Cheap lowbrow tour in a day............. (Paris Metro)

Member Name: suehome

Product:	Paris Metro
Date:	16/04/09 (180 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Truly integrated transport, lots to see and do

Disadvantages: Can be tiring,busy at peak times

Paris is a magical city, with inspiring imperial and modern buildings and a fabulous central river heart. However for those with a limited attention span; keen to avoid long walks or highbrow culture there still is a reasonable way to introduce the magic and so pave the way for a future return using the integrated transport options which abound in this city.

Parking

I would recommend that you don't even think about driving or parking in Paris. Whilst there are obvious car parks signposted, the traffic is a nightmare and the manners non-existent. It makes central London feel like a picnic. With the price of truly integrated public transport so cheap, the car really is an unnecessary complication; except for access to a link point to get into the city. This is where we really scored lucky. Since we were staying just a few miles SE of Paris we had easy access to the RER (Regional Express Railway) station at Marne La Valley (Chessy) which also serves Disneyland Paris. So, yes there is a massive well organised, safe and supervised car park all for just 8 Euro per day. A bargain if you care about your vehicle, as many of the other station car parks seem to attract drivers who fling their cars and doors about with complete disregard for others. It almost seems car ownership is scored by how many dings you have or can dispense to others!

A Paris Day Ticket

Less than 13 Euros will buy you a day ticket for access across all Paris zones, unlimited travel on the RER, metro bus and tram networks including the funicular at Montmatre. This latter is probably a must if you intend to visit Sacre Coeur and legs or energy levels are flagging. Purchase at the station ticket office is very simple even for those with very limited or non French speakers; we saw people using fingers communicating ONE DAY, "Paris adult inclusif" obtain their tickets without any hassle. Similar to the London Underground posting the ticket into the automated barrier opens the gates which access escalators to the trains below. The great huff of compressed air as the gates pull open seems to delight many younger travellers and they can't seem to wait for the next gates. At a terminal station like Marne La Valee (Chessy) you will usually see the train waiting for you on the platform These modern trains are well used and not particularly clean, again much like our own underground. However there is one nifty feature that is sure to fascinate younger travellers, as the train travels along the station name is not only spoken aloud, but the station name is lit up on the route map, so they can try to relate the spoken words to the written format. Certain lines run 2 level trains with steps up to more seating, a bit like a double decker bus, and again this seems to be a novelty feature which keeps interest alive. I would strongly recommend obtaining the free map which is available from the ticket office as this will make it much easier to plan your route, rather than reacting on the hoof amongst the hubbub so to speak. At peak times these trains become very crowded, and there is little sign of any consideration for others. However it is certainly no worse than our own transport systems, and if anything more frequent so the crowding quickly thins out. Signposting is really easy to follow, with clear colour coding of the lines; numbers for the metro and letters for the RER lines, together with excellent platform displays of the next train coming and the stops which it will make. And yes, as you have probably guessed even with all this, it did not prevent us getting on a train going in the wrong direction; but the mistake was quickly spotted, we simply got off at the next station, crossed over and got the train going the correct way.

Our Day in Detail

The Essential First Coffee Stop

We boarded our first train at approx 10.00 arriving at Chateaulin des Halles at approx 1030. Just right for a coffee stop then. This area is a shopping mecca and excellent for traditional type French cafes, so we easily found one facing into the street with tables beckoning and waiters hovering outside. Dressed in the traditional black waistcoats, dark trousers and white aprons we really felt we had entered a "Cafe Rene" film set Again the ability to quickly relate this to a much loved and familiar TV series gives added interest. We chose simple hot chocolate and cafe au lait, which cost 4.5 Euros, not too bad for central Paris, but it was before 12.00; be warned often prices for hot drinks will go up between 30 and 50 cents a cup after 12.00 The drinks were lovely, piping hot and tasty, and served with a complimentary chocolate dusted almond. Other customers were eating either a continental style breakfast of croissants, bread and preserves with drinks included for 7 Euros, or just simply having drinks and soaking up the atmosphere. The toilets were typically old and Gallic; a spiral staircase downstairs to a split half door just like the door to the Saloon in a Western. With little privacy between the Gents and the Ladies the hand wash area was just squeezed in and not particularly clean or appealing. Still a welcome relief before going back to the station and our next visit. Whilst ambling back to the station we spotted a bargain bookshop selling new and second-hand multi-lingual books, and also racks of postcards at 12 for 2 Euros, which was a real bargain. This area seems really cosmopolitan and definitely cheaper than many of the more obvious tourist traps.

Tour Montparnasse

We have been to Paris before, so had already been to the Eiffel Tower, endured the queues and crammed into the lift to get to the top, but this time a more civilised aerial view was planned. We alighted from the metro in the business district at Montparnasse Bienvenue and walked the short distance to the entrance of the tower building. For a 10 Euros adult entry a high speed lift whips you up 56 floors at amazing speed (196 metres in 38 seconds.......so much better than walking); apparently its Europe's fastest elevator! When you alight there is a panoramic observation floor, double glazed and carpeted with a fantastic view of the city below. A handy bar, souvenir shop and audio visual show entice you to linger, but the steps beckon you to clamber up the final 15m to the 59th floor which is open air and positively breathtaking. So much so that we ate our sandwiches on the roof, which I swear I could detect was moving; whilst soaking up the amazing view below. Arc de Triomphe, Les Invalides (with Napoleon's tomb), Trocadero and of course the Eiffel Tower can clearly be seen as you wander around the rooftop. Fortified now, and the sun shining on the river below encouraged us back down to the trains, and so emerging at Pont d'Alma where Bateaux Parisiens have their shore side pontoons and ticket office.

A Short River Tour


Eleven Euros will buy you a seat on the hour long commentated river tour. This really is excellent values for money. As you glide along the multi-lingual handsets deliver a commentary, identifying the buildings, giving snippets of interest, history and music which you can relate to what you are cruising past. The magnificence of the Alexandre Bridge, Louvre, Museum d'Orsay and Notre Dame unfold before you. The boats themselves are glass covered, so in more inclement weather you can still shelter from the elements whilst still enjoying the gentle and interesting tour. We were lucky it was a balmy spring afternoon, so we were able to sit outside enjoying the sunshine, together with the sounds and smells of this busy city. Something seen from the boat is almost bound to spark interest, then so provide the next quick destination in the unlikely event that you are running low on ideas. Spotting the twin towers of Notre Dame provoked a discussion about the hunchback and Quasimodo, so on our next trip this will certainly be on the itinerary. All too soon the trip was over and we happily wandered back to the nearest station, opting to take the metro back to large interchange from where we could board our RER train back to the car park, arriving there at approx 1830.

Summary


Should you be staying actually in Paris there is a Paris Pass which would be worth checking out. At 89 Euros for 2 days this allows unlimited travel on the transport systems and free access to many of the major attractions including Tour Montparnasse. Unfortunately the river tours are not included though.

We could have easily spent much longer in the city there is so much to see and do; but a shorter day leaves you less exhausted; since believe me, even this small amount of travelling around is surprisingly tiring...... This way everyone is keen to go back another time!







Thanks for reading

Posted on Dooyoo and Ciao under the same author

Summary: Use Public transport for easy access in Paris