Day trip to Paris

[Isila]

So, after 4 DLP trips we maybe will go to Paris. If we can find time...
Newbies who are coming with us want to go to Paris at see at least Eiffel tower. They think it would be a sin to be so close and not go to Paris. Looks tempting.
But I doubt if my kids would enjoy this day trip. And what else we could do? If we go to see the tower, we should do something more.
So, we are party of 7: 3 adults, four kids, age 4, 6, 9 and 9 Is it worth it? What else would you suggest that doesn't include lots of walking, would interest kids... Who am I kidding? DLP or Paris????
Anyway, how do we get to Eiffel tower? Bus, metro? How much does it cost? Do we need whole day? Pop for EMH and then head to Paris?

I need a plan.

Thank you!

 

[NancyIL]

You've been to DLP 4 times but have NEVER been to Paris? I can understand going to Paris and not going to DLP - but not the reverse.

There's so much more to see in Paris than you could do if you had a week. Take the RER from DLP to Paris, then change to the metro. Book timed tickets to the Eiffel Tower in advance so you don't have to wait in a long line: http://www.toureiffel.paris/en/preparing-your-visit/buying-your-tickets.html Go to the library and checkout a Paris guidebook and/or go to Trip Advisor and read the Paris Forum:http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g187147-i14-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

 

[Isila]

our main goal always was DLP. And my kids don't find sightseeing interesting, so trips like this become frustrating, and I tend to avoid it or make short or include fun for kids. And in DLP there's always so much to do, we just don't have time for anything else.

 

[NancyIL]

Do your research. There are plenty of things that kids would enjoy in Paris - including just being there.

 

[Isila]

Do your research. There are plenty of things that kids would enjoy in Paris - including just being there.

I hope so. It's not the first time we go somewhere, but kids show no interest in these things. Well, a zoo would make a difference!

 

[sarahb74]

We did a day trip last summer when my kids were 7 and 13. We started at Notre Dame to see the

 

[sarahb74]

Oops sorry! Stained glass windows, then along the river a bit, up to Montmartre round the artists and the view, hopped over to the arc de Triomphe then Eiffel Tower. It was exhausting but great fun and they enjoyed it more than I expected! They really loved the tower, give it a go, they may enjoy it, but if not its only a day

 

[kizzabel]

The River boat cruises on the Seine may be an option too Isila. We saw some great things from the boat. It took about an hour and leaves from Pont d'Alma

 

[GrandBob]

The train you'll catch from DLP is the RER 'A' line. If I were you, I'd take that all the way through the city, to the 'Charles de Gaulle - Etoile' stop. There, transfer to the M6 line of the Metro, and take it for 3 stops to 'Trocadero'. Trocadero offers a magnificent first view of the Tour Eiffel. From there, you just walk through the park and across the bridge to the Eiffel Tower itself.

Others have given you excellent suggestions of what to do. Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, and a cruise on the Seine are excellent suggestions. Others suggestions: Jardin du Luxembourg has some excellent kid stuff in the park. Sacre Coeur. Boys would like the Army Museum at Invalides. Lots of other neat places to see.

BTW, if you take my rail suggestion, when you transfer at Charles de Gaulle Etoile, you're directly at the Arc de Triomphe. If I were you, I'd exit there to make Arc de Triomphe my first stop. When done, go into the metro and take M6 to Trocadero. When done with the Eiffel Tower, go back to the river and take the Batobus to cruise the Seine, down to Notre Dame. Get off and see the cathedral. That's at least half your day, probably more. You can then use the Metro to see whatever else from your list that you can cram in.

Oh, and if you want to go up the Eiffel Tower, be sure to go online to buy your tickets in advance -- hopefully a few months in advance. Otherwise you may be waiting in line for tickets for quite a while.

Have fun!
Bob

ETA - just noticed your last comment. No, don't do EMH before heading to Paris. Get an early start - as early as possible - for Paris. You're going to have a very full day if you want to see much at all.

 

[petals]

When I went to paris went to see Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame it was all easy enough to get around to without paying for a tour or anything. I just used train and metro.

 

[anthony2k7]

We went to DLRP hmmm 4 times before we finally took a day trip into Paris. We always felt like we were wasting a park day that we had paid for if we didnt do the parks! Plus we were worried about getting lost and the language thing. Anyway, turned out it was all ridiculously easy and definitely worth losing 1 park day after all those previous visits.

Buy "Mobilis" unlimited one day tickets - extremely good value compared to UK train prices.

