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Paris Must Be A Disaster!! A Nightmare!!

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Paris Must Be A Disaster!! A Nightmare!!

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Old Dec 12th, 2019, 11:45 AM
  #21  
 
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What a negative perspective for someone who isn’t in the city. We have been in Paris several times and have never taken public transport as it is a fabulous city to walk around. Demonstrations are easily avoided as the whereabouts are often published.
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Old Dec 12th, 2019, 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Pepper_von_snoot
In NYC, you can easily stay on the UWS and take the 123 subway trains to Times Square or the ABCD trains to Port Authority for Broadway shows.

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Obviously.
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Old Dec 12th, 2019, 03:43 PM
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We are flying in to CDG on December 17 and am very concerned about getting into the city. My original plan is to take the RER-B to the Luxembourg stop. Our hotel is the Le Senat. Will the airport bus still run during the anticipated strike? Will the taxis be on strike?
I was planning on buying the Navigo Decoverte for our week. Will I be just throwing money away?
Anyone have a crystal ball? I’m starting to panic
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Old Dec 12th, 2019, 04:01 PM
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You already have answers to your question on the other thread you started.
Travel disruption from CDG to City center
I would take a taxi.
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Old Dec 13th, 2019, 01:06 AM
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No, Starrs, I had some additional questions from my original post that I thought the posters on this thread will be able to answer. The news of a National transportation strike on the 17th has me alarmed. The posters on this thread apparently have very recent experience.
- Will the airport bus still run during the anticipated strike?
- Will the taxis be on strike?
- I was planning on buying the Navigo Decoverte for our week. Will I be just throwing money away?
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Old Dec 13th, 2019, 01:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Floridacouple
No, Starrs, I had some additional questions from my original post that I thought the posters on this thread will be able to answer. The news of a National transportation strike on the 17th has me alarmed. The posters on this thread apparently have very recent experience.
The posters on this thread are the same posters on your other thread.

Your other thread was about the strike as well. Just wondering why you asked about the same thing on a different thread.

Last edited by starrs; Dec 13th, 2019 at 01:33 AM.
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Old Dec 13th, 2019, 01:52 AM
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Today, according to the RATP website, the situation seems to have improved a little. At least partial service has been restored on the 3 and 11 metro lines, which are the ones that arrive closest to our apartment in Bagnolet. We arrive on the 23rd, and I'm optimistic.

One of my daughters is arriving early, on the 20th, but they're staying in a central hotel until we take the apartment.

Over ten years ago, we all met in New York for Christmas, during a transit strike. It must be our fate. That year, we also had a snowstorm. I'll never forget walking up the center of a deserted 5th Avenue in the snow a few days before Christmas.
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Old Dec 13th, 2019, 03:55 AM
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Florida:

Not knowing what to expect on our arrival last Thursday (the day of the national strike), we pre-arranged for a car service. We were met upon exiting baggage claim/customs at CDG. We usually take the RER as well but this was not the time to screw around with this and you shouldn't either. Contact victorcabsparis.com or shuttle-inter.com and they will confirm via return email. Figure on about €60-75.
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Old Dec 15th, 2019, 04:52 AM
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Weekender: thanks for the recommendations. I will contact them to arrange for service.
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Old Dec 15th, 2019, 05:53 AM
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Friends arrived from CDG 1 this morning and said it was very easy to grab a taxi (50 euro right bank/55 left bank). Sunday morning so likely traffic was not so bad. I would not bother with a private driver or shuttle because you'll still be in the same traffic jam. Why pay more?

Getting across the city by any method is pretty bad. The buses are the most reliable and are crammed like sardines. Kapten and Uber are double the usual prices minimum. The metro lines that are operating are really jammed.
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Old Dec 15th, 2019, 07:37 AM
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Belinda, thanks for linking Oliver’s video. What a charmer, he is!

We’re in Paris for eight nights at the end of April, beginning of May. I hope we can connect with my kindred spirit while there.
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Old Dec 15th, 2019, 09:30 AM
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Sugarmaple, I'm looking forward to it! You met Oliver at our GTG in October, right? He's really fun. He just launched his first book; Paris On Air, about his 5 years building a life in Paris and including his lovely wife, Lina (who incidentally did the cover illustration for my book.)
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Old Dec 15th, 2019, 10:11 AM
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Yes, I certainly remember meeting Oliver and his beautiful wife. Jon spoke with him at that end of the table about his Earful Tower podcast.
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Old Dec 16th, 2019, 05:02 AM
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Things to do:

https://www.davidlebovitz.com/christmas-in-paris-post/
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Old Dec 16th, 2019, 07:23 AM
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I heard an NPR reporter who lives in Paris say she used the scooter to get to a bus stop but no bus so went with a cab. That seems the best bet. They said the cafes are not busy so that is a plus. They need customers. On France 24 they said Macron is working to get a Christmas truce. Hopefully for everyone that will happen soon.
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Old Dec 16th, 2019, 07:32 AM
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This is a good time to head to Japan.

Thin,aristocrat 🎳
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Old Dec 17th, 2019, 05:26 AM
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Today we were packed in the subway, people were complaining, it didn't make the situation any better.
Bad luck that we came during strikes
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Old Dec 18th, 2019, 12:55 AM
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I would say do not take too seriously what the media is saying. Not all of Paris is on fire you know...
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Old Dec 18th, 2019, 01:59 AM
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OMG it's LITERALLY all on fire. OMG. A totally disaster. Nightmare. Literally.

Ehh...no need for drama.
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Old Dec 18th, 2019, 02:55 AM
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I’ve got to say, it’s getting old. Buses are crammed and slow, traffic is a huge mess and it’s very hard to get anywhere that isn’t walking distance. So many bikes and motos and scooters weaving in and out of traffic - throw in a cow or two and it could be New Delhi.

Many taxi drivers seem to be taking advantage and gouging customers. A friend said her taxi from the airport charged her the meter rather than the fixed price from the airport. When she arrived at her destination she challenged him and he gave her the old Gallic shrug and said “la grève”. Not true! Don’t fall for it.

it doesn’t look like there is an end soon.
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