France Thread 2 (Paris and all other cities) *Check Pg. 1 for reference links*

[melodymedley]

Re: Versailles - as mentioned here, easy to DIY. Just figure out how to get to a metro station with a RER C Line. We left Paris at around 9 AM and arrived in Versailles at 10AM. We had the Paris Museum Pass so we didn't need to buy tickets. But still, we had to stand in line for 1.5 hours before we reached the security gate. Sa may bandang security gate, there were people there waving their "skip the line" tickets that they bought online. The guard explained that they still had to line up for security. Buying the tickets online enables you to skip the ticket line, but not the security line. They have a different entrance for tour groups though. [Side note: same concept if you buy the Eiffel tower tickets online. You skip the ticket queue but not the security and elevator queue].

We spent less than 2 hours around the main castle. Ganda ng Hall of Mirrors!  Though, it makes me somewhat angry that they chose to spent the taxpayer's money to beautify their estate.

For the Trianon & Hamlet, you can choose to walk or take the train. The train costs EUR 7.50. Hop-on hop-off type sya. It was a good choice for us because we had our parents with us. We were not able to go to Hamlet area anymore. 

The Paris Museum Pass does not include entrance sa Versailles Garden - costs EUR 10, no need to pre-book since the lines were short. You have to enter the garden to ride the train that goes around the estate or if you want to walk to Trianon. An alternative if you don't want to pay, is to walk around the estate to get to the Trianon. Sinabi sya ng guard and meron sa map. I have not tried that route though.

We left Versailles mga 6PM na. And my golly, 30 minutes din ang pila sa pag-bili ng train tickets: on both sa window and machines ha. So my tip is buy the tickets na pabalik when you get to Versailles. Wala na kaming nagawa sa Paris pagbalik namin dahil napagod na kami. [Also, the vending machines did not accept 50's na EUR bills].

This experience was with my family during the first week of May this year. In 2011, I did Versailles solo nung early October and walang pila ang security. I guess peak talaga nung andun na kami this year. I was able to do the Trianon and Hamlet via foot noon. It still took me the whole day. I think kaya sya ng half-day kapag dun ka lang sa castle and gardens. But if you will visit the surrounding estates, it may take more time.

On both occasions, weather was gloomy for me. So I had cloudy photos. Sana may next time pa na sunny na.

[mama squeak!]

^yeah depende talaga sa season or day of the week yung haba ng pila. We're always lucky during our visits kasi not more than 5 minutes ang antay namin sa pila at the security check.

On train tickets, we always get round trip para less hassle din sa pila on the way back. Sakay lang ng sakay! Don't forget to validate your train tickets!

@princess lorraine, try to backread marami ng suggestions yung mga GT sis on the areas where they stayed at. My personal favorite though is at the Montmartre area since I prefer to rent apartments via airbnb (bigger space at cheap prices). There was one time though when we splurged at a hotel right in front of the Arc de Triomphe with a view of the Eiffel tower since we were celebrating our birthdays. Pretty convenient location, right at the center and the CDG shuttle bus stop was just across the street.

[princess lorraine]

^thanks sis 

[mei-mei]

There's a cheap newly renovated hotel we tried last year and it's 5-10 mins walk to Eiffel. I like it because place looks new, clean, and the bathroom is big with complete toiletries, which I didn't expect with its price. You can see the Eiffel the moment you step out of the hotel. Hotel name is Eiffel Turenne and it's only 120 euros a night.

[mizzybebz]

For those who visited France, did you exchange some euros here in PH prior to your trip? What I've read is it is better to use ATM na lang when we arrive there..

[mama squeak!]

^I get Euros here and just use my credit card on reputable establishments there (mostly for big purchases). My practice kasi is almost all of my expenses like lodging & transpo (trains & car rentals) and tourist passes (that can be bought online)  are pre-paid. So my cash in hand will mostly be for food and small misc. items. In case I run out of Euros then I use their ATM. Last recourse ko lang yung ATM there.

[nageinna]

hi! just went back from our two week euro trip. (one week london, one week paris). just want to share our experience as first timers in paris.

we arrived in paris via eurostar from london. one lesson i learned is to research well especially sa areas na pupuntahan niyo. i was aware that madaming pick pockets sa paris but hindi ko alam na talagang rampant talaga even mga scams.

we arrived at gare du nord station around 1pm. we had 5luggages with us plus stroller. we are family of three. buti nalang we booked eelway to pick up our 3 luggages sa gare du nord station to be delivered sa rented apartment namin later that night. we had 2 luggages with us nalang plus stroller. we decided to hand carry our two luggages kasi doon namin nilagay yung mga designer items na binili namin sa london and small luggages lang naman so isip namin ok naman.

