Buddy The Parisian Hamster

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Buddy was the first pet that Megan and I ever cared for together which is probably why we got really attached to the little guy.

In the time we have lived in Paris buddy met all of our house guest and most wanted to hold him. He was a little ball of fluff and not much bigger than a golf ball. He was a mixture hamster so was really easy to care for.

We tried buddy with a hamster ball and thought that it would be cool if buddy could run around on the floor without the risk of losing him down a crack or in a hole. But for some reason whenever we put him in his hamster ball he just stood still and didn’t move.

parisian hamster buddy

He was really easy to care for as you could hang a stick of seeds and nuts from the cage or fill up his bowel with food and it would last him about 2 days. Buddy loved to run on the wheel in his cage and for some reason it mostly happened when we were trying to sleep.

hamster parisUnfortunately buddy only live about two and a half years as he developed a tumor on his chest which just kept growing and growing. It was sad to see him go but we gave him a good live and love our little Parisian friend buddy.

Our First Apartment In Paris

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I think it really hit us when we came up from the metro at Anvers for the first time. We realized that this is where we will be living for the next few years.

Our first apartment was located in the heart of Montmartre in a street called Rue De Trois Frère (Three Brothers). We definitely did things the hard way and although we loved our small little apartment we could have done things a little better in hindsight.

Found on our street are three very notable tourist hotspots which people often venture. Directly next door is a fondue restaurant which is always packed out and the popular thing here is to drink your wine through baby bottles.

The second is a well know cocktail bar by the name of La Famille which the locals and visitors pack out. They make amazing drink as well offer a happy hour when people flock to try them for a cheaper price.

The final attraction on Rue De Trois Frere is the fruit store which is featured in the world famous movie Amélie. Here you will see many people doing more posing for picture than buying of fruit.

In This Video See Our First Apartment in Paris

What We Loved About Our Apartment

The location of our apartment was amazing. It only took us 5 minutes to walk up the hill to the sacre Coeur where an amazing sunset is viewable on a clear day. Just around the corner is the artist district where you can have someone paint a cool portrait or cartoon of yourself.

It only took me 12 minutes to walk my wife to and from work every afternoon and night.

We are within minutes of many amazing restaurants, patisseries, boulangeries, ice-cream store and fruit stores.

Although the apartment was very small it had a lot of character.

Our kitchen and bathroom facilities were quite good for Paris standards.

It only took me 20 minutes to walk to basketball practice.

When friends came to stay they were smack bang in the middle of one the most famous touristy areas in Pairs.

Megan paris apartment

What We Could Have Done Better

When we first moved to Paris we had no idea how to rent an apartment so we ended up booking an apartment for holiday rental. We made the mistake of booking it for a full year. What we should have done was only booked the apartment for a few months and in the meantime looked for somewhere better and cheaper.

Because it was holiday rental it was probably 200euro per month over priced and for what we were paying we probably could have gotten something much bigger.

Because we used a holiday rental agency they made us pay a commission. This commission was approximately 3000euro for the full year.

For a little while we were quite happy with the size of our unit but then it started to become apparent that a studio apartment has its down falls. We would definitely prefer to have a separate bedroom so you don’t end up lying in bed doing everything from eating dinner to work on the computer. Also you end up getting a sore back and neck when doing everything from your bed.

Although it had more light than our second apartment it was still lacking in mourning light. Having natural sunlight in an apartment for us is one of the most important aspects when living in an already often cloudy Paris.

Many of our friends had balconies and this often made us very jealous. We would love to wake up of a mourning and go outside to sit on our Paris balcony with breakfast.

our apartment in paris

Our Thoughts..

Choosing the right place to live in Paris is by far the most important aspect to enjoying a long stay in Paris. This sets the tone for how you will feel when you wake up and go to bed. Yes, you don’t need to spend much time inside as there is so much to do in the city but getting a good start to the day is very important to us to get motivated.

17 Paris Scams Gypsies and Thieves Revealed

Read How We Got Scammed On Christmas Day >>>

I have compiled a list of 17 ways in which you could scammed or taken advantage of by Gypsies, Thieves or beggars in Paris. If you are aware of these prior to visiting Paris then it could go a long way to having a more enjoyable stay.

I have compiled a list of 17 ways in which you could scammed or taken advantage of by Gypsies, Thieves or beggars in Paris. If you are aware of these prior to visiting Paris then it could go a long way to having a more enjoyable stay.

Roving Picnic Children

This is something that happened to my wife and I while we were picnicking, and I have also seen this happen on one other occasion.

We were enjoying a picnic in Bois de Boulogne, not paying much attention and having a nice relaxing day. We saw 3 children who were no older than 11 years of age, walking up to various people and showing them a piece of torn newspaper. They positioned the newspaper right up close to each unsuspecting victim’s face to create a distraction so that they didn’t notice that their valuables were being stolen.

Foolishly, even though we saw it happening even before they got to us, we had left my wife’s new iPhone lying on the picnic blanket. By the time the children reached us, one boy started speaking aggressively in a foreign language (not French) and kneeled down on our picnic blanket. He was obviously targeting the iPhone. His hand was just centimeters from the phone when I grabbed it, stood up and feeling mad as hell I told him aggressively to leave which may or may not have involved a few curse words. The children then started spitting and yelling at me, but eventually left. My job in Australia is working with challenging children, but these guys were a whole other level of challenging.

Tip: It’s not just adults or teens who will steal from you. You need to be aware that it can be children as well sometimes.

Tip: When you are having a picnic in Paris or just relaxing, never completely drop your guard. Often you are being watched to catch you at a moment when you are not paying attention. Do not leave valuables in the open for others to see them.

Tip: If you are approached while sitting down in a vulnerable position you should probably stand up and if asked something, anything, just firmly say “NO!”. ‘No’ is a Universal word and they will get the picture immediately.

Flower Men

50% of the time these guys are not scamming you, and are simply waiting outside shows, events or romantic locations in Paris. I would stand outside the Moulin Rouge waiting to pick up my wife every night, and the same guy would ask me every night if I would like to buy a flower.

How this can become a scam is when a shady flower man gives a flower to a girl and says “flower for a pretty lady”. He will then ask another person and then come back to you asking for 5 Euro, the cost of the rose. They will chase you down as you are walking away, demanding their money. If you try and give the flower back, they will often refuse to take it but continue to demand their money. Don’t get caught out; things in Paris are rarely free.

Tip: If you wish to impress your date then by all means buy her a flower. Women love flowers, and it will certainly put a smile on her face.

Tip: If a man hands you a flower, it will not be free!

Woven String or Braided Bracelet

I have only ever seen this scam worked at the base of the Sacré-Coeur, as you walk up the stairs. Here you will find at least 2, sometimes 4 or 5 dark-skinned men blocking off each entrance to the stairs as you walk up them.

As you walk past they engage you and persist in asking you to participate in what they are doing. You may be asked to put out your finger or expose your wrist, and they will proceed to plait a piece of cotton around your wrist or finger. Once finished, the ornament will be tied off and they will then ask you for money. If you refuse, they then become angry and then instigate Plan B.

Plan B of the Scam is that while you are arguing with them, 1 or 2 other dark men approach you and start manhandling you. This is the point where your phone or wallet is stolen, or you give in and give them a few dollars just to allow you to leave safely.

This is one of the more aggressive scams in Paris, and you really need to be on the lookout. I can’t say whether this scam is worked in other places as well as the Sacré-Coeur, however these scammers are there every day without fail, and occasionally they are chased away by police.

Note: I have heard of the Roma scammers performing this in Montmartre as well, but I have never seen it. This is a news article which tells a story of the Paris police commissioner being assaulted by a group of these scammers.

Watch as the female tourist get surrounded by bracelet scammers

Tip: Say “No” and keep walking, if you ignore them for long enough they will stop following you. If you say “No” as if you know what they are doing, they will most often move on the next unsuspecting victim. They can’t make victims of everyone.

Tip: Be extremely aware if you are being engaged by two men at the same time.

Tip: It’s easy to go around the long way and to walk up the side stairs to the Sacré-Coeur, however I prefer to not to allow them a victory, and just walk straight through their group. They may also approach you while you are taking pictures at the bottom of the stairs.

Paris signature scam
Photo Author | Quinn Dombrowski

“Do You Speak English?” Scam

This is a quite passive way for a Gypsy or Roma woman to make some money from tourists. You will be approached by a young woman and asked “Do you speak English?” If you co-operate and say “Yes”, they will either share a rehearsed storyline, which will be an attempt to tug at your heart strings, and at the end ask you for money. More commonly they will hand you a piece of paper which has the sob story written on it.

I have seen this worked at many places; the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Coeur, Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees just to name a few. The reason I say it is passive is because you do not usually feel pressured or intimidated and if you are aware, it’s easy to just say “No” aggressively.

Tip: This an easy one; don’t ever say “Yes”. They don’t need directions or assistance of any kind, and there is only one thing on their mind, and that’s to get your money.

Charity Signature Campaign

I have seen groups of Roma teenagers as well as dark adult men performing this scam. I am sure this is worked in more places, but I have seen it in the Latin Quarter and at Montmartre.

This Paris scam involves being asked to sign a petition for the starving people in Africa. The scammers will often claim to be working with a specific charity, however they are in plain clothes and show no identification whatsoever.

If you do sign the partition they will then ask you how much you wish to donate to them. If you tell them that you don’t wish to donate, they then say “But you have signed. You have to pay” or something along those lines. If you give them money and ‘donate’, you can almost be assured that not a cent will go towards the charity that is being named.

Paris Gamling Scam
Photo Author | Nelson Minar

Sleight-of-Hand Gambling

This is a scam in Paris where there is a man with a cardboard box and three round rubber discs. Under these rubber discs will be one white spot, and you are asked to pick the disc which has the spot under it. My wife’s family and I sat at a café in Paris and watched these guys performing this scam over and over again taking everyone’s money. You will not win at this game.

The scammer is very practiced at hiding the white spot, yet even if you are about to choose the right one you will be prevented from doing so by his team mates. That’s right! The dealer has one or two other scammers working with him pretending to be players, and who run interference to stop you winning.

