Vonse

I've been lurking for some time now while formulating an itinerary for a trip to Paris (6-7 nights), San Sebastian (5-6 nights) and Barcelona (5-6 nights) in late April / early May, 2013. I'm hoping to get some help with the following questions before I buy my tickets:

1. I'm using Citibank Thank You Points to buy my tickets. Am I better off buying the tickets as soon as the flights are available for my dates, which is now, or waiting with the hope that tickets will be less expensive at a different time of the year?

2. If I start the trip in Barcelona, I'm looking at a flight from LAX with one stop at CDG, where I will have to change planes. Is 1 hr 20 min enough time for my luggage and me to make the connecting flight? Is there a rule of thumb I don't know about?

3. Am I better off traveling between cities or sightseeing on 5/1 (Labor Day)? Do museums and restaurants in Paris and Barcelona shut down on that holiday?

4. I'm thinking of renting an apartment for our time in Paris. Do the weekly rentals run from a particular day, such as Saturday to Saturday?

Thanks so much!

CathyM

I can help with question # 2. I'd feel comfortable booking this 1:20 connection especially if you book on one ticket the airline is obligated to get you to your final destination if you miss your connection. Every fall I have exactly the same 1:20 connection time at CDG to make my flight to Bilbao. I have to clear immigration and get on a shuttle but have always managed to make it (and have time for refreshments in the Air France lounge). That said, I usually have priority seating and know this routine so it saves me some time. But I'd feel comfortable with saying it's reasonable you'll make the connection. The airline wouldn't allow you to book this through on one ticket if the connection was not a legal time. By the way, just in case I always have printed out with me the next connecting flights in case I do miss. So I'm prepared in case and come equipped with this knowledge versus relying on the system to put me on the next flight.

Rastaguytoday

For #4, I've always found that weekly rentals start on a Saturday. However, I'm sure that there are more exceptions than there are rules.

I like your itinerary, but you might want to cut down a bit on SS. Beautiful city to see, and a city with great Basque food. But I can't see that many days there.

If you add a stop, I would suggest Madrid. Fly out of there on an open jaw ticket.

I've also rented a car from SS to BCN. It's a beautiful drive if you stay north and skirt along the Pyranees. My friend and I spent the night in Jaca, a small mountain city.

Vonse

Cathy: Thanks for sharing your experience - it's very helpful.

Rastaguytoday: We were planning on SS as a base to explore Spanish and French Basque. I haven't done enough research yet to determine whether we'll add another base. We like visiting small villages during the day, but enjoy the restaurants and liveliness evenings in larger towns and small cities offer. If I can truly manage with a single carry-on I plan to fly between SS and BCN, but that's very questionable and renting a car sounds like a lovely idea.

CathyM

Vonse-
With the plan on using San Sebastian as a base to visit the surrounding countryside I don't think 5-6 days is too much. If you like you could even spend a couple of nights in a smaller village for a change of pace from the larger cities. Of course, the downside is it's nice to have a home base and not have to move around so much. If you do decide to base in San Sebastian you may also consider renting an apartment.

Robert2533

There are some apartments in Paris that offer other than the Saturday-Saturday, but it will depend on your dates. But it's not going to happen during high season.

As far as how much time at each major destination, I'd do 5 to 6 in Paris, at least 5 in San Sebastian-Donostia and 3 to 4 in Barcelona, which will allow you to spend a couple of nights along the road between San Sebastian and Barcelona, unless you want add a couple of more days to your itinerary. If you did, then you could easily spend a week covering the Pyrenees.

Vonse

Cathy: I'm a little torn about renting an apartment. This will be my first visit to SS and while I can struggle with my high school Spanish, I'm quite intimidated by the Basque dialect. I'm thinking it would be helpful to have a hotel concierge. On the other hand, I haven't found a hotel I'm 100% sold on.

CathyM

Vonse-
The Basque people in San Sebastian will speak Spanish in addition to Euskara. Euskara is the Basque language, not a dialect - which can be a sensitive subject

I can understand why you may want a hotel that can help you with recommendations for your first visit though. Just thought I'd throw the apartment idea out in case.

nytraveler

Have you looked at the weather in these places. Barcelona should be fine and Paris - the weather doesn;t matter, but you can expect rainy and warmish to chilly. But SS is on the Atlantic Coast in front of the mountains and is definitely the coolest area of Spain. should be fine for sightseeing - but not any beach time (unlike the south which will be in the 80s then).

You seem to be staing enough nights in each places to get a real feel for it and even do a day trip or two,

Rastaguytoday

How about a blog or two?

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...paris-1006.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

If you have the $$$$, by all means book dinner at Arzak, one of the top 10 restaurants in the world. I've certainly paid more for less. I love this place.

