NashVegas37206

Amazing and thanks. How would you compare the seat when setup as a bed to the traditional 747 with a stand-alone bed being phased out? The food and wine tasting makes me stare at my dinner tonight (pasta) with disdain/dread. You commented on the champagne vs. prior flights. How did the whites and reds compare? I have not flown Lufthansa in F and hope too soon. Thanks SFO777.

worldtraveller73

Yeah - inquiring minds want to know ! (Laughing) . I echo NashVegas37206's comment about the seating configuration.

It seems if you want to fly the 747-800, you pretty much have to do it on this route. The downside is no bed sadly.

I agree - the Global First wines were better than what I was expecting.

chongl

I was just thinking the other day that it's been a while since I read an SFO777 trip report

SFO777

Despite an end of the concourse A/Z-25 gate arrival, with no line at passport control, we were outside Door A1 at Terminal 1 in less than 10 minutes.







And 5 minutes later at the First Class Terminal.















Still stuffed from dinner, we passed on breakfast. I showered and got a new series silver duckie. ^





At T-30, our Personal Assistant retrieved us and escorted us downstairs to limo dispatch and today's Porsche Cayenne to our gate and onto plane before any other pax boarded.

























Frankfurt-Paris
Lufthansa 1030
A320-200
9:35A-10:45A
June 13, 2015
Seats 1AC

Another coach seats masquerading as Business Class European flight. Fortunately, we were lucky enough to be able to select the bulkhead when I OLCI'd.









We arrived on time at 10:45A to the marvel of French engineering, CDG Terminal 1, made even more pleasant today by construction that closed the inbound moving walkway.



With light Saturday morning traffic, we were in the 6th and Boul. St-Germain in about 45 minutes.







For a quick overnight, we decided to "go cheap" and stay at a much heralded Virtuoso boutique hotel, L'Esprit St-Germain. Convenient location on St-Sulpice but no where near it's laughable 5 star rating with lilliputian size rooms, and overrun with Americans in the summer. Quite possibly the smallest room we have ever seen.







After we settled in, we headed back over to Boul. St-Germain and then to rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré to satisfy Mrs. SFO777's apparently insatiable appetite for exploring high end stores.











And then to meet our travel buddies for lunch at Chez Julien (10th near Le Pont Louis-Philippe) after they had escaped the crowds on Ile St-Louis. Food was meh, but the wine and atmosphere was great.











After lunch, we walked back to Ile St-Louis, then Notre Dame and finally to the 5th and 6th. OMG, just shoot me if I ever again suggest visiting Paris in the summer.



















Early evening, the four of us headed out around for dinner at Le 114 Faubourg, the fabulous 1 star resto at the Hotel Bristol Paris. This one was first recommended to us by FTer JohnRain. What an elegant restaurant with simply fabulous food and wine.



























My Rhum Baba.







Sunday morning before leaving, we stopped downstairs for complimentary continental breakfast.















Up next: The TGV to the south of France.

SFO777

Thank you diningdecadence. I always thought SFO had pretty good food for a domestic airline. But the ORD staff is much better and eager to please. BTW, love you FT handle. ^

Indeed. AA also serves it. I'm guessing long shelf life.

Thanks apodo77.

Thank you grandgourmand. Will have to check it out.

Thanks batmandds. The LH amenity kit case seems to change frequently. Not sure if Rimowa is no longer, but we didn't see it in April as well.

Thanks very much DanielW. Yeah, we used a lot of glasses on this one.

Thank you Digital01. The barge is amazing, the scenery spectacular.

United has really improved since the terrible Jeff McMuffin days.

Thanks Linda VH.

LOL. Thank you LDNConsultant.

Thanks MarylandFlyer244, I think.

Thank very much NashVegas37206. Good question about the 744 vs. 748. Overall, I still prefer the upper deck of the 744. The seat and a bed are really special. Plus there is also more privacy with the 744 cabin. Upstairs, you really can't see anyone else unless you are up and walking around the cabin. On the 748, 2A can see 1K pretty easily unless you put up the privacy screen which kind of closes you in a bit.

Thanks worldtraveller73. Indeed, I really like the seat and bed.

Thank you chongl.

roadwarrier

After doing the canal boat thing in the UK a few years ago, we have been talking about the barge option in France. I look forward to hearing your take on it.

JohnRain

Another great TR SFO777... ^ I'm glad that dinner at 114 Faubourg was a success again, as former chef Eric Desbordes has left the restaurant since your last visit for another Oetker Collection property, the Eden Rock St Barths. Next time you should go and try 114 Faubourg's big brother, amazing three star Epicure. They serve a lunch menu for a reasonable 145 euros and sitting on the terrace on a sunny summer day with no other sounds than the birds and the fountain is a magical experience.

AKCuisine

Ah, apparently I just missed you and Mrs SFO777 ... you were flying into Paris from Frankfurt on LH the morning of Saturday 6/13 not long before I departed CDG that same morning for Dubai on EK.

The two of you should have traveled a few weeks earlier so that I would have been able to take advantage of your most recent Paris travel and dining insights. C'est la vie.

SAtraveller

Thank you for another exciting TR, SFO777. The pictures are excellent and I always love your LH F reviews.

As far as I know the aircraft is the 747-8, not the 747-800.

Kagehitokiri

nice!

although if youre a burgundy fan - next month >
http://www.belmond.com/afloat-in-fra...days/grand_cru
one FlyerTalker booked a cabin, normally that barge is charter only

https://www.facebook.com/brownelldis...52702561301022
as of apr 1 there were 2 cabins left (out of 4) for july 12 departure

a charter grand cru review >
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored...-burgundy.html

hmm - from a travel provider brochure >
would be nice if it is every year, brings cost down compared to private charter

UAL250

An amazing TR yet again, SFO777. UA F and the GFL actually look pretty decent! And of course LH looks world class as always!

Can't wait to read the rest. I wish you a pleasant and safe stay in France!

Longboater

These just keep on coming. F on Lufthansa's 747-8 looks incredible. How did you like the plane?

cmd320

Yet another inspiring TR SFO777! The 747-8 looks quite nice. I'm really hoping to get on one soon, but none of my usual airlines/partners fly them. Perhaps it's worth it to splurge and just fly LH up front!

echen1024

*sigh* Why must you distract me from studying for finals...

SFO777

Our cruise company driver met us at the hotel at around 11AM and dropped us off at Gare de Lyon about 20 minutes later.









At around T-20, the gate is posted and the mad dash begins.





Our car on the lower level.









And the upper deck.





Time for lunch at the café a few cars back.









Food selections were pretty basic but the croque was quite tasty.

















Four hours and change later, we arrived at Béziers.





Where two of our barge crew greeted us on the platform and for the short 5 minute drive to our barge.





Our wonderful crew, Captain Joe, Hostess Ang, Tour Guide Olivia and Chef Joe.



The lovely main living area of the barge.











Our suite.











We departed shortly after we boarded for a 45 minute cruise up the Canal du Midi for our first stop of the trip.





































Getting ready for dinner.





Lovely table setting.



OMG, food was simply amazing. And the wines!















Up next: Cruising the Canal du Midi and exploring the surrounding area.