Big Day in Paris: a Trip Report
Aug 16th, 2007, 02:38 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Big Day in Paris: a Trip Report
From time to people ask here "can you do a day trip from London to Paris?" (or vice versa). I am here to report "you can, and I did, yesterday". But I am not sure I could recommend it to everyone.
I have been to Paris several times before. The last time one week in 2004. I speak a little French (for example, enough to make a restaurant reservation by telephone in advance).
It was my birthday yesterday. My husband I are from the US but are living in London for two years. When he asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I said take me to Paris for the day.
We were up at 4:30 am. Left our flat at 5:15 am to flag a taxi at the next main street. It was a little to early to take the tube and we would have to make one change anyway, so taxi was better.
We took the Eurostar, left at 6:30 am from Waterloo, arrived in Paris at 10:30 am (one hour time difference). I had purchased the tickets on line at eurostar.com for $100 US round trip each about 2 months ahead. I picked them up at Waterloo the other week, just so I would have them and avoid any extra hassle on the day. But it would have been easy as I just used the same credit card I purchased on line, put in in the machine and my confirmation number and got the tickets. (Don't know if it would be so easy if you just have a US credit card as I used my UK visa card which does have the chip and pin.)
At Waterloo we knew to ask for the eurostar entrance I had a business trip earlier this year to Brussels and had taken it before. We arrived just before 5:45 am. Before the eurostar security entrance coffee place was open but not newstand. Went through security. Coffee and newstand open there. They open boarding 15 minutes ahead. We had assigned seats and it was relatively easy to find coach and seats. We had no real luggage, just a light tote each with maps, book, umbrella, etc..
Ride was easy and smooth, but a bit over airconditioned (glad I brought socks and a pashmina throw).
Arrived in Paris 10 minutes early.
Here is where the plan broke down. I had imagined to taxi to Galleries Lafayette and buy myself a birthday present (scarf or bag or something). But I was lucky enough to be born on a bank holiday. I knew about the annual closings for August but did not realize about this particular bank holiday of August 15. Even shops that are otherwise open August like GL were closed as were most shops. A few shops we saw had Sunday like hours and little souvenir places and the like were open for tourists. Museums and such seemed to be open (but I did note when we went through the Louvre to get the metro later that the usual Wednesday evening late closing was not extended for this day).
Oh well, we had a nice walk down Boulevard de l'Opera and down to the Louvre, across Rue de Rivoli under the arches and back through the Tuileries until just 11 am when the first sight planned we had opened.
Musee des Arts Decoratifs, in the north wing of the same building as the Louvre art museum has been recently redone and is quite something if you like historical interior decoration. The space is great and the audioguide also. There a quite a number of period rooms as well as displays of mostly French art, sculpture, furniture, etc. from middle ages to 21st century. I had found out about it in article about what's new in Paris and we both really enjoyed it.
We then had a 1:00 pm lunch reservation at the restaurant in the museum, le Saut de Loup. It had been featured in July Food and Wine Magazine also in an article about what's new in Paris. It is a contemporary setting and menu. They have a separate no smoking section (the ground floor and smoking is on the first floor). We had appetizer, entree and each a glass of wine for 95 Euro tax and service included and thought it a good value.
We hadn't gotten to the most contemporary galleries in the museum before lunch so we went back and finished those. About 3:30 pm we went down into the "basement" of the Louvre to get the metro to our next planned "sight". I wasn't too quick in using the machine to get two metro tickets but I managed.
One change and we exited at Oberkampf station, in the 11th. We had planned a walk around there, supposed to be one of Paris more hip neighborhoods, from a book I recommend and have used before "Time Out Paris Walks" but it was raining and with the bank holiday many shop fronts had the shutters closed. So we found a cafe with a nice atmosphere Les Phare de Canal (near place de la Republique) and had a cold drink instead.
At 5 pm was our next planned event. A wine tasting. Ok, we were more than a little aprehensive as we realized we had no idea about this place, and the neighbor a bit dicey, but it turned out delightful. A young sommelier runs almost daily wine tastings from his Paris loft apartment. His website is www.o-chateau.com. It was just us and another couple but he can do about 8 or 10 people at a time, maybe more. Olivier is very personable, very knowledgeable, speaks perfect English and provides a wonderful 2 hours learning about how to taste wine, where the wine comes from, what are up and coming areas, how to read a wine label, how to buy wine oh, and you taste 7 different wines. 50 euros each person. We know a bit about wine, the other couple really didn't know much, but he managed to provide something for everyone. We had a great time and would highly recommend it. It was a great excuse to see a fun and unsual area of Paris and do something that is otherwise hard to find to do in Paris.
