Feeling a bit lost planning an unexpectedly solo trip. So far all that's booked is a flight into Paris and an Airbnb for the first 2 days. I was playing around with the idea of taking the train into Switzerland (Lucerne? Then fly out of Zurich) or up to Amsterdam vs. doing day trips from Paris (Reims, Chantilly?) I have been to Paris before although it's been 10 years and that was a super touristy student trip. I've been told not to waste any time travelling and spend the whole 9 days in Paris but I think after a few days I'd want a change of pace to somewhere smaller.

With but 9 days I'd forego Switzerland where you'd need a day to get there and several days to really make it worth while. Amsterdam is easy, being just a 3.5 hour train trip from Paris and a neat town to pair with Paris - or London via Eurostar trains in a couple of hours. Anyway book those train trips far ahead of time - www.thalys.com for Amsterdam and www.eurostar.com for London - day trips by train are great from Paris or Amsterdam and need not be booked in advance as they are so cheap- reason to book in advance is to get deep discounted tickets on long-distance trains. www.seat61.com has loads of advice booking own train tickets at a discount - general train info BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

Or stay in Paris whole time - can easily day trip to London and back or to any of several nice places near Paris.

Six days Paris, three Amsterdam -- remembering that a change of cities costs you at least a half-day off your vacation. Major time saver would be to fly into Paris and home from Amsterdam using a multi-city destination function.

Make sure you airbnb is legal . . . does it have the city registration number?

Two days in Pars is basically useless IMO. The first day is spent w/ arrivals, jet lag, waiting around for access to the apartment. So net one day to see/do things.

What causes you to visit Paris in the first place? You mention that you are unexpectedly solo. Were you planning to take this trip with a friend or partner? Have the things you wanted to do changed, now that you're on your own?

Are you thinking of Switzerland because it's not a city--aka, are you thinking hikes and mountains? If so, I don't think Amsterdam makes sense. France is a big country with some beautiful countryside. There is a regular poster on this board, St Cirq, who could advise you if you share more of what you want.

But if your heart is set on Switzerland--at least price out the flight before walking away. Be sure to return to Paris the day before your international flight home. Or see if there's anyway you could change your flight home.

If Switzerland take the train there and not fly - just about as quick by train and can be very cheap if you book train ducats at www.oui.sncf weeks/months in advance - take about 5-6 to get to nice Alpine place like Interlaken area. If not booked return flight fly home from Zurich - even if via way of CDG to connect with a Paris flight. 4 nights Paris 4 nights in the Alps - one location and the Berner Oberland area near Interlaken is in many ways the most convenient for tourists to get around.

I'd just spend 9 days in Paris. You'll have time to really slow down, build in lots of loitering and hanging around in cafes.

You'll be able to have excursions to the countryside, or just to beautiful parks Paris has on its outskirts.

Staying in Paris will get you more and it'll be cheaper than decamping to Amsterdam and then tracking back.

Check on that AirBnB though. If it hasn't got the city registration number it's illegal.

Great place for solo trip. I have stay in Paris for 3 days and enjoyed the every moment.

Plenty of good day trips from Paris. Look for a copy of Ina Caro's "Paris to the Past" for a lot of options.

DH and I spent 2 weeks in Paris one time. We took 3 day trips: Versailles (RER train); and, via Paris Vision, Bruges; and Loire Valley chateaux.

If your 9 days includes the to and from, then you've lost 2 days to travel. For the amount of time, I'd just stay in Paris. That being said, you could train to Amsterdam and fly back home (U.S.) from there?

I have a book called 'An Hour from Paris' which details numerous day trips you can take. The author has another one called 'Half hour from Paris'.



https://www.amazon.com/Hour-Paris-An...our+from+paris


I did a day trip to the town of Provins - I think it took longer than an hour each way, but was easy by train and it's totally different from Paris, very much a small town.



With several day trips you could easily fill the nine days. But if you want to go somewhere outside of France then London, Belgium (Brugge) or Amsterdam are the easiest, and probably the most rewarding. Other places the time/hassle of getting there would outweigh the benefit.

OP also wants 'something smaller' for a few days than Paris - maybe take a TGV train to say Loire Valley - just an hour from Paris by train and head to Amboise- nice smaller town and take day trips to the famed chateaux of the Loire - can do by inexpensive minibus tours from Avignon or, harder, by public transit. Something close to Paris but way different than it.

Thank you everyone!! For a bit more info - I'd be flying back to Toronto. The trip was supposed to be with my ex-boyfriend. I've never travelled anywhere solo before but didn't want to let the breakup stop my trip, also I'll be turning 30 over there! I think I like the idea of train to Amsterdam for the last 3 days best, even though it's not necessarily smaller it'll still be a good change and a chance to go to a country I haven't been before. I won't be doing any of the big tourist things in Paris so a day trip while I'm there could definitely still happen.

Oh and the Airbnb doesn't have a number as far as I can see. But none of the ones I scrolled through do. Should I ask for one? What exactly happens if it's illegal?

Don't rent the airbnb if it's illegal and doesn't have a registration number. What could, and does, happen, is that the owners will be pegged by the increasingly present Parisian authorities and mandated to shut down the rental,in which case you could be on the streets with no recourse.

No point in asking for one- if they are legal, they will clearly show one. If not, they're illegal.

Find an airbnb rental with a legitimate registrastion number or book into a hotel.

>>Oh and the Airbnb doesn't have a number as far as I can see. But none of the ones I scrolled through do. Should I ask for one? What exactly happens if it's illegal?<<

No - don't ask for one -- as StCirq says it a place IS legal they will prominently display the Reg.#

Many do have the number but the vast majority don't. Keep looking fo one that does -- or a better idea IMO is to book a hotel or hostel.

What exactly happens if it's illegal?<<

nothing to you except in rare cases but it being illegal is for reason - so don't support illegal places.

Possibly nothing . . . but IF it is sussed out before you arrive you would have no place to stay.

I wouldn't spend 9 days just in Paris, is this your idea or just what others tell you to do? 9 days is plenty of time to visit another city/country, I do that all the time, and a lot of time just to spend in one big city unless you yourself have a desire to do that an plans as for why. I hardly consider taking the train to Switzerland from Paris as "wasting time" in a 9 day trip (or Amsterdam).

YOu have to decide yourself, unfortunately as to what you most want to do. If you just want to stay in Paris for some reason, fine, if you feel more comfortable with that given your inexperience traveling. But Switzerland is a pretty easy and pleasant country to travel to/in and isn't far from France. Sure, Amsterdam is easier, sounds like you have an interest in it or why mention it. Amsterdam is abig city also and not that nice in some parts (meaning dirty, not that attractive). It does NOT take a day to get to Switzerland, either, you can take a direct train from Paris to Lausannne in less than 4 hrs. YOu can go from Paris to Montreux in less than 5 hrs.

Yes, get out of Paris - 9 days too long for most - London by train 2 hrs - Switzerland 4-5 - Amsterdam 3.5 - Brussels just over an hour. Or take overnight train to Venice and fly home from there.

Thoughts on Paris to Utrecht? (And flying home from Amsterdam)