Don Cates

We are for retired folks of limited means who are pretty good walkers
planning to visit Paris in the second week of September (5-6 days). I
have lurked on the newsgroup for a couple of months and picked up a
few good information links and thought I would make a more direct
request before finalizing our plans.

Would it be worth spending a little more for a more centrally located
hotel to reduce the amount of travel needed to see all the tourist
sights? Does anyone know anything about the Hotel International? Any
hotel suggestions? Is the museum pass worth it?

After Paris we want to visit the chateaus and vinyards of the Loire
valley for a week to 10 days. Any 'must-sees' in the area? Should we
rent a car or rely on public transport? Any suggestions for places to
stay; most scenic routes?

We plan on travelling east to west and then continue on to Mont St.
Micheal then north along the coast to Calais. Any tourist advice for
this area would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Don
--
Don Cates ("he's a cunning rascal" - PN)

Jcoulter

[email protected] (Don Cates) wrote in news:42bb7e69.191812
@news.cc.umanitoba.ca:

    > We are for retired folks of limited means who are pretty good walkers
    > planning to visit Paris in the second week of September (5-6 days). I
    > have lurked on the newsgroup for a couple of months and picked up a
    > few good information links and thought I would make a more direct
    > request before finalizing our plans.
    >
    > Would it be worth spending a little more for a more centrally located
    > hotel to reduce the amount of travel needed to see all the tourist
    > sights? Does anyone know anything about the Hotel International? Any
    > hotel suggestions? Is the museum pass worth it?

If you are in Paris you are close to the metro and mostly close to
something you want to see. There are pricier areas of course like the
area around the Etoile or Avenue Montaigne or Place Vendome and there
are less pricey areas. Metro is cheap but stay to far away from where
you want to be and you spend too much time on it. Not knowing the
property that you mention it is hard to tell if it is located well or
not.
    >
    > After Paris we want to visit the chateaus and vinyards of the Loire
    > valley for a week to 10 days. Any 'must-sees' in the area? Should we
    > rent a car or rely on public transport? Any suggestions for places to
    > stay; most scenic routes?
For the Loire a car is pretty necessary although trains can get you to
many locations it just isn't convenient or direct.
    >
    > We plan on travelling east to west and then continue on to Mont St.
    > Micheal then north along the coast to Calais. Any tourist advice for
    > this area would be much appreciated.

Don't miss Bayeux and for the history minded the D Day beaches from
Utah and Omaha for an American perspective to Juno Gold and Sword (IIRC)
the beaches near Caen at any rate) for an English, Canadian one.
    >
    > Thank you in advance.
    >
    > Don
    > --
    > Don Cates ("he's a cunning rascal" - PN)
    >



--
Joseph Coulter
Cruises and Vacations
http://www.josephcoulter.com/

proo

You can get cheap hotels (€40-50) in Paris which tend to be located towards the peripherique. Paris is well served by the metro so you won't have a problem getting around. A lot of sights are concentrated within walkable distances so you won't have getting the metro. Take a look at this to get an idea of transport costs:
http://www.ratp.fr/
I'd stay away from the hotels around Gare du Nord/Porte de Clignancourt. It's quite dodgy at night although there's the flea market closeby. A museum pass is only worth it if you plan on going to a lot of them. The first Sunday of the month is free entry for some of them (Musee d'Orsay etc) or you can get reduced fares for late in the day visits - good for when you don't want to spend the whole day there.

If you want to go to Versailles for a day, go on a Sunday morning. There's a huge market (Marche Notre Dame, finishes at 1pm) close to the Chateau for that 'French experience' - maybe I'll see you there on my weekly shop! The park is free - the Hameau de la Reine is cute (a 'little' village/farm with a lake - no joke). There's also a garden called the 'Potager de Roi' - the Kin'g vegetable patch! It's on the other side of the castle from the market and there are some cheap restaurants around (I saw €9 for main+dessert crepe).

I'd rent a car for travelling as it'd be costly and time consuming getting the train not to mention inconvenient (diesel will save on fuel especially with the air-con on). You can save money by taking main (N and some parts of As) roads rather than motorways as some of the tolls cost a bomb (especially the one from Paris-Calais!). You can get itineraries from www.mappy.fr and www.viamichelin.com BTW Elf is cheaper than Total for filling up on fuel (my father-in-law told me this and he used to work for Total!). Another one is called Super (?) Discount.

