What Are Some Essential Tips for Paris and London?
Dec 2nd, 2005, 02:07 AM
#41
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have to jump in here to thank David!
I had forgotten about the Sever's House ..been trying to get there on the last couple of trips but have never been around on the right dates! I just checked and in Feb we will be there for the 3rd Sunday!
Thank you Thank you
I had forgotten about the Sever's House ..been trying to get there on the last couple of trips but have never been around on the right dates! I just checked and in Feb we will be there for the 3rd Sunday!
Thank you Thank you
Dec 2nd, 2005, 08:30 AM
#44
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 674
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i am going to London in Feb., to see as much theater as possible! Thanks for the posting about Severs house, I will be there the third sunday in Feb. so I plan on checking the Severs house out! Thank you PJ
Dec 2nd, 2005, 09:22 AM
#45
Guest
Posts: n/a
To avoid an unpleasant surprise on your restaurant tab in Paris, check the price of soda and iced tea before ordering. We found out the hard way that a regular glass of soda cost us about $8 apiece at a restaurant in Paris, compared to a glass of wine for about $4, or tap water for free.
Check my trip report of London-Paris-Amsterdam for recommendations of restaurants, activities, and hotels we enjoyed.
Many museums in Paris are free the first Sunday of each month, including the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay. They may also be extra crowded, but it might be worth it to you to save the bucks. The Louvre entrance underground seemed the shortest line when we were there.
Enjoy your trip.
P.S. I think the poster above meant to think of one Euro as approx. $1.25. I haven't checked the conversion rate lately, but you can figure an additional 25 percent to your Euro tab, or whatever the current rate is. So a 12 EU tab equals about $15, etc.
And in London, double the pounds to approx. equal the dollars.
Check my trip report of London-Paris-Amsterdam for recommendations of restaurants, activities, and hotels we enjoyed.
Many museums in Paris are free the first Sunday of each month, including the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay. They may also be extra crowded, but it might be worth it to you to save the bucks. The Louvre entrance underground seemed the shortest line when we were there.
Enjoy your trip.
P.S. I think the poster above meant to think of one Euro as approx. $1.25. I haven't checked the conversion rate lately, but you can figure an additional 25 percent to your Euro tab, or whatever the current rate is. So a 12 EU tab equals about $15, etc.
And in London, double the pounds to approx. equal the dollars.
Dec 2nd, 2005, 09:35 AM
#46
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lots of good advice here, so will only add two things:
1. You will probably not see all the things on your pre-trip wish list. Don't stress about it. Enjoy what you do see and make plans to come back again.
2. London IS as expensive as everyone warns but many of the top restaurants offer good lunch specials. For example, our favorite restaurant in London is Zuma. Dinner there can easily cost more than £100 ($200) per person, but their weekday lunch specials are all under £15. You get the same service, food quality, and vibe for a small fraction of the dinner cost.
(Along those lines of saving money on food, if you need a fast, sticky fat and sugar fix, they hand out free glazed donuts at the Krispy Kreme stand in Harrods Food Hall. Not recommending them per se, just passing on the info.)
1. You will probably not see all the things on your pre-trip wish list. Don't stress about it. Enjoy what you do see and make plans to come back again.
2. London IS as expensive as everyone warns but many of the top restaurants offer good lunch specials. For example, our favorite restaurant in London is Zuma. Dinner there can easily cost more than £100 ($200) per person, but their weekday lunch specials are all under £15. You get the same service, food quality, and vibe for a small fraction of the dinner cost.
(Along those lines of saving money on food, if you need a fast, sticky fat and sugar fix, they hand out free glazed donuts at the Krispy Kreme stand in Harrods Food Hall. Not recommending them per se, just passing on the info.)
Dec 2nd, 2005, 11:01 AM
#47
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
bbw, in Paris start your conversations with a greeting in French, then ask in French if they speak English. If they respond "alittle" or something similar, proceed in English. Don't start a conversation in English. Also write down the address you are going to when you use a cab. Otherwise you will find yourself taking an expensive trip around Paris when the cab driver tells you he "did not understand" your address!
