Nice, Monte carlo and cannes

I will be in Nice in 2 weeks time. I would like to travel to monte carlo and cannes. I will only have 2 days to visit these 2 places. Could someone suggest of what is the best way and less expensive way to travel. I kinda get the idea but would like to know more of what i should do around these areas. I am sure i will be arriving in Nice first. However, should i go to monte carlo first or cannes?

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The cheapest way is also the slowest - with two days only, perhaps time should be your most precious commodity, not a few euros?

The cheapest way is coach from Nice Gare Routiere - the TAM 200 to Cannes (2 hours, cost 1.30 euro each way), and TAM 100 Monaco ( a bit less than an hour, also 1.30 euro each way)

The train to Cannes costs around 10 euro return, but takes only a little over 30 minutes. Monaco likewise takes 20 minutes and costs around 8 euro return.

Your call.

As for which to do first, look out of the window - and check the Meteo on TV. Monaco often has cloud hanging around the mountains behind and the weathers not often perfect - its the one to do if weather is mixed. However I rather think Cannes looks at its best only with an azur blue sky.

There is little else to suggest one rather than the other , unless we are talking Sunday - much of Cannes shopping will be closed, hereas Monaco sights are open Sundays.

Cheers

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Removed on: 1:17 pm, September 04, 2009

TGV *routes*

We want to go via TGV from CDG to Lausanne -- but cannot find train *routes* (not fares nor schedules).

can somebody give me a URL for train route maps??

Thanks,

susan

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entreprise-sncf.com/nos_lignes/principale.pdf

It seems there is only one TGV that leaves CDG at 19h25 but stops in Dijon or Dole and there is no correspondence after 8pm.

I would go to Gare de Lyon and take one of the TGV that go direct to Lausanne (in less than 4 hours for 72 euros normal rate)

I don%26#39;t know what time you%26#39;re landing but you can check the schedule on http://www.voyages-sncf.com

Bon voyage! :-)

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Removed on: 1:17 pm, September 04, 2009

Jules verne restaurant

We%26#39;re thinking of going here for dinner in early April with our 11yr old daughter. How accepting are they of children? Does anyone know approximately the average price of a main meal. we%26#39;re not sure whether to go here or Altitude 95? Any suggestions? Ta

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Without knowing your daughter it%26#39;s hard to say. If she%26#39;s the sort of young lady who likes to dress up, likes to try different foods, and likes acting %26quot;grown up%26quot; then she%26#39;ll love the experience and will gain a lot from it. If she%26#39;s more of a tomboy and doesn%26#39;t like %26quot;strange%26quot; food, then you%26#39;d probably be better off elsewhere.

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I have not yet breached the barrier of haute cuisine with my girls because they find really long drawn-out meals more of a bore than a treat. If your child is more in that frame of mind, she may enjoy JV, but I%26#39;d recommend going at lunch when the meals are shorter and the prices lower.

My kids enjoy Alt. 95. The prices are considerably lower, but so is the quality of the cuisine. It isn%26#39;t bad, though, just not earth shattering. The seafood platter is exceptional and there is some thing magical about dinig with Paris at your feet.

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We had lunch there, $250.00. I enjoyed every minute of it. The table next to us had a 5 year old and a 7 year old. They were French and adorable. It didn%26#39;t seem to be a problem. As for dress, I saw everything from jeans to suits.

Have a great time. I hear dinner is about $400 -$600 for 2. If you can afford it do it.

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Well behaved and well-parented children will always be welcome in Parisian restaurants...and ill-behaved poorly parented chilrden will (unfortunately) be tolerated.

Le JULES VERNE offers bith Luncheon and Dinner prix fixe menus..as well as ala carte. These prices do NOT include beveragege or the 15% added gratuity. To help you to approximate the costs--

Le JULES VERNE sample menu

www.bestrestaurantsparis.com/resto.php…

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Please take a look at my Trip Report (just posted) about my trip with my 12 year old daughter. We did not eat at Jules Verne but we did eat at Altitude 95 and loved it. The food was very good and the views were spectacular! They have a children%26#39;s menu which indicates that they are accepting of children but they also have some delicious entrees on the adult menu that an 11 year old may appreciate. We intend to recommend the experience of dining at Altitude 95 to everyone we know who is visiting with a child (and even those who are visiting without children).

As for Jules Verne, my daughter is an adventuresome eater. She is not picky and dines with us in some of the better restaurants in New York City. Having said that, I am not sure that the exceptional quality of Jules Verne versus the good quality of Altitude 95 will be that distinguishable to an 11 year old. If you want to eat a Jules Verne because YOU want to enjoy that level of quality, then by all mean take your daughter. We have done this with our children and they have always enjoyed themselves. But if the purpose is to provide her with a memorable experience, in my opinion, I would save the extra money and dine at Altitude 95. Moms

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Thank you everyone for replying to my question.Having only one child, my daughter is used to going out to restaurants with us. She is a bit of a picky eater though, so maybe Altitude 95 might be better. The main reason we want to eat at the Eiffel Tower is for the experience of the atmosphere, of course the quality/price etc of the food is important, but we really want to just enjoy the ambience and have a memorable experience. I gather from the posts that Altitude 95 is probably suitable for what we want. I probably should of said all of this before. Oh well.Having said that, should I book at Altitude 95 for dinner?

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I would book as soon as possible. I was told by our hotel conceirge that there reservations must usually be booked three months in advance during the busy season. He told us that during the busy season you need to book Jules Verne a year in advance. We enjoyed lunch at Altitude 95 and were able to get a reservation on the day we wanted to dine. Granted we were in Paris on a weekday in January.

The children%26#39;s menu included a choice of chicken or ham with french green beans or french fries and a choice of vanilla ice cream or chocolate cake. I forget the price (maybe 12 Euros?) but it was reasonable for the view. The bread was delicious!

Have a great time! Enjoy! Moms

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Thanks Moms. Can you make reservations online or do you have to phone?

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I emailed Altitude 95 to ask the same question, you need to call them. Here is their reply:

Madam, Sir,

WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE ANY RESERVATIONS BY MAIL

But you can do it by phone 01 45 55 20 04 or by fax 01 47 05 94 40

From monday to saturday lunch we have two menus 21.50 euros pp (starter+main

dish or main dish+dessert) and 27.70 euros (starter+main dish+dessert)

For dinners, sundays and days off the menu is at 50 eruos pp.

best regards

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The prices quoted are interesting. We ordered off of a regular, ala carte menu. They did have a prix fix lunch menu but we were not required to order off of it.

I am glad to know that we must call the restaurant directly for a reservation. I will make sure to do that prior to our next visit, which I hope will be soon!

Porte de Vanve or Marche aux Puces?

I want to check out one of these flea markets but probably not both of them. Which one is the better experience?

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You question is not very clear (Porte de Vanves is a location, %26quot;marché aux puces%26quot; means flea market) but I%26#39;m guessing that you want to compare the marché aux puces de la porte de Vanves, with another one, probably the one at Saint Ouen/Porte de Clignancourt. There%26#39;s also one at the Porte de Montreuil.

As I remember it, the Porte de Vanves flea market has more antiques and bric-à-brac; the larger flea market at Saint Ouen/Porte de Clignancourt has much more, but the quality is often lower: in addition to antiques, also old and new (cheap) clothes, shoes, army surplus, and just plain rubbish. And don%26#39;t forget the food, counterfeit designer stuff, smuggled cigarettes...

So it depends on what you%26#39;re looking for!

http://pucesdevanves.typepad.com/

http://www.parispuces.com

General info (in french) about all the markets in Paris: paris.fr/portail/…

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I disagree with the quality at Clignancourt. I think you are confusing the street market outside of the flea market as part of the flea market. Clignancourt to me is more like an antique mall with many permenant stands. It is giant and you can find just about anything you like. However, these people are antique dealers so dont expect bargain prices. You can get some top quality antiques here.

