Travel

Getting to Paris

• By train: Easier than flying, since all the train stations are within the city and have Métro stations. From the UK, take the Eurostar from central London to central Paris, and book early for significantly less expensive fares. From mainland Europe, check with your country's rail service and with SNCF, the French rail service.
• By car: Not recommended, since parking is in short supply and Parisians drive like lunatics. If you must, GoogleMaps or Mapquest can give you directions, but bear in mind that the public transportation system is excellent and Paris traffic scares people who can drive in downtown Manhattan at rush hour without breaking a sweat.
• By boat: For those living in the UK, the Dover-Calais ferry is much more picturesque and much less efficient than the Eurostar. If your life will not be complete without "Tomorrow to Calais and then a ship across the sea" jokes, block out half a day for the Channel crossing alone and remember that the Calais train station is not within walking distance of the port--you'll have to figure out the bus or drop €30 on a taxi.
• By plane: If you're affiliated with an institution of higher education, StudentUniverse is your best bet for plane fares. If not, fire up your ad-blocker and hit Kayak or another airfare-aggregator site of your choice.

Getting In From the Airport

• LUGGAGE ON THE METRO: If you have a lot of luggage, using the Métro on your way to/from the airport is a gigantic pain. The vast majority of stations have lots of stairs and no escalators; many have an awkward turnstile system at the entrance, which may lead to you and/or your suitcases getting stuck in the turnstile and having to be rescued by an employee.
• Shuttles: The Roissybus service runs directly between all terminals of Charles de Gaulle airport and the Rue Scribe entrance of the Opéra Garnier and costs about €8 each way. Orlybus is a similar service to the Orly airport that runs to Denfert-Rochereau. Air France Cars are slightly more expensive but have more destinations. All the shuttles have luggage racks and are generally more secure than RER trains.
• RER: The B line of the RER, Paris's suburban light rail service, runs to the airports. It is well-marked by signs and costs about €8.50 one way. Do your best to get an express train that runs straight into the city instead of one that stops at all the suburban stations on the way. And keep an eye on your bags, since the RER B is frequented by pickpockets, especially around tourist season.
• Bus: If your flight leaves or gets in very early, the Noctilien night buses might be your only option. The N140 and N143 lines run between the Gare de l'Est and Charles de Gaulle airport; for Orly, take the N31 or N144, which stop at the Gare de Lyon. You can buy your tickets on board.
• Taxi: Taxis are expensive. The airport is a long way from the city. If you have too much luggage to fuss with the Métro and RER, consider taking a shuttle into town and only using the taxi to get from the shuttle drop-off to your final destination.

Lodging

• Hotels: EuroCheapo maintains a database of budget hotels all over Europe that don't suck. For outside opinions, TripAdvisor usually has reviews (again, turn on your ad-blocker!). Even for hotels that Don't Suck, if you're on a budget, expect cramped hotel rooms and extra charges for amenities such as a toilet that's not at the end of the hall. It comes with the territory.
• Apartment rentals: If you're staying a week or longer, you might want to look into subletting an apartment instead of booking a hotel room. Vacation rentals are often (but not always) more cost-effective than a hotel room, and you'll have a kitchen and more room to move around in. In addition to the Paris Craigslist, try PAP Vacances, VivaStreet, or another French Craigslist-type site.
• Youth hostels: For those who don't mind a bit of communal living in exchange for cheap lodging, youth hostels are ubiquitous in Europe. Be sure to read reviews before you book, though, as levels of rowdiness, cleanliness, and staff helpfulness tend to vary a lot.
• Sharing with another Barricade Day participant: If you're interested in splitting the cost of a hotel room or apartment with another fan, please contact us with a general description of what type of lodging you're looking for. We'll try to match you up with someone looking for similar lodging.

Communication

• Language: In airports, train stations, and touristy areas, there is a certain amount of English-French bilingualism: signs will often be in English as well as French, and employees in these areas usually speak English. Outside of tourist areas, many people will speak at least a little bit of English because they learned it in school, but they might not be happy if you demand that they use it. That said, the Parisian reputation for being rude to English-speaking tourists is somewhat exaggerated, and if you ask politely, people will usually help you as best they can.
• Phones: American cell phones will not work in Europe unless you have a GSM phone and buy a SIM card for it. British and other European phones will probably work, but roaming charges will apply. To make international calls from a landline, get a phone card in a tobacco shop and call from a pay phone. In some places, especially immigrant neighborhoods, you can find stores with phone booths that let you place international or local calls and then pay the cashier when you're done.
• Internet: Many hotels, youth hostels, and apartment rentals will include internet. If yours doesn't, there are parts of Paris that provide municipal WiFi (the garden of the Carnavalet museum, for example), and many restaurants--including, unfortunately, McDonald's--offer free WiFi to customers. There are also internet cafes in various places around the city.

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