Seeing France
 

Hi, I'm going to France for the first time. My plan is to arrive in Paris on June 4 and leave June 14.

I'll be spending June 11-14 in Paris. I also will be taking the train to Brussels for a few days to stay with a friend sometime before June 11 and then we are taking the train back together to stay in Paris.

What could I see or do June 5-7 in France, somewhere between Paris and Brussels. I'd like to go to Versaille, since we won't do that when in Paris.

Any suggestions?

Hi B,

This is your first visit to France and you will spend only 3 nights in Paris?

I would stay in Paris before taking the train to Brussels. You can visit Versailles.

((I))

I don't agree with Ira. You are going to be there about 10 days total, of course you want to visit your friend in Brussels for a few days. Brussels is worth seeing, and it will be nice to be with your friend.

The Paris thing is really a different topic than going to Brussels or not, it's just the day you leave Paris for Brussels that is the issue. You are thinking of leaving immediately and only spend the last days in Paris with your friend. Alternatively, you could stay in Paris a couple days at the front of your trip, on your own, instead of stopping somewhere between Paris and Brussels.

YOu could easily do that, it's up to you. I do think if you haven't been there a couple more days in Paris on your own might be prefereable to what is between Paris and Brussels (not much, mainly Brugges, I guess). If you do that, I'd recommend Brugges, otherwise stay in Paris.

Versailles is not between Paris and Brussels, you are confused on that point. It's the opposite direction, so you could do that on your own if you stay in Paris your first couple days. It's easy for a day trip by local suburban train.

well, I think maybe Ira and I are saying the same thing, on first reading, I interpreted his advice as meaning something else, sorry.

Are you wanting to see Paris with your friend versus on your own?

What if you fly "open-jaw" - I think that is the expression -arriving in Brussels but flying out of Paris? You might figure up the round trip airfare costs and the round trip train costs and see how it compares to an open jaw ticket and one way train ride from Brussels to Paris. And of course your friends schedule.

If you don't already have your train tickets purchased, and your plans are flexible, and you are arriving in France at CDG airport, I would immediatly take the 1 1/2 hr TGV from CDG airport to Brussels, and spend time with your friend. Then take the 1 1/2 THALYS train back to Paris for the remainder of your trip.

Stu Dudley