Questions on French travel?

GeneralElectric · #1 12-07-2008, 04:36 PM

So I might have a chance to go to Europe this summer.

I've got some travel questions for you guys who know France.

How does one get from Paris to the Rhone Alps? My girlfriend wants to go to the wine country, but I have no idea how to get there, or where exactly it is. She was saying something about the TGV I think it was called.

Also, she wants to go shopping, and I don't. So I plan on doing a one day thing around Paris to visit boutiques, but again, I don't know anything. So, some chick stores, and maybe a bus line or some such that'll go to whatever passes for a shopping district there.

To try and plan this out better, is there any high quality street maps of Paris I can find online and print out? We only have 5 days there before we move on to another country so I wanna make the best use of time possible.

Also whats a good bet for travel sites as well around Paris? I know things like the Eiffel Tower, the Louve, and the Arc De Triumph but not much else.

My knowledge of France is limited to the fries.

TehRoflCopter · #2 12-07-2008, 06:14 PM

The TGV is the highspeed train that connects much of France and Europe.

A good way to catch the big attractions is to take the boats that do a loop of the Seine. You can get on and off all day and they stop at the typical tourist locations.

Get Rick Steves' Guidebook for Paris.

bassrique · #3 12-07-2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

How does one get from Paris to the Rhone Alps?

I was in an exchange student program for about three weeks. I suppose there are several routes to wine regions [there are many areas scattered about the country]. It seems like you'll rent a vehicle, no?

Don't plan too much, but if I were to plan, I'd go to some of those crazy beautiful cathedrals. You don't have to be religious to have your breath taken away by such.

But again, my advice is not to plan much. Just let it happen. Relax and be cool.

How long is this trip?

GeneralElectric · #4 12-07-2008, 10:22 PM

The trip is about a month and a half if I end up going.

We'll be stopping in Ireland, Britain, France, Germany, Italy. We'll be spending roughly a week in each country, though we'll only be in France for 5 days.

I'm not paying for this trip, she is.

I'm not sure if we'll be renting a car or not, as she doesn't drive, and I've never driven righty.

bassrique · #5 12-07-2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Ireland, Britain, France, Germany, Italy.

Quote:

I've never driven righty

OK, they drive righty in Britain, but what about Ireland?

Pardon me for meddling, but is this the same woman that you spoke of in other threads?

Are you going to take a bass w/you?

fokof · #6 12-08-2008, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

My knowledge of France is limited to the fries.

Fries = Belgium

Not France........

GeneralElectric · #7 12-08-2008, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassrique

OK, they drive righty in Britain, but what about Ireland?

Pardon me for meddling, but is this the same woman that you spoke of in other threads?

Are you going to take a bass w/you?

It is and I'll be taking a bass with me.

I dunno where they drive lefty and righty, though I assume that the right side driver was a European thing.

jrthebassguy · #8 12-08-2008, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

The trip is about a month and a half if I end up going.

We'll be stopping in Ireland, Britain, France, Germany, Italy. We'll be spending roughly a week in each country, though we'll only be in France for 5 days.

I'm not paying for this trip, she is.

I'm not sure if we'll be renting a car or not, as she doesn't drive, and I've never driven righty.

All of mainland Europe (aka not Ireland and Britain) drives on the same side of the road as you and I do.

GeneralElectric · #9 12-08-2008, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrthebassguy

All of mainland Europe (aka not Ireland and Britain) drives on the same side of the road as you and I do.

Those English and Irishmen are jerks!

**Vorago** · #10 12-08-2008, 01:12 AM

There are TGV connections between Paris and Lyon.

A word of advice; if you're gonna take the TGV, order your tickets well ahead! You can save serious money that way. You can start ordering 3 months ahead.

You can do so here, as well as check out where you can go with the TGV:

http://www.tgv-europe.com/en/home/

Asa Samuel · #11 12-08-2008, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

Those English and Irishmen are jerks!

don't forget the Scottish!

Whereabouts in Britain are you going? I'm guessing probably London?

GeneralElectric · #12 12-08-2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Junkie

don't forget the Scottish!

Whereabouts in Britain are you going? I'm guessing probably London?

How could I forget another part of my heritage!

I'll be going to London and then to Brighton to visit some family members.

bmc · #13 12-08-2008, 02:21 PM

If you want to save some money, Ryanair flies from London Stanstead to Grenoble-Isere airport, which is 30 minutes from the Rhone Alps.

