BuckeyeBud

Have been to Paris 3 times, twice about 10yrs ago and the latest this past fall. I have never been affected my jet lag. I make sure I drink plenty of water when we get there and get "on time". As mentioned above, a nice meal / bottle of wine / early sleep makes for a better transition.

The question about being rushed can possibly be put this way. Have you seen all the "must sees" in your home country? Can you do it in a week? No sense in doing the same in Paris. Sure, I felt paced by my travel partners. But, I made sure that while the girls checked out the LV store my buddy and I were having a good drink and checking out the "sights". Have some sort of agenda, but be flexible and enjoy yourself. Remember, you are on vacation - not a forced march.

WRT when to go back. I'd be on a plane in the next heartbeat with my wife if I could.

Barb_in_Ga

I think you've gotten some good advice, and you have a positive attitude, so you'll be fine. One thing I would add to the advice about overcoming jetlag: when you get to your destination, walk around outside in the sunlight as much as possible rather than going into museums, shops, etc. The daylight will help you to reset your body clock.

One other thing I do is to set my watch to Europe time as soon as I arrive at the airport. We usually are there a couple of hours before the flight and we have a meal. That way, I can get on the plane at 6PM EST, tell myself it's already midnight in France, and begin preparations to sleep without waiting for the meal service. I take Ambien on departure, and again the first night, then I'm usually fine for the rest of the trip.
Have a great time!
Barb

Nikki

There is no way I can stay up all day after staying awake all night on a plane. I will sleep for two or three hours during the day, usually after walking around a little bit. But I have learned to enjoy staying up late for the first few nights of a trip, especially a trip to a city like Paris, where there is plenty to do at night and people eat dinner later than I do at home anyway. So if I can't fall asleep before 3 AM, I plan to go out at night, maybe a concert or ballet and then dinner, maybe a jazz club. That way I'm not wasting my awake time in my room wishing I could fall asleep.

You definitely deserve a redo. No set time to wait; go when you can and when you feel like it.

Greece or Italy? Win-win situation. Whichever is singing to you the loudest. Read trip reports on these forums and see what inspires you.

tucsontraveler

Certainly give Paris a second chance. We are now planning our 3rd trip. Regarding jet lag; here is my take. My husband has jet lag going to Paris, I have it coming back. First of all, we try to schedule the flight so that the leg to Paris is at night, dinner, maybe the movie, but we take a lite sleeping pill. We schedule the flight so that we get in mid morning(9:30 am). By the time we get to the apartment, get checked in, we can go out and have some lunch, walk around a bit, go back and take a nap this helps husband's jet lag. Then we go out for a while, maybe a light dinner, or a dessert and then back for bed.
The second day is for exploring but we don't do any heavy sightseeing. The hardest thing to do is to sit and do nothing and watch the people, but we have learned to do it and it really makes the experience much more enjoyable.

Our first trip was one week in 2001 in a hotel. 2nd trip 2 weeks in an apartment, which for us is the way to do it. You have all of the comforts of home with all of the things to do. Our third is going to be 4-6 weeks.

izzie2

Couldn't help but reply when I saw this, I've been wanting to do a Paris re-do ever since I went in 2007 for my big 5-0! My boyfriend and I stayed in an apartment that so bad we decided to check into a hotel for the remaining time and tried to fight for a refund from the owner when we got home. So this put a bad spin on things, plus I got sick and coundn't even enjoy a birthday dinner. I won't bore you with the rest of the things that went wrong but it left me with the same feeling you have... RE-DO! I had been wanting to go for sooooo long and to have it spoiled was such a major disappointment. That being said, I would do like other posters have said and try other places in Europe. Tuscany has my vote! As far as jetlag goes, I always set my watch to my destination time on the plane, telling myself it really is that time and not thinking about what time it is at home (if possible). I take a nap when I get there, and I do shift work at my job and I'm a night owl, so I think that helps a little bit. But I have to say, I have found it gets harder as you get older, but I LOVE to travel so it's worth it! Have a great time whatever you do and I hope you can enjoy your Paris re-do when you go!!

rosiecaro

I do MIchel's plan too, I worked nights for years and never had any trouble, so I discovered that if I get up earlier and earlier ( I actually start 2 wks our) that I am good and tired on the plane and then am on a more normal Paris time. The only fly in my ointment is that (I live in Indiana) damn time change! I hate it and this is just one more reason why!
RoseiCaro

jetsetj

izzie2,

care to say what apt. so others dont get shafted?

