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MrsMC and I are heading to Paris in November on the Eurostar for a mid week break. Never done the city before. We want to see the restored Notre Dame and the Louvre, not overly fussed by the Eiffel Tower/Champs Elysees stuff but will have time.
Looking for sensibly priced accomodation ideas, fairly central to the city, don't mind hostel type rooms which we've used on other city breaks.
Any experiences and suggestions appreciated, either for accommodation or any hidden must see places to visit
Thanks
Just pick something you like the look of on Booking. Freeze everything for 72 hours when you get home to be sure you don't infest your place with bed bugs.
For the proper Notre Dame experience get up early and go to morning mass before the tourist hordes arrive. Be there before 8 on a week day and before 8h30 the weekend.
Wander around Montmartre and have your caricature drawn. Watch Subway and Amélie Poulain before you go.
I’m curious to try: Camping de Paris
its open all year & looks like you can hire a cabin
Looking for sensibly priced accomodation ideas, fairly central to the city, don't mind hostel type rooms which we've used on other city breaks.
We went for the TdF finish a couple of years ago and stayed in a hostel called Yves Robert (Esplanade Nathalie Sarraute) in the 18th Arr. Actually surprisingly good, really quite a mixed clientele, buffet breakfast, helpful staff. We had a bunk bed room but with an ensuite shower. I think there were rooms with normal beds too.
Nearest Metro was Marx Dormoy and we used Metro and Lime bikes to get around.
Usual caveats on the Metro around keeping phones / wallets etc out of sight and secure plus Paris has a host of scam artists around all the popular tourist attractions. Worth watching some of LesFrenchiesTravel videos on YouTube too, they talk through some of the general tourist stuff.
Personal recommendation would be ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9e. A pretty nice 15 minutes walk from Gare du Nord and similar again from there down to the Louvre. We went last year and stayed there - did a full day around Paris on foot and it was awesome. Popped into some ace little cafes and bars and saw loads of the sights - Musee d'Orsee (sp?) was pretty underwhelming but the Eiffel Tower was ace, as was the walk back via the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysees and the back roads to the hotel. Boat trip down the Seine the evening we got there was good too - that and the walking "tour" we did is definitely recommended.
Theres also an incredible little cafe/bistro next door to the hotel, Faubourg 34. Unreal well priced food and beers...
Musee d'Orsee (sp?) was pretty underwhelming but the Eiffel Tower was ace,
IMO I'd flip that sentence! 🙂
When we took a family trip (2 adults, 2 kids) in April we stayed in some serviced apartments near La Défense. Being able to cook some stuff for ourselves outweighed not being in the heart of the city.
Don't buy a Metro pass on the Eurostar, wait until you are in the station. The one's on the Eurostar are paper/card (rather than the plastic ones from the station) and don't last as well.
Don't buy a Metro pass on the Eurostar, wait until you are in the station.
And probably less faff than using the dreadful RATP app.
Don't buy a Metro pass on the Eurostar, wait until you are in the station.
And probably less faff than using the dreadful RATP app.
The RATP app was a bit clunky (stunning that it's not simply tap in for the metro considering it's a flat fare!) but last time me and 300 people got off at Gare du Nord, the ticket machines were mostly ****ed. If you piss about setting the card up before you get there, it's bearable.
You can't buy a 10 pack of paper tickets any more 🙁
You can add Navigo to Apple wallet now if you’ve got an iPhone.
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/118581
in terms of hotels I always stop near my brother in east Paris near Nation. Easy in to the city, easy to get to from CDG and better value. And some very cool local bars and restaurants too.
Love Paris. We did a bike tour from near the Louvre. Pretty cheap and fun. Think they got a back hander from the cafe that they take everyone too but that was ok. Musee d’Orsee is very good despite what someone up there said.
Enjoy! I’m jealous.
You can add Navigo to Apple wallet now if you’ve got an iPhone.
Or use your Apple Watch, which feels like a better idea than waving an iPhone round in a metro station. Or maybe I’m just paranoid.
We also stay in east Paris, by Pere Lachaise. Fantastic mixed neighbourhood. Loads of bars, restos, cafes.
Trois Poussins in the theatre district is a nice three star hotel. Walking distance to the Louvre, Notre Dame and the basilica.