations, the modern furnishings and baths and kitchens that are well equipped, modern and have everything we need. You have nothing to worry about.....

Enjoy!

M

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Yes they are riable, my boyfriend is an expatraiiate renting in Paris through them since last august, and he wants no other agency now, he says!

Which flat are you renting? I know many of the 5th and 6th districts ones so i can give you more insight

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Oups, sorry, i didn%26#39;t see you had mentionned you wanted the St Didier one, in that case i don%26#39;t know it, i know Rue Madame, rue de l%26#39;Eperon(great location), rue Laromiguière (all three were beautiful), rue Dauphine (this one is partly underground, didn%26#39;t like it because am claustrophobic) , rue Régis (thin walls)

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hi, did you end up renting from parisianflat? i am in the process of looking for reviews as you were last year, but i am not having much luck. any advise or information you can pass to me will be appreciated. thanks.

day trip to loire valley chateaux

can anyone recommend a quality day trip operator from paris to loire valley chateaux. i prefer a small group over those huge mega buses. any ideas ?

Itinerary one day help please!!

I%26#39;m going to Paris on the 5th August for a day, i%26#39;m taking my boyfriend for his birthday. We%26#39;ve both been once before but years ago while in school.

We%26#39;ll arrive at the garde du nord around 10.30 and depart at 8pm.

I want to: go up the arc du triomphe, walk around the eiffel tower (go up if time), find somewhere nice for lunch and go to a patisserie/ice cream parlour, go to the sacre coure and a river boat on the seine.

Which is the best order for all of this, location wise and time wise?

Thanks for any help i can get!

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That is a tall order, but can probably be done if you don%26#39;t go up the Eiffel tower. The lines there are generally very long, though you never know.

Any chance you would go to Notre Dame instead of Sacre Couer - that would save a lot of time, though it is neat up at Montmarte. The Bertillion ice cream shops are near Notre Dame.

Here%26#39;s a start and maybe someone else will have better ideas.

Gare du Nord - follow signs (long walk) to Metro line 2 Direction Porte Dauphine. Get off at Anvers station to visit Sacre Couer and Montmarte. There are nice places for lunch here.

Return to Metro line 2 at Anvers or Pigalle and continue to Charles de Gaulle Etoile for Arc de Triomphe.

Return to metro station and take Line 6 (or walk) to Trocadero. Get off and walk across bridge to Eiffel Tower. (If tired of walking get off at Bir Hakeim).

Walk around Eiffel Tower and see how long lines are.

There are Seine cruises right near here.

This makes a circle - you could also do it in the opposite direction - going first to Eiffel Tower. If you really want to go up the Eiffel Tower, I would do that first, then you could skip Arc or Sacre Couer if you didn%26#39;t have time.

From Eifel Tower take RER C towards the center of town and then RER B north to Garde du Nord.

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Thank you so much!

Car rental

Hello, i need some advice about car rental. I will be based in Antibes and i will need a car for some days. Is it so expensive as they say? where can i rent in good price?

Thank you in advance.

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A number of people I know have been very happy with Midi Location in Rue Lacan ( near Le Blue Lady pub and Geoffrey%26#39;s English Shop).

Ed

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we rented a new fiat 500 diesel from national/citer at nice airport for about 30 eoros a day for 11 days just last week. Ideal for 2 people and handy to run about in as the traffic there is dreadful.

All the rental companies seem to charge approx the same rates, cartel in operation methinks!!

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I ve just remembered there is a sixt car rental office in antibes but dont know their rate.checkem out on the web maybe?

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Thank you very much guys. In the internet the prizes are something like 80-140 euros per day for a fiat panda. Probably i don%26#39;t look in the right places!

Luggage at Avignon TGV Station

Hello all

I will be arriving in Avignon on the 11h56 train from Paris and renting a car. I only have that one afternoon/evening in Avignon before heading to L%26#39;isle sur la Sorgue to check into my hotel. I am hoping that there is somewhere to check my luggage so that i do not have to leave it in the car while i sightsee. Does anyone know if that is possible at the train station? I know that i can always drive to my hotel, check in and then drive back: but it seems like a big waste of time.

Thank you for your help,

Katie

Train from Switzerland - Where to hire a car?

We are travelling by train through Switzerland from Lake Como. Which French train station should be our destination where we will be able to collect a hire car? Planning to drive across the North visiting family war graves and hoping to get as far as Mont St Michel before heading down to Paris. We have three nights and four days to achieve this. Any suggestions on routes and accommodations welcome.

Car rental

Hello, i need some advice about car rental. I will be based in Antibes and i will need a car for some days. Is it so expensive as they say? where can i rent in good price?

Thank you in advance.

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A number of people I know have been very happy with Midi Location in Rue Lacan ( near Le Blue Lady pub and Geoffrey%26#39;s English Shop).

Ed

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we rented a new fiat 500 diesel from national/citer at nice airport for about 30 eoros a day for 11 days just last week. Ideal for 2 people and handy to run about in as the traffic there is dreadful.

All the rental companies seem to charge approx the same rates, cartel in operation methinks!!

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I ve just remembered there is a sixt car rental office in antibes but dont know their rate.checkem out on the web maybe?

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Thank you very much guys. In the internet the prizes are something like 80-140 euros per day for a fiat panda. Probably i don%26#39;t look in the right places!

Apartment 2nd

Also found this apartment

http://www.vrbo.com/110497

anybody ever stay there or what is area like

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I haven%26#39;t stayed in that apartment, but my husband and I rented an apartment from CentreParis this past May that was in that area, on rue d%26#39;Aboukir. We LOVED the area. Rue Montorgueil is an amazing pedestrian street with wonderful bakeries, cafes, fruit markets, cheese shops, etc.

We felt like we were really living amongst the locals, as the area is not heavily touristed, but you can walk to soooo many sites. From our apartment, we walked easily to the Seine, the Marais, the Louvre, the Opera, the Madeleine, St. Chapelle and the Latin Quarter. I wouldn%26#39;t hesitate to stay in the 2nd again.

Car rental

Hello, i need some advice about car rental. I will be based in Antibes and i will need a car for some days. Is it so expensive as they say? where can i rent in good price?

Thank you in advance.

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This is a generic answer, however almost invariably the best rates are to be found by pre-booking and shopping around because prices change all the time.

Often the brokers have the best prices.

Suggest you try some websites such as:

www.auto-europe.com

www.kelkoo.co.uk

www.priceline.co.uk

www.carrentals.co.uk

www.carhiresearch.co.uk

www.kayak.com

Multi currency prices are available.

If you are considering renting in high season I would seriously review whether you really need a car at all. Roads are very congested near the coast, parking is a real problem and car damage is prevalent.

Public transport will usually take you where you want to go much more cheaply and efficiently. An odd taxi may work out less expensive than several days of car hire.

Hope this helps

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Thank you very muh for the help. We will stay 10 days but we are not plkanning to drive more than one or two. I like trains anyway!

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%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;we are not planning to drive more than one or two%26gt;%26gt;

You might find that car rentals of at least 3 days cost no more than a 1 or 2 day rental. There are steep, one time costs which also make short rental impractical: Road taxes, train station or airport pick up surcharges, environmental fees for cars with automatic transmissions, and young driver surcharges.

Hotels in Louvre/Rue de Rivoli area?

Hi everyone,

My parents are travelling to Paris in a few weeks and I%26#39;m trying to hunt down a nice hotel for them to stay in that%26#39;s not too overpriced. I%26#39;ve been to Paris myself a number of times but I%26#39;m trying to find a comfortable hotel around the Rue de Rivoli/Louvre area as that%26#39;s pretty central. Does anybody have any recommendations - maybe with a couple of nice restaurants around, and perhaps even a hotel that does breakfast as well?

I%26#39;d really appreciate any advice you may have, thanks so much!

K xx

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You can try Hotel Brighton and Hotel de la Place du Louvre, both of which are members of the Esprit de France hotel group.

http://www.espritdefrance.com/en/home/

I personally find the 4th-6th districts to be more %26#39;central%26#39; than the 1st for sights and definitely for dining choices.

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Thanks so much for your advice - do you have any particular hotel preferences for the 4th-6th districts?

Again, thank you for your help!

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We had a great stay at the Hotel Britannique. It is in the 1st and we loved the hotel as well as the location. Lots of stuff all right around, and very close to the Louvre as well as the isles, and a block from the Rue de Rivoli. They have a very nice breakfast as well.

