Paris break

Holeypockets

Hello,

I want to book a couple of nights in Paris for our wedding anniversary but have never done this type of thing before. I don't know where to start. Can anyone help with the following questions I have.

We want to go from St Pancras on the train direct to Paris through the Eurotunnel. The only attraction we definitely want to visit is the Eiffel Tower - we are open as to the other attractions...

What other attractions should we visit - we aren't great museum or art gallery lovers but want to use the opportunity to take in the attractions.

How will we travel around Paris?

We want to stay near to the Eiffel Tower - can anyone recomment a good hotel?

We would like river tours etc, open to bus perhaps - where can I find details of this?

What is teh best site to book up with. We are looking at going around July 6th. Can I get quidco cashback?

I apologise for my ignorance - I am not well travelled.

thanks

Barnabysue

It would be Eurostar to Paris, Eurotunnel only runs Folkestone to Calais and you need to be in a vehicle. www.eurostar.co.uk

jaymac_2

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/where_to_stay/article5986886.ece

see also www.tripadviser.co.uk; look on the paris furum there

BritRael

Very expensive (Euro), but beautiful city. Easy to get around using the Metro system. Its a small city so nowhere takes very long. I'd recommend a river trip, Notre Dame, Sacre Couer, Montmatre, Champs Elysee etc. The usual touristy stuff

Holeypockets

Thanks chaps will check that lot out.

JulieM

Have a look at the Eurostar website, you can book train and hotel together. I'm no expert on the internet, but the site is easy to use and I found the booking system straightforward. As regards where to visit, I always think it's worth buying (or borrowing) a pocket guide for the city.

omelette451

Holeypockets wrote: »

What other attractions should we visit - we aren't great museum or art gallery lovers but want to use the opportunity to take in the attractions.
How will we travel around Paris?
We want to stay near to the Eiffel Tower - can anyone recomment a good hotel?
We would like river tours etc, open to bus perhaps - where can I find details of this?

Whether to avoid all Paris's lovely museums/galleries depends how much you hate them, but if you just want one or two I'd suggest the Musee d'Orsay which is fantastic, and much more accessible (and welcoming) than the Louvre. If by chance you find yourself there on the first Sunday of a month all national museums are free, so definitely make the most of that.
Personally my favourite pastime in Paris is walking round the different arrondissements looking at the architecture and environment, not actually doing anything in particular. Obviously if it's sunny make the most of the cafe culture: people-watching is great in Paris (avoid the Champs-Elysee for it though, it's just too packed). Walking round the three main cemetaries is also a popular (and surprisingly nice, whatever our British sensibilities tell us...) pastime, and you can see where many famous people have been laid to rest.

There are plenty of open-top bus tours, but there are also some excellent local buses that follow great routes for tourist sightseeing and are obviously much cheaper. I guess you'll travel mostly by metro/RER: it's cheap, convenient and easy to use, and the ticket machines have an English-language option if you need it. See www.ratp.fr for Parisian transport info.

Finally, the area around the Eiffel Tower is not the nicest place to stay (or useful...there's not much else there), so perhaps think twice whether there's somewhere else you wouldn't mind staying before choosing it.

peachyprice

Check the Eurostar website soon, they're doing £59 returns, we've just booked for August. You can book hotels through them too, but I don't know how competitive their prices are.

HTH

SHEILA54

This seems to offer lots of information in a pocket size
http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?fromPage=category&orderId=6073378&categoryId=500020&catalogId=10051&field2=&productId=168942&errorViewName=ProductDisplayErrorView&lastItemIndex=&langId=100&langId=100&purchaseLocation=&updatePrices=1&storeId=10001&storeId=10001&calculationUsageId=-1&ddkey=http:OrderItemUpdate

It would be cheaper to go on 7th July, returning on 9th with Eurostar. Look for trains under the £59 banner. 4% cashback with topcashback.

Hotel reviews
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g187147-Paris_Ile_de_France-Hotels.html

Personally I like Marriott hotels, when I can afford them. You can pick up a 2 night stay, including breakfast, on Ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Luxury-Break-Paris-Marriott-Rive-Gauche_W0QQitemZ200341649044QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Tickets_Travel_Package_Holidays_CV?hash=item200341649044&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A3%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A2%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A96. They are listed on a regular basis so look for another if the bidding goes high

I have used one of these vouchers at Brussels and there are no problems.
Details on the Marriott website
https://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/parst-paris-marriott-rive-gauche-hotel-and-conference-center/

Reviews
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d197610-Reviews-Paris_Marriott_Rive_Gauche_Hotel_Conference_Center-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

Holeypockets

Thanks everyone for all the great info