The French Open – A good excuse for a trip to France.
Posted by admin | Travel Insurance | Posted on May 26th, 2011
What a good excuse to take a couple of weeks off and enjoy the sun at one of France’s biggest sporting events – the French Open. The world’s best tennis stars battle it out on Roland Garros’ clay courts from 17th May to 5th June. Tickets are in high demand and it’s advisable to book well in advance to get a decent seat. You can purchase tickets direct from the French Open website or risk buying them from the stadium if there are any leftovers.
It is always worth watching the players on the smaller courts, it’s still a game of Tennis and they may be the stars of the future.
How to get there:
Plane
Flying may be the quickest and easiest way to get to Paris. Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport is located 15 miles from Paris and is the busiest European airport after London Heathrow. The airport allows quick ground transportation directly into Paris by taxi or train. Train fare starts at €8,70 for an adult and takes just 30 minutes to get to Paris. You can try Easyjet for cheap airline fees.
Eurostar
If you are departing from London, the Eurostar may be an alternative option to flying. It departs from London St. Pancreas and arrives at Paris Gare du Nord in only 2 hours and 15 minutes. Eurostar advertise there prices from £69 and it takes you direct to the centre. Easy!
Accommodation
There are many hotels surrounding the stadium, the trains allow easy access to the courts therefore staying a few miles away is not a problem. Whilst you are in the French capital you are bound to want to venture to other well known areas. Staying central can set you back £150 a night, whilst on the outskirts you could be looking at £50.
Eating Out
Everyone who visits France wants to enjoy the French delicacies. Where better than McDonalds? A Big Mac is still a Big Mac. I’m kidding! Le Chateaubriand made the top 50 Worlds Best Restaurants in 2011; in fact it came in ninth. Based 6 miles from the stadium but only 300ft from the nearest subway it’s cool, accomplished and affordable.
Other Interests
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of France throughout the world and has 7 million visitors per year. It was built in 1889 to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the French Revolution and has been a success every since. Open 7 days a week and only costing €13,40 for a full paying adult it is one of the must see places in France.
The Louvre
The Louvre is the worlds’ largest museum which houses some 35,000 works of art and artefacts. It is the most visited museum with an incredible 8.5 million visitors in 2009. Open all week except Tuesdays, and late nights Wednesdays and Fridays, you can spend all day wandering around the spectacular rooms. It is only €14 to access both permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.
Notre-Dame
The Notre-Dame de Paris is a church, a place of Roman Catholic worship, where Christians come together to pray. It opens its doors to you to participate in services or to freely visit the cathedral all year long. Open since 1163, Notre-Dame has provided a place of prayer for over eight centuries. It is a beautiful piece of history which can be admired for religious reasons or not.
Things to Remember
So that you can enjoy your time in Paris don’t forget to take out your cheap travel insurance. Having sufficient cover to provide you with piece of mind is important. Don’t assume that every policy is the same. Make sure your cheap travel insurance provides the cover that you need by reading the small print carefully. Carry the 24hr emergency number with you at all times and even a copy of the policy documents so you know what to do if the worst should happen.