Paris/Bruges Trip Report
May 25th, 2008 | 02:03 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Paris/Bruges Trip Report
First of all I must thank all of you who make this site so helpful! Thankyouthankyouthankyou ... very much.
Last week I returned from 3 nights in Bruges and 6 in Paris with my two daughters - 35 and 30 years old. Their husbands were not interested in museums and my husband has been there twice, so that is how we went on our own. It was a fabulous trip. The 30 year old actually had her 30th birthday while we were there. Since she is an art teacher (currently home with 2 preschoolers) she chose to go to Monet's Garden on her special day and to the Eiffel Tower at night. The other daughter (who has a 6 year old) was looking forward to going to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
We made up a temporary itinerary with full knowledge that we wouldn't necessarily follow it, deciding our directions as each day began.
We chose Bruges because we originally were going to stay in a friend's apartment and it wasn't available the first 3 days of our trip. (I used mileage to get us there and those plans were set 330 days in advance!) Another friend had highly recommend Bruges and I found a bed and breakfast for all 3 of us for 80 euro a night. I chose it because I am a retired math teacher and my husband is a retired architect and that is what the owners of this b&b are ...
www.bedandbreakfastbruges.com
We rented a car to drive to Bruges from CDG because I could get the car in American dollars and it was less expensive than the train (for 3 of us). Now that it is over, I am not sure it was that much cheaper but I felt better getting the car and paying for it earlier.
Mid Feb. our friend left Paris and we no longer had the free apartment. I went on VRBO.com and found an apartment near the Lourve for 975 euro for 6 nights. It was booked solid before and after our dates so I felt confident that it would be nice ... and it was terrific. It had 2 bathrooms and 3 rooms so we had space each night to spread out our stuff and not get in each other's way.
The weather was fabulous all the days! Who would guess sunny and warm in both cities? We had one rain storm on our last evening.
Monet's garden was incredible. We had visited the Orangerie two days earlier so it was fabulous to see the garden and pond after viewing the paintings.
I loved watching my daughters love Paris. They were adverse to taking any form of transportation as they loved walking walking walking in this most beautiful city.
Here is what I would have done differently:
1. We should have taken a horse and buggy ride in Bruges. It was 30 euro and would have been easier on our feet as we walked the whole town!
2. On the last day the girls decided they really wanted to take the batobus. I had written it off as too expensive for the limited places it went and hours it was open, but when we got there I saw it was 12 euro for one day and 14 for 2 days! Since we were right there at the Louvre we could have used that transportation more.
3. I would have paid attention to my daughter's cell phone that we left at a bar. (Ok, hindsight is 20/20!) When we noticed it was lost, we went right back to the bar but everyone shrugged. We then called the phone from our apartment and a French guy answered and he was in a bar. Hmmmmmmmmm.
4. I wish I brought a larger suitcase. We all packed lightly only bringing carry-on to CDG (which was nice not to worry about lost luggage) but it limited the space for bringing home stuff. I would have liked to bring more packages of stripped pasta from Bon Marche, for example.
Thanks again for all the advice!
Last week I returned from 3 nights in Bruges and 6 in Paris with my two daughters - 35 and 30 years old. Their husbands were not interested in museums and my husband has been there twice, so that is how we went on our own. It was a fabulous trip. The 30 year old actually had her 30th birthday while we were there. Since she is an art teacher (currently home with 2 preschoolers) she chose to go to Monet's Garden on her special day and to the Eiffel Tower at night. The other daughter (who has a 6 year old) was looking forward to going to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
We made up a temporary itinerary with full knowledge that we wouldn't necessarily follow it, deciding our directions as each day began.
We chose Bruges because we originally were going to stay in a friend's apartment and it wasn't available the first 3 days of our trip. (I used mileage to get us there and those plans were set 330 days in advance!) Another friend had highly recommend Bruges and I found a bed and breakfast for all 3 of us for 80 euro a night. I chose it because I am a retired math teacher and my husband is a retired architect and that is what the owners of this b&b are ...
www.bedandbreakfastbruges.com
We rented a car to drive to Bruges from CDG because I could get the car in American dollars and it was less expensive than the train (for 3 of us). Now that it is over, I am not sure it was that much cheaper but I felt better getting the car and paying for it earlier.
