- WHEN:
- Winters can be rainy, windy, and cold, but less crowded than in the summer. Cherry Blossoms begin to bloom.
- Summer is more crowded but allows pleasant biking, river seine boat cruises, biking & boating in Versaille, picnic at parks.
- Sunday arrival: Many shops & restaurants close on Sundays, so Sunday arrival is not great for browsing or eating, but great day to relax and do an overview tour.
- HOW LONG: 6 -7 full days.
- Mind that flight to Paris lands you there the following day with a jet leg.
- Sundays have less traffic. CDG to Paris will be about 30 minutes. Weekdays would take 1 hour.
- Time Arrival to hotel after check-in hour because Boutique Hotels typically cannot accommodate early check-ins, although they will store the luggages.
- Plan a leisurely overview tour the first day, perhaps a River Seine cruise or a bus tour (minding Paris traffic).
- TRANSPORTATION:
- hire private drivers to and from the hotel to the airport.
- Uber works fine but slow due to Paris traffic.
- Metro works great.
- WHAT TO BOOK AHEAD:
- River Seine cruises
- skip-the-line tickets to everywhere.
- Reservation for dinners
- luxury shops require appointments
- PAYMENTS: Apple Pay works everywhere.
- PACKING:
- light, windproof umbrella (for March)
- Dress in layers. River Seine is windy and cold af
- plug-in headphones for flight entertainment
- SIGHTS:
- Summit to Eiffel Tower at night time is worth it
- Galeries Lafayette (near Opera Garnier) has luxury brands (lines!) as well as cheap brands.
- Fashion show @Galeries Lafayette, every Friday 3-3:30. Lame fashion show.
- MUSEUMS:
- Pompidou has a cafe inside, so arrive before reservation time, go through security line, sit at cafe.
- Orangerie has a small cafe inside.
- Pantheon: Foucault's pendulum demonstrations every Thursday, at noon?
- Marie Antoinette: Visit 1) Versaille's Petit Trianon & Queen's Hamlet, 2) La Conciergerie (near Seine), where she was imprisoned, 3) Place de la Concorde, where she was guillotined.
- PHONE:
- Verizon International Plan worked fine everywhere in Paris.
- Carry-On Only.
- so much more convenient to have only carry-on. but no room to buy stuff to bring back home.
NEXT TIME:
- stay at St-Germain-des-Pres, near Latin Quarters (lots of cafes, brasseries, & boutique shops)
- stay at Airelles Chateau de Versailles, Le Grand Controle, 5-star hotel in Versaille, built by Hardouin-Mansart, with 11 rooms & 2 Signature Suites, breakfast & dinner by Michelin-star Chef Alain du Ducasse, private tour of Trianon & Chateau de Versaille, etc. ($2k-$15k/night)
- stay at Waldorf Astoria at Versaille Trianon Palace, bike around, take boat out.
- stay at Left Bank: Westin, Mandarin Oriental, Le Grand Hotel
- watch opera or concert @ Opera Palais Garnier
- Space Invaders: collect space invader art work all over Paris on app.
- jazz @ Aux Trois Mailletz in Latin Quarter
- Concerts at Notre Dame, Opera Garnier, Sainte-Chapelle, L'Olympia, maybe Moulin Rouge
- Michelin starred restaurants
- China Town
- Check www.parisdiscoveryguide.com for events by month.
- Start planning Paris 6 months ahead.
- Winter sale in early January, Summer sale in July
- Shop more.