Saturday, August 10, 2013

A Trip to Paris? How does it work?

Hello,
Does anybody know trips to Paris work? And approximately how much it would cost?

I'm in the UK, wish to fly out from Birmingham- going for about 2-3 nights. I understand I would need to get a metro card? 
Please send some decent travel agents my way if u know of any!


1
The way you phrased your question is a little strange. I mean the way a trip works is that you get to your destination and then you enjoy yourself.

You'll just have to be a little more specific about what you are looking for. 

Paris is a city that plans itself. There is so much to do and see in a very small area that you don't need a travel agent. Just a map and a list of things you want to see. You can practically get to all of them by foot.

No you would probably not get a Metro card (Navigo) for just a 3 day stay. The Navigo system in Paris is a buzz card that allows you to get on and off of the metro for a week for the cost of 21 euros. the card costs 5 euros at any cashier inside of the metro and then you fill it with credit for the week. However you can very well just use single trip metro tickets that cost 1.37 each and there also exists full day passes. You can choose the way you want to operate in the metro to what suits you.

Bag stolen in Paris 1 week ago, where to get police help?

My bag been stolen with my phone, ipad, wallet, house & car keys inside at Paris Gare du Nord on 31/7/2013, around 8:30am. The French police is absolutely unhelpful and not care of your loss at all. It happened only 5 mins ago when I told a police officer nearby, my son saw the thief face and saw the direction he went but they were not interested in this at all. Only directed us to the Police station, as our train was leaving in 15mins, we were unable to log a complaint there. When we arrived at Brussel station, the lady officer said we should log in in Paris. And when we arrived back in UK and went to police station yesterday, the police officer said they same thing and asked me to go back to Paris to log the complaint. Isn't that a joke? I have no where to report the case!!! All these people not interest in I lost my driving licience that got all my personal detail on and maybe the loss of passport number (got the passport safe un luck!) Anyone know what should I do? Many thanks


First thing for future advice and anyone who may read this in the future:
When you travel you should NEVER put all of your documents, valuables and devices in the same bag!!! You have to divide them among your person that way if something like this happens to you it is not such a disastrous blow. This is the first thing I tell all of my readers when they are preparing for a trip to Paris. It seems dumb but think like a squirrel and protect your nuts!

I hate to say "you should've.." because now it is too late to look back on somethings but really when you find yourself in that sort of situation you should not have gotten onto your next train, you should have stayed and filed suit in Gare du Nord. Since I imagine that it happened on a platform between trains, with the bags in your possession the only jurisdiction is that of Paris so obviously you can't file any claim with the train company or your city of destination. So yes if you need to file a complaint for insurance you HAVE to do it in Paris. 

The truth of the matter and the reason that the police acted that way is because Gare du Nord is not a secure place of travel. It is just like any other public place in Paris and has tons of thefts everyday. You have to be careful; even more so at Gare du Nord than other gares in Paris because it is in this neighborhood where the largest pickpocket and crime rings are centered. Gare du Nord is also situated in a way that it is easy to disappear in seconds because of how open it is. Sadly because of all of these factors the police are desensitized to these crimes and have little to no sympathy because they see it every single day. 

It is sad to say but even if you did get the pity of the Police, which you wouldn't because basically the theft was under what they would conciser negligence unless someone physically attacked you in taking the bag from you, you wouldn't get very far in the way of justice. These criminals just disappear as fast as they can. They are so numerous and can't be properly identified even with a precise description, they are all the same, and almost always get off scot-free. If someone was not physically harmed or violated the police usually write a report to ease the victims insurance woes and then it gets chalked-up to statistics. 

The whole situation is awful and frustrating and I'm very sorry that it happened to you. I personally have dealt with the French Police system in a more severe situation and a few times where it wasn't so much and I can tell you in general it is aggravating. I have written a blog on how to deal with a stolen iphone in Paris (though obviously your case is a much heavier loss) Perhaps just reading about how to proceed and the correct language to use in your reports can help you some. http://wp.me/pTZuD-8K

I hope that you find some solace in all this and at least that you were able to have a nice holiday before.

Fun places to go in Paris, France?

So far, I want to go to the Eiffel Tower. Any other places to visit?

1
I'll rank them in order of importance; and well, "fun-ness":

1. Eiffel tower (obviously)
2. The Louvre (a must)
3. Notre Dame (still a must)
4. Riverboat tour on the Seine River (very fun) 
5. Bus tour around the center (don't forget to sit on the top deck)
6. Shopping (even if you're male)
7. Palace of Versailles (informative; don't forget to bring a gallon of sunblock)
8. Metro (even this is fun) 

There are tons more to do. This is just from my trip to Paris.