You could fly into Geneva which is at the north end of the Rhone Alps. Geneva's souther border is the start of the Rhone area.

Fly into Geneva on Easyjet and rent a car from there.

In terms of wine, the regions closest to Rhone Alps is the Cote du Rhone area along the Rhone river, which descends from Lyon down to the Mediterranean. The Rhone is mostly Syrah reds and Condrieu white.

North north-west of Geneva, and north of Lyon is the Burgundy region. Reds from Burgundy are Pinot Noir, whites are chardonnay. The southern part of the Burgundy region is Beaujolais, which is Gamay garpes. The town of Beaune (pronounced Bone), is in the middle of the Cote D' or and the Cote de Nuit. Stunning benchmark pinot noirs. Bring lots of cash.

The wines from the northern Rhone are marginal.

If you're coming from the UK, check out Easyjet. There are actually two Easyjet's: one based at Luton and the other based in Geneva. Good cheap low cost airfares, but book as soon as you can.

Flying into Lyon or Grenoble Isere will get you the Alps.

Pm if you want more help. I'm in Geneva.

Philbiker · #14 12-08-2008, 02:29 PM

I've taken the TGV from Paris to Tours and rented a car to drive around the Loire Valley. Highly recommended. Good wines and fantastic Chateaus. Some of the smaller manner houses and Chateaus have been converted to hotels. Fabulous. If you can drive stick you are in great shape. I recommend an old fashioned travel agent. They can serve you in ways that the internet can not.

Rich L · #15 12-08-2008, 06:44 PM

Went to Paris during July...everything was closed. Apparently, they shut down for the summer, so it was very limiting.

Also, if you happen to get dragged (they will literally come out onto the sideawalk and pull you in) into any strip clubs, be prepared...they do not bathe very often.

bmc · #16 12-08-2008, 11:39 PM

August is the holiday month. Stores and shops will be open in July.

GeneralElectric · #17 12-08-2008, 11:43 PM

She doesn't drink at all. I'll be getting hammered and she'll be enjoying the scenery.

I'm not really a wine person, I drink whiskey and beer. I'll drink red wine with dinner every now and then though.

Any good bus lines that do tours of Paris? If not, I'll have to rent a car.

**Vorago** · #18 12-09-2008, 01:52 AM

You should check out Paris using the subway, it's an experience in itself. It's very fast, pretty cheap and you'll be a lot quicker traveling between the touristic highlights than with a car.

Happynoj · #19 12-09-2008, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

Any good bus lines that do tours of Paris? If not, I'll have to rent a car.

You should do a boat trip - you can see a lot of the sights from the water, and then go to them if you want to see more. Getting around Paris is easy - just hop on the metro (tube) and you can get the train to within easy walking distance of most of the main sights (just get hold of a decent map, and be prepared to use it!)

I went to Paris in June with my ex. Great city. Stuff to see:

Eiffel Tower - a MUST see icon...)

Arc de Triumph - we walked from here, all the way down the Champs Elysee, to:

Louvre - it took a long time, but I think that it was worth it, and there are lots of shops. We went into the Louvre, but basically just went and had a look at the Mona Lisa and then left. It is the most overrated painting of all time. However, if I had been to Paris and not seen it I would have been disappointed in myself

George Pompidou Centre - really great place. Neither of us are really art lovers, but this place had something for everyone

Montmartre - lots of steps, but a good view from the top, and lots of really cool little shops around the bottom

Parc de la Villette - a great place to spend a sunny afternoon

Notre Dame - we didn't go in, because it was packed, and at the end of the day, it is just a big church. However, it is certainly worth a look from the outside

We had one of the DK Eyewitness Top Ten Guides - really easy to use, loads of great info, and a handy pull out map with plenty of detail. If I was doing what you are doing, I would probably grab one of these for every major city I was going to.

Where are you going in Germany and Italy? I assume Berlin and Rome - if you are, they are both amazing cities, and there is no shortage of things to do.

GeneralElectric · #20 12-09-2008, 02:42 AM

Trip goes from Dublin Ireland, and some of the surrounding countryside, to London England. From there Brighton, and then Paris.

Going to Berlin afterwards to see some sights and drive on the autobahn, and then to Italy where we'll be visiting my guitar player in Rome, and then he's taking us around to see the sights there. Including Pompei, the city with dicks on the sidewalks.