Paris hotels

[belboid]

may as well get money straight out of the bank while you're there, same as you would over here. generally better exchange rate & you aren't carrying shedloads of cash.

as for somewhere to stay, forget ye not that paris is a lot smaller than London, and it's pretty easy (and pleasant) wo walk the large majority of places if you are staying anywhere vaguely central.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

but is it advisable to convert all the money in one go?

is it better to convert the money out there? (my parents always opt for converting money when we get to our destination and they never convert all of it...coz of the fluctuation of conversion rates...so i am not sure what the best thing to do is)

No idea, I know that the Post Office doesn't charge that much if anything on converting to Euros, its when you want to change back into pounds that they get you.

 

[Sue]

oh right.

hmmm more to think about now. this is how far things are accoridng to the hotel site:

Special touristic area CHAMPS-ELYSEES (3.00km)
Special touristic area MONTMARTRE (6.00km)
Historical monument ARC DE TRIOMPHE (3.00km)
Historical monument GRANDE ARCHE (1.00km)
Historical monument TOUR EIFFEL (5.00km)
Museums MUSEE D'ORSAY (12.00km)
Museums MUSEE DU LOUVRE (13.00km)
Museums MUSEE RODIN (13.00km)

well we still got tomorrow to find somewhere else. thanks for all the info people..keep it coming

Okay, I'd avoid round the Champs Elysees/Eiffel Tower etc. Montmatre's okay if you're round Rue Des Abbesses for example, but Montmatre is used by hotels to cover a multitude of sins. For example round Boulevard de Clichy/Pigalle there are lots of hotels often described as Montmatre but which are really located in a red light district type place ie lots of sex shows and dodgy people hanging about. Not as bad (or as central...!) as Rue St Denis but not great either.

As to spending money, depends what you're planning on doing. If you're going to English/Irish bars, count on spending about a fiver per pint. In local bars (where you'll be drinking halfs), you're probably talking anything from 2.5-3 euros a throw.

Clubs are kind of pricy but you often get a 'conso' or two thrown in - ie a free drink so drink something expensive like spirits rather than beer.

 

[Random One]

as for somewhere to stay, forget ye not that paris is a lot smaller than London, and it's pretty easy (and pleasant) wo walk the large majority of places if you are staying anywhere vaguely central.

ah cool..didn't really know that but thanks and thanks to Sue too

it is doubtful that we'l be goign to clubs but i'm sure a substantial amoutn of alcohol will be consumed

 

[Sue]

ah cool..didn't really know that but thanks and thanks to Sue too

it is doubtful that we'l be goign to clubs but i'm sure a substantial amoutn of alcohol will be consumed

Remember that beer (un demi) and a glass of house wine are the cheapest things you can buy in a bar. (Well pastis is cheap too but probaby best avoided in large quantities). Spirits are expensive - larger measures than in the UK though.

Most central bars are open till 2, local bars often close a bit earlier though if you know where to go locally you can stay out till whenever really.

 

[Random One]

Well we are back and had an awesome time-we spent 3 nights and 4 days in Paris but could have easily spent a week there.

We ended up staying in Montparnasse in the Timhotel Montparnasse -which is a nice, clean hotel in an excellent location-there are loads of restaurants about a minute away and loads of shops as well as a metro station. It all seemed pretty safe late at night too

The metro is so cool - cheap, easy and quick-our tube system is so slow in comparison. We saw some cool stuff-saw and went up the eiffel tower, louvre, went down Champs Elysees-Arc de Triomphe, saw Notre Dame, went up to Montmartre and saw Sacre-Coeur (which is amazing is inside) and climbe up into the dome which was quite a trek! we had a night out in the latin quarter and we tried to find the Museum of Erotic Art but never made it but we got to see moulin rouge from outside

Here are some photos

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Well we are back and had an awesome time-we spent 3 nights and 4 days in Paris but could have easily spent a week there.

We ended up staying in Montparnasse in the Timhotel Montparnasse -which is a nice, clean hotel in an excellent location-there are loads of restaurants about a minute away and loads of shops as well as a metro station. It all seemed pretty safe late at night too

The metro is so cool - cheap, easy and quick-our tube system is so slow in comparison. We saw some cool stuff-saw and went up the eiffel tower, louvre, went down Champs Elysees-Arc de Triomphe, saw Notre Dame, went up to Montmartre and saw Sacre-Coeur (which is amazing is inside) and climbe up into the dome which was quite a trek! we had a night out in the latin quarter and we tried to find the Museum of Erotic Art but never made it but we got to see moulin rouge from outside

Here are some photos

Yeah the Latin Quarter was cheap Cuban cigars!

 

[belboid]

Here are some photos

cracking stuff - good thing you weren't too cheesy and have your pic took in fornt of the mona lisa!

glad youboth had a fine time

 

[Random One]

lol never even thought of doing that! there was a crazy amount of people in front of it though. I was really surprised that you could take photos in the Louvre of the paintings and other stuff...im pretty sure u can't do that here in place like the National Gallery

 

[belboid]

when we went, there were bloody queues of japanese tourists fullfilling all racial stereotypes and queing up to spend half a second looking at the painting, and thirty seconds making sure they each had a good pic of themselves in front of it! pushed mys belboid out of the way to get a good pic they did!

 

[Kid_Eternity]

cracking stuff - good thing you weren't too cheesy and have your pic took in fornt of the mona lisa!

glad youboth had a fine time

Thank you, it was excellent, this is just a glimpse of the 6/700 pictures that the lot of us took though!

 

[chilango]

(Well pastis is cheap too but probaby best avoided in large quantities). .

Don´t be silly.



Pastis is a gift from God!

I even drink here in Mexico.

(Ricard is my fave brand)

you can regulate how watered down you want it (which helps)

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

There is a great hotel in the 2nd called hotel tiquetonne - incredibly cheap (30 euros a night for a double with shared bathroom). It's in one of my favourite areas of town, full of cool little cafes & shops, a bit alternative, very very central.

It's a little bit quirky and bizarre, also you tend to be able to hear people shagging 24 hours a day, but that all added to the kitschness for me

The phone number is 01.42.36.94.58, PM me if you want any more info about the hotel or paris in general - I've been here 3 months now & know it relatively well.

When will you be here btw?

I almost stayed at that hotel, but stayed at a place in the 1st, instead.

I like the 1st, 2nd, and 4th arrondissements. They have a lot of character, and are a little cheaper than the 5th and 6th, which are still close by.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Well, Paris is only a hop & a skip on the Eurostar from Brixton.....btw, I have yet to see a smoke alarm in France...take a battery operated one and some blu-tac for your kid's hotel room at the very least.

 

[Sue]

Don´t be silly.



Pastis is a gift from God!

I even drink here in Mexico.

(Ricard is my fave brand)

you can regulate how watered down you want it (which helps)

Pastis is the Devil's drink....

Never found out though if there was any truth in the tale that if you drink lots of pastis, get horribly pissed and then drink lots of water the next day when you feel like shit, the pastis crystals rehydrate and you end up pissed again... What d'you reckon, truth or urban myth?

 

[Sue]

we tried to find the Museum of Erotic Art but never made it but we got to see moulin rouge from outside
QUOTE]

The Museum of Erotic Art's about 30 seconds away from the Moulin Rouge....