My family and I are planning on taking a last minute trip to Paris and Venice in August. I know it will be hot , crowded and expensive so I would appreciate any advice that would help make this trip bearable.
Cheers!

Actually, Paris may be hot, but it shouldn't be all that crowded. August is the month that most of France, and a lot of Europe takes it's annual vacation, usually to beach/resort areas.

You might want to ask the hotels you're booking at whether they offer discounts in August. Many European capital hotels do at that time of year.

Bonne chance!

That may be true re Venice, but not for Paris. I agree with Weadles advice, many Paris hotels gives discounts in August because it is low season. I don't know of any place that raises prices especially in August. It might be hot and might not, Paris has a fairly temperate climate--depends where you're coming from as to whether you consider it hot, I suppose.

I have been in Venice twice, Paris once, always in August. Venice was hot. But I didn't find either place terribly crowded or expensive. Don't go in expecting the worst (is my best advice)!!

Venice is crowded only along the infamous "daytrippers' alley" which runs from S. Lucia Station more or less parallel to the Grand Canal, via Strada Nova, to the Rialto, and on to Piazza San Marco and its sights. This area gets very crowded with stampeding daytripper herds from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.

As a result, the worst restaurants, tackiest souvenier shops, biggest crowds, and the most trash is concentrated along this route. Most daytrippers don't have either enough time or are too ignorant to deviate from this route, and their experience can be quite unpleasant--a large proportion of people who recommend spending only one day or a few hours in Venice are from this sad group of people.

To beat the crowds--go to the popular sights early or late. This also helps to beat the heat--which can be bad, but isn't normally as bad as some other places in Italy, like Florence for example.

As in all of Italy during the summer, get an air conditioned hotel if possible--nothing worse than surviving the heat of the day and then not being able to sleep at night. When the daytrippers are trashing the more popular areas during the hottest part of the day, head off to explore the rest of Venice at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently to enjoy secluded canals, charming cafes, and deserted campos. You will be amazed at how few tourists there are in most of the city.

Some of the places to visit where most daytrippers never go (and most probably have never heard of)--Arsenale Naval Museum, the Ghetto, a gondola yard, dozens of lesser known churches with great architecture and fabulous works of art, San Michele--the list could get quite long.

An added advantage of getting away from daytrippers' alley is that prices of just about everything drop, while the quality of just about everything rises. I remember wanting to get some postcards--typically 1 euro in the midst of the crowds, walking 10 minutes away to a small campo with a delightful cafe and a small shop the same postcards for 3 for 1 euro. Probably could have done even better if we'd bothered to look around some more.

Thanks to everyone for your excellent advice. I now feel more comfortable about what to expect and will be taking your advice to avoid the crowds.
Can't wait to go now!