getting to Eiffel Tower

[lisatradingspaces]

Hi everyone,

It's official, we are going to Disneyland Paris on November 22nd!!! Never thought it would happen but DH is working in London in November and it's easier for us to meet him in Paris than for him to come all the way home for Thanksgiving. Or maybe we just pretended it was easier? :rotfl2:

Anyway, we will be staying at the resort and had not planned to leave the resort at all but my son really wants to see the Eiffel Tower (and I would too actually) so we are wondering the easiest way to get there to see it. It's really the only thing we must see and we want to be able to spend some time there so a tour that just drives by for a photo op won't do. I don't speak any French so looking at bus routes has me all confused and I don't understand it at all.

Thank you in advance for any advice and information you can give us. I have no clue about France and very little time to prepare!

Lisa

[ghasfura]

HI LIsa
dont know if this is the easiest way, but I am giving you a link to see the RER (train)map, Disneyland is on the RED line(Marne la Vallee - Chessy) you need to get on that train line going towardsA1 St. Germain en Lay.get off at Charles de Gaulle - Etoile and get on another line (the [COLOR=Lime]light green one[/COLOR) to Trocadero
heres the RER line
http://www.bonjourlafrance.net/france-map/map-paris-rer.htm
and heres the metro map
http://www.paris.org/Metro/gifs/metro01.map.jpg

[Sarah Sarill]

Lisa,

I read on another thread that there are organised bus trips to Paris with time at the tower and a few other hotspots.

They leave from the Hotel New York - it might be worth asking at your hotel reception on arrival.

Have a fab trip.

[Crokette]

I wish you good luck if you have fear of heights!!
My boyfriend made me go to the 3rd floor last year, it was awfull!! I was the one hanging on the ashtrays on the wall :blush: , with everyone laughing at me!! He was so happy to be here I didn't want to spoil his moment, so I didn't say a word and waited near the wall 30 minutes (it felt like hours to me)...
When I finally got to the ground, I was happy and proud :crazy: to have been there, but I'll never get there again :sad2: .

I think Ghasfura gave you all you need to get to the Eiffel tower :thumbsup2

[Ware Bears]

Great news Lisa! :Pinkbounc

The organised tour from Disney stops at both the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. I can't get the search facility to work at the moment so can't find that thread.... :sad2:

However, we went in to Paris on the RER and it is really easy. There is a tourist info kiosk at DLRP where you can ask for info, and the clerk who served us at the train station ticket desk was very helpful. Just to give you another option, we wanted to see as many of the sights as possible so we took the RER to Auber station then got on a hop-on hop-off bus tour. We got off at the Eiffel Tower and spent a few hours there then hopped on a bus back to Auber station.

[Ware Bears]

waited near the wall 30 minutes (it felt like hours to me)...

:teeth: :teeth:

Until we got there I wasn't even sure whether I was going to go up or not but after having had to queue for so long I put on my "determined hat" and went right to the very top! I am so glad I did, the views are spectacular :goodvibes

[SplshMtnLvr28]

Yep, the quickest way to get there is by taking the RER/metro. The stop is RIGHT next to the park, so it isn't hard to find it. :p The links previously given to you should help.

Oh, and good luck buying a ticket, lmao... I've found that NONE of the people that work at the metro speak English, so I had to try and get a ticket with my less than perfect French, haha...

PS, not that you really care, but I had a dream about DLP/Paris last night... it was freaky. :eek:

[Petal]

I had been to Paris many times and never been up the Eiffel Tower, until this last visit. My godson was desperate to go up.......we did....and yes enjoyed it, however it was a LOT of queuing! Ground level, then again at level two to get to the top. Then of course queued all the way back down again!!! It might not be so busy at this time of year! :confused3

NB go to the 'correct' leg of the tower....we queued for a while at the 'walking' one.... :rotfl2: not in my wildest dreams was I going to do that.....but we were a fair bit from the notice boards and didn't realise till we were a bit closer... :rotfl2: ....there were lifts going up and down too for some reason, hence the confusion......but I think it was maybe to try and clear the down traffic from the upper floors!

The one thing my wee godson said......you don't see the tower as you are in it.... !!!!! If you want a great experience and a fantasic view of the Tour Eiffel....go to the Sacre Ceour, Montmartre...........wonderful!

Have a wonderful time!

[chrismoo]

I walked upto the first floor, but that was my limit. :rotfl2:

The French fries & Pizza are nice on the first floor.

[slinky101]

Hi Elaine, just looked up the hop on hop off bus that you taked about, looked like just what we need. Is it obvious when you get out of auber station where the bus is? the bus stop says La boutique Rue Auber, is it easy to find?
cheers claire :thumbsup2

[Sarah Sarill]

Great news Lisa! :Pinkbounc
we took the RER to Auber station then got on a hop-on hop-off bus tour. We got off at the Eiffel Tower and spent a few hours there then hopped on a bus back to Auber station.

Great tip. Perhaps we'll do that instead of ther organised trip in December. Did it work out cheaper ?

[Ware Bears]

Hi Elaine, just looked up the hop on hop off bus that you taked about, looked like just what we need. Is it obvious when you get out of auber station where the bus is? the bus stop says La boutique Rue Auber, is it easy to find?
cheers claire :thumbsup2
Claire, you just cross the road and there it is, a little way down on the right, you can't miss it ~ and the staff in there were very helpful :goodvibes

[Ware Bears]

Great tip. Perhaps we'll do that instead of ther organised trip in December. Did it work out cheaper ?
Yes, I'll dig out my receipts later to see how much we paid.

