Weekend break in Paris

Skyegal · Weekend break in Paris

Hubby and I have booked flights to Paris at the end of September. Fly from Glasgow (Prestick) into Beauvais airport with Ryanair. We will have to get the Ryanair transfer but to take us the 1hr journey into central Paris. Anyone done this before?

The bus takes us to Porte Mailliott area. Anyone know if that is a good area to base our weekend in so that we can do the usual touristy things?

Any hotel recommendations around there (nice but not too expensive) would be much appreciated.

Doonhamer32

Skyegal, the Porte Maillot/Les Sablons area is on the west side of the city, between L'Arc de Triomphe and La Defense. Porte Maillot Metro station is on the same line as the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, as well as L'Arc and La Defense. Anything else is easily reached by changing lines.
It's a pretty reasonable area to stay, but I'm afriad I can't help you with any hotel recommendations

THE THIEF OF BAD GAGS

Montparnasse area is great its south of the river but the main Metro hub for the southern part of the city is there , the hotel Transcontinental is brilliant and not too expensive , its on Avenue du Maine and very central , the matro is a lot better than the tube in London and easier to understand even thou itsw in French

next door to the hotel is a amazing typical french restaraunt and i highely reccomend , not expensive and food to die for

also to help get a Batobus ticket for your stay they go along the seine and they are like busses you just hop on and hop off

anything else just ask i used to go to Paris for work about 10 times ayear so know it quiet well

Skyegal

Thanks Doonhammer and TOBG.

We arrive Thursday evening and have all day Friday and Saturday (until 7pm) in Paris. Want to see as much as possible as have heard great things about the city.

Coming from Skye I have hardly ever had to use the underground never mind anything else. But if the metro is as easy to use as you say then should be okay.

Like the idea of using the boats on the Seine like buses. Sounds like a great way to see the city.

So what would be your top 5 things to see/do (bearing in mind we only have a couple of days)?

THE THIEF OF BAD GAGS

Top 5 must see in my opinion

Top of the Eiffel Tower , go first thing in the morning when the queues are low and the tour buses arent there yet

Notre Dame cathedral is a must as is the Sacre Couer

Arch de Triomphe defiante i prefer it early evening when its lit up and then a stroll along the Champs Elysee to the Place de la Concorde

Go to the Latin Quarter at night it is amazing and also the Pigalle area where the moulin rouge is , just be careful there not too late as it is the red light area and a bit seedy and has a few sex shops , go to the Moulin Rouge if you can its quite expensive but amazing , best is the SHOW only late at night , the meal and shoow is a bit of a con IMHO

The area caklled Marais is great as well and has a street whos name i have forgotten which is nothing but SHOE shops

have a look at this site http://www.paris.org/index.html which will help

a genral pointer is the area around the champs elysee is expensive to eat so try and go to Montmartre ,Flo Brasserie is a good place and typically French if you want a Mcds in Paris be aware that the one on the champs elysees has white signage the only one different in the world , but why bother with that go to typical french places all over , the latin quarter is expensive as well but look for PRIX DE JOUR menus for value

the Batobus http://www.batobus.com/english/boat-cruise-paris-seine.html as i said is the best way to get around between different monuments , just be aware i it is bad weather and raining they cant run as they cant get under the bridges

hope this helps

oh another thing lots of peopel find the parisians rude and ignorant they can be but try and speak french to them and they are ok , also at the mainline stations like Gare du Nord watch for pickpockets they are bad and dont get upset by the illegals begging in the metro stations they tend to have babies with them but its a complete con

Skyegal

Great advice there TOBG. Thanks very much. Will try to fit in as much as we can in the two days.

Doonhamer32

If you're visiting Notre Dame, why not visit Sainte Chapelle as well - it's a very old (12C?) chapel, located behind the Palais de Justice - you actually enter through a little door in the wall of the Palais. It's my favourite church in Paris, mainly because it's so architecturally simple.

Skyegal

Thanks Doonhammer.

Skyegal

Well we had a really great few days in Paris. Would highly recommend it to any couples planning a weekend away. Lots to see and all very accessible. Our Hotel was brill and in a great location. Will post review in Hotel section.

The Arch de Triomphe is amazing - as is watching the traffic whizz about it. How they don't all crash is beyond me. We spent ages just sitting on a bench chilling watching them all flying past.

Eiffel Tower is a must. Got the lift to the top. The views were amazing.

Then got the Batobus up river. Can get on and off as much as you want over the day. We went to Notterdam cathedral which is a fabulous structure with amazing stained glass windows. Then back on boat and round the Louvre. Popped in to see Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo statue. It is a huge place and you could spend a whole day just going round there.

back on bus and got off at Champs Elyssee and walked back to hotel from there.

Found the french people we came in contact with very pleasant and helpful. Neither of us have french but they all seemed to speak some english and we did make a point of saying bonjour and merci. Have to say that the food wasn't really to my taste but no real complaints either.

Carol

Glad you had a good time

Tango Bunny

Welcome home Moreen....Glad you had a good time

GoldenChippie

glad you had a good time!!