Mont-St-Michel is beautiful but that's all there is - the cathedral and streets are steep so be prepared for a trek. Don't buy the Mere Poulard biscuits there - they're sold in most supermarkets for a fraction of the price. On the way to Calais, there some villages I highly reommend - Honfleur (just before Le Havre) and Veules les Roses. Full of cute houses and plenty of cheap (compared to UK) seafood meals. The American cemetry (and Omagh beach) makes a good stop too.

I haven't been much to the Loire region but you can get some books quite easily. Or you can go to a FNAC whilst in Paris and just up the places you want to go! Buy a good map of France (about €10-14) from a supermarket as it'll be indispensable driving around.

Happy holidaying!

proo

This has a list of free museums:
http://www.parisgratuit.com/musee.html#rpunjour

Gratuit = free
Gratuit le 1er dimanche du mois = free the 1st Sunday of the month
Gratuit le dernier mercredi du mois = free the last Wednesday of the month

Colin McGARRY

The transport system - metro - is prett good in Paris and not
expensive. I'd plup for a less expensive hotel on the outskirts and
travel in.

In the Loire valley visit Chambois ( it has a unique double spiral
staircase) and Chenonceaux (built across a river.) and then take in
any that take your fancy and that you have time for.



www.cpmac.com\normandy

cpmac

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 03:44:15 GMT, [email protected] (Don
Cates) wrote:

    >We are for retired folks of limited means who are pretty good walkers
    >planning to visit Paris in the second week of September (5-6 days). I
    >have lurked on the newsgroup for a couple of months and picked up a
    >few good information links and thought I would make a more direct
    >request before finalizing our plans.
    >Would it be worth spending a little more for a more centrally located
    >hotel to reduce the amount of travel needed to see all the tourist
    >sights? Does anyone know anything about the Hotel International? Any
    >hotel suggestions? Is the museum pass worth it?
    >After Paris we want to visit the chateaus and vinyards of the Loire
    >valley for a week to 10 days. Any 'must-sees' in the area? Should we
    >rent a car or rely on public transport? Any suggestions for places to
    >stay; most scenic routes?
    >We plan on travelling east to west and then continue on to Mont St.
    >Micheal then north along the coast to Calais. Any tourist advice for
    >this area would be much appreciated.
    >Thank you in advance.
    >Don
    >--
    >Don Cates ("he's a cunning rascal" - PN)

Colin
cmcgarry (at) cpmac . com
www.cpmac.com

Pantagruel

I've been to the Loire twice and personally I think a week to 10 days is too
much time to spend there. Presumably you are traveling by auto. More later.
"Colin McGARRY" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > The transport system - metro - is prett good in Paris and not
    > expensive. I'd plup for a less expensive hotel on the outskirts and
    > travel in.
    > In the Loire valley visit Chambois ( it has a unique double spiral
    > staircase) and Chenonceaux (built across a river.) and then take in
    > any that take your fancy and that you have time for.
    > www.cpmac.com\normandy
    > cpmac
    > On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 03:44:15 GMT, [email protected] (Don
    > Cates) wrote:
    >>We are for retired folks of limited means who are pretty good walkers
    >>planning to visit Paris in the second week of September (5-6 days). I
    >>have lurked on the newsgroup for a couple of months and picked up a
    >>few good information links and thought I would make a more direct
    >>request before finalizing our plans.
    >>Would it be worth spending a little more for a more centrally located
    >>hotel to reduce the amount of travel needed to see all the tourist
    >>sights? Does anyone know anything about the Hotel International? Any
    >>hotel suggestions? Is the museum pass worth it?
    >>After Paris we want to visit the chateaus and vinyards of the Loire
    >>valley for a week to 10 days. Any 'must-sees' in the area? Should we
    >>rent a car or rely on public transport? Any suggestions for places to
    >>stay; most scenic routes?
    >>We plan on travelling east to west and then continue on to Mont St.
    >>Micheal then north along the coast to Calais. Any tourist advice for
    >>this area would be much appreciated.
    >>Thank you in advance.
    >>Don
    >>--
    >>Don Cates ("he's a cunning rascal" - PN)
    > Colin
    > cmcgarry (at) cpmac . com
    > www.cpmac.com

Rog

"pantagruel" <[email protected]> wrote:
    > I've been to the Loire twice and personally I think a week
    > to 10 days is too much time to spend there. Presumably
    > you are traveling by auto. More later.

I concur. Although the more time, the more chateaux or
wineries you stop by, we did it as a two-day excursion
with a rental car. Day 1 - Drove to the Chambord and
Cenonceau, and stayed near Tours. Day 2 - Saw Azay le
Rideau and Villandry, and stopped at Chartres on the way
back to Paris. =R=

OughtFour

Don Cates wrote:

    > Would it be worth spending a little more for a more centrally located
    > hotel to reduce the amount of travel needed to see all the tourist
    > sights?

