imanson

Hi, I posted a message a few months ago, about my husband travelling to Paris on his own from New Zealand and asked about Hotels and what to do etc., as this is his first trip abroad and I received some very helpful information. His holiday is now approaching fast, with less than a month to go. He has company now, travelling with our daughter from N.Z. to Seoul to Paris, to Dublin. We have had alot of recommendations on Hotels to stay in. I am just wondering if anyone can tell me anything about the Au Pacific Hotel, other than what I can find on the internet? It is always helpful to hear of other opinions.
However, my main concern is that they are leaving Paris from Beauvais Airport, for Dublin, and I was wondering if anyone has travelled to this Airport from Central Paris, and what mode of transport they used.
I have really enjoyed this web site over the past few months, as I looked for information for their trip, it is great for the 1st time traveller. Thank you.

venexiano

I flew from Beauvais once, on a Ryanair flight.
There are special buses for passengers that leave Paris 3 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight. They leave from Porte Maillot (you can get there with the M1 métro line that goes towards La Défense, as I recall). Tickets are €10 one way.

Check out the site of Beauvais airport for more info: http://www.aeroportbeauvais.com/bus.php?lang=eng

Hope this helps!
Federico

p.s. I so envy you living in NZ...I can't wait to visit it again!

ira

Hi IM,

I suggest that you go to www.ryanair.com and click on "customer Service", and then search "beauvais".

It will give you info about the bus.

Vincent

Yes, and, FYI, the dreaded Porte Maillot bus, inconvenient and overpriced as it is, is the best way to get there. The only other alternative is to board a train at gare du Nord, but then you would have to take a cab from Beauvais station to Beauvais airport. Beauvais is 80 km north of Paris ! This is the reason why I would recommend to switch to a "normal" carrier arriving at a normal airport, and not halfway between Paris and Calais. Rates compare favourably for a return ticket. Of course, if it's one way, then you're stuck to Ryanair.

WillTravel

I don't think 10 Euros for an 80 km bus trip is overpriced.

The Au Pacific Hotel is not in the center of things, but it looks like it's pretty convenient and in a good location if you don't mind taking the metro.

imanson

Thank you very much for your help.
As I have never been to Paris myself, it is difficult to decide on a Hotel. However, Willtravel, you have helped me eliminate Au Pacific. My family only have one evening and a full day in Paris, perhaps a few hours the following day, so they really want to be in the centre of things. My daughter does not keep well, and it is more than possible that my husband will find himself going out for long walks and some siteseeing on his own.

I appreciate the help with Beauvais Airport, and yes, it is a one-way flight.

We are indeed very lucky to live in New Zealand, at the moment we are in Spring, however we still have snow on Mt Cook, and the scenery from my home, is very refreshing thismorning.
Thank you all. IM

Vincent

IM, since you now know you are going to travel from Porte Maillot, I would suggest you choose a hotel which is on this metro line, the number 1. Fortunately, it crosses the most central parts of Paris, so you won't have to choose between location and convenience.

imanson

Thank you Vincent, for your reply. Since I posted a message last night, and we have found Porte Maillot on the map, my daughter is saying she wants to stay close by. Can anyone suggest some Hotels for me? I have looked tonight, but would like to hear of anyones thoughts. Thanks IM

ira

Hi im,

If you look at www.whichbudget.com you will find flights from CDG on Aer Lingus for 34E and BudgetAir 69E that are more convenient.

TimS

Vincent's suggestion that you stay in a hotel near Metro line 1 is a good one. Use that line to get to either Porte Maillot or the RER B (if you decide to fly out of CDG rather than Beauvais). The Marais neighborhood would be a good place to stay. It's boredered on the west by the Hotel de Ville Metro stop, and on the east by the Bastille stop with the St. Paul stop in the middle (all on line 1).

Does Rick Steves' description from his Paris 2002 guidebook sound appealing? "The Marais neighborhood contains more pre-Revolutionary lanes and buildings than anywhere else in town, and is more atmospheric than touristy. It's medieval Paris. This is how much of the city looked until the mid-1800s when Napoleon III had Baron Haussmann blast out the narrow streets to construct broad boulevards (wide enough for the guns and ranks of the army, too wide for revolutionary barricades), creating modern Paris....It's about 15 minutes on foot from any hotel in this area to Notre-Dame, Ile St. Louis, and the Latin Quarter. Strolling home (day or night) from Notre-Dame along the Ile St. Louis is marvelous."

Here are the two-star hotels recommended by Steves: Hotel Castex, Hotel de la Republique, Grand Hotel Jeanne d'Arc, Hotel Lyon-Mulhouse, Hotel de la Place des Voges, Hotel Sevigne, Hotel St. Louis Marias, Hotel de 7eme Art.

Here are his three-star recommendations: Hotel Bastille Speria, Hotel des Chevaliers.

TimS

In my note above I misspelled the name of one hotel. It should be Hotel St. Louis Marais. (I also misspelled "bordered," but that is a less serious faux pas. <g>