PARIS -RIVER SEINE IS THE HIGHLIGHT. Review on Paris

I just returned from a wonderful trip to France and Austria. With fifteen days and a limited budget, I would say we did a very good job.

France we spent one week. Yes, Paris is the highlight but there are other parts of France also which are also so exquisite.

So here goes my rough guide to spending a week in France on a shoe string budget.

ITINERARY

The days were split into Paris and partly in Nice which we made as a base to visit places around. So I suggest 4 nights and 5 days in Paris, of which one day was spent in Versailles. Then three nights in Nice from where day trips can be made to Monte Carlo-Monaco, St.Tropez, St.Raphel and Cannes. This is the French Riviera at its best, should not be missed.

GETTING AROUND

If u r reaching Paris by night ensure that atleast the hotel booking for the night that u arrive into the city is done. To get around within the city, I found out that buying that Paris Viste card is more expensive, instead it is best to buy the 10 journey tickets. These entitle u to use the metro, bus and all the public transports.

To travel within Europe, like getting from Paris to Nice and further as we did, its bets to buy the Eurail Pass from the home city itself. There is some minimal saving but savings nevertheless.

Travel time between Paris and Nice is long. So its best and economical to book an overnight couchette or sleeper in the Eurail. We took the train at 8.30 in the night from Paris and reached Nice fresh and rested in Nice by 8.15 in the morning. Trains are air-conditioned, provide pillows and blankets. Very comfortable.

U can use the Eurail pass to travel to St.Tropez or Monte Carlo-Monaco from Nice. The day u reach use the pass on the same day, that way, it is not considered as a new journey on the pass. The journey from Nice to St.Tropez takes over 2.30 hrs and Monte Carlo is just 20-30 minutes away. Both are in different directions. So u cannot do both on one day. The day u do St.Tropez u can do St.Raphel and Cannes. And do Monte Carlo - Monaco on one day. The journey from Nice to St.Tropez is breath taking, do not miss it!

STAY

As I mentioned earlier, its best to book a hotel in the city into which u arrive first. Rest of the places, we had no bookings done prior to leaving. We found out that its best to head straight for the tourist office which is almost always located either in the railway station itself or very close to it. The moment u disembark from the train; go with ur luggage and all to the tourist office. U get the maps of the city, the not-to-be-missed tourist destinations and they also do the hotel bookings. U get very reasonable rates. Some offices do it for free while some charge 1-2 euro. Worth it because all the hotels that we stayed in were in the average range of 70 euros and were centrally located and very clean.

FOOD

Well, we are vegetarians and have learnt from our other travel experiences that veggies do not have it easy. U do get the food but it is exhorbitant, all the budgeting goes for a toss. So this time we traveled with a 500ml electric cooker, and happily made rice and dal for dinner . Carry adaptor. Carry salt, other seasonings. Maggie and macaroni was also made in the cooker. For lunch, we packed sandwiches for which purchase of the cheese, bread, cucumber and tomato was made in super markets. Carry a bottle of good, fiery Indian pickles. Chips is also a gr8 accessory. Do dig into the seasonal fruits also. We saved tremendously on the food bills.

SIGHTS TO SEE.

In Paris, the first thing which one should do is take a cruise on the river Seine. U get completely oriented with the entire city. Its gr8 to walk along the river seine, we covered almost the entire Old parts of the city on foot. Long, long walks but worth the experience.

Go right to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Visit Versailles and do not miss the gardens. The gardens are just spread over acres and acres, simply exquisite.

In Paris city do see the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame, Montmarte, Arc de Triomphe, the walk in Latin Quarter, Opera, Pompidou, Grand Boulevards, Invalides. Visit Champs-Elysees in the night. I felt it is over rated, it is just like any other bustling night street in Europe, the huge names in fashion adorn the streets, I thought it was very similar to streets in London like Oxford Street or Leicester. Pigalle is the place of sleaze , where Moulin Rouge is located.

Well, there are tones and tones of things which one can do in Paris. Such a short trip is like just scrapping the surface. Paris is said to be the most romantic city but I beg to differ, I felt Venice is THE city of romance. But then each to his own….

St.Tropez is simply fabulous and no words can describe the beauty of the French Riviera. The cruise on the River Seine and then the walk along the river was the highlight of my trip.