Dec 2nd, 2005, 02:10 PM
#48
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
EVERY interaction in France, whether it's asking for directions or buying a t-shirt, begins with "Bonjour, monsieur/madame" and ends with "Merci. Au revoir."
No exceptions. Unless you fall in the Seine and need rescue (<i>au secours!</i
No exceptions. Unless you fall in the Seine and need rescue (<i>au secours!</i
Dec 2nd, 2005, 04:40 PM
#49
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It depends on what you are interested in, but I would recommend a hop on hop off tour in each city to begin with, simply to give yourself an overview. It will help you to decide what you would like to return to see later.
Start the London one at mid-day, not first thing in the morning. Then you get the benefit of using your ticket for two days as it is good for 24 hours. Stay on it for the full loop, an hour and a half to two hours, and be sure to get a seat with a good view out of both sides - on top is best, if it is good weather. Get on one with a live guide first, if you get a guide you do not like, just change buses at the next stop to get a better one. When you finish the loop, get off somewhere you want to explore, then hop back on to go to the next spot. The next morning, start as early as the buses run, either go on one of its other loops to see more of the city with a tape recorded guide, or take it to several places you saw the day before and want to visit. Plan so that your last allowable boarding will drop you at someplace that you want to go. It's easy.
If you like to delve into history, allow a half to a full day at the Tower of London and two or more hours at Westminster Abbey. Don't miss the London Eye and although Madame Tousaud's is hokey and overpriced, if you have ever wanted to see a wax museum this is the one to see. You will never want to see another. My teen was bored by it, his cousin loved it. Harrods is fascinating, it can eat up your time, learn to budget your time so you can cover as much of London as possible.
My college age daughter traveled to 18 countries last year, by herself. Use common sense and you will be fine. All cities have their dangers and areas you should not enter alone. Listen to your instincts. Stay out of parks and away from dark streets after sunset. Watch out for gypsies who try to distract you to steal your wallet, take a money belt - my daughter wrapped hers around her lower leg underneath her jeans. I wear mine around my waist, under my clothing.
Most of all, have fun. Don't worry, there is no such thing as a hundred dollar cup of coffee. Learn to eat inexpensively. Unless it's included in the rate, skip hotel breakfasts. Eat out, just like here at home people in London and Paris get morning coffee and a baked good or bigger breakfasts at small sandwich shops or food markets. You can do the same. London pubs have great deals for lunches and dinners, unless they are tourist traps. Read their menus before venturing inside, they are posted in front. Try some Cottage Pie or a Jacket Potato with a filling, my teens adore them. Ask the wait staff in both cities for suggestions, they will help you eat like a native.
Start the London one at mid-day, not first thing in the morning. Then you get the benefit of using your ticket for two days as it is good for 24 hours. Stay on it for the full loop, an hour and a half to two hours, and be sure to get a seat with a good view out of both sides - on top is best, if it is good weather. Get on one with a live guide first, if you get a guide you do not like, just change buses at the next stop to get a better one. When you finish the loop, get off somewhere you want to explore, then hop back on to go to the next spot. The next morning, start as early as the buses run, either go on one of its other loops to see more of the city with a tape recorded guide, or take it to several places you saw the day before and want to visit. Plan so that your last allowable boarding will drop you at someplace that you want to go. It's easy.
If you like to delve into history, allow a half to a full day at the Tower of London and two or more hours at Westminster Abbey. Don't miss the London Eye and although Madame Tousaud's is hokey and overpriced, if you have ever wanted to see a wax museum this is the one to see. You will never want to see another. My teen was bored by it, his cousin loved it. Harrods is fascinating, it can eat up your time, learn to budget your time so you can cover as much of London as possible.
My college age daughter traveled to 18 countries last year, by herself. Use common sense and you will be fine. All cities have their dangers and areas you should not enter alone. Listen to your instincts. Stay out of parks and away from dark streets after sunset. Watch out for gypsies who try to distract you to steal your wallet, take a money belt - my daughter wrapped hers around her lower leg underneath her jeans. I wear mine around my waist, under my clothing.
