Mailing packages to Paris

Hello 18 days to go:)

My husband and I are travleing to Lodon first and then on to Paris, we are shippng over our tent and sleeping bags for when we follow the Tour de France.

What do we do if we think that our stuff will get to Paris before us?

Is there a place we can ship them tat we can pick them up from that will hold the till we get there?

We are going to contact our hotel but feel they may charge us a fee?

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If I were you, I%26#39;d e-mail your hotel and explain your %26#39;problem%26#39;. Even if they should charge you a fee, it%26#39;s by far the best solution. I don%26#39;t think, they will charge you an enormous amount. You could send everything to a post office near your hotel as %26#39;poste restante%26#39;. However, I%26#39;d be more hesitant to do that.

I see more of a problem, if the tent and sleeping bags should arrive, when you are en route for the TdF already...

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We have had lots of problems with receiving packages, so I%26#39;d be hesitant to send anything by the regular postal service.

One of the problems is that we live in the 7th, which gives us the same postal code as Paris, TX. About 1/4 of our packages go there first DESPITE the Par Avion stickers and FRANCE written all over the boxes.Don%26#39;t know if this is true for those living in other arrondisements.

If it is something that I absolutely needed, I%26#39;d send it UPS.

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OK. UPS is a good solution. However, you%26#39;d still need your hotel to agree to hold the stuff for you and it won%26#39;t be cheap.

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To ship a 10 pound package to Paris by airmail will cost you somewhere around $50 at a minimum by USPS. UPS will probably cost you more. Declared value for insurance purposes will affect the cost, and you will have to investigate what options are available to you for getting proof of delivery and online tracking, etc. These will also add to your cost.

I%26#39;m wondering what the liklelihood is that the recipient of the package(s) might find themselves with some bureaucratic issues dealing with a possible assessment for import duty. Of course if you were bringing the items in in your own accompanied baggage, that would not be an issue, but if you ship them separately it might.

I%26#39;ve shipped a lot of packages to Europe over the years, but I%26#39;ve always tried to ship only stuff that the customs authorities won%26#39;t be bothered about, such as books and small gifts. Other items I have either carried myself or asked a visiting family member to take back with them and mail from inside Europe to the final destination.

In my experience most packages arrive in about a week, but I have known some to take well over two.

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WOW that is expensive

I found this store the Decathlon

would it be cheaper to just buy the stuff from there when we get to Paris?

Because we are going to London first we don%26#39;t want to bring the tent and sleeping bags, that%26#39;s alot to carry around.

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Not sure where you are staying in Paris, but there are several stores in the 5th around the rue des Ecoles called Au Vieux Campeur which between them sell just about everything you could possibly need. Each one carries a different line - so you might have to go to one store for a tent and a different one for sleeping bags, but they are pretty close together.

Many French campsites have cabins or mobile homes to rent, but at this short notice that might not work for you, especially if you will be in crowded areas with tons of other folk also following the Tour.

Honest opinion? Take a light backpacking tent and a good lightweight sleeping bag in a duffel. (You can make a single down bag and a zip in sheet thingie work for two people.) Buy a couple of el cheapo mattress pads in Paris, and off you go.

http://www.au-vieux-campeur.fr/gp/ Doesn%26#39;t seem to be an English version...

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Really if all of what you need is a tent and two sleeping bags, you should not bother to send them prior to your arrival. Buy them in Paris, it%26#39;s much, MUCH easier.

To get an idea of the prices, try au vIeux campeur as IR said, or Decathlon (www.decathlon.fr), whose camping line of product is Quechua (http://www.quechua.com/).

By the way, remember that the french word for camping is camping.

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we had looked at some camp grounds but I have talked with some people and read some reports about tent comunities that pop up onthe sides of the roads

when watching the tour last night we saw a lot of these and have planned on camping for 3 nights and we have a hotel for 2 nights in between

we have heard the cautions to make sure that we don%26#39;t camp where no one else is could be bad

we are staying in the 9th but I think I will buy the stuff over there it does sound like a better idea

Hotel Louvre Marsollier -- advice needed

Location is great, reviews are OK... Has anyone stayed in their family room? Is it really very very small?

Thanks.

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I am going to try this one one more time....

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Small is relative. If really you want to know, I suggest you e-mail the hotel to ask about the exact m2. Only you can then decide, whether it will work for you and your family.

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I had a single room when I stayed there in December. My guess is that the family room probably has 2 double (US size) beds or 1 double and sofa bed. Great Hotel and staff is very responsive to emails and speak English very well.

