msvb60

janis and isabel, thank you both!

I was thinking about going to Paris, early afternoon, doing a small bit of sightseeing, overnighting somewhere close to the train station and then back to London. Since it seems there isn't much around the station, if I went I might go late on, say Wednesday, spend all day Thursday and return to London(or fly out of Paris) on Friday.

According to Travelocity, the tickets for in to London, out of Paris is about the same as in and out of London, so I might do that. I'd always heard it was much more expensive to do that.

So many things to consider, I'm beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed by all the options. I'm glad I'm planning on April and not next week!

suze

IMO wonderful the Paris idea is getting discussed. How about... fly into London and spend 7 days, staying at 1 hotel, using the various day tours. Chunnel to Paris and stay 3 more days, at 1 hotel in the 4th-7th arrondisements. There are similar day tours in Paris. Fly home from Paris. That sounds pretty sweet, not complicated to plan, a good balance of solo travel with some tours.

As far as the foreign-ness of either city. I found Paris a reasonably straightforward city on my first visit. Sure speaking French would be great, but is not necessary. And for language, I joke with my friend in Switzerland that I can understand the people speaking French better than I can her boyfriend visiting from London!!

msvb60

Thanks britomart!

I'd heard about the Walks and will definately try one or two.

Ah, the Kiwis! Worked with some a couple years ago and they loved to drink and play rugby. Both, in the bar!

msvb60

Hey Nina!

I live close to 3 different big library districts, so there's never a shortage of research.

I have the Michel Thomas French 8 CD set and have access to a 50 CD Pimselur French course. If I ever get through all of that Italian is next.

I'd love to live in Jean and Lionel's house in London. I work for a major financial services company that has offices in London and Paris. Part of my travel is to decide if I'd like to ask for a transfer. I just got a big promotion so I'm in a position where I can ask and have a good shot at getting it. It's a big step but one I'm able to make now that I don't have quite as many connections keeping me here.

msvb60

Suze, you have me laughing!

I was watching a show on PBS from England and there were these furniture moving guys talking, and I thought to myself, "Is that English?" I watch a lot of Discovery Channel and from time to time they have a show where they're talking to people in England and they actually have subtitles. I understand what they're saying, but it's funny that they think we Americans need subtitles... for english.

suze

Yes, I was laughing too when I wrote it, just remembering.

This has turned out to be a great post and thread. Happy planning!

ninasdream

Well, I couldn't stay away for long. Finished prep work, now since the rain has stopped & the sun is in & out, off for a walk.

msvb- Thanks for your words. Funny,the french cds I have ARE Pimsleur's. So your library has their big lesson? That's great, mine just began purchasing cd's last year, before that tapes only, and some have gone bad, inaudible. I got a kick out of the Pimsleur dialogs. The women are never hungry, they only want something to drink, when someone asks where do you want to eat the dialog response is, your house. Isn't that a little rude? So unfair to someone who diidn't want to cook or entertain or that poor party who just has an open beer & a shriveled orange in the frig!
Anyway, last year when I went to France on a tour, I doubted the elementary lessons focussed on food & drink would be of much use. So what happened? I met people in Paris, and found myself responding almost reflexively off the cd's. And after all that walking I really was only thirsty! Ha. Then this year, Paris on my own, I had to find the exact intersection they used in dialog to meet my friend from last year at the main entrance to Jardin du Lux. That made me smile.

LoveItaly

I too am laughing as I have a real difficult time understanding some of the people from England. My DH's Godfather was from England and especially when he got upset we could not understand a word he said. We use to tease him and ask him if he could repeat that again in English. It was a running joke. And his wife from Cornwall spoke so clearly.

I sometimes, when watching English movies or programs get exhausted trying to understand a lot of the dialog. Thought I was the only one.

kswl

LoveItaly, my DH has gotten so fed up with poor annunciation (of American actors) that we use "subtitles" on all the movies we watch!

Michel_Paris

Hi msvb60,
I've soloed in London and it is a good place to get a feel for Europe without the additional stress of languages. Consider staying at a B&B, hotesl are ery expensive and you can get a nice, central room with a good breakfast economically. Strange thing I learned is that some B&Bs are called Hotels. Also better for social interaction. I stayed in the Bloomsbury (Russell Square) area, easy access to tube (direct line to Heathrow), British Museum, John Soane House, pubs, laundry, airport bus stops in area, can walk to Covent Garden. I used a 5 day tube pass and was satisfied. Note that streets are NOT E-W, N-S, very confusing at times, name changes often, smae anme but different area of City, if you are going to do a lot of walking get a good map, like London AtoZ. I used Time Out to plan what events/tours I wanted to do. I tried to mix in touring on my own with guide tours. Found that tours gave me a good complement to what I got from a guidebook,I also tried to plan visits around guided tours, eg. Beefeaters at Tower, Verger at Westminster,etc...Last time I treid pub grub for lunch and was very happy I did. Good basic food at a decent price washed down by a fine beer.
Paris is a great city, I'm iffy about recommending going just for a day. So much to see, it might seem rushed. Bath, Greenwich, Oxford, or perhaps a castle. I also saw a lot of plays. You can either go and stand in line at teh Leicester Square half-price ticket booth (not all plays) or go directly to the box office. I found that being solo, I was able to get tickets a lot easier and was able to see all the plays I wanted. Hope this helps,
Mike

