London, Paris & Dublin...Oh My!
Jan 28th, 2014, 01:42 PM
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London, Paris & Dublin...Oh My!
Hi Everyone,
At the beginning of May this year, I will be traveling to London for 4 days, Paris for 4 days and Ireland for 7 days. I will also be traveling alone and would love some advice about things to see, to do and where to stay as a solo woman traveler.
I am a very social person and I am excited for the experiences and challenges of being on my own. My goal is to see as much as possible, but not sacrifice on getting to know the people and culture.
I am looking for suggestions on:
-Safe areas to stay in each city (London, Paris & Dublin)
-I would also like to stay on the west coast of Ireland (any suggestions?)
-Must see attractions and don't bother over-hyped tourist attractions
-Things I should leave home and things I should not forget to bring
-Tips about traveling solo
Etc....
Thanks in advance for the help!
At the beginning of May this year, I will be traveling to London for 4 days, Paris for 4 days and Ireland for 7 days. I will also be traveling alone and would love some advice about things to see, to do and where to stay as a solo woman traveler.
I am a very social person and I am excited for the experiences and challenges of being on my own. My goal is to see as much as possible, but not sacrifice on getting to know the people and culture.
I am looking for suggestions on:
-Safe areas to stay in each city (London, Paris & Dublin)
-I would also like to stay on the west coast of Ireland (any suggestions?)
-Must see attractions and don't bother over-hyped tourist attractions
-Things I should leave home and things I should not forget to bring
-Tips about traveling solo
Etc....
Thanks in advance for the help!
Jan 28th, 2014, 01:58 PM
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I stayed with my sweet mother (73) at the Waldorf Hilton Hotel on Aldwych. It was a great location for us and we were able to walk and take the tube everywhere. I never felt nervous and we went out at night to eat and to see 3 shows. We loved the Courtauld Gallery more than just about anything because it was small and manageable with some great art. We had a nice day of "meeting people" in Hyde Park at our lunch over near the Dianna memorial.
In Paris we stayed in an apartment on the Rue de Buci in the St. Germain area. I thought it was a great location for first time tourist as we were as we were able to walk and take the tube to every location we wanted to see. We were with my husband on this trip but my mother and I wandered around and never felt unsafe in this area. I know others can offer so much better advice but I wanted to wish you a great trip!
In Paris we stayed in an apartment on the Rue de Buci in the St. Germain area. I thought it was a great location for first time tourist as we were as we were able to walk and take the tube to every location we wanted to see. We were with my husband on this trip but my mother and I wandered around and never felt unsafe in this area. I know others can offer so much better advice but I wanted to wish you a great trip!
Jan 28th, 2014, 02:07 PM
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Good information above,, For Ireland, well Dublin is in Ireland but is a place on its own, To see Ireland you need to be outside Dublin, Consider flying into an outside Airport say Shannon, Cork even Knock and make an arc from there to Dublin for 2 or 3 days if thats your departure airport.
Places like Galway and Killarney would be good options with a selection of "local" tours to key places.
Places like Galway and Killarney would be good options with a selection of "local" tours to key places.
Jan 28th, 2014, 03:35 PM
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Dublin doesn't need more than a couple of nights - the attractions of Ireland are outside its capital.
-Safe areas to stay in each city (London, Paris & Dublin)
Most of Central London (zone 1 for public transport purposes) is safe. State a nightly lodging budget and your suggestion box will fill up (and will also filter some places out - if you're not going to spend 400 quid per, the Mayfair suggestions will be drastically reduced).
In Paris, arrondissements 3-7 would work, as would parts of 2 and others.
-Must see attractions and don't bother over-hyped tourist attractions
What do you like? Why pick these places? There's no shortage of materials on "must see" places in London and Paris.
Everyone has their happy and unhappy zones.
That said, the list of places in London that have no admission fee could keep you out of trouble for your whole stay (the two National galleries, the two Tates, V&A, Courtauld, John Soames, National Maritime Museum, Imperial War Museum) but missing out on the Tower and Westminster Abbey would be daft.
In Paris, the Louvre will be mobbed because . . . Louvre. The Pompideau Center has the three-dots-on-a-canvas junk. The Musee d'Orsay has the impressionist and post-impressionist material. Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower are prime attractions for a reason, etc.
-Safe areas to stay in each city (London, Paris & Dublin)
Most of Central London (zone 1 for public transport purposes) is safe. State a nightly lodging budget and your suggestion box will fill up (and will also filter some places out - if you're not going to spend 400 quid per, the Mayfair suggestions will be drastically reduced).
In Paris, arrondissements 3-7 would work, as would parts of 2 and others.
-Must see attractions and don't bother over-hyped tourist attractions
What do you like? Why pick these places? There's no shortage of materials on "must see" places in London and Paris.
Everyone has their happy and unhappy zones.
That said, the list of places in London that have no admission fee could keep you out of trouble for your whole stay (the two National galleries, the two Tates, V&A, Courtauld, John Soames, National Maritime Museum, Imperial War Museum) but missing out on the Tower and Westminster Abbey would be daft.
In Paris, the Louvre will be mobbed because . . . Louvre. The Pompideau Center has the three-dots-on-a-canvas junk. The Musee d'Orsay has the impressionist and post-impressionist material. Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower are prime attractions for a reason, etc.
Jan 28th, 2014, 05:01 PM
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Dingle is my Irish home-away-from home. My friend Judy has a cozy room she rents in her house. I stayed there for three weeks a few years back and would highly recommend:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/307297?s=ENwI
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/307297?s=ENwI
Jan 28th, 2014, 06:12 PM
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Thank you for the responses! I am looking to spend no more than $75 USD per night. I really like the idea of bed and breakfasts.
