I can't believe how much paperwork I have to sort through for my trip. Besides the 200 or 300 pages I downloaded from various travel sites, I have a huge amount of papers with barcodes printed on them that must be scanned at he tour operators location to be able to retrieve my tickets. The papers I have printed are called "vouchers"
I have vouchers for the two museums I am most interested in Paris, a voucher for a Seine river tour, a voucher for the trip to Monet's house, studio and garden in Giverny, theirs one for the day trip to London and one for the day trip to Normandy. Interestingly, the paperwork for the Eiffel Tower is the actual ticket (at least I am reading these things, I usually "assume" that I know what they are and then find out later...opps). Most of the vouchers are two pages. Being somewhat compulsive, I am carrying two sets of all of them in two different places. Suitcase and my carry on satchel. The plane, not ticket but voucher, must be scanned at the airlines kiosk when I get there. I think this means I have to go to the ticketing are even though I already have purchased it. Maybe there are ticket scanner and printers all over the airport but I doubt it. I guess having an assigned seat is Ok rather than having to print a ticket one minute after the 24 hours are before a flight (Southwest has this). No mater how early I have accessed their ticket site, at the exact moment even, I never got higher that a A21. Who gets the A1 seat anyway?
So, I am on my airlines web site, just screwing around and on my flight info it says "see what amenities and entertainment is on your flight". Well, it says "personal entertainment" which I believe is a in the seat back screen with multiple options of programming to watch (for $3 to $4 dollars each movie)! I think some shows are free but that remains to be seen. It also indicated "wifi", I clicked on that and it then tells you it is available for $12 for the flight (24 hours actually). If you purchase it before your flight, it is $9. I thought the wifi was free on the flights, like everywhere else but no it isn't. I went ahead and purchased it. I download my PAPERWORK with the access code on it and then I notice a little line of type that says (available while flying over the continental US only)! Why would they even offer it on the flight information area when your departing from BOSTON! Of course I did not read one bottom line on one of the screens which actually stated that info. There, that's more like it Bill! Now I have to call for my refund or maybe sell it on ebay. I don't think the refund will be hard to get, it is not the airline that provides the wifi, its an independent company called yoyo or togo, bobo? I forget but I have the paperwork. Why can't I think of one of these, probably relatively easy business venture to set up and without having to do anything, the money just rolls in? What the heck can a satellite link cost and then access to every major airlines aircraft anyway? I bet its a pseudo company owned by the CIA anyway. I just don't want to forget my passport!
My Dear Joan ,
ReplyDeleteJust to tell you that in France and even in Europe we don’t pay systematically tips to the people working in services like restaurant , taxi .
The prices are always service and tips included . Always ask for a receipt !!
The Euro is about 1.41 Us dollar .
Or the reverse 1 US Dollar is only 70 euro cents .
Just communicate this to your collegue Bill before his departure …!
Always the best !!
Robert
Again there is no problem for your friend to go to Paris departing from the Charles De Gaulle Airport ( roissy Airport )
All signs in the airport are both English and french written .
Yes he has to take the RER train ,at the railway station which is built underground at Terminal 2 .
The best is to take the one way ticket at the counter of the SNCF ( National Railway in France ) and not to try an automatic distributor .
Than he can ask in English the person of the railwaystation ( speaks a little English of course )where he needs to go to pick up the train and where he likes to go off .
Easy but it will take him at least 30 minutes to get to the center of Paris , many stops !!
According your indications he is lodging in the center of Paris , you said the Deciti , I think it is La Cité and St Michel , close to Notre Dame ( Cathedral ).
I hope that he has a map of the city center, I am sure he will find his way .
He can speak in English to young people. But please speak with simple words and speak slowly .
Hope this helps you some .. Bill have a wonderful vacation while we batten down the hatches here in CT!!!
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