off to london n Paris next month, need suggestions

[royaldank]

Most museums are free for the last hour or two of the day. We always went to one just as the free time started and saved some money. The art museum and British museum are free all day, I think.

Take your college/student id card and you can get good show tickets for cheap. Student tickets are usually half price or less. If you buy them in the square a couple hours before the show, you can get great seats. They release all holds and returns during the afternoon. We have gotten great tickets this way for around $15-$20 if I remember correctly.

Go early to the Tower of London. Make sure you are there in time to get a guided tour from a beefeater. Maybe the best tour I've been on. Those guys are great.

Get to Westminster Abbey early in the day so you get the earphone tour. It's cut off a couple hours before so more people can get in. It's worth it.

The cabinet war rooms (near Westminster Abbey) are great. The audio tour is only a few bucks and really good. Enjoyed that one quite a bit.

 

[AndrewR]

Can't really recommend any places to stay because the last time I went to each city, we were staying at hotels with $600+ room rates. Since I worked for the company, I only paid $60, but I can at least tell you not to look for anything near the Ritz-Carlton in both cities (both hotels were InterContinentals) because those districts are ridiculously expensive. Definitely look on the Left Bank in Paris (Rive Gauche) and perhaps down at Montparnasse, which is a big student area.

In terms of sites, here's off the top of my head:

London: St. Paul's (go to the top with your camera, some great vistas -- tough climb though)
-Imperial War Museum if you like militaria
-British Museum
-Greenwich (take a boat ride down the Thames)
-the Globe
-the Tower of London including the crown jewels (have to pay extra but it's fascinating)
-London Eye if it's still open
-Try to see a play by the Royal Shakespeare Company
Don't know London all that well!

Paris:
-Louvre (hit the highlights but also look in the basement for the excavation of the first walls)
-- also walk around the Jardin des Tuileries
-L'Orlangerie (small museum at opposite end of Louvre gardens)
-Musee d'Orsay (impressionists)
-Notre Dame (again, excavations underneath are pretty interesting)
-Chapelle St Louis (few blocks away from Notre Dame -- awesome stained glass)
-Sacre Coeur
-Eiffel Tower
-Musee Rodin (great little museum with some nice gardens)
-Musee Cluny (medievel themed museum that I absolutely love)
-check out the American embassy and look in the windows of the most expensive hotel in Paris, which is right next door (can't recall the name right now)
-take a bateau moche ride on the Seine
-eat dinner on Ile-St-Louis -- some great little restaurants there (my favorite is L'Auberge de la Reine Blanche)
-on opposite end of the Ile-de-la-Cite from Notre Dame is the Holocaust Memorial, worth seeing
-walk around Le Marais district
-L'Arc de Triomphe

I'll probably think of more later, but that should suffice for now. You don't really need to head out of either city if you are only there for four days each, but if you want to, I'd go to Hampstead Heath (think that's how it's spelled) in London and Chartres cathedral south of Paris (or maybe Versailles -- never actually been there though).

 

[gordita]

all good stuff.
we have decided to stay in central london district.
I think the best prices we are getting is about $85/day for 2 adults for 4 nights including all taxes and Breakfast.
I think we are ok with it.

The hotel is right near Kings' Tube station, so that's an added bonus.

now, the only thing we are kinda shocked is the price of eurotrail ticket to go from london to paris!
it's almost like $150/each for one way (we only want one way anyways)
I checked the easyjet and ryanair and they do not fly out of gatwick or heathrow....and the stansted is too far...

 

[DainBramaged]

If you like classical music, you may want to check out the BBC Proms while you are in London. If you don't mind standing you can pay £5 and see/hear some really impressive orchestras. Also you can dress casually so if you just happen to be in the area then you won't have to worry about changing.

Along these lines, it is really cool to take an evening and go to a play or musical. You can get in a lot of popular shows for about £15. It is a really cool thing to do. I saw Cats and it was awesome. There are a ton of cheap ticket sellers in the Piccadilly Square area.

 

[royaldank]

The hotel is right near Kings' Tube station, so that's an added bonus.

now, the only thing we are kinda shocked is the price of eurotrail ticket to go from london to paris!
it's almost like $150/each for one way (we only want one way anyways)
I checked the easyjet and ryanair and they do not fly out of gatwick or heathrow....and the stansted is too far...

You can get flights out of Luton for about $20 on August 31st. I think the Kings station acutally has a train to Luton airport. One thing to remember, trains aren't 24 hrs. Don't make your flight too early or you wont be able to get there by train. I believe the train to Luton from central london was about $10. So, you're looking at $30 each plus about an hour of travel to the airport by train. Much better deal than taking the chunnel. Trains start around 5:00am or 6:00am, so try and get something around 7:30am or later. Last time I flew from Luton, it was just before schools started, so a lot of 6-13 kids were on the train to ride to school. They were all talking about Monday Night Raw from the night before. Little 10 year old kids with british accents were discussing the WWF and Triple H. Pretty funny.


Looks like flights on the 29th and 30th are a little more. Seem to be around $40-$50 today. With easyjet, the prices can raise daily. As they sell more seats, the price goes up. As the date approaches, it goes up. So, I suggest if you do fly (which is your best option and cheapest option) that you buy your tickets asap, tonight even. Take the 9:45 flight and you're in Paris by lunch time.

In Paris, you don't really need to book a room ahead of time. Head over to the University area and there are plenty of cheap mom and pop hotels that are great. Probably get out for less than $50 a night with private bath/shower.

 

[gordita]

Originally posted by: royaldank

The hotel is right near Kings' Tube station, so that's an added bonus.

now, the only thing we are kinda shocked is the price of eurotrail ticket to go from london to paris!
it's almost like $150/each for one way (we only want one way anyways)
I checked the easyjet and ryanair and they do not fly out of gatwick or heathrow....and the stansted is too far...

