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發表於 05-8-15 23:23 |只看該作者

london and paris trip

I will have a trip in london and paris in sept. Below is my draft itinerary, may i have your comments ?

day 1 (sun)
- arrive at london at 06:30
- Horse guard at St.James Park
- London eye, Westminister, Big Ben
- City cruise boat trip

day 2 (mon)
- changing of guards at Beckingham Palace
- British Museum
- Covent Garden
- musical at night

day 3 (tue)
- shopping at Harrods, Regent street, Bond street

day 4 (wed)
- london to Paris (arrive at 13:00)
- norte dam
- boat trip at La Seine
- tour Eiffel at night

day 5 (thu)
- Chateau de Versailles
- Galeries Lafayette department store

day 6 (fri)
- Musee du Louvre
- Basilique du Sacre-Coeur
- Printemp department store

day 7 (sat)
- Musee d'Orsay
- shopping at Champs Elysees

day 8 (sun)
- return to HK

some more questions:
- does anyone have the address of the outlets in London and Paris ?
- On day 4, i will take RER to my hotel. On day5, i will take the RER to and from Versailles. On day 8, i will travel to CDG by RER. I want to buy a Carte Orange card for zone 1 to 5 on day 4. Is it a good idea ?
- if I add a day trip to Baths, will it be too rush and not enough days ?
- any other recommeded places to go in London and Paris ?
- does anyone have any information about the "wine/Champagne" tour in Paris ?
- will you suggest to add St. Michel Mountain (one day visit) in my schedule ?

As this is my first time to Europe, sorry for such long message and numerous questions.

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Ding

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2^#

發表於 05-8-16 09:04 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

sammak

你行程都ok.. 不過要去 bath 就會趕一d .. 去 london 主要嘅 factory oultet 都係 burberry .. 佢地址係 29-53 Chatham Place, Hackney, London, E9 6LP United Kingdom .. 最近係搭巴士 .. 如搭火車就要在 hackney 站落.. 無 underground 到.. clarks 在london都有 factory shop .. 在 elephant & castle 附近這場 .. 商場頂有一隻大笨象嘅公仔 ...好易認 ..

我知 paris 應該有唔少 factory outlet .. 如 pada, fendi .. 你可以問下人.. or 在網上 search 下..

祝你旅途愉快

Ding

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發表於 05-8-16 09:49 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

The largest outlet in Paris is La Vallee Outlet Shopping Village. It is very close to Paris Disneyland.
http://www.lavalleevillage.com/lavallee/home.asp

Given the convenience in using the card, I did buy a Carte Orange (for zone 1-2 because we traveled to the airport by Air-France bus) though I stayed at Paris for 4 days only.

Bath and Mont Saint Michel are very nice places. I heard that there are day-trippers but personally, I will not visit these places within a day as one-way traveling time is about 4 hours. As your holiday only lasts for one week, I would recommend exploring London and Paris.

Have a nice trip.

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發表於 05-8-16 16:44 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

Ding and KristyMum,

Thank you very much for your information and advice.

I will stay at the hotel "Des Nations saint Germain" in the 5th area, which is reserved at "www.venere.com". Did you stay at this hotel before ?

Also, any recommended restaurant on London and Paris ?

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5^#

發表於 05-8-16 17:56 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

I haven't stayed at Des Nations Saint Germain but you can read comments in the following link:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d229560-Reviews-Regetel_Des_Nations_Saint_Germain-Paris_Ile_de_France-m10643.cink_html

For restaurants, you may find lots of recommendations from guidebooks. But I have dinned at Chez Leon and Bistro Romain and would like to recommend them to you. Chez Leon is famous for serving mussels and Bistro Romain serves French cruises. A menu (i.e. set lunch/dinner) is about 15-20 euro. They are chain stores and can be found at various destinations in Paris. Here are their websites:
http://www.leon-de-bruxelles.fr/
http://www.bistroromain.fr/restaurants/paris/

It is hard to make any recommendations for London.

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發表於 05-8-16 22:45 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

Thanks, KristyMum. I will try the recommended restaurant in Paris. Do the restaurants have English menu and do they need advanced reservation ?

Do you print the coupons on their websites ?

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7^#

發表於 05-8-17 09:43 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

There is English menu for Bistro Romain but not sure for Chez Leon. Anyway, waiters in both restaurants speak English. Reservation is not necessary. I haven't visited their websites before but I think there is nothing to loss if you show them the coupons.

