Merri

We are taking a trip to celebrate our 5th Wedding anniversary in November (Thanksgiving week). We were thinking of doing London and Paris (and maybe some outlying areas in each country). We have approx 9-10 days to work with. Questions: 1) Is this a good combo ? 2)Good or bad time of year for these picks ? 3) How much time to spend in each (if they make sense) and what not to miss. Lastly is Monte Carlo just too far from Paris - if not how far - how to get there ?? Appreciate any help !! <BR> <BR>

Tony

As you have probably already realised the weather in both London and Paris will not be particularly pleasant in November - cold and probably wet, so that you will largely be confined to indoor activities, theatres, art galleries, museums, shopping etc. It will not be conducive to pleasant strolls around the usual sights. <BR>Your mention of Monte Carlo sounds better, there the weather will still be warm enough for walking, though not for the beaches. You could probably fly into Nice direct for Monte Carlo, or from Paris. There is also a good train service from Paris to Monte Carlo (change at Nice); about 3/4 fast trains per day, journey time around 6 hours. <BR>The good news is that nowhere will be overcrowded with tourists. Maybe the Paris/Monte Carlo combo or London/Monte Carlo combo would be better. Here's another suggestion from left field in view of the fact that tourist numbers will be down - how about a Monte Carlo/Venice combo. At least the weather will be warmer!

Seb

My wife and I spent a foggy, cold week in Paris many years ago and found it very romantic. It was never very cold, so walking around the city was OK. However, the days were very short (sunset about 4:30P) and the weather sometimes dreary and dark. <BR> <BR>Nevertheless, this does not detract from the charm and beauty of the city. There is nothing better than sitting in a cozy brasserie on a cold day. The shops and theaters are going full blast, the lights are beautiful, and there are many fewer tourists, which means that the Louvre and Versailles are easier to enjoy. <BR> <BR>I would imagine that London would be the same, full of atmosphere and charm.

Mariana

London and Paris would be WONDERFUL the end of Nov. ....THe days are shorter, but walking around without hoards of tourist is great. We were in London the first week of Dec. and I nearly roasted in the stores...(too much heat)..The temperature outside was in the high 50's..... I believe the end of Nov. the Christmas decorations in London would be up and they are GORGEOUS! In both cities if their is a little rainy cold it is still great...and after walking the streets in that weather, it makes the hotel room seem even nicer. Jan is a lot colder in Paris....Nov. shouldn't be too bad. You can take the train from central London(Waterloo STation I believe ,stay on it under the channel, (the chunnel train) and be in downtown Paris in a few hours. Sounds like a wonderful trip to do both cities. You can fly into one and out of the other. <BR>The weather that time of year is a great asset for a trip, I happen to think.....however perhaps not everyone feels this way. Mariana

Merri

Thanks for the info and advice - would appreciate any additional opinions as well. <BR> <BR>For the three of you that responded - any advice on what not to miss (though I imagine these cities will warrant more than one visit). Thank you so much for the information - it is extremely helpful and appreciated !!!!!

Brian in Atlanta

We did a London/Amsterdam combo over Thanksgiving a couple of years ago. Our observations: <BR> <BR>It was unseasonably cold (highs in the 30s some days), but we had little rain. And that far north, the sun seems to always be in your eyes, so a few clouds would have been welcome. <BR> <BR>While we saw much fewer tourists in London than usual, the streets in the center (esp. Piccadilly) always seemed packed with Xmas shoppers. But that could be escaped by heading up to Hampstead Heath or walking south of the Thames. <BR> <BR>We liked the London/Amsterdam combo because while London felt really big, Amsterdam seemed much smaller, much less busy and much more walkable. It was a nice contrast. <BR> <BR>I imagine that London/Paris will both seem big and busy, so it might be nice to fit in a stay in the South of France for a contrast. I've heard good things about Menton (fly to Nice).

elvira

London and Paris, without hordes of tourists, are wonderful, even if your twillies are in danger of being frozen off. <BR> <BR>As Tony's pointed out, don't count on pleasant strolls with the sun warming your face (although, we were in those two cities a couple of Februaries ago, and it was 65 degrees. Go figure.), but the museums, theatres and concerts, and shopping should keep you busy. <BR> <BR>Monte Carlo is ok, but it's only got about a day's worth of stuff to see. If you want stuff to do, stay in Nice and daytrip to Monte Carlo (about 15 mins by train). There's no guarantee that the weather will hold up in the South of France, so I'd try to stay someplace with 'indoor' stuff to do. <BR> <BR>Personally, I'd do London/Paris or Paris/Nice, rather than three cities(I'm an advocate of low ratio of travel time to length of trip). <BR> <BR>Things not to miss (based on lousy weather): <BR>London: The Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum, Kensington Palace, the Imperial War Museum, Cabinet War Rooms, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's. In the evenings, go to the theatre, the ballet, the symphony, whatever (take advantage of the season). Of course, visit Harrod's, Selfridge's and Harvey Nick's. Many places have coat checks, so dump your coats and junk there while visiting or shopping. <BR> <BR>Paris: Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, les Invalides, Picasso Museum, Notre Dame, Versailles, Ste Chapelle. Go shopping at Bon Marche, Galeries Lafayette and au Printemps. Under the Pyramid at the Louvre is a shopping mall with great stores. Eat Alsatian food (always seems to heavy for summer, it's a great winter food) and drink cider. <BR> <BR>Nice: daytrip to Monte Carlo (oceanographic museum, the casino); Matisse Museum, Modern art museum, Chagall Museum, Cimiez Museum. Eat pizza.