By then it was 7 pm. Olivier had recommended another cafe nearby, but as it had stopped raining we opted to walk back to the train station instead for our 9 pm train. It was a little over a mile or so and we had time then near the station to do a bit of souvenir shopping and grab a snack to take on the train. (My souvenir? A great Michelin book -- in English -- about wine touring in France with ideas for itineraries, places to stay and eat and more information about tasting wine in France.)
The train ride was again easy (but why can't they turn off the overhead lights so we can have a comfortable nap?) We arrived in London just before 11 pm (the time change works in your favor that direction) and were asleep in our beds by 11:30.
Overall, it was a delightful birthday doing some of my favorite things in one of my favorite cities. We had about 10 hours on the ground in Paris which allowed quite a bit. It worked best, though, because I already know both cities and could plan the logistics reasonably clearly. And I could ask questions on the spot and not waste too much time trying to figure things out. But even then the unexpected does happen which could throw you off, especially if you weren't familiar with alternatives.
In case you were planning such a day trip, however, in either direction, I would be happy to answer questions.
I have been to Paris several times before. The last time one week in 2004. I speak a little French (for example, enough to make a restaurant reservation by telephone in advance).
It was my birthday yesterday. My husband I are from the US but are living in London for two years. When he asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I said take me to Paris for the day.
We were up at 4:30 am. Left our flat at 5:15 am to flag a taxi at the next main street. It was a little to early to take the tube and we would have to make one change anyway, so taxi was better.
We took the Eurostar, left at 6:30 am from Waterloo, arrived in Paris at 10:30 am (one hour time difference). I had purchased the tickets on line at eurostar.com for $100 US round trip each about 2 months ahead. I picked them up at Waterloo the other week, just so I would have them and avoid any extra hassle on the day. But it would have been easy as I just used the same credit card I purchased on line, put in in the machine and my confirmation number and got the tickets. (Don't know if it would be so easy if you just have a US credit card as I used my UK visa card which does have the chip and pin.)
At Waterloo we knew to ask for the eurostar entrance I had a business trip earlier this year to Brussels and had taken it before. We arrived just before 5:45 am. Before the eurostar security entrance coffee place was open but not newstand. Went through security. Coffee and newstand open there. They open boarding 15 minutes ahead. We had assigned seats and it was relatively easy to find coach and seats. We had no real luggage, just a light tote each with maps, book, umbrella, etc..
Ride was easy and smooth, but a bit over airconditioned (glad I brought socks and a pashmina throw).
Arrived in Paris 10 minutes early.
Here is where the plan broke down. I had imagined to taxi to Galleries Lafayette and buy myself a birthday present (scarf or bag or something). But I was lucky enough to be born on a bank holiday. I knew about the annual closings for August but did not realize about this particular bank holiday of August 15. Even shops that are otherwise open August like GL were closed as were most shops. A few shops we saw had Sunday like hours and little souvenir places and the like were open for tourists. Museums and such seemed to be open (but I did note when we went through the Louvre to get the metro later that the usual Wednesday evening late closing was not extended for this day).
Oh well, we had a nice walk down Boulevard de l'Opera and down to the Louvre, across Rue de Rivoli under the arches and back through the Tuileries until just 11 am when the first sight planned we had opened.
Musee des Arts Decoratifs, in the north wing of the same building as the Louvre art museum has been recently redone and is quite something if you like historical interior decoration. The space is great and the audioguide also. There a quite a number of period rooms as well as displays of mostly French art, sculpture, furniture, etc. from middle ages to 21st century. I had found out about it in article about what's new in Paris and we both really enjoyed it.
We then had a 1:00 pm lunch reservation at the restaurant in the museum, le Saut de Loup. It had been featured in July Food and Wine Magazine also in an article about what's new in Paris. It is a contemporary setting and menu. They have a separate no smoking section (the ground floor and smoking is on the first floor). We had appetizer, entree and each a glass of wine for 95 Euro tax and service included and thought it a good value.