In contrast, Vanves is more of your traditional street flea market with vendors that show up in the early am and spread out their wares. I like both personally and I think it really depends on what you are looking for. Vanves can still have a few %26quot;bargains%26quot; and some things can be very nice.

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Sorry that was an unclear question. I did mean to compare the two flea markets mentioned. I am leaning towards the one near Porte de Vanve...is it worth the trip to that part of town?

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Paris is compact, its not really a trip to go anywhere in Paris.

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I know that you can also find good-quality antiqes at Porte de Clignancourt - mainly at the antique stores around the rue des Rosiers. (there are about a dozen %26quot;marchés%26quot;, big buildings with a lot of antique dealers) - but to reach them you will probably pass through the open-air part of the market where also a lot of other stuff is sold.

Clignancourt/St. Ouen can be very busy, Vanves is smaller and quieter. Vanves prides itself being the only flea market within Paris proper - after all, the Clignancourt/St. Ouen markets are mainly in the St. Ouen suburb, just outside the périphérique. Both are worth the trip, but I would say that, unless you%26#39;re looking for something specific and have a lot of time, the Porte de Vanves market is nicer.

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I prefer Porte de Clignancourt flea market. I find antique buttons , postcards, and metal items, and many other items there and (tapesptries).

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I haven%26#39;t been to Porte de Clignancourt markes but have been a few times to the one at Porte de Vanves, so I cannot compare them. However, I like the %26quot;villagey%26quot; feel of the Vanves market as it has mainly bric a brac and while I have only bought a few little things it is great fun wandering around.

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Porte des Vanves has more the feeling of %26quot;someone went up to the attic and found some stuff to sell%26quot;, whereas at Clignancourt there are more professional dealers with real shops and it es quite expensive (one dealer told me 50 Euro for an old photographie *crazy*: got a similar one in an online-auction for 3 Euro ...)

If you are interested in an old chandelier from a chateau or a chest of drawers in Louis XI-style, go to Clignancourt.

If you just want to browse and get a unique souvenir, go to Porte des Vanves ...

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My wife and I have been to both.. Porte de Vanve is much smaller but truly is a Flea Market.. Get there early..

Marche aux Prix is massive but is certainly worth a visit also..March Aux Prix also is loaded with Scam Artists but has unbeleiveable collectabiles.

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Removed on: 2:17 pm, September 04, 2009

weather

hi all

could anyone please tell me what the weather is like in the dordogne during july and august? we are staying at a caravan park near mussidan..

many thanks in advance

sam

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USUALLY it is very sunny and hot in the summer months often reaching between 90-100F, or 30-37 C, Humidity around 65-75 is common. Luckily it does cool of in the late evenings.

This is a guide line, and the weather can suprise or shock at any time.

Enjoy yor holiday.

S.R

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many thanks for that s.r... i am really looking forward to our hols as we went to the ardeche last year and we were in the mountains and to be frank,it was bloody awfull weather...

many thanks

sam

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This must be the worst summer EVER!!!

Rain almost every day with thunderstorms every other day. After saying this, we%26#39;ve just had 3 days without rain and it%26#39;s been wonderful.

We can%26#39;t go on like this - rain has got to stop sometime. I reckon next week??????????

Keep an eye on site www.meteo.fr but there are many others. It%26#39;s actually warmer out than in tonight.

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The weather will be what the weather will be................ it is becoming more and more unpredictable. April was brilliant, May and June have been very dissapointing.

The only answer is to decide to enjoy your holiday whatever the weather..... the reality is it is too late to change your holiday

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Removed on: 11:20 am, September 04, 2009

Here is 10 Day Itinerary

Here%26#39;s how we%26#39;ll celebrate our anniversary in Paris in case it%26#39;s helpful to anyone else...happy travels! I welcome any feedback!

Our First Anniversary Trip to Paris

Saturday- 8th Arondissement

Arrive in Paris in morning 7:55am Take taxi to Splendid Etoile Hotel

Have some brunch at nearby café La Samaritaine (best rooftop café-Bourne Identity)

Do some basic staples shopping (wine, etc..)

Stroll around our area, walk up to the Arc de Triomphe %26amp; head to the Champs Elysees until we reach the Egyptian obelisk at Place de la Concorde to see the views. Rest at Jardin de Tuileries.

1st Anniversary Dinner at Goumard

7:15pm; 9 rue Duphot +0142603607

Entertainment at Slow Club (jazz cellar near Jardin de Tuileries)

Sunday- 7th Arondissement

Eiffel Tower 9am-midnight

Musee d’Orsay 9:30-6pm

Hotel des Invalides 10-7pm

Musee Rodin 9:30-5:45pm

Evening: Seine River Dinner Cruise

US – Top of Eiffel Tower (at night) - Paris Lights Tour – Seine River Cruise

Entertainment at Le Duc des Lombards Jazz Club

Monday- 1st Arondissement

Musee de Louvre 9am-6pm

Lunch at Café Marly inside the Louvre

Jardin du Palais Royal

Dinner at Dauphin at 7:30pm +0142604011

Entertainment at Baiser Sale jazz, rhythm %26amp; blues cellar (free entrance on Mondays)

Tuesday-

Day trip to Versailles

Dinner at Maree du Versailles at 7:30pm +33130217373

Wednesday-4th Arondissement

Pont Neuf (oldest bridge)

Notre Dame 9:30-7:30pm

Ice cream at Berthillon 31 rue St. Louis en Ille 10am-8pm

Sainte- Chapelle daily 9:30-6pm

Conciergerie daily 9-6pm

Dinner at Chaumiere en I’lle 7:30pm +0143542734

Thursday-

Day Trip to Giverny

Lunch at Terra Café in the Museum at 1pm +33(0)232519461

Dinner at Les Fleur 7:30pm + 0232511680

8:15am 45 min. by train to Vernon then to Giverny return by 8:45pm

Friday-18th Arondissement

Musee de Monmarte Tues.-Sun. 10-6

Basilique du Sacre-Couer 6:45-11pm

Marche aux Puces de Clignancourt- Paris’ most famous flea market

Dinner at Cottage Marcadet at 7:30pm +0142577122

Saturday-3rd Arondissement

Musee Picasso

Musee Carnavalet

Dinner at Pamphlet 7:30pm +0142723924

Sunday-5th Arondissement (Latin Quarter)

Jardin de Luxembourg (epitome of French landscaping) Wed.-Mon. 9:15-5:45

La Seine Boat Trip (daytime) daily 10,11:15,12 %26amp; every half hour from 1:30-7

leaves from Pont Neuf

Lunch at Réminet (Le) 1pm +0144070424

Pantheon

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This looks like a fun trip. A couple of things: Samaritaine is closed down (sorry), although you will find lots of cafes near your hotel that would be perfect for a light meal. When you go to the Pantheon, consider taking the climb to the top -- it%26#39;s a wonderful view over Paris! This itinerary is loose enough to allow lots of time to just walk around, people watch, sit in cafes, etc., so should be great!

Have a really good time!

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Just a suggestion: switch Saturday (3rd/4th arondissement) and Sunday (5th Arondissement). The Marais is very active and fun on Sunday, Bastille market is a great market (from 7am-3pm I think)and Place des Vosage is a nice picnic spot. All the shops are open with great boutique shopping the museums are open on Sunday.

Cheers,

Deb

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Thanks MOM --you even landed on the right day for my 10 day trip!

Things I%26#39;ve read about:

The musee d%26#39;Osay has a E15 lunch menu in an elegant restaurant.

On Sundays the flower market is supposed to turn into a bird market on the ile de Cite (Notre Dame)

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Felschurch -- what you have read about the flower/bird market is correct (and it%26#39;s a fun area in any case, with an Art Deco entrance to the Metro (great photo op).

