baladeuse

I'd ask mom if she's prepared to pay the additional cost if the worse comes to the worst and you miss your connection to your return flight on Jan 1. - airline change fee and possibly cost of hotel for a night. If she's able and willing to take on that responsibility I'd cross my fingers and take my chances with her plan. Could be a disaster, but stuff happens when you travel. You're doing this trip for her, right? As long as she clearly understands the risks...

mjs

As above or you can pay to change your return flights to Paris to Toronto

Sassafrass

A. Do Paris last.
After a late night, get up early, rush to the airport and hope all goes well with non-protected connections. Navigate two large airports and endure two trips through security. Add several hours travel time to create a long, exhausting, stressful mess on the last day of your trip.

Or

B. Do London last.
After a late night, relax. Have a leisurely breakfast. Go to the airport, through security and home. Much shorter travel times, practically stress free.

Seriously, is there really a choice here? Why on earth would any reasonable person choose A if B is available? Do you remember that it was your Mom being adamant about not going to Paris in the beginning that has caused so much angst? Now, her being adamant about spending the last night in Paris (where she did not want to go in the first place) is going to create a last memory of a miserable end to the trip and more angst!

You are either a saint or martyr, and I suspect (being kind here), with your Mom, you are being the martyr. I bet if doing Paris last had been your plan, she would have wanted to do it first. You actually do know what is best. Can you do it?

"Mom, I love you and want this to be a good trip. I have done tons of research and made the best possible decisions under the circumstances. We are doing Paris first, London last and that is that. Now, I must get busy booking Christmas dinner so we are not hungry and book shows - whatever I find that still has tickets. No more time to discuss where we will eat or what we will see. That will all be a surprise when we get there. What fun this will be!"

jamikins

I would always stay in the city you are leaving from the night before an international flight. What if there is snow in Paris and the flights are all delayed? Not a chance I would be willing to take. Either pay to change your homeward flight to be out of Paris or spend the night in London.

Lilly2016

Hi
I have decided to make the decision and just tell her that's what we are doing.... since my dad passed, she acts Soooo incredibly illogical and forgets things so much, it's been so difficult. My dad was our Buffer.... She also flips out very quickly, emotional roller coaster. They were together 52 years and very very close. I don't think she knows how to be without him..
So I feel like i am walking on eggshells with her....
I am an Only child so no one to discuss it with...
i have been in the parent roll with her for a long time.

Anyways - decision made.
Striaght to Paris - upon arrival from Heathrow

12/24 fly to paris ($$$) from Heathrow.. I found a flight 4:50 pm
*** is that enough time to allow a window for immigration etc... and if there is a delay in first flight?

We obviously will not be able to have xmass dinner :/

12/25 Christmas Day - hopefully find something that is open
12/28 or 12/29 Take Train to London

Jan 1 - fly out of LHR to toronot


---- Q-
25-28 in Paris or till 29 ? I'm excited about Paris
Train to London from Paris -- afternoon of 28th or 29?

is 4:50 flight ok to catch for flight to Paris on 12/24?

finally - any suggestions for Hotels and Must see attractions ? Restaurants ? New Years Eve events in London?

Lilly2016

oh and Flight i found from LHR to Paris goes to OYR airport - which from what i see is closer to central Paris ?

there is a later one going to CDG airport?

janisj

Maybe your mother doesn't realize there are MUCH bigger New Years Eve celebrations in London than in Paris. London has massive fireworks displays along the Thames. They don't do anything Iike that in Paris . . . Like much of everything else, your mom's assumptions are wrong re this too.

fuzzbucket

Really - there is nothing much going on at all in Paris for New Year's Eve.
There are no fireworks anywhere - those are only on July 14th, Bastille Day.
It's difficult to get around - if you try to go to the Champs-Elysees, you'll be penned in a barricaded area with a huge crowd - and you won't be able to manage the Metro or find a taxi to get back home, so you'll have to walk.
You're probably a little late to book an expensive dinner, which is what most people do, since there's nothing else to do but wait until midnight.

Really - go to London for New Year's Eve. There's a lot of stuff going on.
But you won't find a hotel in your budget anywhere near the festivities, and tickets are most likely sold out for the fireworks show.
You might go to a play or concert, or something.

If you make a rush decision on this, you might end up regretting spending the money and wasting your time - and both of you will likely be disappointed in either city.

StCirq

I'm just about to have a minor nervous breakdown re-living this thread. I can't believe the OP hasn't had a major one already.

1. NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING happens in Paris on New Year's Eve except a huge number of drunken youngsters roaming around the Champs Elysées hurting themselves with fireworks. DON'T DO THIS! Stay in London.

2. A CARDINAL rule of travel is NEVER to be more than a cab ride away from your airport of departure.

Either knock some sense into your mother, who obviously doesn't have a CLUE (mine wouldn't have, either, BTW), or just "call the whole thing off."