We hadn't gotten to the most contemporary galleries in the museum before lunch so we went back and finished those. About 3:30 pm we went down into the "basement" of the Louvre to get the metro to our next planned "sight". I wasn't too quick in using the machine to get two metro tickets but I managed.
One change and we exited at Oberkampf station, in the 11th. We had planned a walk around there, supposed to be one of Paris more hip neighborhoods, from a book I recommend and have used before "Time Out Paris Walks" but it was raining and with the bank holiday many shop fronts had the shutters closed. So we found a cafe with a nice atmosphere Les Phare de Canal (near place de la Republique) and had a cold drink instead.
At 5 pm was our next planned event. A wine tasting. Ok, we were more than a little aprehensive as we realized we had no idea about this place, and the neighbor a bit dicey, but it turned out delightful. A young sommelier runs almost daily wine tastings from his Paris loft apartment. His website is www.o-chateau.com. It was just us and another couple but he can do about 8 or 10 people at a time, maybe more. Olivier is very personable, very knowledgeable, speaks perfect English and provides a wonderful 2 hours learning about how to taste wine, where the wine comes from, what are up and coming areas, how to read a wine label, how to buy wine oh, and you taste 7 different wines. 50 euros each person. We know a bit about wine, the other couple really didn't know much, but he managed to provide something for everyone. We had a great time and would highly recommend it. It was a great excuse to see a fun and unsual area of Paris and do something that is otherwise hard to find to do in Paris.
By then it was 7 pm. Olivier had recommended another cafe nearby, but as it had stopped raining we opted to walk back to the train station instead for our 9 pm train. It was a little over a mile or so and we had time then near the station to do a bit of souvenir shopping and grab a snack to take on the train. (My souvenir? A great Michelin book -- in English -- about wine touring in France with ideas for itineraries, places to stay and eat and more information about tasting wine in France.)
The train ride was again easy (but why can't they turn off the overhead lights so we can have a comfortable nap?) We arrived in London just before 11 pm (the time change works in your favor that direction) and were asleep in our beds by 11:30.
Overall, it was a delightful birthday doing some of my favorite things in one of my favorite cities. We had about 10 hours on the ground in Paris which allowed quite a bit. It worked best, though, because I already know both cities and could plan the logistics reasonably clearly. And I could ask questions on the spot and not waste too much time trying to figure things out. But even then the unexpected does happen which could throw you off, especially if you weren't familiar with alternatives.
In case you were planning such a day trip, however, in either direction, I would be happy to answer questions.
Aug 16th, 2007, 06:05 AM
#5
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did a day trip to London a few years back when I had a rental apartment in Paris for 8 days. It is fairly easy to do with Eurostar. I tell people trying to do this to keep things compact. Don't run all over town. Pick an area of town and just stay there and see things. I bought a day pass for the tube when I arrived but ended up never using it and just giving it away. I saw an art exhibit, went up in the London Eye and then took in a play at The National Theatre. All those places were around Waterloo. Then I went back to Paris. I must have eaten somewhere but it probably was on the run.
Aug 16th, 2007, 11:42 AM
#6
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I will be taking a day trip to Paris myself in a couple of weeks from London on Eurostar. This will be the first time I will be leaving so early in the morning, as I usually take a later train (I am also taking the 6:30 train to Paris). Does anyone know how much a taxi ride costs approximately from the Bayswater area to Waterloo? Also, do you recommend taking the bus to Waterloo, as the Tube is not running at that time in the morning? I want to get to Waterloo on time, but hopefully in the least costly way.
Aug 16th, 2007, 09:51 PM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not sure from Bayswater, but from just west of Sloane Square our taxi was 12 pounds. I would think Bayswater is further but I'm not sure. I checked Journey Planner website and it is suggesting the quickest route is Circle line tube from Bayswater at 5:11 change to Jubilee tube at Baker Street and that it takes 30 minutes arriving at Waterloo at 5:41. That should be plenty of time for the 6:30 train. Security and passport control, etc. takes no time at all and they don't open for actual boarding until about 6:15, 15 minutes before departure.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
zoobiechick
Europe
11
Aug 3rd, 2014 05:34 AM
skatterfly
Europe
70
Feb 9th, 2007 06:26 PM