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NYorkiemom

On %26quot;our %26quot; LOL visit to the 5th %26quot;we%26quot; need to add Deyrolle at 46 Rue du Bac--a store that has stuffed animals(real) and is reportedly very interesting.

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I had to laugh at this note.....I%26#39;m a planner too. But one thing you should keep in mind is that above all else, you need to simply enjoy the moment.

Sometimes the best laid plans get messed up and perhaps a chance walk in one direction will open up yet another Paris experience. It%26#39;s nice to have a list of %26quot;things to do%26quot; but don%26#39;t get so caught up in the details that you end up getting upset if it all doesn%26#39;t transpire.

Fair warning that while it is possible to hit the ground running, despite the overnight flight, Day 2 will often find you in bed quite early. I have vivid memories of my husband calling my hotel room at 4 pm and I was sound asleep!

I also agree about Marais. It%26#39;s a great thing to do on Sunday if you love to shop. Another thing to add to it is a walk around Il de Cite. Grab the ice cream cone, watch some of the Sunday street performances if you%26#39;re lucky to catch them, and then head for the shopping spree.

Enjoy!

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The 6th Arrondiissement, Rue de Seine-some mornings there are vendors selling fresh fruit, there are also wonderful cheese and bread shops in that area, it is great to pick up somethings and stroll through town and find a place to picnic, such as the Luxembourg Gardens. Don%26#39;t forget to look at various posters around the city, we once saw a poster advertising a concert and saw a beautiful concert in a church.

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MOM,

My itinerary looked similar to yours with the opening/closing times as well as the metro stations. It was really helpful to have it all printed out when we got there because it saved a lot of time and if we did change plans we still had the times to refer to with out having to flip through a bunch of travel guides. I also put the day the Louve and Orsay were closed and the days they were open late so we could pop in if we wanted to.

Good work!

Deb

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%26quot;This looks like a fun trip.%26quot;

Totally disagree!

%26quot;I had to laugh at this note.....I%26#39;m a planner too. But one thing you should keep in mind is that above all else, you need to simply enjoy the moment.%26quot;

Totally agree!

You have made your holiday in Paris seem like a military exercise, with all the waypoints defined in advance.

Life isn%26#39;t (or shouldn%26#39;t be) like that. By all means have some major objectives in mind for your visit, but only a small number. Try to fit in your major objectives when you are there; but be fluid, and go with the situation and whatever comes up.

If you stick rigidly to a predefined schedule, you risk (IMHO) spoiling your visit.

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As far as the museums go, this looks like a great plan. I would suggest the Museum Pass, if you haven%26#39;t already thought about it. It will save you time in the lines at the Louvre and the D%26#39;Orsay - and it might allow for some other museums and monuments on your travels as well.

train travel questions

I just booked my train travel for my family of five from Paris to Frankfurt. I am not sure what I need to bring other than my credit card and email confirmation to pick up the tickets. The email refers to: %26quot;To collect your ticket, please bring the file reference %26quot;,%26quot; of the associated name below, and the bank card used for online payment. %26quot; What is the file reference? What does that mean?

Anyone?

Thanks

Gibby

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The email conirmation and the same credit card will suffice.

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Assuming you booked through the SNCF website;

The file reference is the 6 charactor %26quot;Référence%26quot; usually consisting of uppercase text, eg; %26quot;ABCDEF%26quot;. It appears in the confirmation email after booking online.

Double-check your confirmation. In some cases, you only have a few days to pick up your tickets after online booking depending on the type of fare you chose. We have paid dearly for not reading the fine print. Many train reservations made through the SNCF in France require picking up tickets within a few days of the internet booking.

If you don%26#39;t have any extraordinary restriction on your fare, you only need to print a copy of the confirmation email you received from the SNCF and have your tickets issued at the train station prior to departure.

The SNCF requires that you use the same credit card that you used to book the journey to pick up your tickets.

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OK now you have me nervous. We are not travelling until the 24th of August! There is nothing in the fine print about picking them up soon. It just says%26quot;you are invited pick up this item in a SNCF botique or train station%26quot; The translation is not great. I will bring the email and the credit card.

How early should we arrive at the station?

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It sounds like you%26#39;re OK. Bring the original credit card used to make the booking and your passport to pick up the ticket.

If all is in order, you need to arrive, validate your ticket, and board before, but right up till just before the train doors close and the train pulls away. In reality, unless you stop by a boutique or station prior to departure to have your tickets printed, you need to build-in some time (up to an hour) to stand in line at the ticket window at the station.

Once you have the tickets in hand, you will need to %26quot;validate%26quot; them by inserting them into one of the yellow machines at the head of the train platforms before boarding the train. The machine will stamp a time and date on the ticket.

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Thank you so much for the information. I didn%26#39;t know about the validating part. I appreciate your help.

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Removed on: 12:19 pm, September 04, 2009

Shopping with a Teen Fashionista

So the problem is, my fifteen year old is all about fashion and I know close to nothing. I promised her we could shop (at least window shop). I%26#39;d welcome any and all suggestions. She is quite tall and so unlikely to fit Paris clothing, which I%26#39;m not sure she believes me. Is there some area I can take her where she might actually find something she could wear? I%26#39;d like this to be fun, not frustrating.

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Hi Ann -

I took my teenage fashionista niece to Paris in April. The girl thought she%26#39;d died and gone to heaven!

Primarily, we stayed around the St. Michel/St. Germain Blvd area. There are dozens of small boutiques and teen-oriented shops - some are right on the Blvd and some are on all of the narrow winding side streets all in that area. You could easily spend an entire day wandering in here and she will go out of her mind with all of the choices. (In fact, we spent an entire day, and then she kept insisting we go back day after day...)

There is a very wide variety of quality and price points to choose from. She can go into the more upscale Izod shop, or choose the %26quot;cheap trendy%26quot; places. And/or alternate between them.

In one small boutique on St. Germain (by the corner of Rue de Buci), there is a great selection of eclectic yet fashionable dresses, tops and skirts, and my niece was very, very impressed with the way she was taken care of so personally by the shopkeeper (as opposed to how we are typically ignored in the US), and I truly believe it was her first experience in finding clothes that were a proper fit and well-tailored. (She is also tall.) The shopkeeper took great care in making sure she was not selecting clothes that were inappropriate for her age (I had let my niece go in on her own with a credit card - I%26#39;m a daring aunt, aren%26#39;t I?)

And of course, take her for a stroll along Champs Elysee. She may not actually buy anything in Louis Vuitton, but it%26#39;s imperative that she can tell her friends back home that she shopped there. There%26#39;s also a Sephora that you could get lost in - and they have make-overs, so maybe if you have a rainy day, it would be an amazing way for a fashionista teenage girl to spend a couple of hours!

Have a great time! I promise you she will NOT be frustrated.

And one last thing to think about - fashion nowadays is not always about the garment itself, but about accessories (just read an article about how the major fashion houses are putting a real emphasis on accessories as they have a great profit margin and everyone wants them.) So - if you see she is getting frustrated finding something to fit her tall frame - maybe suggest she carefully choose a few fabulous accessories that she can jazz up her present wardrobe with?? A wonderful bag, or earrings and a necklace... If she chooses a nice piece of jewelry, she will have it forever, as opposed to a pair of jeans that she%26#39;ll outgrow in a year.

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I just returned Thursday from Paris with my 18 year old daughter. While she didn%26#39;t buy any clothes(they are very different than here......probably a couple years ahead of us) she did buy plenty of shoes and purses and earrings/bracelets/beads........plus lots of perfume. She even bought an Hermes scarf which was a most memorable moment for me as it was proof positive that my last born was growing up. She said she will wear it forever.....she will.........I still wear one from a trip to Paris when I was 19.