We didnt really have a clue where we were going, but we started off somewhere near the Seine and then from there most of the other key sights to see seem to come along one after another in a fairly straight (but long walk) route.

 

[BabyAriel]

I know what you mean about wasting a park day and this year I insisted on being in DLP every day.

But last year we did venture into Paris for an afternoon and evening, think we left the park around 2 or 3? We'd already been up the Eiffel Tower on a previous trip so this time we just went to the Science Museum (http://www.palais-decouverte.fr/fr/accueil/), up the Arc de Triomphe and then walked to the ET to watch the hourly light show. It was a late one for my girls as we didn't get back to our hotel in Bussy St Georges until after midnight but we had a great time.

Jardin du Luxembourg has some excellent kid stuff in the park.

^^ Yes I agree. My two loved pushing their little sailing boats around the pond

 

[Isila]

thank you! This really helps.

So what tickets do I buy for metro for kids and me?

 

[GrandBob]

thank you! This really helps.

So what tickets do I buy for metro for kids and me?

You're welcome.

The train from DLP to Paris will cost 7.50 euro each way for adults (15 euro round-trip). Not sure of the children's price, but probably about half that. Note that the RER ticket you purchase allows you to continue your trip on the Metro, as long as you don't exit the system. So you can, for the same price, go to Trocadero for the Eiffel Tower. But I think that the itinerary I outlined above, DLP->Arc de Triomphe->Eiffel Tower->batobus on Seine->Notre Dame, will optimize your time in Paris.

To get around Paris, you have 2 options. You can buy an all-day pass as suggested above. I believe it's now called "Paris Visite", and the one-day version costs 12 euro for adults, 6 euro for kids. But I really think you're better off with individual tickets. Go to any station and ask for a "carnet" (car-nay). That's a bundle of 10 tickets, good for travel in zones 1&2 (anywhere in Paris), for a discounted price. I believe a carnet now costs 13.70 Euro for 10 tickets. The nice thing is that the tickets don't have to be used by one person. You can distribute them to the people in your party. When you run out, buy another carnet. That should be much cheaper than 7 one-day passes. Three carnets will get you 30 tickets, enough for each of your party of 7 to ride the metro 4 times. I'd guess that you won't need the metro more than that for a day trip.

In any case, all your ticket options should be available at the ticket booth of any Metro or RER station.

-Bob

 

[Isila]

this seems confusing and more expensive than all days pass in Rome! I just need to ead more carefully and make some notes for myself.

Is Paris easy to get lost?

 

[Carrie_Cat]

this seems confusing and more expensive than all days pass in Rome! I just need to ead more carefully and make some notes for myself.

Is Paris easy to get lost?

Hello Isila

You can get an all day pass for yourself and for the children and it's far easier than dealing with carnet tickets and whatnot.

For adults it's called a Mobilis and costs 16.10 for zones 1-5. This gives you unlimited transport on ReR's, Metros,Buses and Trams.

For children aged 4 to 12 it's a Paris Visite and costs 11,40€ for zones 1-5

 

[ThBa]

@Carrie Cat



Is it you ?

Are you back on this board ???

 

[A Small World]

Yes just get the Mobilis ticket (Paris Visite for the kids ) as this will get you to and from central paris from DLP and unlimited use of the metro for that day

Use this site to plan your metro trips

http://parisbytrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/paris-metro-map-2014.pdf

Each RER line has a letter and each metro line has a number and the end station is the direction you are looking for. So for example if you get the RER to Charles de Gualle Etoile and then change onto metro line 6 you will follow direction Nation and go 3 stops to Trocadero - this will come out close to the Eiffel Tower and gives the best views of it. Have a look at the map and it will make sense if you try to follow the route

DLP to Paris is by RER line A

If you really don't want to find your way round (although it is easy) you can get off the RER at Auber and there is a bus company close by that does guided tours (hop on/off buses) or you could do a trip from DLP by bus but it might be more boring for the children

 

[kizzabel]

@Carrie Cat



Is it you ?

Are you back on this board ???

Totally but I had that exact same reaction lol!!! The welcome party is out for you Carrie!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

@Carrie Cat



Is it you ?

Are you back on this board ???

Hello Thorsten,

Yep it's me I'll send you off to this thread to get an update and then I'll stop polluting Isilas thread

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3347797

Totally but I had that exact same reaction lol!!! The welcome party is out for you Carrie!

- That's it I'm gone