I’m Dan with Holiday Extras Travel Guides, and this time we’re here to help you travel
better in Paris.
Coming up we have food, transport, money, some tips from the locals, and a whole lot
more!
But first here’s some more about the city!
Paris is one of my favourite places in the whole world.
With it’s grand boulevards, friendly locals, and first class cuisine, this city really
has it all!
One of the best bits about Paris is how close it is!
Paris is connected to London by the EuroStar.
Trains depart from St Pancras International in London, stop off at Ebbsfleet International,
and Ashford International in Kent along the way.
Trains start running at 5.40am, and run every 60 - 90 minutes until 8.00pm.
You’ll need your passport and ticket ready to pass through airport style security and
board the train.
However you can two bags, and there’s no weight restrictions to worry about!
There’s an onboard cafe that sells hot food and drink, and modern trains even have wifi.
All in all the journey takes about two and half hours.
The EuroStar arrives at Paris Gare Du Nord, from here you can take the metro or a taxi
to your hotel.
We’ll have more on the Metro later!
Now if you’re flying in…
There are routes from most airports in the UK, and a flight will take between 1 - 2 hours,
you’ll either land in Charles De Gaulle in the North East, or the Smaller Paris Orly
in the South.
To get into the city from Charles De Gaulle airport, you can take Line B of the RER, trains
take about 35 minutes to Paris Gare Du Nord, where you can find connections to the Metro
and other public transport.
From Orly Airport you can connect to Line B of the RER line as well.
Although you’ll need to take the Orly Val Shuttle Service from the airport to Antony
train station first.
However, both airports are served by Air France’s transfer buses.
There are two lines from Charles de Gaulle into the city, one from Paris Orly and a line
that connects the two.
As with most cities we recommend getting around on foot, besides being eco-friendly, it’s
a great way to get a feel for the city.
But just bear in mind that Paris is big.
Like, really big.
A walk from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame will take about an hour.
Fortunately, if you’re strapped for time then there are lots of really good public
transport links.
The subway system is split into the Metro and RER lines.
Tickets will work across both so you can treat it as one big underground network.
In our experience it served a purpose which was to us around the city quickly.
It’s just not the cleanest.
The Metro has 16 lines, each with a different colour while the five RER lines are assigned
the letters A, B, C, D and E. RER and Metro trains run every day from 6am until half past
midnight.
As for tickets a single will cost you €1.90, we brought a book of 10 for €14.50.
Now there are weekly and monthly passes available, but in my opinion they’re just a faff!
You need a Passport photo, and everything else, so I just say a book of ten is the way
forward!
For getting around we recommend the app CityMapper, you put in your final destination, and it
works out the most efficient route.
Oh, pro tip!
Some RER trains are quite short, so make sure you’re stood on the right part of the platform…
and don’t find out the hard way like we did…
“Do we run?!’
“Well.. we need to hurry up, yeah…
GO GO GO!”.
Cabs are identified by the official “Taxi Parisien” sign on the roof of the car.
If it’s red means busy and green means the taxi is available.
If a taxi does not have this then don’t use it, and the minimum fare is €7.
When walking, 3G coverage has been alright, meaning that Google Maps directions have been
as reliable as ever!
Of course if you get really stuck, the Eiffel Tower works as an excellent reference point!
French food.
What does that mean to you?
Frogs legs, snails, fine wine, cheese, baguettes and croissants?
After spending some time in Paris we can tell you it’s so much more.
Here food is a massive part of the culture.
Infact there are more Michelin stars in Paris than any other European city.
One of my favourite restaurants is La Bouteille D’or, the South Side of the Seine, opposite
the Notre Dame.
After eating manager Thibaut Destouches told me how they get fresh ingredients every day!
We have a special law in France, if you want to put ‘home made’ you have to work with
fresh food.
So we are always having ingredients coming everyday, so the chef depending on…
I had a great discussion with Thibaut, and I learnt loads about French Cuisine, but most
importantly I really enjoyed my dinner from the night before!!
That cod … C’est Magnifique!