Most of all, have fun. Don't worry, there is no such thing as a hundred dollar cup of coffee. Learn to eat inexpensively. Unless it's included in the rate, skip hotel breakfasts. Eat out, just like here at home people in London and Paris get morning coffee and a baked good or bigger breakfasts at small sandwich shops or food markets. You can do the same. London pubs have great deals for lunches and dinners, unless they are tourist traps. Read their menus before venturing inside, they are posted in front. Try some Cottage Pie or a Jacket Potato with a filling, my teens adore them. Ask the wait staff in both cities for suggestions, they will help you eat like a native.
Dec 3rd, 2005, 05:42 AM
#50
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Um, it doesn't matter what time you get on the bus. You will get the same length of tour (12 hours) no matter what time of day you start. The only way you can maximize a 24-hour pass is by riding the included Thames cruise after the buses stop running in the evening. You can do this no matter what time your pass ends.
But I like a pass from the transit company and a tourist bus map better anyway. The #15 and RV1 in London and #42 and #24 in Paris will take you past most of the top sights. You can ride for a week all over Greater London for £11, or Paris's Central Zone for 15.70€ (week begins on Monday).
But I like a pass from the transit company and a tourist bus map better anyway. The #15 and RV1 in London and #42 and #24 in Paris will take you past most of the top sights. You can ride for a week all over Greater London for £11, or Paris's Central Zone for 15.70€ (week begins on Monday).
Dec 3rd, 2005, 01:37 PM
#51
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
milliondollarbbw,
I know I'm duplicating what Nikki and perhaps some others have said, it's just that I couldn't agree more: Say the "Bonjour Madame" or "Bonjour Monsieur" upon entering a shop and "Au revoir" when you leave. To not do so would be considered somewhat rude.
They are pronounced "bow ZHURE" and "Oh vwah". That's the best I can write it, but, better yet, listen to how the French say it. I DO know the "n" is silent in Bonjour. "Monsieur" sounds a lot like "miss you".
I think you will be amazed at how much more comfortable you will feel when you are purposely being respectful and following the customs of the host country, and it will be appreciated by them.
Good luck!
I know I'm duplicating what Nikki and perhaps some others have said, it's just that I couldn't agree more: Say the "Bonjour Madame" or "Bonjour Monsieur" upon entering a shop and "Au revoir" when you leave. To not do so would be considered somewhat rude.
They are pronounced "bow ZHURE" and "Oh vwah". That's the best I can write it, but, better yet, listen to how the French say it. I DO know the "n" is silent in Bonjour. "Monsieur" sounds a lot like "miss you".
I think you will be amazed at how much more comfortable you will feel when you are purposely being respectful and following the customs of the host country, and it will be appreciated by them.
Good luck!
Dec 5th, 2005, 05:53 AM
#52
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry, but I don't think the pronunciation guides transliterated above come close to being accurate.
Fodors has language phrases you can listen to (as do other websites)
www.fodors.com/language
Fodors has language phrases you can listen to (as do other websites)
www.fodors.com/language
Dec 5th, 2005, 07:46 PM
#54
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As a fairly new reader and poster (can I call myself a poster? That sounds weird), I can say that these folks have given some excellent advice when it comes to Paris. The only thing I can add is that you shouldn't try to do the Louvre in one day. It's not possible anyway, so find what kind of art you really like and spend some time with it. For me, it's the Egyptian stuff so I stroll through and take my time rather than running around the building like a crazy person. Also, don't forget when you go to that particular museum that you should enjoy the building itself. Amazing. Anyway, I would also suggest one of the walking tours. My favorite was the catacomb walking tour. I can't remember, but I think the walking tours are only 10 euro for a couple of hours and you can find the schedules for them on the Web. The tour guides are great, and it's really worth the 10 euro and two hours.