[nbodyhome]

Getting around Paris is really easy by Metro and the RER (I know it was confusing the first time I went, but it's simple really - they have great trains there). I'd try to learn a little bit of French ahead - at least the "please, thank you, etc.". I stayed at Disneyland Paris the first time I went for a week in 2002 and only left the property once with friends to do some of Paris - I really regret that, as there is SO much in Paris to do and see. DLP is okay - I do enjoy it, though we ended up skipping it last month (we spent 1/2 a day there last year, and that was enough!)

I hope you do get to the Eiffel Tower, and maybe even take in a museum or two.

[lisatradingspaces]

I wrote earlier but my poast did not show up!

Anyway, thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the information and for the maps! You have no idea how much it has helped. Now I think I can actually make the journey since I know which lines to go on, where to get off and a lot of you claim it's "easy". :sunny:

I was at a yard sale this morning and I got an electronic dictionary that has some basic French in it. I was so happy and it was only $1.00!

We are so excited about our trip. I have only been to Europe (Germany) once about 11 years ago and it will be the kids first time of course.

Thank you again everyone. I really appreciate it!

Lisa

[woody73]

. . . Thank you in advance for any advice and information you can give us. I have no clue about France and very little time to prepare!
In Paris, be aware of pickpockets on public transportation and near tourist attractions.

Woody

[Petal]

Yes we too used the hop on hop off bus.

It was a good idea...however there are two companies that operate them. I'm sorry I can't remember which one we used.....but it was the one that had LOADS of drop off and pick up points! This you may think was good...we thought it was a great idea.......BUT it took an eternity to get anywhere as it stopped every few hundred yeards (or it seemed it anyway). The other company has I think about 10 - 12 stops.......and is porbaly all you would need for a day sightseeing in Paris......and I'm sure you would end up seeing more. :rotfl: We came off the bus a few times at random places just to relieve the boredom of stopping and starting all the time.... :rolleyes:

But it was a good idea to use the bus.....just be realistic how much you can do in a day.....and its unlikey you need 100 stops! :lmao:

enjoy its a wonderful city!

[slinky101]

Elaine thanks for the reply :thumbsup2

Lisa have a fantastic trip :wave:

[Sarah Sarill]

In Paris, be aware of pickpockets on public transportation and near tourist attractions.
Woody

A top tip Woody.

Please be as vigilent whilst your in the park and in the Village. Last year I had my purse stolen whilst in the big DS by Annettes. Thankfully, there was little money left in it as we were returning to the hotel. My drivers licence and meal vouchers , room key and tablets were in there.

When security and the police were called, they told us it happened a lot.

Just be security conscious (I had taken my eye off the ball whilst shopping) but thought it was worth a mention.

On the plus side, the police were fab and the NBH were amazing. They changed the key code immediately and will never use the previous one again and re-issued all our other items without question.

Sarah

[Ware Bears]

Just be security conscious (I had taken my eye off the ball whilst shopping) but thought it was worth a mention.


Definitely ~ it is very easy to let your guard down when on holiday. :grouphug: for you Sarah, I hope that incident didn't spoil your holiday too much and it's reassuring to know it was dealt with so well. :)

[Sarah Sarill]

Thankfully it did not Elaine.

It was Christmas and we were in DLP - almost nothing could have dampened our spirits.

DH has insisted he wears a cross body flat bag under his coat for this years visit - at least I dont have to carry a handbag *** no-ones gonna attempt to take anything for a 6ft hunk. He He

Seriously though, your no more at risk in DLP than in your local shopping centre, however as you said because you are in such a magical place, you can let your hair down and become less security conscious and relaxed and thats when you become vunerable.

Just stay alert and dont carry too much money.

[woody73]

. . . Just stay alert and dont carry too much money.
Good advice.

Woody

[Ware Bears]

Did it work out cheaper ?
Here's (http://www.paris-opentour.com/index_eng.htm) the link to the bus company we used, looks like they are the same one that do the trips from Disney. It cost 25 euros adults, 12 euros children. The receipt for our train journey has faded but it looks like it was 12.30 euros adult, 6.?? children return. It cost us 11 euros adults and 6 euros children to go right to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

So yes, it did work out quite a lot cheaper for us but we then again we didn't do a boat cruise which is included in the Disney trip plus we had to spend a long time queueing at the Tower whereas there is a *fastpass* queue for organised coach trips.

Hope this helps. :)

[Cyrano]

Here's (http://www.paris-opentour.com/index_eng.htm) the link to the bus company we used, looks like they are the same one that do the trips from Disney. It cost 25 euros adults, 12 euros children. The receipt for our train journey has faded but it looks like it was 12.30 euros adult, 6.?? children return. It cost us 11 euros adults and 6 euros children to go right to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

So yes, it did work out quite a lot cheaper for us but we then again we didn't do a boat cruise which is included in the Disney trip plus we had to spend a long time queueing at the Tower whereas there is a *fastpass* queue for organised coach trips.

Hope this helps. :)
Good link there Elaine :goodvibes

[woody73]

Here's (http://www.paris-opentour.com/index_eng.htm) the link to the bus company we used, looks like they are the same one that do the trips from Disney.
We took this L'Open Bus Tour on our very first visit to Paris, and were very pleased. I offers a good introduction to Paris and stops at all the major sites

Woody