She enjoyed visiting the fashion houses.......and her favorite department store was Galeries Lafayette.

I%26#39;m sure your daughter will enjoy all Paris has to offer!

Dana in VA

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Removed on: 12:16 pm, September 04, 2009

Returned Last Night after 8 days in Paris

We had a wonderful time! We didn%26#39;t do much on the tourist side.........did take a night Seine boat ride. We spent our time up one side street and down another.....hit the antique flea markets on the weekend......walked...stopped and looked.....stopped and drank....stopped and ate......visited places that I doubt many tourists hit unless they are like me and courious to get off the beaten path.

Our hotel was Hotel de Varenne. It was a wonderful sweet little hotel.......spotless, air conditioned, had a safe/refrigerator/tv with dvd player. The bathroom was large and nice. It was in a great area with a bakery next door........a little grocery acrosst the street and several restaruants on the same street. It is in the government district and was safe safe safe......police on every street corner! It was a 20 minutes walk to the Eiffel Tower and about a 10 minute walk to the Rodin Museum.

It%26#39;s late and I%26#39;ll post more tomorrow.

Dana in VA

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Looking forward to the rest of your report!

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Yes, would like to hear more about your trip too! We will be in Paris in early November and while we plan to see the major attractions, we are also %26quot;off-the-beaten path%26quot; types so I%26#39;d love to hear more about your non-touristy trip!

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Thanks, Dana, for the quick comments about your recent Paris trip. Will look forward to reading more.

I bet you that you will be planning another visit soon!

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labjessie, sounds like my kind of vacation. A vacation without an itinerary, just stroll/eat/drink around and see where the day takes me. Love that you did that. Of course I will be seeing a few things but I sort of decide where and when mostly a day ahead of time! Looking forward to hearing more.

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Wow........I just read my original post and cringe at the poor spelling.......just shows how tired I was after the trip! Although I didn%26#39;t visit the %26quot;tourist%26quot; spots I did use %26quot;The Great Paris WalkPack%26quot;. I ordered it on Amazon and it was wonderful. Each pamphlet represented an area of Paris.......The Left Bank.......Right Bank........Montmartre....Le Marais(and Islands of the Seine) and Latin Quarter. Each guide was great as it gave you an over view of the area you are visiting and a walking map of that area.

It was just a wonderful trip.......Paris is magical. My email address is DLS5775@aol.com should anyone have a question that I might be able to answer. Our hotel was so sweet and conveniently located.......clean and air conditioned and in probably the safest area of Paris....perfect, really.

Dana in Virginia

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Dana, what a great suggestion, I%26#39;m a a huge walker I think this may come in very handy for me. This is why I so love this site, thanks!

Why are%26#39;nt you sleeping....lol

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Removed on: 2:16 pm, September 04, 2009

Motor Home Travel help Required

Help required in planning %26amp; also ideas. My wife %26amp; I are in our early 50%26#39;s and from Australia are planning a trip from the U.K. into France and Europe August %26amp; September 2007. We have the use of a motor home for free but need the advise of fellow travellers for a itinary to travel from the U.K over to Europe along with all type of logistical suggestions,places to stay,places %26amp; sites to visit,must do%26#39;s,traps etc,also distances between places,time schedule, weather, clothing etc.

Question 1. Traveling from North Devon U.K. to Europe easiest way to transport motor home, costs etc

2. Do we need to pre book sites for a motor home in europe this time of the year?

3. Suggestions of places to visit ie arrive France then head over to Holland, Germany, Switzeland, Italy, back into France %26amp; back to UK late September.

Any internet sites or suggestions, don%26#39;t do%26#39;s would be most welcome

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I can answer some of your questions, but not all.

1) Check out the ferries %26amp; Eurotunnel for competitive fares,

http://www.poferries.com/tourist/

www.brittany-ferries.co.uk

www.speedferries.com

www.eurotunnel.com

2) Can%26#39;t help you, just google %26quot;caravanning in Europe%26quot; %26amp; you%26#39;ll find the relevant info.

3) Without knowing your likes %26amp; dislikes I couldn%26#39;t advise you where to go...you will be covering a lot of ground %26amp; lots of different sights. www.viamichelin.com will help you plan your journey, giving you distances, routes, journey times %26amp; costs. You may be better heading over to Holland then Germany, Switzerland, Italy %26amp; then coming back via the South of France %26amp; travelling back up to the UK.

One thing is for sure, you will see some beautiful places wherever you decide to go.

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Removed on: 4:20 am, September 04, 2009

Helpful site thanks to CheeseburgerParadise

CheeseburgerParadise posted the Rome version of this link on the Rome forum. It looks great.

blogs.iht.com/tribtalk/travel/globespotters/…

Penny

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Thanks, Penny. That was cool!

:-)

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Removed on: 1:18 pm, September 04, 2009

Eurostar Prices from UK

Thinking about our next trip I was looking at the Eurostar booking Web site, and it seems to me that there has been a price increase particularly on the Leisure seats (old first class). By choosing the right time of day and day of the week I have the past got a seat for £59, the best I could do was £99.50 (one way).

Anyone seen any official announcement or have I just been lucky previous times?

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Those fares are still available. Recently (Im not sure when) Eurostar changed the maximum naumbers of days ahead you can book - at one time it was 60. Now it is 120 days. This means the cheap fares disappear earlier. If youre going on the 7th sept and returning on the 14th sept you can still do the return for £59

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A couple of days ago I was visiting some friends who have rented a flat in Paris in August with their two young daughters, and they asked if I%26#39;d like to join them for a few days. As I didn%26#39;t want to impose on them in their fairly small apartment I searched the web for nearby hotels and, of course, Eurostar prices. As my stay coincides with the UK August Bank Holiday this was a difficult task. However, I found that one or two of the tour operators still had deals which meant I could get the whole package for less than I had anticipated. I booked with Cresta, and am staying at the du Marais Hotel from 23-26 (Thursday to Sunday), which worked out much cheaper than travelling on Friday and Monday, so a little flexibility can save you a lot. Travelling at the times I wanted (the 13.07 going as I have to get from Ipswich, and a mid-day train coming back), the whole lot is costing £237, and that%26#39;s with the single room supplement. If I%26#39;d booked separately the Eurostar prices alone would have not been much less than that. I think some of the major tour operators have allocations of seats on Eurostar, or at any rate some sort of special arrangement that allows them to charge reasonable rates even for relatively late bookers. Whatever the reason, I thought it a fairly good deal.

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Sorry everyone, I%26#39;ve just realised how old the original post was, as I came to the site from the wrong direction! Still, I think my observation may still be of interest.

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Wansteader - don%26#39;t worry about the response to an old post, your point is valid. I have notice this of late, in the early days of the Internet it was cheaper to do your own Eurostar and hotel, but the likes of Cresta have got their act together.

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Removed on: 11:20 am, September 04, 2009

Bus Ride to Normandy?

I am looking at taking a day when we are in Paris to go to Normandy for the day...anyone done this and had a good experiecne - rec%26#39;s on bus/tour service? will be first week in August......

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Several years ago I took a bus tour to Normandy

and it was excellent; good guide and the driving

was left to someone else; not me.

Left early in the morning from the Right Bank,

lunch with calvados, landing beaches,

American Cemetery and WWII Memorial Museum

in Caen. Returned to Paris about 10PM.

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Removed on: 2:19 pm, September 04, 2009

Rennes or St Malo

My husband and I are touring Brittany in September by car and will spend 3 nights somewhere that has some evening action - concerts, theatre, etc. Both Rennes and St Malo look like fascinating towns. We don%26#39;t go clubbing (too old!) but like some local %26quot;culture%26quot; things/ i.e. we enjoyed a one-hour Vivaldi concerrt at the Castle in Prague, a wild Impostors concerrt in England ... that kind of thing. Any opinions on which town would offer interesting entertainment?