igor

I was in the both cities last Novemeber <BR>and the temperatures were in the 60s <BR>most of the time. So, maybe you will <BR>have the same luck. Have a nice trp!!!

Joan Doyle

<BR>Dear Merri: The air fares are generally at their lowest in November--so I ALWAYS go then. I've run into SOME rain but not that much;the temperatures have been <BR>relatively mild;the only real difference I've noted is the short days. But there's so much to do in both London and Paris that I think you'll love it. Don't expect anyone to celebrate Thanksgiving with you, of course (tho' the Anglo-American community does sponsor a lovely service at St. Paul's on Thanksgiving morning). I visit my sister (a long-time British resident) and we usually have a group of British friends in for a special (NOT turkey) dinner. Hope you have a wonderful time. Joan <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Jane

Get outside of London while you're there. Spent time in Lake District last November after a wedding, and loved it. It's packed to the gills during the summer, but in the chill of November (yes, it was cold), we were able to easily find a hotel, and didn't have to deal with any crowds. It's a good time of year to do some hiking, too.

iheartsf

Congrats on impending marriage! <BR> <BR>I think that I agree with others, one big city and one small city is a better combo. I'd say London/Nice or maybe Marseille. <BR> <BR>If you're in London, and you're into contemporary art, go to the East End--Whitechapel Gallery & Hoxton Square. Tate Modern is tremendous, just opened in May. You'll be freezing in Nov., but see a lot of great art there. <BR> <BR>In Marseille, you can't miss the Musee Cantini. The building is historic and suffocatingly beautiful, yet it houses some of the best pre-60s modernism collections. For post-60s artwork, I highly recommend the MAC, Musee d'art Contemporain, near the edge of Bonneveine area. <BR> <BR>When I went to France last year, I took this travel guide based on seeing art and architecture called art-SITES: FRANCE. It kept me away from the tourists and allowed me into every hipster nook and cranny of the regions I visited. Highly recommended! <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Terri

Paris anytime of year is wonderful, and it's incredibly easy to get around even it it's raining. London to me is a little less charming than Paris, but still a very worthwhile journey. We really loved getting out of London into Wales (an easy day's drive), but it would probably be a good deal colder, especially on the coast. Enjoy your trip! <BR> <BR>

Karen

London is rarely freezing in late November, the coldest weather is usually Jan/Feb, the time before Christmas can sometimes be quite mild. Yes, the days are short and its dark by 5pm but its also a great atmosphere at this time of year, almost magical, especially with the Christmas lights up around town - and the carts selling caramel peanuts, yum yum. I think there is usually a fun fair right in the middle of Leicester Square, which adds to the holiday atmosphere. The shops will be busy with Xmas shoppers but not as busy as the 2 weeks before Christmas. <BR>You can still take strolls around the streets, its rare for it to be so cold that you have to spend the whole time indoors, just wrap up warm with coats and scarves if need be. I have noticed that our winters have been getting milder over the past few years, especially before Christmas. Besides, the weather is unpredictable at any time of year, it can be colder in May than November sometimes!! <BR>I think the weather in Paris is fairly similar. <BR>Make sure you spend at least 5 or 6 days in London, IMHO there is a lot more to suit all tastes and ages in London than in Paris. <BR> <BR>Have a great time. <BR>Karen

SAM

I skipped reading all other posts and went straight to the reply. Last Novemeber, a friend and I went to Londaon and Paris. I figured we spent about 2200 USD a piece plus a couple of hundred. That included plane, hotels, Eurostar and transportation which is great in my book. It is the trip of a life time. Plan smart and take mass transit like the London tube and Paris Metro with day and week passes. I want to do the Monte Carlo, but it is much to much to try for this trip. In fact, you will wish for 3 more days in Paris. You can fly to Nice and take a train to Monte Carlo, but save that for your next trip to Paris. Also, stay in the cities for the most part because day trip outside the city are just that---Day trips and it eats days away that can be spent in the cities. The weather was OK, alittle cold, but I like it that way. Again, this is the trip of a lifetime and I am going back to Paris in Oct. and think about going to Monte Carlo, but will go to London another time. Have fun and keep posting until you get on the plane.

Dianne

I like the Paris/London combo but I want to add that being from Maryland, London is not too cold for me in November. I've been there then and it always seems to be warmer but more overcast. Great not to have all the tourists, but you will miss all the flowers.