I want to stay with a French family in Nice for 6 weeks from 1st July 2007, although this date is flexible! I've tried using the homestayweb and homestayfinder websites but have had no luck. I ...
I plan to go to the beach but I'm looking for good bars at night as well as good restaurants that will serve large portions but at reasonable price....
Both appliances (a hairdryer and a lithium-ion battery recharger state that they run on variable volts and hertz (110-240V, 50/60 Hz). I think that all I need to buy is a simple plug adapter, not a ...
I am planning to leave Paris and stay in Aquitaine area from Aug 4-7. I know that there is a mimic festival MIMOS in Perigueux that would last till Aug 5. Is it good to see and worth a day staying ...
i am from cyprus but living in egypt and my wife is egyptian and she has a visa to cyprus (as she is my wife) a visa not a residency permit. she didnt use this visa to enter cyprus but we want to go ...
I live in California and want to travel to France. How can I do this in the most inexpensive way? Can I stay with a host family? I've never really traveled anywhere, so I dont know much... but ...
They were mosaic, and looked like 8 bit computer graphics. They could have been bugs or aliens or octupuses. Different colours. Lots in Monmatre, a few in Marais. Does anyone know what they are ...
Ok so i talked to my parents and now have the opportunity to go to France for the summer and live with my uncle. If i were to go i would live in Bordeaux because that's where my uncle lives. I ...
I'm from the midwestern United States and am planning a trip to Paris in July. I read today that many hotels in France do not have showers - only baths - which seems very unusual to me. I was ...
The price that has been quoted for the taxi is on the high side. There is no need whatever to have your hotel arrange for a taxi as there are taxi stands all over the airport. They are clearly marked and easy to find. You need not be concerned that you don't speak French. Merely write the name and address of your hotel on a piece of paper (to avoid mispronouncing the name) and show it to the driver.
However, I urge you to use public transportation. It is quite simple and thousands of non-French speaking visitors do so every day with no problems. Everything is clearly marked and you will save a lot of money. The fare from the airport to your hotel will be 8.40 euros instead of the 55-60 euros you will spend on a taxi.
To do so you will take the RER which has a station right in the airport.. Since this is the end of the line you don't have to worry about taking a train in the wrong direction. Furthermore, no other terains leave from this station so you can't take the wrong one. The ticket counter is very easy to find and all you need to do is say "Paris" to the ticket agent. They will give you a small cardboard ticket which you take to the turnstile at the entrance to the platform.
You place the ticket into the turnstile and it will be automatically stamped and pop up from another slot. A little light will come on and you will see the words "reprenez votre billet" (take back your ticket). Take the now stamped ticket (don't lose it) and get on any train.
Take the train to the Châtelet-Les Halles where you will transfer to the Metro. This transfer is free and you will not need another ticket.
Look for signs that say "Correspondence" and Metro 14 and "Direction: Saint-Lazare"
There is lots of signage and although this is a big station everything is very clearly marked.
Once you board metro 14 take it to the Madeleine station. From the Madeleine stop its just a 600 meters (about 650 yards) walk to your hotel.
The Shadow
Unless you have a lot of luggage, I suggest that using the RER train and the Metro instead. It's a fraction of the cost (about 8 or 9 euros, if memory serves correctly). And, it isn't much slower than a taxi during rush hour.
I almost never use taxis in Paris because the public transportation is so good.
You can find information on how to use the trains at this link:
It's not really that high. I went last year and stayed close to where you're gong and it cost me about that. Mind you we had 6 bags and they have a surcharge for baggage in Europe.