London then Paris, or other way around?
 

My wife and I are thinking of going to London and Paris in November. We have direct flights to/from London from our hometown. We connect through Philly for Paris.

We will have about 9 nine days and don't know how we'll divide them just yet.

Just curious what folks here think the best routing would be. A direct flight over the Atlantic sounds nice so we can get some rest, but a direct return from London sounds great too since we're always restless to get home.

Any pros/cons of a direct one way over the other?

Are you going directly back to work the next day? If so, I'd take the London flight home.

We'd come back on a Friday to have a few days to get rested up.

Take the non-stop from London (I assume that is what you mean, there is a difference between direct and non-stop) for the return portion of the trip. By that time, as you say, you want to get home and (in my opinion) jetlag is usually worse coming "this way" so why make it harder on yourself. Going on vacation there is always a feeling of excitement so the connection in Phila. probably won't seem so annoying as it would returning.

I think that all the above advice makes a lot of sense in terms of jet lag, and it is horrible to return through Philadelphia (going to Europe from Philly isn't so bad), BUT

With all that said, I would think that Paris after London is a better option, especially if this is your first trip to both.

If you've been before, disregard this. If you haven't, Paris has a lot more "bang" than does London, especially London in November. Going from Paris to London, if you are first timers, could be a bit of let down.

I like London, although I like it less than I used to. But Paris is just so magical, and I think that London, followed by Paris, would be the better way to experience the cities.

That's for me, anyway.

I have the exact opposite opinion, so it's really what works for you. I would much much rather have a nonstop going than returning. Especially since you are returning on a Friday and have the whole weekend free to rest up. I have jet lag much more going than returning. It is really important to me to feel the best for the start of my vacation, which is limited, rather than back home where I can take it easy on return.

I would say fly direct to London, take Eurostar to Paris and fly home from Paris with a layover. Paris is magical and a wonderful way to end a vacation. I always have to have a layover and they aren't that bad as it gives you a chance to walk around and stretch your legs. Any way you look at it you will probably have jet lag upon arriving home.

If this is your first trip, I'd pick one or the other. On our first trip to Europe (Switzerland), we resisted the urge to take a train to Paris, "Just To See It".

There is so much to do and see in either city, 9 days is not really that many.

After many trips to Paris, we finally went on an impromptu trip to London over Thanksgiving weekend one year thinking that would be sufficient for a good look. We were so smitten that we returned for a week and a half the following May and another week and a half the next September.

Our first trip to Paris was 8 days. We did not want to leave, having hardly covered half of our absolute "must-do's".

On the other hand, I believe in doing whatever it is you feel like doing. So, if you're determined to visit both this trip, the better bet is probably to return home from Paris with the connection, since you'll have "re-entry" days when you get home.

You may or may not "get some rest" on the way over. Arriving in London requires far more time and energy. If you land at Heathrow, it's quite a treck to passport control, then usually an hour line, then downstairs for the bags...Returning from Heathrow usually involves learning your gate number with minutes to get yourselves to a far away gate. So, you can't really spend any time shopping...unless you arrive hours ahead of time.

Arriving at CDG, in my experience, goes much more smoothly. Passport control has never been far from the gate, with no lines, the bags are right there, it's short walk to the taxi stand, and you're on your way.

Much depends upon the length of your layover in Philadelphia. (You didn't mention your originating airport.) You'll likely have to go through passport control, then collect your bags, then go through Customs. Then re-check your bags. Whereas, if your connection is on the way over, your bags will likely be checked through.

I could not agree more w/ djkbooks. You only have 9 days. That only works out to about 7.5 full sightseeing days. The first day is pretty low key due to Jet lag. The last day is taken up w/ packing/getting to the airport. And about 1/2 a day is eaten up moving from one city to the other (and back again if you don't do open jaw)

I would pick just one - and you can't go wrong whichever you choose. Rent a flat for a week and maybe take an overnight trip - to Bath or the Cotswolds or Kent from London -- or Normandy or the Loire from Paris.

Ahhh...thank you everyone. I should have mentioned that we've spent time in both London and Paris before and those trips were exclusively to those cities.

I think I'm leaning toward returning from London on a non-stop flight. I had forgotten about clearing customs in Philly, then racing to get back through security.

Since we've been to both cities, this trip will be fairly leisurely paced and relaxing. Sure we'll see some sites but it won't be too hectic.

Thanks for all the suggestions folks!

I've been to both cities too - maybe 85-90 times to London and 15 or so to Paris and I still wouldn't split them up unless I had almost a full two weeks. Just to hectic for less than 4 days in each place.

I'm with janisj - I would pick one, then plan a couple of day trips...