A third travel is worth for Paris: pratic suggestions to save time and cash in the capital of France

It's the third time we go to Paris because we want to see more of the places we visited years ago' and that we had liked.
So, we book months in advance our EasyJet flight (80 euros apiece round trip) and the hotel on www.venere.com (EUR 98 per day for triple room, breakfast not included).

 

Arrival in Paris

Day 28 / 4 we leave. Outbound exactly on time (unusual for Easy Jet, is never on time!). Arriving at Charles De Gaulle and try the metro RER to central Paris. Here we make our first mistake because at the time of ticket purchase, only buy the ticket to Paris while we already had to be done here, to purchase a subscription for public transportation, 5 days for the package (which includes more late, but now the money for that first ticket we've already spent).
We arrive at the Gare du Nord to take the Metro line that will take us to the hotel. Here, we make a long conversation with the conductor to try to understand what subscription do. Having to bring us even in peripheral areas such as Versailles, Disneyland, etc.. We recommend a subscription package for all areas of Paris, including neighborhoods, from zone 1 to 6. The cost at the moment seems to us too (48 euros each, half for children under 11 years) but it makes it clear that, with this solution, we will save a lot rather than buying individual tickets for all our destination. He was right!
We arrive at our 2 star hotel, Hotel Albouy which will be quite mediocre. Maybe it's our fault that we wanted to spend little, however, summing up:
- The lift does not always work;
- Hot water not always there;
- The bathroom is so small that, really, there's even space for a person to stand before the mirror and, when sitting on the toilet is a struggle to be able to close the door without banging your knees. Absurd!
- Breakfast is really there. However, we tried to have breakfast in a bar and we spent a lot more and eating less.
- The room was redone every other day.
So, choose another hotel. Maybe, do not be stingy and, in Paris, choose a 3 star because the level of 2 stars is the one just described.
Council of the hotel where I was last time: Hotels Brebant. It 's more expensive but is much more decent and is in a better area.
For dinner, try desperately not to find a Mc Donald (across Paris, I've only seen 1 on the Champs-Elysees) in that when you travel abroad, especially with children, is the best!
Light dinner at a bar near Notre Dame, based croque monsieur (French toast covered with cheese) and fries. Cost: 40 euro 3.
Rain. We do not have umbrellas. Back at the hotel.

Fontainebleu

After breakfast at hotel ridiculous, we go to the Gare de Lyon to take a SNCF train to the castle of Fontainebleau. Just off the train, the station of Fontainebleau, there is a bus that will take us to the castle. We should not even worry about the ticket because our super-subscription includes this. We visit the interior. The visit is very fast because the rooms are not many visitors and then stroll a bit 'in the park. However, it rains again and then look for a place to dine indoors. Find a place that sells sandwiches, with the possibility to sit at the tables near the entrance of the castle. Lunch and then return to Paris city.
We decide to stop at a store Fnac to buy tickets for Versailles and the Louvre, so we do not traffic jams. So we do, and this choice will be very intelligent. The advice to all: Do not head to these places without having the ticket in advance. Save hours of time. We have aimed at Fnac Bastille, but there is a very big Fnac Champs-Elysées, stop Charles V.
Unfortunately we did not think to buy a ticket for the Eiffel Tower and here we find a queue of about 90 minutes to reach the summit: second mistake!

Back at the hotel to rest a bit 'and then we go on the Champs Elysée in search of a Mc Donald. We find one right near the Arc de Triomphe. Metro station: Charles V.

Versailles

We have breakfast in a bar (thinking it is better than the hotel) but we spend over 20 euros for 3 cap, croissants and fruit juice.
With our advance sales tickets we go with RER train to Versailles. Here, we skip all the queues and access directly in the royal apartments. Our business and the type PASSPORT (about 24 euros, children under 18 free) and allows us to see everything in Versailles. Then we visit in order: the large apartments and then the small apartments of the Dauphin. Outside, we then find the train that will take us to the immense grounds. And 'unthinkable covered on foot, is too large. So buy a ticket at € 6.50 (children free) which will allow us to get on and off freely in each of the 3 stops.
At the first stop we visit the interior of the Grand Trianon, with well-appointed rooms.
We take the train and stop at the second stop in the suburb of Marie Antoinette. Here we visit the little palace of Petit Trianon, where Marie Antoinette was staying: small but tastefully furnished. Then, taking a few steps into the park, we reach the rural district where Marie Antoinette liked to "play the peasant." Here we find an entire village consists of bucolic wooden cottages around a pretty lake. The complete tour of the village is really nice: do not miss it for any reason. Your photos are beautiful!.
Recall the last train stop on the Grand Canal. This is a beautiful place, a landscape of water and the breathtaking backdrop of the Versailles palace. This is the only place in Versailles, where you'll find bars and restaurants. Then buy baguettes for lunch and sit nicely beside the canal. Beautiful, a beautiful sunny day like today! Immediately after a rent of boats with oars and make a leisurely and romantic ride in the channel. Cost: 11 euros for 30 minutes but worth it.