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Toured Brittany several years ago and stayed in Rennes;

not a good choice as it turned out.

Visited St. Malo and realized that was where we should

have stayed.

Live %26amp; Learn

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Removed on: 2:19 pm, September 04, 2009

storage

hi, i want to store my travel bag somewhere secure in paris (where i%26#39;ll be staying the first two weeks in september) while i make the pilgrimage to santiago del compostela. has anyone have experience with this? maybe know a few places or prices etc? thankyou!

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I don%26#39;t know how up to date this info is but raileurope has a page on the subject; http://tinyurl.com/2o9zab

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thankyou metromole! most helpful!

Is the weather really cold and rainy??

I just checked the weather again for my trip - leaving Sunday - and it says it has been and will continue to be in the mid 60%26#39;s and rainy every single day. Has it really been like that? If not, what can I expect? Should I plan to do only indoor activities? Help please :)

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Take an umbrella with you every day. Have a spring jacket %26amp; sweater (or light fleece). Go out and enjoy Paris!!

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It was rainy when we were there, but warm.....we went everywhere we wanted to, the rain was usually short lived, then the sun came out! Paris is beautiful, rain or shine...just take an umbrella or poncho, and layer!

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Yes it has been cool with showers (not too many however and mostly at night). Feels a little bit like Fall right now.

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few days ago i felt like i was in november, it was freezing cold. now still quite cold but a jumper and jacket are enough (last day i needed gloves!!). but for sure the weather is shitty, very cloudy, not much sun. and we are almost in july!!

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We were in Paris from June 17-24 and the weather was much cooler than it had been at about the same time last year. The weather.com prognosis for our stay, which forecasted rain every day, didn%26#39;t happen. Instead, we had beautiful weather during half our stay and intermittent rain on a couple other days. This included some very heavy rain showers. Take the lightest fold-up umbrella you can find; a heavy sweater and a below the waist rain parka with hood. Don%26#39;t worry about what you look like in a rain parka in Paris; when it%26#39;s pouring rain, nobody will care. A poster above mentioned how cool it was this month: totally true. I was wishing for an extra sweater on several occasions!

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You are making me feel somewhat guilty. I was there in April, over Easter, and the weather was fantastic for 10 days. Even though the forecasts were for rain and clouds, it was nice and sunny and blue skies every day…save one…which was overcast %26amp; temps from low 60s to 80s by the time I left. I guess I really hit the ‘sweet spot’ for weather there this Spring. Hopefully it will change again soon. Don’t rely on the forecasts so much though, they were completely wrong during my visit. Bon chance.

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I just got back last night.

It rained every day, although most days there were simply a very few sprinkles, and some days it rained quite hard. I wore a light jacket every day.

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you were there and u didnt send me an email?? pixfield!!!! you could have come to see my where im doing my internship or go to 1728! vilain garcon.

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The weather patterns over Europe are changing - but one thing you can be sure of is rain for the next 7 days as the Wimbledon tennis champioships are taking place - it always rains then:-)

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This is funny, because I was planning my trip to Paris July 11, and decided to meet my French friend in Shannon Ireland to get away from the %26quot;heat%26quot; and no air conditioning. HUM, oh well, the heat could come at any time, and I suppose Ireland will be a nice change. The Paris weather is so fickle in fact, that I will be willing to bet that my trip in September to Paris could end up warmer than it is in July....go figure !

Well, be prepared for anything, Marleybermuda, with layers (just a light jacket or sweatshirt) and don%26#39;t forget your umbrella).

Well, welcome home Pixfield....will you be typing up a full report ??

Avoid the Crowds?

Hi. We will be in the vicinity of Mont St Michel on Sat. August 25 and Sun Aug 26. We are staying at Chateau de Bouceel which is about 18 km from MSM. I know it is a weekend in August and it will be crowded, but it%26#39;s our only opportunity for a visit. I%26#39;m looking for any suggestions for avoiding the crowds as much as we can, even though we won%26#39;t be staying on the mont. What time do the tour buses arrive and leave on the weekend? Also can anyone suggest a place to have a drink and/or dinner that would give us a good view of Mont St. MIchel, and where we could see the tide come in? I checked the tide chart and on Mon Aug 27 high tide is at 7:22 am and 1:41 pm. August 25 and 26th aren%26#39;t on the chart, but I assume that the tide must come in and out on those days as well, but presumably a little earlier that on Aug. 27th. Also we would love to go to a vespers service or a mass or anything else where we could see and hear the monks chanting. Is it impossibly crowded to do so? Is there any way to arrange this in advance? How do we go about attending a service? Thanks for your suggestions

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Your best bet is to go early or go late.

The day before Easter, we were touring the abbey (on our own) and there was a service going on in the chapel (up at the top, the tour naturally funnels through here). It was just a luck of the draw for us, but we sat through part of the service, with the nuns and monks kneeling on the floor, standing and chanting, ringing the big bell...... I%26#39;m sure there must be a list of time for services SOMEWHERE on the website. Once you enter the abbey (not the mont, but once you are past the ticket booth in the abbey itself) you can easily be at the chapel within 15 minutes.

Good luck figuring out the tide chart. Being from Boston, you probably understand tide charts better than I do here in Michigan, but I consulted the tide chart, and THOUGHT we would be there at hide tide, but it was rapidly receding when we got there. Either I was reading it wrong, or else once it hits maximum high tide it immediately starts to recede VERY rapidly. We arrived about 1 hour after the %26quot;high tide%26quot; time and the water was already a good way out from the Mont, and by the time we left there were only channels of water to be seen. And the high tide that day was a very HIGH high tide. So good luck figuring it out! Of course, I worried endlessly about whether it was best to be there at high tide or low tide or as the tide was changing, when the truth was it didn%26#39;t really matter. It was fun to walk out across the mud before we left, but boy is it wet, sloppy, SLIPPERY mud.

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We arrived at 4pm and while there were crowds most of them were on their way out. We were there on a Tuesday. My son and I took the tour of the Abbaye about 5:30- they recommend an hour for the self tour and thats about what it took us and we were able to return to the Cathedral for the 6:30 vespers which lasted about 45 min. When we came out the streets were almost deserted. Most of the shops also closed, but the restaurants were still open and one or two shops closed later. Since it was near Summer Solstice the light lasted till almost 11pm and was light again about 5am

www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/lieuxvisite_gb.htm states that services are held 7am (8 on weekends) 1200 and 6:30 (not on Sun). And that you must be at the entrance 15 min before. There were only about 10 of us present. I can%26#39;t imagine that would change much even on a weekend in August and there is PLENTY of room. We came to it before we had actually finished the tour so I don%26#39;t know if you would have to pay to attend services, but I expect not unless you attended the 1200 one. And YES it was wonderful, with the chants filling up the space and reverbrating around us. The service was in French and it is a real service and not a show, still one of the highlights of our trip.

I wouldn%26#39;t trust the tide charts online (on the site listed above). We experienced the same thing as DrDebi, what we saw and what the charts online stated were not consistent, nor did it match what was listed on the board just inside the gate. Maybe you could find a more reliable chart somewhere, but that one is not right.

The buses began arriving at 8 am but it still was not very crowded until about 9 or 10 when we left. I%26#39;d find out sunset and sunrise times if you are not staying on the island to know when it will still be light enough to visit. But be sure to come see it at night too when the flood lights are on.

I%26#39;m glad we were able to stay on the island for the fact that we experienced it without the crowds. The gate to the town is open and you are welcome to come anytime, it is just the abbaye and shops that have closing times, but the streets and ramparts are magically medieval and fun to explore.

Hope that helps.

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Regarding the tide schedule, this information is useful and accurate (as much as anything in Nature can be codified, indexed, and %26quot;scheduled%26quot;). However, it is VERY different from what most folks on the U.S. coastlines experience.

