Anybody use points in Paris?

[deej696]

I'll add that we've also taken the overnight train from Paris to Barcelona, and its quite fun. We had a room with bunk beds, and we really enjoyed staying up playing cards with a few glasses of Cava Not really an experience you get here in the States.

We've also done the RER from CDG to our hotels in Paris. Its easy and obviously the cheapest option, however if you will have a lot of luggage, probably not a good idea. We usually just have one large roll around bag each, so logisitically its not so bad for us.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'll add that we've also taken the overnight train from Paris to Barcelona, and its quite fun. We had a room with bunk beds, and we really enjoyed staying up playing cards with a few glasses of Cava Not really an experience you get here in the States.

We've also done the RER from CDG to our hotels in Paris. Its easy and obviously the cheapest option, however if you will have a lot of luggage, probably not a good idea. We usually just have one large roll around bag each, so logisitically its not so bad for us.

I thought the overnight train would be a fun adventure AND I thought it would solve our "where to stay" problem for Tues. night. But that was before - when I thought we could book just the 3 of us in a little compartment sleeper thing. But now bavaria etc. has pointed out that we will be separated by gender since we're only 3 people. Doesn't sound like so much fun now. IF that's the case we may as well just book regular seats and hope we can sleep some. I am also worried about the amount of luggage we will be trying to schelp since they don't check it somewhere!! We will definitely be standing out as tourists!

 

[Anal Annie]

The suggestion to use a travel agent was due to the fact that unless you are a local and travel these routes frequently as Bavaria does it can be very confusing.

Our travel agent might not be located in Spain but she does have local agents there she works with and throughout Europe.

I agree that for a trip from one city to another, in this case Paris to Barcelona a rail pass is not needed. However I am sure many use Rail passes more for the convenience, just as many buy Disney World packages than actual savings. Most always packages are less about saving money and more about convenience.

I did notice that Seat61 stated that for US travelers, they recommended using the Raileurope site even though as Bavaria stated it might be slightly higher.
I am sure again this is due to the convenience of being able to take care of it in advance and not at the station where you stand and try to figure out what the heck you need to do, while your train leaves you. Believe me this has happened to many of my friends.

I had friends traveling in Switzerland that could see their train but could not figure out how to get across to the loading area, they got left behind.[/QUOTE]

Oh I am WAAAAY too anal retentive to not have actual tickets in hand before we go!! I can JUST PICTURE all kinds of problems trying to figure things out on the fly - especially with language barriers!! I speak West Virginianese!

 

[bavaria]

When you travel by airplane you don't have a ticket in hand anymore either. You have an e-receipt. It is like that on many trains around the world.

In France for the TGV you can choose station pickup or machine pickup for instance. Machine pickup works only if your card had chip and pin, which most American cards do not, so you bring your confirmation number to the ticket office and pick it up in person.

For idTGV you just bring your e-receipt with the boarding pass bar; same for many other train systems in western Europe.

But OP I agree that with that large amount of luggage trains and even metros/RERs are going to be very difficult for you to manage, regardless of which city or country in Europe. It just isn't feasible and is one of the several reasons why we don't travel with that much luggage.

Just be very careful because most intra-Europe flights only allow 8kg handluggage and weight it and check very carefully and deny boarding. That is 16.6lbs TOTAL per person on a flight.

And the vast majority of people in the service industry in Western Europe can speak passable English, or at least enough to complete a transation. They can also fairly easily recognize American tourists and know their typical concerns may be.

 

[Anal Annie]

When you travel by airplane you don't have a ticket in hand anymore either. You have an e-receipt. It is like that on many trains around the world.

In France for the TGV you can choose station pickup or machine pickup for instance. Machine pickup works only if your card had chip and pin, which most American cards do not, so you bring your confirmation number to the ticket office and pick it up in person.

For idTGV you just bring your e-receipt with the boarding pass bar; same for many other train systems in western Europe.

But OP I agree that with that large amount of luggage trains and even metros/RERs are going to be very difficult for you to manage, regardless of which city or country in Europe. It just isn't feasible and is one of the several reasons why we don't travel with that much luggage.

Just be very careful because most intra-Europe flights only allow 8kg handluggage and weight it and check very carefully and deny boarding. That is 16.6lbs TOTAL per person on a flight.