Dec 6th, 2005, 02:02 PM
#55
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,258
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We were in London this past August/September. We took a bus tour (big red bus, I think). We rode for the afternoon. Then were able to get on for a couple of hours the next morning. I'm pretty sure it was a 24-hour pass, as we were able to continue riding the next morning. In the morning, we mostly wanted to ride it to get across town to a tourist spot, but it saved us the subway fare.
Dec 9th, 2005, 02:14 AM
#56
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi there!
For something a bit off the beaten path but NOT TO BE MISSED, is the La Ste. Chapelle, located in the Palais de Justice near Notre Dame (on the island). You have to check into the Palais (courthouse) to get there, as the courthouse complex now encompasses the chapel. Incredible, amazing, I have never seen anything like it, etc. (i.e. I REALLY liked it!!!) - for a preview, go to www.tripadvisor.com, type in La Ste. Chapelle, and click on the viewer's candid photo. You can do this on the same day as Notre Dame, as it is very close, and takes only a few minutes to get in and see the chapel.
You also might want to see the Cluny tapestries, located at the Musee Cluny in the St. Germain district (corner of Blvd St. Michel and Blvd St. Germain). These are the famous "lady and unicorn" medieval tapestries that, if you saw them you would recognize immediately.
Just a thought!
For something a bit off the beaten path but NOT TO BE MISSED, is the La Ste. Chapelle, located in the Palais de Justice near Notre Dame (on the island). You have to check into the Palais (courthouse) to get there, as the courthouse complex now encompasses the chapel. Incredible, amazing, I have never seen anything like it, etc. (i.e. I REALLY liked it!!!) - for a preview, go to www.tripadvisor.com, type in La Ste. Chapelle, and click on the viewer's candid photo. You can do this on the same day as Notre Dame, as it is very close, and takes only a few minutes to get in and see the chapel.
You also might want to see the Cluny tapestries, located at the Musee Cluny in the St. Germain district (corner of Blvd St. Michel and Blvd St. Germain). These are the famous "lady and unicorn" medieval tapestries that, if you saw them you would recognize immediately.
Just a thought!
Dec 9th, 2005, 02:56 AM
#57
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good call on St Chapelle. I was there only last month. You have to go in through the Palais de Justice, which are the French High courts so security is high ie metal detectors x-ray machines etc. This means that there is a queue.
You go into the ground floor which is a fine medieval building with highly decorated walls and ceilings, but it's nothing out of the ordinary (if a 14th century building can be anything other than out of the ordinary). Then you go up a winding stone staircase, and your jaw drops. It is the most fabulous building of it's kind that I have ever seen. It seems to be made of 14th century stained glass. It is very high and airy and the light is wonderful. To me it's WAY better than Notre Dame (which is a bit gloomy IMHO).
I cannot recommend this highly enough.
You can buy a combined ticket with St Chapelle and the Conciergerie which was part of the Royal Palace (before they moved to the Louvre) and served as a prison during the revolution. It's where most of the people who died in the terror spent their last days. It's an impressive building and Marie Antoinette's cell is worth a look. (It's my fondly held belief that the French have always, deep down, regretted getting rid of their monarchy - and this is displayed in how they treat royal relics).
You can do both in a morning or afternoon.
You go into the ground floor which is a fine medieval building with highly decorated walls and ceilings, but it's nothing out of the ordinary (if a 14th century building can be anything other than out of the ordinary). Then you go up a winding stone staircase, and your jaw drops. It is the most fabulous building of it's kind that I have ever seen. It seems to be made of 14th century stained glass. It is very high and airy and the light is wonderful. To me it's WAY better than Notre Dame (which is a bit gloomy IMHO).
I cannot recommend this highly enough.
You can buy a combined ticket with St Chapelle and the Conciergerie which was part of the Royal Palace (before they moved to the Louvre) and served as a prison during the revolution. It's where most of the people who died in the terror spent their last days. It's an impressive building and Marie Antoinette's cell is worth a look. (It's my fondly held belief that the French have always, deep down, regretted getting rid of their monarchy - and this is displayed in how they treat royal relics).
You can do both in a morning or afternoon.
