2) I'm thinking 7-8 days for both Paris and London. Starting in London and ending in Paris. I don't

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I'm strongly thinking to head off to London and Paris for a week or so in March or April and need some serious advice. I'm a 26 year old female. I've traveled quite a bit. I'm from Canada; been to a ton of US cities and places in the Carribean. I've only been to Spain in Europe (incredible trip!), but I've never traveled solo. I'm a pretty decent planner if I say so myself so not concerned about that, but traveling solo does make me a bit nervous.
I think tours are a pain in terms of bus rides and following someone else's schedules and overpriced, BUT the pro of this is I'm thinking I'll meet fellow travelers. Plus I'm very nervous to explore nightlife italy tours on my own and that's where the tour group should help right? I'm looking into Contiki. I've read good and bad reviews. italy tours As long as I can do my own thing during the day if I wish, I'd be game for this. Thoughts?
2) I'm thinking 7-8 days for both Paris and London. Starting in London and ending in Paris. I don't have a large budget. I found some reasonable priced hotels. italy tours London: Royal London, Tavistock Hotel, President italy tours Hotel. Paris: Ibis Styles Paris Gare De L Est, Hotel Magenta Paris. Any reviews on these hotels? I've read some and they seem decent. I'm most concerned about location.
If you are planning to go with a tour, you have to analyze the itinerary very much to be sure you're getting italy tours what you want out of it. Contiki is targeted for 18-35(?) y.o. but some people say that it's actually 18-20 y.o. but since you're going in March/April you might end up with more people closer to your age.
I haven't traveled solo (yet) but most of the advice I have gotten italy tours from others is to look at youth hostels/backpacker hostels. There you will meet and form nice bonds with people who will go with you out during the day and night!
A trip of 7 or 8 days that includes both Paris and London would let you get a taste of each city. I don't think you would regret it if you can add on a few days, so you have 4 or 5 days in each city.
ATMs and credit cards should italy tours work fine. Make sure the bank that issued your ATM card belongs to one of the networks that includes italy tours these countries (e.g., italy tours cirrus) and if don't already have one, see if you can get a chip-and-pin credit card -- you may not be able to use other kinds at some locations. (And if you don't know what they are, that's another reason you need a good guidebook!) See if you can get cards that don't charge for currency exchange. Always charge in the foreign currency; don't accept charges in Canadian dollars (for which you will almost certainly pay an unnecessary fee).
My nephew who had just turned 18 took a Contiki tour.. most people were in fact under 26.. and frankly ..the shorter tours are booze cruises.. and you get very little time in each place.. and you stay outside the city centers so the free time you get you can barely use. so .. no.
Taken is possibly the stupidest movie ever. Really. I am going to be blunt.. but the white sex trade slavers don't want or need tourist girls. they have poor desperate girls from poor eastern europeon countries that they trick into working for them.. they hold their passports. the lie to them etc. and the girls are dirt poor and need the money. trust me.. they don't want you .
Look at MIJE hostel. its always well reviewd and its in a good central area in Paris.. can;t help with London. You may meet some nice girls there that will invite italy tours you out for a night on town with them.. hardly think a couple of aussie girls.. or some nice dutch girls are going to kidnap you .. lol
PS another thing about Contiki,, italy tours they SEEM cheap mut my nephew said they are constantly nickel and diming you.. he spent way more then he planned on extras they entice you with( well everyone on the bus is going in.. you going to sit it out.. )
justineparis, thanks for the reply. I've heard the same booze stories and staying outside city centers about Contiki which both do not entice me. And definitely agree, Contiki is probably going to cost the same or more as me going on without a tour. (Ha @ Taken. I know it's ridiculous but it's in my head!).
No reason you shouldn't go out in the evening on your own in both cities. In London there's the theater, and more pubs than you could possibly want. In Paris dinner can occupy most of the evening. Late night clubbing, yes, you'd be better off with company, and a youth hostel would be good for finding some.
Much ado about nothing. Go, have a good time seeing London Paris, go to pubs, meet people, don't meet people - what possible difference will it make for 7 or 8 days. You'll have plenty to occupy italy tours you, enjoy your own company italy tours if necessary as many of us do regularly. You'll have a great time.
