Paris - When will the rain stop? And some real questions
Apr 25th, 2012, 03:21 PM
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Paris - When will the rain stop? And some real questions
Arriving Thursday morning May 3rd. Will the rain ever stop (rhetorical question)? 
We will be in Paris 5 days/nights and then driving to Amboise for three nights. We are going home from CDG on May 11th (ninth day) departing 7 pm. My original plan was to leave Paris in the morning and see the chateau in Chambord on our way to Amboise. And on our last day, heading north, perhaps stop in Versailles before getting to CDG late afternoon. I am planning to purchase the 6 day Museum Pass and am wondering if we should flipflop and see Versailles on the way to Amboise because it will be the 6th day of the pass and Versailles admission is included. Does it make sense to stop in Chambord on the last day? Is there another site not far out of the way that you would recommend (like Fountainbleu)?
Another concern, regardless of the order of our itinerary, is visiting a site with the trunk of our car fully loaded. I think someone posted in the last week of a friend's trunk broken into in France despite nothing being visible in the car. I always worry about this, but have been lucky so far. What do you do?
Paris restaurants - is vat and service always included? Do menus say it? Does everyone order bottled water as you would in Italy?
As always, thanks for any input!
We will be in Paris 5 days/nights and then driving to Amboise for three nights. We are going home from CDG on May 11th (ninth day) departing 7 pm. My original plan was to leave Paris in the morning and see the chateau in Chambord on our way to Amboise. And on our last day, heading north, perhaps stop in Versailles before getting to CDG late afternoon. I am planning to purchase the 6 day Museum Pass and am wondering if we should flipflop and see Versailles on the way to Amboise because it will be the 6th day of the pass and Versailles admission is included. Does it make sense to stop in Chambord on the last day? Is there another site not far out of the way that you would recommend (like Fountainbleu)?
Another concern, regardless of the order of our itinerary, is visiting a site with the trunk of our car fully loaded. I think someone posted in the last week of a friend's trunk broken into in France despite nothing being visible in the car. I always worry about this, but have been lucky so far. What do you do?
Paris restaurants - is vat and service always included? Do menus say it? Does everyone order bottled water as you would in Italy?
As always, thanks for any input!
Apr 25th, 2012, 04:01 PM
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Help me understand, are you wanting to visit a chateau on your way to the airport, or, visit, drive to CDG and then spend the night? Personally any chateau undertaking it too much, even trying to leave at 1900. But those are my thoughts.
So far my auto has been unscathed too.
I always ask for tap water.
So far my auto has been unscathed too.
I always ask for tap water.
Apr 25th, 2012, 04:13 PM
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I think my post might be confusing.
Itinerary:
Thurs - Mon Paris
Tues am - rental car to Amboise with a stop along the way
Wed - Thurs Amboise area
Fri am - depart Amboise - flight at CDG 7 pm same day - stop along the way
So I would like to see/do something on my way to and from Amboise. Looking for suggestions.
Itinerary:
Thurs - Mon Paris
Tues am - rental car to Amboise with a stop along the way
Wed - Thurs Amboise area
Fri am - depart Amboise - flight at CDG 7 pm same day - stop along the way
So I would like to see/do something on my way to and from Amboise. Looking for suggestions.
Apr 25th, 2012, 05:19 PM
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We always drink bottled water since we like fizzy - ad don;t like the taste of a lot of tap water.
Have driven through France (and many parts of europe) lots of time and have never had a problem. We make sure the inside of the car is empty - everything is in the trunk and is loaded there when we leave the hotel. For extra safety look for a lot with an attendant or park with the trunk of the car against a tree, wall - or even another car - to make it harder to get to the trunk.
Have driven through France (and many parts of europe) lots of time and have never had a problem. We make sure the inside of the car is empty - everything is in the trunk and is loaded there when we leave the hotel. For extra safety look for a lot with an attendant or park with the trunk of the car against a tree, wall - or even another car - to make it harder to get to the trunk.
