OK...I wouldn't be able to bring anything other than carry-on if I did that anyways.

How about another topic

Motel vs apartment...if I am staying Paris the whole week I am leaning towards apartment to get a better experience. Actually cheaper for many apartments.

Apartments are a good idea if you like to have the space and amenities, like coffee makers, fridges and washers. Very handy if you see yourself cooking. There are times when I'd like to have a stove, usually when we're at a market.

Then I come to my senses and think, "we're in Paris, there are a million stoves and 1/2 million better cooks than I."

Personally, I like a hotel with breakfast. It's a personal choice.

There are all kinds of budgets on this board and my budget is somewhere in the middle but bordering on always wanting to get the best price for sleeping in a clean and comfortable place. Being in the center doesn't matter to me. In a large city, what is central?

>>Pariswat that may be a good idea to just not get back on the plane from London to Paris.<<

<B>HORRIBLE HORRIBLE</B> idea. You'd lose your flight back home and be out thousands of $$$$ buying walk-up tickets.

Sorry -- but (and this is from someone who LOVES London and visits at least twice a year) Do not try to squeeze in a day trip to London in such a short Paris visit. That would be a total waste for BOTH cities. And, of all the things to see in London -- Buckingham Palace is about 10 or 15 down the list.

W/ your late arrival and very VERY long travel day you only have <u>four</u> usable days (Friday is entirely eaten up w/ travel back home).

That is not enough time to see a lot of Paris let alone trips to Belgium and London. Do Paris this trip -- JUST Paris. Next trip -- do London.

Motel vs apartment...if I am staying Paris the whole week

Paris doesn't have "motels"--hotels. Apartment? better experience. You have no experience in Europe and truly may NEED the help of the hotel desk to get reservations, directions, ideas, not have to worry about getting the key,etc.

How can we explain to you that you don't HAVE a week in Paris. And for the others doing the itinerary, they arrive late Saturday. It is 5 ground days --Sunday to Thursday.
The webcam idea was INSTEAD of your trip.

My idea was to fly open jaw - stop in London, take Eurostar and fly back from Paris.
Flying business class, you should be able to negociate it with your carrier.
If everything is set in stone, then yes carry on like planned.

The one thing that will improve your trip is spending the whole time in Paris. All of the thoughts about London and Brussels will just detract from the whole experience. And I'd opt for a hotel in Paris. You will appreciate the assistance the hotel can offer you that an apartment cannot. There are legal and logistical problems with apartments as well. Most apartment rentals in Paris are illegal and the government is cracking down on these, so you could arrive to find that the apartment you rented is no longer on the rental market. Also, there are issues like getting into the apartment when you arrive - what do you do with you luggage when you arrive in the city at 8 am and your apartment isn't available until 3 pm? At a hotel, it is no issue, they will hold your luggage until your room is ready.

You are first-timers - make this first trip memorable by spending your time seeing/doing/experiencing what you came for rather than spending half of your time in transit.

Kathie: <i>The one thing that will improve your trip is spending the whole time in Paris. </i>

In your opinion, based on your travel style.

I agree with dropping London, but I wouldn't rule out day trips like Belgium and/or Normandy. Instead, I'd play it by ear. Do the research required to take those trips last minute if you feel like it. Which companies offer day tours to Normandy from Paris - what do they cost? What's the basic train schedule to Brussels and/or Bruges? How long does it take? What's the last train we'd probably want to get to come home? What other day trips could you take that might be less time consuming and easier (e.g. day trip to Giverny and/or Rouen?

Then, if you feel like it while you are there, take a day trip. If you are loving Paris, spend the whole time there. But don't get to Paris completely unprepared for day trip options. Do the research ahead of time.

Just a quick thought. You might be better of with a hotel than an apaartment for your first trip. Hotel staff can be very helpful until you get familiar with the city.

Not trying to pile on, but another vote for all the days in Paris...with, perhaps, a single day-trip somewhere.

You only have five days of actual touring. If you go to London and Brussels, you will probably waste about 3/4 day's worth of time in transit (out of five days), if you include to/from station & hotel: ~4 hours on Eurostar to London Another ~4 to Brussels and another 3 back to Paris.

...and if I had only one day in London, I would go to the Tower...IMHO the absolute best thing in the city.

(...but I would go on this trip.)

After five days in Paris, your only reaction will be..."I wish I had more time here." Enjoy Paris...you won't be sorry...it's magical.

SS

Paris it is for the whole trip with maybe a day trip somewhere.

The advice on hotel is well taken.

We are pretty self sufficient but the motel staff would probably come in handy.

I wouldn't call us travel pros for sure but we have made international trips to Ireland, puerto rico,Turks, and go to my folks in baja often.

Any recommendations on mid range hotel. I think I have points to get 3 nights free at Tryp so I guess that would be good.

Seems this forum is a great resource as long as you can ignore the wise guys.

Wise decision justahookup. If you end up disliking Paris you can always day trip out of the city. It happens, check off the sites in Rome like a grocery list and was relieved to leave that city.

What's your hotel budget? Mid-range can mean any thing depending upon where your low range begins.

What do you like in a hotel? What will you compromise on?

For instance, I love a good breakfast and I don't care if I'm in the center. Happy to stay in a neighborhood to save money. Also I don't care if there is an elevator.

So tell us what you like, please