When there is no one gambling they act as lucky winners that just keep winning all time. When you are playing the game they will swoop and take your disk if you are about to win, and claim that they have won.

I have seen this in Montmartre only, but I have been told by friends that they have seen it worked elsewhere.

Tip: Keep you money and buy a beer or a coffee, you will never beat the scammer otherwise they would not continue to work the scam.

Tip: Find a good seat and check out the theatrics of his inside men. This is quite entertaining to watch.

The Gold Ring Scam

This is an oldie but a goodie. If you have ever been to Europe then you have probably heard or seen this scam. This is worked almost anywhere in Paris and is usually performed by a gypsy/Roma Woman.

The woman will pick up a gold ring in delight and say something like “Oh my luck day!” and then proceed to ask if you dropped it or if it is yours. You will probably say “No”, and then she will just give it to you. In return she will ask for a few dollars in exchange for her kindness, a finder fee.

This ring is not gold nor does it have any monetary value at all, and honestly I have never seen anyone give them money. I have no idea how they make money on this scam but I guess as the saying goes “There is one born every minute”.

Skip to 1m40sec to see this lady perform her scam

Homeless Citizens

I would not call this a scam, but there appears to be dishonesty involved. I would also like to start by saying that I have given loose change to some homeless people on occasion. This is an all too familiar sight in Paris and you will often see them with dogs and cats. I have even seen two cats lying on a dog.

The reason why I thought it needed to be mentioned is that I a lot of the times these guys work in shifts. I always walked the same route every day, and along the way there is a beggar who has a sign which says words something like “I am sick with a certain disease and need money for medication”. I have seen the man change from day to day but still have the same sign and sit in the same spot. I have also seen a man with dogs and cats rotate from day to day.

This is not to say that they don’t need the money but just be aware that it’s not all black and white. In fact on another occasion a lady used to ask me for money every night when I walked Megan home from work. Then a couple of weeks later we saw her buying beer after beer at the local Irish pub.

Street Sellers or Vendors

key chain seller at eiffel tower
Photo Author | Daniel Lobo

The street sellers in Paris often walk around populated areas such as the Eiffel tower selling little drinks, handbags, trinkets and replica Eiffel tower key rings. Megan and I laugh when they all pack up their goods and start running when someone spots a police officer. These sellers or vendors will first lay a sheet on the ground and place their merchandise on top in a way which means they will be able to make a quick getaway if necessary. These people roam the area with large key chains full of Eiffel tower trinkets, or sell cheap water and/or beer on a hot day.

Yes it’s true that you can barter them down and get three key rings for a dollar, but technically it is illegal for you to buy from them however I have never heard of anyone being charged. If you are wondering why it is illegal for them to sell and why they always run away when the police are near, it might be because;

  1. These street sellers do not have a vendor’s license which means they do not pay tax and this in turn affects the economy, and as well it takes genuine income away from the legitimate souvenir sellers.
  2. Some of the time these guys are running because they are not only trading illegally but are in fact illegal immigrants.
  3. My boss once told that there is also a copywrite issue involved when producing and selling Eiffel tower replicas, and that this is a very good reason why they run. All the trinkets these guys offer are imported from china and sold to these venders illegally.

If you are interested you can read about the 60 tons of miniature Eiffel towers that were seized in Paris.

This is an interesting video about the day as a street seller in Paris

Tip: If you are going to buy from street vendors, which I don’t recommend, then understand that they should settle for less than the original price they gave you. If not, then move on to the next street seller.

Metro Busker

This is not so much a scam, but something to be aware of. These people are trying to get your money illegally, in the eyes of the French government. I you want to busk in Paris then you need to apply for a permit and you have to specify times and places where you will perform.

I think for the rare tourist the metro busker can be quite appealing and some may enjoy them. But having lived in Paris for a while whenever I see them get onto the train I instantly cringe. The most common ‘entertainer’ is an accordion player, but I have seen others with Karaoke machines, guitars, ukuleles, and even a guy throwing a sheet over the rail for a puppet show. Some are quite good but a lot of them are very bad and have obviously only learned 2 or three tunes.

Metro Buskers usually stay for one song and 2 or three train stops. When they are finished they will ask people for money. You will then see them leave the train and get back on to the next carriage where they perform the same routine.

Tip: These guys are harmless and if you don’t wish to give money you can just politely say ‘No’.

Tip: If you see a man or lady get on the train with no instrument and start yelling at the whole train then this is not a busker. For the most part these people are either yelling their religious or political views, mentally ill or both.

Gypsy Beggars

You will commonly see the Roma Gypsy beggars on the Champs Elysees, usually on their knees face down with a sign placed in front of them, or maybe just a collection hat or plate. While they are not aggressive will not bother you while you go about sightseeing or passing through, they definitely fit into the beggars list for this post.

RER Beggars

This type of beggar is mostly only seen when you ride a TGV or RER to somewhere outside of Paris. We have twice encountered this since living in Paris. The first time a man was walking through our carriage handing out a business card which had printed on it that he lost his job and has a wife and kids etc. He either placed it on the spare seats or handed it directly to passengers. In our case he handed it to us. Once he had handed them all out, he came back to collect his card and also to collect money from anyone who would give him some.

The second experience we had was very similar except this time it was a young teenage girl and a boy who would have been no older than 10 years of age. They also handed out similar cards which stated “My brother and I are homeless and have no food tonight…”

It is worth noting that in both of these cases the cards were not hand-written but printed, and so they had gone into some effort and expense and probably had thousands of them. I cannot comment or speculate on whether their stories were true or not, however these people and their behaviour definitely entitles them to make it on this list. My thoughts are, give money at your own discretion, but I have not seen any threatening behaviour with this form of begging.

Thieves

Metro Pick Pockets

For the three years I have lived in Paris I have seen people pickpocketed 3 or 4 times, and each time it has happened the victim has been a tourist. The act was always committed just as the train doors closed, so the victim did not have time to realise that it had even happened before it was too late. The thief was always a young male of varying age, and they were always very quick. Whenever you are riding a metro you do need to pay close attention to your luggage and know where your valuable belongings are.

Tip: A small backpack or your handbag sitting at your feet is like taking candy from a baby for a pick pocket.

Tip: A wallet in your back pocket is another target that you have painted on yourself. If you have a zip pocket at all, this would be your best bet to preserve your wallet and everything in it.

Tip: If you can prevent it, try not to pull your wallet out and expose it while you are on the metro as it could be an easy snatch or show the pickpocket where you keep it.

Tip: Be aware of the situation and protect your belongings, especially when the doors of the train are open.

Clumsy Jogger

The clumsy jogger has a target, usually a tourist with quite a bit of luggage. The jogger pretends to stumble into the tourist, apologizes and helps the tourist back onto their feet. In the meantime an accomplice is in the process of stealing their luggage while the tourist is distracted, or the runner takes off with some of the luggage while the distraction is taking place. I have only ready about this method of thievery but never seen it, so unfortunately I can’t offer much advice. My guess is that once you become a target it is likely that you are going to lose something, so my tip is to keep your most valuable possessions on your body, and travel light.

Street Muggings

Since living in Paris I know of three people who have been robbed while walking the street and yet the areas they were in did not have a bad reputation for muggings. On one occasion the lady, a friend of ours, was walking into her building at night after work and a robber followed her in the apartment complex and robbed her at knifepoint. This would be a frightening experience for anyone aside from the fact that that the robber spoke French and the victim did not.

The other occasion was when another friend was about 10 meters away from walking through a door to start basketball training with our team. He was texting on his iPhone and was approached by three teenaged male thieves.   One said “Give me your phone and we won’t hurt you.” He replied “No”, so they then punched him and kicked him until he gave up the phone. A short time later, a bit bruised and shaken, he was practicing with the team!

Tip: Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Make sure you are not being followed, and if you think you are step into the nearest hotel or shop. My wife and I have been followed home a few times, but fortunately managed to avoid any ambush by taking this action.

ATM Distraction

This actually happened to a friend of mine but I have since realized that it is more common than I first thought. Apparently it is a common thing for adolescents and teens to distract the person who is drawing money out of an ATM while someone snatches the money from the other side. It only takes a split moment, causing you to look in another direction from a distraction and some quick hands can take your money.

Tip: There are a lot of banks in Paris where you can walk into a security camera room in order to use an ATM and withdraw money. If you are in a run-down area, or there are shady-looking people around avoid using ATMs located along the sidewalk.

Sleeping Thief

This is also something I have read about and seen on the news, but this type of thief pretends to be asleep on a nearby bench or table and waits some to unsuspecting tourists to sit down for lunch. Paris picnic areas and tables are places where people relax, eat lunch, rest their feet after lots of sightseeing and walking, and all they are thinking about is taking a break, getting some rest, or planning what to do next. Someone sleeping nearby hardly appears to be a threat, but this is the perfect situation for a ‘sleeping’ purse snatcher to assess their prey.

My Two Cents

Paris is such an easy place to scam and steal from people that you can be sure that you will see it at some point in your stay, but hopefully you will not be the victim. Please don’t let the thieves or scammers, who are no more than criminals, spoil your trip. One of the most common items stolen from people is their passport. If your passport is stolen you can be sure that the rest of your trip will be very stressful, running around trying to sort out how you are going to be able to get home, making police reports and waiting at the Consulate.

Paris is a beautiful city and the goal for your stay is to have an amazing time. My advice is to take note of all the different Paris Scams, Gypsy’s and Thieves listed above and be aware so you don’t get caught out being careless. I can tell you from experience, and I have been required to do this a number of times, the best way to avoid this behaviour being aimed at you is not to engage in any kind of eye contact and to avoid any verbal interaction other than the word NO!!!

 

30 Travel Experts Reveal One Day in Paris Itinerary

Do you only have one day in Paris? If so you can’t miss this advice from some of the top travel bloggers in the world!

I have asked 30 travel bloggers whom are listed in the top 150 of the best travel bloggers online a simple question.

If you only had one day in Paris How would you spend it?

As a long time blogger and traveler it has always been really beneficial for me to ask others travelers within online forums about things to do or itineraries for my next destination. It is for this reason that I decided the best way to plan a one day in Paris itinerary is to hear from some of the best minds in the Travel Industry.