Taxi from Villefranche to Nice then on to Monaco

Can anyone inform me if taxi%26#39;s are readily available from the port to Nice and then following a few hour%26#39;s stay can we get a taxi from Nice to Monaco and then finally from Monaco back to Villefranche. We are arriving on a cruise ship and have approx 8 hrs to do the total trip.

Any idea on taxi costs ?

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You can certainly get taxis as you have requested, but you would not be able to see anything in 8 hours - you would spend your whole day in taxis and see nothing....Villefranche to Nice +- 20 Euro / Nice to Monaco +- 70 Euro / Monaco to Villefranche +- 60 Euro.

When you arrive in Villefranche by boat, as you disembark from the quayside, there are taxis waiting. I would suggest catching a bus from Villefranche to Monaco (number 98 or 100 - not sure which) - this is about 15 Euro return and leaves every 20 minutes - you catch this by walking up the very steep hill to the main road. I would skip Nice, to tell you the truth - Villefranche is much more peaceful and beautiful. Monaco by bus is about 25 minutes away. The alternative is to catch the train from Villefranche to Monaco. It goes along the coast and is a beautiful journey.

Best restaurants in Villefrance are at the old port (Darse). The Cockpit and Le Baleine Joyeuse are half the price of the ones on the main seafront and exceptionally good value for money (main courses 8-12 Euros).

Alone in Paris

I%26#39;ve never been to Europe alone, I%26#39;ve always met friends once I got off the plane but this trip my friend may not be able to join me and I realy want to see Paris - I%26#39;ve never been there. Am I crazy for going alone or will I be so busy I%26#39;ll never notice how romantic the city is?

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I%26#39;ve heard mixed reviews about going alone. I myself am going alone too...and it%26#39;s my first trip alone too. I am a bit worried about my nights that I will feel lonely eating by myself. However, I think during the day I will be so busy sight seeing and shopping that I%26#39;d even notice I am alone. When are you going? You can always post a message on here and meet up with some people from the forum for a drink or dinner. Others in this forum have organized something like that in the past, and I have only heard good things about it.

Good luck, and have fun in Paris!

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I am going at the end of June, the 29th through July 4th. When is your trip?

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I traveled alone to Paris once last year and again this year. It is the best way to go, in my opinion. I walked wherever my two feet took me. I had no problem meeting people to have dinner with. And you never know, you might find romance there, too!

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I just went alone to Europe and I really enjoyed it. You do have more opportunity to meet others/locals when you are solo. And you have the freedom to do whatever you want whenever you want w/o having to worry about someone else.

That being said, I did get a bit lonely in Paris. I didn%26#39;t really meet anyone there.. as I had in London %26amp; Amsterdam. (And it is a bit awkward for doing things in the evening) And you have no one to take a picture of you!!

But I definitely don%26#39;t think you%26#39;re crazy. Make the most out of it. See if you can meet other travellers (from this board) up for dinner/drinks and definitely be outgoing in hopes of meeting locals.

I%26#39;m actually returning to Europe this summer. And I am again going solo.

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How about taking a couple of walking or bike tours with other people? There is a good possibility that you might meet someone compatible who is also travelling alone. And even if you don%26#39;t you will be with other people and not feeling quite so isolated.

Try this link: …compuserve.com/homepages/pariswalking/

And this one: http://www.fattirebiketoursparis.com/

If you speak more than rudimentary French it will help, but even if you don%26#39;t there are places where you can safely meet other people and spend a bit of time talking with them. Try some of the less expensive and more casual restaurants, such as Polidor on rue Monsieur-le-Prince where you will be sitting at long tables with other people - who may or may not be friendly/compatible, may or may not speak English or whatever. I%26#39;ve eaten there many times both alone and not (It%26#39;s a kind of sentimental thing to eat there every time I am in Paris. Long story...) and have met some fascinating people, bioth Parisians and tourists, and had some great conversations...

I like to take walks by myself with a very good detailed itinerary (ParisWalks is quite good if it is still in print...) and kind of make the guidebook my %26quot;companion.%26quot; And when I%26#39;ve had a few days in a strange city on my own, I like to have a really good book about that city - not a guidebook, but a book of essays or a history or whatever - to read while I am sitting in a cafe or wherever. Again it%26#39;s a kind of substitute for having a companion to %26quot;deconstruct%26quot; the city with...

Have fun!