mychoneys

I'm off to Paris for my first time and also hoping to get that "falling in love" feeling while there. I also have found that if I take a sleeping aid on the plane and get in some sleep, and upon my arrival stay out in the day light - I feel a bit adjusted to the time difference. Also, try not to eat to heavy the first night and get to bed at a decent time with another sleeping aid; then you're pretty good on the 2nd day.
As for your next trip - do Greece. The Aegean Sea is a breathtaking sight, no matter what island you choose to explore.
The Tuscany region of italy is also a must see - but with a different atmosphere for adventure than Greece. The water gives off such a calming affect on a vacation - great way to deal with jetlag!
Happy Travels To You!

Shanti

My first trip to Europe after many years was 3 years ago. I was absolutely exhausted from work & rushing to leave home. I arrived in Paris, went out to lunch with my daughter, and went to bed in the late afternoon or early evening. I woke up the next day at 7 - at night. I had slept for over 24 hours and the next day I was still so zonked out that the only thing I did was go to the Musee de Moyen Age. I was too tired to do anything else. I was afraid that I would sleep away my entire time in Paris.

I went back again to France last year, but this time I was well rested. I felt fine when I arrived and I was even able to drive a rental car from the airport for a few hours.

So you might not have such a bad experience if you traveled again. However, is there any way you could stay for at least 2 weeks to give your bodies time to adjust?

Either Greece or Italy would be lovely. On the other hand, if you stay up until 2 am you would be on a perfect schedule for visiting Spain where there's lots of late night activities.

Wherever you go, have a wonderful time.

SoonerMcG

As many have said, jet-lagis different for everyone, here is my routine. When I travel to Europe from Houston, Texas, I always try to take the overnight flight, arriving late-morning to mid-day. After getting to the hotel, and a little refresh, I try to go for a walk in the area to get a feel for community, spot the place for coffee the next day, or find the local pub. I stretch the day as long as I can and hit the sack. I wake up the next day on local time and ready to go.

Go back to Paris. Definitely. When you get the chance. adrienne had some great tips on making any visit to a new place with a lot to see/do a 'trip to remember.

bluzmama

I live on the West Coast of the US and the flight is so long. I can never really sleep on the plane but once I arrive I want to get outside as soon as possible. I like a quick shower when I get to the hotel, fresh clothes and then a walk around the neighborhood.

Maybe the time of year makes a difference too. Paris was great in May because sunlight lasts til almost 10pm. Again a nice walk, followed by a leisurely dinner and early to bed works for me.

The jetlag usually hits me when I get back home.

leto

I live in the West Coast as bluzmama above 10hr trip tp Paris. The way i handle jet lag is with a sleeping pil. Sleep during the flight, I try to arrive late morning to afternoon have a lite dinner and go to bed around 10-11pm local time, next day I am ready to go.
I only love the city that live in, but I like Paris . I go every year and enjoyed every time. I don;t try to be a tourist but a visitor.Don't try to see everything just enjoy what you can see at a leisure pace for you, so you can have few things to see next time.
Greece and Italy both beautiful places but different.In Greece you feel that you became part of the landscape especially in the islands, Italy is more like going to see a beautiful movie. Read the "Colossus of Marousi by A Miller written in the late 30's but he has capture Greece better than any travel book.

WillTravel

I can't comment about Greece, as I haven't been there, but I would put an Italy trip ahead of Paris for sure. Not everyone has the same ranking order, but that's mine.

For me, Paris has so many virtues, but still it simply does not "grab" me the same way that many cities with logically fewer virtues do. I know when I am in Paris I enjoy almost everything I do, so it's a little strange really. There are still a bunch of things I want to see in Paris, and I've been there three times now.

philip_leeys

Greece is my choice. The weather is great - sunny but never too hot, the attractions are really intriguing (if you have a thing on history/ architecture), perfect souvenirs, the distinct greek culture... The only drawback may be local food. Plain salad flooded in vinegar or olive oil and tough chicken are often your only choice if you dine at a typical bistro. Anyway, this can be solved by paying more and going to higher-class restaurants. All in all, it's a perfect place to relax, or to enjoy a second honeymoon~