ktyson

Hi,
I will be in Paris from March 23 - 31. Then I will have Friday - Sunday to spend somewhere else.

I want a cheap flight or train ride. I've heard that ryanair offers inexpensive flights. Has anyone used them? I am looking for somewhere fun, but inexpensive with a lot to do such as museums, great food, and shopping.

Any suggestions!

Thanks

traveldawg

My wife and I have been fortunate to do a lot of travel. In all of that one of our favorite areas was Normandy. If you have not been there...go.

StCirq

Grab yourself a 25 PREM fare on a TGV and go to Provence for two days. Check out the PREM fares on the www.sncf.com site - there are other appealing destinations too. To my mind, that's easier than schlepping to an airport for a 2-day trip.

confidential

Whether you take a car or go by TGV to Le Havre (Seine-Delta)and than further on to Deauville and Honfleur. charming small harbour cities. Very french, or what you might think of what is french. Fantastic fishfood fresh from the channel arranged with cool white wines.
Fresh air and mild climate - I think theres no better way to experience the "other " side of france.

rex

I agree that Normandy is nice, but might be rather cool still so early in the spring. There are easier connections to other cities on airlines other than ryanair. See www.whichbudget.com - - consider Prague, Italy or Spain?

Best wishes,

Rex

dln

We once took the train from Paris to Brussels. It's not a bad ride and it meets your requirements (Belgian beer and Belgian chocolates are great).


Or, if it were me, I'd hightail it down to either Aix-en-Provence or Avignon. Provence is simply wonderful.

jabez

I know a great place to stay near Giverny. Normandy is very nice and easy to get to.

beachbum

"I am looking for somewhere fun, but inexpensive with a lot to do such as museums, great food, and shopping."

Why leave Paris?

AisleSeat

I would spend my time in London. Ryan flieds out of Beauvais which is a little difficult to get to from Paris. 1 to 1 1/2 hour bus ride. You might want to check some of the other low cost airlines that fly out of CDG or Orlay. If you do get to Beauvais they have cheap flights to everywhere including Rome just for starters.

ktyson

Thanks for all of your advice. I think I have narrowed it down to either south of France Nice, Marsaille (SP), etc, Venice, or London. So now I have a few more questions.

1. I looked at the Eurostar website. That train ride seems awfully expensive. I'm wondering if I could fly for a lot less?

2. Traveldawg-Besides the D-day beach tour, what is there to do and see in Normandy?

3. AisleSeat-What is "Ryan flieds out of Beauvais"? I assume it an airline discounter, but I couldn't find a website for it. Is there one?

4. Does anyone know what some of the other low cost airlines that fly out of CDG or Orlay are?

Thanks for all your help.

rex

I answered both your questions 3 and 4 in my post above: www.whichbudget.com

AisleSeat

Sorry about the typo. Ryan "flies" out of the Beauvais airport. Beauvais is about 40 miles North of Paris. CDG and Orly airports are a little more accessable.

ira

Hi kt,

I also wonder why you are leaving Paris.

www.volareweb.com flies Paris Orly/Venice at low prices.

The advantage to the Eurostar is that you go city center to city center. A one-day RT is only 60 GBP.

ktyson

Hi Everyone and thanks for all your help. To answer the question "Why am I leaving Paris? I know that you can't see all of Paris in a week, but there is so much more to see then just Paris. I know I should follow Rick Steves advice, which is "don't try to see everything, and assume you will be back." But I just can't. I don't know that I'll be back so I need to see as much as possible the first time.

PamSF

I'd say check out Aix en Provence. It's lovely,easy to walk around, will be much warmer than Paris and is a three hour train ride on the TGV.

PamSF

BTW, having just flown out of CDG last Sunday, I'd say take the train. Save your endurance challenge for your plane trip home from Paris.