PARIS - France 2014 - page 303

fices(seethe“SNCFBoutiques”sidebar),oratanytravelagencythathandlestraintickets
(expectabookingfee).Youcanpurchasepassholderdiscounttickets atEurostardeparture
stations, through US agents, or by phone with Eurostar, but they may be harder to get at
other train stations and travel agencies, and are a discount category that can sell out.
Remember France's time zone is one hour later than Britain's. Times printed on tick-
ets are local (departure from Paris is French time, arrival in London is British time).
Taking the Eurostar: Eurostar trains depart from and arrive at Paris' Gare du Nord.
Check in at least 45 minutes in advance for your Eurostar trip. It's very similar to an air-
port check-in: You pass through airport-like security, fill out a customs form, show your
passport to customs officials, and find a TV monitor to locate your departure gate. The
currency-exchange booth here has rates about the same as you'll find on the other end.
By Bus
The main bus station is Gare Routière du Paris-Gallieni (28 Avenue du Général de Gaulle,
in suburb of Bagnolet, Mo: Gallieni, tel. [phone]). Buses provide cheaper—if less
comfortable and more time-consuming—transportation to major European cities. The bus
isalsothecheapestwaytocrosstheEnglishChannel;bookatleasttwodaysinadvancefor
thebestfares.Eurolines'busesdepartfromhere(tel.[phone], www.eurolines.com ) .
Look on their website for offices in central Paris.
Paris' Cruise Port: Le Havre
Ships visiting “Paris” actually call at the industrial city of Le Havre, a 2.25-hour train trip
north.
Orientation: Le Havre's sprawling port area—harboring industrial-, leisure-, and
cruise-ships—stretches along the northern bank of the Seine River. The main TI is at the
westernedgeoftown,betweenthemarinaandthebeach(dailyJuly-Aug9:00-19:00,Sept-
June 9:30-12:30 & 14:00-18:30; Wi-Fi, 186 Boulevard Clemenceau, tel. [phone],
www.le-havre-tourism.com ) ;additionalbranchesaredowntownandatthecruiseterminal.
LeHavre'scruiseportislocatedaboutamileandahalfsouthwestofthetrainstation
at Pointe de Floride , which is flanked by two piers: Roger Meunier Pier and Pierre Callet
Pier. Both feed into a spacious, modern terminal building with Internet access, a TI, car
rental, bike rental, a gift shop, and WCs ( www.cruiselehavre.com ).
Getting into Le Havre Town: Most cruise ships provide a shuttle bus that takes
passengers tovarious points inLe Havre. Ifyourbusdoesn'tstop at the train station itself,
getoffatLesDocks(ashoppingandentertainment complex)andwalkfiveminutesnorth,
crossing the harbor canal on the Passerelle Hubert Raoul Duval footbridge. If there's no
shuttle bus, you can take a taxi (€8 to the train station).