Best way to do a few days in Paris
Discussion
Few questions for you lot then.
I want to go away with the Gf to Paris in September and I'm not a big fan of flying so going on the Eurostar I think. What's the best way of getting from the Gare Du Nord to the hotel? And can anyone recommend a decently priced hotel? I've been looking on the Eurostar website and most of them are £100+ a night, is this about right for Paris or are there better bargains to be had?
Any other information or tips would be appreciated
Ta.
I want to go away with the Gf to Paris in September and I'm not a big fan of flying so going on the Eurostar I think. What's the best way of getting from the Gare Du Nord to the hotel? And can anyone recommend a decently priced hotel? I've been looking on the Eurostar website and most of them are £100+ a night, is this about right for Paris or are there better bargains to be had?
Any other information or tips would be appreciated

Ta.
Edited by al1991 on Saturday 11th July 23:30
Taxi is the best way to go and they are easily available from the station, although a queue can form when a Eurostar has just arrived.
Depends what you want in a hotel, but I've used the Mercure and Ibis in Montmartre and they are reliable, functional and I think well located. (Walk around Montmartre, walk to Sacre Coere, walk to the Opera House & Galleries Lafayette area, easy access to public transport)
Depends what you want in a hotel, but I've used the Mercure and Ibis in Montmartre and they are reliable, functional and I think well located. (Walk around Montmartre, walk to Sacre Coere, walk to the Opera House & Galleries Lafayette area, easy access to public transport)
al1991 said:
I've been looking on the Eurostar website and most of them are £100+ a night, is this about right for Paris or are there better bargains to be had?
Eurostar website is making a mark up !!
www.hotels.co.uk
It all depends how far from centre you want to be. £38 a night on the outskirts to £1000 +
1700 to chose from.
Sod the metro, Paris is small and making use of your feet and their excellent biking system is easily the best way to do it, you see so much more.
Depends where you're staying, you may need to get the metro with your bags initially, but after that I wouldn't use it. Somewhere like the Marais is a nice, fashionable area that's about half an hours walk away from the Eurostar stations; so you don't need the metro at all!
Depends where you're staying, you may need to get the metro with your bags initially, but after that I wouldn't use it. Somewhere like the Marais is a nice, fashionable area that's about half an hours walk away from the Eurostar stations; so you don't need the metro at all!
Never been to Paris but I'm still looking myself. Checkout www.short-breaks.com, which also includes Eurostar, a friend of mine has used them many times.
Colonial said:
God paris is over rated to the extreme.
I have no idea why people get wobbley knees over Paris...I had a long weekend there, and I was surprised how utterley bored I was. I was expecting gastronomic delights as well, but frankly the food was awful (and we did try some very nice looking places)and so were the sights.
It really is notyhing to write home about and I have had more romantic times in a Travelodge next to the M4 than in Paris.
bull996 said:
Colonial said:
God paris is over rated to the extreme.
I have no idea why people get wobbley knees over Paris...I had a long weekend there, and I was surprised how utterley bored I was. I was expecting gastronomic delights as well, but frankly the food was awful (and we did try some very nice looking places)and so were the sights.
It really is notyhing to write home about and I have had more romantic times in a Travelodge next to the M4 than in Paris.
I've never found it particularly romantic and the Avenue des Champs-Élysées - what a load of crap that street is, avoid at all costs.
In all honesty, I had a much more enjoyable time in the following cities:
Barcelona
Madrid
London
Edinburgh
Bordeaux
Berlin
Copenhagen
Lisbon
Than Paris
The only must see is the Musee d'Orsee imo. Stunning. Everything else is, well, over rated.
It's a nice enough city filled with a bunch of people who think they are far more important, smart and good looking than they really are.
Barcelona
Madrid
London
Edinburgh
Bordeaux
Berlin
Copenhagen
Lisbon
Than Paris
The only must see is the Musee d'Orsee imo. Stunning. Everything else is, well, over rated.
It's a nice enough city filled with a bunch of people who think they are far more important, smart and good looking than they really are.
Having spent quite a bit of time in paris over the past few decades, its a city that takes some time to know. The gems tend to be well hidden rather than an obvious bistro on Rue Rivoli. This tends to make it difficult for the average weekend tourist.
Hotels in Central tend to be small, tatty and expensive. In the past i have used The Mercure at La Defense, which looks a long way out on the map at first but is actually a very quick ride to Les Halles from which you can do many sights on foot.
Friday Nights always used to get a fantastic bike ralley at Bastille and there is a good Bistro there called Bofingers
I have to admit though that it has been at least 5 years since i was last in Paris so some info may be a little out of date now.
Hotels in Central tend to be small, tatty and expensive. In the past i have used The Mercure at La Defense, which looks a long way out on the map at first but is actually a very quick ride to Les Halles from which you can do many sights on foot.
Friday Nights always used to get a fantastic bike ralley at Bastille and there is a good Bistro there called Bofingers
I have to admit though that it has been at least 5 years since i was last in Paris so some info may be a little out of date now.
HappyGoLucky said:
Colonial said:
Easy. Get to Gar Du Nord and then get on a train to Bordeaux.
God paris is over rated to the extreme.
Really, Love Bordeaux Only a few extra hours on the train too!God paris is over rated to the extreme.
Eiffel Tower, look in all the boutiques on Champs Elysee, a snapshot of the Louvre (it would take a month to do that gallery properly) or perhaps the d'Orsay that is a bit smaller or just walk about on the South Bank.
Just remember that this is a big European Capital City no different to London, Berlin, Rome, Madrid etc, with all the same potential issues / failings.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff