Our family (2 adults/2 teenagers) is planning a 2 week trip to Paris and Rome at the end of July. We are thinking of flying in to Rome and taking a one-way train to Paris. We hope to stay at an apt in the 7th arr in early August. Do you think the weather will be hot? Should air conditioning be a priority? I understand that many locals head to the coast in August. Will the local shops, etc. be open so we can have the true Parisian experience? Any advice is appreciated!

unless you are really into trains, i would look into a low cost flight to paris.
www.whichbudget.com. might also be much cheaper. watch luggage limits though.

seems like a better way to invest your time.

yes, you MUST get AC. many times just to keep the street noise out.
but it can be VERY hot and poor cross ventilation.

You absolutely must get air conditioning. And I see no point at all in taking a non-stop train from Rome to Paris. (An overnight?) I would think tickets for four would be more expensive and uncomfortable than flying.

I have absolutely adored being in Paris in August. It returns to being a village, populated by not many people outside the tourist throngs milling in front of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. It's much quieter and if you stay away from tourist restaurants, you will find yourself treated very well and eating very well.

I'm afraid you will miss have personal encounters with Parisians -- but that can have its upside too!

You will need to do some planning to find restaurants open in August. Although I'm not all that fond of Zagat's, it does usually have up to date info on which days (or months) restaurants are closed. For tastebuds and price, I like the internet listings of Jack's Inimitable Travel Guide to Paris, but his info is not always updated.

It can be quite dispiriting at the end of a long, hot day to walk to a recommended restaurant to find it shuttered, so plan ahead. That said, your chances of plopping down at the first restaurant you see and having a good meal in a Paris are very good in Paris. Just check the prices posted at the door.

If you are looking for a reasonably priced, AC apartment, in the 7th, large enough for four, in Aug... I think you are going to have a very difficult time finding one.

I looked for one in late July, and found that there aren't that many available. The few that weren't booked, were very expensive or just didn't suit us. I ended up booking a hotel with AC. One consolation is that the hotel prices are not too bad in early Aug (esp hotels that cater to business clients).

g

I've been in Paris in early August within the last couple of years, and it is very possible the weather will be hot. It might not be, but I personally would book a place with AC if I had a choice. I'd give the chance of it being hot enough that you will want AC at definitely over 50%.

Lots of things are open as usual, so it may be a true Parisian experience for you, but the atmosphere in Paris at that time is not typical of Paris IMO. This is true in most cities in the vacation days of August, things are slower, not as much going on (most cities' performing arts seasons closes in July, although there is always something if you want it, but not opera or ballet, most likely).

So, I would not say it is a typical Parisian experience, but it will be a true one, I guess. If you've never been there, and have two teens in tow, I don't think some of the things I consider not the same sense will really matter to you that much. However, if you really want to know if this is the way Paris is all the time -- no.

We spent 3 weeks in Paris with a 16 and 24 year old last August. It was fabulous! We did not have, nor needed, airconditioning although we were concerned we would need it and it could have been the case had it been a hotter August. You can check the statistics on wunderground.com trip planner. There were plenty of places open to eat. Everything was open to visit and the crowds were not as great. Please feel free to ask any other specific questions.

Thanks so much for your helpful comments! We're still unsure when we will go since we're finalizing summer plans for my children.
I will check into flying from Rome to Paris as suggested. Can you recommend an easy way to book this on the Internet and get the best price? Another option we have is to rent a car. We were last there 15 years ago and my husband thought driving in Italy was a nightmare. We're trying to plan an easier vacation without many hassles.

Use a good Travel Agent.

G