For one thing, you must be at the Mont 1 1/2 to 2 hours BEFORE the high tide listed on the chart in order to see ANY sort of change.

Also, not all %26quot;high%26quot; tides are equal at the Mont.... In referencing the chart, you will notice that not all days of the month are listed ... there will be no discernable difference between high and low tides visible from the Mont. (In other words, the water coming in from the bay doesn%26#39;t really make an impact to the Mont.)

Then there%26#39;s the column marked %26quot;Range%26quot;..... Anything 95 or above will show some movement and you should be able to see a change in the tides.

So, Mollykeene, checking the schedule for the days you mention in your post, you%26#39;ll see that there%26#39;s no tidal information given, but it does start up again on the 27th, with a tidal range of 107!!! A big tide, indeed! Since you%26#39;ll be there the day just before then, you MAY experience a decent high tide.

Just FYI, the highest tides are at the equinoxes (March/Sept), so you%26#39;re in prime position to hit upon the beginning of a good show.

I%26#39;ll be there in a few weeks myself, so will try to report back what I experience.

Hope you%26#39;re having fun planning .... that%26#39;s the best part of the trip (well, that and actually BEING there!! ;-)

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%26lt;%26lt;Also, not all %26quot;high%26quot; tides are equal at the Mont.... In referencing the chart, you will notice that not all days of the month are listed ... there will be no discernable difference between high and low tides visible from the Mont. (In other words, the water coming in from the bay doesn%26#39;t really make an impact to the Mont.)

Then there%26#39;s the column marked %26quot;Range%26quot;..... Anything 95 or above will show some movement and you should be able to see a change in the tides.%26gt;%26gt;

There was supposed to be over a 100 range the morning we were there. I was there 1 1/2 hr early and watched till there were no more sand bars and an hour later it was all gone again. It looked about the same as the afternoon before which was not listed on the chart. All I can say is that if that is the best you%26#39;ve got then the only tides worth watching are the spring and fall ones. And hopefully they will be able to finish the work to allow the water to flush out the silt so it will be better.

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kbecjeans: %26lt;%26lt;There was supposed to be over a 100 range the morning we were there%26gt;%26gt;

Not that I don%26#39;t doubt your information, but for the time period you were there (at least according to the date you gave in your posting about the Versailles gallery of glass), for the month of June 2007, the %26quot;range%26quot; goes from 74 to 89 to 72, at least according to the Mont St. Michel website%26#39;s tidal chart..... Not enough for you to have seen the change in tides. (ot-montsaintmichel.com/horaires_juin07_gb.htm)

Sorry that you weren%26#39;t able to witness the phenomenon.

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We have a B%26amp;B about 50 minutes from MSM and just about all of our guests visit. Sundays are always by far the worst days to go but almost any day in August is as bad as the next. For an example, we once had two French ladies who left the house at 9am and said they were going to visit MSM and have dinner on their way home. When they weren%26#39;t back by midnight we started to worry but they finally appeared at 1am. They said that they had decided to leave the Mont at about 5 (worst possible time!) and sat in a traffic queue to get out of the car park, for two and a half hours.

The coaches are there most of the day but all leave at about 5 ish so early evening is a good time to visit. It will get dark at about 8.30 to 9pm at the end of August so if you aim to get there about 5 you will be going against all the crowds and they also usuall have music in the abbey from 7pm most of the summer.

Have a good time.

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Removed on: 8:16 am, September 04, 2009

Travel Cost of Montpellier to Grand Rue Jean Moulin

I was wondering what the cheapest travel would be from Montpellier airport to Grand Rue Jean Moulin and how to get there. The options I saw are:

By taxi: 25 Euros

By Shuttle

By rail

Could someone tell me how I would get there if I chose to take the shuttle or the rail.

Thanks

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There is no railway station at Montpellier airport - yet.

The bus into the city costs €4.90 or €5.40 with a tram transfer. Trouble is the bus does not operate very frequently. The bus goes to the Place De L%26#39;Europe which is convenient for the trams and most buses for points onward. Details at http://www.montpellier.aeroport.fr/

Nice place, stayed there last week.

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Sorry - should have added that Grand rue Jean Moulin is just around the corner from the tram stop %26#39;Comedie%26#39; which is a short run from the Place de Europe tram/bus station.

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Removed on: 6:23 am, September 03, 2009

Self Tour D Day Beaches

Am traveling with my wife and two daughters 12 and 15 and we are intending to do a self tour of the D Day beaches at the end of July.

Home base is the Chateau Bouceel

Can you suggest:

1. A guidebook giving the highlights with some discussion of Canada%26#39;s role.

2. What sights we could see in a 4-5 hour day

Thank you

Andy

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Did a quick search and it seems that you are a little bit aways from the Canadian beaches. You should make your way back to Courselles sur mer. The juno beach centre is there. Canadian museum. They do great guided walks along the beach. Also it is not too far to the Beny sur Mer Canadian Cemetery and the cemetery near Faliase is about 30 minutes south.

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An excellent book for background information and actual tour routes, is Major and Mrs Holt%26#39;s Battlefield Guide to Normandy. Invaluable information on all the beaches, routes to travel, museum opening times and personal anecdotes from civilians and servicemen.

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Removed on: 1:18 pm, September 01, 2009

Your advice sought 2 days in Normandy

My wife and I will be in Normandy visit the Juno beach where my grand father landed on D day -

We will be arriving by train and don%26#39;t speak french, I would like to be as close to Juno as possible as I would like to be on the beach at Dawn - We are travelling in early January so we are aware it will be cold but I am still determined to do it , I have looked on websites and do not seem to be able to find a B %26amp; B that is located close to Juno beach

Any help would be really appreciated

Michael

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Have a look at this link :

www.sawdays.co.uk/maps/browsemap/france/04a/

These books (Special Places to Stay) are usually very reliable and they show at least 3 B %26amp; B %26#39;s that should be close enough to be on the beach in minutes by car. If you are not hiring one when there I am sure the owners would arrange a taxi for the short journey for you.

Yes it will be cold!!

Hope this helps

Neal

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As you know Juno is a section of beaches, that divides up into sectors, starts roughly at Arromanches-les-Bains in the west to St Aubin-sur-Mer in the east, do your Grandfather%26#39;s brigade or are you aware exactly where he came ashore?

The problem will be the month you%26#39;ve chosen as most small B%26amp;Bs will be closed for winter, but when I travel I always use Logis de France which I find is much nicer than large chain hotels

As for not speaking French the locals have enough English speaking visitors each year to help with requests.

http://www.logis-de-france.fr/uk/index.htm

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thanks bengodog -

my grandfathers job that day was to drive the boats in an out from the beach all morning, he died a few years ago and other then distorted memories of him telling me I don%26#39;t know exactly where he came ontot he beach later that day - I have with me a rock that he collected at the 50th anniversary event that was held in 94 and I would like to return it to the beach.

I really would like to somehow get a boat and be on the water looking into the beach at dawn but this is proving harder to arrange then first thought I guess because it is the middle of winter

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Certainly not the best month of the year to be trying this, probably best to try and sort out with a local fisherman when you arrive.

Good luck

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Sorry to say but I doubt that you will find anyone prepared to do this. Pleasure boats won%26#39;t be running at that time of day or year and here in France there is so much bureacracy that fishermen won%26#39;t have the licence or insurance to do it.

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Removed on: 9:17 pm, September 03, 2009

1st TIME VISIT - not to be missed monte carlo restaurants?

we will be in monte carlo for 3 nights, july 18, 19 and 20.

we are staying at the hermitage.

what are some good restaurant recommendations?

we are a couple in our late 40s and we live right near NYC so we%26#39;re used to good food. but we don%26#39;t want touristy places...and probably not any stuffy places either.

any ideas???

my google search has come up with zebra sqaure, polpetta, and baccarat...comments?

thanks!

