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Lutèce

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Posts posted by Lutèce

    Mont Saint Michel from Le Havre

    in France Ports

    Posted

    Hello

     

    Not trying to put you off, but do you realise that according to Via Michelin (who is the only reliable distance calculator - forget Google maps)  between Le Havre and Mont St Michel it's over 3 hours by road each way. That's without any stops for coffee, photos, comfort breaks. Or allowing for any traffic holdups. Just trying to give a realistic picture - up to you if you decide 6+ hours in a car is worth it to join the throngs on MSM!!

    Le Havre, not Paris..

    in France Ports

    Posted

    11 hours ago, Larainerenee8 said:

     

    I've had a look at Rome2Rio for options. There IS a bus, but the journey is 2h 28m including changing in Caen ville where you have to get a tram to the Mémorial. There are only 3 busses a day. Your best bet is renting a car and going directly there, where you can rent audioguides. No need to pay for an expensive private tour. I have no personal experience of renting a car at the cruise terminal, but I'm sure someone on here will.

    I found it incredibly moving - and sad in that "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."

    Real ID

    in Ask a Cruise Question

    Posted

    20 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

    Europe is about 3.9 million square miles, while that of US is slightly less - but well over 3 million. The US ranges from sub-tropical to almost-Arctic.; with tremendous variety: beaches, mountains, deserts, lakes, prairies, large cities, small farming or fishing communities.  Many US residents see no need to, or likelihood of ever even wanting to, travel internationally.  Most US residents  would have to travel hundreds of miles to just get to the nearest international border, while a good number of Europeans could not go that far without crossing a border.

     

    Many just do not see the need for a passport.

     

    I have had a passport for decades - and regularly travel internationally - as do most people I know, but a person’s environment and interests will logically dictate their spending;  and the typical US resident just does not have the same environment/interests as the typical European.

    I find this very interesting. Although I agree (having visited the US many times) that there is an amazing diversity of temperature/fauna/flora within the US, there is a certain - not sure how to put this without causing offence - ignorance ( in the proper sense of the word meaning not-knowing) about the world outside the USA As an example, we were once in rural Arizona and went into a bank to change some UK banknotes to US. The teller had no idea what we were giving them and had to be told to turn over the bank note to recognise the Queen on the other side - therefore proving it was a legal banknote.

    And somewhere - I forget where exactly, but I think rural Colorado, we were asked if we had driven there from England! Absolutely no idea there was a bit of water called the Atlantic between the UK where we started our journey and Colorado where we currently were!

    It really worries me that people like these can vote!

    Paris Tours from Le Havre that aren't just drive by

    in France Ports

    Posted

    As someone has already pointed out, you will be spending approximately 6 hours in a coach getting to and from Paris and assuming you need to be back at least 30 minutes before departure, that leaves you barely 6 hours in Paris. Disneyworld is a 45 minute train ride from central Paris, so that's another hour and a half travelling. So seeing the sights in Paris is now down to 4 and a half hours.

    But why would you want to go to an American theme park when you're in Paris?? I really don't understand this - it's not exactly a "French" experience!

    I have read somewhere on these boards there's an option which gets you to and from Paris/Le Havre but leaves you to explore on your own.

    Lunch at la Tour Eiffel will cost approximately 135 euros per person without wine.

    My advice, for what it's worth, would be to use the ship's transfer to get to and from Paris and do some research of your own to decide what you actually would like to see in the time available.

     

    Info on Brest

    in France Ports

    Posted

    I cannot help re docking and shuttles, but if you Google 'Office de Tourisme Brest' you will find their web page with lots of suggestions of where to go, eat etc. You can change the language to English if your French isn't up to it.

    No need for a tour group. Océanopolis is well worth a visit if you're at all interested in the sea.

    Paris - Must see in only 2 days...

    in France Ports

    Posted

    Some things which may be of use to you.

    You can get a taxi at a stand, or hail a taxi on the street, provided it is more than 50 metres from a taxi stand. A taxi for hire will have a white light on the roof. He must pick you up if this is lit, unless he is on the last 30 minutes of his shift - the meter on the rear window shelf will note this.

    If the light is orange, he is already engaged.

    No light, or the meter covered means he is off duty.

    As you say you do not speak French, write clearly the name of your destination and give it to the driver.

     

    Check to make sure your Airbnb is officially listed with the Mairie. It should be registered and display a number on their advert (Loi Elan). If it doesn't then the owner is renting out the property illegally. There have been instances of (unregistered) properties being reported to the authorities by other permanent residents in the apartment block who were sick and tired of a constant stream of short stay visitors. It would be somewhat disconcerting to find when arriving at your rental it was no longer available!🙀

    More background on this

    www.thelocal.fr

     

    • Like 1

    anyone hired a car in La Rochelle

    in France Ports

    Posted

    I have no experience of renting a car in La Rochelle on a Sunday (or any other day of the week), however on checking Pages Jaunes for car hire, I have found that - unusually - both Hertz and Avis are open on Sundays at La Rochelle Airport. Check on their respective websites.

    No idea how you'd get from the port area to the airport on a Sunday though!!

    HTH

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