And the vast majority of people in the service industry in Western Europe can speak passable English, or at least enough to complete a transation. They can also fairly easily recognize American tourists and know their typical concerns may be.

WHOA! You're making me feel like it's going to be impossible to go to France AND Spain on this trip! No wonder the cruise thing is such a good plan!! Get on the ship and BE DONE WITH ALL THE HASSLES!! 16 LBS?! Holy Moly!! That's nothing for a carry-on bag! ONCE and ONLY once did I have an airline ever weigh our carry-ons. We were island hopping in Hawaii & the inter-island airline (Hawaiian Air) weighed our carry-on bags. We had one regular HEAVY DUTY suitcase that was very heavy to start with and one lightweight duffle bag. Because the duffle is so easy to open I had packed those squishy neck roll pillows (3 of them) in it along with a few other items. Meanwhile, the regular carry-on suitcase was full of toiltetries etc & was MUCH heavier. They wouldn't let us board with them packed like that!! I had to step out of the security line & completely re-pack the 2 bags. It was silly in that it was all still the same stuff & same total weight but I had to re-arrange how it was packed to get that heavier bag under their weight limit. It probably weighs 10 Lbs EMPTY!!!!!! Guess I won't be bringing THAT carry-on to Europe!! Thanks for the extra tip!!

 

[Tara]

But OP I agree that with that large amount of luggage trains and even metros/RERs are going to be very difficult for you to manage, regardless of which city or country in Europe. It just isn't feasible and is one of the several reasons why we don't travel with that much luggage.

Just be very careful because most intra-Europe flights only allow 8kg handluggage and weight it and check very carefully and deny boarding. That is 16.6lbs TOTAL per person on a flight.

And the vast majority of people in the service industry in Western Europe can speak passable English, or at least enough to complete a transation. They can also fairly easily recognize American tourists and know their typical concerns may be.

Bavaria is wise indeed. When I went to DLP, I went straight from CDG. The coworker I was traveling with went on to our hotel in Paris while I went to DLP and he took my larger bag with him so I could take my tiny carry-on (smaller than my regular carry-on, which fits wheels-first in an overhead). I bought my TGV ticket at the office in the station - it was extremely easy. Plus there's a big information/help booth in the center of the station if you aren't sure where to go.

The TGV was roomy and very empty, especially at that time of night (about 8pm IIRC) and there was plenty of room for my luggage. Not so on the RER back to Paris the next day - it was very crowded at 6pm and there was little room for any luggage. Even my tiny carry-on wasn't easy to manage. Of course, this is also the train I fell asleep on and missed the stop I intended to use. But the Paris Metro system is one of the easiest in the world to navigate, IMO, and I had no trouble getting back on track to my hotel. (The Hotel Lutecia, BTW, which I HIGHLY recommend as a lovely Left Bank option.)

Virtually everyone I interacted with spoke excellent English, except for a few Parisians who stopped me to ask me questions (directions? I don't know), somehow mistaking me for a Parisian as well. But a simple "Je ne parle pas francais bien" cleared up the confusion.

I would HIGHLY recommend you get at least a Berlitz CD and guide book to study some commonly used/needed phrases and words in both French and Spanish. You'll find even the simplest attempts to speak the local language go MILES in terms of how you are treated and perceived.

 

[bavaria]

Absolutely. The basics of courtesy are vital - hello, please, thank you, etc and also learning basic customs. There are online sites or books which can tell you briefly what is custom - for instance in Germany one calls out a greeting when entering a shop; it is considered very rude not to do so. I research local customs and courtesy every single time I visit a new country.

It drives me batty to have Americans walk up to me in Germany and without asking if I speak English simply launching into questions. Even worse are the ones who sit on the plane next to me and start complaining to me in English about the Germans/French/etc etc etc. Imagine if I came to America and started to complain about Americans to you! (Not that I suggest that OP would do so, but it amazes me how badly I see tourists treating the French, and then turning around and complaining about them. There are times when my English conveniently fails me and I can only converse in German or French)

Turn that around to the Theme Parks board here and how people complain over and over about how we 'foreigners' weren't speaking English in the park or on the bus. I tend to ask those posters if they plan to only speak in German when they come to Germany for a visit.

