perkie1968

Hi everyone. Planning a trip to Paris and London for July 2017 and have figured out an itinerary but need to know if it makes sense, if I have too many things on one day versus not enough on another day. Any imput would be helpful.

Will be going with hubby, 17 year old son (who just wants to spend time in front of his computer!) and 9 year old daughter (who still gets cranky when hungry!).

Day 1: landing from Toronto mid day, taxi to hotel, check in. Not sure how much to fit in this day, since no idea what shape we'll be in after flying all night. Right now, only thing planned is River Seine Cruise.

Day 2: Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elisees, Alexander bridge, Place de la concorde, Tuileries Gardens. Feels like a lot, but they all seem close enough to each other. Restaurant options for lunch?

Day 3: Louvre, Palais Royale, Musee Gourmand du Chocolat, Sacre Coeur. Too much? Restaurant options?

Day 4: Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame, Luxenbourg Gardens, Montparnasse Towere. Lunch options?

Day 5: Day trip to Versailles. Guided tour? On our own via the Metro? Lunch there or bring with?

Day 6: Check out. Metro to Train. train to London. Check in. Not sure of the timing yet, so not sure how much can be done on this day. Right now, options are Trafalgar Square and Picadilly Square.

Day 7: Buckingham Palace (with changing of the guards), Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, London Eye. Too much for one day? Lunch options?

Day 8: St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Tower of London. Lunch options?

Day 9: Kensington Palace, Science Museum. Also had Nat. History Museum, but that might be too much museum for one day. Can it be moved to different day?

Day 10: V&A Museum of Childhood in morning, lunch then Sherlock (Or Nat Hist) Museum in afternoon.

Day 11: check out of hotel, Fly home.

Does any of this makes sense? Do I have too much or too little on given days? Anything glaringly boring for either child (or me, not a huge fan of art museums).

Thanks everyone

StCirq

I will comment only on the Paris portion, as I'm not a London expert like many people here.

First of all, it would help to know which days of the week are which in your itnerary, because, for example, national museums are closed on Tuesdays and Paris museums are closed Mondays, so no one here knows whether you've picked appropriate days to visit them.

Also, in general, it would be a waste at this point for people to suggest eating establishments, as we have no idea of your budget or what kinds of food you might be looking for.

1. I would strongly not advise taking a Seine cruise on the day of your arrival. You will be jet-lagged, and the humming of the motors and the lapping of the water will likely send you all right to sleep. Instead of a cruise, stay upright, move slowly and keep moving, hydrate often, get as much daylight as you can, have an early dinner, and go to bed. Napping once you arrive could very well ensure that you are jetlagged for quite a few days.

2. Day 2 is pretty packed, and you'll just be getting your bearings unless you know Paris well.

3. Day 3 would be too much for me, especially as there is a whole lot more to see in Montmartre besides Sacré Coeur, which frankly never fails to disappoint me, and I'm in and out of there as fast as I can make the circuit around the interior.

I've never taken a guided tour of Versailles, despite having been there too many times. Others will be able to assist you with this. All I can tell you is, in July, get there as early as you can.

Have the 17-year-old leave the computer at home.

Bonne vacance!

BigRuss

Day 3 seemed like a lot to me and St Cirq knows Paris better and said the same. Revise.

July in Versailles will be a mess = crowds, crowds, crowds. It'll make the Gretzky induction into the Hockey HoF seem like a small meeting for coffee.

<i>Day 6: Check out. Metro to Train. train to London. Check in. Not sure of the timing yet, so not sure how much can be done on this day. Right now, options are Trafalgar Square and Picadilly Square.</i>

Piccadilly is circular, thus it's Piccadilly Circus. And it's just an area like Times Square - shops, theaters/res and traffic. Jermyn Street is thisclose to it, so you can pop over to Fortnum & Mason for the food halls and the old man can go search around for stuff to make him dress better ("Jermyn Street shirt" is a style) or groom better (various places, including a Taylor of Old Bond Street). If you get to London by lunch time, you can do a good bit this day. Remember, you're gaining an hour going from Paris to London.

<i>Day 7: Buckingham Palace (with changing of the guards), Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, London Eye. Too much for one day? Lunch options?</i>

Can't plan the Eye more than a couple of days in advance - London weather changes too often and the Eye makes no sense in the rain or fog. Changing of the Guards has a bad bang/hype ratio. Big Ben is just there - you can view it and that's it. Westminster Abbey will take a bit. The War Rooms are nearby and more than worth a visit.