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I liked staying at the Hotel Saint Louis located on the Ile St. Louis. It’s quite basic with the thin walls although it does have renovated bathrooms (tiny in standard rooms but well-equipped anyway); btw, there hasn’t been one hotel I’ve booked in Paris that had soundproof walls. What I liked about the Saint Louis was that the staff couldn’t have been more helpful and welcoming and the location on the island makes it convenient to walk across the bridge to the 5th %26amp; 6th districts as well as to other locations such as the 1st and 7th.

http://www.saintlouisenlisle.com/

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Check out Le Meurice. I stayed there about 2 yrs. ago and really liked it. It was right on Rue de Rivoli and just down from the Louvre.

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Thank you so much for all of your suggestions, much appreciated!!

Food, Drink, Backpacks allowed in Museums, Versailles?

We generally carry some small snacks and water in our backpacks when travelling, and sometimes pack food for a picnic lunch or dinner. I am guessing that backpacks need to be checked in a coat/baggage room at museums, but is it OK to have food and drink in them. We traveled in Europe a lot 10-12 years ago and never had an issue with this. We were recently at the Art Institute in Chicago, however, and they were very strict about no food or drink (even small water bottle) allowed anywhere in the museum, even in a backpack in the coat/baggage room.

What are the rules for backpacks, food, and drink at the major museums in Paris and at Versailles. We will probably do a good part of a day at Versailles so it would be nice to be able to bring along some of our own food. Thanks.

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I just returened from Paris and Versailles. I did not carry any food with me to museums but I did sometimes carry a bottle of water and always had my bag checkd. My bottle of water did not get taken away except at Versailles. I did see them making people leave any food or water bottles they had when we sent through the security check into the Palace. Somewhere they do have a room that you can leave unauthorized items in - such as food. If you have a small backpack I saw many people with backpacks, but they do go through it and if there is food or drinks you will have to throw them out at Versailles. I%26#39;m pretty sure at almost every museum we went to there where sings that said no food and no flash photography. I think if you look on line at the location%26#39;s map you can see if they have baggage areas.

Rue Vavin? 6th arr, any advice on location would be helpful

Anyone familiar with this street/area? I would appreciate any insight as I am unfamiliar-

Thanks for any insight you can provide!

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Hi. We stayed in an apartment on rue Vavin through Vacationinparis.com last fall. It is a busy area, but in a nice way. Rue Vavin is a narrow, one-way street directly off Luxembourg Garden. It is near rue Montparnasse and the wonderful Le Dome seafood restaurant. It was about 5-7 minutes to a Metro stop (Vavin)

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Oh, I almost forgot the best part...there is a Hevin chocolate shop on rue Vavin.

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Thank you for the information. Was it convenient to travel ito/out of CDG? Did you taxi, shuttle or Metro?

Thanks in advance for your update!

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Rue Vavin is a great street on the left bank between Luxbg garden and Blvd Montparnasse. Very active during the day with many stores (a lot of kids clothes stores), cafes, gelato vendor etc. It is quieter at night. Metro Vavin and Metro Notre Dame des Champs are convenient. Many buses there. From airport there is RER B to St Michel and Air France bus to gare Montparnasse (both with a bit of walking at the end, easy without too much luggage) but I always prefer a taxi after a long flight if I have serious luggage.

There is a restaurant called Le Parc aux Cerfs at the top of the street that I like and also a pizzeria a few doors down.

Rue Vavin is one of my favorite streets in Paris, great walking location.

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Thanks for the additional information. I feel much better as the rental company has not been as communicative as others I have read about on these forums.

In your opinion, I am traveling alone and will have one bag and one carry on. Is it best to take a shuttle or taxi to this area? Or, take a shuttle and then taxi direct to the apt...

Thanks again for your advice!

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Armed with a good map (even from Google or Mappy.com) you could walk in about 10 minutes from the Air France coach dropoff in front of le Meridien hotel by Gare Montparnasse. A couple of turns, passing lots of cafe tables, cinemas, etc.

Or RER to Port Royal and walk a straight shot up blvd Montparnasse for about 10 minutes...

or RER to Gare du Nord, then switch to Metro line 4 to Vavin stop.

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Thanks for the advise- I will defintely do a mappy.com and share with others my trip experience-

I appreciate the advice I have obtained on this forum and pleae know that all input has been most helpful!

If anyone has booked through parisianflat.com please advise as to your experience....

Hope each and every one of us enjoy Paris!

Christine

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Hi again Christine,

I just looked at the flat you are considering. It is very beautiful. I%26#39;m not sure if budget is a concern, but I%26#39;ll throw this out as an option. The one you are considering is $400 per night. When I stayed on rue Vavin, I rented a lovely two-bedroom apartment in a very secure building through vacationinparis.com. I%26#39;ve used them four times with a fifth time coming up this Dec. Very reputable company.

The apt was on the 5th floor with an elevator; backing on to a courtyard so it was very quiet. It was just wonderful. Not elegant, which yours is, but perfectly clean and charming in every way. The owner%26#39;s brother, who is the local contact, is American. He even stowed our luggage on the last day while we took a last stroll around Luxembourg Garden. That apartment rents for $250 per night. If you want to have a look, it%26#39;s vacationinparis.com then in the 2-3 bedroom options, it%26#39;s ID #123 called Luxembourg Garden Splendor.

Good luck, whichever you decide to do!

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hi christine, i am wondering if you ended up booking with parisianflat.com and if you were happy with your experience. i can%26#39;t find much to verify the integrity of the company or apartments. thanks. annette

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I would love to stay in this area, and hope to do so next year, or the year after. If you do, I have one word for you. No, its not plastics, it%26#39;s the Lucernaire. It%26#39;s a cultural center on the rue Notre Dame des Champs, right off the rue Vavin. All kinds of plays, shows, concerts and everything else. And the cheapest beer in Paris. Look for the website. This place was co-founded by Gerard Depardieu.

-- Steve

Ryan Air, Stansted Flight

My daughter arrives Marseille on thhe Ryanair Fight ex Stansted Aug 4th.

She is trying to get Chavillon, Provonce the same day and does not want to spend a night in Marseille but the flight does not arrive until 22 15 so public transport is finished by then.

Any thought on how to get to Chavillon the same night without paying 100+ euro for a taxi as this must happening every day with the Ryanair flight arriving at this time.

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Are you sure about the place name?

do you maybe mean Cavaillon?

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Sorry, yes Cavallion.

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Assuming she won%26#39;t be renting a car, she may need to stay overnight and travel on the following morning. There are a few hotels on the airport, including an etap hotel, with a free shuttle bus connection, about £40 a night.

www.accorhotels.com/gb/home/index.shtml

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No no renting of a car.

All she wants to do is get to Chavillon the same night.

There must be a way as the Ryanair flight arrives after public transport finishes.

Who was it said local knowledge is everything.

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The airport website has details of bus services: www.mrsairport.com/eng/acces/acces_bus.jsp The only ones which are still running when the Ryanair flight arrives are the shuttle services to Marseille and to Aix TGV / Aix-en-Provence. Unfortunately, when you check the train timetables - http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ - the last train from Marseille St Charles to Cavaillon leaves at 18.46.

I would guess most Ryanair passengers are either heading for Marseille or Aix by bus, hiring a car or being picked up - there have been a few queries here about onward transport to other smaller towns (like Cavaillon) and the only one which is just about possible is Avignon, using the sleeper service and arriving well after midnight. If you find anything else, please post back so that others can benefit!

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You can hire a private driver, but it will cost you in excess of the amount you said you didn%26#39;t want to pay.

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I had a look at airport shuttle companies for you but they are about 140 euros

Staying in a budget hotel and travelling the next day by train would be

the most practical option IMO

One Night in Fontainbleau

Hi myself and my boyfriend are spending a day and a night in Fontainbleau on Monday 27th July. Can you recommend somewhere nice to stay either a bed and breakfast or a hotel? We will have a car and will spend the day there. Can you suggest what would be the must dos while we are there. I know the castle is a must. Also a nice place to have dinner that night. Thanks a mill

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I do not have any personal recommendations but this website may offer a few suggestions in the area:

http://www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/

Trains reservations?

I am trying to book train tickets from Paris to Tours from tgv-europe.com website

I put in my time etc. And I see a warning on top

%26quot;Attention, reservations are compulsory for certain journeys in this list%26quot;

I select the cheapest option - PREM it has this...

Hurry, last seats available!

