Hi -- my fiancee and I are planning our wedding and have considered going to Paris for our honeymoon. I have heard to avoid Paris entirely in August due to the French on "holiday" -- is this true? If so, then we are considering late May, June or early July 2006. Which would be the best time to go (in terms of weather, # of tourists, prices, etc.).

Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

definitely avaoid August, I would say mainly because of the heat. If fall isn't an option, then I'd go for late May.

late May - June are your best options. July and August will be hotter. Yes, things slow down quite a bit in August. I would definitely not recommend Paris in August if you can go in June.

August would be a good time except for the heat. Some small shops close but most other places stay open. Pollution is very low and most days are sunny. But you need to be prepared for 100°+ temperatures.

April and May are very nice; in June it starts to get uncomfortably warm. October is nearly as nice as April or May. December through February tend to be gray, chilly, and rainy. July, like August, is very hot.

May should be best. Weather warm - but usually not too hot yet - gardens at their best - fewer tourists (and so sometimes the occasional bargain to be had).

It's a bit of a myth about August although some smaller places may be closed. You may get a better price on air fare in May. It will definitely be more in the summer.

If your trip involves a long-distance flight and you are cost-conscious, August is not a good idea. Heat issues have been raised, but that depends on on your tolerance, and the weather is notoriously unpredictable. It's August now, and not at all hot here. April may be a little more rainy than May and June, but Paris when it drizzles isn't all that bad. There ARE plentiful tourists in Paris in May, but they tend to be European tourists, mainly Italians, and anyway, so what? Visitors are a part of the city, and you'll help to make Paris what it is yourselves. It's a wonderful place to start out. Read extensively, and take advice, including this advice, with a few grains of salt.

Hi Dave in Paris. I arrive Tuesday for a week's stay. Anything you can do to KEEP the temperature down would be much appreciated!

And lbuajvc, I don't think you necessarily need to avoid August. Most of the hotels offer summer discounts and, I am of the opinion that, if you look hard enough, you can usually find a good airfare deal. Good luck!

I will set to work immediately holding fronts in place. Have a great stay!

We went to Paris & Nice for our honeymoon from late May - early June. The weather was perfect! Not too hot, but definately shorts weather. We had one day of drizzling weather in the two weeks we were there.

Hi lb,

Either mid-May to mid-June or mid-Sept to mid-Oct.

Air fares drop after Labor day.

Hi -- thanks for the advice. I have another question -- what is a good amount of time in Paris? One week, 5 days? We could potentially take side trips, so any suggestions where we should go?

Thanks!

Hello again lbuajvc. On my first trip to Paris as an adult, I stayed only 4 days and was totally overwhelmed by the city. I tried to see everything in that short period, which is, of course, impossible! Now, I'm older and wiser!

I guess it depends on how much time you have. You can stay 2 full weeks and still not tire of the city. My preference, if you have the time, is to go for a week, and take in a day trip within that time. There are many threads here on lovely day trips (Versailles, Giverny, Chartres...)by train or car.

Note to Dave in Paris -- ummmm...why is the temperature rising????

iregeo,

ummm, i think dave meant the ISSUE of temps have been raised (discussed).

lucygirl, see above.

If you have never been to Paris, I would suggest staying at least a week (with one side trip) or 10 days (if you want to take 2 or 3 side trips). There is an incredible amount to see and do in and around Paris but the best part is just experiencing the ambience of the city. In our experience, late May or late September are the best times to be there but there is no bad time for Paris.