In these “difficult economic times” – yawn – escapism is becoming increasingly attractive.
While some may take that to mean evenings crying in front of the telly, here at majic.ie we prefer a more literal take on the term “escape”. In the first of a new series, EOIN RYAN tells you how to get the hell out of dodge, without breaking what’s left of the bank.
Ah Paris! Romance, red wine and an ignorant Frenchman cursing at you at under his breath. Well not exactly, but then the old clichés die hard. Although you won’t see too many berets or stripey-jumpered bicyclists festooned with garlic, you will occasionally encounter that famous Parisian arrogance.
Nonetheless, Paris remains a fantastic place to visit, and its ease of access from Ireland make it an excellent choice of destination for hard- up paddies.
Getting There
First up, flights. Aer Lingus fly from Dublin to Charles De Gaulle, the main airport, 30km north east of the city and an €8.40 train ride to the city centre.
Ryanair fly to Beauvais, which is a bit like flying to Mullingar to visit Dublin. The bus to the city centre takes an hour and fifteen minutes and costs a pricey €13 each way. You’ll need to take this into consideration but Ryanair’s fares are usually considerably cheaper.
Don’t take a bag. Yes ladies, we know you want to act out your Carrie Bradshaw abroad fantasies, but do you really need 5 pairs of shoes for a weekend? Ryanair are now charging €30 return for a bag and Aer Lingus aren’t far behind on €24.
Avoid the rip off by taking the biggest allowed hand luggage: Aer Lingus allow you 6 Kg, 56cms x 45cms x 25cm. With Ryanair it’s 10Kg, 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. If you’re flying bagless with Ryanair be sure to check in online, at least more than 4 hours before the flight, or you’ll be stung for another €10 at the Airport.
Accommodation
For a traveller on a budget, the great thing about Paris is that it’s the world’s most popular travel destination. Which means lots of competition. Unless you’re travelling alone, Hotels often represent better value for money than hostels in Paris.
Use hotel.com or hostelworld.com to find the combination of comfort and value you’re looking for. Try the “Crowns Etoile” or “Trois Couronnes” hotel, a charming three star, 100 metres from the Arc De Triomphe and a five minute walk from the city’s main street, the swanky Champs Elysees. Doubles from €60 per room online.
The Eiffel Tower
So now you’ve booked your trip, what do you do when you get there? The possibilities in Paris are endless but there are some attractions you just won’t want to miss.
The Eiffel Tower, instantly recognisable and immortalised in a million tacky key rings, is a must see. It’s definitely worth the money to go up but you can save a sneaky few euro by visiting the 2nd floor (€7.80), rather going all the way to the top (€12). The view’s really not much different.
Go in the evening – tickets on sale until 9.30 pm in Spring and Summer – when the queue will be shorter, though you can still expect at least a thirty minute wait. When you eventually get up there, you’ll see why it’s called the city of light. On the hour every hour, the tower is illuminated by a blaze of sparkling lights. You can get a good photo of this from the base of the tower. Metro – Champs de Mars / Bir-Hakeim.
Getting Around
Paris is a very easy city to navigate. The metro is one of the best underground rail systems in the world. It’s usually possible to get from one place to another with at most one change. Day and weekend passes are available, but the most flexible option is a book of ten one-trip tickets (€11.40), called a “carnet”. The metro runs until 1am, after which you can use the numerous night buses or take a taxi.
One of the most exciting new developments in Parisian transport is the Velib bicycle scheme. Velib bicycle points are now positioned at hundreds of places around the city, allowing cyclists to rent bikes for €1 a day. It’s a great way to see the city if you prefer to be out in the open air.