 

[eliza61]

WHOA! You're making me feel like it's going to be impossible to go to France AND Spain on this trip! No wonder the cruise thing is such a good plan!! Get on the ship and BE DONE WITH ALL THE HASSLES!! 16 LBS?! Holy Moly!! That's nothing for a carry-on bag! ONCE and ONLY once did I have an airline ever weigh our carry-ons. We were island hopping in Hawaii & the inter-island airline (Hawaiian Air) weighed our carry-on bags. We had one regular HEAVY DUTY suitcase that was very heavy to start with and one lightweight duffle bag. Because the duffle is so easy to open I had packed those squishy neck roll pillows (3 of them) in it along with a few other items. Meanwhile, the regular carry-on suitcase was full of toiltetries etc & was MUCH heavier. They wouldn't let us board with them packed like that!! I had to step out of the security line & completely re-pack the 2 bags. It was silly in that it was all still the same stuff & same total weight but I had to re-arrange how it was packed to get that heavier bag under their weight limit. It probably weighs 10 Lbs EMPTY!!!!!! Guess I won't be bringing THAT carry-on to Europe!! Thanks for the extra tip!!

Naah. Never been to France (this will be my first time ) but I've done Italy and London.
I gotta tell you, attitude goes a looooong way. I found in Italy once I smiled and told them I spoke virtually no Italian people went literally out of their way to help me. Even my feeble attempts at the language were met by graciousness and helpfulness. I dealt with the little "imperfections" on traveling with a simply and found my vacations truly memorable.

Bavaria has an excellent tag.
I love cruises but nothing beats visiting another country. Jump in with both feet.

Like Tara suggested, I purchased a Berlitz learning system cd for French. It is great. You get 4 audio cd's for your car. 2 programs for your computer and a cd to download onto your ipod. you can go online and download the lessons for free. Check your local cc also. mine offers a french for travelers class for 69 bucks. I'm signing up in January, its once a week for 6 weeks.

I just want to be able to ask for the bathroom and not have it come out as "there are flying monkeys in my pants"

 

[eliza61]

Turn that around to the Theme Parks board here and how people complain over and over about how we 'foreigners' weren't speaking English in the park or on the bus. I tend to ask those posters if they plan to only speak in German when they come to Germany for a visit.

LOL. German!! I worked in retail for many a year in good 'ole middle america, I was lucky if I could understand the shoppers english.

 

[Anal Annie]

Am I sounding like I have plans to be rude? That's why I am researching 18 months out! I want a plan!!

I took French in HS for 2 yrs. and 1 semester in college...but that was let's face it, 30 years ago!! The memory ain't what it used to be so I will definitely be brushing up on it. LOL...I went to France with my HS French class (OOOOH the trouble we got into when we were "free"! We stayed in the dorms at Ecole Centrale which is a science & engineering college on the fringe of Paris...ummm...met up with a few French boys in the dorms! One of them had a car... If my Mother ONLY KNEW we were racing around Paris at night in these nightclubs with these French boys!! There was apparently no age limits for this back then.) ANYWAY....thinking back on this trip I don't know WHERE our teacher was! We were on our own one day for some reason & we couldn't find the metro stop we needed. One of the girls in our group approached a gentleman in a trench coat who looked professional & harmless to ask directions. She mustered up her very best French to say "Où est le métro?" He looks at us and then says "Do you speak English?" It was soo funny. She tried so hard and it was sooo obvious that we were silly lost American girls with very poor French skills. Even tho it's been 30 years I can still picture it like it just happened.

 

[bavaria]

Am I sounding like I have plans to be rude? That's why I am researching 18 months out! I want a plan!!

TARA STARTED IT!

If you plan to stand at the ticket window in the Paris metro and shout 'I want to go to NODER DAAAAAAAAAAME' while the ticket seller patiently says in English 'yes, Madame, you wish to go to Notre Dame', and you then shout back so that we can here you all the way down on the platform 'NO, I want to go to NODER DAAAAAAAAAAAAME!' then I fear that I cannot be your tour guide. (True story - and it does help to learn at least a semblance of the local pronunciation)

I always suggest a local culture book to anyone travelling. There is a good in depth series called 'Culture Shock' written by locals; I for instance would tell you to call out a greeting, and would tell you that Germans will rarely confront you about your bad behaviour, but will remember you for life and will talk about you when you are not around and shake their heads over you.

