I'm looking to spend 400 Max on the few day break. Been talking to a few friends at work and a few have said Prague.
Paris
- Thread starter Camalot
- Start date
Why is it not worth it? Paris is a great place.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Prague does seem very cheap - I've got a weekend there (3 nights) booked for a total accomodation cost of £120 for two at the end of the month, at a Marriot hotel.
you could do a very low end Paris trip for that or have your budget go far further in some of the other suggestions. I spent easily that going to Paris to do the half marathon so I wasn't exactly on the lash or spending wildly. For several years I went at least every month for work and was constantly amazed at the price to grimness ratio the hotels were able to achieve.
[TW]Fox;22486381 said:
That's very good.
What do guys use to book your break? Ie a website or?
Yes Toulouse is very nice, find a B&B or something a little way in the countryside. Or maybe Italy.. Florence.
Most of my bookings for this trip have been through Hotels.com. I also get a further 10% off via Quidco and for every 10 stays, I get a night free (In reality, I get a discount equal to the average nightly spend over the previous 10) which in theory is another 10% off.
The Prague price is before Quidco cashback, too
Bruges is nice but any more than 2 days there and you'll be a bit bored. We ended up taking a trip to Ostende on day 3. That was pretty dull too
Soldato
Paris is expensive, but worth it. I strongly recommend www.hotwire.com and grabbing a bargain. We were placed in The Grand Palis (or something) almost overlooking the Louvre - paid 200 euros a night for rooms usually costing 700 euros a night.
The only reasonably priced thing in Paris is wine and pastry. That's it. Everything else is eyewatering.
Don't make the mistake of choosing a nice local looking cafe based on the price of its croissants like we did... 1.50 a croissant, bargain. Order two orange juices and coffees without even checking the price. Final bill nearly 30 euros, haha.
The metro is very easy to use and work out. You could stay out a bit to save on money, but I found for two nights I'd spend too much time travelling to make it worth it (and to get cheaper than the prices www.hotwire.com were quoting).
I recommend seeing around the Eifel tower (not worth quiing for it), paying to go on the top of the Arc de Triomph for some amazing views and walking the Champs Elysees. The art district is also a fantastic place for art, architecture and great food and cafes (it's the Soho/Shoreditch of Paris).
Time Out Paris app and the Paris Metro app on the iPhone are invaluable.
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OP, if you go to Paris, beware of the dodgy robbers around the tourist areas. They will come up to you, try and pretend you dropped something nice and golden, get close and try to pickpocket you. Various other tricks will be tried, just a loud no or '**** Off' works! Usually they are from Eastern block countries; Kosovo, Romania etc etc.
Also go to montmartre and have a wonder around, great views and a funky area. Beware of 'black' guys in groups trying to surround you and force you to by their tat, they can be very intimidating (OcUK PC people go way
). Response should be as in previous example and keep on walking.
Otherwise Paris is ok
Excellent, I'll sleep on the floor, don't worry about putting me up in a bed
You're staying about 50m from where we were. Excellent choice!
Do the river cruise, fancy old bridge, old square, but drink away from the main tourist hotspots. 'The Pub' is amazing; tables with a 4 way beer pump in the middle, charge you by the litre and your total goes up on an electronic leaderboard. Yes I did it with the gf on my birthday after we went for a ridiculously priced lunch which is one of the best meals we've ever had.
The Underground bar we went to on the first night was epic with a great atmosphere. Pilsner Urquel was 90p a bottle and so was a glass of wine. Amazing but cannot remember where it was, close to a roundabout (I think) and was just a small doorway with 2 bouncers outside. Bah my drunken memory!
Also go to montmartre and have a wonder around, great views and a funky area. Beware of 'black' guys in groups trying to surround you and force you to by their tat, they can be very intimidating (OcUK PC people go way
). Response should be as in previous example and keep on walking.Otherwise Paris is ok
[TW]Fox;22486381 said:
Excellent, I'll sleep on the floor, don't worry about putting me up in a bed
You're staying about 50m from where we were. Excellent choice!
Do the river cruise, fancy old bridge, old square, but drink away from the main tourist hotspots. 'The Pub' is amazing; tables with a 4 way beer pump in the middle, charge you by the litre and your total goes up on an electronic leaderboard. Yes I did it with the gf on my birthday after we went for a ridiculously priced lunch which is one of the best meals we've ever had.
The Underground bar we went to on the first night was epic with a great atmosphere. Pilsner Urquel was 90p a bottle and so was a glass of wine. Amazing but cannot remember where it was, close to a roundabout (I think) and was just a small doorway with 2 bouncers outside. Bah my drunken memory!
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I went a month or two ago and they were much nicer than I remember, a large number speak English "now" as well so I'd be inclined to say they have decided they need to be nice to the tourists.
OP as a quick guide I spent around £500 on a weekend there, although that included a room for just me in a 3* hotel near the Arc de Triumph (not my choice!), return eurostar and a show. It really wan't worth it, but then I'm not a fan of Paris in general. There are nicer cities, although it has cleaned up its act in recent years (literally, a lot less rubbish and dog poo around!)
It does seem expensive, on the other hand it probably isn't much different to London. In fact a hotel next to Marble Arch with a similar room to the one I stayed in in Paris is significantly more expensive than the one in Paris so...