<i>Day 8: St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Tower of London. Lunch options?</i>

Check out the www.daysoutguide.co.uk website nearer your trip to see if they're posting vouchers for the Tower, St. Paul's and others. For the Bridge, that takes about 2 minutes for pictures unless you're walking over it or going to the Tower Bridge Experience (which isn't really necessary - this isn't a Brooklyn Bridge level of engineering).

<i>Day 9: Kensington Palace, Science Museum. Also had Nat. History Museum, but that might be too much museum for one day. Can it be moved to different day?</i>

Don't you have a great science museum in Toronto? Check the Days Out Guide (see above) for Kensington Palace too. I'd hop the train to Hampton Court or Windsor instead . . .

<i>Day 10: V&A Museum of Childhood in morning, lunch then Sherlock (Or Nat Hist) Museum in afternoon.</i>

If you want. Seems a bit thin.

Day 11: check out of hotel, Fly home.

KyraS

On arrival day, I wouldn't do anything that involves sitting down, as that makes me fall asleep, but your experience may vary. I stay outdoors and moving as much as possible (with a guided walking tour to assist in the afternoon) but appreciate you may need a different plan with kids.

For the best prices, make sure you book your Eurostar tickets as soon as they are released. Don't forget about the time change between Paris and London.

I personally don't think there's anything to see in Piccadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square; others might not agree.

I would not pre-book tickets to the London Eye but would wait for clear weather and go then.

You can only see Big Ben from the outside. You can book a tour of the Houses of Parliament but I'm not sure a 9 year old would be interested (although of course you can divide and conquer). I would book that in advance. I'd advise a verger tour of Westminster Abbey and also that you consider attending Evensong.

Buckingham Palace is only open for tours part of the year; check their website. I'd probably book this in advance. I have not been inside so cannot comment, but the exterior is not exciting. I have never attended Changing of the Guard so cannot comment, other than I believe you need to arrive quite early and wait, if you wish a good view.

I'd plan to arrive at the Tower of London when it opens, go first to the Crown Jewels (to avoid the wait later in the day) and also take a Yeoman Warder tour. And definitely go inside the White Tower. I can easily do 4-5 hours or more at the Tower, but plan on at least three hours. I have only looked at Tower Bridge, not done the Experience, so cannot help you. At St Paul's, definitely climb the dome; the view is stellar.

You might consider some museums unique to London, such as the London Transport Museum, the Museum of London, the British Museum, and the V&A.

Hampton Court Palace is definitely worth a visit, as is Windsor Castle, although I'd go with Hampton Court Palace as the best bet to please the whole family.

Unless Kensington Palace particularly interests you, I might reconsider. I don't know the Sherlock museum, unless you mean the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Frankly, I'd pass in favor of an actual museum, but it's your trip.

I love museums but can't spend all day in one. London has some very nice parks and you might also enjoy a stroll along the Southbank. I especially like the view of London at night from the bridges.

Days of the week will matter in terms of opening dates and hours. I'd work on flights and Eurostar tickets and accommodations, before I worry about where you're going to eat lunch.

I might also unplug that teenager now, hand him a guidebook, and ask him what he wants to see. You have time for research and planning, you can re-write the itinerary twenty times between now and then!

michelhuebeli

Day 4: Montparnasse towers are a bit out of the way of your other targets, and not worth it in my opinion.

But if you do go that way, eat crêpes in one of the many side-by-side crêperies restaurants in the Rue du Montparnasse (Rue, NOT the Boulevard, it should really be renamed Rue des Crêperies!), and visit the (free) Musée Bourdelle at 16-18 Rue Antoine Bourdelle.

Day 5: That can be excruciating - thousands waiting on the square all morning long in a line that never seems to move. Plan NOT to get there first thing with everybody else, plan to get there a bit after 11AM - you’ll see why in a minute.

And don’t plan much for the evening after Versailles, you want to get back into Paris rather late in the afternoon/evening.

Here’s a tip: Buy your day pass (“Passport”) for 18 Euros online. Passport gives you admission to all the Palace, the grounds, Trianon palaces and Marie-Antoinette's Estate.

For the tour of the Palace, an audio-guide in 11 languages is included in the price of the ticket.