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In my opinion, there are two ways to visit Paris: 1) alone and 2) With someone you trust and are compatible traveling with. In my opinion, I would find it miserable to travel to Paris in a group. Especially one with different views on what to do and can%26#39;t agree. What misery!!! Different people have different interests and Paris will accomodate these - each person will have their own unique Paris experience.

I think the best way to approach a solo trip is to plan ahead your must sees, yet be flexible enough to enjoy each moment as it comes. Expectations come into play. If you expect to meet complete strangers and expect conversations with strangers, you can set yourself up for disappointment should that not happen. Better to enjoy your own company and see everything else that happens as a gift. I find Paris to be quite suitable for solo travelers. Nothing like relaxing at a cafe and enjoy the day/evenings. Please do not hesitate and GO FOR IT. Don%26#39;t miss out.

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Thank you all so much! I definetely feel better about traveling alone and I will visit the Polidor. I give all of you a lot of credit for traveling alone - I%26#39;ll see how this turns out....I keep picturing in my head Planes, Trains and Automobiles!

Is it better to buy admission to various sites on-line or do it when I get there?

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I have traveled alone and with groups. I will be in Paris this Fall for my 4th time and my 1st time alone. I am looking forward to doing the things I want to do at my own pace. I always think dinner is the hardest but I always bring a book or use that time to plan the next days activities. There are some day tours you can take and a boat trip on the Seine is always fun. Have a wonderful time!

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im going alone as well from july 28-aug 14... and im only 18... hopefully i can make some friends somewhere or find someone i could warm up to. ;)

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and oh yea... this makes me really nervous.

2.5 month before the trip -- need to learn some French!!

After 4 months of looking at numerous websites and forums and searching for %26quot;the best deals%26quot; out there I am finally here -- all necessary reservations have been made!! I have plane tickets and hotel reservations...now all I need it to learn some French! There are tons of French self-study books/software/audio books/websites. Does anyone have any recommendations? What worked the best for you?

Thanks.

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Natasha, I found this great site that gives you audio bites. And its free. It was the best site I found while I was in search of freshening up my skills.

Check this out -

http://www.frenchtutorial.com/standard/

But I gotta be honest and tell you that I didn%26#39;t actually study up, as I just relied on my 2 1/2 years of French classes from school (as well as living w/ a French boyfriend for a year). Though I wish I would%26#39;ve known more. I had no idea I was going to need to know how to say %26quot;Excuse me sir, but I have to go back into the movie theater as I dropped my hat in there and I need to look for it.%26quot; ;-)

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The BBC%26#39;s online program for beginners, French Steps, is one of the best I have come across:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

If you are serious about spending at least 20 minutes EVERY DAY on it you will learn a lot.

The other suggestion I have is that you get one of the basic CD programs that works for you and listen to it every moment you possibly can. So how do you find out which one works for you? Well, hopefully your public library will have a good selection for you to take a look at. try a few of them until you find the one that %26quot;cklicks%26quot; for you.

Reading and writing are importan too because they reinforce the process. So whatever method you use do try to find one that includes written exercises.

Bonne chance!

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Try

http://french.about.com/

You can have weekly courses sent to you(free).I get both the French course and the Travel French course.These courses have loads of information including audio pronounciations.I had previously purchased CD%26#39;s that had no written information with they and they didn%26#39;t work for me.I discovered that I need both visual and audio information.

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Speak Russian first, then English. It is going to work, you%26#39;ll see.

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Travelforever, you are so right! We went to Austria last year and were surprised by the fact that so many people spoke or understood Russian. Makes it difficult to talk about people! :-)

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Honestly, if they realize that you speak language other then English, French are a lot more receptive to make an attempt to communicate in English.

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Natasha, if you learn French, you will only make it easier for them to avoid learning English. Don%26#39;t spoil them that way!!! ;)

nos ancetres les gaulois?

do you know a restaurant named like that near Notre Dame??

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If you just do a Google search for %26quot;nos ancetres les gaulois%26quot; then you get all the info you need in the first link !

http://nosancetreslesgaulois.com/UK/

It%26#39;s a pretty cool resto on the Island of Saint-Louis, in the Seine.

They have a fixed menu for 35��� and last time I checked it included all-you-can-drink wine :)

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thanks for your help.do you recommend it?