And select %26quot;Choose my place%26quot;. And it says

%26quot;Your preferences for seating in the train:

No places available.%26quot;

What does that mean?

The trip is 2 hours so with my mum I definitely need a seat. Does that mean I can get on the train but have to stand - like Italy trains? Because this is PREM I don%26#39;t want to book it as there is no refund.

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When I click on CONFIRM to go to the next step. It has a warning

%26quot;Attention, some of your requests for seats cannot be satisfied.%26quot;

Why does the website let me book it if I cannot get a seat??

Regards

CONFUSED.

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Some trains have seats which can%26#39;t be reserved in advance. Local trains and non express trains are often like this. For these legs of the journey you are issued with a standard ticket and you find an available space.

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Possibly, after the time that you started the last of the lowest priced Prem tickets was sold (or there was only one left and you wanted two).

If you book a ticket on a TGV train it will automatically come with a reservation. If you are using the %26quot;ordinary%26quot; train from Gare Austerltz to Tours a reservation is not usually actually required, but if you are travelling at a busy time may be recommended.

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Oh I am still confused? Sorry for asking so many questions. And thanks for your patience.

The train in question is the

09h21 PARIS AUSTERLITZ

11h40 TOURS STATION

Corail Intercities - Promo 1 ere classe

If I book the tickets - would I get a reservation? I take it that a ticket does not mean reservation? Even for 1st class on this train? So I get on and hope for a seat?

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And how do I make a reservation on this train?

:(

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That will be a local train, so no reservations.

You also can take the TGV from Montparnasse, although if you book as %26quot;Tours%26quot; rather than St Pierre des Corps, you may still get those messages because the last five minutes is a shuttle of some sort rather than a train (and the computer can%26#39;t issue tickets for the shuttle).

My suggestion is just go ahead and book from Austerlitz. That%26#39;s the start of the journey, so if you are there and waiting when the train pulls in you should have no problem finding seats. I really doubt you would find you have to stand.

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Interestingly as I progressed through this thread I thought to myself, from which station are you departing Paris?

There are no TGVs to Tours from Austerlitz only from Montparnasse.

Either select a Montparnasse departure or simply purchase the PREM on the Corail train from Austerlitz. Corail PREMs do not have seat assignments and usually sell for 10€. Seats are always available on these trains.

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Berkeley_travelers, you are spot on. There are TGV trains from Montparnasse to St Pierre des Corps and the last leg says shuttle!

The ticket I had in mind was from Austerlitz. Promo 1ere classe was 24 EUR each. No refund. I see no 10 EUR ones available. I went with 1st class only because 2nd class is just several euros cheaper. :)

It%26#39;s clear to me now. Not all trains from TGV-EUROPE.COM is TGV! And even first class there might be no seat assignment. They just make sure they don%26#39;t overbook. It%26#39;s up to you to get there early or you might end up seating apart.

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By way of possible explanation, the www.voyage-sncf.com website contained all of the SNCF schedules and was available in English. I am of the believe that this started to eat away at Raileurope sales, which controls SNCF sales in the USA. Raileurope%26#39;s pricing is noticeably more expensive than what is being sold for the same trains on voyage-sncf. Hence, English was removed from voyage-sncf and TGV-europe was promoted. Select your country as USA on the TGV-europe website and you are directed to Raileurope.

Hence, trains which were once listed on voyage-sncf are now listed on TGV-europe, and you are correct, this includes trains which are not technically TGVs. The Corail trains are an interesting hybrid between TER trains and TGVs - they are basically the same cars as TERs but they offer PREMs for sale as on the TGVs. (To my knowledge PREMs are not offered on regular TER trains).

Of the countless times I have traveled between the Loire Valley and Austerlitz, I have never needed to stand - seats have always been available. If you are concerned, stop by a SNCF service window or boutique when you arrive in France and ask to make a reservation, something you can do for just a few euros per seat.

Transportation between Rennes-St. Malo-MSM-St. Malo

Hi all,

My husband and I will be travelling from Tours on 6/29/09, most likely via train to Rennes. We are trying to figure out the best way to get from Tours (or Rennes) to St. Malo (where we have a hotel booked) to Mont St. Michel, and then back to St. Malo. We have noted that rental cars are really expensive, but are not sure if there is a reliable public transportation option for traveling between these locations. Thanks for any and all help!

Alison

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Hi Alison,

I am not familiar with Tours and how to get to Rennes but there is a direct train that takes 1 hour from Rennes to St Malo. It would then be a either a hire car for the day to see Mont St.Michel or a guided bus tour.

I also believe that there is a guided bus tour from Rennes direct to Mont St.Michel - Try the following website for details:

keolis-emeraude.com/en/mont-st-michel/trip-b…

ed

Paris airport shuttle (CDG)

Paris shuttle

On October 21st 2006 at 6.20 in the morning, we arrived at Roisy-Charles de Gaulle airport

(from Montreal) with another couple, for one week in Paris.

We had a reservation with AIRPORT ASSOCIATE SHUTTLE (AIRPORTPARISSHUTTLE.COM) which cost us 58 euros for a transfer to Paris.

They were supposed to be there upon our arrival. We waited for 90 minutes but they never showed up. We called their phone number 4 times but all we got was a voicemail.

Two days later we complained and they admitted that they%26#39;d never showed up; they told us that they would refund us but after 3 weeks, they did not.We made this reservation on the Internet, and we paid with PayPal.

Does anybody know how to resolve this situation? I always book my trips on the Internet and it’s my first bad experience. I’m wondering if that company really exists...

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Did you organize the charge with PayPal using a credit card?

If yes, then you need to dispute the charge with your credit card company, as you did not receive the services for which you paid. It would be especially good if you had anything in writing from the shuttle service (ex. email). You will most likely need to submit written documentation to the C.C. company - call the customer service number for instructions.

If no, then contact PayPal and ask them what the remedy is.

Follow the %26quot;Buyer Complaint%26quot; process.

www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr…

PayPal Customer Service - 1-402-935-2050 (a U.S. telephone number)

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;We had a reservation with AIRPORT ASSOCIATE SHUTTLE (AIRPORTPARISSHUTTLE.COM) which cost us 58 euros for a transfer to Paris.%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;

Do you mean:

http://www.airportshuttleparis.com/

If you paid via Pay Pal, your recourse should be through them.

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Thank you for the advice.

Yes the company%26#39;s website is

http://www.airportshuttleparis.com

Beware of these guys.

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Have used Paris Shuttle many times without a hitch. Will be using them again next week when we come for Thanksgiving week. Sorry for your hassle.

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I had good news today. They sent my money back.

Yesterday I sent them the link on these posts, maybe

that%26#39;s why they changed their mind... I%26#39;m happy now.

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about AIRPORTPARISSHUTTLE.COM

First chance :

On October 12th 2006 at 8.30 in the morning, we arrived at Roisy-Charles de Gaulle airport from Madagascar.

AIRPORTPARISSHUTTLE.COM were supposed to be there upon our arrival. We waited for 2 hours but they never showed up. We called their phone number 4 times but all we got was a voicemail.

Second chance :

On November 10th 2006 , we were flying back to Madagascar, and they were supposed to pick us up and to drive us to the airport :

- we requested to be at the airport at 13.30

- they confirmed PICK-UP TIME at 12.30

- we were picked up at 13.40, and at the airport at 14.55 (checking closed at 15.00)

Hereafter ordering mail and confirmation mail from AIRPORTPARISSHUTTLE.COM

Just avoid these guys

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Le 07/11/06, Airportassociat@aol.com %26lt; Airportassociat@aol.com%26gt; a écrit :

CONFIRMATION OK

PICK-UP TIME 12H30

MERCI

M.MOSES

TEL / 003350)143340206

Dans un e-mail daté du 07/11/2006 16:00:49 Paris, Madrid, www.airportshuttleparis.com@rennes-color.com a écrit :

Dear Sir/Madam,

Follwing inquiry has been placed.

======================================================

This is a Shuttle Service Reservation

I Departure Paris From not applicable

======================================================

Departure Airport : CDG

Departure Airline : Air Madagascar

My Departure Date is : 11-10

My Departure Time is : 16:55

Adults : 2

Children : 0

Pickup Address : 6 rue Boussingault

75013 Paris

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I don%26#39;t know for how long this Mr. Moses has been in business

but with that kind of publicity his company shouldn%26#39;t last too long.

