Is a day trip to Paris from London worth the expense?

[supernaturalblonde]

Another question for all of you European traveling veterans:

 

We're looking into taking the train to Paris on a whirlwind one day tour to Paris while we're staying in London post-cruise. The cost for 4 people for a guided tour will come out to nearly $1000. *cough* The tour includes all of the "major" tourist places, and a few hours in the Louvre. Is this worth it?

 

We could take the train on our own; however, I feel really intimidated traveling to Paris unescorted because of all I've heard. Also, we want to see as much as possible.

 

Suggestions?

[Aussie Gal]

My sister and brother in law with another couple did this whilst on a extended stay in London. They went on the train and had a wonderful day and they still talk about it.

 

They did get a special though and I don't think it was anything like your $1000US. they booked it while in London and I think there are specials available. I think they only paid around $200Aud per person which would be around $260US a couple. The day included a lovely lunch plus a lot of sightseeing. I think they finally left Paris at around 8pm.

 

They were tired when they returned to London but it was a highlight of their time in Europe.

 

Jennie

[cberge]

Another question for all of you European traveling veterans:

 

We're looking into taking the train to Paris on a whirlwind one day tour to Paris while we're staying in London post-cruise. The cost for 4 people for a guided tour will come out to nearly $1000. *cough* The tour includes all of the "major" tourist places, and a few hours in the Louvre. Is this worth it?

 

We could take the train on our own; however, I feel really intimidated traveling to Paris unescorted because of all I've heard. Also, we want to see as much as possible.

 

Suggestions?

 

You do not need to do a guided tour from Londo to paris for the day especially for the price you are quoted.You can go on your own..from Waterloo to Gare de Nord on the Eurostar for a lot less especially if you prebook your tickets.During the week you can sometimes get a RT ticket for $98.00.Go early in the morning and come back early in the evening.When you get to Paris you can get the Hop/on Hop/Off bus that will take you to all the major sights..you can get off where you want or stay on the bus for the whole time and then go back to one or more places you wish to see.I would not suggest trying to do the Lourve on this trip,but you can walk into the main area as well as the gardens to get a taste of what you would see on your next trip to Paris.You will find a tourist booth as you get off the train with all the info you will need as to the bus,maps,etc. There are all kinds of cafe's to stop at for luncheon as well as a glass of wine.If you go on your own it will be at your pace.Paris is a wonderful city,the people are friendly,and the touist areas are safe,but as in any large city keep an eye on your belongings.I went by myself last year,and had a wonderful time for a whole week.No problem if you don't speak French either.I went to London for the day from Paris as I needed a Boots fix.If you do chose to do a guided tour I would wait until you get to London as there are cheaper options than what you have been quoted.No matter what you choose..have a great trip.

[supernaturalblonde]

Thanks so much for the quick response. That's why I adore this board! I'm excited to hear that it isn't an overwhelming ordeal to cram so much into one day.

Since the price seems high to both of you, we will wait and book when we actually arrive in London. I'm still skittish about going it alone though.. I guess we'll wait and see how brave (or how broke) we're feeling at the time.

[Andym]

Try This

http://www.evanevans.co.uk/paris.htm

[Globaliser]

I'm excited to hear that it isn't an overwhelming ordeal to cram so much into one day. ... I'm still skittish about going it alone though.

It is certainly very possible to do a Paris day trip, and you should have no qualms about going on your own. Contrary to what people often say, Paris is pretty easy to navigate around, and the language barrier is - well - not, as enough people speak enough English to help you out.

 

But a word of advice - please, please, please don't do a day trip to Paris in the middle of a short visit to London. You could spend a month in London and still not manage to see everything. You could likewise spend a month in Paris and still not manage to see everything. If you do a day trip to Paris, you will spend between 8 and 10 hours of that day just travelling there and back before you get any sightseeing time in Paris at all. Why waste that much of your holiday? Paris will still be there for another visit some other time - and she (like London) deserves much more than being skimmed through for just a few hours.

[cberge]

I disagree with Globaliser re the travel time wasted on a day trip to Paris as I do a day trip to Paris or London if I am staying in either city just to make a fun day trip and pick up things I like from both places.It is only about 2 1/2 hrs.(each way) on the Eurostar form the center of each city and the Hop/ons are right there for sighteseeing if you want them.I understand the plead of not going to Paris on such a short trip to London as I have been going for years and have not begun to scratch the surface(of either city for that matter),but if you chose to do a day trip you all will have a fun time.You can always go back to both!!!! Have a great trip no matter what you choose to do.PS..you will be just fine in Paris on your own with family.There is a lot of English spoken and the maps etc. are in English.Take a good city map with you.

