Best idea to do your own thing.....catch up on all those little places you always said you would visit but never did, like Iam doing at the moment!Enjoy

You are right. I always say I am going to do that but I never manage to. I would love to go to Derbyshire, I don't know why, it looks lovely. I would like to go to Blenheim Palace and I have never been. I'd like to go to Wales. The Gower Peninsula looks like somewhere I'd like to stay, as is Cornwall. The Scilly Isles too.

But . . what happens is Mrs Cheapo always ends up staying at my sister's because I get free accommodation. So in exchange I end up going to the same places all the time. My fault entirely.

All those places are lovely.

It's a false economy as you are still forking out for flights, etc. Not cheap so do what you want to do.

But . . what happens is Mrs Cheapo always ends up staying at my sister's because I get free accommodation. So in exchange I end up going to the same places all the time. My fault entirely.

What are you, a man or a mouse? Stand up for yourself and the rest of we mice in the world. I assure you we'll make arrangements to visit you in hospital, assuming you survive.

Not out of Waterloo anymore over a year now St Pancras between Kings Cross and Euston stations

Right next door to Kings Cross.

Check out some of the coach all in deals, they have amazing tours on at rediculous prices that it is not even worth driving yourself...... I am going to Isle of wight for £65 for 4 days inc half board, coach 2 excursions and coach and ferry travel all in!! There is a huge push on UK deals at the moment, do some surfing. Shearings travel and others

Derbyshire what a gem, the Peak District ..... Cornwall my favourite place in the world wild and rugged, Wales where the mountains flow down to the sea, wish I could bring a little piece of heaven back to Canada with me.
OMG here I go getting emotional again..... have fun

I never knew that.

But still a transfer after arriving by rail from wherever...in my case it would have been Paddington.

On our numerous trips in Europe I always tried to get a deal in chain hotels first because on average they are good on price and service - they try to keep the same standard. Check Ibis and Campanile - both 2 star. For example, Campanile Montparnasse is in a good area, though opposite from Gare du Nord in relation to downtown; it was my preference a decade ago and was approved by my relative last year. Unless you are suffering from loads of cash, don't stay in the real downtown. Two star hotels there are bad (example: Campanile Tour Effel), three starts are too expensive.

Having a transfer between train and metro on Gare du Nord I would say, I wouldn't want to stay there in a hotel. In general, south and west from downtown is good. North and east is scary.

I'm zapping again!
What do you mean by "downtown" in Paris? If it's geographical, you'd say Right-Bank or Left-Bank with respect to the Seine (looking towards the Sea). If it's business in relation to residential, you've got a mixture of both all over Paris, so you can't really use the expression in that respect.
Just as a matter of interest!

For someone who doesn't live there but comes only as a tourist, downtown is usually where all major attractions are located, the area that you can explore on your feet. From Tour Eiffel, Montmartre to the north, Montparnasse to the south, then La Defence. Going east, I don't remember anything exciting after Botanic Garden. Staying on the edge, off the real center (like Tour Eiffel) saves you few euros and gives better quality.

Hi there

Im also going to Paris on 28th this month. Worth checking out www.tripadvisor.co.uk to get the run down on places to stay before you book anywhere.

Have fun

Claire