Honestly, you've invested way too much time into head-spinning logistics from the beginning with the useless TA and now the insistent but misinformed mother. Just make good decisions for yourself. If your mom decides not to come along, at least go by yourself and relax after this completely nonsensical ordeal.

StCirq

Oh, I forgot the mention....apart from joining a bunch of rowdy drunken revelers on the Champs Elysées in Paris, your only other realistic option is to reserve (NOW) a very, VERY expensive reservation for a restaurant that has a fixed Saint-Sylvestre meal. You simply won't be able to go out for a casual dinner at a café or bistro unless you want to take your mother to a part of town she no doubt will hate you for forever for taking her to.

thursdaysd

Congratulations on making a decision.

I think you will be OK catching the Orly flight, but check the Orly and CDG web pages for options for getting into town and then decide.

For NYE in London you want somewhere with a view of the fireworks. I checked the Marriott County Hall, which is where I was the last time I was in London NYE, but no reservations are available that night. You might check some of their suggestions for other places:

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel...l-county-hall/

You might want to start a new thread for hotel recommendations.

It can take a while to get over a loss like the one your mother has sufferred. However, after this trip is over you might want to have her checked out by her doctor.

newtome

I am going to be the bad cop here. I've been following this thread as we went through a similar dilemma some years ago. I would be worried that although OF COURSE losing your spouse after 50 years is a huge blow and could make anyone erratic and despondent and insistent on getting their way - what happens if that's not all that's going on and your Mother is experiencing early signs of dementia or other issues? I may be projecting a bit too much bit taking a trip with an elderly person who has just suffered a grievous loss who may be having mental difficulties in addition is a recipe for problems no matter how simple you are able to make it.
I would actually advise with those who suggest postponing if you can until your mom gets checked out. We thought my FIL was mentally intact after my MIL passed away and we found out the hard way she had been shielding him and us from the reality of his mental state. Our last trip together was almost disastrous.

StCirq

AMEN, newtome! I am the world's greatest optimist, but I don't see anything good coming out of this trip, at all.

KTtravel

I am glad you have a firm plan in place and hope you have a wonderful time. Yes, you may need to be the leader and decision maker but I hope you are both able to relax and enjoy yourselves after this major planning ordeal.

You might email your hotel in Paris and ask them for suggestions for Christmas eve and Christmas dinner. They can likely make reservations for you.

Bonne Chance!

Lilly2016

Janisj and Fuzzbucket— wow that’s great. so glad there will be something to do in London. I feel much better this way.

Fuzzbucket and StCirq TY so much for the Info.

Fuzzbucket YESSSS this has been the WORSE TRIP PLANNING I have ever done, and my husband and I travel a lot. The Lack of information from the Buffalo TA and my mom’s plan in her head has been sooo challenging. I feel like I am in a maze.

*****I honestly do not know what I would have done without this forum. I’m so glad I found it, and all of you.

ThursdaySD
Thank you again for your suggestions, and I will start a new thread on activities and hotel. I will book the BA flight at 4:50 pm.

Newtome — We can not cancel — we each lose $700 of $1000 flight i have already checked with the TA.

KtTravel thank u so much, for the positive thoughts.

Interestingly, I think i will have my mom checked out… after we are back. Now I’m so worried. She is the kindest most loving person you will ever meet. Aside from my fathers death - our family did experience some other massive trauma too (without giving too much detail). We’ve just both really been through hell.

But overall, she has been difficult to plan things with, and YES I was about to have a nervous breakdown.

thursdaysd

Also, go back through this thread - there have been links and suggestions for things to do in London.

Lilly2016

Also - Re the above questions

Pls LMK if you think 25-28 in Paris is enough (if things are closed on 25th) or come back 29th with train in Am- which would give us 2.5 days in London?

also the TA says that the Eurorail station is in Central London - is that correct?

Lilly2016

there is 2 flights -- same time

1 goes to ORY
1 goes to CDG

which is closer to attractions?

StCirq

You are still dealing with this clueless TA? THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS EURORAIL, for goodness'sake! Does s/he not even know that? The train that runs between Paris and London is called the Eurostar and it goes between St-Pancras Station in London and the Gare du Nord in Paris. St-Pancras is fairly central in London, yes.

Things are going to be closed pretty much anywhere in the world on December 25 unless you're planning to visit the Middle East. Doesn't matter where you are in Europe on that day, so you might as well be traveling, though there will be NO public transport in London as has been mentioned countless times.

thursdaysd

For airport access see:

http://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/homepage

For Eurostar see:

http://seat61.com/London-to-Paris-by-train.htm

Fire the TA, she is just making things worse. Stop talking to her and buy yourself a guidebook for London and one for Paris. Now.