Note: When you plan a trip to Paris we have an entire section to help you get the most out of Paris. For Details Start Here…

Things To Consider When Planning One Day in Paris

  • Time is of the essence however don’t let this take you away from stopping and soaking it all in! I would defiantly recommend a plan which is documented or written down however make sure you leave an extra 15-30 minutes more than you originally thought to just stop and look around to prevent spoiling the experience and feeling like you in a rush.
  • A guided tour or hop on hop off bus can be a great idea to help see more of Paris in a short time but don’t let this take up your whole day. There is more to Paris than just looking at monuments and tourist attractions.
  • This may not be for everyone but for most people I feel that it’s important to cover a few fundamentals to creating a good experience for any new traveler to Paris. You may not be able to cover them all nor may you be interested in covering them all however it’s a good exercise to see just what you want out the you trip.
  1. Attractions – You’re most likely going to want to see the main monuments and attractions in Paris, so try to make a plan which incorporates the other fundamentals into these monuments or make a good plan of attack which will get through them swiftly but not sacrifice your ideal experience.
  2. Entertainment – If you have time see a show such as the Moulin Rouge, Lido or Crazy Horse. Maybe even a dinner cruise with a live band.
  3. Romance – If your situation enables it, try to find some romance in this short time.
  4. Culture – you will encounter a lot of culture but make sure you don’t let it pass you buy when you in oar of the monument and attractions. A great place to find some is the Latin Quarter or Montmartre.
  5. Food – You have three meals in your one day itinerary so at least use one of them to grab some amazing french traditional food.
  6. Out of the Box – Maybe find an experience that is a little out of the box or different which could be a memorable experience. Possible the catacombs, a beautiful French cemetery and macaroon cooking classes just to name a few.

With all that said let’s check out advice from the experts…

How These Travel Bloggers Would Spend
One Day In Paris!

-Paul @ A Luxury Travel Blog

Paul“Since most of my trips tend to be with family, I’d be looking to do something that keeps the children entertained as well as us, but I’m pleased to say that wouldn’t mean a trip to Euro Disney. Instead, we’d perhaps start the day with a leisurely breakfast in a Parisian café, possibly sneaking in a pain au chocolate if nobody’s looking.

We’ve done the likes of the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre before, so would probably opt instead for something like the Cité des Sciences to fuel our boys’ enthusiasm for science. We’d follow that with a light lunch and perhaps a browse of an open air food market or stretch our legs in one of the city’s many parks.

Maybe even sneak a little ‘choux’ shopping before returning to our hotel. To really spoil ourselves, we’d finish the day with dinner at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon and an evening cruise on the Seine.”

-Gary @ Everything Everywhere

“I always tell people if you only have 1 day in a city, and it is your first time in a city, to just get on the hop-on, hop-off bus and go hit all the highlights. In Paris that would be the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triumph and Notre Dame. Maybe a short visit to one of the museums as well.

If you get all the stereotypical stops taken care of your first day, your next trip you can spend more time exploring the city and not feel like you have to hit the big attractions. “

Chris aussie nomad-Chris @ The Aussie Nomad

“I enjoy Paris the most when walking the streets, just admiring the view and stopping for a bite to eat wherever you find yourself.

My very first day abroad was in Paris and I walked for hours and just couldn’t get enough of it. So I’d recommend walking from Notre Dame all the way to the Eiffel Tower for a great overview of the big ticket attractions the city has to offer.

For those that like it a little quieter then head to Montmartre and enjoy the view from the steps of the famous Sacre Coeur. Then head off into the streets to seek out Moulin Rouge and stop into watch the painters at Place du Tertre.?

 

Laurance-Laurence @ Finding The Universe

“I was just in Paris recently, so this is an easy one!

If I had one day in Paris, I would start down by the Eiffel Tower, early in a bid to avoid the crowds, and get to the top for a great view of Paris. I’d then walk across the river to the Trocadero and get a different perspective on the Iron Lady, before wending my way along the Seine, possibly with a detour for the Arc de Triomphe, before dropping in at the Louvre.

To end the day, I’d head up to Montmartre for the best views of the sunset! All the classics, in one easy day of adventure.”

-Matt @ Nomadic MattMatt

Start at the top of the Champs-Élysées and see the Arc de Triomphe. The line is never long, and you’ll get sweeping views of the city. Walk down the Champ-Élysées through the Jardin des Tuileries. Stop and admire the exterior of the Louvre before continuing down Rue de Rivoli and crossing into the oldest part of the city. Visit the beautiful gothic church, Notre-Dame (get there early to avoid the lines to climb the bell tower). Follow that with visit the underground Roman ruins next door and then Saint-Chapelle Church, one of the oldest churches in the city (and my favorite).

Head south towards the Latin Quarter. While area is pretty touristy, if you get off the main drag you’ll find yourself in a labyrinth of alleys and café-lined squares far away from the local tourist hangouts. It’s a good way to get lost in a beautiful part of Paris and just explore. Visit the nearby Panthéon before heading west towards the Jardin du Luxembourg, where you can relax and watch Parisian life go by. There is amazing people watching here.

After your break, head north to see Saint-Sulpice. If you’re into The Da Vinci Code, look for the familiar symbols and hidden meanings throughout this church. Then walk west and visit the Eiffel Tower.

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Audrey Uncornered Market-Audrey @ Uncornered Market

“The answer to this question echoes what we did in Paris a few years ago that we highlighted at our website. I think Megan was surprised at how much we did in one weekend!

If we only had one day in Paris we would try and walk as much as we could to see both the big sites, as well as the neighbourhoods. We would start with the St. Germain neighbourhood and walk until we reached Île de la Cité and Notre Dame Cathedral. Then we’d continue to the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) to get a birdseye view of the city.

If you haven’t been to the Louvre, I would suggest going there next to first enjoy the Tuileries Gardens and then spend a couple of hours in the museum — be selective of what you want to see so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Then hop back on the metro and go to Barbes Rochechouart stop and walk the back streets to Sacre Coeur in Montmartre. Enjoy the sunset over the city. Then, finish off your night in Le Marais with drinks and dinner. “

 Brendan-Brendan @ Brendan’s Adventures

“As a travel photographer, I’d spend my day in Paris shooting as many photos as I possibly could.  I’d wake up while the city still slept and wait near the Louvre for the dawn light to hit.  Then, I’d slide over one of the bridges nearby and shoot the morning light lifting over the city.

Midday, I’d find a market, a park, or maybe hike up the steps to the Sacred Heart Cathedral and just people watch for a little while.  Then, when the evening light started to bake the city, I’d find a nice spot near the Eiffel Tower to photograph the building and the scene in front of it.

As darkness hits, I’d wander back down the Champs d’Elysse, grab a glass of the cheapest vine on the menu, and call it a day.”

 

Adam-Adam @ Travel of Adam

“Rather than just one day in Paris, I’d like to have one night in Paris. To wander the Latin Quarter, to duck into little alleyways, stroll along the Seine, see the Eiffel Tower at night. Besides the obvious romance of Paris, I’d like to explore the trendy clubs and little bars in Paris.

Parisians have always seemed so beautiful to me (maybe because of their great fashion and physique), so I imagine they’re just as beautiful on a nightclub dance floor!”

-Nora @ The Professional Hobo

Nora“I’ve been to Paris a few times, and it’s hard to envision only having one day to explore this most excellent city!

With only one day to explore, I would make a river cruise along the Seine an absolute priority. You cover a lot of territory, and the scenery is fantastic. If you go at night you can see the spectacular light show of the Eiffel Tower.

I would also walk the street market along rue Mouffetard to experience a slice of local life and the wonderful foods that define this magical city.”

Marina F-Marina @ Travel Experta

“Interestingly enough, if I only had one day in Paris, I would do scooter tour of all the most beautiful areas of Paris.

Drink wine throughout the day in the outdoor cafes while people watching and finishing off the day with a picnic beneath the Eiffel Tower.

This would be my ideal way to spend my time in Paris. I think I would do this if I had a week, and maybe add in a dinner cruise on the Seine.”

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA-Theodora @ Escape Artists

“Start the day with cafe au lait and croissants; wander around Montmartre in the morning, making sure to buy some cheese; lunch at Chartier, afternoon at the Louvre, dinner at l’Atelier.”

Laura-Laura @ Travel O Cafe

“My day in Paris would start with a stroll on the Seine River banks, lazily flipping through old books and prints.

Then I would cross Pont de l’Archeveche to Notre Dame, and pique into others people’s love lives on the way by taking photos of all the love locks hanging heavily from the bridge. Paris is so romantic!

There are some nice cafés serving delicious crepés next to Notre Dame, and I would make a point out of trying them out.

Next I would stop by Rodin Museum. This is my favorite small museum in the French capital. The atmosphere is just so relaxed and elegant here!

I would spend the rest of the afternoon on Champs de Mars, nibbling on Pierre Hermé macaroons, or French cheese, or both. And I would wash everything down with Champagne. Nothing compares with a Paris picnic by Eiffel Tower.”

Eventually, I would end the day at Moulin Rouge, watching French cancan in a dazzling setting, and go to sleep fully away and day dream of Paris the whole night.

Sabrina-Sabrina @ Just One Way Ticket

“I guess I would try to get up on a high place to have a great view over the city and get some great shots of the Eiffel Tower. Besides that, I would just get lost in the streets and hopefully find some inexpensive restaurants.”

-Steph @ Twenty Something Travel

Stephanie“Although I’ve never been to Paris, I know exactly what I would do on my dream day (aside from eating many, many croissants). I’m a huge book nerd so I would definitely spend some time browsing Shakespeare and Co.

I would also love to visit Pere Lachaise and photograph the beautiful tombstones. It’s a little macabre but I would also love to visit the Paris Catacombs. Then I would relax with a dry-aged steak and a glass of French wine. Perfection!”

Melvin-Melvin @ Travel Dudes

“I advise every traveller to get lost! This does not mean that you don’t need to come unprepared. Do get the info you need from blogs, Twitter and other travel sites. Then when you arrive start walking! Have a map with you, online or offline and from time to time check where you are and what direction you are interested to head. Then start walking that direction without going 100% for the map’s route.