Now when you get there, instead of waiting to get into the main entrance with everybody else, go to the end at the far right of the big palace square and enter the grounds. Walk to the Trianon Palaces (Marie Antoinette’s Estate), they are open every day except Mondays from 12 pm to 6.30 pm (5:30 low season, November to March).

Then by early afternoon you wander back to the Palace, and you’ll get in just like that. It’s open til 6:30 (again, 5:30 Nov.- March), most bus groups have left by early afternoon, you get to see things properly, and the (included) audio guide explains things better than a harried guide who is trying to out-shout all other groups would.

Make sure you have your Metro-RER C or Metro-SNCF train train combo lined up, it’s quite a haul there and back, but worth it if you want to see the stunning excesses of royalty and its riches (“let them eat cakes”... yeah, right!).

It’s all at http://en.chateauversailles.fr/prepa.../single/access

janisj

Just a VERY quick comment right now . . . I'd do the Natural History Museum over the Science Museum if I had to choose - but you being from a major city I might skip both and do something more unique to London you can't duplicate at home. Like the British Museum or the V&A or Greenwich - or Hampton Court Palace (MUCH more important/interesting than Kensington Palace).

Scott8

Do yourself and the kids a favour and on the morning after your arrival in Paris (or maybe the afternoon of your arrival if you are really brave) and gain some sense of orientation by taking a Fat Tire Bike Tour http://www.fattiretours.com/paris.
On a general note, your Paris schedule seems very aggressive. Save some of that for your next trip to Paris. You need more down time. More cafe time.
Check out Context Tours in Paris. Expensive but worth it.

Whathello

In Paris :
Close to Le Louvre, 'le fumoir' rue Amiral Coligny - not the best but in front of Le Louvre, correct food and typical french brasserie a little upscale.
Close to Sacré cœur : sacrée fleur, rue Clignancourt, the best meat I've found in Paris.

London : Sherlock museum is very quick.

menachem

Also, july is paris plages, if the weather is nice, spend some time near the Seine (near Hôtel de Ville is good) and play boules together or some such. Generally, in Paris, also take time out. What else does your 17 y/o like to do apart from computers, and possibly, gaming?

Also because the age groups are so very different, think about splitting up and doing different things, then meeting up again. Maybe your husband and your son, and you and your daughter separately or vice versa. Maybe let your son do some of that planning and wayfinding? Send him on errands on his own (supermarket, local bakery). Is he into soccer? Would a match please him? My son used to be into skateboarding, so I would drop him off at the skatepark in the 18th, where he was readily accepted as soon as it was apparent that he could properly drop in and do a 360 and then would pick him up later, which left me free for a wander around and a coffee. The nice thing about that is that you'll have stories to tell each other. Adventures!

Is he into skateboarding? rollerblading? A bike tour is a good idea, but maybe as one of those split categories. There's also segway tours available.

Southam

It's not clear from your questions what you hope to experience on your trip. To take Day 2 in Paris as an example: Do you want to look at the Eiffel tower, or ascend it? You can get great views walking around it, crossing the river to the Trocadero (where your 17-year-old can be dazzled by skateboarders) and in the opposite direction on the champs. Going up will consume several hours, some of it waiting in line. The rest of that day's possibilities can be walked, which is nice if you enjoy parks and games of boules, but a nice walk is all it is. I'm not criticizing, just illustrating that a stroll past an art museum is not the same as spending several hours inside getting to know what it means. More research and discussion will help you settle on a final itinerary. Accommodating a pre-teen and an almost-adult is a challenge, as I am sure you know, and it may be time that they take some of the responsibility on themselves.

Christina

Your Paris itinerary seems okay, obviously it is just a plan and outline, you can change it if you don't feel like it and fill in with other things when you have extra time as the mood hits you (for example, day 4 isn't really that full as is, but I imagine may include some general walking around in the Latin Qtr or something). YOu could easily visit Notre Dame and Ste Chapelle in a few hours in the morning, and I don't know how much time you would plan to just sit in a park (Luxembourg Gardens).

The only thing I probably wouldn't do is BOTH the Eiffel Tower and Montparnasse Tower. Unless you just mean look at the Eiffel Tower, not go up in it, on day 2. Otherwise, I don't see the point of going up high in two buildings to look at the view. I'm not big on that anyway, but twice in a couple days just seems like a lot of wasted time (and money).

