Help with my trip to Paris and London

Old Aug 13th, 2017, 04:38 PM
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Help with my trip to Paris and London

Hi. My girlfriend and I will be traveling about 5 days in Paris and 5 days in London- we are in good health and in our late fifties-have already airplane tickets from Los Angeles to Paris - arriving Dec 26, 2017, around 2 pm-, Eurostar train 9 am tickets from Paris to London - Dec 31-,and airplane tickets for returning to Los Angeles -January 5,2018, around noon.It is our first time to those countries. We would like to have an itinerary, that besides the usual main attractions in the cities, could include one or two rural towns, not to far from the cities, to spend one night possibly there. Please give us your opinion.
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Old Aug 13th, 2017, 04:56 PM
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We've made repeat trips to London in the winter and I have found that rural areas aren't easy choices in winter. How about a smaller city? Would that do, or are you committed to a rural area?

I might say the same for Paris. A smaller city or town might work better at that time of year than a rural area.
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Old Aug 13th, 2017, 05:06 PM
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You only have about four full days in each city. It's also winter and the days short plus much is shut down on the first. Weather may or may not be good. You should just stay and visit London and Paris
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Old Aug 13th, 2017, 05:10 PM
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If it is your first time, you will have no difficulty filling your time in either city. Also, it will be chilly if not cold and possibly wet, and there won't be a lot of daylight - sunrise in London at the end of December is 8:06 and sunset is 4:00.

I suppose you could visit Oxford in England, plenty to see there, or Bath. Chartres would be a possibility in France. But I suggest going through some guidebooks and figuring out how long you need in each city to see what you want.

You have four full days in Paris, and four and a bit in London. If you spend a night somewhere else you lose two days. Since you are traveling during a holiday season, you need to check opening hours. The Tower of London, for instance, is closed January 1st.
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Old Aug 13th, 2017, 05:54 PM
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Forget going to the country. 4-ish days will barely give you a taste of either city.

With a 2 PM arrival you will just have the evening hours (jet lagged) on the 26th in Paris. You will net approx half a day longer in London because you gain an hour during the train ride.

But really just 4 and 4.5 days each so no time at all for an over night excursion. Especially in tbe dead of winter and over the holiday. ( a good part of central London along the river is fenced off and only open to ticket holders on New Year's Eve.)
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Old Aug 13th, 2017, 09:59 PM
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For London, book theatre and restaurants ahead of time if there's anywhere in particular you want to go. It's a busy time. As Janisj says, you need tickets for NYE fireworks if you want to get anywhere near.
The Old Vic is doing 'A Christmas Carol', that looks interesting.

I can't recommend an itinerary without knowing what you like to see and do. Have a look at the Fodor's itinerary to start with. Most museums are free, but you'd need tickets to see any special exhibitions. Also tickets for the Tower of London.
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Old Aug 13th, 2017, 10:07 PM
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Thank you for your suggestions. I think that we should only get hotels in Paris and London. Are small cities close to Paris and London that are worthy to visit for a half day or so? Also, in what areas of the cities should we look for a hotel? We are looking for nice, safe, not expensive hotels. Thank you.
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Old Aug 13th, 2017, 10:16 PM
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Thursdaysd suggested visiting Oxford or Bath in England, or Chartres in France. Do you think are worthy to visit with the limited time that we have? We didn't know about needed tickets for NY in London, wow, do you know how to get them from USA?
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Old Aug 13th, 2017, 10:20 PM
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Mr Google is your friend

https://www.london.gov.uk/events/201...fireworks-2017

I might also look to book Eurostar early as the massive French contingent who live in London will be going home/coming back over this holiday season.

have a great day.
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Old Aug 13th, 2017, 10:36 PM
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Thank you bilboburgler for the link! Also I was thinking, if we would visit a close city to Paris and London, would be recommended to stay in a hotel in that city that night,for having a different experience, or it would be better just stay all nights in Paris and Lonon?
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Old Aug 13th, 2017, 11:18 PM
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In winter I'd be boring and stay in the two cities. London is by far the biggest city in Europe, so really only of interest for the French leg. Even cities like Reims are really only a day trip (champers and a cathedral), Strasbourg or Lyons are maybe worth a night stop, but.... no. Trains are a great experience but don't spend your holiday living on them with dark countryside wizzing by outside.

What I would do is stay in a more French hotel in Paris rather than an American Brand, just more interesting than yet another Hilton. In London it is so much closer culturally and linguistically to USA that the differences will not show (and the staff will be Czech anyway )

So day trips to Oxford, Chartres, Reims etc. No reason why you should not make it a long day but remember that nights are short.
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Old Aug 13th, 2017, 11:55 PM
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Chartres in France and Oxford are great to see.
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Old Aug 14th, 2017, 01:49 AM
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No one can give any sort of hotel suggestions without knowing your budget. "Not expensive" could mean anything.
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Old Aug 14th, 2017, 02:16 AM
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You are going to be hard-pressed even to get a lot out of Paris and London with only 4 days in each at that time of year. It's not as though taking the time to get out to a smaller city or town is going to have some wow factor in the bleakest time of year when everything will be dormant and gray. I would just make the most that you can out of the two cities. Go back and visit the countryside at a nicer time of year when it will actually be attractive.
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Old Aug 14th, 2017, 02:24 AM
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"nights are short"

oops

"days are short" more correct
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Old Aug 14th, 2017, 04:34 AM
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Mid-winter in northern Europe is a time for museums, restaurants, theater, and shopping if you are into that. Also Christmas decorations (not sure how long they stay up in London these days).

See https://www.londontheatre.co.uk for what's on and book will-call tickets direct with the theatre. Or use the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for day-of cheap tickets, but pickings may be slim over the holidays.

As I said, go through some good guidebooks - Eyewitness, Insight, Fodors, Lonely Planet, Rough Guide - and decide what you want to see. Then decide if you have time for even one day trip. (Borrow them from the library, they don't need to be up to date at this stage.)
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Old Aug 14th, 2017, 04:48 AM
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Thursday's suggestion of borrowing guidebooks from the library is good. But don't expect older guidebooks to have correct details about opening times, entry fees, etc. In fact I don't even trust new guidebooks. Always double check online at the official website.
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Old Aug 14th, 2017, 05:52 AM
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I agree, Mimar, but for initial planning older books are fine. Once I get my initial itinerary sorted, then I look for a current guidebook, and check on line.
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Old Aug 14th, 2017, 06:29 AM
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Thursday's suggestion of borrowing guidebooks from the library is good. But don't expect older guidebooks to have correct details about opening times, entry fees, etc. In fact I don't even trust new guidebooks. Always double check online at the official website>

exactly what's printed one day may be out-of-date the next. Years of researching travel articles I once wrote proved that - I always had to call (before e-mail or Internets) to verify facts and often 'current' guidebooks were in error - check online for definitive info.
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Old Aug 14th, 2017, 08:28 AM
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Ernesto, for London, I would spend all your days there, as it is such a large city. Perhaps a trip to Hampton Court (still in London but a bit further out). If you want to visit another city, Oxford has been mentioned. You can take the train, or there's a good bus service (called the 'Oxford Tube). Do a daytrip; too much hassle to pack and check-in and out of hotels for just one night.
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