KandKsmom

Good morning everyone,

As some of you are aware, I am in the planning stages of taking my two kids to London next summer. I had ruled out a day trip to Paris due to 1. lack of funds and 2. lack of time and endurance (mine and the kids') Over the weekend, my mom found out about the trip and her grandson's desire to go on to Paris and has offered to help make a night in Paris possible.

I have reservations made already for a flat in London for a Wed.-Wed. week. What would be the best/cheapest way to work a two day/one night extension in Paris? I have been reading on this forum about open-jaw flights. Are they less/more expensive than round-trip flights?

If we checked out of the flat early Wednesday morning and took an early Eurostar train to Paris, is it possible to check your bags at your Paris hotel in order to spend the rest of day Wednesday sightseeing? Then, on Thursday could you get in a bit more before going to the airport to fly home to the US? How much time do you need to allot to go to Charles De Gaulle airport to prepare for the trip home? I guess what I am trying to say is would Thursday be a total wash as a travel day?

Finally, and this is the most important thought I have, would this additional trip be hard to do(logistically)for a single mom and two kids who aren't well-versed in traveling? Would the one night stay in Paris be worthwhile? I look forward to hearing from all of you. Thanks so much for your help!

mamc

By all means, go for it!!! An open jaw is normally not much more expensive than a round trip. If you do your research well, you will be able to do it for about the same. We flew into London and out of Paris last year for the same as a round trip. If you are not locked in to a week in London, consider planning 3 nights in Paris - it is less expensive than London and will save you some money. That will allow you 2 full non-travel days in Paris. And the travel should not be too complicated for you. Lots of us on this forum will be as helpful as possible. Cheers to Grandma!

KateIP

Spending a couple days in Paris is definitely doable, and shouldn't be missed. However, if you are flying open jaws, and leave from Paris, you probably won't have any sightseeing time on your travel day. The latest flights usually leave around 1pm, and you'll need at least 3 hours at the airport (though some might argue this point, I prefer to be safe than miss my flight), plus 45 to 60 minutes travel time to the airport. Would it be possible for you to spend two nights in Paris? Take the EuroStar in Weds morning, fly out Friday? Paris is such a beautiful city, the more time you can give it, the better...

ira

Hi Mom,

Never refuse a chance to go to Paris.

I suggest that you purchase one-day Round Trip tickets on the Eurostar.
1 adult and 2 youth fares will be 177E.

You can fly www.easyjet.com from London Luton to CDG for about 129E + about 20E to get to your hotel from CDG.

>I have been reading on this forum about open-jaw flights. Are they less/more expensive than round-trip flights? <

They are usually about the same price.

>is it possible to check your bags at your Paris hotel in order to spend the rest of day Wednesday sightseeing? <

Yes

>on Thursday could you get in a bit more before going to the airport to fly home to the US?

Try to get the latest possible plane home, even if you arrive at 2 in the morning.

>How much time do you need to allot to go to Charles De Gaulle airport to prepare for the trip home?<

Figure an hour to the airport and 2 hours for security screening.

111op

Hi K, the fastest Eurostar is 2h 40 minutes (but I'd take this with a grain of salt). Since Paris is an hour ahead, if you take the train, you'll arrive in Gare du Nord about 4 hours after you leave from London. An early London departure would basically leave you with the afternoon in Paris.

Where are you in the US? I live in NYC and usually try to take the 5:55 pm departure on AA. That usually gives me the whole morning to explore. Ira's advice is on the mark here -- I'd leave around 2:30 for my flight home.

Another thing to consider. I'd check to see whether department stores are open late on Wednesday or Thursday. Ditto the museums you want to see. If you can time your visit to coincide with a late closing (and assuming that you can still change your dates for your London flat), this will allow you to stretch things even further.

Have a great time!

Scarlett

There is nothing as good as a Good Grandma!
We did this one year, it worked out well and introduced me to Paris.
We rented a flat in London. (since we had the flat, had somewhere to leave our bags, we just packed a small overnight bag, no point in checking out of the flat for one night)
Arrived in London on Thursday. Saturday, took first (early am) Eurostar to Paris, cab to Ille St-Louis where we stayed at the Lutece. Left our bags at hotel and walked all over Paris (as much as was possible in two days)
Sunday night, we took the last train out, arriving in London somewhere around midnight.
It is a good way to get a taste of Paris, giving you something to plan for your next trip

KandKsmom

KatieIP- I wish we could stretch it to two nights, but I am not sure of the expense. Based on this new revelation I am starting to look at prices for Paris hotels. Mom has graciously given me a figure she is comfortable with, but I need to consider the cost of getting there, eating out while there, museum fees, etc., so I have to be careful and not bite off too much. I am thinking that one night might be all we can handle- that is why I want to know if it is feasible to try it.

I am going to do a search for this, but while I have it on my mind, do any of you have thoughts on any convenient/nice/budget Paris hotels with a double bed sleeping arrangement?

ira- would it be better to go on eurostar or try to fly over? We are staying in the Chelsea area of London. I am not sure how challenging it would be to get from the South Kensington or Sloane Square tube stations to Waterloo early on a weekday morning with our luggage.

suze

Note of warning~ I am typing this severly jet-lagged having returned from a 10 day European trip and still tired just thinking of the hassle going thru airports!

Because you mention being inexperienced travelers and with 2 kids in tow, I question that the money, time, effort, would be worth it for basically 1 day in Paris. On your departing travel day depending on flight times most likely you will need to head dirctly to the airport in the AM, so don't count that as a site-seeing day.