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I was foolish enough not to consult this forum beforing booking our airport pick up in November, 2007 from Airport Associate Shuttle. Had I done so I would bave been forewarned and perhaps would not have been left standing with my husband and friends on the footpath outside the CDG airport in Paris.

It took many phone calls before this company eventually arrived, almost two hours later than our arranged time and with neither an apology or explanation. According to their website it is %26#39;The Best Door To Door Service in Paris%26#39;. Well be assured it most certainly is not!

Despite frequent letters to this company, they have still not had the courtesy to discuss this with me or offer an explanation or apology.

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY BE WARNED!!!

However, I have used Parisshuttle through the Easyjet site and found them to be professional, courteous and punctual. I will stay with this company in the future.

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Wow! I am glad I read here prior to booking. I was just on their website and thought this was a good option! Now I am thinking taxi again.........

Help!! Driving or Take Train???

Hi

We are a family of 4 x mid 50%26#39;s / early 60%26#39;s and 3 x Mid 20%26#39;s.

We wish to explore Nice, Eze, Monaco, Antibes and Cannes in 7 days. We like to ask, weather we should rent a car or take train??

In addition, should we base in Nice and travel each day to each of the city???

Hope you can help us!!

Many Thanls

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when are you travelling?

You would need a people carrier or 2 cars - I would be surprised if it was cost effective -but i suppose there are maybe deals available if you book with the right company.

Make sure you factor in parking costs -parking isn%26#39;t cheap and the hotels which offer parking often charge for the privilege on top of the room rate.

Public transport is very cheap

It is very easy to do Eze village and monaco by bus and

Antibes and cannes by train

Base yourselves in Nice- its the best base for the coast and exploring inland by bus/train

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we were in antibes for the middle two weeks in july and hired a car------mistake, as the traffic is far too jammed

our son stayed in beaulieu sur mer and visited most of the places you mention by train and it was a breeze

public transport is the answer as you can then enjoy the rose de provence

Ever stay at ParisianFlat.com's "Casimir Perier" apt?

I can%26#39;t find any reviews of this particular apt. Seems odd that no one has ever mentioned it on other travel sites that I use. I%26#39;m just concerned about basic things like the integrity of the building; well-maintained lobby, security, common areas.

Also, what is the situation with the residents in the building; nice, civilized humans, or college students or what? Naturally, I%26#39;d also like to hear general feedback about the place. Thanks!

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did you end up staying at this apartment, or any of the parisianflat%26#39;s other apts? i am having the same frustration today. want to book with them, but need to read some reviews before i give them so much money. any info you can pass my way will be appreciated. thanks.

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Sorry I cannot help you; did not stay with them. After several back-and-forths with the woman who runs the operation, I finally said that I%26#39;d love to see some referrals from people who%26#39;ve stayed in the apartment. Her response was something to the effect of, %26quot;if you%26#39;d like me to send some referrals, let me know.%26quot; WTF? I just DID let you know. So I bagged it %26amp; stayed someplace else. Life%26#39;s too short.

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I stayed in this apartment in March.

Pluses:

Fantastic location

Very quiet

Splendid bed

The view of Ste-Clothilde is not to be believed-it%26#39;s in your lap

Spacious

Well-equipped as far as kitchen stuff, towels, linens, that sort of thing

Minuses:

The whole place seemed just a bit grimy

The handy man needs to come around and replace some light bulbs etc

WiFi never did work (not that big of a deal, I always bring an ethernet cable)

The smallest WC I%26#39;ve ever seen

The second bedroom situation is a bit odd--a ladder and a hatch in the floor

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suissemiss,

We stayed at the Ave. de Breteuil apartment in December 2007. (It is no longer offered.) The apartment was as represented on the website, and our arrangements with the Parisian Flat people were easy to make.

Philippe met us at the apartment and made sure my computer was set up with wifi.

Friends stayed in another apartment three months ago on my recommendation and were very happy. I would rent with them again

parisianflat.com

has anyone rented from these people? they have nice flats, but i cannot find any reviews about the agency or the apartments. i am ready to book but am feeling insecure because i can%26#39;t find any reviews except what is on their site. thanks.

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do you think it is weird that i can%26#39;t find any current reviews of parisianflat.com or it%26#39;s apartments online, anywhere?

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I answered you here: tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k23272…

If you search here on TA, on Fodor%26#39;s, and Slowtrav you will see reviews.

Juan les Pins in September

What is the nightlife in JLP like in September? Thinking of a long weekend with my boyfriend so want plenty of bars and restaurants but nothing too rowdy. Also where is a good area to stay that is a little bit away from the main nightlife but close to decent beaches?

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hotel juana is very good!great restaurant,pool and private beach.good resto on beach as well.beach is only 1 block walk.

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The bars in the centre (Crystal etc.) should all be open and will still be lively, especially Crystal and Pam Pam, which are also great places for people watching. They stay open pretty late.

All the restauarants in the centre should be open, though some beach restaurants may close in the evening - depends when in September you%26#39;re going, and also on the weather. Two of the very best beach restaurants, La Petite Plage and Bijou Plage, are open all year round.

Not too sure about hotels - we stay in a flat when we%26#39;re there - but if you don%26#39;t mind being a little away from the centre (15 min walk), Hotel Strelitzias is good, and is close (5 mins walk) to the public (i.e. free) beaches. Hotel Helios also nice, and is very well located (quiet but central), but probably a bit pricier.

HTH

Taxi from Avignon train station to St. Remy

We are a group of 4 couples who will be meeting in St. Remy on Friday, September 25, 2009. We are coming from different locations and will rent a couple of cars but we are wondering what the approximate taxi fare would be from the train station in Avignon to St. Remy. Thanks for any help you can offer.

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The distance from the Avignon TGV station and the centre of St. Remy is 21 kms. Assuming you are not traveling before 7 am or after 10 pm, you should expect a figure in the region of 40 euros (one way).

My fare to go 40 kms from Avignon to Bedoin in normal hours is anywhere from 55 to 75 euros.

If you%26#39;d like to contact a taxi company to inquire for certain, here are a couple:

avignon-provence-taxi.com/avignon_servicesen…

http://taxis-avignon.fr/

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With eight of you that would be two taxis am I right? If you are arriving at Avignon Centre station rather than the TGV station you could walk 100 metres east along the road outside the station and get the local bus from Avignon to St Remy, the 57A. Here%26#39;s the timetable and the journey costs 4.40 euro per person. www.lepilote.com/img/_info/FH057A.pdf

This saves you quite a few euro which you can spend on wine and song of which there is plenty in St Remy.

If you are arriving at Avignon TGV you would have to get the shuttle (navette) to Avignon Centre, cost 1.20 euro each, one way, then get the bus above.

Dinner/Lunch in Antibes

My wife and I will be in the Cote d%26#39; Azur for 5 nights, beginning in early September. Does anyone have recommendations as to dinner and/or lunch spots in Antibes?

The restaurant can be either casual or more upscale/trendy. We enjoy all different kinds of food.

Thank you

|||

Hi, there is a thread here with restaurant recommendations

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187217-i926-k2777…

Which seems to cover a wide range, or peoples likes.

I also recommend La Marmite in Rue James Close, had a lovely meal there a few weeks ago, also we ate at Le Village which is mentioned and would recommend that as well.

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Le Figuier de St-Esprit,

14 rue St-Esprit

L%26#39;Oursin,(fruits de mer, the specialty)

16 rue de la Republique

For great Italian,Micheleangelo

3, rue des Cordiers

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Michelangelo and La Forge are both worth a visit in the evening

|||

Oursin is fab esp if you like shellfish of the unusual and wriggly-looking variety.

auto vs train travel

Will be arriving in Marseille Provence Airport for a 3 night stay in Cassis then on to Beaune. Have a plan for Aix en Provence one day. Trying to decide train and taxi cost vs car cost for transportation from airport to cassis, from cassis to aix en provence and back one day and from cassis to beaune. It is difficult to find point to point train fare costs and identify taxi cost to compare with cost of car rental. Seems like a 3 day car rental would be more convenient and economically better as well. Then the concern is navigating the unfamiliar territory. Any suggestions?

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%26lt;%26lt;It is difficult to find point to point train fare costs%26gt;%26gt;

I am not sure why this is difficult. It should be straight forward:

www.voyages-sncf.com (in French only)

www.tgv-europe.com

%26lt;%26lt;Then the concern is navigating the unfamiliar territory.%26gt;%26gt;

Concern? perhaps but not a problem with a map such as this:

http://tinyurl.com/cyt82o

However, parking can be a notable cost in both Cassis and Aix-en-Provence.