It could be nice to view at night, though, but it gets dark very late in July, so it wouldn't fit into your walking plans. Now possibly you could do that at the Montparnasse Tower after dinner, I believe they are open fairly late (until 11:30 pm). That's not a bad idea, as there are plenty of small restaurants and cafes in the Montparnasse area where you could have dinner. If you need more things to do that day before dinner, you could visit Montparnasse cemetery and there is an excellent WWII museum about the Resistance near the train station http://museesleclercmoulin.paris.fr/

IN fact, few tourists go there, but the little French Postal service museum near there is interesting (Musee de la Poste). It is closed now for renovations but is supposed to re-open sometime in 2017.

menachem

If I wanted to go up in or on anything it would be the tethered balloon in Parc Andre Citroen. A bit out of the way, but might be just the ticket for your 9 year old, and almost no line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_yOLVOTifo

Havana128

Have the 17-year-old leave the computer at home.


Take the computer. Leave the kid at home.

menachem

I've always taken the computer with me when my son was of mid-teen age. Usually older people offer Havana 128's sagely intended advice, not realizing that people entire social networks are now accessible almost exclusively by computer, especially if they're playing online multiplayer games. Easy enough to strike a compromise, leave the boy behind in the hotelroom gaming to a US timezone if need be, do things separately and schedule around that. I'm always so dismayed at the unhappy families I see trudging through Paris, each family member being miserable separately, not one of them doing what they really would like. I've always been a great fan of "divide and conquer"

historytraveler

I'm with Havanna. I wouldn't spend the money to take someone to Europe and then leave them in a hotel room so they could access their computer most of the day. I took my grandchildren to Europe this summer, and they love their electronics. I never had to limit access time as they discovered that sightseeing in Europe was more interesting than their iPads. Is it no longer possible to just say no to your kids?

You have received some good suggestions regarding both London and Paris. I agree with those who have suggested alternatives to London's History and Science Museums. Both are good but considering it's London,better options available.

denisea

You might consider stopping by Gerard Mulot on rue de Seine for take away items - have a picnic lunch at Luxembourg Gardens (weather permitting). Gerard Mulot is a beautiful shop with wonderful pastries, desserts and lunch items.

http://www.gerard-mulot.com

In the same are the nine year old might enjoy afternoon tea with wonderful desserts at Un Dimanche a Paris.
http://www.un-dimanche-a-paris.com

I would skip Montparnasse tower but if you decide to go anyway, consider lunch at one of the many Breton creperies in the area like La Creperie de Josselin.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Cr...49926208460608

near the Eiffel Tower, Cafe Constant or les cocottes may be good lunch options. I would avoid anything on the Champs Élysées as far as restaurants.

Take a look at Paris by Mouth for restaurant options by arrondisement and also by major attractions.

Whathello

Perkie

Don't say your son is computer addict - some people here have a master in psychology and eductaion and will tell you how to raise him.

Anyway, what he might like is the army museum (close to les Ivalides, so close to Eifell Tower) and le Jardin des Plantes has always been appreciated by our kids (and ourselves) it is actually a zoo, but a very old zoo, so it looks like a musuem of how zoos looked like in 19 century.

Close to le Jardin des plantes you may want to go to restaurant 'le Zyriab' on top of IMA (institut du monde arabe) a lebanese restaurant, nice, good food albeit overpriced but with a view on Notre Dame. I brought some US friends there and they found it gorgeous. (yes, My Lord, I have sinned - I have US friends, I apologize, as we are supposed, on this forum, to be anti-american if European ;-) )

Brenkjtravel

Josselin Crepes are the best, the locals pointed us in that direction and were spot on! We tried another place when Josselin was closed and it was not near as good. I would skip Montparnasse as well. If you would like to get in a little of Paris's art but are not up for the longer lines and time it takes for the Louvre might I suggest the Orsay, it is housed in an old train station, the one with the giant famous clock, and has a wonderful collections. The Little cafe up top behind the clock is a fun charming lunch or even snack option as well.

Maybe your son would enjoy the catacombs? A little creepy but very cool. Another area of town that I really enjoyed was St. Germaine! One of my favorites actually! And the Paris Opera house is beautiful and doesn't take a huge amount of time. Really so much to see! Another very touristy option is to eat dinner in the Eiffel Tower, was fun and what a beautiful view at night. We booked our Seine cruise directly after dinner and it was wonderful.

menachem

It just wouldn't be worth the bother to me to enforce doing everything "as a family".