We will be joining a Rick Steves tour at the Hotel Londres Eiffel. We will be arriving from Tours at the Gare Austerlitz. Any suggestions how to get from the station to the hotel? Thanks!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you're packing light, take Metro line 10 from Gare d'Austerlitz to La Motte-Picquet-Grenelle. Transfer to line 8 and take it to Ecole Militaire. Walk to your hotel. For a zoomable map of the Metro and RER system, go here: http://tinyurl.com/6xmvms4
Posted by
Paris
10043 posts
For way fewer stairs and a view of the city as you travel, take the 63 bus in direction of Porte de la Muette; descend when you get to Bac-St Germain, and transfer to the 69 bus in direction of Champ de Mars. Get off at the stop Champ de Mars-Bourdonnais, walk back on rue de Grenelle the length of the petite block there, then down rue Augereau to the hotel (which is just before the intersection with rue st Dominique. You can either buy a carnet of 10 tickets in the Gare d'Austerlitz, or buy tickets directly on board the bus from the driver (they will be more expensive that way, €1.90 each rather than the €1.33 per ticket in a carnet), but the convenience can be worth it. You can use the same ticket to transfer to the second bus.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
According to taxifarefinder.com, a taxi will cost you approximately 19 euros, depending on traffic and time of day. Might be worth it with luggage. http://tinyurl.com/m7x972y
Posted by
OP
Millstone Twp., New Jersey, USA
80 posts
Thank you all so much for your quick and excellent responses! I am a veteran of the NYC subways and Amtrak, so you would think I could nail this. Pas de toute! After spending lots of time planning and buying and planning some more, I already feel like I've been on the trip! This week I will sit down and take your advice and see what would work for us. I do plan on packing the 26 pounds allowable for carry-ons. My husband is not thrilled, but I told him we were doing it Rick's way. This is a man who uses 3 towels in the morning. Ugh. This is a big adventure for me as I am petrified of flying and have not been to Europe since 2 trips to Ireland decades ago. Thanks again!
Posted by
St. Louis, MO USA
1976 posts
The Paris Metro is very easy to learn. I still miss it! Will you have a smartphone on your trip? If not, remember to bring a paper map of Paris. You can also write down directions from the Metro stop to the hotel. I stayed at the Hotel Londres Eiffel last fall and liked it very much.