The rational for the one-day Cassis stay after Aix is not clear. Wouldn%26#39;t one logically travel Cassis to Aix-en-Provence to Beaune?

In any event, trying to reach Beaune from either Aix or Marseille by train will take anywhere from 3+30 to 4 hours using the shortest travel times.

Expect at least 4 hours drive time from Aix-en-Provence to Beaune.

To assist with drive times:

www.viamichelin.com

www.mappy.com

For car rental information:

easycar.com/car-hire/destination/France.aspx

http://www.easyterra.com/

http://www.kemwel.com/

http://www.novacarhire.com/

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A day trip from Cassis to Aix-en-Provence would be quite possible although you will have to change at Marseille St Charles. On both legs there is a train at least every hour and as they are local TER trains there is no need to book in advance.

For train from Cassis to Beaune, you woud certainly have to change at Marseille, probably in Lyon and possibly Arles or Avignon as well.

For both journeys you can find the timetables on www.voyages-sncf.com and click the Horaires Seules button. You may find that you have to do it in stages because the site doesn%26#39;t usually show jurneys with more than a couple of connections.

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If you take the train from Aix to Cassis, be warned, Cassis is about 2 miles from Cassis station. There is a shuttle bus, see www.cassis.fr/iso_album/horaires-11-2008.jpg

As one who has done this journey, I would further warn you that the travel time is not an issue, the issue is the length of time you have to wait for connections. Plan carefully.

If you look at www.lepilote.com/transports/ChoixLigne.asp… and download bus 072, (you have to fiddle about entering the day you want to travel) you will find that on some days (I think Thursday Friday and Saturday but check) it runs via Cassis, but the timing is probably not much use to someone travelling from Aix.

Languedoc, any helpful advice appreciated.

Hello. I am travelling to Languedoc, France mid August for a two week period. I’ve rented out a car and plan on exploring the area and driving to the nearby places. I am interested in getting taking short train journey if necessary to explore slightly further. I would appreciate it if anyone has any tips and advice to share. What are the main attractions/local customs, any festivals? Any hidden gems? As I am not staying in a hotel, can anyone recommend any good restaurants?

Any good advice and hints will be appreciated, thank you (merci)!

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Here are a few threads on fodors that could be of some help. Otherwise you can always ask there since you have no answer here.

fodors.com/community/europe/itinerary-for-tr…

fodors.com/community/europe/our-family-of-4-…

fodors.com/community/europe/3-days-in-carcas…

fodors.com/community/europe/canoeing-in-lang…

You%26#39;ll find more with the search function :-)

David Lebovitz- My Paris

Lovely guide.

http://www.davidlebovitz.com/paris/

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yes. And, his new book - Living the Sweet Life in Paris - is hysterical! I read it in 3 sittings and had to re-apply eye makeup before I could go outside...

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I also just read the book, and possibly even in two settings, it was really entertaining and I love the recipes in every chapter.

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We were housemates in college and he taught me how to cook. I could hear his voice as I was reading... And I only disagreed with the bouscaleur part. He spent too much time in San Francisco - we New Yorkers walk the same way as Parisians so can avoid touching anyone as we pass. (And, I probably spelled bouscaleur wrong!)

if only my dulce de leche brownies came out like his! as I told him, I had Himalaya-eque peaks of brownie and very deep dulce valleys... But, I have mastered the goat cheese salad.

train transfer

Hi I am arriving into Paris Nord station and departing Paris Austerlitz what is the best route to take and how long should I allow

|||

Take métro M5, direction Place d%26#39;Italie.

It%26#39;s a 15 minute ride to Austerlitz but give yourself plenty of time to orient yourself and find the departure points at both stations.

|||

I got from the Eurostar platform at Gare du Nord to Austerlitz in half an hour a few months ago. I did already have a metro ticket.

|||

Definitely metro line 5, direction Place d%26#39;Italie.

Dining Advice

My girlfriend and I are staying near garden de luxembourg over the weekend of 31st July for her 30th birthday.

Would it be advisable to book our evening meals in advance or just sort when we get there? We like the idea of just going as we please but are worried all the good places require prior reservations.

Any suggestions around this area for good, honest food in nice surroundings would also be appreciated as it is our first time and a special occassion and wouldnt like to risk a poor night out as we are only there for 2!

Many thanks

|||

for fancy places book well in advance

for nice small neighborhood bistros, book the day before or sometimes even the afternoon of -- it is not unusual for these small places to book up -- and people tend to spend the evening over dinner

you will be able to to just walk in many places but the best spots do tend to fill up --

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I shall encourage you to always reserve at a restaurant (not necessarily at a café) when in France.

Should you be interested in Sarastro%26#39;s 13 lucky rules for dining in Paris (I know, blatant self-promotion), they are available here:

http://lejeudeboules.com/2009/05/04/19/

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I strongly second Sarastro%26#39;s reco to make a reservation at any place other than a café. It%26#39;s subtle but the welcome is just a bit warmer, your table might be better too, when you reserve.

|||

thanks very much - 13 rules were very informative

Help exploring

We are going to Normandy next May. My husband and I have already been there 2 times, but we are taking friends. We would like to visit some pretty villages. Any suggestions?? Coming from Belgium into Honflor and the Normandy coast and finally Mont St. Michel, down into Paris. Thanks

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Fecamp, Etretat (***), Le havre (not pretty but interesting ), Honfleur (****), Trouville - Deauville (**), Beuvron en auge (***), Caen (old center and abbeys and chateau), Vieux la Romaine (Ruined roman villa), Bayeux (***), Cerisy La foret, Balleroy Chateau, Villedieu (bell foundry and copper shops), Mont St Michel, Dinan - Cancale (not bad for being in Brittany)

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Many small villages take part in a contest to see which one can be the best at decorating their town with flowers. The winner in the past has been a little village in Normandy named Le Dezert. It%26#39;s not too far from Bayeux. Look for the signs that say %26quot;Ville Fleurie%26quot;.

Rouen or Strasbourg

Hello, thanks to the wonderful Google Street view I was able to take a walk through the lovely streets of Rouen and I%26#39;m now second guessing my upcoming trip to Strasbourg and thinking Rouen instead.

What is the nightlife there like? How early do things close? Is there any youth culture there? I%26#39;m starting my trip off in Lille, so I won%26#39;t be too far away.

My main reason for visiting the Alsace area was to see the beautiful timber-framed houses, but the city itself seems rather sleepy and residential. I prefer the narrow streets and old cafes you don%26#39;t find in North America. A lot of the grand boulevards in Strasbourg remind me of Paris (of which I%26#39;m not a fan)

So many decisions! Hope you can help me.

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Hmmmm, I%26#39;ve been to Paris, and I%26#39;ve been to Strasbourg, and they don%26#39;t seem alike at all. The historic Petite France section of Strasbourg in particular is especially quaint with the half timbered houses and cafe life.

Rouen is a great choice, too.

However, I%26#39;ll admit that I love Alsace more than any other part of France, the little wine towns are wonderful.

Youth culture? Unfortunately, I%26#39;m too old to be able to answer that question, regardless of your destination.

:-)

Bonne chance!

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Hmm, I guess what I really want to know is how lively is Rouen? Do cafes open late, do things open on Sundays, etc. Strasbourg and Alsace although beautiful, comes across as kind of sleepy. If I%26#39;m off here please let me know. Rouen looks livlier and more atmospheric in pictures.

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Hello urbanfoodie,

It is a few years since we visited Rouen. The old town is beautiful with the cobbled streets, timber houses and is full of cafe/bars, restaurants and shops. Regarding nightlife... it seemed to be based around the bars and restaurants. They were always very busy and did stay open late. We were not looking for clubs/disco and dont remember coming across any by accident. Rouen was also easy on the pocket. Great little city to spend a few days.

Enjoy your trip.

Regards,

Supervanman.

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Hello, thanks so much for your responses so far. After flipping back and forth, I%26#39;m starting to lean heavily toward Rouen.

Mostly because it appears to have a better mix of narrow streets, cool shops, pedestrianized areas and a lack of an overly touristy vibe.

Again, this is just based on my research, I could be way off I admit.

My one way flight to Strasbourg is non refundable, so I%26#39;ll have to consider that as well.

If it helps, my favourite cities so far in Europe are Amsterdam, Ghent and Madrid. My least favourite are London, Paris and Prague.