Apr 25th, 2012, 05:42 PM
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We book cars from Europcar through AutoEurope, using the toll free number. There is an office on the Avenue d'Italie, right down the street from the highway.
We always drink tap water. Ask for a "carafe d'eau" [karaf-dough].
We always drink tap water. Ask for a "carafe d'eau" [karaf-dough].
Apr 25th, 2012, 08:00 PM
#7
On our travels across France We always stopped for lunch where we could see our car or where the restaurant .had a car parc. Service is always included and if you liked the service leave a few euros.
Apr 25th, 2012, 11:27 PM
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Hi, you could run into traffic on a Friday afternoon so you need to make sure you leave yourself enough time to get to the airport. Why don't you go straight from Amboise to Charles de Gaulle and onto Chantilly castle or Senlis (both 1/2 hour north of the airport). That way, you won't have to worry about the traffic and can take your time visiting. We never worry about what's in the trunk of the car. Just make sure there is nothing obvious on the seats. Enjoy your stay in Amboise. I blog about Blois and the Loire (as well as Paris) because we've just bought a house in Blois www.aussieinfrance.com
Apr 26th, 2012, 02:13 AM
#9
Tax and service are included by law. The vast majority of people do not order bottled water.
If you stop in Versailles on the way to Amboise, you are already headed in the right direction, so it is not a bad idea, especially since having the museum pass will save time and money.
If you stop in Versailles on the way to Amboise, you are already headed in the right direction, so it is not a bad idea, especially since having the museum pass will save time and money.
Apr 26th, 2012, 03:16 AM
#11
Yes, that's why I think it is a good time to stop in Versailles on the way. I would assume that you don't have to be in Amboise until later in the day. Go to Versailles on the A13 and then after you have seen the château, use the N186 to get to the A10 to Amboise.
www.viamichelin.com will explain it all.
www.viamichelin.com will explain it all.
Apr 26th, 2012, 05:41 AM
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http://www.viamichelin.com is a website. It has nothing to do with a GPS unit. You would access via computer or from a smartphone/ipod touch/ipad using either WIFI or cellular data.
Apr 26th, 2012, 05:52 AM
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"Arriving Thursday morning May 3rd. Will the rain ever stop (rhetorical question)? "
LOL. I saw that forecast too. The weather prediction was much more positive a few days ago, so hopefully it will change again.
"LOL. I saw that forecast too. The weather prediction was much more positive a few days ago, so hopefully it will change again.
Apr 27th, 2012, 01:29 AM
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PS I live in the Loire too and it seems to have been bloody raining here since the end of March/beginning of April as well. All I can say is, we've had the April showers, bring on the May flowers!! 
Apr 27th, 2012, 02:41 AM
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It's good to hear that about the tax and service. I know your total bill is your total bill, but sometimes it's a 'shock' when you finalize your bill. Here, in NY, it means almost 9% tax plus 20% service (depending upon quality of service) and in San Francisco, many restaurants tack on 4% for employee health insurance!
Gwan - We've had flowers very early here. In fact, there were daffodils in Central Park in February - very pretty, but the environment is definitely screwed up.
We're staying in Amboise. We have dinner reservations at L'Epicerie and Le Choiseul (Le 36). Any other recommendations? Some of the reviews on line are so mixed particularly for the higher end restaurants. I did consider Le Bon Laboreur, but thought perhaps the drive was far after dinner. Any thoughts about that? We are having lunch at Les Chloseaux one day.
Gwan - We've had flowers very early here. In fact, there were daffodils in Central Park in February - very pretty, but the environment is definitely screwed up.
We're staying in Amboise. We have dinner reservations at L'Epicerie and Le Choiseul (Le 36). Any other recommendations? Some of the reviews on line are so mixed particularly for the higher end restaurants. I did consider Le Bon Laboreur, but thought perhaps the drive was far after dinner. Any thoughts about that? We are having lunch at Les Chloseaux one day.