[Mezzaluna]

I agree with Globaliser. You don't indicate whether this is your first trip to London, but I agree: there is so much to see there. We stayed in London six days and felt we barely got acclimated.

 

I've done several visits to Paris over the years. My most recent visit was for six days- not nearly enough. Please, please save Paris for the time it deserves. In one day you will probably enjoy what little you see, but feel cheated for all you missed.

 

Please do not take this as a disrespectful remark, but in my opinion day trips like that to a major cultural center like Paris end up feeling like a trip to a theme park. You get the facades but nothing much behind them.

[cberge]

I agree with both posters on seeing London on it's own, and saving Paris for a different trip in the regards of being able to enjoy each city,BUT..there are traveler's who may not want to travel the same as other's and since the question was asked about going on a tour or alone for what they chose to do as a one day trip to Paris I don't think it is up to us to discourage something that the original poster may want to do.This may be an only chance,it may be something they have all dreamed of doing..who knows,but the information should be given as asked.I rarely disagree on this board,but I think info should be given as asked,and those not be discouraged from doing something that they have chosen even if we don't agree.I took someone on my last trip to Paris to London for the day and she loved it.We did the bus,and she saw sights she had read about.She goes to Paris at least twice a year,and now saw what she wanted to see of London and that was that.I don't mean to offend anyone.

[supernaturalblonde]

I appreciate the input. We have never been to Europe before and are treating this as a "now or never" sort of trip. Hopefully, we will return many times, but we just want to see a bit of everything this trip.

Next May can't get here fast enough!

[katisdale]

We did this in 2002. We did not include the Louvre. We left London early AM and returned that evening. I would go to Paris just to take the eurostar. It is not like any train I have been on previously. You really move. It cost us about $120.00 each. It included round trip transportation and a short "see the sights" tour. Then we were on our own. Try http://www.evanevantours.com. We had enough time to have a leisurely lunch, take a Seine river cruise, and see Notre Dame. I thought it was time and money well spent.

[Jane110]

>>>>>>>>We could take the train on our own; however, I feel really intimidated traveling to Paris unescorted because of all I've heard.<<<<<<<

 

Hi SupernaturalBlonde,

 

Since I don't know what you've heard, I can't comment on it. But I can tell you that Paris is a very easy and safe city. I go there twice a year by myself and don't speak french, other than the few polite phrases I learned in high school and the few words I've managed to pick up.

 

Like someone else posted, if you feel more comfortable taking a tour, then do so. It's your trip. However, consider the option of going it alone and then taking the hop-on/hop-off bus around Paris. This will bring you to the major sites and you can stay as long as you like. Since you don't feel you HAVE to go to Paris, buying the train tickets in London is a good option for you. You'll probably get them at a discounted price.

 

My first trip to Paris was so great I had a hard time leaving the streets - I never made it into the Louvre! That was about 10 years ago, but now I've been there many times. If you're not a museum lover then don't feel compelled to get to the Louvre......you'll be back to Paris! :-)

[Globaliser]

I don't think it is up to us to discourage something that the original poster may want to do.This may be an only chance,it may be something they have all dreamed of doing..who knows,but the information should be given as asked.I rarely disagree on this board,but I think info should be given as asked,and those not be discouraged from doing something that they have chosen even if we don't agree.

That I understand, but I think that a poster for whom their only chance of ever going to Paris is this trip will rapidly filter out the advice to ditch the trip.

 

For anyone else, I really don't think the advice is complete without warning of one pitfall of doing it at all - it sounds like a good idea, but (at least IMO) could be more trouble than it's really worth.

I disagree with Globaliser re the travel time wasted on a day trip to Paris as I do a day trip to Paris or London if I am staying in either city just to make a fun day trip and pick up things I like from both places.It is only about 2 1/2 hrs.(each way) on the Eurostar form the center of each city and the Hop/ons are right there for sighteseeing if you want them.

To be precise, the fastest train is currently 2 hours 35 minutes. Most are another 10 to 15 minutes more. You need to check-in at the train station 30 minutes before departure. If you have to arrange to leave your hotel 45 minutes before check-in time to make sure you get there on time, that takes the hotel to Gare du Nord travel time to 4 hours. And then if you have a particular destination in mind in Paris, rather than just jumping on a sightseeing bus at the Gare du Nord, it could take you another 30 to 45 minutes by public transport.

 

I therefore stand by my estimate of travel time at 8 to 10 hours. Of that, time spent moving on board the Eurostar is about 5½ hours. I think that anyone who wants to do such a trip would be well advised to base their plans on a realistic idea of the time it takes to get there and back.