Versailles or Mont St Michel ?
#21
Join Date: Feb 2005
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A coworker of mine and his wife visited MStM in July last year. They arrived mid-day (peak time) and spent the night. They could not believe how the place seemed so different at night and early in the morning compared to the mid-day crowds. They said it was the highlight of their trip.
#22
Why doesn't the Original Poster invest at least enough of him/her-self to tell us his/her interests/desires, in order to aid us providing appropriate advice?
That's like asking a doctor for a cure, without disclosing symptoms.
That's like asking a doctor for a cure, without disclosing symptoms.
#23
I think a lot of people don't have a proper grasp of the size of France. Some people think it is much smaller than it is and others think it is bigger. And of course the TGV network has additionally warped the travel map in ways that surprise even the French.
Some people ask the question "where can I go that is no more than two hours from Paris," and that always yields a multitude of replies with considerably less controversy.
Some people ask the question "where can I go that is no more than two hours from Paris," and that always yields a multitude of replies with considerably less controversy.
#25
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Well the day trip to Versailles is practically in Paris - in 5 days in Paris Versailles to me is a must sight! One of the top top sights in Paris (technically the suburbs but basically in Paris) - take RER C right to its terminus smack near the palace entry. buy a RER+Palace entry ticket in Paris at RER station - if they still do that scheme so you do not have to wait in a ticket queue once there.
#26
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People just have to decide which they'd rather do, this is th ekind of question that I don't think works out very well to ask others. It's like saying, what should I have for dinner, steak or salmon. Who cares, it's up to you.
A lot of bias shown on the train vs. bus thing. Buses are not inherently more "crowded" than trains. you sit in a seat, it's perfectly comfortable in a bus and the idea that all the rigmarole to take the train the bus transfers twice "is a snap" is also a bias. It's a lot of trouble and taking a coach tour is easier, that's all. Different people have different taste for one vs. another. I myself would rather do the coach tour for convenience if it were about the same price and wasn't a lot more time.
A lot of bias shown on the train vs. bus thing. Buses are not inherently more "crowded" than trains. you sit in a seat, it's perfectly comfortable in a bus and the idea that all the rigmarole to take the train the bus transfers twice "is a snap" is also a bias. It's a lot of trouble and taking a coach tour is easier, that's all. Different people have different taste for one vs. another. I myself would rather do the coach tour for convenience if it were about the same price and wasn't a lot more time.
#27
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I wonder if the RER is still running the decorated railcars on the C line to Versailles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seIHjf9mPmA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seIHjf9mPmA
#28
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Hi Rodrigo, enjoy the French Riviera.
"They could not believe how the place seemed so different at night and early in the morning compared to the mid-day crowds. They said it was the highlight of their trip."
I don't know about the highlight, but I am definitely glad we spent the night in the area, even though the time we spent on the Mont itself was quite limited. After checking into our hotel and resting a bit, we drove 15 minutes to the Mont, arriving around 4 p.m. Just got in in time to visit the abbey, then explored the town a bit, had dinner on the Mont while watching the sun set, wandered the deserted, lamp lit streets, then went back to our hotel around 8:15 - 8:30 p.m. A little over 4 hours on the Mont. But as I said, it was the ambiance of the late afternoon early evening, not the total time, that stands out in my mind. This is why I find it hard to call it a day trip, even though technically it is possible.
"They could not believe how the place seemed so different at night and early in the morning compared to the mid-day crowds. They said it was the highlight of their trip."
I don't know about the highlight, but I am definitely glad we spent the night in the area, even though the time we spent on the Mont itself was quite limited. After checking into our hotel and resting a bit, we drove 15 minutes to the Mont, arriving around 4 p.m. Just got in in time to visit the abbey, then explored the town a bit, had dinner on the Mont while watching the sun set, wandered the deserted, lamp lit streets, then went back to our hotel around 8:15 - 8:30 p.m. A little over 4 hours on the Mont. But as I said, it was the ambiance of the late afternoon early evening, not the total time, that stands out in my mind. This is why I find it hard to call it a day trip, even though technically it is possible.
#31
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A train from St. Michel-Notre Dame to Versailles Rive Gauche = 42 minutes.
A train from the same station to Abbesses station near Sacre Coeur = 30 minutes.
Versailles was close enough for the people of Paris to walk to and back in 1792. It's close.
A train from the same station to Abbesses station near Sacre Coeur = 30 minutes.
Versailles was close enough for the people of Paris to walk to and back in 1792. It's close.
#32
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Yes Versailles for all practical purposes is in Paris as apersuader shows you could spend as much time on the metro in Paris as it would take to get out to Versailles.
Versailles IMO a must sight for any Paris trip!
Versailles IMO a must sight for any Paris trip!