Paris is a nice place, but I definately think its over rated. It can be a bit expensive to do things like eat out, and it depends whereabout you are in Paris as to whats around.

I had researched the metro and train system in Paris, so I new where to go from Charles de Gaulle airport, to our hotel. So, we joined a massive queue to get a train ticket. Now, I had read that the train ticket you could buy from the airport could also work on the metro system. I didn't know if it was true, but the ticket didn't cost much, so I was prepared to buy another one at the metro station.

When he came back, my boyfriend said that this guy had paid for us to have two 3 day metro tickets, to use as much as we wanted. And that he'd paid for it on his card, and that my boyfriend had given him the money in cash (and a little extra for being so helpful.)

My boyfriend explained the situation to him, and the station man said that we had been conned. Tickets didn't cost that much and didn't look like the ones we had. We had lost about €60 on our first day.

A bit about the hotel then: I was in a 4* Quality Hotel, right next to a Chinese Takeaway place, which was very very handy, and very nice! I was in the 17th arrondisement, so I was quite close to the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysses, Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre. It was a 4 story hotel, tucked away behind some houses. The hotel itself had a restaurant, which only served breakfast, a bar, and a very small beer garden at the back. The lobby was very nicely decorated and furnished. The staff were polite and friendly, but got embarassed if they didn't understand a word you said to them. For example, I asked if there were any shops nearby. (I fancied a chocolate bar.) And he didn't quite understand what i was saying. He disappeared into his room on the ground floor and then produced a load of chocolate cake, crisps and other snacks. I then tried to explain again what I meant, which he understood this time and got very embarrased. A few minutes later, he brought out 2 slices of chocolate cake and apologised for misunderstanding me. I was the one who felt embarrased! I'm really not very strong at french so tried my best in simple english instead......

We went on 12th-15th July, so we were in Paris around Bastille Day, one of their national holidays. There was a considerable amount of military personnel walking down the Champs-Elysses that day, and a few people were having their own private celebrations, but as far as we could see, there was no major celebration for it, and nothing really advertised.

Something to be careful of: If you do decide to go to Paris in the summer, it gets very hot, and there isn't much in the way of shade. Get creamed up and wear a cap is my advice. I even wore trousers to stop my legs from burning! We had to keep taking breaks every so often in any shade we could find, having a drink and some icrecream to try and stay cool and hydrated.

Something I'd recommend doing before you go - book an air shuttle. They don't cost a lot, but it saves the hassle of getting a train, and you don't get conned. We booked one for the way back at around €19, and we got to the airport in a silly 20 minutes. Because of the train journey to the hotel, we thought it was a good 2 hours to the airport. NOT THE CASE. We were 3 hours early for our flight, and our check in desk hadn't even opened yet.

And as for the flight back, we were practically flying in a double decker bus - by that, i mean it was no longer or wider than one. The seats were 2-1. Not your normal 3-3.