Specifics: Open jaw tickets are often a similar price, not much more expensive if at all. Yes you can leave luggage at hotel front desks both before you check in or after you check out (for a few hours). If you are determinted, maybe even do a one day only round-trip on the train London/Paris? That would be one heck of a long day but would get you a few hours for maybe a quick bus tour of the major sites in Paris?

Personally I would save Paris for another time. It is a fantastic city and I'm not sure what is truly the benefit just to dash thru it. Not to mention the logistics of transport, using euro instead of pounds, packing an extra time, finding another hotel, etc. As a side note, most people consider Paris a more reasonable city than London ($) so fear of costs once you are in Paris would not stop me from going.

suze

sorry, that silly face is meant to be a dollar sign.

ira

Hi Mom,

>do any of you have thoughts on any convenient/nice/budget Paris hotels with a double bed sleeping arrangement?

Are the three of you sleeping in the same bed, or do you want a triple room?

>..I am not sure how challenging it would be to get from the South Kensington or Sloane Square tube stations to Waterloo early on a weekday morning with our luggage.

No more challenging than getting to Luton or Stansted airports for cheap flights.

KandKsmom

I should have clarified the double bed description- With a 10 year old daughter and almost 15 year old son, we would need two double beds- one for the big guy and my girl and I can share one. This may be a stupid question, but in a triple are there three twin beds? I am not familiar with the bedding arrangement of that type of room. Thanks!

Grasshopper

Bless Grandma! I would take a very early train to Paris one day and a very late one back to London the next day. That will give you nearly 2 days in Paris. If you book your tickets early enough, and go on the right days, you can get the lowest fares. Also, the kids can go cheaper because they are under 24. Hotel Leveque quotes a triple room for 122 euro.

Christina

I don't know if I'd do it either given the logistics, but the train ride etc might be fun for your kids, anyway. Going to the airport and everything will be the same from Paris or London. At least you'll have your bags more or less packed at that point, so you won't have to spend much time packing the last day.

As others said, your last day entirely depends on the flight time you choose. I fly Air France's 5 pm nonstop to Dulles, and have all morning to do stuff. I usually save the last day for shopping near the hotel rather than any major sightseeing, as I don't think I'd be in the mood for that the last day. I leave for the the airport by taxi around 1 pm for that 5 pm flight (it's really 4:40 pm).

It is not common to find hotel rooms with two double beds in Paris, but they are generally cheaper than in London.

degas

I'd save Paris for later.

You don't sound like seasoned travel pros who could pull this off with grace and flair. Lots of extra tension and bag-dragging for just a few hours of rushed sightseeing. It takes more time and effort than you think to get your bearings in a new city.

Having said that, why not go for nine or ten days and split the time between the two cities?

ggnga

Hello,
I agree with Ira. Never pass up a chance to visit Paris. As a new grandma, 15 mo. old granddaughter, I am already dreaming of her first trip to Paris.

I can pass on a good budget hotel with nice triple room in the Latin Quarter (fun for your children). It is Hotel des Mines, 125 Blvd St. Michel. The triple was a nice size with a double bed and a twin, the bathroom was large.
It is 114 euros for a triple. You can see it on 123france. It gets good reviews on tripadvisor also. For that price, maybe you could squeeze in 2 days, eat pastries for breakfast and sandwich or crepes for lunch to cut down on cost. Just adding this suggestion as I think Paris is so SPECIAL!!

Even for just one night, I suggest do it. The first time I finally convinced my 20's son to go to Paris with me he said "if I had known it was like this, I would have come a long time ago."

Have a wonderful trip.

gg

ira

Hi Mom,

>in a triple are there three twin beds?

Usually a double and a single. Sometimes 3 twin. 2 double beds is rare.

mclaurie

On another thread talking about cheapest Eurostar train tickets, I noticed that either a "same day return" coming and going the same day or leaving Sat. afternoonish and returning Sun were the cheapest options. Maybe if you did a samw day return and could leave really early and return late, while tiring, would be a good "intro" to Paris w/o packing/unpacking and incurring a lot extra $$ and hassle.

ggnga

I forgot to add, I think grab a cab to Waterloo and take a very early morning train to Paris, forget dragging bags on the tube or metro. I would think that your children would enjoy the Eurostar.
Take a late train back the next night if you do not leave out of Paris. I have done this several times.


I think the train would be much less stressful than airports. Less bag dragging. However, I must say again that Paris is worth any amount of bag dragging IMHO.

Also forgot to say that in all of my trips to Paris, the staff at Hotel des Mines were the nicest and most helpful.

suze

I know I had my say already... but I think people tend to post what *they* would do rather than considering the specific circumstances i.e., 2 kids and a Mom who aren't experienced travelers.

I truly can't see the wisdom of squeezing Paris in to this trip. You just can't imagine the various hassles and things that could go wrong, be stressful, lugging suitcases, taxis, busses, trains, airports, being tired, getting lost, etc. for what you're considering. The one circumstance I think *might* work would be (as mentioned above) a very long single day going round-trip on the train. Consider how much is being 'spent' for how little is being gained.

KandKsmom

Thanks everyone for all of the thoughts so far. I really appreciate all of you taking your time to lend advice and help me see to see all of the situations more clearly. You are all pretty astute in recognizing how much of a travel novice I am! I am considering all of the information in each reply. Thanks again for helping me in this decision!