first encounter
we were buying tickets sa ticket machine nila for one day. two adults since LO is free. there was a man who approached us and offered to "help" us buy our tickets from the machine. sobrang bilis ng kamay niya and parang pinalabas niya na the machine cant accept our notes so he just tapped his card and "paid" our tickets then we just gave him the money. guess how much we gave him? 50euros! kasi 49euros total nung ticket na pinili niya for us. siguro he grabbed that opportunity kasi nakita niya ang dami naming dala plus we have a kid in tow so we look really vulnerable to him. and kami we never doubted kasi we thought they were just being helpful. we became too trusting kasi everyone we encountered in london were really nice and helpful. even sa pag carry lang ng stroller they would offer to help us. so when we arrived sa paris i admit our guards were down. we later found out the ticket he "purchased" for us was a child ticket and for one ride only! pinacheck kasi namin sa ticket booth after we took the bus and hindi na gumana yung tickets. and nagulat yung ticket agent na nag assist samin, kasi ng mahal ng binigay namin eh wala pa daw 5euros yung tickets na pinakita ko sakanya. she apologized kasi hindi na mapapalitan yun ticket. then she just helped us buy our train tickets for disney since we told her we will be going to disney the next day.

second enounter
so wala pa kaming kaalam alam na nascam kami sa ticket. we thought everything was still going as planned. to took the train from gare du nord. 3 huge black men "helped" my hubby nung pasakay na siya sa loob ng subway. then pinipilit kunin nung isang lalaki yun folded stroller na hawak ni hubby para ipasok sa medyo loob. kami ni LO we were on the opposite side since medyo siksikan inside. then nagulat nalang ako nung pag arrive namin sa isang station sumisigaw si hubby ng "no! no! no!" ayun pala binuksan nung isang lalaki yun body bag ni hubby. then bumaba narin sila agad. thankfully wala naman nakuha. to think na andon passports namin and most of our pocket money. and yung mga parisians na nasa train no reaction. as in parang wala silang nakita or talagang wala silang pakialam..

super natrauma kami ni hubby. nawalan na kami ng gana mamasyal. kaya sad to say hindi namin nasulit yun paris pass na binili namin. paris is a beautiful city. pero dahil sa mga nangyari we just opted to go home early nalang madalas. like 7 or 8 lagi nasa apartment na kami kahit maliwanag pa sa labas. we never took the metro after that. yun pag punta nalang namin sa disney. pero after that puro bus nalang kami, siguro kasi ang dami namin dala plus may toddler pa so talagang we look vulnerable for them. i wanted to go to sacre coeur pa sana pero i read na madami din daw mga pickpockets/scam doon so we decided not to.

hopefully next time we can still go back. kasi sayang ang ganda pa naman niyang city. yun nga lang naspoil na agad yung stay namin on our first day kaya hindi na namin masyado na enjoy.

[princess lorraine]

Booked Etoile Park Hotel for 6 nights. It's near Arc De Triomphe. 

[kachich]

@nageinna

So sad to hear of your unfortunate event/s but thank you for sharing your experience. At least people will be more cautious when going to Paris (or any place for that matter!).

Before din, I was super scared of the stories kaya super wary ako sa paligid. Ang siste ko na lang ay, I was able to roam Divisoria, Ermita and Quiapo, sa dami ng snatcher/mandurukot dun, I believed I can manage Paris, and I Was able to naman - but encountered scammer as well, yung nagpapa sign sa ilalim ng Eiffel Tower. Buti na lang hindi ako masyado natakot kaya hindi ako na scam. Pero grabe din yung modus nila dun, pag nag sign ka - pipilitin ka nila mag bigay ng donation. So ang pinaka advise is dont ever talk to strangers.

Hopefully you will be able to get back and enjoy Paris. But in my opinion - better to go to other Euro cities, then balik na lang sa Paris if walang wala na mapuntahan 

[eischied_21]

I will be travelling solo so good luck to me.

Are they going to hit you or may dala ba silang pointed tools that might harm you in case sumigay ka or dilatan mo ng mata? Worry ko baka saktan ako.

[nageinna]

^kay hubby naman wala naman silang dalang pointed weapons sa pagkaka experience lang namin. more on strength lang talaga gamit nila. and sabi ni hubby malakas daw talaga since pinipilit nung black guy ipasok yung kamay niya sa loob ng body bag ni hubby and hindi daw niya maalis. nag let go nalang si black guy kasi pasara na yung doors nung train and humabol siya bumaba sa pag close ng doors. sa nabasa ko naman bihira naman daw sila manakit. and yes dont talk to strangers nalang talaga as much as possible. if we were lost and needed direction we just approach a police officer if meron or papasok kami sa nearby shop and doon kami magtatanong. don't look like as if you're lost. or if may magtanong if you need help or what. you can never tell if that person really intends to help you or yun pala iiscam ka na.

@sis kachich

to think na i live in divisoria pa! hahaha. kaya me and hubby were super scared when it happened. thankful nalang kami kasi hindi nadamay si LO. yes i would like to go back next time. kasi the city is beautiful talaga. we took the roissy bus to the aiport nung pauwi na kami and nakakahinayang yung mga hindi namin napuntahan. next time hopefully

[mizzybebz]

For those who recently (this year) applied for Schengen tourist visa (France), how many days ang tinagal bago niyo nareceive passport niyo after submission of documents sa VFS?