Phread

Just another point of view from a frequent int'l flier... a layover for int'l flights should never be less than two hours.
It is fine if someone who does this trip all the time misses their connection and has to adjust their plans accordingly, but less great when its a trip you'll only be making two or three times in your life time.
As for the amount of time in each place... that is so personal. I spend a month every summer near the Basque region, and still haven't had time to visit the inland areas on the Spanish side of he border.

tracilee

Try myparisvisit.com for an apartment in Paris. I've rented from them twice and you can start the rental any day of the week. I also got quotes from several other agencies for my upcoming trip in August which starts on a Tuesday; none of them required a Saturday start-date. I don't think you'll have a problem.

Vonse

Robert: We're seriously considering driving between Barcelona and San Sebastian. I'm sure I'll be checking in for more information on that later.

Cathy: Oops, I should have known that!

nytraveler: I am a little worried about the weather and considered traveling in Sept/Oct 2013 instead, but I've been planning this trip in my head for too long already and just want to go! I may push the trip to mid/late May, which would solve my labor day quandry.

Phread: I do remember hearing about a 2-hour minimum between connections. If my husband and I can limit ourselves to carry-on I may risk the 1:20 layover. Otherwise the time between connections is upwards of 4 hours. I'd like to avoid that after a long and most likely, sleepless, flight from Los Angeles. I was also thinking of reversing the trip and starting in Paris just to avoid this.

Rasta: Arzak is on my list! For me, one of the main draws of SS and the Basque country is the food. I've been following various trip reports, especially those focused on food.

Tracilee:Thanks for the recommendation. I have a list of rental agencies and this was not on it. On our last trip to Paris in 2008 we stayed in a hotel in the 4th (Marais) and really enjoyed it, but this time I think I'd like an apartment. I'm also considering St. Germain.

CathyM

The airline will not book you on a ticket with an illegal connection time. If you're flying on Air France/Delta (which given the logistics of LAX to CDG then BCN you likely are) then 1:20 is an allowable connection time. Personally I'd chance it as you will very likely make it. I book the LAX to CDG flights with these 1:20 connections to Spain twice a year and have never missed a flight. Worst case if you don't they are obligated to get you on the next available connection which would be your 4 hour connection anyways. So why book the 4 hour layover if you can make the 1:20? I wouldn't sweat it. Yes, you could reverse the trip and start in Paris but this would mean another trip to CDG for the flight to BCN and then probably another short connection through CDG for your return flight home.

Vonse

Rastaguytoday: Speaking of blogs, are you familiar with this? http://www.travelcookeat.com/

CathyM

Vonse - I actually met Marti Kilpatrick, the author of the blog you referece, in San Sebastian 1.5 years ago when she first moved to San Sebastian. My neighbor is her Aunt -small world!

Other great sites for Basque Country information:

http://www.blogseitb.us/basquetourism/
(from mikelg, a frequent poster here and local)

http://365cities.org/

And of course Maribel's guides which are a wonderful resource for hotels and restaurants.

http://maribelsguides.com/

Vonse

Cathy: Small world indeed! And yes, it is an Air France/Delta flight. I will probably book the flight with the 1:20 connection time, though I am a little concerned about having my checked luggage make the connection. Do you generally check luggage? Thanks so much for your help!

suec1

We just recently made a 1 hour and 5 minute connection at CDG, and so did our luggage! I was a little nervous but everything moved very smoothly. We did a Lisbon, San Sebastian, Barcelona trip in mid May. We stayed 3 nights in SS and unfortunately we had some unpleasant weather for 2 days and lovely weather for the other 2. We ate tapas, tapas and more tapas, did not do any of the pricey options. I cannot wait to go again, even with the dicey weather we had a great time! We stayed at Hotel Londres and were happy - the location esp. is great. Just be sure to check on parking if you are going to have a car - we had a friend come into town to meet us and she had a very difficult time finding a place to park. Have a great trip!

CathyM

I check plenty of luggage as I am definately not a light packer. (knock on wood) My luggage has always arrived with me even with the 1:20 connection.

Regarding the AF flight from LAX to CDG, if you're flying voyaguer try to book one of the few rows where it's a 2-4-2 versus 3-4-3 configuration and book one of the ends (assuming you are a party of 2). At least this way you can sleep with possibly less disruption. You may also consider flying premium voyaguer at least flying over. Sometimes (but not always) it's only a little bit more and you get a much nicer seat in which you may be able to sleep a little and arrive more refreshed for you first day.

Vonse

Thanks so much for your thoughtful responses. Sue, Hotel Londres looks great! At this point I'm trying to figure out the number of days and getting our flights to and from LA settled. Cathy, I will definitely look into flying premium voyaguer and I do like the 2-4-2 configuration as well. I'm cross-referencing with seatguru.com. I've pushed our dates later into May with the hope that we'll have better weather, but I'd like to avoid the summer crowds.