Mambo5

We are a family of 5 (kids are 9, 13 and 16). August is the most expensive time to travel in Paris and England but it was the only time we could go. This trip is really to visit family in England but it was cheaper for us to fly to Paris, well so I thought until I started looking at Eurostar fares! Regular 2nd class tickets costing around $1000 return! It's also proving difficult to find accom for 5 of us, so we're looking at 2 rooms. Here is a tentative itinerary so far, pls feel free to post your suggestions Mom (me) and Dad have been to Paris a few years ago and have a general idea of what the kids would like to see.

Day 1 - Friday
Arrive in Paris
Most hotels are already booked. I am waiting to hear back from Europe Saint-Severin.
We'll all be tired but perhaps a walk to Notre Dame cathedral and then the metro to Eiffel tower?

Day 2 - Saturday
tour Paris

Day 3 - Sunday
Eurostar to London

And this is where I get confused!We plan on visiting Cambridge, York, Leeds, and Yorkshire for a night or two in each place PLUS about 4 nights in London (if I can find an affordable flat). PalQ and other Fodorites have posted good advice about the Britrail pass or LondonPlus pass then you'd qualify for a passholder fare on the Eurostar.but I think the lower Eurostar fares are only valid Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur. Which means we would have to stay another night in Paris to qualify for the lower rate, but paying for the hotel is more expensive. I've been looking at www.raileurope.com and www.eurostar.com AND www.railsaver.com but am now left feeling even more confused! too bad today is Sunday, I really want to call BETS to see if they can suggest good fares/passes. It looks like the 9 and 13 yr old will be free with the two adult tickets, and we should get the 16 yr old a Youth pass?

Dad is suggesting we rent a car to drive from place to place (we know ew don't need it in London), which definetely has it's benefits. Maybe we should by the Britrail pass to get the lower Eurostar fare and use it to get to Cambridge and then rent a car?

Days 4 - 16
Tour UK. Am waiting to hear back from friends about what dates suit them, hopefully we won't have to do any criss-crossing, but I am finding it hard to tell them we'll visit on a particular date. Suppose they had other plans?!
We're also contemplating taking along our inflatable mattress for 2 of the kids. Yes, it ways a lot, but it may be very useful. Not many people have space for 5 visitors. Do you think a flat in London would give us a discount if we used that instead of a 4th and 5th bed? Just a thought...

Day 17
Eurostar back to Paris

Day 18
Fly home

Hopefully YOU are not thoroughly confused now! I'm looking forward to hearing your advice.

Mambo5

Where can I find out more about the segway tours in Paris? This would be such a thrill for the 13 and 16 yr old. The 9yr old might like it, but I'm guessing she's too young.

Lori

I rather doubt anyone is going to give you a discount for your inflatable mattress, leave it home, it's one more thing to drag along and with 5 people you will have plenty of luggage as is I'm sure.

You may actually be looking at additional charges for over 2 people in hotels or even some flats, so I'd go for 2 hotel rooms and have the extra bathroom.

You are going to be doing alot of hopping around with your one or two nighters (but I understand if you are visiting people). If I were you I'd rent a van, it probably would be cheaper then the train in the UK and gives you more flexibility to come and go (arrive and leave) at your convenience.

You have alot planned for a short time, with very little time in Paris to really enjoy the city. For the short time you are there and the expense of the Eurostar tickets I simply would not consider it .. but since you probably bought the air tickets already it's too late. Whatever you save on air you are going to spend it on Eurostar I think.

kdcwood

Have you already bought your airline tickets? If not, I'd look into an open jaw ticket that would let you fly into Paris and out of London to avoid backtracking and losing a lot of time in the process.

In London and Paris, you can normally find rentals (apartments) for less than a week, though selection may be limited now since you're so close to your trip. But maybe you could find a two-bedroom with some sleeping accommodations in the living room. This could be cheaper than two hotel rooms and give you more room to spread out.

Alternatives to Eurostar might include a budget airline to/from more remote airports (check www.whichbudget.com) or even a ferry.

Mambo5

Do you have any suggestions on a good car rental firm to use? Are there any benefits to booking in the Uk or should we just go through an American car rental website?

I did not mean to sound crass by suggesting we take the air mattress, but it might help when we are staying with friends. I'll ask them if it would be a help.

Yes, it's too bad we do not have more time in each place. We're not going to try to show the kids everything in Paris, for example, just a few highlights to give them a "taste".

Mambo5

(This may be a double post. Sorry. I just lost the first version I was trying to write!)

Thank you, I will check out www.whichbudget.com

By flying through Paris we saved about $2500 on airfares. Yes, it's true we willl spend some of that on staying in Paris, but whether it's England or Paris we will still have to buy meals and accomodation. we know it's a very short time, but it's all we have and we're not going to try to cram everything in.