The currency here is the Euro, and while Paris isn’t exactly cheap it is in line with every
other major capital in Europe.
Here’s a breakdown of what it cost us; Our EuroStar tickets were £87 return.
Our 3 bedroom Airbnb was £333 for two nights.
Eiffel Tower tickets €17 for an adult, €14.50 for ages 12-24, under 12’s are €8, and
under 4’s go free!
Notre Dame entry is free, but no bags allowed.
Entry to the Louvre is £17, but free for all under 18’s, and those aged between 18
- 25 from the European Economic area!
A 3-course set menu at La Bouteille D’or is €25.
My breakfast omelette was €5.50, and of course most importunity my morning
coffee was €4.80.
Generally tipping isn’t expected, most restaurants will add a service charge to the bill anyway.
By all means tip if you think the service has been outstanding, feel free to tip as
much as you like.
As for Taxi’s the same thing kinda applies, tipping is not expected but we rounded it
up to the nearest Euro.
In Paris a little French goes a long way, to learn some useful phrases we met with our
friends from DiscoverWalks.com -
So I’m here with Tom from Discover Walks, and Tom is going to help me with some french
Phrases!
Ok, so how do i say Hello?
Hello, basic one so it’s Bonjour!
Bonjour!
I’m sure you’ve heard that before..
Yeah, yes!
Bonjour, ers yeah is the most important one, you wanna say Bonjour!
Whenever you enter a shop, err if you buy your croissants, you need to say Bonjour!
Ok, it’s the first thing to turn an angry Parisian into a normal person!
Err, so yes?!
How do I say yes?!
Oui!
Ok be careful because there’s two ways!
There’s the Oui, you say in society, and the one with your friends.. which is ouiii,
and people often think that’s two different words, but it just means the same.
Ok.
Ouiii.
Ok, and No?
Non.
Easy one!
Non.
Yeah, but the Parisian way is never just a non, it’s non… seven times in row!!
Like.
nonononononononon!!
Something like that!
nonononononononon!!
That’s the Parisian way!
Ok, arm Please!
Sil vous plait.
My name is Dan.
mon nomme?
Je m’appelle Dan.
Ok, arm this one was quite useful.
Do you speak English?
Est-ce que vous parlez anglais?
Exactly.
Est-ce que vous - parlez - anglais?.
Perfect!
Est-ce que vous parlez anglais?
Almost no accent!
How do I ask for a table for two?
Please?
Une table pour deux s’il vous plait?
That’s an easy one!
Une table pour deux s’il vous plait?
Oui!
Err can I have the bill please?
L’addittion s’il vous plait?
oui!
L’addittion s’il vous plait?!
How much is it?
C’est combien?
Thank you?
Merci!
Good bye?
Au revoir!
I’m using an English accent - Au revoir!
Au revoir!
Err I think that’s everything - I’m ready to go get Paris I think!
Exactly!
Thank you very much!
You’re welcome!
Thank you!
We’re near the end of our time in Paris, so to finish up here are our top tips:
When it comes to tourist sites turn up early, queues can be really long, especially in the
summer months.
EU citizens under the age of 26, are granted free entry to a lot of the main museums and
galleries.
At the Louvre the Pyramid entrance can often have the biggest queues.
Don’t bother and go to one of the other entrances.
Book a table at the Eiffel Tower’s restaurant and you can use its dedicated fast track queue,
avoiding the long lines that everyone else has to suffer through.
The Google Translate app works wonders on menus.
Book a walking tour with Discover walks, we learnt LOADS on our trip, and the guides are
super friendly and really informative.
If you fancy a trip to the Palace of Versailles, you get there on the RER Line C. From the
Eiffel tower it’s about 45 minutes, and just bare in mind that you’’ need a separate
ticket that will cost about €7.
Sadly that’s the end of our time in Paris.
Subscribe to the channel for more great travel guides and new content from the studio every
week.
And join us next destination when Abi’s off on a road trip through Italy.
Anyway that’s it from me!
Au Revoir!