Paris and Second City
 

My husband and I will be visiting Paris next fall for a family member's birthday. We have been to Paris several times and are looking for a second city to visit (not London--been there several times). We considered Dublin until I did a search of open jaw flights from the west coast and it appeared to be very expensive and inconvenient. In the running are Brussels, Prague, Venice, Rome but we are open to other suggestions. Would love to hear your ideas and why you think we ought to visit. BTW we are 50-somethings who love to wander a place, visit historic, religious and artistic sights. We are not into expensive meals and paying over $200 per night for hotels is something we rarely do. Thanks for your suggestions.
Scootoir & Singe

Venice & Paris pair beautifully together imo. Get between the two by overnight train or flight. Pensione La Calcina is my favorite hotel for Venice and well within your price range.

Any of the cities you mention would be great. Ofcourse you also have the option of other places in France. Have you been to Nice and the Cote D'Azur?

I'll second the Vencie option. Perhaps the most unique city in Europe.

Stu Dudley

I would say Rome.

I agree with SUZE. Venice is lovely.

I'd choose between Venice and Prague personally. Have you thought of visiting Florence?

Suze,

I bookmarked Pensione La Calcina some months ago but thank you for the reminder. I have a question which is a big issue with us; do the baths have tubs with shower curtains?

Scootoir

Mclaurie,

We have visited the Loire, Chartres and Normandie and have considered the south of France as well, particularly Arles and Aix. However, in case we don't get back to Europe for a few years, we thought we'd like to visit another country.
Thanks, Scootoir

history and religion - ROME!

Such a personal thing...as much as I love Venice, I'd suggest Rome as your second city. Both Paris & Rome are just so very real -- so much "living" cities, where you don't feel you're just another tourist!

I honestly don't think you can go wrong with any of the places suggested here!

Scootoir- Sorry can't remember one way or the other about shower curtains at La Calcina.

Oops, but neither of the two rooms I stayed in had bathtubs.

I would also say Paris and Rome, especially since you mention you like visiting historic and religious sights. Venice is unique it its own way, but I would pick Rome as the second city any day.

Venice or Rome would also be my choices. Not Brussels.

You don't say (I think) how much time you have for your second city, but if it's 3-4+ full days, I love the pairings of Paris and Rome, and of Paris and Budapest. Both Rome and Budapest are huge, impressive, must-see cities... I think of Budapest in addition to your choices because the transportation links from Paris (by air) are plentiful and cheap and the newness and growth of Budapest is such a contrast to timeless Paris - while the city still preserves a pre-WWII history well worth exploring... and it's changing and growing so fast that visiting a couple of years from now really could be very different from visiting today.

If your time frame is short, I'd pick another city in France (Avignon? Strassbourg?) or choose a whirlwind trip to Prague... while Prague is also a great contrast to Paris, a well-timed 2-3 day trip can be enough time to get a good feel of that city and see the major sights.

One factor favoring Venice is flight schedules. After much research last year I found MyAir flies between ORLY and VCE, both easily accessible airports. It was a "regular" plane (not a puddle jumper) and luggage weight didn't seem a concern--within reason. You can leave Paris around 9:30 in the morning and be in Venice in plenty of time for lunch.

Hi S,

Fly www.myair.com PRY to VCE.

Fly home from Venice.

((I))

OOPS.

That's Paris Orly - ORY

Thank you all for great advice. We have about 2 weeks for this trip and plan to spend a week in Paris and fly open jaw. I just received an email from from Air Lingus saying they could help me with the Paris/Dublin itinerary by phone but not online. So Dublin may still be in the running.

JeanneB, by "regular plane" do you mean a jet? I am a terrible flyer (think Meg Ryan in "French Kiss") and don't think I could handle other than a jet.

I would prefer train travel on the continent and considered the overnight train to Venice in a private compartment. I'm petite but Singe is over 6 feet and I'm not sure how he will do in a bunk.

Fodorites are the most generous and helpful netters anywhere. Thanks.

Scootoir