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Hmmm, it%26#39;s a great location on the island and the food isn%26#39;t too bad but not exactly haute cuisine. Their menu at 35��� is

Salted meats

Cold meats

Mixed salads

Choice of grill

Beef or lamb kebab

Rib steak

Slice of leg of lamb

Lamb chops

Vegetables

Rice in a sauce

The whole point of the place is that you eat like you would have 2000 years ago :)

It%26#39;s a little too touristy for me at times when groups of 15+ people eat there but the whole point of the place is that you spend an entire evening there and maybe get to know other people that you meet there. (it%26#39;s open until 2am).

It%26#39;s been open for over 45 years so I guess it must work !

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Quite fun, not a bad food, nothing extarordinary though. Perfect if you are a large group, and want to have dinner in a festive ambiance.

I prefered it when i was 20 tho :)

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We just went there on our first trip. It was an experience, the wine was not very good but for 35 euros, one cannot expect much. The kebobs we both got were good, I got beef, my boyfriend got lamb. We were in a room with a large group of rowdy Danes. We sat next to a nice German couple who%26#39;s been there before and they walked us through. There is live music. Very lively but not an intimate place for a romantic evening. Dinner took about 3 hours. We enjoyed it but would not go back, it was a fun experience though.

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My two favorite Gaulois, Asterix %26amp; Obelix, always seemed to be eating les sangliers. The restaurant should serve that, too! ;)

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If you want to eat boar (sanglier) or any other kind of game in season in Paris, Le Petit Marguery on the blvd du Port Royal (Metro Gobelins) is wonderful...

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Actually DesAlpes, it appears that Asterix and Obelix shouldn%26#39;t be eating boar anyway, as the Gauls ate mostly pigs!

Any Jet Lag Advice?

I got home from Paris six days ago and I%26#39;m still having a hard time getting my internal clock re-set (the time difference here in California is 9 hours). Is this normal? Any effective remedies to suggest? Thanks!

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Mine difference was 6 hours, but I stayed awake until 9 pm (local time) upon arriving back home, even though my body thought it was 3 am. And when I woke up at 7 am the next working, I was fine.

Sorry you%26#39;re having such a rough time....I can%26#39;t imagine why.

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%26quot;Mine difference%26quot;?? Meant to say %26quot;mine was a difference...%26quot;.

Sorry....all grammatical knowledge goes out the window on weekends!

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Sorry, but all my experiences with Jet lag was following eastbound flights, never westbound. I just started sleeping on the local schedule for where I was at and I soon adjusted.

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It took me a full week to get back to normal. My time difference is 8 hours. Best suggestions are to darken your room for sleep, and when you wake up in the middle of the night, do something to help you get back to sleep, such as reading a book. Avoid naps.

Good luck. It does get better!

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My husband%26#39;s jet lag took about 4 days to cure. Are you sleeping at night at all? If you are having trouble sleeping at night...make sure you don%26#39;t drink alcohol (as that can cause a disturbance in your sleep cycle), take a nice relaxing warm bath before going to bed, and make certain that your feet are warm (cold feet can prevent you from falling asleep). Make sure you rise early the next morning and don%26#39;t sleep in. Also make sure you are eating properly, as sporadic eating can cause your internal clock to go hay wire too. Hope all this helps.

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Thanks. We%26#39;ve taken many other long trips and haven%26#39;t struggled more than a day or two with the time adjustment. Perhaps the difference this time is that we walked ourselves into exhaustion each day in Paris and then hit the full regular work/family schedule as soon as we got home. Wish I could take a vacation to recover from the vacation!

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We use melatonin a couple hours before bedtime. It%26#39;s available at health food stores, and doesn%26#39;t have the side effects of sleeping pills. It%26#39;s a hormone, and not for use for those under 18 or so.

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I normally don%26#39;t have problems upon returning back to the states - this time I did. We got back Saturday late afternoon, and I%26#39;m exhausted! I finally let myself take some naps today, and I%26#39;m hoping to be better tomorrow.

I think that our being up for nearly 24 hours didn%26#39;t help - we left Munich, did a two hour flight - waited about 3 hours at Gatwick and had a 9 hour flight home. We didn%26#39;t get back to our home until about 22 hours after we left, with no sleep. I%26#39;d already been beat by the end of our two weeks.

In my case, I think allowing myself to let my body rest will help a lot. I%26#39;d have done much better if we%26#39;d just done one long flight instead of having the Munich to London leg too.

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My doctor prescribed Ambien for my trip and I didn%26#39;t have any problems at all with jet lag going to Paris or coming back to Texas. I swear by it.

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Ambien is great if you can%26#39;t sleep at night. Or benedryl if you can%26#39;t get a prescription.