Robespierre

If cost <i>is</i> an object:

The very cheapest way to Eurostar to Paris is the midweek day return fare (whether you use the return ticket or not!)

I agree with the others that two or three days in Paris will get you a much better feel for the place than one of the whirlwind day (or even overnight) tours from London. Returning home from Paris, as others have noted above, saves the trip back to London and, once the cost of a non-discounted Eurostar ticket is taken into consideration, it might even be cheaper than returing to London.

There's a great overview of public transport in Paris at

<b>http://www.atkielski.com/PDF/data/ParMetro.pdf</b>

The best maps I've found on line are at

<b>http://www.citefutee.com/orienter/tous_plans_pdf.php</b>

The one called &quot;Bus touristique&quot; is a good one for a self-conducted tour of the major spots. If your hotel is over by the Eiffel tower, you can even start your tour on the way there by taking the #42 from Gare du Nord.

msvb60

Having a choice would it be better to go with BA, non-stop Denver to Heathrow OR United stopping in DC into Heathrow? I don't know BA at all and I don't know the terminals at Heathrow. Both are 777s, which I like very much.

msvb60

I should add, the BA flight is 9 hours and puts me into Heathrow at a bit after noon. The United flights are a total of 12.5 hours and put me into Heathrow at 7am. I would think that's too early to get into the hotel for a quick nap.

There are also options of going with US Airways OR Northwest into Gatwick, both stopping over and getting to London very early.

I'm on BA, United and NW frequent flyer programs, but don't have enough to do anything with.

suze

Shorter flying time and non-stop is better IMO.

I usually fly on British Air, an overnight flight that lands at Heathrow around Noon. I think it's a great way to go. I have only once flown during the day and tranfered in the U.S. I didn't care for it &amp; my thinking is it's just one more place for something to go wrong (landing late, bad connection, wasting time in an airport when you don't need to, etc.).

msvb60

BA is offering a free night's stay at one of these hotels when you book by Dec 2nd. If you've got anything to tell me about them let me know. A free night is a free night.

Jurys Inn Chelsea ***
Corus Hotel Hyde Park ***
Royal National ***
Central Park ***
Gresham Hyde Park ****

Also what's the difference between a twin and a single?

Thanks again for all the help!!!

rj007

Coming from California, I usually fly to JFK then on to Heathrow. I like getting in London early in the morning. I can get to my B&amp;B in time for breakfast and then take off to enjoy the day.

Heathrow is huge, but I have always found it very easy to get around. There are signs everywhere and it is very easy getting out of there. I hop on the tube and it takes me to my B&amp;B. Just got back from another great visit to my favorite city. Can't wait to get back!

janis

Haven't stayed in any of those hotels and only know them by location so someone else would be better able to compare them.

A single is just that -- a room for one, A twin is a room for two with two single (twin) beds.

I also prefer non-stops. But a comment -- It is generally not a good idea to take a nap after you arrive. It is VERY tempting to check in to your hotel and lay down on the bed after flying over night. But for most people that just makes their jet lag worse. If you can stay up (and outdoors if possible) until a reasonable hour -- like 9pm or later, you are more likely to get your body clock on local time by the next day. But if you go to sleep after you arrive and then manage to get up again, you will probably be awake in the middle of the night and totally zonked the next day.

(some people do take naps and manage just fine, but for most frequent travelers, staying awake as long as possible that first day makes the whole trip easier)

imaukpanda

I can understand you concerns, I am going to London for the first time. If any one has any suggestions of cool stuff to do in April....also whats up with the duty free, sorry for the off topic but could not find a forum that was on the topic.

LoveItaly

janis, I sure agree with you about not taking a nap when arriving in Europe but instead walking around in the fresh air. The one time I did take a nap, for one hour that last for at least four hours I was awake half of the night and felt even worse the next day. Sure learned my lesson on that one.

imaukpanda, there is a great thread about duty free stores. If you can not pull it up it is because Fodors does seem to have some glitches today.
Keep trying.

janis

LoveItaly: We missed you but toasted you w/ the yummy limoncello!!! Must admit -- after all the wine tasting and wines w/ dinner the limoncello did give me a case of hiccups. But soon recovered - and had some more