Thanks again!

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Rouen is the place to go.

As well as Rouen you can visit Giverny, Honfleur, Mont st Michel, Bayeux (town and tapestry), d-day beaches and Caen.

|||

Thanks again! We%26#39;ve officially ditched our Alsace plans and are heading for Rouen. Maybe when I%26#39;m older and less mobile, I will love spending some quiet time in the villages on the wine route. Right now I can see us getting bored very quickly.

Rouen looks like a beautiful city! What I like even more is it doesn%26#39;t look very touristy. I%26#39;m so sick of places that are almost all souvenir shops (i.e. Prague or Quebec City)

Public Transport in Brittany

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to travel by public transport (either bus or train) from Brest

Airport to Gourin? I don%26#39;t mind if I have to change busues or trains to get there.Thank You /Merci Beaucoup!!!!

Looking for self-service laundry in 16th arr.

Hello,

I%26#39;m looking for a self-service laundry in the 16th arr near Place Victor Hugo (staying at the Renaissance Trocadero). Google maps has been particularily unhelpful, hoping someone on the forum will help.

Thanks!

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Looking for %26quot;LAVERIES EN LIBRE-SERVICE%26quot; in pagesjaunes.fr the closest self-service laundry to Place Victor Hugo is:

Lauriston Pressing 115 rue Lauriston 75016 PARIS

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There%26#39;s another on Rue de Feuilles, just off the Place de Mexico, just across from the entrance to the small mall there (look for the Champion or Casino supermarket; I can%26#39;t remember which one it is...)

|||

Sorry, it%26#39;s rue des BELLES Feuilles -- the entrance to the CASINO supermarket is at 16, rue des Belles Feuilles -- the laverie is across the street from the entrance. for whatever reason, this little laundry doesn%26#39;t show up in les pages jaunes, but I used it just a few months ago.

It%26#39;s just off the Place de Mexico -- there%26#39;s also a Paul in the mini-mall there, so it%26#39;s a good place to do laundry, restock, etc., etc.

staying in the vendee

Are considering staying in the vendee this August in a hotel and was wondering if anyone had stayed at the Hostellerie de la Pinede in Jard sur Mer (also known as Hotel du Parc de la Grange). If anyone has any other good recommendations for hotels near here I would be pleased to know. Also can%26#39;t quite decide which is best area to visit, the southern vendee or south Brittany / La Baule. Need good weather for the beach but also enjoy visiting small towns and tourist attractions with two teenage children.

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We have been to Brittany for 2 years and more recently the Vendee for 2 years. We tend to go in June and undoubtedly the weather is better in the Vendee. We have stayed in Jard Sur Mer which is a small town with a port and great beaches close by. If you stay at L%26#39;Oceano D%26#39;Or camp site it is within easy walking distance of the town with bakeries, a deli, a couple of bars and a restaurant. The port with approx. 6 restaurants is about 20 mins walk from the town. Other towns with good markets are all within 20 minutes drive and one place to definately not miss is Le Puy De Fou (sometimes called Le Grand Parc) which is about an hour from Jard Sur Mer. It is the most fantastic theme park with great gardens, do not confuse it with places like Alton Towers as it has no roller coasters but a number of historical set pieces including a viking show. Not to be missed. La Rochelle is also within an hour and a bit from Jard.

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We have just been on holiday to The Vendee, the nearest large beach being St Jean de Monts. Having also holidayed in the Loire Atlantic/Southern Brittany on many occasions I do not think you can beat La Baule for the beach. There are also lots of places of interest to visit. We stayed in a gite near Challons this year and although the weather was very changeable we still found lots of places to visit.

Is it worth staying overnight at St tropez?

- how is the nightlife in St Tropez? Is it worth staying overnight for?

- if we decide to stay, we might drive in because we will be carrying our luggages. And, I’m thinking of driving in really early to avoid the rush. Will it be a problem finding a parking spot?

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Great!

Yes!

Breakfast

Hi,

Staying in Annecy and dont want to have breakfast in the hotel. Can anyone recommend anywhere nice for breakfast. We are staying just facing the lake next to the old town:)

Turning to the Experts (Latin Qtr Hotels)

I visit Paris often, but always stay a week or more and rent an apartment, so cannot really help my friend who has sent the following in an e-mail to me. Let me know your thoughts so I can give him advise and thanks in advance!

Qte:

%26quot;My son has decided to escort us to a three day/two night visit to Paris the last couple of days this month. He%26#39;s been looking into hotels in Paris and has been finding some of the information to be less than enlightening.

Considering that you have been known to spend a few days there, yourself, I was wondering if you knew of any decent and reasonably priced hotels in the Latin Quarter, close to Notre Dame?%26quot;

:end Qte

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Basic but fine and exactly in the area you want is Hotel Marignan on Rue de Sommerard.

http://www.hotel-marignan.com/index.html

There are several other budget hotels on the same street. One thing though - there is no elevator - so a room on the lower floors would probably be best.

raquel

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Hôtel du Collège de France on rue Thénard, kinda close to the one mentioned in the previous reply to your question.

It has a lift and you can have singles for around 90€. Very nice hotel, exxcellent service, close to Notre-Dame, Métro Cluny-Sorbonne, St=Germain and the Latin Quarter.

http://www.hotel-collegedefrance.com/

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Your friend may have booked their hotel by now, but I also highly recommend Hotel du College de France, 7 rue Thenard in the Latin Quarter.

I have stayed there 3 times. It%26#39;s not a Westin, but that%26#39;s why I like it. It has beautiful French charm -- large windows that open out -- with modern rooms. At least they were renovating all of them the last time I was there. The staff are really friendly, it%26#39;s moderately priced, and you can%26#39;t beat the location. Just steps from Blvd. Saint Germain and Place St. Michel and a few blocks from Notre Dame.

cap - youths? hotel azur - location?

Hi.

We are a couple in our mid twenties going to cap for a couple of days during our riviera train-ride mid august.

Can we expect to see anyone else our age there?

We are both interested in tips about where to stay on the beach, bot for relaxing and maybe a bit voyeuring.

Also, where should we go to experience cap at night.

We want to enjoy some quiet nights just relaxing at a restaurant, but also interested in trying one of the infamous clubs, or maybe just doing some private voyeuring and exhib :)

Hints are welcome.

Best regards m/s

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For you I recommend the main part of le Cap, that is the textile 80%, there you will find lots of people in your age group and the Ile des Losisirs is full of after dark entertainment. The remaining 20% of the Cap, the Village Naturiste, has few visitors in their 20s.

Mp

Help-Debit Card help!!!

We have previously used a ATM in Europe. Just TODAY (we are leaving tomorrow) we got a letter from our bank that says using our debit card with a pin comes off the PULSE network and not the VISA network that is the logo on the card. (Will work from the VISA network as a credit).

The logos on the back of the card are PULSE and PLUS.

From reading on the internet PULSE looks like a US only network.

Does anyone know if this card will work in Europe?

The person from our bank is %26quot;Out to lunch%26quot; and nobody else knows anything.

|||

Plus is part of Visa and is widely supported in Europe (Cirrus is the other major ATM network).

|||

Cirrus and Pulse networks work perfectly well at French ATMs. These networks charge the same 1% currency conversion fee on cash withdrawals as do Visa and Mastercard on credit card purchases.

Note: if you typically choose that withdrawals be made from differing accounts, French ATMs with not offer a choice and will generally withdraw funds from your checking account.

|||

Thank you...I knew I would get answers here before I could get answers from the bank.

Municipal camping La Rochelle...help

Hi, having been an avid user ot TP I forgot to consult you guys regarding our camping trip so when faced with a brick wall I have returned to the fold!

We would like to stay at either the Municipal le soleil or the Municipal du Port Neuf 13/14 August. I have tried to contact the la Rochelle tourist board about booking at these sites (to see if we can or we just turn up) but it is saying my email is invalid.

Anyway, does anyone have any knowledge of these sites and if we can book.

Thank you.

How to get from Charles de Gaulle to Reims on the 5th of Sep

Hello

I%26#39;d really appreciate any advice anyone can offer on the best way to travel from the CDG airport to Reims on Saturday 5th of Sept.

We arrive at the airport at 12.20pm and the only train I can find that leaves from CDG after our flight lands is at 12.54pm which we can not obviously guarantee to catch.

I have tried looking into traveling in to the centre of Paris and then to Reims without much success.