You will see that you will find the main sights like that as well, but the more you walk, the more other things you will explore and find. This could be shops, parks, people, but as well sights which you might not have added on your list. Take good walking shoes and enjoy little breaks in cafes or parks! If you see something of interest at the next corner, walk there instead focusing on your final destination.”

Audrey-Audrey @ That Backpacker

“If I only had one day in Paris, I would likely spend it in Montmartre. It may be a little touristy, but I love the artsy feel of this neighbourhood. I’d start out by climbing the steps up to the Basilica du Sacré Cœur for a nice overview of the city.

From there I’d wander the little cobbled streets to watch painters at work and to pick up a few souvenirs. There would also be a mandatory stop at a little cafe for a cup of café au lait and a sweet treat in the form of pain au chocolat. And the rest of the afternoon would be spent visiting some of the smaller art galleries in the area.”

Chris Amaturetraveler-Chris @ Amateur Traveler

“I would grab a croissant for breakfast and spend the morning in one of the art museums. My favourites are the Musée D’Orsay and L’Orangerie. I would have lunch at a cafe and take some time to watch the world go by. In the afternoon I would go up the Eiffel Tower or visit Notre Dame. In the late afternoon I would go up to Montmartre and stroll around, catching dinner at some cafe with views of the lights of the city.”

Turner-Turner @ Around The World In 80 Jobs

“Paris is one of those cities that has so many things going on that it would take a lifetime to see/live/experience them all. You can easily get caught up running around trying to explore other people’s recommendations, but for me, I would rather let spontaneity and adventure rue the day.

Paris has a very navigable metro system that covers almost the entire city, as such, I would say pick one day a sort of ‘Choose your Own Adventure’ day – grab a day pass on the metro and just get off at random stops.

Let fate pick your destiny for the day. Get out, explore new neighbourhoods, sit down at cafes, adventure down random allies. Do you know how guide books were first created? People going off and exploring the world on their own – so instead of reading the adventure or living someone else’s, make your own.”

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA-Christy @ Ordinary Traveler

“My favourite way to explore Paris is to eat and drink French. La Fee Verte (The Green Fairy) is a bistro and absinthe bar just off Voltaire metro station near the Bastille, where as well as tasting more than ten types of absinthe in the traditional Parisian way — sugar lumps and all – you can find good, reasonably priced French food in authentic 1920s, art-deco surroundings.”

Andy-Andy @ Plum Deluxe

“Paris always reminds me of my mom – it was always her favorite city, she event spent a few days there the week before she passed away.

So, if I had a day in Paris, I’d spend it at her favorite places.  A couple of hours wandering Musée d’Orsay. Sipping coffee and enjoying a mont blanc at Angelina’s bakery.

Walking along the Seine exploring the art for sale, then admiring that new piece of art while sitting for a spell in the gardens. Then I’d spend the rest of the afternoon just walking through the avenues and neighborhoods.

Many of the things that make Paris a cliche also make it a great place to be – the cobblestone streets, the fashionable people, the adorable cafes and proliferation of good wine, bread, and cheese.    Take it slow and enjoy it – feel it.”

-Nancy @ Family On BikesNancy

“If I only had one day in Paris, I would skip the Eiffel Tower – anybody can see that! Instead, I would wander the back streets, seeing how Parisians live.

I would hang out at a coffee shop, drinking café au lait and eating pain au chocolat. Strike up a conversation with a couple of locals and learn about their lives. And one final thing – I would insist on carrying a baguette with me all day long. That’s the way the French do it, no?”

-Annette @ Bucket List JourneyAnnette

“One day in Paris would begin with a freshly baked croissant at Du Pain et Des Idées, then heading over to Notre Dame Cathedral to attend an unforgettable morning mass. It is a truly powerful experience, even though I am not overly religious and don’t speak an ounce of French.

Next on the itinerary would be popping into a street side bistro for a prix fixe lunch, Jeanne B in Montmartre would do nicely. This must be followed by a unique flavoured and crunchy macaroon at Pierre Hermé. My macaroon choice would possibly be a Truffle Blanche & Noisette, white truffle and hazelnut or the Grand Format Mogador with milk chocolate & passionfruit.

After lunch, I would head over to the spooky Catacombs to walk through the eerie labyrinth of remains in this ossuary.

Dinner would absolutely have to be at Frenchie restaurant or at the very least their wine bar. Following dinner I’d make my way towards the Eiffel Tower where I could spend the rest of the evening watching as its lights sparkle up the night.”

Barbara-Barbara @ Hole In The Donut

“First, let me say that Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world, and spending only one day there would be an absolute sin – but, if I had only one day I’d begin early in the morning with a visit to the fresh market on the Rue des Martyrs.

After filling up on fresh fruit and artisan cheese, followed by a leisurely stop for pastries at one of the boulangeries that line the street, I’d hop on a bateaux mouches (boat) to see the City of Light from the Seine. I’d then head for the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood for a late lunch of crepes, followed by stops at several of the chocolatiers who make their home in this historic Left Bank neighborhood.

After dark, I’d do a walking tour from Saint-Germain to the Arc de Triomphe, by reversing the direction of the route I outlined (with map) in a post on my website.”

LisaLisa @ We Said Go Travel

“I loved my time in Paris! I spent time in France with a friend who I met on cruise ships (I worked on board for seven years!)

If I only had one day in Paris, I would be sad because there is so much to do! I would return to Versailles and I would eat crepes! I would stroll along the river and drink hot chocolate and plan for more time in Paris!”

Francis-Francis @ Francis Tapon

“What to do in Paris if you have one day depends greatly how well you know the city. If it’s your first time, it’s natural that you’ll want to see the city’s icons: the Tour Eiffel, the Louvre, and L’Arch de Triomphe.

If you’ve already done that, then make sure to see Versailles and Mont Matre.

If you’ve checked off all the major tourist spots (or you hate tourist spots), then lose yourself along the Canal Saint-Martin Neighborhood or the Rue Montorgueil.”

Dave and Veronica-David and Veronica @ Gypsy Nester

“If we only had one day in Paris I’d say we would forego trying to take in everything, there is just way too much, so we would simply absorb as much of the feel as we could.

Stroll along the river, explore some out of the way back streets, and try to find a neighborhood cafe away from the tourist areas. A little bread, a little wine, some interesting dishes with lots of incredibly rich sauce… what’s not to love?”

Raymond-Raymond @ Man On The Lam

“Since my site focuses on the quirky and offbeat side of travel, I’d have to recommend seeing some of the more curious attractions Paris has to offer.  The Museum of Vampires and Imaginary Monsters for the weird, the Catacombs of Paris for the spooky, and the Museum of Magic for the wonder are a few can’t miss sites in my opinion. “

-Ben @ Paris By Train

ben“I have a few suggestions depending on the season/weather. These aren’t full-day itineraries, but rather, personal suggestions of one or two things to mix into a full day.

Winter: a stroll along Blvd Haussmann near Printemps to view the Christmas displays
Spring: walking through city parks Jardin du Luxembourg and Le Jardin des Tuileries to enjoy the new, green foliage
Summer: an evening picnic enjoying the sunset on the banks of the Seine just east of Notre Dame Cathedral on the left (south) bank for the best angle
Fall: drinks sitting on the edge of Canal St. Martin near Pont Dieu (Cork & Cavan offers beers on tap for takeaway)”

-Yvonne @ Just Travelous

I would start my day with breakfast in the famous Café de la Paix (Yes, it’s expensive, but totally worth it to get this “uh, I’m sitting on a table where Marlene Dietrich was sitting too-feeling”), then I would go for a walk from Le Louvre to the Eiffel tower and make fun of the other tourists taking funny selfie picture (just to end up taking a selfie myself).

In the afternoon I will try to get lost around Rue des Martyr and have a coffee or two in one of many cafés in this area. For sunset I would go to Sacré-Cœur (and have a chat with the lovely peanut sellers there). And I would end the day in a bar at Canal St Martin (and watch the cute waiters).

CazCaz @ yTravel Blog

“My daughter, Kalyra, is dying to go to Paris so I asked her what she would like to do. She would love to see some fashion shows and visit the Eiffel Tower. After climbing the tower, I would definitely spend awhile enjoying a picnic in the grounds underneath.

I know Kalyra would love the Champs Elysee, and I would love to see her face watching the traffic chaos at the Arch De Triomphe roundabout. I’d also take her to walk around Sacre Cour, one of my favourite places in Paris to wander. A boat ride along the Seine would be a fantastic way to finish the day.”

JadeJade @ Our Oyster

Before I had my little boy, if I had one day in Paris I would probably spend the majority of it at The Louvre. During my last visit, I spent the better part of a day there and still only saw a small fraction of the works on display.

But now that I travel with a toddler I would probably spend my time seeking out quieter, greener places. Maybe a day trip to Versaille where he can run around outside until he is exhausted, and once he falls asleep in the pram Mom and Dad can sneak inside the palace for a quick look.

OH MY GOD!

I would really like to thank all of the bloggers who participated to this huge Paris Journey project. I know for sure that this will benefit readers for a long time to come.

Whether you’re coming from London or somewhere else in France these experts have supplied us with a lot of things to see and do if you are only in Paris for a short time. When it comes down to it there are a lot of places to visit and you won’t cover them all in one day. So be sure to plan well and ask yourself what exactly do you want to gain out of a trip to Paris.

Have an amazing trip and please check out some of the great info on the websites of the participating bloggers above!

The Best Paris Shuttle Service Reviews

We will attempt to find out which one is really the best Paris shuttle service by simply looking at the data available. Along the way I will also give you a few helpful tips which will help you before booking a shuttle service in Paris.

NOTE: Skip to the end to find out who won the best shuttle service in Paris.

What I have done is chosen twelve of the most popularly used Paris shuttle bus or van services. I then asked them a list of question in order to really compare the data and put it all in one place. I wanted to look at operation hours, customer service response, price and flexibility. Unfortunately this case study can’t take into account personal experience as I have not traveled with all of these services. However I would love to hear from you if you have!

Travelers in Paris are usually looking for one of four shuttle options which are Charlles De Gaulle airport, Orly airport, Beauvais airport or Euro Disneyland. However I have based the review more about CGD and Orly as this will give a general overview of weather the service is worth using.

