We have been back for a few days now, and I wanted to say thanks for all your help. We had a wonderful time, no problems to speak of, and are looking forward to going back! I will write a proper trip review in the next day or so, but wanted to mention a few things.
We stayed three nights in Paris, five nights in a gite in Volnay near Beaune, and 3 nights in a B&B in Avignon.
First, we had no trouble using our chip and signature cards anywhere, even the toll booths. One snafu was that we got off at the wrong station on our way back to CDG from Avignon. Next time we will determine how many stops we will make before our stop. But there were TGV workers on the platform who helped us get on the next train about 10 minutes later, so we had no trouble.
Second, I should have heeded the advice from one poster here who recommended against the Bateau Mouches boat tour on the Seine. As he/she said, it was packed full with tour bus people, and it made for an unpleasant trip. Despite our fatigue, we should have walked further to find another boat operator. Lesson learned!
Finally, we found almost everyone we encountered to be helpful, polite, and friendly. Truly, making an effort at the niceties (Bonjour Madame!) and attempting to speak French will almost always ensure that the person assisting you will go out of their way to be helpful.
The only spot of bother we encountered was some panhandlers trying to sell string bracelets while we were going down the steps from Sacre Ceour. They were the most insistent ones we encountered -- one grabbed my son's arm while others hurled insults as we attempted to pass. That did not take the shine off our trip, however, as that kind of thing can happen in any large city.
All in all, a wonderful time, and many memories for our family. Again, thanks for your help.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Thanks for letting us know about your trip and that the advice you got here helped.
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9420 posts
So glad you enjoyed Paris/France, my favorite place. Thanks for letting us know! I'll look forward to reading your trip report.
Posted by
Paris
9550 posts
It sounds like a wonderful trip! I'm especially interested to hear about your time in the Beaune area and in Avignon (from your comment on the other post, you saw the lavender at the Abbey at Senanque?? That must have been spectacular, I've always wanted to go).
Glad folks helped you get back on track (literally) for your trip to the airport. That had to be a little anxiety-inducing in the moment but thank goodness someone was kind to get you going again.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32200 posts
Sherrie,
It's great to hear that you had a wonderful time on your trip. It sounds like everything went well. Have you started planning the next trip yet?
Posted by
OP
Birmingham AL
346 posts
We absolutely loved the Beaune area. We stayed in Volnay, which is a tiny village, in a Gite owned and on the premises of Domaine Francois Buffet. Lovely time there! We had a wine tour on our first full day there, and got to visit the vineyards and caves of three winemakers, as well as that of Francois Buffet.
We are not planning another trip yet, but think it will be next summer, as our daughter will be going back for a study aboard in Paris. So we are thinking we will go before her studies begin.