Eurotunnel - Paris Help!!

[CJN]

I'm thinking about taking the missus to Paris for the weekend on her birthday later this year. She does not like flying so I'm thinking about driving from Leeds to the Eurotunnel & on to Paris (500 miles each way) probably for Fri, Sat & Sunday night. As I'm a Eurotunnel & driving through France virgin, does anyone have any tips / thoughts. (Toll roads, traffic, general?!?)

I know Paris traffic is a bit2h as I've been before & I'm going to make sure I get a hotel with car park.

[Dazren]

Fly.

[Nevin]

Get the train all the way and don't worry about driving or flying

[CJN]

When we flew to Gran Canaria this year she had a fair few drinks before & on the plane, called the plane too small (a 767 FFS), was shaking & sweaty (yuck) & was generally not a happy chick. Fly to Paris on a tiny 737?? She will not like it & she might not even fly.

[DavidP]

Use the Eurostar from Waterloo to Gare du Nord. It's fabulous, very quick and goes centre to centre. Also if you want to go to Paris itself, you don't want the car with you.

[CJN]

I'd not even considered getting the train all of the way, I bet I could get a good connection from Leeds or Doncaster, unless there are leaves on the line.
She'd have to pack small though & with her shoe collection that is no mean feat.

[grevlinggott]

i've driven down to Paris for work - the car is handy if you want to go outside Paris (Versaille is close). I stayed at the Novotel in La Defense (about 10-20 minutes from the Arc de Triomphe depending on traffic, on the bank of the Sienne) There is a large car park next to it (ticketed multi-storey with loads of space) - the only thing is the hotel is nothing special. Some dodgy looking apartment blocks nearby, but I had no problems(but then most buildings put up in the last 50 years in France look dodgy IMO!).

I found traffic to be OK, and Calais to the outskirts of Paris is about 2 hours cruising speed (easy on the Autoroute). Parking in the city was not too bad, as long as you don't mind walking 5-10 minutes to where you are going.

ps - excuse my french speeeelling!

[DavidP]

Leeds > Kings Cross > £10 cab to Waterloo > Waterloo > Gare du Nord (with a breakfast bun and champagne en route). Gare du Nord is right in the centre.

Sorted



>> Edited by DavidP on Monday 5th August 12:54

[richb]

I work for a company in Nanterre (off there tomorrow for a couple of days), which is close to La Défense. We tend to use the Mercure at Corbevoir which is ok and costs around €150 (£100) but I would have thought for a "romantic weekend" you'd be far better off trying to get into one of the million or so small hotels in the centre of Paris? But then again you really won’t get a car park at a central hotel. As for taking your car I wouldn't take my TVR anywhere near Paris - have you seen the way the Parisiens park cars? If you must drive then at least find a place with a decent car park and don't repeat don't drive it into the centre of Paris other than for a drive round! Rich...

[CJN]

I do remember that the Metro in Paris was fantastic. Clean, fast, reliable & frequent.
I've checked the prices of the Eurostar, found some nice hotels in Paris & I'm just trying to get prices for the train to Kings X.

Nearly sorted.

[CJN]

Right, I think I'm decided. Car to Ashford in Kent, Eurostar to Paris, nice hotel.
Job done.

Thanks chaps

[SBudden]

La Défense? Eurgh...

Stay away, unless you like being in the middle of nowhere - there is bugger all to do there!

I used to stay quite frequently in the Novotel, and the hotels only saving grace was that you could see the Eiffel Tower if you had a decent room.

[DavidP]

I don't remember the Eurostar ever stopping in Ashford. I thought only the Le Shuttle went from there (i.e. the car carrier). Might be wrong though.

[cpn]

Or you could just fly, but take the girlfriend?

[Bruce Fielding]

Excellent shoe shops in Paris - just take the one pair... Mind you, make sure you only come back with sufficient shoes for your own use and not extra for sale in pubs under the counter, or HMC&E will have them off you, and you in chokey!

[DavidP]

quote:
I don't remember the Eurostar ever stopping in Ashford. I thought only the Le Shuttle went from there (i.e. the car carrier). Might be wrong though.

Yup, I was wrong, just looked at the web site. Well......y'live'n'learn

[mel]

Your nearly right David as it's two different stations a few junctions apart on the M20. Eurostar stops at Ashford International which is close to the town centre and has first class parking to leave your car CCTV security etc but always seems deserted, Le Shuttle has its terminal nearer to Folkstone and has no parking as evryone there takes their cars on the train.

[CJN]

Thanks Mel, that was one of my worries. I don't like leaving my baby in dodgy places

[rthierry]

quote:
I do remember that the Metro in Paris was fantastic. Clean, fast, reliable & frequent.
I've checked the prices of the Eurostar, found some nice hotels in Paris & I'm just trying to get prices for the train to Kings X.

Nearly sorted.

Definetely the best option! Just in case... I know that Eurostar have some package promotion which are usually quite attractive (train + hotel). Might be worth givign them a call...

[miniman]

If you drive from Calais to Paris, and get stopped at a toll point for speeding, remember this:

We got stopped at the toll having been photographed at approx 110mph (in a heavily overloaded Scenic). It was only AFTER paying the fine that the BiB admitted that the photo only showed half the number plate and they'd guessed it was us.