If anyone doesn't want to read a few hundred pages about local culture and customs, there are other books like 'Behave!' which addresses topics on a page per country type layout (But I have never trusted that book since my local beloved Salzburg is featured in the 'Switzerland' section)

 

[Tara]

TARA STARTED IT!

That's me, the trouble maker.

If you plan to stand at the ticket window in the Paris metro and shout 'I want to go to NODER DAAAAAAAAAAME' while the ticket seller patiently says in English 'yes, Madame, you wish to go to Notre Dame', and you then shout back so that we can here you all the way down on the platform 'NO, I want to go to NODER DAAAAAAAAAAAAME!' then I fear that I cannot be your tour guide. (True story - and it does help to learn at least a semblance of the local pronunciation)

What, it's not pronounced NODER DAAAAAAAAME??? (As an aside, I've always gotten a laugh over the multiple wrong pronunciations of Etienne Aigner, the leather-goods company. Where I'm from, everyone called it "Agg-ner.")

I always suggest a local culture book to anyone travelling. There is a good in depth series called 'Culture Shock' written by locals; I for instance would tell you to call out a greeting, and would tell you that Germans will rarely confront you about your bad behaviour, but will remember you for life and will talk about you when you are not around and shake their heads over you.

If anyone doesn't want to read a few hundred pages about local culture and customs, there are other books like 'Behave!' which addresses topics on a page per country type layout (But I have never trusted that book since my local beloved Salzburg is featured in the 'Switzerland' section)

At the very least, there are a lot of websites that offer information about how to behave - if a book isn't your speed (generally speaking, not speaking to the OP directly), more condensed information can be found online. Little things like avoiding sneakers can help you blend in a lot more and make you less of a target or look less like the average tourist. I didn't dress any differently than I might normally, but I do believe my black trench, scarves, flat riding boots and Longchamp tote went a LONG way toward helping me blend in. It's also perhaps why other Americans kept asking me (in French as bad as mine) if they were on the right train.

 

[Sammie]

I agree that knowledge of local customs is a good thing, for one thing hours that stores, etc. are open are very different than what Americans are accustomed to.

But I am not going to wear something different to fit in anymore than I would expect someone visiting here to change their usual clothing to fit in.

Even though I took French in HS and college, irregardless mine is always going to be laced with a Southern accent. Not much I can do about that, but I was always polite and courteous and if I mispronounced something it was not from lack of trying.

I figure polite translates into any language.

Annie I have no doubts that you can manage this if you can figure out what to do with your luggage; that is truly going to be the difficult part.

 

[Tara]

But I am not going to wear something different to fit in anymore than I would expect someone visiting here to change their usual clothing to fit in.

Your prerogative, of course. IMO not looking like a tourist can go a long way toward not being targeted by pick-pockets, particularly in crowded areas like train stations and popular tourist destinations.

 

[Anal Annie]

I HAVE to have comfortable shoes and for summer touring that will probably likely mean Merrill sandals or sneakers. I have very narrow feet and have difficulty finding comfy shoes to fit that don't rub blisters somewhere. Footwear has always been an issue for me. Consequently I (sadly) own very few pairs of shoes. My feet will have to wear whatever works for them. Not trying to be difficult, just realistic. Last trip to Disney I wore a pr. of sandals out one evening to AK and got blisters on top of my feet to where I was almost walking barefoot thru AK. I was shocked that this happened so quickly with sandals I thought I was used to! For the rest of the week I had only 1 other pr. with me that didn't rub on top of the blisters and my feet were covered in band-aids! VERY attractive. I ended up buying another pr. of flip flops at a water park just for another change. I was a mess.

I have heard not to wear logo type T-shirts that are so popular in the U.S. so I imagine for myself, I will stock up on solid color cotton pullover shirts that will travel well with a little spritz of Downey Wrinkle Release and be lightweight to pack. I've also already been told to cover up shoulders etc. when visiting cathedrals & such in Italy so I will make note on how to dress appropriately on those days where that might be a concern. I have a quirky sense of humor but promise it is not my goal to invade Europe and piss off an entire continent with my ignorance. I promise we still have all of our teeth and do not spit tobacco so I am not sure how it was decided that my family and I would be shouting NOOODER DAAAAME at the top of our lungs. I admit that I was born & raised in West Virginia but I "got out" in 1984. We live just outside of D.C. in what I would call a fairly modern suburb of a pretty major metropolitan city and I can use our local metro system just fine. I'm just naive enough to not know how to use a train in Europe with lots of luggage in tow plus am not proficient with the language so it makes me nervous. We typically travel to tropical island destinations where the USD is readily accepted.

