Monday, October 29, 2012

Paris - The planning

Who says traveling free and easy is the correct term to use ? I'd say it is a misnomer. Hours and hours of planning and head wrecking and finally here is the travel plan and destinations to cover.

Google map of the places of interest.

The blue pins denote the completed point of interest, while the other symbols denote the incomplete ones. I would summarize that this trip has been fairly successful and interesting.

It started with scouring the tour agents for cheaper ticket and finally we have settled for Singapore Airlines flying direct from Singapore to Paris. Alternatively, you can fly Emirates, however, it will incur a rather long stopover at Dubai. This will probably make the travel more tiring. Also, Singapore Airlines will reach Charles De Gaulle airport earlier. So the decision was made to stick with Singapore Airlines.

 Changi airport terminal A2 waiting for boarding

 
 Flight SQ334 departing in an hour.

The SQ334 flight departs Changi airport at 2355 hours and reaches Paris CDG airport around 0700 hrs, the flight time is 13 hours and Paris is 6 hours behind Malaysian time.The airplane will be the Airbus A380, currently the world largest passenger airliner, with around 400+ passengers.

Super airliner Airbus A380 with double deck.

The SQ334 A380 seats 3-4-3(not football formation) in a row and the seating space is roughly the same with Boeing 747, the only improvements that I can notice are the sound insulation and the in-cabin pressurization. All the jet engines sound are muted even during take off which normally tends to be the loudest. The higher in-cabin pressurization will provide better air environment comfort especially during high altitude flight. So you will no need to 'pop' your ears so many times during descent, and since the air is more pressurized, you don't feel out of air during high altitude flight.

Flight almost reaching Paris from in-cabin entertainment console.




Another an hour and 28 minute to reach.


And finally, Paris CDG airport the long escalator walkway. 

 The screen on the left showcasing famous Paris attractions.


 The long escalator walkway to customs and baggage claims

 The screen on the right.

 The customs were fast but the bags were slow. After going through the hassle of getting on the train, switching trains and finally to the hotel, I would advise to take the taxi, it should not be as taxing as to carry the big luggage between trains. However, I want to make a note here, we took the RER B train from the Aerogare 2 to the St-Michel-Notre-Dame stop, switched to RER C train and got off at Pereire-Levallois stop, it costs €9.50 per trip per person. However, the journey took about 1.5 hours. The train station assistants were actually quite helpful and able to converse in English.

Finally the Hotel Courcelles Etoile is just 30 metres walk from the exit of Pereire-Levallois stop. Probably, if I ever go to Paris again, I will opt for a hotel that is nearer to the attractions.


Hotel Courcelles Etoile(***), 184, Rue De Courcelles, 75017 Paris

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