Gay Pari!

The RER is another train service in Paris similar to the metro. I was just there 2 weeks ago and used it from CDG to get to Disney and found it easy to navigate. Things are well sign posted and it's relatively easy. No air conditioning though but this is Europe and I forget that sometimes.

just received corraspondance from the hotel, they gave me their official website that has instructions on how to get there from the airport.  the also offer a pickup fro 35 euros.  that's about 15 cheaper than what i've read on estimates from taxi services.  but since we should only have our carry on luggage, we should be able to manage the RER.  my only concern is the wife is about 21 weeks pregnant now.  i just wonder if it would be less stressfull just to get a ride.  we'll have to wait and see what she thinks

just picked up a "pocket guide Paris" from the local book shop.  I think i got it figured out.  We can get the RER from DeGaulle to Gare Du Nord.  From there, get the metro to the Wagram station.  Seems easy enough, but i have a habit of over thinking things and screwing it up.

It is easy but let me tell you, I only saved a few euro for the timing and the crowding and the heat. Took a taxi back and was really glad I did. Seriously, with a 21 week pregnant person I wouldn't take the RER in the dead of Summer but that's just me

I have to say I have been to Paris three times and can not see what the fascination with the city is.  It's supposed to be the fashion capital and art capital and aside from the struggling artists selling their pictures on the sidewalk, I just can't see it. I have been to all the major attractions and museums.  The place is soooo expensive.  4-8 Euros for a bottle of water with dinner is outrageous!  Sure the beer is cheaper but I just don't drink much and have no desire to.  I have had horrible experiences every time I try to leave the bloody city too!  The first time put me off when we got on the train to go back to the airport and I was squashed like never before. It makes the Underground in London seem tame.  I was thrown up against the side of the train having to hold myself up as there was some girl sitting down below me and if I let go I would have fallen over.  They packed on so tight that people began yelling and the children were screaming.  I had to ride this way for over a hour.  Then this past weekend we went to the ticket counter and told the lady we needed a ticket to Orly airport. She gave us what we only assumed were the correct tickets and told us "you pay more for airport train when you get to antony station". When we got to Antony station to pay for and change to the airport train  the patrol would not let us through as they said we had the wrong tickets because we were out of the "zone" and demanded rather rudely we each pay a 25 Euro fine.  There was no way were going to do that!!  We did nothing wrong and tried to explain this is what the lady gave us. The rude french patrol said "if you don't pay we will call the police".  We said we ARE NOT paying a fine we are not responsible for!  We will glady pay the difference between the two places or go back to Pairs to buy the correct tickets. He said we were not going anywhere and  he then called the police (which we only would have been too glad to have a complaint too).  He called one of  his collegues over because apparently he couldn't understand all the English (no problem there, we were in his country and maybe should have known a few more french phrases). Luckily the other guy was a bit tolerant and said since we were tourists he would only charge us 25 Euros for the 3 of us.  We agreed to that because we figured that would have been about the difference in the tickets for each of us anyway.  So as you can see, I really don't care at all for Paris.  I know many of you have had pleasant trips and I could only wish we would have had the same luck.  I really don't ever want to go back unless I have to!

ouch, you don't paint a pretty picture. , but we figured we should go at least once before heading back to the US.

has anyone taken this "Roiyccie:(sp) bus?  can you get that from DeGaulle and where into the city does it take you?  Thanks for the info!

Naturally if someone has a bad experience it will make them think poorly of a place but don't let one person's experience put you off.  I have been to Paris twice this year and many times before and love it.  Yes it's not perfect and you can have issues, but there's so much to love about Paris that I tend to overlook the bad and focus on the good. 

I have taken the Roissy bus from CDG to Paris but it was a while ago - I think we ended up somewhere near Galeries Lafayette (one of the drop off points) and then took the Metro.  I agree though, if your wife is pregnant perhaps this is one of those times you just spring for the taxi.

I do agree that everyone should experience it for themselves at least once in their life!!

what is "Gare Du Nord?"

has anyone done the "hop on hop off" bus tours in Paris.  We have enjoyed the ones we did in Edinburgh, Barcelona, and London....does anyone know if you need to go to certain point to buy the tix for the bus, or can you get on at any stop and buy.  Thanks again.