Mid Feb. our friend left Paris and we no longer had the free apartment. I went on VRBO.com and found an apartment near the Lourve for 975 euro for 6 nights. It was booked solid before and after our dates so I felt confident that it would be nice ... and it was terrific. It had 2 bathrooms and 3 rooms so we had space each night to spread out our stuff and not get in each other's way.
The weather was fabulous all the days! Who would guess sunny and warm in both cities? We had one rain storm on our last evening.
Monet's garden was incredible. We had visited the Orangerie two days earlier so it was fabulous to see the garden and pond after viewing the paintings.
I loved watching my daughters love Paris. They were adverse to taking any form of transportation as they loved walking walking walking in this most beautiful city.
Here is what I would have done differently:
1. We should have taken a horse and buggy ride in Bruges. It was 30 euro and would have been easier on our feet as we walked the whole town!
2. On the last day the girls decided they really wanted to take the batobus. I had written it off as too expensive for the limited places it went and hours it was open, but when we got there I saw it was 12 euro for one day and 14 for 2 days! Since we were right there at the Louvre we could have used that transportation more.
3. I would have paid attention to my daughter's cell phone that we left at a bar. (Ok, hindsight is 20/20!) When we noticed it was lost, we went right back to the bar but everyone shrugged. We then called the phone from our apartment and a French guy answered and he was in a bar. Hmmmmmmmmm.
4. I wish I brought a larger suitcase. We all packed lightly only bringing carry-on to CDG (which was nice not to worry about lost luggage) but it limited the space for bringing home stuff. I would have liked to bring more packages of stripped pasta from Bon Marche, for example.
Thanks again for all the advice!
May 25th, 2008 | 02:25 PM
#3
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
He didn't speak English and claimed to not understand my daughter's French. She continued to call and leave messages (in French) to please return the phone to the bar (Coute de etat) (spelling?). Fortunately she had purchased the insurance on this internet-acquired phone and cut off the automatic minute feature from her credit card. We continued to stop in the bar and ask if anyone turned it in (I was SURE it was one of the workers) but we knew it was useless!
May 25th, 2008 | 04:47 PM
#5
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Not at all! It is141356. Now, that being said let me tell you that it is in a building that needs some work - peeling paint for example and some carpet is worn. Also, as advertised, it is a loft apt. with an elevator to the 5th floor and a walk to the 6th (not many stairs). AND if you are tall, you have to stay in the middle!
It is, however, clean and newly painted, and the pictures on VRBO are accurate. There are wonderful breezes to be caught from the loft windows ... you MUST remember to close them each day when you leave, however as the rain will damage the place. There is an air conditioner in the master bedroom. It was perfect for 3 people.
It is also associated with Paris Visit as that was one of the numbers we had if we couldn't reach the meeter/greeter. When the checkout person came, she also called us a taxi (worth it for 3 people). And we didn't hesitate calling the greeter when we needed advice.
The owner met us and spent about half an hour giving us advice. He was delightful. It is located on rue Rousseau just north of St. Honore. A fabulous location for Paris first-timers and anyone who likes to spend a lot of time walking around the Louvre.
It is, however, clean and newly painted, and the pictures on VRBO are accurate. There are wonderful breezes to be caught from the loft windows ... you MUST remember to close them each day when you leave, however as the rain will damage the place. There is an air conditioner in the master bedroom. It was perfect for 3 people.
It is also associated with Paris Visit as that was one of the numbers we had if we couldn't reach the meeter/greeter. When the checkout person came, she also called us a taxi (worth it for 3 people). And we didn't hesitate calling the greeter when we needed advice.
The owner met us and spent about half an hour giving us advice. He was delightful. It is located on rue Rousseau just north of St. Honore. A fabulous location for Paris first-timers and anyone who likes to spend a lot of time walking around the Louvre.