Meanwhile, I am starting to think that a taxi might be worth the investment to solve our luggage dilemas?! If the distance is not too great between CDG and DLP and between DLP and the train station how much could it be?????? Would it be scary outrageous??

 

[tink too]

And I don't understand the 'DLRP for 5 days is more than 2 weeks at WDW' argument. (There are some wholesalers which market very cheap WDW holiday to UK travellers, but DLRP also offers very low priced deals to UK visitors although not to Germans)

Unfortunately, travel from the UK to DLRP is only reasonable if you stay in or near London. By the time we get a connecting flight from our regional airport, we might as well fly all the way to the USA.

You can also fly Paris to Barcelona. Check all airports, but if you are looking at the super budget carriers note that the 1 Euro fares end up being as much as mainline carriers by the time you add in fees - on RyanAir that can be check in fee, foreigner credit card fee, boarding fee, wheelchair fee, carry on fee, etc etc etc. AND there are very very strict limits on carry on and checked luggage, so read those first.

I have to agree here, we saw many travellers being stung with large "fines" to allow them to take their overweight carry-ons on our last European vacation to the Canary Islands. The airlines must be making a small fortune off of the odd extra kg of luggage here and there off of unsuspecting travellers.

I'm so sorry Annie, but I can't offer any advice about travelling around Europe by train as we have never done that ourselves. I can confirm though that the Parisian Metro system is very user-friendly, but I wouldn't attempt using it with luggage in tow. A rough estimate of taxi costs from CDG to DLRP, then DLRP to the train station would be in the region of 150 Euros. I am going by a friend's recent trip to Paris, but I'm sure Bavaria may have a more up-to-date costing since they travel to DLRP regularly.

If I do decide to make a quick trip to DLRP early next year, I'll update you with my findings.

 

[Tara]

Meanwhile, I am starting to think that a taxi might be worth the investment to solve our luggage dilemas?! If the distance is not too great between CDG and DLP and between DLP and the train station how much could it be?????? Would it be scary outrageous??

I really don't think the TGV will be a problem with your luggage, but it will depend on the time of day you arrive. I think I got on the TGV at about 9pm and it was pretty deserted. I do think a taxi would be outrageously expensive and you'd be better off with the bus service offered by Air France or Roissybus. I have to believe it's about 45-60 minutes by car from CDG to DLP - I'm guessing, but given how long the RER takes from DLP to CDG-Etoile, I don't think that estimate is too far off.

Depending on where you stay at DLP and how much luggage you end up taking, a taxi to the train station might make sense.

 

[Sammie]

Your prerogative, of course. IMO not looking like a tourist can go a long way toward not being targeted by pick-pockets, particularly in crowded areas like train stations and popular tourist destinations.

I realize that but if wearing uncomfortable shoes is the only way to keep from being labeled a tourist then I will have to take my chances.

I think there are many ways to be safe without giving up the comfort of a particular type of shoes.

I think actions go along way in keeping one safe.

 

[Tara]

I realize that but if wearing uncomfortable shoes is the only way to keep from being labeled a tourist then I will have to take my chances.

I think there are many ways to be safe without giving up the comfort of a particular type of shoes.

I think actions go along way in keeping one safe.

All comfortable shoes are not sneakers and all sneakers are not comfortable shoes. I never once suggested wearing uncomfortable shoes.

 

[Sammie]

All comfortable shoes are not sneakers and all sneakers are not comfortable shoes. I never once suggested wearing uncomfortable shoes.

True but to many sneakers are comfortable shoes, not boots. I just think that not everyone that travels is going to be comfortable trying to not look like a tourist especially shoes. That was my point.

I can appreciate the being safe but I don't think anyone should have to try and dress like something they are not.

Just my opinion. I would be miserable in boots and you would be comfortable.

Annie, you will see shoes of every kind, Converse is very popular as is the French tennis shoe, Bensimon.