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Excellent, I'll sleep on the floor, don't worry about putting me up in a bed
You're staying about 50m from where we were. Excellent choice!
Do the river cruise, fancy old bridge, old square, but drink away from the main tourist hotspots. 'The Pub' is amazing; tables with a 4 way beer pump in the middle, charge you by the litre and your total goes up on an electronic leaderboard. Yes I did it with the gf on my birthday after we went for a ridiculously priced lunch which is one of the best meals we've ever had.
The Underground bar we went to on the first night was epic with a great atmosphere. Pilsner Urquel was 90p a bottle and so was a glass of wine. Amazing but cannot remember where it was, close to a roundabout (I think) and was just a small doorway with 2 bouncers outside. Bah my drunken memory!
Awesome stuff - noted! Bizarrely the hotel may be cheap but they are charging me 15 quid a night for parking
Soldato
- Joined
- 1 Apr 2009
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There are good restaurants off the beaten path (but don't stray too far). Can find some decent take-aways too. Don't go to bistros or sandwich bars, they're ****e. The subway system is the best and cheapest way to get around. There are a few 'Irish' pubs, well, like everywhere. Probably the best way to enjoy a pint. There are some good parks if you fancy some peace and quiet.
Personally, I'd avoid Paris in the summer, or at any time. I was born there but I never really liked it.
Personally, I'd avoid Paris in the summer, or at any time. I was born there but I never really liked it.
[TW]Fox;22487016 said:Most of my bookings for this trip have been through Hotels.com. I also get a further 10% off via Quidco and for every 10 stays, I get a night free (In reality, I get a discount equal to the average nightly spend over the previous 10) which in theory is another 10% off.
The Prague price is before Quidco cashback, too
Lastminute normally for me and I've been there quite a few times.
Krakow is fantastic too but if you haven't been to Prague then start there. Loads of good places in Eastern Europe but Prague is the one to start with.
Soldato
[TW]Fox;22487016 said:Most of my bookings for this trip have been through Hotels.com. I also get a further 10% off via Quidco and for every 10 stays, I get a night free (In reality, I get a discount equal to the average nightly spend over the previous 10) which in theory is another 10% off.
The Prague price is before Quidco cashback, too
Meh! Hotwire - cheap luxury
Soldato
Carol and I had the pleasure of staying in Paris for a long weekend seven years ago now. It was our first vacation together and only went there really to see the Chili Peppers play.
Beautiful city, I would highly recommend it.
Eiffel tower first obvious thing to see, I wish we had gone closer to it at night to see it lit up.
Get on one of the big taxi boats along the seine that go past Notre Damme and turn around at the tower. You get the tickets from machines by the river, like train or tram tickets and we were surprised how cheap they were.
Sacre coeur, where all the caricature artists hang out. Bit of info here. I had always planned on having Carols done, though I kind of got ripped off by letting the first one we came to do it. I do not regret it, though paid too much, as after we'd had it done and sat on the steps at the front of the Sacre Coeur another guy did one for a fraction of the price and it was how I wanted it to look.
Not sure how macabre your other half is though we spent a fair bit of time in Paris cemetries. Saw Jim Morrisons grave. Also the catacombs under Paris I would recommend.
This is where we stayed, it was part of a package with flight from some site, not sure which now and was very reasonable. Infact we were amazed with the Hotel. It is quite small though was a stay of a lifetime.
We have been away every year since, to different places and Paris to this day stands out as a fairytale outing.
I hope you are able to go and if you enjoy it if only half as much as we did, I am sure you will be happy.
B.t.w. We have very little cash and went B&B only. We ate bread and cheese, or ham for a few meals.
*Edit. We ate one evening here, the best meal I have eaten anywhere. The guy there was excellent and went through the whole menu explaining in English, very hospitable and welcoming. Tiny place around the corner from where we stayed. Magical.
Beautiful city, I would highly recommend it.
Eiffel tower first obvious thing to see, I wish we had gone closer to it at night to see it lit up.
Get on one of the big taxi boats along the seine that go past Notre Damme and turn around at the tower. You get the tickets from machines by the river, like train or tram tickets and we were surprised how cheap they were.
Sacre coeur, where all the caricature artists hang out. Bit of info here. I had always planned on having Carols done, though I kind of got ripped off by letting the first one we came to do it. I do not regret it, though paid too much, as after we'd had it done and sat on the steps at the front of the Sacre Coeur another guy did one for a fraction of the price and it was how I wanted it to look.
Not sure how macabre your other half is though we spent a fair bit of time in Paris cemetries.
Saw Jim Morrisons grave. Also the catacombs under Paris I would recommend.This is where we stayed, it was part of a package with flight from some site, not sure which now and was very reasonable. Infact we were amazed with the Hotel. It is quite small though was a stay of a lifetime.
We have been away every year since, to different places and Paris to this day stands out as a fairytale outing.
I hope you are able to go and if you enjoy it if only half as much as we did, I am sure you will be happy.
B.t.w. We have very little cash and went B&B only. We ate bread and cheese, or ham for a few meals.
*Edit. We ate one evening here, the best meal I have eaten anywhere. The guy there was excellent and went through the whole menu explaining in English, very hospitable and welcoming. Tiny place around the corner from where we stayed. Magical.
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