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oopps i posted this on the wrong site. but same question for st. tropez. we will also be there for 3 nights in july...

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Removed on: 1:25 am, September 02, 2009

Parc Monceu area

We%26#39;ve booked an apartment within a few blocks of Parc Monceu. Close to a Metro, but how is the area for finding resturants and grocery stores? Safe?

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

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The 17th is a fairly wealthy arrondissement - from what I%26#39;ve read. There is a market street on rue de Levis, near M: Villiers.

You can locate the nearest vendors to your apartment by using the %26quot;proximitie%26quot; feature of

www.pagesjaunes.fr

Just try it - it isn%26#39;t hard to figure out.

Use terms like:

supermarche

alimentaire

boulangerie

patisserie

cafe

tabac

restaurant

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Its a beautiful upscale area. You should have no problems.

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It really depends specifically on where you are located in relation to Parc Monceau. If you are to the south, you%26#39;re going to be in a more business area that will be pretty quiet at night. The area to the west, while among the most beautiful %26quot;grand%26quot; areas of Paris, is a bit short on good restaurants (I know, I know, a handful of the world%26#39;s best restaurants are in that area, but one doesn%26#39;t generally do 3-star every evening).

If you%26#39;re to the north, especially the northeast, you%26#39;ll be near rue de Lévis and on the edge of Batignolles. There are many restaurants and shops in the area, as well as a large Monoprix at the corner of Lévis and rue des Dames.

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In Rue de Lévis I saw the most beautiful food-displays I have EVER seen in my life (meat, delikatessen, pastry, cakes, fruit, vegetables, bread, roast chickens, wine). I walked up and down the pedestrian part of the street 3 times with my eyes and mouth wide open just to stare and stare - it is so amazing !

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Our apartment is located on Rue de Claude Poulliet which appears to be a block or two from Rue de Levis so it sounds like we%26#39;re in a good location. Thank you everyone!

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I think I nearly bought the apartment you%26#39;ll be staying in. I do know of a rental there. Yes, you are just off rue de Lévis. There are many restaurants along rue des Damers. I%26#39;d specifically recommend Ripaille (I don%26#39;t know the address, but it%26#39;s on the south side of the street). You%26#39;ll also want to walk down to rue des Batignolles for a better sense of the neighborhood.

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We stayed twice on rue Lebouteaux, at one end of your street.

There is a Monoprix for groceries and, across from it, a separate Monoprix for sundries/clothes/ etc. There%26#39;s the aforementioned market street... a Pizza Hut delivery... quite a few cafes just walk around..

We liked a restaurant on blvd de Batignolles (just past Rome metro) called %26quot;le Gourmand 27%26quot;... small place, decent food.

All these notes are based on our trips in 1999.

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Thanks Truffant and Travelnutty!

I%26#39;ve written down the resturant names so we can try them out.

Thanks so much!

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You might also enjoy Aristide (rue de Rome on the west side of the railroad canyon)

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Hi there,

I think I might be staying in the apartment you have booked. Its the same street anyway. Sad to be leaving tomorrow after two weeks and enjoyed the area very much.

If you are still to have your trip and this is not too late, I hope this information helps:

I found Villiers the better Metro station from rue Claude-Poillet though you can also walk easily to Rome. The information counter though at Villiers is probably the least helpful in Paris. You will need to buy your Metro tickets there from the machine (scroll down to the bottom line of the machine to select English - the writing is quite small). You can also purchase the discount 10 ticket option off the machine. There is a change machine next to the ticket machine. I got help at larger Metro information counters for information on other matters such as how to get to Versailles for example.

Everything you want is in the area. Apart from restaurants there are many choices to purchase delicious food for your apartment at the rue de Levis fresh food markets (open every day except Monday - and only open until 1pm on Sunday). You will be spoilt for choices. For those staying outside the Monceau area a visit to the fresh food markets is also worthwhile (and they are less touristy than some of the markets too). There is also Monoprix supermarket (and across the street the clothing / general store). Wine shops include Nicolas on the corner of rue Lobouteux. I ate all over Paris but had an average only meal at Un Air de Famille (and would not really recommend it) although I enjoyed some lights meals (and found them to be the best of the local eateries) at the bistro in Villa de la Terrasse.

I also had my hair done in the area (after travelling for 6 weeks it couldnt wait any longer) and can recommend Helene @ Ceres, 106 rue des Dames (phone 01 43 87 27 34). I had previously tried to get my hair dyed at Galleries Lafayette. Ceres was nearly 1/3 of the price and did a better job than my hairdresser at home (sigh I could always fly to Paris every 4 to 6 weeks for coiffure...)

Question: need lodging in lavender areas in July -

I have a short time to finish finding lodging in Sault and Riez areas of Provence for July 13 - 15. Will be driving in to Grasse to stay there the 15th. Anyone have a reputable suggestion for bed and breakfast below 100 E or cute small hotel? I found a %26quot;Chateau du Grand Jardin%26quot; that looks great, but no reviews. It would be lovely to find a place with a pool. Help..

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Hi,

I suggest you

a charming guest room in Mazan, %26quot;A Capela%26quot;, 30 minutes driving for Sault en Provence.

Message sent by Alain .

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Have you taken a look at this one in Sault?

http://www.valdesault.com/

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Removed on: 12:16 pm, September 02, 2009

Transport from CDG to Hotel Des Grands Hommes

Going to Paris in 2 weeks for my 40th birthday, could you please advise on best route from the airport to our hotel.

Would also appreciate special places to eat and does anybody know of any good north african style restaurants for us to try out one evening?

Many thanks in advance.

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The simplest route from CDG would either be by taxi (anywhere from 45 to 55 Euros or so depending on traffic etc) but I would take the RER line B train to Luxembourg and walk the approximately 300 metres to Place du Pantheon at about 8.50 Euros each unless you have lots of luggage.

For restaurant advice, I would post a new thread with a question like %26quot;Good North African Restaurants near the Pantheon?%26quot; as people who have such suggestions will assume this question is just about transport to the hotel. If you search the forum for moroccan restaurants you will find other threads specifically looking for Moroccan food if that is what you would like. I had a very nice lunch at La Mosquee de Paris last October.

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In between rail and cab are the shuttle services. Air France to fixed points or door to door services like bee-shuttle.com for 15-25E.

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I just arrived home Thursday evening from 9 days in Paris. We took a cab from our hotel (Hotel de Varenne) which was near the Robin Museum. It was, with tip, exactly 50 Euros each way and worth every cent of it. I had read reports of people that had horror stories with Shuttle services......some never came. The advised the hotel that I needed a cab at 1pm the day we left and at exactly 1 in walked the driver.

Have fun!!

Dana in VA

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After a shuttle that didn%26#39;t show up at CDG we have taken taxis (Taxi Parisien) since then. As the previous poster said it is worth every eurocent.

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Removed on: 10:20 am, September 04, 2009

From London to Bayeux, overnight ferry or Eurostar?

We are considering both options. Has anyone experienced the overnight ferry? Just how comfortable are those reclining seats? Should we opt for a cab from Caen or a train?

We are pressed for time. Should we overnight via ferry or are we better off waiting for the next day and using Eurostar and getting in the afternoon? Should we pay for tickets in advance or wait until we are in London? Thanks in advance.

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Train from Caen to Bayeux is easy and not long in time--check SCNF (French train) schedule.

We are also considering ferry from Portsmouth/UK to Caen for first time--do you know anything about getting from Heathrow to Portsmouth (e.g., bus service)?

Peter

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I took the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg several years ago. I paid for the reserved seat. I was not comfortable in it at all and made a bed on the deck in order to get some sleep. However, I did it because I needed to save time and I arrived in France at 6:00 AM with a full day to sight see.