You can get flights out of Luton for about $20 on August 31st. I think the Kings station acutally has a train to Luton airport. One thing to remember, trains aren't 24 hrs. Don't make your flight too early or you wont be able to get there by train. I believe the train to Luton from central london was about $10. So, you're looking at $30 each plus about an hour of travel to the airport by train. Much better deal than taking the chunnel. Trains start around 5:00am or 6:00am, so try and get something around 7:30am or later. Last time I flew from Luton, it was just before schools started, so a lot of 6-13 kids were on the train to ride to school. They were all talking about Monday Night Raw from the night before. Little 10 year old kids with british accents were discussing the WWF and Triple H. Pretty funny.


Looks like flights on the 29th and 30th are a little more. Seem to be around $40-$50 today. With easyjet, the prices can raise daily. As they sell more seats, the price goes up. As the date approaches, it goes up. So, I suggest if you do fly (which is your best option and cheapest option) that you buy your tickets asap, tonight even. Take the 9:45 flight and you're in Paris by lunch time.

In Paris, you don't really need to book a room ahead of time. Head over to the University area and there are plenty of cheap mom and pop hotels that are great. Probably get out for less than $50 a night with private bath/shower.

hey, thanks a lot for checking the flight situation.
that is really a hot deal.

now, how can i verify for sure that there is a train from kings station to lutonon sunday and the timetable.
btw, how far is luton from kings station......?

 

[royaldank]

Godita -

There are plenty of early trains on Saturday and Sunday from Kings Cross to Luton Airport. Trip to the airport is said to be 50 minutes. You get dropped off right across from the airport.

They depart at 6:56, 7:26, 7:56 all getting there before 9:00. Easyjet is like Southwest in that they give you a number when you check in. They board starting at bottom numbers. Take whatever seat you can. So, if you get there a little early, you'll be assured to board early and sit next to your girlfriend.

If you book an easyjet flight, there's a discounted ticket site (from easyjet) from Kings Cross to the airport available here: http://www.flybytrain.co.uk:81/easyjet/EasyJetTicketDetails.do?id= (I think these are the discounted tickets. I believe easyjet has something about it on their page. it should be about 9#...roughly $16)

You can check http://qjump.co.uk for train times. Just put you're leaving kings cross going to Luton. I checked 8/31. Double check Saturday but I believe it's the same sched. as Sun.

Best of luck man. I've used easyjet a few times before. Small jets, but you're just hopping the ocean. The price sure is right if you book early.

Oh, I'm assuming you meant Kings Cross station earlier. If not, you'd have to look up and see how far Kings Cross station is. You use the Thamslink to get to Luton, which isn't the tube, but it's in the same station at Kings Cross.

 

[Balt]

royaldank,

Regarding museum prices, when I was there last fall most of the major museums had free entry all day, every day (except for some of the special exhibits). Have they gone back to charging?

Not that it really matters I guess since it's obviously well worth the price, I'm just curious.

 

[royaldank]

Originally posted by: Balt
royaldank,

Regarding museum prices, when I was there last fall most of the major museums had free entry all day, every day (except for some of the special exhibits). Have they gone back to charging?

Not that it really matters I guess since it's obviously well worth the price, I'm just curious.

Maybe it was the special attractions that were pay, with the last hour or two free. I know we saw the Holocaust exhibit at the Imperial War museum. We got there about 2 minutes after they quit charging. I didn't have enough time to see all the exhibit, but I saw most and it wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be.

I remember at least one other museum that was charging, so we grabbed a pint next door real quick and then got in free for the last hour.

 

[gordita]

This museum free-last hour info is a gold mine.
I'm all for it.
thanks a lot guys..

 

[gordita]

ok.
how about the 'COMFORT INN HYDE PARK ' hotel?
according to the descrip., they are like within 3 miles to the palace and madame tussad's and everything else around there.
does that sound like a good spot to stay?
comes to around $375 for 4 nights for 2 ppl inclu. all taxes

sound good?

 

[Reel]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: kami333
Actually better if you use the ATMs, you don't get stuck with comission fees or bad exchange rates. And ATMs over there don't charge a fee so all you get charged with is the $1.50 or whatever your bank charges you, it could be free if your bank doesn't charge.

Travelers checks are not so popular over there, good luck getting it cashed or accepted.

Took me one exchange at the hotel to figure that one out.
ATM's rule.

My ATM card actually got used as a credit card instead of an ATM card there in the ATM machines so there was no fee and it was the best exchange rate. I believe that they have ATMs in the airports. I didn't even change any money until I got there.

 

[royaldank]

Your Hyde Park hotel sounds fine. There is a tube stop close, so you can get anywhere you want.

Each morning, buy a tube pass for the inner city for the day. You can ride as much as you want in the specified zone (most everything you do will be in 1 or 2) during the day and use the buses at night once the train stops.

London is a pretty darn safe city. I got dropped off in the city one night after a delayed flight. Had to walk a mile and a half down Kings Road into Chelesea to my brothers place. Never felt threatened once. Never really saw anyone (around 2:00 in the morning).

 

[gordita]

ok.
latest update on my trip is this:

* we are all set as far as accomodations in London. we booked our room at the Comfor Inn at Bayswater.
hopefully, that is close to all the touristry places and is in zone 1/central london where we should be, correct?

now, we have tentatively booked a room in Paris at the Royal Fromentine. rue Fromentine.
can someone pls suggest if this hotel would be closer to all the touristy places.

I've heard that train shuts at 8.00pm in Paris at the stop our hotel is located, am not sure.

thanks to all