Anywhere on the Metro will work. However, I think it is worth a little extra
(or worth dropping a star from your hotel) to stay in an interesting
neighborhood with bakeries and cheese shops and cafes and the whole urban
scene. You will find this in most places.

    > Is the museum pass worth it?

Yes. The pass gives you freedom and spontaneity to drop in on museums you'd
otherwise fret over the cost of, and you will have a richer experience.

Another thing not to cut corners on: a few good guidebooks, current
editions.

Paris is not cheap. Save money by picnicking (great cheese, bread, and pate)
and opting for simple rooms. But don't cut corners on the sights you want to
see! You are spending how much to get there and how much to just be
there--so don't sweat $20 or $50 for a pass or for guidebooks that will help
you really enjoy yourselves.
    > After Paris we want to visit the chateaus and vinyards of the Loire
    > valley for a week to 10 days. Any 'must-sees' in the area? Should we
    > rent a car or rely on public transport? Any suggestions for places to
    > stay; most scenic routes?

For what you describe I would suggest a car. You could take a morning train
to Chartres, see the Cathedral, then pick up your car and go to your Loire
base (Amboise, perhaps?). You can likely return the car in Calais with no
extra fee.
    > We plan on travelling east to west and then continue on to Mont St.
    > Micheal then north along the coast to Calais. Any tourist advice for
    > this area would be much appreciated.

There is a crumbling old chateau in Fougeres--very different from the
Ancient Regime stuff in the Loire--that makes a great lunch stop on the way
to Normandy from the Loire. D-Day beaches, Peace Museum (in Caen), and
Bayeux tapestry (in Bayeux) all worthwhile, depending on your interests.
Honfleur a charming town.

Food and lodging are less dear outside of Paris. French B&Bs, called
chambres d'hote, can be friendly cross-cultural experiences and real deals.

Best thing to do--everyone in your party--is to read up on these and other
destinations and decide what really grabs you.

Have a great trip!

proo

I went to Chartres last weekend and didn't think it was that great - the centre was becoming like high street clone. The historic buildings were nice but there weren't that many. We stopped at cute village/town called Montfort l'Amaury and ate in a tiny family-run tea room. The chicken salad was fantastic and the propietor speaks English. Rambouillet is also meant to be quite nice and I was told the Cathedral at Rouen is spectacular.

proo

Check this out:
http://www.villagesdefrance.free.fr/

You can translate the webpage using the Altavista Babelfish translation tool. There's also a book called 'guide des villages de charme en France' - not sure if there's a English version but you could check it out in FNAC when in Paris.

Mark Fagan

While being close to the métro makes things easier, I still like being able
to just stroll out of the hotel and be in a good, central area, such as the
6th. Walking is such a pleasure that I reserve transport for really long
distances. Jack's hotel reccomendations are still very good
(www.jack-travel.com).

As for the Loire Valley, I don't think you can beat the flexibility of a
car. Go when and where you like, which eliminates the constraints of
schedules, strikes, etc. Navigating in the country isn't too bad, once
you're used to it. Avoid the cities when possible though. I wouldn't miss
the less well known Chateau of Cheverny, which is still owned by the
original family and has never been sacked, damaged, etc. You see the
furnished rooms, etc. as there were originally meant to be. I also
reccomend Ambroise as an excellent place to stay, centrally located and not
too big, but with amenities (such as a great tea shop/patisserie).

"Don Cates" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > We are for retired folks of limited means who are pretty good walkers
    > planning to visit Paris in the second week of September (5-6 days). I
    > have lurked on the newsgroup for a couple of months and picked up a
    > few good information links and thought I would make a more direct
    > request before finalizing our plans.
    > Would it be worth spending a little more for a more centrally located
    > hotel to reduce the amount of travel needed to see all the tourist
    > sights? Does anyone know anything about the Hotel International? Any
    > hotel suggestions? Is the museum pass worth it?
    > After Paris we want to visit the chateaus and vinyards of the Loire
    > valley for a week to 10 days. Any 'must-sees' in the area? Should we
    > rent a car or rely on public transport? Any suggestions for places to
    > stay; most scenic routes?
    > We plan on travelling east to west and then continue on to Mont St.
    > Micheal then north along the coast to Calais. Any tourist advice for
    > this area would be much appreciated.
    > Thank you in advance.
    > Don
    > --
    > Don Cates ("he's a cunning rascal" - PN)