We would be happy to travel on a train, bus or combination of both.

Thanks

|||

Hi -

There are several trains from Paris Est Station to Reims from 15:00 in the afternoon on that date on into the evening. The trains from CDG would require that you wait for several hours at the terminal - not my idea of heaven.

Go to www.voyages-sncf.com select your date and set the time for 3:00 PM (15:00). You should be able to find something that will suit you.

Bonne chance et bon voyage.

Paris: Not to be missed!

If you have the least interest in this, please make the effort to go a little out of the way to see Cite of Science and Industry. No museum of its kind world over can compare with the excellence here.

Instead of milling amongst hundreds of kids, you will see mostly teens and adults as well as family groups. With so many displays and interactive activities, no one stayed unapproachable.

This is not geared to the video game mentality, rather to the thoughtful exploration of our current progress and understanding of science presented in the unique French way.

normandy beaches

I need help...cruise ship Princess landing in Le Havre on 4 September at 7am. I am trying to get a tour of the Beaches of Normandy from LE Havre and cannot find any. The cruise ship tour is booked! I found a tour from Bayeux but how do I get there from le Havre? Is it far? How much is cab from Le Havre to Bayeux. Any help is appreciated as first time travellers.

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Your only options are a driver guide or rent a car and audio guide.

A taxi wouldn%26#39;t get you to Bayeux in time. It%26#39;s 1h15m to Bayeux. Taxis do trips to the beaches but for the price you%26#39;d be better served by a driver guide. A taxi driver%26#39;s obligation is to get you from A to B, not to speak English or know anything.

If you are interested in driver guides I can give you a list of possibilities, but when ships are in many guides are already taken on the ships excursions.

France Passion

Just wondering if anyone has tried any of the %26quot;France Passion%26quot; sites? We have purchased the 2009 edition and were hoping to give a couple of sites a try. We will be spending around 10 days travelling in the Loire and would be very grateful for any recommendations.

anyone tried velo bleu yet?

I%26#39;ve seen a fair number of velo bleu bikes in use around Nice but i haven%26#39;t tried them myself yet.

There are free trial days %26#39;Journée Découverte%26#39; available till wed 22nd july

http://velobleu.org/

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I think as a Destination Expert for Nice it is incumbent on you to mount up, go for a spin and report back on the experience! ;^)

Rob

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Last Thursday I came down the Haute Corniche and headed for the prom. Not for the first time, I was struck by the feeling of being a celebrity when riding a racing bike in France. Motorists waited to see where I was going to go and allowed me to manoeuvre, change lanes etc. I found myself doing things that I would not have dreampt of in England. Many pedestrians looked directly at me to see if I was someone famous. Sadly, I am not.

However, I believe that the level of consideration was because I was dressed like a racing cyclist. I don%26#39;t believe that someone on an ordinary bike would be treated like this and I for one would not be keen to ride a velo bleu until there is serious expenditure on bike lanes.

Earlier in the day a motorist made a serious attempt to kill me when I was cycling on Cap Ferrat, by moving to my side of the road to overtake a lorry. I escaped a head on collision only by jumping the bike on to the pavement. The car was a Russian registered Porsche 4X4. I would imagine that in Russia such behaviour would be routine!!

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Glad you managed to escape ok - I had several similar near misses in the UK when living in York despite it being supposedly bike friendly.

The good news is that there has been substantial investment in cycle lanes in Nice and more appearing all the time and more to come over the next 12 months

The velo bleu system isn%26#39;t aimed at outside of Nice cycling so its just the maniacs driving within Nice itself to worry about

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I have 3 bikes, one Mountain Bike, one Race bike and one city bike and use one of them daily (I use to go to work with my city bike that has more than 45 000 kms). Unfortunatrly, I never felt as a celebrity here except when I stop at the Red color traffic lights ;-)

I believe that the fact that you are dressed like a racing cyclist make you more visible. That%26#39;s recommended but not always sufficent in this area. The problem with the %26quot;Velo Bleu%26quot; is that users will not have Helmets and this could be dangerous due to the fact that there are cars, Buses, cyclists, pedestrians everywhere and sometime it makes me feel that we are in the jungle.

By the way, yesterday I have use my Mountain bike to visit the Verdon Canyon, it was fantastic ;-)

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My daughter and I have been out and about on them today. She%26#39;s a teenager and wears a cycle helmet, I%26#39;ll probably get one for myself quite quickly. We went on the roads a bit this afternoon and cars were quite patient with us for which I was grateful. Once on the prom, you needed a sharp eye and anticipation for the pedestrains but as we were going fairly slowly, it was fine, good fun actually. We went from the Port to the Negrsco, rue Rivoli, to see the Harry Potter film and then cycled back again. There was a bike stand right by the cinema.

The machines don%26#39;t always read your card and there%26#39;s sometimes no bikes available or no spaces to park and sometimes, it just doesn%26#39;t work at all but like all these things, when it worked, it worked very well.

I did the bike tour of Nice lasy year and there are quite a few bike lanes within Nice already, with more planned this year.

LondonBob - glad you are alive to tell the tale - your story made my blood run cold.

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Thanks allaboutNice,

I do quite a bit of cycling in the hills but that was my first venture into Nice on the bike in many years. Didn%26#39;t know there were bike lanes and didn%26#39;t notice any. Perhaps when the new tram line is built they will close the prom to cars as they have done in Jean Medecin?

Bob

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Cobalt06,

In the UK I obey the traffic laws just as if I am in a car but I feel it is actually dangerous to do this in Nice and surrounds, as no one expects you to do so. I did get stopped by the police a year or two ago for coming down the Moyenne Corniche at over 70 kph but they just patted me on the back and sent me on my way.

Bob

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Cobalt.You surely didn%26#39;t cycle from Nice to Verdon Gorges? Long way. Bob were you wearing shades and the yellow or green (a la Mark Cavendish) jersey and if so no wonder the locals gave you the gaze. Did you have Red Bull in the water bottle? Did you stop to pose with tourists hanging on to your handlebars for photographs?

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Starting from Nice would have required 2 days since this area is located at 100 kms. For my trip, I took my car up to %26quot;Castellane%26quot; and then used my Bike from %26quot;Castellane%26quot; to the %26quot;Lac de Ste Croix%26quot;, then to %26quot;La Palud%26quot; , then the %26quot;Route des Crètes%26quot; and then back to %26quot;Castellane%26quot;, total was approximately 132 kms. Very nice views on the Canyon. Last Sunday was also the right day for this trip as the weather was nice with a bright blue sky ;-)

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Sounds absolutely wonderful.

WWI and WWII Day Trips from Paris?

Hello. We would like to make two day trips during our upcoming visit to Paris.

First, to the WWI sites associated with US troops (Belleau Wood, not sure where else?) and second, to the WWII landing beaches and American Cemetary.

Are these trips doable as one day each? Does anyone know of the most cost-effective way to get a private minivan with driver/guide? (There will be five of us, ranging in age from 10 to 72.)

Thank you!!

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Belleau Wood.... awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DbRN0m8rx8

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My own experience was going to the WWII sites - we have made 2 trips from Paris. On our first visit, we used LinkParis ~ they book you on a train from Paris to Caen and you spend the morning visit the Caen Peace Museum, and the afternoon touring various sites. While not totally %26quot;private%26quot;, it is a small group (no more than 8, I believe). It was an excellent day trip, and well worth it.

Second trip we hired a private guide, Nigel Stewart, who was excellent - www.dday-guide.com. Again, we took the train from Paris to Bayeux (booked it through SNCF ourselves - very reasonable). I don%26#39;t know the logistics around accommodating a group of five - you wouldn%26#39;t all fit in his car, but you could check. My husband, a WWII history buff, still raves about Nigel%26#39;s tour ~ it was the highlight of that trip. There are other groups in the area (Bayeux) that do private tours (Battlebus, etc.); if you do a search of the Paris forum for normandy, WWII, d-day, you%26#39;ll find a lot of info.

BUT, no matter how you slice it, it is a looonnnng day, and you mention one of your group is 72, so that%26#39;s a major consideration. Taking the train, you%26#39;re leaving Paris around 7am, and not getting back until about 8:45pm. Some feel it%26#39;s not worth the effort; I respectfully disagree. These have been incredibly moving experiences, and while we could have spent days in the Normandy area, that was not an option. I do feel with a private guide or small tour like LinkParis, you at least make the most of your time. I am not a %26quot;bus%26quot; person, so I didn%26#39;t even explore that option.