BTW, a list of French food glossaries is quite important. People in ticket counters speak French but not necessarily those in the restaurants. I have bad experience in Southern France where is my first stop. I always forgot to take out the list from my suitcase and was not sure what I had ordered in the first few days. As expected, the food could be something out of my expectation :-(

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Ding

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8^#

發表於 05-8-17 11:59 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

Sammak

我覺得london 無咩好食 .. 不過你去 covent garden . . 果度就有好多唔同國家嘅餐廳俾你揀.. 但我無咩 idea 那間好 .. 因為我覺得度度差唔多.. 而且在 London 食野係好貴 .. 我去唐人街食一個2人餐都要 £32 .. 有時下午去餐廳食lunch .. 都要每人約 £8 .. 不過都係自己見解 .. 可能你又有唔同感覺 ..

Ding

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發表於 05-8-17 19:20 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

The dining in London is quite expensive. Do we need to pay tips ? some people said that we have to pay about 10% as tips (a lot to me !)

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Ding

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10^#

發表於 05-8-17 23:09 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

yup .. even no official statement, we usually give 10% for service charge.. but they just put the bill on the table then go away .. won't wait for your tips .. it makes you feel much comfortable than HK.

.. Some large train stations / department stores would have a food hall, they provide fast food, it is tasty and no tips required ..a bit cheaper than dining in restaurant..

.. even eating McDonald .. it is very expensive ..

Ding

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發表於 05-8-17 23:16 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

Ding and KristyMum,

It is very happy to talk with you here.

I have another problem. My husband is now working abroad. He will arrive at London at Gatwick airport and I will arrive via the Heathrow airport.

My plan is that he takes the Gatwick Express to Victoria station. And I take the tube to the Victoria station.

We are planning to meet at the arrival hall of the Gatwick Express at Victoria Station. I heard that there is a book store there. Is it a safe place for us to meet ?

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發表於 05-8-18 09:40 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

I think it would be rather safe unless you meet at midnight. During daytime, there are lots of people in the station.

For eating in London, you may try cream tea (i.e. scones + clotted cream + jam + tea) and Indian food. You may want to have a drink at a pub as well. Most pubs serve food but don't eat something called “steak and kidney”. The menu or the bill indicates whether service charge is included or not. If yes, no extra tips or just a few coins is OK. If no, add 10% as service charge.

Ding - you are generous!

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發表於 05-8-18 10:14 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

Sammak,
On second thought. Would it be possible to meet your husband at the hotel? I think it would be rather difficult to estimate the time correctly for passing through the Immigration, collecting luggage and on transport.

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Ding

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14^#

發表於 05-8-18 11:55 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

KristyMum... Im not that generous .. hahaah .. If the menu stated that 10% would be charged, I would not give too much tips .. even no 10% included .. sometimes I didn't give 10% ..

Sammak

It is safe to meet your hubby at Victory Station .. because it is very busy in the morning .. my boss said that the bad people still fall asleep… hahaha . .. with my experience, the time for passing through the Immigration was quite smooth .. better to have your company letter .. because some officers would like to ask you a lot of questions... As your case is similar to me.. last time the officer asked : Why does your husband not coming with you, what is his job, what purpose do you come to UK, do you have any relatives or friends in UK... until I showed my company letter .. she let me go .. Crazy . but no one checked my luggage

.. btw .. KristyMum's suggestion is quite good .. think about that .. meet your husband at the hotel, then you don't need to travel too much within the underground, as you have to carry the luggage / hand carry and your child .. it is hard to climb the stairs if you carry the heavy luggage.

Ding

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發表於 05-8-18 13:55 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

I will arrive at Heathrow at 06:20 in the morning. And my husband will arrive at Gatwick at 06:45.

So I will take the tube to the Victoria station; arrival time should be 07:30. He will take the Gatwick Express to the Victoria station and arrive at about about the same time. And our arrival day is Sunday.

If it is a crowded station, i think it is ok for us to meet there.

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Ding

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16^#

發表於 05-8-18 15:16 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

Sounds good.. Victory is one of the main station in London … tube, train and coach are also there ..

Please be reminded that the traveling time is about 1hr from Heathrow to Victory .. but you have to take 15 min walk to the station .. one-day family travelcard would give you great value.

Ding

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發表於 05-8-18 17:02 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

Ding,

Do you also think it is workable ?

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Ding

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18^#

發表於 05-8-18 17:21 |只看該作者

Re: london and paris trip

sammak

Your plan is workable.. but KristyMum's suggestion is better for you .. because you and your husband will not have a double traveling (Airport ->Victory->Hotel) .. Why not Airport -> Hotel. Straight and time saving. Unless the hotel is near Victory.

When you travel by the tube, tell the counter that you wish to buy the family ticket (count your husband in), zone 1-6 only cost GBP4 .. and you can use it for travel on tube, bus ... for the whole day.. you know how expensive for traveling London ..e.g.. a single journey for a bus is GBP1.2 ...

Ding

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Ding