The Question I asked are written below. I will be making my decision as to which service i would use depending on the answers i receive. please check the end of the post to see who is our choice.

[stextbox id=”info”]1. What form of payments do you take and do you take American express?
2. What is the Earliest you can get me from Montmartre to CGD?
3. What is the Earliest you can get me from Montmartre to Orly?
4. How often are you at these airports?
5. How many people can you fit?
6. How much from Montmartre to CGD Airport?
7. How much from Montmartre to Orly Airport?[/stextbox]

Shuttle Services I Contacted

www.parisairportransfer.com
www.parishuttle.com
www.paris-shuttle.com
www.yellowvanshuttle.com
en.supershuttle.fr
Sayshuttle.com
www.parishuttle-lowcost.com
www.greyshuttle.com
www.paris-airport-shuttle.com
www.parisshuttleservice.com
super-star-travel.com
www.1shuttle.com
www.paris-airport-shuttle.fr
www.first-shuttle.com

 

Company Replies
Out of the 14 Paris shuttle services that i contacted i herd back from 9 of them. two of these seam to be affiliates or referral companies and 1 of them is a company which i did not contact whoever was refered to by one of the above URL’s.

Lest Sort Threw The Good And Bad Apples

[stextbox id=”grey” caption=” Super Star Travel (www.super-star-travel.com)” collapsing=”false” collapsed=”false”]

1. You can either pay online with credit card (including Amex) after filling in the form or you can pay directly to the driver with cash or credit card (including Amex)
2. We do transfers 24/7
3. We do transfers 24/7
4. We do transfers to both airports everyday
5. Up to 8 passengers per vehicles
6. It depends on how many passengers from 55€ for 1 to 3 passengers to 90€ for 8 passengers
7. It depends on how many passengers from 55€ for 1 to 3 passengers to 90€ for 8 passengers
[/stextbox]

Service Options – Private shuttle only, no share option
Email Response Time – I received an email reply within about 30 minutes
Helpfulness – I dont know why many of the other could not just simply reply like this. short and to the point. Great reply in my opinion!
Operation Hours – Perfect!
Price – Good for a private transfer service

My Thoughts: I should point out that these guys are a private transfer service only and it would really only be worth using if you have 2 or more people to transport as its only $60 via taxi to most places in paris from CGD. However if you want a private service these guys sound great. they tick all the boxes except for a shared shuttle option.

 [stextbox id=”grey” caption=”Say Shuttle Service (SayShuttle.com)” collapsing=”false” collapsed=”false”]

1. The client can pay by cash or by Credit card ( VISA or MASTERCARD)
2. We operate 7h/7 and 24h/24.
3. We operate 7h/7 and 24h/24
4. Every day!
5. We use 8-seater minivans. So 1 to 8 people can fit.
6. We only do private services. From Paris (including Montmartre) to CDG, the qu0te is 69 EUR per way up to 8 people aboard.
7. From Paris (including Montmartre) to ORLY, the quote is 69 EUR per way up to 8 people aboard.
8. From Paris (including Montmartre) to ORLY, the quote is 69 EUR per way up to 8 people aboard.

Please Note Adjusted Prices:
For 1 to 3 people, it is 59 euros
4 to 6 : 69e
7 people : 79e
8 people : 89e
[/stextbox]

Service Options – Private shuttle only, no share option
Email Response Time – I got an email within 24 hours
Helpfulness – Straight short and to the point reply. cant get more helpful than that
Operation Hours – all day every day!
Price – On the high side for a private transfer service if you only have 1-3 people however very cheap if you have more than 4 people

My Thoughts: I would use these guys if you are traveling with 4 or more people. if you only have 1-3 people then there are cheaper options which also have all the bells and whistles included.

[stextbox id=”warning” caption=”Paris Shuttle Low Cost (www.parishuttle-lowcost.com)” collapsing=”false” collapsed=”false”]Hi There

you can pay with credit card and our service can also do 24/24 hours transfer to the train station and 7 people from paris orly to be euro; 80
thanks
eva
[/stextbox]

My Thoughts – So this was an interesting Reply! I am not going to waist my time rating this one as i was hardly given a quality reply and when i made some follow up questions i simply had my emails bounce back to me. I also had to clean up this message you see in the yellow box above. prior to looking like what you see there was a jumbled up mess of html which i was sent via email.

NOTE: Dont let the name “Paris Shuttle Low Cost” fool you. these guys are far from cheap. I looked at their shared shuttle prices and they were the same cost as a taxi and very close to a private shuttle.

[stextbox id=”grey” caption=”Super Shuttle Paris (SuperShuttle.fr)

” collapsing=”false” collapsed=”false”]
Dear customer,
Thanks to your kind interest,
For your request,

1.We take a banking prepayment and, certainly, the American express too.
2-3. We take the transfer to any hour, compared to the demand of our customers and their needs.
4. We are at these airports 24h/24h and 7/7
5. A van can take up to 8 people
6. Montmartre to CDG : – private 99 € per van (8 people maximum)
– shared 27€ per pax
7. Montmartre to ORLY : – private 99€ (8 people maximum)
– shared 25€ per pax
8. Montmartre to Beauvais: – private 165€ per van (8 people maximum)
– shared 35€ per pax
9. Montmartre to Disneyland : – private 99€ per van ( only private van)

If you are interest of one of these, I invite you to see the website or call the reservation center 08 117 07 812
I hope to see you among the clients Supershuttle!!
Have a Great Day!!
[/stextbox]

Service Options – Shared and Private
Email Response Time – Great email response. Ticked all the boxes and replyed within 24h
Helpfulness – Very helpful and professional only had to email these guys once.
Operation Hours – 24/7
Price – Private and shared transport are on the high side when compared to others.

My Thoughts:  It was very refreshing to recieve such a warm and professional respones to my letter and if this was based just on that aspect i would choose them however they are on the higher price side of thing so i would probaly not choose them.

[stextbox id=”grey” caption=”Grey Shuttle Service (www.greyshuttle.com)” collapsing=”false” collapsed=”false”]Bonjour

– Our rate for a private minivan to Roissy CDG or Orly Airport from Paris hotel is depending of the number of people in your party.
– Payment can be VISA – MASTERCARD – AMERICAN EXPRESS -BANK TRANSFER or CASH.
– All charge and tax included except gratuity directly to the driver. (Including specific seats for children and baby if requested)
– If you agree i will send you our reservation form.

We need your flight numbers in order to check availability with our planning. Can you tell us with which KEY WORDS you find us on Internet ?
[/stextbox]

Service Options – private only
Email Response Time – Fast email response in 24h
Helpfulness – not that helpful and not very informative
Operation Hours – anytime
Price – 69E for up to 4 people and 99E for 8 people (Average Prices)

My Thoughts: The Prices are fairly standard for private however there are cheaper options that also have the same amount of boxes ticked.

[stextbox id=”grey” caption=” Paris shuttle Service (www.parisshuttleservice.com)” collapsing=”false” collapsed=”false”]

-We accept master card and visa
-We work all day
Me: You did not answer my questions?
It depends how many persons are you
Me: Could be anywhere from 1-8 people I’m still planning the trip and getting numbers.
No Reply
[/stextbox]

Service Options – Shared but no Orly airport listed on site. Private shuttles only run to and from Disneyland.
Email Response Time – within 24h
Helpfulness – Not helpful at all and very unprofessional
Operation Hours –Limited
Price – These guys are the cheapest so far 23E one Person on a shared bus to CGD

My Thoughts:

I would only choose these guys if i was really strapped for cash. they have limited serices, poor customer service, and honestly there website looks like a 5 year onld build it. however this is the cheapest paris airport shuttle.

[stextbox id=”warning” caption=”Paris Shuttle (ParisShuttle.com) or Yellow Van Shutle (www.yellowvanshuttle.com)”]

1. We accept American Express; if you book a private one you have to pay in advance by credit card on our website. For a shared one you can also pay cash to the driver.
2/3. There are shuttles starting from 04.00 am for Charles de Gaulle and Orly
4. We have shuttles at the airport everyday holidays included
5. We can fit up to 8 people in one van
6/7. the price depends on the number of people and the type of transfer: shared or private
ME: Can you please give me both shared and private prices?
-No Reply
[/stextbox]

Note: The reason i have bundled these two together is that they are eaither the same company and opperating under two websites or they

Service Options – Shared and Private
Email Response Time – 48h to get back to me
Helpfulness – fairly helpful and professional
Operation Hours – shuttles start fairly early at 4am
Price – 38E Shared and 83E for 1-4 persons private

My Thoughts:

customer service was fairly quick to reply, the prices are fairly competitive however it make me wonder if these guys are an affiliate in some way or which site is actually running the show. not a bad choice for 2 people shared but 1 person shared you can definitely get cheaper.

[stextbox id=”grey” caption=” Blue Van Shuttle Paris (http://www.bluvan.fr)” collapsing=”false” collapsed=”false”]

1. We accept payment by credit card or transfer before the service (but no american express).
2.& 3. We don’t have time. The driver will pick you up at the time that you want but you have to book in advance.
4. Our drivers go everyday in these airports. They are in the airport when we have a booking in these places.
5. There is not a maximum of people. You can make a booking for a group if you want.
6.& 7. The rate depend of the number of people and if you want a private or a shared shuttle.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need more information.
Best regards
Fanny
[/stextbox]

Service Options – Private and shared
Email Response Time – Within a few hours
Helpfulness – Answered the questions fairly well but gave no idea as to how much the fares were.
Operation Hours – 24/7
Price – 26E shared and private is 55E for 1-2 people plus 73E for 3-4

My Thoughts: Wow! I am wraped with these guys shared shuttle prices.. however you need to check the hours of thich you are arriving. if you leave or arrive between certain times then it is more expensive. Private shuttles are just about on par with other services. it all depends on how many you are traveling with to get a good price on private. for instance it is no more than 60E for a taxi to CGD which can fit 3 people. so i would not use these guys if i had 3 people on a private car.

[stextbox id=”warning” caption=”Paris Airport Transfer (www.parisairportransfer.com) or Paris VIP Limo (parisviplimo.com)” collapsing=”false” collapsed=”false”]

1. If you book online you can pay by credit card we accept all credits cards. (Visa, mastercard, American express). Our website is secure, we do not save information’s about your credit card. Or you can pay the same day cash to the driver.