SandyBrit

Mambo5

Try www.nova.co.uk to check out dad'd idea that you may now hire a car for 5 to get about in England (not London). Please note your quote is in GBP and is all inclusive.

Have rented from nova lots of time.

Sandy

SandyBrit

Sorry should read dad's idea

Lori

When we have rented cars in the UK we booked through Hertz, Avis & Budget (different trips - each had the best price at the time). You need to be sure exactly what is included (taxes). You VISA card insurance coverage will cover certain things too - check with the card you are going to use if you decide to rent a car. I just always felt "better" using a name-brand company and one I could deal with in the U.S. should there have been any problems (thankfully we never had any).

SandyBrit

Mambo5 - Just a followup - Nova is a broker and you will be placed with a car hire that you know. Last time we rented it was with Alamo and time before that Europcar.

Naturally check all sources for best price.

Sandy

janisj

Yes - Nova is a very well know company - sort of like AutoEurope. No problem at all using them.

Forget the air mattress - even for staying w/ friends. You will probably have too much luggage to deal w/ without having an air mattres/pump to worry about.

I wish you luck finding large, budget accomodation w/ so little lead time. " . . . York, Leeds, and Yorkshire for a night or two in each place" -- all of those places are in Yorkshire. Are you planning three stop overs in Yorkshire?

alanRow

<< York, Leeds, and Yorkshire for a night or two in each place >>

It's 30 minutes by train between York & Leeds, not much longer by car (though driving & parking in Leeds is not very nice). Stay in one, do day trip to other.

Why don't you do your trip in the UK as a linear trip & fly from Paris to the northernmost point of your trip then drive/train/bus down to London - or do it the other way.

As for Eurostar costing 200USD per person including children, that seems to be a tadge high as the cheap tickets are 90usd per person return. try varying your dates/times or just do a one-way trip on the Eurostar & fly back as I suggested earlier

janisj

AlanRow makes a really good point. Why not fly from CDG to Leeds (or even Newcastle) and then work your way south through Yorkshire and Cambridge. Drop the car in Cambridge and take the train into London . . . .

Mambo5

Thanks, I will investigate a combination of flying and Eurostar. I looked up the places where our friends live and they seem close enough together (Skipton, York and Barnsley)

PalQ

Clarify the passholder fare of $75 this is valid on any day, subject to availability of course but if booking far enough in advance can usually book. child 9 would get a $38 kids fare again on any train, subject to availability.

kswl

$200 sounds very high for a rt unless you are booking the most popular day/time.

The Paris Segway tours are through the Fat Tire Bike Tours:


http://www.citysegwaytours.com/paris/

We did this in Paris and loved every minute of it. It will be a unique experience that you won't regret!

Mambo5

Thanks for posting the information about segways. They don't allow kids under 12, so we'll have to do that idea another time.

I think I've found two apartments in London, but I'll start a new post to ask everyone their opinions.

Mimar

There are 2 towns named Barnsley, one in the western Cotswolds and another in Yorkshire. Make sure you have the right one.

A car would probably be cheaper transportation for the 5 of you, but it's very difficult to park in central London, and there's a congestion surcharge for driving there. Maybe split up the England time to a few days in the north followed by a few days in London.

As you are discovering, this is a little late for booking all this. At the same time, you need to explore your options.

Good luck!

kswl

The Segway tour will be a great thing to save for a return visit, Mambo. They also have them in other European cities.

PalQ

<$200 sounds very high for a rt unless you are booking the most popular day/time>

not really, especially if your train is within a month or so. Whereas it used to be easy to book the $90 r.t. fares thru RailEurope this is becoming less and less a possibility on many days as Eurostar apparently, due to increasing load factors, can sell these seats at a higher price. thus the LondonPlus pass passholder fare angle of $75 becomes more viable as $75 passholder fares are much more bookable than $90 r.t. - for one-way travel $75 pass fare is a super fare and can be booked on any day at anytime, though again on weekends it can be hard to book.
Ironically it's more and more true that the $170 one way first class or $190 return first class tickets are apt to be the cheapest available on a short notice - cheaper than the cheapest 2nd class tickets. Pass fare is nice in that it can be changed once in Europe without penalty up until the time of the train (subject to availability however)
Point again - book early. And as always i recommend BETS (800-441-2387) for their expertise in my dealings with them. Fares in US dollars seem often to be lower than what's available in pounds or euros thru online (www.eurostar.co.uk or www.eurostar.com, whatever works on your computer or www.sncf.com.
Nice part of the LondonPlus angle for passholder fares is that kids under 16 get a free londonplus pass to match what the adults buy - thus for those day tripping from London or landing at Gatwick Airport - those who can actually use the pass and also get a $75 pass fare on days when $200 may be the lowest other available ticket may find this a great deal. Indeed there are many times when you can even throw the pass away and still realize a savings over what you may have to pay for the next cheapest Eurostar ticket.