Hi
We are travelling into Grenoble in September, planning to visit a few Charolais farms and wineries in the Magny Cours area / Burgundy. We are also travelling up to Paris to go to the Rugby World Cup - Stade de France for one match and another in the Paris stadium...
As we will have a car while down in Burgundy etc. we are wondering about whether we will be able to drive through Paris to get to a hotel for the rugby, whether it's better to stay on South side and use the metro....
Obviously feel that we need to book now, so any advise on whether we should drive and also good areas to stay in - nothing too flash - we are already spending a fortune, but want it to be a good area...
Is it difficult to get parking if we are in Paris at a hotel?
Also couple of days to spend in Paris - apart from Eiffel Tower - what's the best places to visit (not big into mueseums)
There's no point in recommending an area - as where you will stay will depend on where you can find a room. I'd find a hotel first. As soon as poss. And you won't need to worry about parking in central Paris - because your hotel will probably be well outside the centre.
Do you know if it's easy enough to travel through Paris in car - as a non French speaker?
Seems to be loads of availability....
Yes, driving in Paris is easy for anybody with urban experience. The various directions are very well signposted, as long as you know the names of the main areas (i.e. you have to know where places like "Concorde" "République" "Montparnasse" etc., are for the signs to be useful -- the only other signs you will see are the ones in the outer arrondissement indicating where to find the autoroutes out of town).
Parking can be a big problem unless you are very patient about circling the block. Underground parking lots are often convenient but quite expensive (although they are cheaper than parking on the street between 9:00 and 19:00). There are big parking structures at certain entrances to Paris that charge 11€ for 24 hours of parking. Don't even think about trying to go to the Stade de France or the Parc des Princes by car.
Thanks that's helpful...
Do you think it would be best to stay on the South side of the city and travel by metro up to the stadiums
If you were staying on South side coming from Magny Cours - where would you stay?
Number 3 is totally right. Depending on your morals you can park a foreign car in spaces marked 'payant' and even if you do get a ticket, or a couple if you don't move the car for a few days, you don't need to worry about paying them as the French police don't bother chasing them up, even in the EU. I drove in Paris for two years in a British car around Paris and picked up about 15 and they have never caused me any bother. Cars are only clamped if they are parked in an illegal place, and rarely compared to London. However, if you do this, don't take it to the extreme by trying to save on the price of a metro ticket by driving and parking for free, it's just not worth it. Arrive in Paris, find a payant spot, don't pay, leave the car there throughout your trip, travel everywhere by metro/RER, remembering to ask for a specific ticket to the stadiums as a metro ticket isn't enough, and enjoy your time there.
We parked 300 m from the stadium with many others driving from the UK for the match (North side I think). Police were nearby in their van playing cards, and a whole pile of cars had smashed windows, and everything stolen. Do NOT park in St Denis for Stade De France stadium, Police were useless, they preferred playing cards than actually helping out, they wouldn't even walk the 50 meters from their van to the car to see the damage, we had to drive it to them ! Everyone was disgusted by their conduct.
trusted partner