2-3. If you take a shuttle service like you share a 8 seaters with other passengers pick time will be 3 hours before your flight. However if you take a private express service or private service you can choose your pick up time.

4. You must book before a car, because we are always full and can not provide a few hours a car before your flight or address. We do transfers to many airports (Beauvais, Charles de gaulle airport and Orly).

5. We do not have a number of passengers, because we have a large fleet of cars and if you are 15, 20,30,50 passengers we can provide you a bus.

6. Shared Service : 39€ for 2 passengers/way/including luggages, fees and tip. You will share the car (a 8 seater minivan) with other passengers. Reservation needed
• Private express : 59€ for 1 to 3 passengers/ by way/including luggages, fees and tip. Driver will meet you at the meeting point indicated by phone. Reservation needed
• Private (Meet and greet) 69€ for 1 to 3 persons/by way/including luggage’s, fees and tip to the driver. Driver will meet you at the exit of the luggage’s area. Reservation needed

7. how much from Montmartre to Orly? You can consult our prices in our website.

[/stextbox]

Note: This is another funny one. when i messaged “Paris Airport Transfers” i constantly kept getting a message back from “Paris VIP Limo”. Im not sure but i dont think these guys are the same company from the different responses i got. i think that Paris Airport Transfers is a shuttle customer referral company and you get sent to “Paris VIP Limo”, however i could be proven wrong.

Service Options – Shared or Private
Email Response Time – within a few hours
Helpfulness – very helpful however i had to message a few times to figure out who they were
Operation Hours –When ever your flight is scheduled
Price – Shared Prices are not that cheap however Private prices are fairly good if you have 3 people.

My Thoughts:

These guys seem fairly professional from their emails. i would probably only consider using these guys if i had 3 people for a private tour. I am still unsure as to weather they are a referral company or if they are own both websites. the reason i think this is because on site is really professional and the VIP site is not. plus they have not contact form on the VIP site.

[stextbox id=”alert” caption=”No Reply!” collapsing=”false” collapsed=”false”] Unfortunately after trying to contact these shuttle companies i had no reply after 2 week. i messaged them all three times however received nothing.

Paris Airport Shuttle (www.paris-airport-shuttle.com)
1 Shuttle (www.1shuttle.com)
Paris Airport Shuttle France (www.paris-airport-shuttle.fr)
First Shuttle (www.first-shuttle.com)
Paris Shuttle (www.paris-shuttle.com)

I am not in a position to comment on these 5 services however i think that if a professional business cant reply to 3 attempts of contact over 2 weeks then they dont deserve customers. [/stextbox]

 

Best Shuttle Service Winners

[stextbox id=”custom” caption=”The best Paris Shuttle Services Are…” collapsing=”false” collapsed=”false”]Best Shared Shuttle Service – Blue Van Shuttles (www.bluvan.fr)
This is because of there customer service, helpfulness, opening hours and rock bottom prices at only 26Euro for 1 person and 2 persons 38Euro. (travel time may fluctuate prices) The only bad thing is they dont take American express but still above the competition with this downfall.

Best Private Shuttle Service 1-3 Persons – Super Star Travel (www.super-star-travel.com)
Once again these guys messaged back quick, have good prices in the 1-3 person price range, very helpful and professional, all opening hours, take almost any form of payment. (all boxes ticked) See independent review here…

Best Private Shuttle Service 4-8 Persons -Say Shuttle Service (SayShuttle.com)
Once again these guys tick all of the boxes as far as the examined criteria. I was really amazed when they told me it was only 69Euro for a private van of up to 8 people. that is really cheap compared to its competitors.

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Alternative Services: There is also another shuttle service that my suit your need however I did not review them as they are very different from the traditional shuttle. They are VEA shuttle service in paris. this is basically a big bus that has a time table to stop as specific hotels and locations to and from the airports or disneyland. it covers the inner and outer suburbs of paris and is very cheap however it may or may not suit your timetable or drop off locations..

I hope this has been helpfull and please let us know you thougth and or expeirences…

The Best Formula 1 Hotel Paris Review

Not only are we going to cover which are the best F1 hotels in Paris but we will also be looking at a few other HotelF1 chains just outside of Paris which might interest you more.

How many Formula 1 hotels in Paris?

There are upwards of 9 different formula 1 hotels in and around Paris however if you are wanting to be as close as possible to the action or the sightseeing then there is probably only 3 or 4 that you would consider staying at.

The hotels that will be mentioned below are all scattered around the Peripherique of Paris. The Peripherique is a highway which circles all the way around Paris and socially almost acts like a border. What I mean by this is that typically if you are living near the Peripherique then you can almost guarantee that the rate of poverty and crime are increased. So although it is cheap to stay they are not in very good areas.

HotelF1 Paris Porte de Montreuil

290-302, Rue Etienne Marcel
ZAC Eugène Barlain
93170 BAGNOLET
FRANCE

HotelF1 Paris Porte de Montmartre

29, Rue du Docteur Babinski
75018 PARIS
FRANCE

HotelF1 Paris Porte de Chatillon

23, Ave de la Porte de Châtillon
75014 PARIS
FRANCE

With this said these are the closest formula 1 hotels to the centre of Paris. There used to be 2 others smack bang in the middle of Paris but for some reason or another they have changed ownership and are no longer F1 hotels.

Formula 1 hotel

Airport and Versailles F1 Hotels

I have found 4 other hotels just outside of Paris which may interest you. One of them is close to CGD Airport, two of them are close to Orly Airport and the other is close to the Palace De Versailles.

HotelF1 Roissy Aéroport CDG PN 2
335, rue de la Belle Etoile
ZAC Paris Nord 295974
France

HotelF1 Villeneuve le Roi Orly
Rue des Carrières Morillon
94290 VILLENEUVE LE ROI
FRANCE

HotelF1 Rungis Orly
7 rue du Pont des Halles
94656 RUNGIS CEDEX
FRANCE

HotelF1 Plaisir Versailles
36 Rue Pierre Curie
78370 Plaisir
France

Formula1 Amenities

Throughout these individual formula 1 hotels listed above are a number of different amenities. However they all have three things in common. The first one is that they are all pet friendly. I find this quite unusual because it’s really hard to find anything pet friendly in Australia.

The second similarity is that they all have wheel chair access. I find this also quite unusual because after living in Paris for a few years you will notice an extreme lack of wheel chair access in the city.
The last similarity is that they all have WIFI available. Don’t miss understand me when I say they have WIFI. In most cases you will have to pay to access their WIFI so possibly a Starbucks or McDonalds might be a better option.

Why Are F1 Hotels So Cheap In Paris

The first and largest reason for how cheap they are is the location. There are no F1 hotels near the centre or even inside the peripherique of Paris. They are all located on the perimeter or some are even further out than this. With this said they are all surrounded by metro stations and Shopping centres.
Another reason for the price is because it is truly budget accommodation. As much as they are clean, fresh and well painted some of them don’t have TV’s and in most cases they do not have internal bathrooms. So if you need to go to the toilet or a shower you will have to go down the hall to the shared service.

Time From F1 hotels to Centre of Paris

In order to help you decide which hotel would be the best to stay in for travel time and convenience purposes I have researched the times it takes to get from hotel to the Louvre Rivoli metro station in the centre of Paris. If you want to do the calculations yourself check out the Public Transport Calculator at the RATP Website. (Paris Transport Calculator)

Paris Porte de Chatillon Time to Centre of Paris

The Journey from Porte d’ Orleans to Louvre Rivoli is approximately 25 minute trip in total. Its approximately 5 minute walk to train station 15 minute metro to metro Chattlet and then a 5 minute walk again to Louvre Rivoli.

Other pros and cons: some other reason why you may or may not choose this F1 hotel is that it backs onto nice Parisian cemetery. Maybe I’m weird bit I love the cemeteries in Paris with all the large tombs and history. In my opinion it is also in the nicest area of the three hotels and is only a tram ride away from some very nice parks. It is also closer to the Latin Quarter than Port De Montmartre however on the flip side it is much further away from Montmartre. So it all depends on what you want to see more.

A large bonus for this hotel is that its only 3 tram stops away from Cite Universitaire RER station which goes to Charles De Gaul Airport and also goes to Airport Orly.

Porte de Montmartre Time to Centre of Paris

This trip is 26 minutes in total. Walk to metro Port De Saint Ouen and catch line thirteen to Saint Lazar to then walk from there to Chattlet. Then just another short walk to Louvre Rivoli.

Other pros and cons: It is nice and close to Montmartre which has amazing restarants, the Moulin Rouge, Sacre Coeur and a great artists area where you can have a portrait painted. On the negative side of things it is a lot further away from the Latin Quarter and a little further away to the get to the Notre Dame. Also it is in the same building as large Paris supermarket chain Monoprix.

Porte de Montreuil Time to Centre of Paris

This trip is 22 minutes in total. Catch a tram from Porte de Montreuil to port de Vincennes then catch line one from metro Porte de Vincennes direct to Louvre Rivoli.

Other pros and cons: This is probably my least favourite out of the three F1 hotels in Paris. I know this is not a great area and I would not want my wife walking late at night in this neighbourhood. Another slight negative about this hotel is that it’s probably the furthest away from a metro station of the three hotels. However it is only about a 10 minute walk. Also it may be worth mentioning that Local bus 351 goes direct to CDG airport from here.

What Is The Best Formula 1 Hotel In Paris?

For sightseeing and holiday purposes I would have to say that the F1 in Porte de Chatillon is my choice. Yes it might be a bit further away from Montmartre but if you’re going to go up there you need a full day to truly enjoy it anyway. When I was there I loved the ease of the tram system even though it only runs around the outside of Paris it can be quite handy. All of the train seam to take close to around the same time as each other and this route would be the easiest however not the quickest.

As for the four HotelF1 that are way outside Paris well this is simply a location choice. If you want to be close to Orly, CDG or Versailles then you don’t have much of an option. It’s either this or pay extra money for a more upmarket hotel.

