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GENERAL INFORMATION
Official Paris Website
For the most informative website on Paris go to: http://www.paris.org
View from the top of Notre Dame
This site will give you information on Airports, Transportation into Paris, Sightseeing destinations to Monuments, Museums, Parks, Cafés, Restaurants, Bars, Nightclubs, Hotel Accommodations and TGV bookings.
Currency Conversion
For conversions go to Universal Currency Converter:
http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Booking your flight to Paris
As this tour does not include flights to Paris, we suggest several ways that you can purchase your flight tickets either through a Travel Agent or Online.
For participants who reside in Australia we suggest:
Flight Centre – http://www.flightcentre.com.au
Booking Online
An alternative way to purchasing your flight tickets is to go online. This maybe a cheaper way in purchasing flight tickets, but one must be aware that the after sales service or expert information regarding possible Visa or other travel arrangements may not be included. You will have to check with your consulate to see if a Visa is required for France.
We suggest the following online links in purchasing your flight tickets to Paris.
Jetabroad http://www.jetabroad.com or Webjet http://www.webjet.com.au
Travel Documents (Visa)
Check that your passport is in order. Most countries need a minimum of six (6) months validity on your passport prior to departing from place of origin. And if you are travelling on a No-Australian passport then you must check with your consulate or travel agent if you may require additional entry visa to France and re-entry documentation back to Australia. Make sure you know if any visa requirements are necessary for France well in advance of your departure date. Foreign Consulates may take several months to process a visa.
NB: Australian Passport holders do not require a Visa for France.
International Travel Insurance
International travel insurance is not included as part of the ‘Land Content’ for the tour. You will have to purchase your own Full Comprehensive Travel Insurance whilst participating on the tour.
We recommend the following:
World Nomads – http://www.worldnomads.com
Train travel around Europe
If you intend to travel around Europe either before or after the tour, an exciting way is to travel by train. A comprehensive website for booking online to travel on the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) throughout Europe is:
http://www.tgv-europe.com/en/
Transportation into Paris
Prior to your arrival into Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) visit their website at:
http://www.paris-cdg.com
Once you arrive at CDG airport from place of origin, there are many forms of transportation to central Paris. The journey into Paris from the airport is about 23 km and it takes you approximately one hour by train, bus, shuttle service or taxi.
Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport
Train Services (RER)
The (RER A) commuter rail service links Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport with central Paris – Gare du Nord. Trains depart CDG every 15 minutes and the journey takes approximately 40 minutes to Gare du Nord – cost around 10€. You can then transfer onto the Metro system (with the same ticket) to reach our accommodation destination.
Shared Transfer Shuttle Service
Another economical and stress free way to reach the hotel from the airport is to use the shared Mini Bus transfer shuttle service. This service takes you (point-to-point) from the airport to your hotel at a cost of approx. 25€ per person. You have to book the shuttle bus online prior to departure from place of origin. There might be an extra fee for night service. Exact price will be given on the booking form. Book and pay online http://www.parishuttle.com and your transfer will be confirmed within 24 hours. You will be provided with a travel voucher to present to your driver. Reservations and pre-payment are mandatory.
Roissybus
Roissybus runs a direct service between the three terminals of Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport and terminates at rue Scribe alongside the Paris Opéra Garnier. This direct journey takes approximately 45 minutes. The bus is especially designed with shelves to store your luggage. You can purchase your one-way ticket on board the bus from the driver for approx. 11€. Buses run every 15 minutes between 6:00am and 10:30pm. The Roissybus pickup stops are well marked within the terminals. To get to your Montmartre hotel you will need to purchase a Metro ticket from the Opera (M)
Transportation from CDG airport to Paris
Upon arrival in Paris
Walking is the most scenic way to explore Paris, though for longer journeys, the Métro is the preferred mode of transportation. With 14 lines having over 380 stations, covering more than 211 km of track, the Paris underground is Europe’s largest subway system. That’s without including the RER – a commuter-rail network, which is integrated with the Métro throughout central Paris.
Art Nouveau entrance to the Abbesses Metro (Montmartre).
The Paris Métro is one of the oldest subways in Europe. Built around 1900, it was completed just in time for the World Trade Fair. The Metro compares favourably with newer counterparts in other cities except for those commuters requiring special needs such as wheelchair or pram access.
Most major stations may not have lifts/escalators, though slowly as stations are being renovated some do include these facilities. The carriages are modern and clean, with rubber wheels to cut down he noise factor. Waiting time between trains– usually around 2 to 3 minutes. Crime is minimal, except for pickpockets, which is very high both in Metros and at around tourists’ attractions. For those commuters requiring wheelchair or pram access the only other option is to travel by RATP Bus that displays a wheelchair logo. Alternatively, taxis are readily available.
Navigo Découverte Pass
Navigo Card
This is a weekly Smart card Metro pass, which requires a photo ID and can only be used by one person. The ‘once-off’ electronic card will cost you 5€, you then charge it for the coming week for 22.80€ (Zone 1-5). The weekly pass starts on Monday morning and ends midnight the following Sunday. The Navigo Découverte pass can be reloaded with fares for up to 10 years; so don’t throw it away when you return home–save it for your next trip to Paris.
Paris Métro single tickets and carnets
The basic Métro ticket is a small piece of white cardboard with a magnetic strip that costs 1.90€. The rail transportation authority for Paris (RATP) region issues it. You can save money by purchasing a carnet (pack) of 10 tickets for 14.90€ at the ticket window of any Métro station or from vending machines near the turnstiles. If you are purchasing from a ticket teller – ask for “un billet, s’il vous plait” or “un carnet, s’il vous plait.” A carnet is simply a stack of individual tickets.
A single ticket will take you anywhere within the city of Paris on the Métro and RER (Zone1-5) networks and you can transfer between lines or between the Métro and the RER on the same ticket. You can also use tickets from your carnet on public buses. Your ticket is valid for 1½ hour from the time it’s stamped.
Related Movies filmed in Paris
Lust for Life (1956) Director Vincente Minnelli http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049456/
Frantic (1988) Director Roman Polanski http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095174/
Lovers on Pont Neuf (1991) Director Leos Carax http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101318/
Amelie (2001) Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/
Before Sunset (2004) Director Richard Linklater http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381681/
Angel-A (2005) Director Luc Besson http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473753/
Paris, je t’aime (2006) 22 Directors http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401711
The Da Vinci Code (2006) Director Ron Howard http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382625/
2 Days in Paris (2007) Director Julie Delpy http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0841044/
Taken (2008) Director Pierre Morel http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (2009) Director Jan Kounen http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023441/
Midnight in Paris (2011) Director Woody Allen http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/