fuzzbucket

In Paris, "double" or "queen" beds are sometimes two twin beds clamped together at the feet. There can be a sort of "valley" in the middle of the mattress, though some hotels put a mattress topper over this, which makes it more comfortable.

The way you can tell is by examining the photos of the beds - look at the feet underneath, which will tell you if they are one bed or two pushed together.

The sofa beds in Paris may pull out, but don't have that dreaded bar that hits you in your lower back. The mattresses are meant for daily use, so will be thicker and much more comfortable.
The Family Suite at the Tourville has 2 single beds (not pull-outs) which are in an alcove, and a real queen bed.

perkie1968

Cjar: are you doing London and Paris in October? If yes, how many days in each city, as that is our plan for next July. Thanks.


Everyone: does the day of the week matter in terms of getting cheaper flights? For example, Is it cheaper to fly out on a Wednesday versus a weekend?

sugarmaple

I like to fly Air Canada, we're from Toronto, and it most definitely depends on the day of the week.

For example, for May's trip to Edinburgh, we left on a Monday, returned on a Wednesday.

Two previous years to France, we left on a Wednesday, returning on a Tuesday. Have some fun playing around with the days.

Check out Hopper for the best time to book.

Cjar

Perkie1968- Yes, we have open jaw tickets in Gatwick/ out Charles de Gaulle.We arrive on the 9th and take the train to Paris on the 12th ,then fly home on the 17th. Not truly enough time in either place unfortunately. I think ideally we'd have 4-5 full days in both places.

PalenQ

UM, I hope you're not planning to try to see Versailles and Giverny on the same day>

Yes not by public transit but probably by tour bus - yes three days is short but to me Versailles is in Paris - just a short RER (metro) ride away right to the palace - spend a half-day there.

annhig

as you are going in July, you could always schedule Versailles for an evening - there are likely to be fewer people and you might catch the fountains:

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/prepa...ndes-eaux-1-en

You could go in the afternoon - see the palace - then leave and have an early supper returning for the fountains.

If that doesn't fit into your itinerary, the gardens open until 8 in the summer [except when there are water shows at the weekend] so you could have a late pm visit and then see the gardens.

annhig

oops - here's the link to the opening times:

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/prepa.../opening-times

PalenQ

the Paris Museum Pass covers Versailles palace entry (park and gardens usually are free) and I believe gives priority entrance in case you do not want to peg yourself into a specific time.

http://en.parismuseumpass.com/

Also gives priority entrance I believe to Louvre and other museums - good at Pantheon, Orsay, Pompidou and a zillion other museums - buy it at any participating museum. Not to be mixed up with expensive Paris Pass that travel agents steer folks too but for what most do is overpriced.

perkie1968

PalenQ, is it better to do Versailles by tour bus or by Metro? And how would we get there by metro?

Thanks

janisj

>>by tour bus or by Metro?<<

Neither -- you'd take the RER.

annhig

to be specific, you take the RER C to Versailles Rive Gauche. some of the carries have been painted to look like some of the Versailles interiors which is fun:

http://parisbytrain.com/paris-to-cha...lles-by-train/

annhig

carriages, not carries. obviously.

perkie1968

annhig, thank you. How long (assuming were staying at a hotel somewhere near the Louvre) does it take to get to Versailles via the RER?

And is it better to do it on our own versus a tour (I feel like a tour would limit the amount of time spent but the pro is that they know their destination)

annhig

perkie, by the time you've waited for the metro to arrive [and depending on where you get on] it's about 45 mins to Versailles, and then another 10 mins to walk to the palace. There's a big gravel area in front of it with some huge golden gates, and then a security check, before you get inside. IMO it's a good idea to buy your tickets before you go - here's the official website for tickets:

http://www.digitick.com/ext/billette...2800&langue=en

[there are lots of options, including guided tours of the palace in English, but they seem to get booked up quite quickly]

you can also buy tickets at FNAC stores in Paris: here's quite a useful website giving lots more information.

overall you can reckon on its being at least an hour from when you get on the metro to when you actually get inside Versailles itself.