We are going to Paris at the end of July although I am still looking at apartment accomodation. Is air conditioning essential? I know that there was a heat wave a few years ago but generally, is A/C needed?

I don't think anyone can answer that question for another person. I know that personally I thought Paris was much hotter last July than I had expected it to be. It was like Hawaiian weather at times: very hot and humid with some rain. I was very grateful that I reserved a hotel that had a/c.

Again, I think it is a matter of personal preference. I was in Paris in July 2003. I had no a/c in my hotel. I was miserable but I'm also from Florida where I need a/c constantly so again, personal preference. I hope you have a wonderful trip regardless. Paris is fantastic!

Since the year of the heatwave, summers have been relatively cool. There is no telling what might happen this year -- since it was snowing in parts of France on June 1st!
I have air conditioning in my apartment, and I turn it on perhaps a total of 10 days a year (heatwave year excluded).

I've been to Paris in July and needed A/C. I wouldn't travel there during the summer months without it and I live in the tropics, so I'm quite used to the heat.

Hi G,

Would your visit be ruined if your bedroom were about 83 F and humid until about 02:00 for more than 2 nights?

People have become so incredibly fragile....!

It depends on how much heat bothers you.

I cant sleep at all if the room is warm and so need AC all summer almost everywhere. If you can sleep in a hot room and it doesn't bother you to sweat all night - get a place with no AC.

But, for persepctive, have been to Paris in the summer 4 times - and although this is not the average, on each trip there were days that were 90+ and humid - for me unbearable without AC.

>People have become so incredibly fragile....!
That's the point. We could bear it without problems and our ancestors could, just some "american" tourists seem to think it's "hot as hell". Never been to "hell" but I do think this place would be warmer than Paris...

Most of the comments about needing a/c were that it's a personal choice so I don't know why you are so rude to make that comment about Americans.

>We could bear it without problems and our ancestors could,...<

Since you are using the past tense and no longer can bear it, why the unpleasant remark?

Rude would be something entirely different ;-). I was just being nice . Don't you know the difference between "american" ond American?

Now imagine you're in a place where it's fu..ing cold 10 1/2 months a year, every year and people conplain about the "unbearable heat" in the only 6 weeks per year they ever have been or will go to that place. Now that's bizzare, isn't it... ;-)

I'm an American. Was I being rude to Americans by regretting fragility?

Ahem...back to the original question. When we were in Paris last July, it was quite hot. I didn't have a problem getting to sleep because of the heat. I had a problem getting to sleep because with the windows open the noise outside kept me awake! We were in an apartment, and because our windows faced a courtyard, it was quite noisy!
BTW, for the record, what is the difference in american and American?

Fragility?

What's wrong with being comfortable?

I know there are people with luddite hearts - but unless you're willing to give up automobiles and electricty and computers (which our ancestors did without very well) never mind modern medicine (which they often died without) - let's not diss the modern world.

I put up with a lot at home in America. I lie in my bed with my window open listening to my neighbors' A/C units running. It's 65F outside and their A/C is running. I think that's ridiculous.

On vacation in Europe? I won't even go between late June and early September. Why? The A/C isn't as prevalent. I won't stand in a hot line. I won't eat in a hot restaurant. I won't stay in a hot museum.

I work incredibly hard to have the time off I do. A 70+ hour week happens now and again. I've worked very hard to take 8 weeks off a year, most American's never come close to that. I do not want to be even slightly uncomfortable in Europe on vacation. I'd rather go in the fall/winter/spring when it's cooler.

IMHO, Europe does "cold" better than "hot"!

Air conditioning is generally essential in Paris during summer today. Thirty years ago, the high temperature during the hottest days of summer was about 76° F, but over the past decade temperatures have risen considerably, and the peak temperatures have risen even more. In 2003 the temperature reached about 105° F. This is with substantial humidity and no breeze.

There's no guarantee that summer in Paris will be hot. But if it is, and you don't have A/C, your vacation will be ruined, so beware.

It's not only a question of coping with heat. Some nights without AC it will be pleasant enough with the window open. However, and especially on quiet streets, a sole car every now and then will shift gears and display the car's "manhood" as it zooms along. Quite sleep disturbing if the window isn't closed.