As far as what I like to do, I am up for anything. Theater, Art, Nature, History, Castles, local culture.
I have always loved traveling and hopefully this is my first of many trips to Europe. These 3 places were just at the top of the list for breaking my barrier for solo travel.
As far as what I like to do, I am up for anything. Theater, Art, Nature, History, Castles, local culture.
I have always loved traveling and hopefully this is my first of many trips to Europe. These 3 places were just at the top of the list for breaking my barrier for solo travel.
Jan 28th, 2014, 07:46 PM
#7
>> I am looking to spend no more than $75 USD per night<<
You are talking £40-ish and €50-ish.
That is very low.
You couldn't get a hotel or B&B in Manhattan or San Francisco for that - London/Paris/Dublin are not cheap destinations either. Especially London.
You are talking £40-ish and €50-ish.
That is very low.
You couldn't get a hotel or B&B in Manhattan or San Francisco for that - London/Paris/Dublin are not cheap destinations either. Especially London.
Jan 29th, 2014, 12:30 AM
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At that budget, you're looking at youth hostels in London:
http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/london-st-pauls
http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/london-st-pancras
(or B&Bs some way out, which would add to your travelling costs, but would be a bit cosier).
For Paris, I followed scott and jamikins's recommendation of the Cosmos - plain, simple, not too far out of the centre, good public transport links and a perfectly OK neighbourhood:
http://www.cosmos-hotel-paris.com/fr,1,6436.html
Some people whose blog I read also swear by the Laumière, a little further out of the centre (I haven't stayed there, but I do know the neighbourhood, which is again a perfectly OK residential area with good public transport links):
http://www.hotel-lelaumiere.com/en/
Bear in mind, most Paris hotels charge extra for breakfast; it's usually an all-you-can-eat bread-and-jam buffet, but you can get a cheaper if more limited range at some local cafés if you're watching the pennies.
If you haven't already done so, check out the public transport information at:
www.tfl.gov.uk
www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/tourists/
http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/london-st-pauls
http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/london-st-pancras
(or B&Bs some way out, which would add to your travelling costs, but would be a bit cosier).
For Paris, I followed scott and jamikins's recommendation of the Cosmos - plain, simple, not too far out of the centre, good public transport links and a perfectly OK neighbourhood:
http://www.cosmos-hotel-paris.com/fr,1,6436.html
Some people whose blog I read also swear by the Laumière, a little further out of the centre (I haven't stayed there, but I do know the neighbourhood, which is again a perfectly OK residential area with good public transport links):
http://www.hotel-lelaumiere.com/en/
Bear in mind, most Paris hotels charge extra for breakfast; it's usually an all-you-can-eat bread-and-jam buffet, but you can get a cheaper if more limited range at some local cafés if you're watching the pennies.
If you haven't already done so, check out the public transport information at:
www.tfl.gov.uk
www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/tourists/
Jan 29th, 2014, 07:29 AM
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$75 night for where, Ireland or the cities?
In the cities, you may need to up the budget - Dublin is larger than Boston, London is nearly the size of New York, and Paris is larger than Chicago. Those equivalents also translate as a baseline for pricing.
If your budget is fairly inflexible (the 62E quoted for Cosmos for a small room will be about $85/night, and that will be a very small room), then you will have to be familiar with public transport because that budget won't net a central location.
In the cities, you may need to up the budget - Dublin is larger than Boston, London is nearly the size of New York, and Paris is larger than Chicago. Those equivalents also translate as a baseline for pricing.
If your budget is fairly inflexible (the 62E quoted for Cosmos for a small room will be about $85/night, and that will be a very small room), then you will have to be familiar with public transport because that budget won't net a central location.
Jan 29th, 2014, 03:08 PM
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http://www.hostelworld.com/search?se..._to=2014-04-29
Just an example for Dublin. It is a great way to go and safe imo. You will have more money for other things. Galway has a hostel called snoozles and if you stay there you get huge discounts for day tours. 20 euro for an all day tour to the cliffs, Doolin, the Bureen and many other stops. I did this for my friend because she had not seen any of these places and was so surprised by the extra stops that I had never seen. He was a good driver and guide. We stayed at snoozles for three nights during the oyster festival and Arthur's day. I was having a hard time finding a place to stay during that time and we said what the heck. i will never be afraid to do it again. Young people, older people, family with kids. We also went to Inishmore for the day and just explored Galway the other day but wish we had done the Connemara tour. Another trip...
Just an example for Dublin. It is a great way to go and safe imo. You will have more money for other things. Galway has a hostel called snoozles and if you stay there you get huge discounts for day tours. 20 euro for an all day tour to the cliffs, Doolin, the Bureen and many other stops. I did this for my friend because she had not seen any of these places and was so surprised by the extra stops that I had never seen. He was a good driver and guide. We stayed at snoozles for three nights during the oyster festival and Arthur's day. I was having a hard time finding a place to stay during that time and we said what the heck. i will never be afraid to do it again. Young people, older people, family with kids. We also went to Inishmore for the day and just explored Galway the other day but wish we had done the Connemara tour. Another trip...
Feb 5th, 2014, 02:52 AM
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I've just (re)-discovered that kerouac mentioned staying at this place in London on another travel board:
http://www.lincoln-house-hotel.com/room-rates.php
But I'm guessing that rates would go up with the season.
http://www.lincoln-house-hotel.com/room-rates.php
But I'm guessing that rates would go up with the season.
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