[eischied_21]

@nageinna - pero grabe naman yun sa hubby mo kun nagsasabi na sya ng "no, no, no" tapos ano yun mga tao nakatingin lang. Sana man lang sigawan din nila yun black guy para umalis din. Hindi ko alam kun saken mangyari yun kun ano gagawin ko. Feeling ko sisigwa din ako ng "no, no" with matching tinatanggal yun kamay ng black guy.

[otra_vez]

@nageinna-- that's unfortunate. i was in paris early this year with my family and we felt relatively safe. i would agree though that the riders in the metro are a little shady so we avoided taking public transpo as much as possible. for the most part, we just walked. i loved paris and i wish you'll go back. we were there for about a week and it wasn't enough to cover everything we wanted to do. my favorites are sainte chapelle, l'orangerie and the seine. 

[nageinna]

^maybe next time we'll come more prepared na. and we would know what to do na rin since we had first hand experience.

sis eischied_21 yes yun nga rin, totally no reaction sila. siguro sanay na sila makita yung ganong scenario everyday so parang part na ng daily travel nila. very different from london na makita lang nila na nahihirapan ka with something or you look lost, they would sincerely offer their help. kaya siguro natrauma din kami ni hubby kasi we thought it would be the same in paris. just do your research online, like what areas to avoid, types of scam na ginagawa sa paris, and i think you'll be fine. don't let my post scare you or taint your view of paris kasi the city is beautiful talaga. just dont let your guards down and you'll be fine. happy trip sis!

sis mizzybebz we applied last may 2. we got our passports back with visa after 4 working days.

[xtine]

Just arrived from Paris two days ago and in fairness, wala na mga gypsies.  Kung meron man kokonti nlang.  Wala na yung nag papasign ng petition to distract you while the other girls are taking your wallet.  Malinis na ang Louvre and Sacre coeur when we went there (gypsies lang! itim meron pa).a

Ang marami is yung mga itim na naka tambay sa train stations.  The strategy is pag pasara na ang train doors, doon nila snatch yung wallet or phone mo, para pag close ng doors, no way for you to get it.

So be careful, kasi lahat ng pinoy na na nakikilala namin, lagi sinasabi na mag iingat at wag lilingat sa mga bags.  Make sure kipkip ang bags at mabibilis ang kamay nila

Add ko lang, mainit sa Paris ngayon, we roam around the city ng 37 deg celcius, parisians are very very delighted sa init kaya halos naka nighty lang naglalakad.  Pero maraming happenings dahil sa fete de la musique.  Marami rin tourist kaya maraming gigs din ang mga magnanakaw. :p

[eischied_21]

hmmm, so bawal pa lang ilabas ang celphone to take pictures pag maraming black guys sa daanan or sa train stations. And iwasan ang turista look na hawak mo yun camera.

[mizzybebz]

It's the 5th working day after submission ng documents ni hubby, and until now ang status ay still processing at French Embassy Manila

May cases na po ba na sumobra sa 5 working days ang France?

[toria]

@xtine sis naalala ko kwento ng officemate ko. Sa train daw mga around 10pm may dalawang itim na lalaki, parang lasing daw tapos kinapkapan sila nanghihingi ng pera! Scary!

@mizzybebz Sis kamusta application ng hubby mo? May mga nabasa ako na on the 6th/7th day nila natanggap ang approved visa nila. For the case of my hubby naman, yung unang apply niya on the 10th day namin natanggap kaso refused kasi may kulang siyang doc. Nag-reapply lang kami, on the 5th working day approved na.

[toria]

Hello sissies, we will be leaving for Europe next week.
Pacomment naman sa itinerary namin ni hubby for the Paris leg =).

Aug 27 (Sunday) - Flight from Prague to Paris.
Take RER B in direction of Robinson/Saint R?my les Chevreuses.
Stop: Denfert Rochereau. Take metro line 6 direction Etoile Charles de Gaulle;
Stop: La Motte-Picquet Grenelle
Walk towards Avenue de la Motte-Picquet. Hotel will be on the left.
We will be arriving in Paris around 5pm na and will be staying in Hotel
Tourisme.
Nung chineck ko walking distance lang sya to Champ de Mars and Eiffle Tower.
Maybe we can squeeze in the Seine River Cruise na dito then rest na sa hotel after.
Okay lang ba dun na lang kami bumili ng ticket for the River Cruise? In case tamarin kami on the first day pwede pa lipat.

Aug 28 (Monday) - We will be getting the 2-day Paris Museum Pass.
                                  Louvre Museum
                                  Tuileries Gardens
                                  Arc de Triomphe
                                  Champs Elysee
                                  Musee d'Orsay
                                  Musee Rodin
                                  Pantheon

Aug 29 (Tuesday) - Versailles (kahit hindi recommended since closed si Louvre, wala ata kaming choice since 2 day pass lang bibilhin namin)
Walk around Eiffle Tower

Aug 30 (Wednesday) - Montmarte
                                        Sacre-Couer
                                        Notre Dame

Aug 31 (Thurs) Flight back to Manila

We will be getting the 2-day Paris Museum Pass for Monday and Tuesday.

Mas ok ba kung 4-day Pass para spread out ko yung sites ng Day 1 to Day 3?

Tapos carnet of 10 tickets na lang for transpo.