We've been to Paris several times and I love it!  I can't recall if there is a hop on hop off, however, there is the Bateaux Boat (sp??) which is very similiar except you ride down the River Seine and can get on and off at different stops (they also do a commentary as you ride along), very relaxing and pleasant! 

As for people and service, well I guess its variable.  One year my DH and I had been walking around and stopped at a restaurant/cafe in the Latin Quarters, the afternoon was very hot and hubs was quite hot and sticky and sweaty (yuck!) anyway, as soon as we sat down, the waiter brought us over a large pitcher of ICE water and then a fan, and all of these was before we had even looked at a menu or asked for drinks!  Another time we were waiting in line for the Musee d'Orsay to open and a security guard came over to hubby because he noticed that he had a disability and wanted him to go into a special door so he didn't have to stand in the queue and then they gave him a discount because he was disabled.  Again, we didn't ask for any special treatment or discounts, they just were aware and offered (and i might add, it was all very discreet and polite).   So, for those reasons, I love Paris and will continue to go back whenever I can!

Went to Paris over NYE's.  Boyfriend at the time & I both spoke French, but it almost didn't matter because everyone spoke English to us!  Even when you try and speak French, they hear your accent and automatically switch to bad English /

You MUST try some authentic crépes while you are there - with Nutella!  They are to die for.  Avoid the stands in touristy areas, as you'll pay more, but rather buy from a vendor on a random street while you're out exploring.

well, I guess I got as much info as I could.  Air France has the best deal with a chartered coach that leaves every 15 minutes from DeGaulle and drops off at Arch de Triumph(about a 15 minute walk to the hotel from there).  That should suit us fine.  The coaches looked pretty plush and are reasonably priced.  This way, pregnant DW won't have to deal with me trying to figure out how to use the metro!  argument 1 avoided.  I printed out a map that showed where to buy the coach tickets at the airport.  CHECK

I seem to watch that show "airline" to much and am freaking out for this is the first time i've booked with "lastminute.com"  usually i go with expedia.  After i booked the hotel I found some travel website that had like 10 out 30 reviews saying this hotel was a scam and they'd never go back.  That's comforting.

Paris does have the "hop on hop off" tour which I absolutely swear by.  whoever invented this is a genius.  21 GBP per person for a two day ticket.  that should be well worth it.

anyone have any idea how much cash I should withdrawl to turn into Euros for the trip?  i've got the credit card, but certainly we'll need cash.  just not sure how much.  we'll be there from noon Friday until about 5 Sunday.  any suggestions.

thanks to everyone.

I've never taken a sightseeing bus in Paris, but have enjoyed them in other cities.
http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/paris-sightseeing-buses.htm

I have a special place in my heart for Paris too.   I've been there multiple times and each time feels like "home" ... which is very funny because my French is limited to Please, Thank You, a few numbers and Where are the Toilets? I am taking my sister there next month.   Crepes are certainly on the list! Yum!

I had a similar experience to yours, whispersarah, in Budapest. It was my first time abroad and somehow I ended up in Budapest with no guide book and on my own. I was changing lines on the metro and got caught for not having a second ticket... this is after experiencing London and Paris... it was a $5 penalty and it totally wasn't fair. The woman demanded my passport... which duh I handed over and made me stuck until I did pay. I am sure I started to cry because I really couldn't even understand what was happening. To make the sob story worse, it was my birthday and it was hot and generally turned me off to the city. I tried to make the most of it and enjoyed my two days there but I left asap feeling shamed for being naive. In hindsight, Budapest is lovely (in its own old world way) and I should go back one of these days.

well, we just came back this past weekend and for the 3 of us we only needed about 250-300 Euros. That included all the touristy bits as well as a proper dinner each night and a couple drinks during the day at a cafe as well as the metro carnet tickets which we bought 3 times but really only needed twice!

was that 250 euros each?  or for all three of you?

Olive Oyl....that's the exact tour I booked.  the L tour bus....  great minds i guess!

was that 250 euros each?  or for all three of you?

That was for all 3 of us.