Trip to Dijon after 14 years
 

[First of all, thanks to everyone for such amazing questions, information, and advice on this forum!]
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As a 15 year old high school student in Southern California, I had the amazing opportunity to stay in Arc Sur Tille, France (near Dijon) with a penpal and his family. I had a wonderful experience and have maintained close contact with the entire family over the past fourteen years.

On August 14th, I'll be taking my 6-year old daughter to their home to visit my penpal and his wife, their two children, and his parents. We are really looking forward to the trip and are doing our best to prepare for the journey.
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THE ITINERARY:
Aug. 14th 10:20 pm San Diego to Dulles, arriving 6am, next day. We'll hang out in the Holiday Inn Chantilly ($138 Priceline) for the day.

Aug. 15th 5:45pm flight from Dulles to Paris with a 7am arrival. We plan to take the Air France bus to Gare de Lyon.

Aug. 16th 12:00pm TGV to Dijon (Discovery Stay 88.50 Euros R/T), where we will be met by the family.

After six days touring Burgundy and enjoying their small town, we will take the train back to Paris.

Aug. 21st 12pm TGV Dijon to Paris.
Two night stay at Hotel Jardin le Brea (web rate 99 Euros/night)in the 6th near Montparnasse Avenue.

Aug. 23rd 1:40 BMI flight CDG to Heathrow.
Two nights at the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum (Priceline $89/night).

Aug. 25th 1:25pm London Heathrow direct flight on United to LAX. Family will be there to meet us! [Last leg to San Diego will be accidentally missed ;)]

*Notes*: We used United Airline miles and made the reservations only a month or so ago, so we didn't have many choices for flights. Also, my daughter is very active and I think it's best to split the flight into two with a long layover to give her some running around time.

I speak French comfortably and do not expect any major communication problems while abroad.

I'm planning to rent a cell phone through my US provider (Verizon/$3.99
per day/$22 shipping/$1.49 per min).

We are wearing comfortable and stylish shoes, keeping our packs close and locked when traveling, using a money belt, and withdrawing only as much cash as we need from ATMs connected to our bank.

THE QUESTIONS ++++++++++++++++++++
-Any suggestions for clothing with expected rain and 75 degrees? We live in San Diego and usually have rain only with "cold weather"...:)
-Has anyone seen a digital SLR camera cover that attaches to the camera strap, instead of just being a bag? (I'm not sure how to explain this...)
-Any comments about my travel plan, based on this limited information?
-Does someone with young kids have any knowledge of the best waiting areas or any kids' areas in Dulles, CDG, or Heathrow airports?
-Any great gifts to bring to them from California?
-With the recent terrorists events on the UK, my airline offers one change to my flight itinerary. Is there anything you would suggest?

Thank you very much! Happy travels to all!

You've obviously planned your itinerary very carefully. It looks good to me. Here's my only question. If the current carry-on luggage restrictions continue, you'll have to check all your luggage. How are you going to claim it if you're booked from LHR to San Diego but plan to get off the plane at LAX?

I went to the Universite de Dijon one summer after college to improve my French. Dijon is a wonderful town and I wish you a great trip as you say "hello" to all the sights that are so familiar to me.

I still keep in touch with my family from my summer stay in Dijon and my daughter visited them when she spent her junior year at the Universite de Montpellier.

Doesn't the airline reserve the right to apply additional fare charges when a passenger 'abandons' the last leg of a flight?

Welcome back to la Cote d'Or redtete. :-)
I actually live not far from Arc sur Tille(Ruffey les Echirey, closer to Dijon)
Take some layers since the weather is rather chilly in the morning and quite cool in the afternoon. It is rather cloudy with some rain, nothing to do with the canicule a couple of weeks ago!
If you go to Dijon center around the ducal palace you'll see a lot of monuments have been renovated.
Surprise your friends by telling them that you know there was the inauguration of the place de la Libération on the 1st of July. ;-)

Enjoy! :-d
coco

Thank you everyone for super replies!

About the LAX-SAN last leg:
I have suggested to United that I may not make that flight and they are fine with it. It is not until the following morning so I will get my luggage at LAX.

Thank you for the clothing suggestions and the information about the monuments. I will say "hello" to Dijon for all those who haven't been back in awhile!