2
or the Museum of Aeronautical and Space at Le Bourget or sewers, catacombs, the city of science, museum quay d'Orsay, the "Saint Ouen flea market"

3
Disneyland Paris

4
I had been to Paris for 4 days on a trip in 2009 and i can tell you where all i have been and the most famous places you can visit,Since you want to visit Eiffel Tower i will tell you the three most famous places in Paris i have Visited:

1.Disnleyland Paris-If you are a fan of Disney,then you would want to go to one of the most visited Disneylands and one of the most popular Disneylands in the World ever.

2.Musee du Louvre-This Musuem is one of the most visited Musems in the world,as there is the World's most famous and amazing painting called as the Mona Lisa.

3.Palace of Versailles-Which is one famous palace which is definetly worth while to visit.

These are the places i have gone to,as i was just travelling for 4 days,there are other many places in Paris to visit,but however since these 4 places took 4 days to visit,and as these places were really famous in Paris,i decided to visit all these places in Paris,France

I Hope you really enjoy these places

Where to buy "Fresh Scents" sachets in Paris, France?

I will be visiting Paris soon and I was wondering if anyone could help me find these beautifully scented sachets for refreshing the rooms in a house. A friend of mine bought them in Paris a couple of years ago, but she can't remember where exactly she found them there. They are made in USA, but their website doesn't mention any stores in Europe which are authorized resellers or something like that. My friend discovered them by accident, she was walking across town and just saw them in a random store somewhere. This is the link to see exactly what product this is, so any help would be appreciated.

1
There are no "authorised resellers" listed as such in France. Individual retailers who want to sell them order them centrally.
http://www.senteurs-interieur.fr/2_fresh…
They are likely to be found in shops that sell decorative goods for interiors, or sell a miscellany of presents, dress jewellery, ornaments, perfumed candles, etc...
In France shopkeepers generally tend to sell sachets made in France since the French are the world experts in scented goods and perfumes, rather than buying in imported goods, so shops that sell the brand you are looking for are likely to be few and far between, I am afraid.
Your post is marked as being from the USA and I have seen them in various shops there in different states. 
You could easily buy them on the net. Amazon sells them
They are retailed in the UK under the name Willowbrook fresh scents.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/fresh-scents-sac…
also see:
http://www.homeofhomefragrance.co.uk/wil…

2
I agree with 1, the product you'd like to buy is made in USA, it'd be cheaper to buy it on Internet than in Paris. In Paris you'll find that kind of products at the main street of Saint Louis island or at the Latin Quarter, very touristic places.

You could buy some French, natural lavender to perfume towels etc.
http://www.plantesetparfums-provence.com…

3
You may want to try ''Monoprix'' on the Champs Elysées or any Department Store such as "Galeries Lafayette"...

Average temperature n Paris in the monthe of April?

Average temperature n Paris in the monthe of April?

As far as I recall there is only one April in Paris. Average temperatures in C low; 6c - high 15c
in F low 42.8f - high 59f

Paris in April is still quite cold. We get spring at the end of May it seems. So you are going to still need to dress warm. 

You will need to wear sweaters and have at least a light jacket with you at all times. In Paris you should ALWAYS have a scarf...you just never know when you'll catch a strong wind by the seine and catch cold.

Going to Paris for a month?

My girlfriend and I are going to Paris, France for one month I was wondering about how much USD I would have to bring for the hotels, transportion, and food. We already have the plane tickets. 
Thanks in advance.


1
US Dollars are useless in Paris. Bring Euros.

2
Don't bring cash. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, and you might also be able to use your ATM card in the machines here, to get money from your own bank account at home, you'd get it in the local currency Euros. But do contact your bank first and let them know where you are going and for how long. 

3
To find out the cost of accommodation, try www.hostelworld.com - but Paris is expensive. Food-wise, just go away from the main tourist drags, and go where the locals go. You could also get items from markets and cook your own meals, if you have a place with a kitchen. Transportation is handy, you could get a 'carnet', which is a little package of 10 tickets for the metro, or there are transport passes available for buses and metros.

4
You must give far more details - There are great extremes in Paris between highs and lows.
HOTELS: The lowest close around $100 a night and that would probably mean a room on the 5th floor in a building with no elevator (lift) - Fine hotels - will be over $350 a night - That would mean between $3000 and $10500 a month - Transportation - Do you mean just in and around Paris? If that is the case - the metro is not expensive and there are many ticket purchasing plans - Many taxis - and much free walking or taking the on and off sight seeiing buses or the Seine river tours. Really a guess but I think if you do not leave Paris maybe $30 a day or $750 for the month. Now if you plan to visit other places it can get expensive for two and depending on the day or hour many round trip tickets for two can cost you $500 - Food similar as hotels. Yes you can "eat" without spending much money - You can go to a bakery (boulangerie) and have light breakfast for two for $15 or at a better hotel close to $100 for two - Lunch and dinner same - you can find some cafeteria style or bistros and find good meals for two for about $30 or go to a market like Monoprix and find good takeout meals for about $14 of the two - Now the other extreme - if you are thinking
2 or three star well known places, you might be expecting got pay for the two $500 -$600 for a famous dinner