france at easter (1 Viewer)

[Spade]

Hi guys
Any chance of your thoughts about going to France next Easter
our camper and 3 adults and 2 children
End of march for 2 weeks.
Arriving in cherbourg
Hoping to mix Aries and campsites
Straight to Paris for 3 days, maybe a couple in eurodisney ,then make our way back to cherbourg taking in the dday beaches .
Herself always wanted to go to Paris so that's a definite
Summer obviously would be better but not doable
Will be our first big trip
Any thoughts or advice please

 

[simply]

You want my honest opinion :
It may be your first big trip but you don't want it to be your last - you don't have to do everything this time !
Cherbourg - Paris /EuroDisney will cost a fortune, be a nightmare drive and everyone will be stressed and stroppy. Take a nice gentle tour at your leisure and concentrate on having quality time for everybody and being relaxed so you can all live harmoniously together in your motorhome and are still all talking to each other when you get back !

 

[WynandJean]

Not sure that I'd want to drive into Paris (worth a visit, though) I wonder if it's feasible to park up somewhere and get into Paris using public transport?


Wyn

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[davidbaldam]

Maisons Lafitte is within easy reach of Paris and not to far to drive from Cherbourg, 10 mins walk to the rail station then a quick train to the centre. Not very good for Euro Disney but a great site on the backs of the Seine.

 

[Hollyberry]

If you're set on Disney, maybe Dover crossing, down to Disney. While you're camped there take train into Paris. Gare du L'est ( I think) then Metro. The Metro is very easy to negotiate. Choose 3 places to visit in Paris or you'll all be exhausted. Roof top of Galleries Lafayette will give you spectacular view of Paris, Tour Eiffel etc.. And acres of shopping for your wife if that's her thing.
You'll usually queue to get into the tower, the Louvre etc. you don't queue to get into G Lafayette!
if you and your wife are into antiques / flea markets the St Denis area of Paris ( north of the city, near Périphérique) is great, but you'll spend hours there.starts off cheap nr the main road, gets dearer as you progress in.

Then maybe another couple of nights camping at an Aire near a sports complex, rock climbing, canoeing, add any pursuit you all enjoy. You'd find lots of these to the east of Disney, and you'd not have too long a journey to the ferry.

Cherbourg to Disney is a long, long drive--- wouldn't recommend it with kids.

Sorry-- Re read, you've got 2 weeks. In that case the campsite on the Seine would be easy for Paris, and then choose campsite or Aire for other activities.

 

[Spade]

Thanks so much for all the information
Lots to think about

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[haganap]

a few years ago when our kids were younger we stayed at a really nice campsite about an hour from Paris. have a look back through my blog and Im sure you will find it. The campsite done bus trips in to both Euro disney Paris and the other theme park in France. Took all the stress away and we had a great time. Go do it, enjoy it and adapt what you do to suit your family after all you know them best

 

[adriacoral]

If you go to euro Disney, you can camp there and get the train from there into Paris, so no driving!!!

 

[Spade]

Thanks guys for all the helpful answers

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[magicsurfbus]

Dover-Calais is cheaper and it doesn't take long to get to Paris from Calais. In fact MH miles are usually cheaper than ferry miles.

The Boulevard Peripherique is Paris's equivalent of the M25, and it's largely unavoidable if travelling to Disney. It's hard work but it's not impossible - definitely take a SatNav.

We spent three nights in the MH parking at Disneyland Paris for our last visit - presumably that can still be done, although you'd maybe need a solar panel and I believe it's fairly costly compared to aires in general. Remember there's two theme parks there - Disneyland and the Studio one, aimed at slightly older kids. Each will take you a day to get round.

I can second the advice above about Maisons Lafitte for camping and Galeries Lafayette for viewing Paris, although Maisons Lafitte is west of the city and Disneyland east, so you might just stay at Disneyland.

Generally speaking, Easter weekend is the start of the tourist season in France - before that you may find some campsites and visitor attractions are shut and a lot of places very quiet. Suits me fine, but it's not ideal for everyone. If you want to visit traditionally crowded places without the crowds, definitely do it before Easter.

Some Disneyland tips: You can get into the park before the official opening time - they let you walk down Main Street and wait behind a rope barrier before escorting you into the different zones at opening time. One way to do it is to head for the furthest end of the park and work back towards the entrance against the general flow, as most people are idle sods and just bimble around the entrance before traipsing through the park.

If you want to see the parade, bag yourself a kerbside spot at least an hour before it starts, otherwise you'll see nothing. Parade time is also a good time to get on the bigger rides without queues, but remember the parade barriers split the park down the middle so you need to be on the right side of the route before it starts.

They don't like you lying or sitting down in Disneyland, so there's hardly any seating outside the eateries, but you can still find a grassy spot behind Space Mountain and one or two other places.

'It's A Small World' is a subliminal brain-washing torture chamber, where scary blank-faced automata reinforce racial stereotypes and implant a silly song in your head that will never, ever, go away. Just say No.

And if you're in the park and spot a shifty-looking arabic type dressed in black from head to foot and looking like he's up to no good, don't report him - it's probably Jafar.