Try to stay away from the fast catamaran ferry. It is not reliable and you may have to change plans and take the normal ferry anyway.

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PS for peters...The best way to Portsmouth is the train from Waterloo station. Once you get to Portsmouth, you will need to take a taxi to the port. From Heathrow, you could take the Heathrow Express to Paddington (15 minutes) and then either the tube (Bakerloo LIne) or taxi to Waterloo.

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Six of us just returned from France yesterday. On June 25 we took the Eurostar from London (very easy to get to the Waterloo station - we opted for two cabs from the hotel because we all had luggage - but you can do it by subway). The Eurostar was a very comfortable ride - about 3 hours - into Paris at Gare du Nord. We then had to get to Gare St Lazare for the train to Bayeux. We chose to walk - about 30-40 minutes but walking with all of our luggage was ok, but many taxis are available - between the stations. We then caught the train to Bayeux - which is about a 2 hr ride. This train is a %26quot;local%26quot; so it makes stops along the way, including Caen. It is easy and I recommend the Eurostar highly.

By the way - if you travel after November, the Eurostar will leave from a new London station - St Pancras, not Waterloo. And please get all of you tickets, Eurostar and to Caen before you leave the States.

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If you intend to pack in as much site-seeing as possible when in France then don%26#39;t book a recliner on the overnight ferry - you will never get any sleep. You would be best to book two 4 berth or one 4 berth and one 2 berth cabin and get a decent night%26#39;s sleep.

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If you are starting at Heathrow, Waterloo is NOT the best way to get to Portsmouth.

Get the railair bus to Woking, from where there are trains every half hour to Portsmouth - you will be on one of these before you would have got to Waterloo going via London.

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Removed on: 6:19 am, September 04, 2009

Cycling from Le Havre to Honfleur

Can anyone tell me if bikes are allowed on the main causeway or bridge (A29) -- I can%26#39;t tell from the map -- connecting Le Havre to Honfleur?

If not, according to my calculations, it would be about 50kms. or more to take the long way around.

Thanks,

Linda

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Am 99.9% sure the answer is yes, I%26#39;ve been over it several times and know for sure you can walk over it.

Their web site states free to pedestrians and two wheel users.

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Thanks very much for the info. I did find one website that shows the bridge -- looks rather high -- it could be quite exciting to cross.

Regards,

Linda

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Removed on: 8:18 pm, September 03, 2009

heading to saint tropez

hi me and my friend are heading to saint tropez in the middle of july. is there anything which must be seen or done? also, we had in mind a bit of travelling...is there any tours we would be able to hop on/hop off. we would like to see the area..st tropez, monte carlo, nice, or over the border to italy? also we are goig to be on a budget, are there any hostels or budget accomodation around the area? any help would be very much appreciated :)

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duh...not monte carlo - monaco...

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Removed on: 10:21 pm, September 03, 2009

Mother of the Bride dress shopping???

We will be in Paris during November 2007. Our daughter is getting married in May 2008. I thought I might try to find a dress while in Paris. I don%26#39;t need Haute Couture. So, can any of you shoppers give me an idea or two where I might luck out and find something?

Will spring clothing even be in the stores in November?

Oh - nothing funky - please.... I%26#39;m 59 and tend to go to the more classic lines.

Thanks!

Carolynn

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I am afraid you will not find spring clothes in November, only the winter collection!

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Clothes in Paris cost a fortune!!! I couldn%26#39;t believe my eyes

Good luck

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do a search on this, Phread did a complete shopping story line in Feb/March with several different Threads (no pun intended) here%26#39;s one.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k99267…

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There are a few Bridal shops in the Marais area close to Place des Vosage and Rue Francs Bourgoies. I can%26#39;t remember which streets but I did see 2 or 3 of them. Maybe check the pagesjaune.com website and do a search. I actually peeked in and saw a beautiful bride to be dressed in her gown getting all teary eyed, so sweet. Good luck.

Deb

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Have fun dress shopping in Paris, and congratulations on being an MOB!

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It will be the wrong time of the year to look for a Spring dress.

I agree the price of a dressy dress will pop your eyes! Much more to choose from and much more reasonably priced right ere at home.

My French cousin bought her mother of the bride dress right here in the USA and keep saying good quality, wonderfully designed and great prices!

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Ok - MOB here...

I am not looking for haute couture/designer clothing. And, I really don%26#39;t know what a mother of the bride dress actually is. I am thinking more along the line of a classic suit or dress.something I can wear again and again...and I just thought that there might be a few places that might be worth checking out. I don%26#39;t mind paying for good lasting quality though.

I do remember reading that thread from Phred, so will go back to it. And I suppose if spring clothes are not out, then I will wait til they appear here.

I%26#39;ll just play it by ear.....who knows? I may be surprised!!

Thanks!

Carolynn

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As one MOB to another, I believe that your dress can be whatever you want it to be. MOB styles differ, and I believe that everyone should wear what she feels best in. I hope you find something that makes you happy, whether you find it in Paris or in one of your local stores.

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In November they will already have bridal/birdesmaid/MOB for the spring out. Due to Brides for the are already purchasing their gowns for spring weddings.

Remember bridal studios always have to be a season ahead of regular clothing.Can someone please help this MOB with just some store ideas that is all she is looking for please....

Cheers,

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Oh .... Shoesy....

Congratulations on you too being a MOB!!! Have you lost your sanity yet? I just always have a bottle of wine or scotch at my side!

We don%26#39;t belong to a synagogue in our community and trying to find a rabbi to perform an inter-faith ceremony..... aarrgghhh!!!!

Carolynn

Nice, Monte Carlo and Cannes

I will be in Nice in 2 weeks time. I would like to travel to monte carlo and cannes. I will only have 2 days to visit these 2 places. Could someone suggest of what is the best way and less expensive way to travel. I kinda get the idea but would like to know more of what i should do around these areas.

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You have plenty of a half-day fro Monte-Carlo and one day is OK for Cannes if you don%26#39;t have much time. Both are easy to reach by train (and kinda cheap too).

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As well as being generally unreliable the trains are subject to intermittent strike action at the moment, which seems likely to continue for the forseeable future. For example, the week before last they were off for three days. Depending where you are staying in Nice, it might be better to use the buses which will take you almost anywhere for 1.30 euros. These are not completely reliable either but as they are timetabled to run much more frequently than the trains, even if one is missing you shouldn%26#39;t need to wait too long.

On my last visit it looked as if the roadworks at Cap de Nice, between Nice and Villefranche, on the way to Monaco, were nearing completion, which ought to simplify things.

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Removed on: 2:17 pm, September 04, 2009

train or plane?

we%26#39;re going to paris next thursday (5th) for 5 days and we%26#39;re trying to decide whether to travel by train or plane

anyone have any pros or cons? or have any preferences?

(we%26#39;ve left it abit late, we know!)

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If it%26#39;s not too late, then getting an EasyJet would be a good option. It%26#39;s cheap and reliable. Trains are great of course, and that is how I got to Paris last year, but that was after travelling to London for the first part of my holiday. But if you are travelling from northern England, then getting a budget airplane there would be both convenient and cheap.

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You may have left it too late to get a good deal on a budget airline but its worth a try.

Personally I prefer to travel by train to Paris as it takes you straight to the center of the city with none of the hassles of the airport.

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Hi - We just did this ourselves. We went one way by plane and one by train. Train was great - we loved driving thru the countryside on the Eurostar. It was beautiful and the station was very handy. The plane on the other hand - Gatwick was a 45 minute drive. By the time we paid taxes on the ticket and paid for the taxi to go all the way out there, we had paid just as much for the plane as we had for the train - and not had near as much joy in the trip. Have a wonderful time - I wish it were me!

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Removed on: 11:23 am, September 04, 2009