Thank you for the advice. I'm okay if I don't get go to a club; been there done that. I do enjoy experiencing nightlife in different cities though. And yes, I'm perfectly okay if I don't meet people. I do love spending time with myself, ha.
By the way, that Ibis near Gare de l'Est is perfectly fine. There's also a Kyriad hotel inside Gare de l'Est, probably just a bit cheaper, though skip the add on breakfast there, it's not worth it and there's lots of place near Gare de l'Est to have breakfast.
I used to stay in hostels when I traveled with my two young daughters. One of the things I liked about them was all the people we met. The average age was a bit younger than mine, but there were plenty of people older than I. (I was in my early 40s at the time.) People were constantly organizing excursions italy tours and planning to go out in the evenings italy tours together. The hostels usually helped by posting notices on their bulletin italy tours boards.
I once stayed in a hostel in Manhattan, which isn't that far from where I lived at the time, but I was going to a late concert and didn't want to return home that night. I was amused to learn that one of my roommates was an upper middle class women in from Connecticut to do some serious shopping. Her strategy was to spend all the money saved on hotel bills at Bergdorf Goodman.
Hostels tend to have personalities. Just like some tours, some hostels are mostly frequented by juvenile italy tours party types, and some are more on the Boy Scout line. Do your research to find those that suit your style.
Security for a single woman in London or Paris is the same as in any Canadian city. English pubs can be quite sociable or can be dumps; ask the staff where you are staying for advice. Paris has less pub culture (although you can find a couple of Canadian sports bars in the 5th/6th arrondisments, vastly overpriced) but lots of music clubs in various styles. italy tours Both big cities are rich with plays and concerts while Paris is the world's best cinema city. As to tours, you can compromise by making your own plans and then taking guided half-day italy tours tours, finding casual conversation with like-minded tourists. Also, in the Internet era, your smartphone/tablet/small laptop can be your companion at night if you choose accommodation with free WiFi.
Check out www.walks.com very popular and affordable walking tours in London and you are sure to meet people in your group...the pub walks are great for cool pubs and meeting fun people in the evening and don't worry it's not a drunken pub crawl...you only have a small drink then walk to the next...about 4 a night.
I've traveled solo all my life (as well as with people). I'm not naturally italy tours the kind of person who hits a bar expecting to start up a conversation, so I get where you're coming from (I do enjoy being by myself). One of the things I absolutely adore about Paris is the caf culture, which makes it entirely comfortable to just take a seat and sip on something and people-watch. Often, I've struck italy tours up a conversation with someone else, but just as often, not...and it doesn't matter. There are solo women all around being perfectly content just sitting and watching, or reading, or talking on their cellphones, or writing, or whatever. italy tours As far as I'm concerned, Paris is the perfect hassle-free italy tours comfort zone for a solo female traveler.
I would never in a million years join an organized tour, but that's me. Type A personality who needs to be completely in charge of herself, where and when she goes somewhere, how much time she spends there, when to take a day off....that kind of stuff.
There are Paris Greeters, by the way, locals who will, for free, meet up with you and give you tours. Might be a great way to have some companionship. I believe you're requested to give a small donation to the company (not the local), but I think the amount is at your discretion. I haven't italy tours done this...just offering it as information.
"Thinking 3 nights italy tours in each city?" Can you extend? If not, then keep jet lag in mind -- you'll lose a chunk of time to jet lag in your first destination. Also keep the time for transit in mind -- and not just the time for the transportation, but time to pack/unpack, travel between your lodging and train station (or whatever), italy tours time to get oriented in the new city and get local currency, etc. NONE of these things pose any insurmountable challenges -- just things to keep in mind as you plan.
Thanks! I'll look into my days and consider the length of my stay. I am budget conscious and would prefer to take no more than a week and a half off work. I'll plan my itinerary and see what is best.
I certainly understand that time off work can be a limiting factor! I'm sure you've already realized that the cost of a day abroad is relatively small in comparison to the cost of your airfare, so I've always found it to my advantage to plan for as much time on the ground as my leave time will permit.
You will NOT be able to see/do EVERYTHING you would like to see/do in EITHER city -- even if you spent ALL your time in one or the other -- unless your interests are extr