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Post by kiwigrandma on Mar 6, 2015 7:51:49 GMT
Need some advice please. Will be two days in paris before joining globus tour. Tour does not go to Monet garden and I would like to see it. Would we be better going on a day organised tour or would it be better, cheaper, less time to catch train/metro. Is it easy to catch train. Our french not great. Any other hints on seeing it appreciated. Thanks everyone.
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Post by Owen on Mar 6, 2015 8:20:31 GMT
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Post by kiwigrandma on Mar 8, 2015 5:10:47 GMT
Thanks Owen. Think I have it sussed now. We will get the train and do it ourselves instead of tour.
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Post by Oz-T on Mar 8, 2015 6:07:28 GMT
I'd certainly be taking the train, kiwigrandma; it's a lot easier than you think and you should get by without being fluent in French. There are about 15 trains per day so you can pick your timing, but do be aware of the departure times for the returning trains.
I was at Monet's Gardens last June and will be discussing our visit in detail in my France/Benelux travel tale in a week's time.
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Post by kiwigrandma on Mar 8, 2015 9:23:31 GMT
Thanks Oz-T. Enjoying your travel tale. Will look forward to your visit to Monet garden. I've been having a few French lessons at local night school. Not sure how much it will help. Am going to book a tour with someone for our time in ypres this week. Any hints or advice before I do. Also thought we might do visit for day in Bruges. Read it closes a bit on Sundays. Do you know about this. Thanks again. Only 7 weeks before we leave.
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Post by Oz-T on Mar 9, 2015 5:57:42 GMT
I wouldn't get too fussed over a fast-track French language course. Just learn the basics (yes, no, please, thank-you, hello, goodbye) and you'll be fine. Nearly everyone in Paris speaks some basic English, even though they don't admit it. Outside Paris, tourist places will speak English enough for you to get by.
A Ypres tour will undoubtedly take you to Menin Gate as well as one or two of the war cemeteries. A guided tour can't do a lot more than a guidebook in telling you what happened there in WW1, although they'd probably say it in a quicker, summarised form. The best thing they'll provide you is the transport to the right places (we had to follow a map, which wasn't that difficult).
You'll love Bruges and shouldn't miss it. I can't advise whether it gets very quiet on a Sunday, as we visited on a Friday and Saturday.
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Post by purvis on Mar 10, 2015 17:41:58 GMT
I wouldn't get too fussed over a fast-track French language course. Just learn the basics (yes, no, please, thank-you, hello, goodbye) and you'll be fine. Nearly everyone in Paris speaks some basic English, even though they don't admit it. Outside Paris, tourist places will speak English enough for you to get by. A Ypres tour will undoubtedly take you to Menin Gate as well as one or two of the war cemeteries. A guided tour can't do a lot more than a guidebook in telling you what happened there in WW1, although they'd probably say it in a quicker, summarised form. The best thing they'll provide you is the transport to the right places (we had to follow a map, which wasn't that difficult). You'll love Bruges and shouldn't miss it. I can't advise whether it gets very quiet on a Sunday, as we visited on a Friday and Saturday. I agree with OZ in that French is not necessary as in the tourist areas such as Ypres and Bruges everyone speaks English. I also agree with not bothering to hire a guide for Ypres and certainly make time for Bruges as it is one of the loveliest sites I have been to in my 10 european tours. If you can find the time in Bruges take a boat ride in the canal as it is well worth the money. Have a wonderful trip. Purvis |
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