Don Cates

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 14:41:11 +0200, Colin McGARRY
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >The transport system - metro - is prett good in Paris and not
    >expensive. I'd plup for a less expensive hotel on the outskirts and
    >travel in.
    >In the Loire valley visit Chambois ( it has a unique double spiral
    >staircase) and Chenonceaux (built across a river.) and then take in
    >any that take your fancy and that you have time for.
    >www.cpmac.com\normandy
    >cpmac
Thank you.
--
Don Cates ("he's a cunning rascal" - PN)

Don Cates

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 13:25:39 GMT, "pantagruel"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >I've been to the Loire twice and personally I think a week to 10 days is too
    >much time to spend there. Presumably you are traveling by auto. More later.
    >"Colin McGARRY" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >news:[email protected].. .
Thanks. Do you have any suggestions about how to expand the area
visited to use that time? The Burgundy region or more time along the
west coast?
--
Don Cates ("he's a cunning rascal" - PN)

Don Cates

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 14:18:38 GMT, "OughtFour" <[email protected]>
wrote:

    >Don Cates wrote:
    >> Would it be worth spending a little more for a more centrally located
    >> hotel to reduce the amount of travel needed to see all the tourist
    >> sights?
    >Anywhere on the Metro will work. However, I think it is worth a little extra
    >(or worth dropping a star from your hotel) to stay in an interesting
    >neighborhood with bakeries and cheese shops and cafes and the whole urban
    >scene. You will find this in most places.
    >> Is the museum pass worth it?
    >Yes. The pass gives you freedom and spontaneity to drop in on museums you'd
    >otherwise fret over the cost of, and you will have a richer experience.
    >Another thing not to cut corners on: a few good guidebooks, current
    >editions.
    >Paris is not cheap. Save money by picnicking (great cheese, bread, and pate)
    >and opting for simple rooms. But don't cut corners on the sights you want to
    >see! You are spending how much to get there and how much to just be
    >there--so don't sweat $20 or $50 for a pass or for guidebooks that will help
    >you really enjoy yourselves.
    >> After Paris we want to visit the chateaus and vinyards of the Loire
    >> valley for a week to 10 days. Any 'must-sees' in the area? Should we
    >> rent a car or rely on public transport? Any suggestions for places to
    >> stay; most scenic routes?
    >For what you describe I would suggest a car. You could take a morning train
    >to Chartres, see the Cathedral, then pick up your car and go to your Loire
    >base (Amboise, perhaps?). You can likely return the car in Calais with no
    >extra fee.
    >> We plan on travelling east to west and then continue on to Mont St.
    >> Micheal then north along the coast to Calais. Any tourist advice for
    >> this area would be much appreciated.
    >There is a crumbling old chateau in Fougeres--very different from the
    >Ancient Regime stuff in the Loire--that makes a great lunch stop on the way
    >to Normandy from the Loire. D-Day beaches, Peace Museum (in Caen), and
    >Bayeux tapestry (in Bayeux) all worthwhile, depending on your interests.
    >Honfleur a charming town.
    >Food and lodging are less dear outside of Paris. French B&Bs, called
    >chambres d'hote, can be friendly cross-cultural experiences and real deals.
    >Best thing to do--everyone in your party--is to read up on these and other
    >destinations and decide what really grabs you.
    >Have a great trip!
Thank you for the info and ideas.
--
Don Cates ("he's a cunning rascal" - PN)

Don Cates

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 12:20:48 -0400, "Mark Fagan" <[email protected]>
wrote:

    >While being close to the métro makes things easier, I still like being able
    >to just stroll out of the hotel and be in a good, central area, such as the
    >6th. Walking is such a pleasure that I reserve transport for really long
    >distances. Jack's hotel reccomendations are still very good
    >(www.jack-travel.com).
    >As for the Loire Valley, I don't think you can beat the flexibility of a
    >car. Go when and where you like, which eliminates the constraints of
    >schedules, strikes, etc. Navigating in the country isn't too bad, once
    >you're used to it. Avoid the cities when possible though. I wouldn't miss
    >the less well known Chateau of Cheverny, which is still owned by the
    >original family and has never been sacked, damaged, etc. You see the
    >furnished rooms, etc. as there were originally meant to be. I also
    >reccomend Ambroise as an excellent place to stay, centrally located and not
    >too big, but with amenities (such as a great tea shop/patisserie).

Thanks. Got a name for the shop or is it obvious?

--
Don Cates ("he's a cunning rascal" - PN)