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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are we mad to book Paris for a holiday next week ?

62 replies

Munichfam5 · 28/06/2024 07:38

I’ve found some cheap flights and want to book a last minute break to Paris for me, DD (17) and DH

Do you think Paris be crazy busy / crazy expensive with the olympics coming up soon ,?

Any recommendations for a hotel appreciated too -
the flights are to Paris Beauvais Airport

TIA :)

OP posts:
PeloMom · 28/06/2024 07:42

It’s busy but it’s expected. I found it as expensive as at any other time. Enjoy your trip.

Vermin · 28/06/2024 07:52

The metro increase only applies during the games and hotels will be based on demand. The airport you’re going to is a long way from the city so factor in a couple of hours to get to town. The train gets in to gare du Nord which is good and central ( the shuttle bus leaves you still with a further journey into the town proper). Hotels - what’s your budget?

Original poster
Munichfam5 · 28/06/2024 07:59

Hi - thanks @Vermin I guess our budget is around £170 per night ?

Never been to Paris so We want to see the usual sights and attractions (Eiffel tower, Louvre) for 4 nights .

I found a hotel near Gare de nord that looked quite good ?

our flights are only £30 each so that’s why we are flying to Beauvais airport :)

OP posts:
llamajohn · 28/06/2024 08:03

Gare du Nord is a good 30+ minutes away from things like Eiffel tower etc, not awful, but worth knowing.

Original poster
Munichfam5 · 28/06/2024 08:05

Ahh okay @llamajohn thanks
is there a better hotel location we could go for ,? That’s not too expensive?

OP posts:
Anonym00se · 28/06/2024 08:08

Also the area round Gare de Nord isn’t good. I personally wouldn’t want to stay around there. In fact, I find the immediate area surrounding a main station is a bit dodgy in most cities.

Vermin · 28/06/2024 08:17

(Ditto what everyone said about staying near gare du Nord. Wouldn’t stay near the tower but would try to stick to the 4th /5th (right bank), 6th / 7th (left bank) arrondissements. If by miracle you can find something in budget in the 1st then grab it. Even if it’s tiny. Paris is small so if you’re staying centrally in those areas you can walk a lot of the key sights (tower will be a metro ride)

MumblesParty · 28/06/2024 08:19

DS is going on a school trip to Paris next week. Apparently the usual coach companies refused to take them as they said it would be too busy, but the school found a company that would take them. The teacher has done her research and the general opinion is that it’ll be busy but not impossible. Obviously being a school trip, all activities are booked in advance, which will help. I’d suggest you do that too if you can. It generally reduces queueing.

Anothersolotrip · 28/06/2024 08:20

I have booked a similar trip a couple of months ago as flights were a great price. I found the most affordable way of doing it was to find when the cheap flights were on skyscanner and then used the lastminute.com website to find a hotel and flight package based on those dates. You can see the reviews of the different hotels and they often are cheaper than booking direct. Just be aware that if you are flying early morning, you might need to look at a taxi/uber to the shuttle pick up point as the metro might not be running!

Original poster
Munichfam5 · 28/06/2024 08:22

Thanks so much @Anothersolotrip and @Vermin i will look at those ! :)

OP posts:
Maray1967 · 28/06/2024 08:24

If you’re walking to the Tower go via the Palais de Chaillons if you can m. We were on a coach trip that dropped off near the Arc de Triomphe and were working out the quickest route when the French coach driver interrupted us and showed us this route - superb views.

1952VincentBlackLightning · 28/06/2024 08:28

I'd be more worried about violence linked to elections - we had thought about France in the next couple of weeks but have decided against https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cekk9n1je9yo

Janek · 28/06/2024 08:34

I think you've already decided against this, but to reiterate, we had to stay near Gare du Nord because of a train strike and the hotel that we booked at short notice looked fine on booking.com but really wasn't in real life. It was the Hotel Mauberge. Don't stay there!

I believe metro prices are going up from 20 July so you should have missed that price hike. How exciting, have a great time!

BlueCheeseDips · 28/06/2024 08:37

Please please OP do not stay near Gare Du Nord it’s terrifying and full of muggers at night

Original poster
Munichfam5 · 28/06/2024 08:38

Oh gosh - okay we will steer clear of that area ! Thanks!

OP posts:
Bubblesgun · 28/06/2024 08:40

I m from Paris.

  1. you have a lot more value for your money compare to london
  2. the area around gare du nord is basolutely fine
  3. in fact the restaurant called the terminus opposite is very very good and the wine list is amazing
  4. if you havent booked the eiffel tower months ago you ll queue
maslinpan · 28/06/2024 08:41

Some of the big attractions may be harder to see, I think they are barricading off the Eiffel tower as the basketball is taking place there.

Annielou67 · 28/06/2024 08:45

Actually I like to stay near the Gard du Nord as it helps with transport. You go straight there from the airport. I stay at the Mercure hotel just across the road, so drop off bags and straight into Paris using the Art Nouveau metro station outside the hotel. On departure day If you are leaving later in the day, you just get your bags ready, leave at the hotel and pickup as you arrive back at the station to go to the airport. That works for CdG airport and saves loads of time. No idea about Beauvais. As others have said, not a good place to walk around at night, so best if the hotel on a major road.

StripeyDeckchair · 28/06/2024 08:53

I'd go later in the year - Paris, like many cities, is horrible in the heat.

Late September/ October is usually lovely and far quieter (especially with the Olympics raising year)

I wouldn't be staying near the station but nearer the river, probably south rather than north side.

Pigeonfancier · 28/06/2024 08:57

I was in Paris last week. I’m a very regular visitor and the city is cleaner than I’ve ever seen it, even the metro is clean and relatively pleasant to travel on.

Gare du Nord and the surrounding area is usually crawling with pickpockets etc but it’s been “cleaned up” too - turns out about 20,000 homeless people have been rounded up by the police and bussed to accommodation in the provinces.

I discovered this after looking into it - I was so confused by how quiet and safe Gare du Nord seemed (compared to the usual atmosphere). But the government’s solution seems rather sinister. (I know other cities have done similar things before big events)

Ginmonkeyagain · 28/06/2024 08:58

Gare du Nord area is not the nicest but it isn't too bad, it is similar to busy station areas in London.

Wr are changing trains in Paris on Monday on our way down to the South. Not overly thrilled about the election and possible aggyness but there is nothing we can do now as we booked the holiday months ago.

That said we travelled across France (including Paris) the day after the riots last year and it was fine.

Hillary17 · 28/06/2024 09:05

I was in Paris for a week at the beginning of June and it was fine - but I don’t think I’d suggest a trip now. The roads are absolute chaos due to closures. Lots of construction. Most of the main sites are obstructed, lots of seatings in the way, transport is challenging. By all means it’ll be fine, but if you want to have an amazing time and see Paris at its best now probably isn’t the time!