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[maracus]

My partner and I (my partner) is thinking about day trips to France. How can it be done on the cheap? I'm thinking Eurostar from London into Paris. Only a few hours to get there. Go early, come back late. Has anyone done anything like this? Is there much you can do in half a day? Just wondered what experiences others have and how you got on and stuff. Any good sites to book?

[zirk]

My partner and I (my partner) is thinking about day trips to France. How can it be done on the cheap? I'm thinking Eurostar from London into Paris. Only a few hours to get there. Go early, come back late. Has anyone done anything like this? Is there much you can do in half a day? Just wondered what experiences others have and how you got on and stuff. Any good sites to book?

Dont think you can really do Paris in half a day TBH, if you fancy a quick trip shoot over to Calais in the Car, turn left, just over the Belgium border turn right into De Panne, some nice Bars and Food down by the Beech Front, walk, window shopping, and some duty free, makes a nice change from France, and a good day out. 

[Rog]

Like Zirk said, its a bit of a squeeze by public transport, but easy peezy if you drive.

Cross Channel fares can vary quite a lot according to how busy things are. Try the following

Eurotunnel
P&O
http://www.myferrylink.com

Sometimes its cheaper to travel at some oddball time, and stay in France overight, with the advantage of a whole day. I use this

http://www.hotel-bb.com/en/hotels/calais-coquelles.htm

There's also one in Boulogne about 20 minutes down the road. Calais itself doesn't have much to offer, but Boulogne is ok.

Or go North to Belgium, Brugges is a great little city

 

There are loads of option. I go over quite often to stock up on cheap plonk and beer, and also go shopping in the hypermarkets.

[maracus]

Fair point that it will be tight for time maybe an overnighter then. Would normally drive when I've been over the border but am really not keen on tackling Paris by car. Nice couple of other options there to consider. 

[tunnie]

2.5 hours and around £69 return from London, if you get very early train, around 7/8am, easily done in a day 

[maracus]

2.5 hours and around £69 return from London, if you get very early train, around 7/8am, easily done in a day 

That's along the lines I'm thinking, would be nice to even just grab lunch, a pint, and take a picture of the trifle tower 

Would have to be Paris really, else another trip next year would occur 

It that price pp?

[Rog]

2.5 hours and around £69 return from London, if you get very early train, around 7/8am, easily done in a day 

That's along the lines I'm thinking, would be nice to even just grab lunch, a pint, and take a picture of the trifle tower 

Would have to be Paris really, else another trip next year would occur 

It that price pp?

Ah, Ok. I wouldn't even think about driving in central Paris   . I've parked on the outskirts before now and taken the metro or train in.

[maracus]

2.5 hours and around £69 return from London, if you get very early train, around 7/8am, easily done in a day 

That's along the lines I'm thinking, would be nice to even just grab lunch, a pint, and take a picture of the trifle tower 

Would have to be Paris really, else another trip next year would occur 

It that price pp?

Ah, Ok. I wouldn't even think about driving in central Paris   . I've parked on the outskirts before now and taken the metro or train in.

Even when I see my mate down near Bergerac, coming home I set the sat nav for fastest route to Calais, and every time it looks like I'm heading for the Paris circular, I turn left and keep going til the nav picks up a new route!! Been there once at 4am, never again!!! I can handle small towns abroad and certain Dutch cities in the car, but there's no way I'm up for driving Paris!! Like the idea of getting there and taking the train in, but then I think if I'm going to train it, I'd do it properly and take the train all the way 

Do you buy a pass for the metro? Is it expensive for a day pass for it?

[tunnie]

2.5 hours and around £69 return from London, if you get very early train, around 7/8am, easily done in a day 

That's along the lines I'm thinking, would be nice to even just grab lunch, a pint, and take a picture of the trifle tower 

Would have to be Paris really, else another trip next year would occur 

It that price pp?

Yes that's each 

It's actually really good value, you don't need any transfers or taxis at the end, city centre to city centre. I plan to take MrsT at some point, but go club premium, it is a tad more, but you own table (2 seats, facing each other) standard class it's 4 to a table each side.

Paris hotels are expensive, so if you get to London stupid o'clock, then last train home 

Issue of course is getting to/from London at those times, I'd advise driving. For that part 

[Rods2]

Make sure your wallet is not easily taken as I know several people that have had their pockets picked on the metro. 

There is a big problem with Romanian gypsy gangs in Paris, so be careful, if you go off the beaten track away from the main tourist areas as again I know several people that have been mugged, which includes one person where violence was used to make him comply. 

Don't put your mobile on a restaurant table as another ploy is to put a clipboard on the table and try to get you to make a donation to a bogus charity, when they retrieve the clipboard your phones goes with it. 

It will be interesting to hear how you get on as gypsy gangs in the centre of Paris are currently meant to be a big problem, but how much of that is press sensationalism and how much reality I don't know.

http://www.laurelzuckerman.com/2012/06/the-truth-about-gypsies-in-paris-roms-romanians-travellers.html

http://www.france24.com/en/20120615-reporters-romania-roma-mafia-exploitation-network-police-paris-petitions

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?421603-Invasion-of-the-pickpockets-Disturbing-pictures-show-gypsy-gangs-on-Paris-streets

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2309015/Hundreds-armed-police-guard-Paris-tourist-attractions-influx-criminal-gangs-eastern-Europe.html

[Rog]

Make sure your wallet is not easily taken as I know several people that have had their pockets picked on the metro. 

There is a big problem with Romanian gypsy gangs in Paris, so be careful, if you go off the beaten track away from the main tourist areas as again I know several people that have been mugged, which includes one person where violence was used to make him comply. 

Don't put your mobile on a restaurant table as another ploy is to put a clipboard on the table and try to get you to make a donation to a bogus charity, when they retrieve the clipboard your phones goes with it. 

It will be interesting to hear how you get on as gypsy gangs in the centre of Paris are currently meant to be a big problem, but how much of that is press sensationalism and how much reality I don't know.

Please believe me that it a very big reality.

Walking from one place to another on the Metro, you can find youself surounded by youngsters, isolating you from your companions. One of them distracts you, the others rob you blind, even with precision cuts into your luggage.

This is not at some remote area, it is more likely to happen at a major Metro changover like Chatelet that has a huge number of people passing through. This happened to us, and when you report it the response is " yes, well the gypsy's are a problem". Don't expect any of your stuff back. Sorry, but it really is bad there. Be careful 

[biggriffin]

 yes Romainian gypsies, get ready for the influx here next year,i know them allready here,but more are coming,  thanks dave blinding job your doing

[tunnie]

Mother & FatherT went to Paris recently, they witnessed a considerable amount of pick pockets, so much so, wallets/bags/phones all left in the hotel, only take a little bit of cash out.

[maracus]

Ah heck I've been mugged on the London Underground, that was bad enough! Paris really isn't selling itself to me now lol!

Ummm might just stick on the film taxi and go pick some snails out the garden for the le francais experience 

[TheBoy]

Its been a while since I've been on Eurostar, but I can't say it was a great experience. Better than Eurotunnel, who truely are the scum of the earth.

Paris has too much to see in one day. Last time I went, it was for 2 nights, and I was knackered. And Parisians are like Londoners, so be grateful if all they do is nick your wallet. Come to that, the Seine is like the Thames, only more smelly, and the Shard is taller than the Trifle Tower, which envariably you can't get up beyond the 2nd platform anyway.

So save your cash and do London.