Best Supermarket in Paris

Since living in Paris we have moved a few times and along the way have used all of the Paris supermarket chains. There are some that have great value but not great produce, and then there are others that have great produce but are a little more expensive. Let me Guide you to be able to choose from a list of the best supermarket in Pairs!

Depending on where you are situated will most likely narrow you choice down considerably. Usually where ever you are living you will be surrounded by two of the major chains that are listed below and from there you will easily be able to decide on a favourite. As for the Best supermarket in Paris, this will come down to whether you think cost of food is better or quality of food is better.

Something you should be aware of before you head to the grocery store in Paris is that you will have to pay for bags at most Paris supermarkets. It got to the point where we purchased a small canvas trolley with wheels.

G20
The supermarket chain G20 is open from Monday to Saturday. Most of the G20 stores have the possibility of delivery if for a small fee however we spent over 100euro one time and they gave us free delivery. They usually have a small rang of option however are for the most part on the cheap side.

Picard
picardThe supermarket Picard in Paris is by far our favourite place to shop. We practically lived of their cheese pasta and frozen meals. When you walk into the Picard grocery store you will notice the sudden chill in the air. This is because all of their meals are frozen food. If you are as lazy as we were sometimes then you will love it. It is by far cheaper to buy fresh produce and make you meals from scratch but I was quite happy to pay a few extra euros to have it quick and microwavable.

Franprix
FranprixIn Paris the supermarket Franprix is usually quite small and don’t have much variety as far as brands go. They usually have what every you need however if your picky about what brand you choose then you may strike out. As far as price goes I would say it’s on par with Monoprix but a little more expensive than Carrefour. Sometimes you will even notice an extremely small corner store which is branded Franprix. These have not much selection and are quite pricy however can be good as a last resort if other stores are not open.

carrefourCarrefour
The range of products is very close to the range you will find a Monoprix but we always found that out shopping bill was less whenever we shopped here. So this is our Shopping market of choice. After shopping here we would then stop by Picard on the way home to grab some frozen stuff. Prior to 2012 the Carrefour supermarket chain in Paris was very militaristic with every store having exactly the same products. However in 2012 they employed a new boss at the Carrefour headquarters. His immediate change was to give more choice to the individual mangers of each store to choose specific foods which correlates with the local cuisine. So depending on which store you go to you may see a little difference in products.

Monoprix
MonoprixThe Monoprix supermarket chain in Paris is by far the best around. They have the largest variety of food, brands and gourmet products. A full service Monoprix will have a butcher and so forth. In saying that they are the most expensive as well not by a lot but are marginally expensive overall and when you do a large shop you will see the difference in your end price. You will also find small Monop supermarkets which are more like a small Franprix.

Dia vs Lidl vs Leader Price
LidlThe reason I have listed the Lidl supermarket, Dia Supermarket and Leader price supermarkets together is because they are all chains of discount supermarkets in France. They can be extremely crowded at times and have large lines for people trying to capitalize on discounts. Lidl is the cheapest all round choice out of the three with Dia at a close second. You are more likely to find a Dia in your neighbourhood as there are more than 90 spread out around the city of Paris.

The difference between Lidl and Dia is that Lidl always has low set prices compared to Dia which offers amazing discounts however these discounts are only temporary. Leading price is worth mentioning as they have just about the same range of foods as the other two mentioned but are not quite as cheap however if it’s the only one in your neighbourhood then maybe you could try it out.

Small Shopping Markets and Corner Stores
You will notice on every corner and most streets there are corner stores which may be open later than most other stores and have quite a small range of food. In fact usually they have a larger rang of alcohol than food. However we mostly used these stores when they were more convenient for example if we were walking past on the way home or if all the stores were closed and they were our last resort. If you are in the neighbourhood long enough you can build up a good relationship with the owner and it makes the experience much more enjoyable.

Tip: When you visit most of these stores don’t expect a very good reception as they are just minimum wage workers and probably really wanting to go home and to make it worst you probably don’t speak much French. One of the things I found quite interesting is that in most of these stores they have a seat that the shop attendants are sitting on while hey process your order. I just found this quite strange as I come from Australia and here you always get a person who is over the top happy and they would never be allowed to sit down while they are packing your bags.

So I will let you make up your own mind as to which is the best supermarket in Paris and hopefully I have given you enough information to make an educated decision. As for my wife and I we mostly liked to do our large shops at Carrefour or Monoprix if Carrefour was not open. We also loved to use Picard as much as we could. If it was past closing time then we would simply find a corner store and pay a high price for very small range but I guess beggars can’t be choosers.

About Us

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Megan and I definitely have a passion for travel, however along the way we fell in love with the amazing City of Lights, Paris.

Megan and I met each other and instantly knew it was meant to be. In about a year we were living in Paris together in a 24m square studio apartment with two small windows in the centre of Montmartre.

For our first year in Paris there was no better place to live. We were smack-bang in the middle of the most cultural and stereotypical French neighbourhood in Paris. Megan started her job at the Moulin Rouge, and I was able to meet a fellow Aussie who was living in Paris that offered me work as a scooter tour guide.

How Do I Know Paris So Well?

As mention before I was a scooter tour guide and had to know a lot about the city in order to get some good tips from customers. Also I had a free run of the scooter after I finished work each day, so Megan and I found ourselves just driving without a purpose to get lost and discover new areas of the city.

Due to my semi-professional basketball career, in Paris I also landed a gig as a player and the Coach of a French basketball team, even though I knew exactly zero about the French language. Here I made some amazing friends and really got to know what Parisians were all about.

Although Megan was working 6 days a week, we found time in her busy schedule to see other parts of Europe and France. We rode horses on the beach in Crete, swam at Normandy, snowboarded in the French Alps, laid on florescent the blue beaches in Malta, crossed the English Channel to London and much more.

How Can We Help You?

We have been extremely blessed since we found each other and wanted to share our experience through this blog in the hope that others may benefit from our experiences.

The first time we arrived in Paris we were so unwordly and knew little about the city. There were numerous mistakes made, such as talking to scammers, oversights when renting apartments and many more. So we are hopeful that we can assist to not only prevent you making the mistakes we made, but to increase the opportunity for life-changing memories throughout your travels.

I am also open to answer questions that anyone has, so please leave comments and get involved with the site. Enjoy!

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Paris

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Here you will find a list of the top 10 attractions in Paris. I have ordered them in top 5 and best 10 formations. However are not set in a numbered order as I feel I could not fairly order them from best to worst sights in Paris.

This is because each attraction will resonate differently with each individual or couple once they have visited the attraction. So please read on and feel free to leave a comment as to what are your favorit spots of Paris France.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is probably the most iconic piece of history in all of France. It is number 1 on the list for places to visit in Paris and is a tourism hotspot. It is for this reason that lines can be huge and there can be wait times for up to 2 hours so you need to choose your times and days carefully. It is my favorite Eiffelsport to have a summer picnic but I always make sure we are there close to sunset on the hour so my wife and I can see the tower light up before we head home. If you only have a day or two I suggest not climbing it and simply viewing it from the ground at night or day because there is a lot to cover in Paris and the lines can take up a lot of valuable sightseeing time.

Sacre Coeur Basilica

Most commonly known as the Sacre Coeur it is situated high up on the mountain in the suburb of Montmartre. The Sacre Coeur has over 10 million visitors per year and is the second most visited monument in all of Paris. On a sunny day its bright white colour really shines high up on the hill and is a sight not to be missed. Once you enter the basilica you will suddenly be stuck by an abundance of quite calmness. You can also pay one euro to buy a candle and light it for a loved one who has passed on if you wish. On the outside of the basilica many people like to take a seat on the stairs and look out at the city of Paris and on some occasions you can sit and watch the street performers when they are in the area.

Arc De Triumph

The Arc De Triumph is also one of the city’s most famous and most visited land marks. It is situated at the end of the Champs De Elysees and is in the middle of one of the busiest roundabouts in the world. In order to visit the Arc De Triumph you must walk under the Arc de Triumph roundabout and come up on the other side. Do not try to cross this road above ground, I have seen a guy in a wheel chair trying to get across this road and all the traffic stopped for him thankfully, it was very nerve racking. Once there you can take photos on the ground or climb it for a small fee and see a 360 view of Paris. In my opinion this is actually my favorite view of the city as you can see every side of Paris which branches out like a giant star fish.

SeinThe Seine River

Paris has relied on the Seine River for hundreds of years even up until today. It is an amazing place to have a picnic in Paris if you choose the right spot. A lot of Paris sightseeing attractions can be seen along the seine river which is why it is one of the best places in the world to take a river cruise. My wife and I went on a river cruise which had a glass top, fine dining and band. It was one of the most romantic things we have done together and just when you think it can’t get any better the lights of the Eiffel Tower came on which help make it the perfect night. This river is also crossed by more than thirty gorgeous bridges, one of which is the newly famous Paris lock bridge.

NotradameNotre Dame Cathedral

One of the things to do in Paris when you are on a budget is to visit places that don’t charge entry such as the Notre Dame Cathedral. You can pay to climb it but the Eiffel Tower and the Arc De Triumph have much more spectacular views than this. So I suggest just use the free entry and see inside this amazing tourist attraction. The line can be long at times but it always moves very fast. At max you would only wait about 20 minutes to get inside. Don’t forget to get some close up picture of the famous gargoyles on the side of the buildings.

So that was my top 5 attractions in Paris however I did not put them in any particular order as I find it near impossible to choose between these French tourism icons. However i will say if you only have time to see 5 places in Paris then these are ones you will regret not visiting

paris catacombsCatacombs of Paris

Deep below the beautiful city of Paris is a vast network of tunnels and many of them date back to the Roman age. There are many sections of the catacombs which are hard to get access to but a number of local Parisians know their secret entry points. The Paris Catacombs are your chance to get access to the underside of Paris. When you enter the catacombs you will find a large number of human skulls and bones which have been piled in specific arrangements to be presented to the public. To walk the entire catacomb attraction it will take approximately 40mins to an hour and along the way you will see the bones of millions of permanent Parisians.

Paris Opera

The Paris Opera has been home to some of the most famous ballets and performances ever created. It’s also very well known for the legendary phantom of the opera myth and musical. Here you can get some great snapshots for the photo album. The shimmer gold monument and amazing achetecture looks amazing on a sunny day. You may want to take advantage of the guided tours that the Paris opera house offer. Your eyes will be opened to just how much culture and history this monument has.

The Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum is most famous for the architecture of its one large pyramid and three surrounding smaller pyramids in the middle of the complex. However in the surrounding palace is one of the most impressive museums not only in all of Europe but also the world. It hosts a number of different sections and something for all history or art lovers. There are many paintings such as the Mona Lisa or Venus De Milo and historic pieces from different moments in time such as the Renaissance, Medieval, Egyptian and many more. If you want to see the entire exhibit then it will take a full day and I suggest using the pre recording which is offered at the door where tickets are sold.

The Champs Elysees

The Champs Elysees is most commonly known for its amazing shopping and has many great stores such as the Disney shop, Louis Vuitton and Swarovski just to name a few. Along with shopping it also features a great night life, amazing restaurants, first class night clubs, shows such as the Lido and Crazy horse plus at Christmas time the street turns into an amazing winter market place. At one end of the street you will find the Arc de Tiumph and at the other and you will find Place de
Concord. You could take a full day out if you wish to cover it all.  Starting at one end and walk to another soaking in the streets charm or take a rickshaw from Place de Concord and only walk half the way before you start you shopping.

Palace De Versailles

In order to see the Palace De Versailles you will need to take a train out of the main city of Paris and travel for about half an hour in order to reach the palace. This is a full day activity in order to see the entire grounds as well as inside the palace. It was originally built by Louis the 13th and expanded upon by Louis the 14th to the grand palace you see today, it was here that Marie Antoine also lived. At the time it was built it used to be a small country village where the king would go hunting but today is a one of the richer areas of Paris.

So that was my top ten attractions in Paris list however with all the things to do in the city of lights I have decided to not stop there. Over time I will be updating this list and adding more below. Weather its cheap, free or you have to pay for it I will keep listing the things that I feel you can miss when you are sightseeing in this beautiful city.

Paris Pass Sightseeing Discount Cards

Paris can be a very expensive city but there are a few ways that you can save money on your visit. Many visitors to Paris choose an all in one pass such as the Paris Pass, Paris Visite travel card or the Paris museum pass. However it is important to realize that these passes are not for everyone.

So I am going to try and help you with deciding if the Paris Pass is worth the money for you circumstances. If you have any question please just leave us a comment and we will try and help.

There are 4 main pairs discount pass cards that we will speak off.

Paris Pass – Included in this pass is a public transport pass, entry to many museums, access to a number of Paris monuments and a few extra activities. (Official Website Here)

Save Money When Purchasing By Using Our Paris Pass Discount Code

Paris Visite travel card – This card can be used on buses, metro and trams and is great for saving money on travel. This pass may be specific to certain zones so make sure this will suite your travel before you purchase.

Paris Museum Pass –You will gain access to almost all major museums including the Louvre and more than enough to satisfy you for your stay in Paris.

Paris Combo Pass – This pass has a light and a premium version and simply offers some different combinations than options 1,2 and 3 above. I recommend taking a look at it as it has a lot of flexibility and options you can opt in and out of.

Is the Paris Pass worth it?

So let’s start with exactly what the Paris Pass offers.

Fast Track Entry – So one of the things that the Paris pass boast is fast track entry to skip the lines. Please note that the fast track entry only applies to Louvre Museum, Musee d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou and the Grevin Wax Museum. If you choose the right times to visit the long line monument then you will skip the lines anyway.

Entry to over 60 Attraction – there is a good list of what you will see at the parispass.com website but I will list some of the main attraction below. Take note that the Eiffel tower and Paris catacombs are not included in the package. The wine tasting and Seine river cruise are two of my favourite inclusions.

Paris Bus Tour – This will take up at least a half a day and you can get on and off an unlimited amount of times during that day. This is my favourite thing to do whenever I visit a new city where the bus tour is available. Defiantly a great inclusion for the pass.

Paris Visite Travel Card – The majority of you time will be spent going from monument to attraction and can be worth wild however you can also think about a 10 ticket travel pack if you think you might walk more than take public transport. We will discuss this in further details below.

Special offers – These inclusion are things like small discounts at places such as Hard Rock Cafe, Fat Tire Bike & Segway Tours and more. This may save you some money if you like the look of some activities.

120+ Page GuideBook – This is a good read and will help you find your way around Paris.

Paris pass

Tip: It is recommended that if you do decide to choose one of the Paris discount pass options then do not get it for the entirety of your stay. Once you activate the card you will officially be on the clock and it’s not worth rushing around Paris from attraction to attraction trying to get your money’s worth. You should spend some time in just walking around and soaking in the beauty. So if you are there for 4 days I recommend the 2 day pass and not the 4 day pass. Once the pass is activated you will need to use it in consecutive days.

What attractions are included in the Paris Pass?

Here is a list of just 12 of the most popularly used attractions or monuments available with the discount pass. There is defiantly more available with the pass but these are the most popular if you want a full list see here for details.  However I can’t stress enough if you would like to get your value for money you should do at least 6 of the main attractions bellow. You can defiantly do more if you wish as well.

1. Paris Bus Tour
2. French Wine Tasting
3. Palace of Versailles
4. Seine River Cruise

5. Louvre Museum
6. Grevin Wax Museum
7. Notre Dame Cathedral
8. Dali Exhibition

9. Centre Pompidou
10. Montparnasse Tower
11. Paris Opera House
12. Paris Story

Buy The Paris Pass Discount Card Here >>>

Is The Paris Visite Travel card Worth It?

Before you read on please not that you can buy the Paris Visite Travel Pass when you arrive in Paris alternatively it is included in the Paris Pass Package or the Paris Combo Pass which is listed above. Below we will analyze weather it is worth it to buy the Paris Visite Travel Pass by itself without being combined with the Paris Pass or the Paris Combo Pass.

There are two different Paris Visite Travel Passes you can choose from. Because the Paris metro system is split up into different Zones from 1 to 5 then you should make sure you have the correct one. 1-5 is mainly if you are planning on going places such as Palace de Versailles or Disneyland Paris as well as the inner city of Paris. However the most popular Visite Travel Pass is the 1-3 zone choice. This gives you access to the inner city transport services of Paris.

paris-visite

If you purchase each ticket as you go which I don’t recommend because not all metro stop have ticket machines the you will pay each 1,70Euro Per ticket.

If you buy a 10 Ticket Carnet full of tickets it will cost you 13,70Euro which = 1,37Euro per ticket.

So if you take that information into account you will see here that in order to get as much the value from the 1 day Paris Visite Travel Pass the you will need to make at least 8 trips in the day weather its bus or train.

In order to get the most value from the 5 day pass then you will have to make at least 25 trips in the 5 days which works out just over 5 trips per day in order get your money’s worth from the travel pass.

1 day Ticket is 10,85Euro = 7.9 Trips in this day
5 day Ticket is 34.70Euro = 25.3 Trips in a space of 5 days

As mentioned in previous articles a lot of the attractions in Paris are closely grouped and can be walked with no further need for public transport. So in order to really figure out whether this pass is worth the money you need to look at your itinerary and figure out approximately how much travel you will be doing.

I can defiantly see people with mobility issues getting the most advantages out of this type of pass. However there are those that will simply want it for convenience. Just being able to swipe and go onto each metro or bus is quite handy.

Conclusion: If you were given this as a part of discount card package it could defiantly be a great added bonus. On the flip side if purchased singularly I found it was hard to get my money’s worth and would more likely recommend buying a Carnet of 10 tickets when you arrive so you can use them on any day of your stay in Paris.

Is The Paris Museum Pass Worth It?

paris museum passIn my opinion the Paris museum pass has the most value out of all the cards and if you don’t wish to get any other card then you should simply choose this one. This is of course that you have the want to visit the attractions on the list. So let’s find out why this is the best sightseeing pass for Paris.

As for all of these passes you need to know your itinerary and time management in order to compare the prices that I have listed below.

2 Day Pass – 42Euro
4 Day Pass – 56Euro
6 Day Pass – 69Euro

If you compare it with a number of the most popular attractions and museums that are available with this pass below it will be easy to see the savings. The total cost of the monuments that are listed below comes to 103euro and its worth noting that there are a number of other smaller attractions or museums that are included as well.

Arch De triomphe – 9.5euro
Tour de Notre Dame – 8.5euro
Musee Du Louvre – 12euro
Pantheon – 8.5euro
Chateau De Versailles – 18euro
Musee D’Orsay – 9euro
Saint Chapelle 8.5euro
Centre Pompidou – 13euro
Musee Du Quai branly – 8.5euro
Musee Rodin – 7eruo

Example Itinerary: lest say you only bought the 2 day pass for 42euro and only visited 3 museums which were Musee Du Louvre (12euro), Chateau De Versailles (18euro) and the Centre Pompidou (13euro). The total of these three museums adds up to 42euro which means you would break even. However it also means that you will skip all of the lines which is a big bonus. It is very possible that you will see more than 3 attractions in this time.

Getting The Most From Your Paris Museum Pass

1. It is not always a good deal for children to have the Paris Museum Pass as they will usually get a cheaper entry anyway.

2. It’s important to make sure that you are in the correct line when you arrive at each attraction as I have seen people wait for a long time in the wrong line when they actually have a Museum pass. If you are unsure don’t be afraid to ask someone even a security guard will have an idea where you should be.

3. Places like the Louvre which can be quite large don’t have to be completed within one day in Paris. Since your pass is unlimited for the duration of the pass then you can return again later which will help break up the larger attractions. Also take notice that some attractions can be viewed at night time so take advantage of the time on the card but not seeing these attractions during the day.

4. There are 3 main attractions on the list that will have not only a ticketing line but also a security screening line. These attractions are Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame tower and Versailles. If your want to skip the security line as well you should get there in the mourning close to opening time.

5. Be sure to read the documentation and tips that come with the pass. This will give you the best times to go and other helpful tips. However you also need to plan your trip a little because the smaller museums will vary there hours a lot and will also be shut some days of the week.

Conclusion: If you plan your itinerary and take a look at the attractions available then you will most defiantly save money with the Paris Museum Pass.