Best of luck!

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My husband (military officer) and his father (war buff) did the day trip through the Caen museum and had a wonderful day. It was well-organized and included transportation to/from the train station in Caen- it was organized with Paris day-trippers in mind. They really enjoyed it!

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I%26#39;m not familiar with Belleau Wood, but for the Normandy beaches try posting questions on the TA Normandy forum. I did research there to help family members who wanted to go, and found quite a bit. Also, there are some tours that go from Paris by van - it%26#39;s a long day, but some visitors find that preferable to staying overnight, or organizing their own transport. There are also some very highly regarded day tours once you get there (i.e., you would do your own transport, and they would then pick you up for a half or full day tour).

Printing RR tickets

I have made reservations on line for two tickets from Paris to Bayeux. They are prem tickets and I should have the ability to print them on line, but I cannot. I keep getting a message that %26quot;due to technical difficulties your tickets cannot be created at this time.%26quot; This has been going on for several days. I have my E-mail confirmation listing my six reference letters. My question is can I get these tickets in Paris at a SNCF station or boutique if I produce the correct credit card, or do I have to print them?

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I doesn%26#39;t really matter but are you sure they are PREM fares? Only PREM (or iDTGV) tickets may be printed at home and only then if they are not mixed with an itinerary containing other fare types.

None the less, you may indeed pick up your tickets in France. You will need:

1. the reservation number

2. to present the credit card used in the on line transaction. The agent will be comparing the account numbers of the on line transaction with the account numbers on the card.

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You can pick up the tickets at any SNCF office in France if you can%26#39;t print them.

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I%26#39;ve printed my tickets for Paris to Nimes, can I just jump on the train without checking in at a counter?

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Yes, you can jusy hop onto the train. Your carriage and seat number will be on your printed ticket.

You don%26#39;t even need to have your ticket stamped in a machine if it%26#39;s one you%26#39;ve printed yourself.

Rob

TGV - CDG connection

My flight to the US leaves at 12pm and my train from Angoulene arrives at 9:42am - Is that enough time to make the connection? That%26#39;s the earliest train I have found.

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Is your train arriving at CDG ?

It should be ok if all works fast inside airport.

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absolutely not -- you lose thousands if you miss your flight -- rebooking one way is incredibly expensive

it is foolish to have a close high stakes connection -- what if the train is an hour late (A Thallys I was on once was 5 hours late into Paris)

and CDG often takes 3 hours to make it through the lines to the plane

if the TGV arrives AT CDG and is on time and everything goes perfectly, you are good -- but I wouldn%26#39;t stake that much money on a tight connection like that

come in the day before

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I would never try to do that. I make connections from Angouleme regularly, but I have resigned myself to going up the evening before and staying at one of the airport hotels.

Even once you arrive at the TGV station in CDG, you will have to make your way from the train to your terminal (if in Terminal 2, allow at least 20 minutes if you really hustle, and longer if that%26#39;s not possible, e.g., large bags to navigate etc.). If not leaving from Terminal 2, allow even longer because you will need to find and take a shuttle to the right terminal.

You will be expected to be on the plane about 30 minutes before departure, and the lines to get through security (especially in the summer), not to mention just checking in, can be very long and slow in mid to late morning. I just think the risk of not making your plane is too great, as one of the responses above warns.

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Thanks - I was trying to talk myself out of attempting it anyway - I just didn%26#39;t want to leave Friday evening - It would only take one delay anywhere and we would miss the flight to CLT - We have kicked around getting as late a train we could and just hanging out in the terminal - But we probably will leave my daughter%26#39;s house Friday afternoon and stay at a hotel at the airport -

Cheap campsites

Have been hit by the credit crunch etc and are having to give up on plan to go to Croatia for 2 weeks. Am trying to persuade husband that we could afford Normandy for a week at end of August. So am now trying to find a cheap, but pleasant campsite. We are a family of four and would prefer to be near the coast, basic facilities (shop and bar) in easy reach but not necessarily on camp site. We don%26#39;t need any entertainment on site either. Initially looking along the Landing beaches as want to visit Bayeux but this area may be a bit flat so may look further west as I think this gets hillier.

Any suggestions?

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All I can say is that if the credit cruch is affecting you then two weeks in Croatia (food, accommodation, etc) is probably going to end up being a lot cheaper than Normandy. Most people I know that are coming to France at the moment are complaining that it is more expensive than the UK.

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On the face of it I would agree with you Thiaumerie. But one of the main savings is in transport costs - we were planning to drive to Croatia so there is an immediate saving in petrol costs etc. Plus the drive to Croatia would have probably involved an overnight stop in each direction because we%26#39;re not very good at driving continuously. And our major expenditure is often on eating out - even if you eat relatively cheaply it isn%26#39;t when you have to multiply everything by four. So if we only go away for 1 week instead of two (and try to economise by trying to cater for ourselves more) it should work out cheaper for us even if the Euro is working against us.

Since I posted earlier this evening I have found this site http://www.gites-de-france-calvados.com which does list some basic farm-based campsites which look interesting so I have emailed a few to see if they have vacancies. But I%26#39;m still open to suggestions - particularly if you have first-hand experience of particular sites.

Tour De France

We want to see some of the mountain stages of the Tour de France in 2010 but we are NOT interested in a biking tour. Can anyone suggest a site that does non-biking tours to view the actual race?

new hotels

Looking for new hotels in paris tourist area for family of 3 adults in december.

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The Tourist Office publishes a monthly newsletter, announcing new and future hotel openings...

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Apartment accommodation

If you are looking to stay in an unserviced apartment while in Paris I would recommend you use the website Lodgis.com.

I chose by area then size/cost for our 6 night stay and was delighted with dealings I had with the staff.

Pictures are in the website so you can see what you are getting for the cost. It was a perfect solution for a Parisian experience other than using hotels.

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Hello, thanks for commenting on Lodgis, but could you tell us which apartment and how you liked it? Also, how you liked the area it was in? Thanks so much!

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in our experience, we were offered apartment after apartment that were %26#39;not available%26#39; when we agreed -- okay, happens

then we were told that our 4th or 5th selection was available and to return the contract. they sent a file that was blank. I emailed about the apparent error; they apologized and resent the %26#39;contract%26#39;. blank again. another query. finally (and we are now 7 days into the process) oops the owner has withdrawn that property.

this all shouts unprofessional to me, so we never tried them again.

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Our apartment was on Rue De Savoie in the 6th arrondissement.

Walking distance to St Germain, Odeon, Notre Dame,Montparnasse,Latin Quarter - cafes,markets,museums.

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We had exactly the same experience with another site,Parisattitude. Bad communication,apartments free then not free, no help with suggestions.

Our experience with Lodgis took about 4 choices before the final apartment. I had been looking in the 5th arrondissement at first with no luck. As it turned out we ended up in a fantastic spot.

Paris L'Open Tour

Hi there, I%26#39;m a bit confused.

Can anyone confirm for me whether or not the hop on hop off bus stops at the Gare Du Nord?

I plan to visit Paris for a day in November and this is what I plan to do to see Paris.

compare les jardins d eiffel/motte picquet

Hi all -- I am delivering my daughter to college in Paris in August and will be staying nine nights. I have a room booked at La Tour Maubourg but now that sticker shock has set in as to college prices I am looking for a more affordable alternative. Have narrowed it down to these two (on my own, although other suggestions welcome!) and am wondering how one might compare and contrast them. Thanks in advance for any help.

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The TA hotel reviews are very useful for comparing and contrasting.

How are you looking for rates? How did you book?

If you visit official hotel websites, there are often special internet rates, last minute rates, 3-night plus rates, etc.

Have a look at the special rates at Hotel Eiffel Park (across the street from Hotel Jardins d%26#39;Eiffel).

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With 9 nights, you might find an apartment a better alternative to a hotel. When I%26#39;m staying in a major city for 1-4 nights, I opt for a hotel and more than that, start comparing apartments. There are a lot of great agencies that people mention in this forum. I%26#39;ve used

http://www.haveninparis.com

http://www.athomeinfrance.com

http://www.villeetvillage.com

also, you can look direct to owners at http://www.vrbo.com and http://www.flipkey.

While you wait for other hotel suggestions from the forum, it is worth browsing through those and other sites if you search for (apartments) in the Paris forum.

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Thanks -- I am currently in the hunt for an apartment -- does seem to be the more practical alternative. Appreciate the input and links.