Eurostar destinations - where to go for a long weekend?

[Zippee]

We have some Eurostar vouchers to use and the missus is desperate to go to Paris - a city I have so far avoided and TBH really don't want to go to.
However, what is Paris really like? Are the people as rude and arrogant towards us Brits as I've been led to believe (especially as I barely manage English let alone French)? Where is good to stay (mid range budget) and go see?
On the other hand alternative destinations are Lille, Brussels, Bruge or Disneyland Paris - any thoughts on these instead including convincing arguments to sway the wife?

[Silver993tt]

Paris is shabby, very, very expensive and vastly overrated. Out of those destinations I would choose Brugge or change trains in Brussels and got to Antwerp or even on to Amsterdam.

[Amateurish]

Paris is amazing - so much to see and do and really somewhere everyone ought to visit at some point. Parisian customer service isn't usually up to much but you'll be going for the sights, not the people. Bruges is lovely but on a much smaller scale.

[Zippee]

50:50 so far then - anyone else have any views?

[Swilly]

You say your missus is desperate to go to Paris which means you will be going to Paris.

HTH

[.Mark]

A vote for Lille.

Didn't go on Eurostar but took the TVR, lovely city with some great architecture and nice restaurants.

Driverless metro system too which is clean and a bit of a giggle after several bottles of the red stuff.

[B17NNS]

Brussels is beautiful. Lots and lots of nice beers to try to. Oh, and you can still smoke in the bars.

[Puggit]

Took my FiL to Paris for the first time in his life, aged 65. He had visited the rest of France many, many times, but never Paris.

He hated it.

Rude, arrogant people, expensive and dirty were his reasons.

[.Mark]

Puggit said:

Rude, arrogant people, expensive and dirty were his reasons.

Sounds like London.

[bint]

Bruges gets my vote. Paris was okay.... I loved Bruges and was disappointed in Brussels.

[Puggit]

Slightly further afield, but if you cross Paris, then take the TGV to Tours (180 miles, 55 mins) - it's a beautiful city on the Loire, and you can also reach Amboise easily.

[Bluebarge]

Paris is great. Never really understood the "rude" perception - they're no more or less friendly than the inhabitants of any v.large city. I suspect this comes from travellers who expect the natives to kiss their feet when thrown a few shekels. It ain't the 3rd World you know...

[Hub]

You might as well get Paris out of the way. There is loads to fill the time with, but obviously very touristy.

However, Lille is lovely and far less touristy
Bruges is great too.

[Hawmaws]

Paris is brilliant - can't imagine why you wouldn't want to visit it at least once. Don't be decieved by the area around gare du Nord - typical railway station area.

Get accommodation as close to the centre (Notre Dame) as you can and just walk and walk. I'm maybe biased as I worked there for a while, but it's a much more beautiful city than London. And the people are ok, certainly not any worse than London.

Drink's expensive though - €15 for one beer and a (small) glass of wine is not unusual. Take plenty of cash!

[Silver993tt]

Hawmaws said:

Drink's expensive though - €15 for one beer and a (small) glass of wine is not unusual. Take plenty of cash!

That's part of the problem - it's extortionately expensive and really lacking in quality. I remember having a salad in the centre of Paris which was served with fresh baguette. Lovely I thought until I tried the baguette - dry on the surface and quite disgusting. The waiter very begrudgingly changed the bread but it still wasn't fresh and that for a salad that cost about £15.

If you weren't travelling Eurostar, I would head for somewhere like Berlin, Hamburg or Vienna just for starters. Obviously beyond your scope on this trip but there are so many nicer cities than Paris in Europe.

Edited by Silver993tt on Friday 12th February 13:55

[Hawmaws]

Silver993tt said:

Hawmaws said:

Drink's expensive though - €15 for one beer and a (small) glass of wine is not unusual. Take plenty of cash!

That's part of the problem - it's extortionately expensive and really lacking in quality. I remember having a salad in the centre of Paris which was served with fresh baguette. Lovely I thought until I tried the baguette - dry on the surface and quite disgusting. The waiter very begrudgingly changed the bread but it still wasn't fresh and that for a salad that cost about £15.


Ok, but It's hard to dismiss one of the most beautiful cities in the world on the basis of a bit of hard baguette.

[Silver993tt]

Hawmaws said:

Silver993tt said:

Hawmaws said:

Drink's expensive though - €15 for one beer and a (small) glass of wine is not unusual. Take plenty of cash!

That's part of the problem - it's extortionately expensive and really lacking in quality. I remember having a salad in the centre of Paris which was served with fresh baguette. Lovely I thought until I tried the baguette - dry on the surface and quite disgusting. The waiter very begrudgingly changed the bread but it still wasn't fresh and that for a salad that cost about £15.

Ok, but It's hard to dismiss one of the most beautiful cities in the world on the basis of a bit of hard baguette.

that was just one experience. I found the whole city a bit run down and unwelcoming. Maybe I just like different things but prefer the cities in Germany, Netherlands/Austria etc.

Edited by Silver993tt on Saturday 13th February 08:00