Then, we head towards the exit and resume Rer destination center of Paris. The line passes from Notre Dame, so we go for a quick visit to the cathedral and then immediately to the hotel for a little 'rest.

Yes, because a visit to Paris is really tiring. It 'true that the subway is very widespread and reaches everywhere. However you end up over half a day in the Metro which also is very old and decadent (clochards and foreign to no end). Also, traveling by subway is very difficult: there is an escalator even by mistake and then we must continue to go up and down stairs to switch from one line to another. The lines are 14 (not 3 as in Milan) + 5 RER lines (to reach more remote areas).
In short, we are always distorted by fatigue. Always buy drinks and snacks from vending machines because of Metropoline is really the most economical solution to regain his strength.
Dinner always McDonalds on the Champs-Elysees. Have dinner with 20 euros in 3 and then we visit the beautiful and great shops open until late evening. Very nice!

Disneyland Paris

Today, my daughter wants to go to Disneyland. We chose the very day of May 1 because, being Labor Day, all the museums and shops are closed, then we would not have had the opportunity to visit anything today. At Disneyland Paris but everything is working.

Having already spent a vacation of just 3 days Disneyland, staying at one of Disneyland Hotel, we know the area very well.
Tickets were obviously purchased in advance at the official site of Disneyland, charging credit card. Tickets, strictly personal, and are then printed at home with the prints you can go directly to the inputs of every kind queue jumping but with a valid ID (for children). Cost-day ticket for the main park: EUR 50.00 for adults and 42 children. I, as there was 2 more times, I decide not to go strolling through the shops of the Village and I am reading the pond while my daughter and my husband come to the park. At about 16 hours out of the park, unfortunately a bit 'disappointed, because the queues for each attraction (even for the most trivial) are really long, and, throughout the day, they managed only to do 4 or 5 games .

Then return to the hotel and then go out later for dinner. This evening we decided to bring us in the Saint-Michel. This quarter, close to Notre Dame is by far the most vibrant and cheerful in Paris. Here are characteristics of narrow streets where there are restaurants of all ethnicities. The streets are filled with people seeking a pleasant place to dine and we choose a greek restaurant where they serve skewers of meat or fish giant. Very low cost: about 30 euro 3. For dessert of course choose a feature Creperie crepes with sweet (or salty) Takeaway.

Louvre museum and back home

Our last day in Paris.
In the morning, in the morning, the Louvre museum with advance sales ticket at the Fnac. We go so fast in the museum that is truly immense.
I visited many museums in every part of Europe but this is absolutely the best. Not sufficient to visit all the whole day. The salle, besides hosting the famous masterpieces we all know, are really magnificent. First reach the coveted room where the Mona Lisa tries to make off, overtaking groups of Japanese, to reach the front row. All taking pictures, even with the flash as there is no restriction. Also visit the section of Italian painting and French. Beautiful Gallery of Apollo and spectacular Apartments Napoleon 3. Do not miss: they are fantastic.


We left the Louvre to 12 and we head to our hotel, near Gare de l'Est, to collect our luggage. But first a stop at the fantastic boulangerie (bakery), Bonsergent in the square near our hotel, Ronde des pains, to buy something for lunch. Here there will be spoiled for choice between large baguette stuffed with four different things and fantastic cakes. All at affordable prices and with 20 euros, three, eat to bursting, romantically sitting on a bench in a typical Parisian square.
We deposited our luggage at reception and take the RER (very multiethnic) for the airport Charles de Gaulle. Easy Jet flight is obviously late and reach with abundant 30 minutes late Malpensa airport. Here we call our shuttle bus that regularly brings us to the parking lot where we deposited the car: EUR 30 for 5 days.
Dani, Max and Clarissa.
Photo by Clarissa, and Max
text: Daniela
For more information:
http://digilander.iol.it/danidisa