Good Morning All
Yesterday afternoon I booked 4 of us to Paris for about 2 weeks from the 6th of July through the 20th. The intent was to do a little of France, possibly Switzerland or Germany and maybe sandwitch a cruise from Genoa around the Med for 7 days. Whether we do a cruise is still up in the air -- Europe isn't.
Two hours after I booked my airfares I find out that this is right in the teeth of the "Tour De France". Haven't tried hotel reservations yet. Can I look forward to a logistical nightmare? How much of an influx of people do we have to deal with due to the bike race. GO LANCE!!!!!
shrink

Shrink, I was in Paris just a few days before the end of the tour last year. Other than some set up work and barriers on the sidewalks, ready to be set up on the final day, there was nothing that would impede our visit. Unless you want to be part of the madness, just plan your Paris part of the trip for the beginning.

It does seem like you have some ambitious plans for two weeks.

It's a big country. Just find out what the route is, and avoid being there at the same time. We have been in France very often in July, and have never noticed the tour at all.

Are you concerned simply about getting a hotel reservation in Paris during July? That's not difficult, I've done it many times. Many hotels even offer discounts in July because it is low hotel season (and the Tour de France is always during July), although some don't start until around 7/15. I just booked a hotel in Paris for July myself and got 20 pct off--they start seasonal discounts on 7/1, I believe (Pavillon Bastille hotel).

If you are worried about some smaller town in France where the race passes through, that could be more of a problem, perhaps. But I've been in Paris quite a few times in July while the Tour was ending in Paris, and there are no major problems. There are crowds on the Champs-Elysees to watch the ending, of course (I was there last year, and the main stage where Lance got his trophy was at the end of the Tuileries). YOu can't really see much unless you get there early to get a good view.

Here is a site that details the Tour's itinerary. It should be pretty easy to avoid. We were near the Tour 2 summers ago, and really had no problem with hotels or crowds.

http://www.letour.fr/2005/presentationus/parcours.html