Going to Paris, France for three nights and million questions?

Question

hi going Paris on 1/2/08 with a budget of 170 pounds max.i was wondering if anyone can help answer the following questions. thanks in advance!!!

1) How much would it cost to take a taxi from Gare du Nord to my hotel, timhotel Opera Madeline on Rue St Lazare.

2) How much should i allow for food for three days? wat are good cheap places to eat in around the above hotel?

3) I'm going to disneyland too. does buying a ticket to the park mean i have to pay extra to go on the rides?

5) if i eat in the restaurants in Disneyland will it be very expensive? do i need to book ahead?

4) how much are the toys from disneyland? cheaper than the disney store in UK?

5) where are good places to shop that are equivilant to Topshop like in London? basicaly where can i buy fashionable clothes for cheap?

Answer 1

£170 = 225 €.

1) If you are on a budget I don't know why you would want to take a taxi in Paris when public transportation is so cheap and efficient. I suppose you don't have too much luggage for a short stay. Your hotel is only one mile from Gare du Nord so it is walking distance. Otherwise you can take bus 43 or 26, it's direct. The métro is easy too but there will be one change, no direct line between the two places... It's only 1.50 €.

2) Food in Paris is cheap enough if you avoid touristic sites. Your hotel is in an expensive area but under the Madeleine church (enter on the side), you can get a full lunch in the "foyer" for 8 euros on weekdays from 11:45 to 3:00 pm. Otherwise as said above it is easy to get a 3-course meal for under 15 € anywhere, just look around, venture into little side streets. You can also get food from a vendor in the street or buy a sandwich or salad in a grocery store, that will cost you only a few euros. For dinner, here is a website that lists cheap restaurants: http://www.restos-pas-chers.fr/ So you should be able to have 3 meals/day for 25 €. For water, bring your plastic bottle and refill it at public fountains. Or buy water in a supermarket/grocery store.

3) No, the ticket to the park allows you to go on the rides, you won't have to pay extra.

4) I don't know if it will be expensive but it will be overpriced for what it is. Get a good breakfast before you go and grab a small snack there or bring your own sandwich. No you don't need to book ahead but it might save you time. I am not familiar with Disneyland so the best is for you to check their website.

5) I don't know Topshop but the winter sale is on in Paris right now so it's a good time to buy clothes, although on your budget you might not have much money left after going to Disneyland. Clothing stores are everywhere in Paris, along Bd St-Germain, rue de Rennes, the malls in Châtelet-les-Halles or Val d'Europe next to Disneyland (on the same RER line).

To go to Disneyland, buy a Mobilis ticket, zones 1-5 for 12.50 €. For your other trips in Paris, métro tickets are 1.50 € per ride and a bunch of 10 is 11.10 € (not that you would need so many).

Have fun in Paris!

Answer 2

#3 - just got back and stayed near here - Disneyland has a one price for the park and should include the rides.  Look online to check that out.

#5 - we ate at Rainforest Cafe. It and the Hard Rock did not seem expensive (but we are from America and the dollar stinks against the Euro so it was expensive from our perspective!).

#4 the toys are cheap to expensive in the shops.  There are price ranges for everything!  Disney offers pins, keychains, pencils, chocolates up to elaborate stuffed characters, sparkly costumes and shining toys that cost alot.  Something for everyone as they want you to spend money, have a good time and come back again and again!

Found a great outlet mall at Val D'Europe RER A stop before Marne du Chessy (the Disney stop) and it is fabulous.  Designers marked down s as well as numerous  department type stores and most of it inside a mall (covered and heated) environment.  Found some great buys (again, though US to Euro stinks) and unique things like their coats and boots and scarves that we don't see anywhere in America!  Loved it!!!!

Answer 3

1) you should expect to pay about 10-15 euros.

2) You should allow about 25-50 euros per day for food. If you go into the latin quarter (quartier latin) you can find some good 3 course meals for under 20 euros for dinner.... Best places for food on the cheap...

3) Buying a ticket means you get to ride everything, although you have to pay to get there. Take the RER (train) it goes direct, as long as you get on the right one

4) I don't know how expensive the toys are in UK, but with the pound higher than the Euro, you should get a better exchange rate. But usually the toys are more expensive at the park. Go to Galleries Lafyette at Opera and you will fine a HUGE toy department on the 4th or 5th floor.

5) Galleries Lafyette is the place to go. Its about a 5 story building just for shopping, and it covers about a block. From where you, just hop on the metro and take the train on line 8 or 9 to Opera and once you get out, you'll see it.