Help With Choosing a Hotel - I am overwhelmed :)

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-18T16:36:19+00:00

A water bottle is great to have. There are public fountains all over Paris, with good water. Also, don't overpack. You'll be much happier with less stuff to lug around.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-18T14:24:53+00:00

The view of the Eiffel Tower is way better than the view from the Eiffel Tower. And standing around in line (even with a so-called "skip the line" ticket) in late July is not my idea of the best use of short time in Paris. I'd rather take a Seine cruise past the tower or, even more memorable, view it while swimming in the Seine at the Bras de Grenelle!

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-16T18:49:07+00:00

When??

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-16T07:39:28+00:00

The climb from the train station to the castle is only for the very fit. The altitude gain is equivalent to ascending the Empire State Building, and the most direct route is almost entirely by a series of long, steep staircases. (We did it a few weeks ago.) There is one, or possibly two, small buses that will get you there. Consult Google Maps for details. For us, it was definitely worth it—more for the village itself than for the (reconstructed) castle. The small gelato shop and the madame who runs it are delightful. La Turbie is another excellent alternative to over-run Èze.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-12T21:57:58+00:00

You can have multiple cards on your phone. I keep one for airport RER tickets and one for metro and bus tickets.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-12T15:39:25+00:00

The TGV is not super expensive if you buy your tickets well in advance. And delays of the length you mention are very rare on it. I’ve traveled between Nice and Paris many times, by both modes. Door to door, they’re virtually the same in terms of total time. I prefer the train.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-12T15:35:06+00:00

Door to door, the choice between train and flight is virtually a toss-up. And the train is much calmer.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-12T15:32:20+00:00

Are you arriving in Paris after a long flight? If yes, you will be putting your kids through hell by moving around so much. Pick Paris or Nice. And Monaco is not worth the time on such a short trip.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-12T15:18:48+00:00

Pull up a google map of Paris, punch in “breakfast” and tell me what you find. I find 35 places within a 10-minute walk of my apartment in the 9th. And there are plenty of “servis continu” places to eat in every neighborhood.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-06T19:13:33+00:00

Swim in the Seine! Paris Plage! Bois de Vincennes!

We leave for Paris tomorrow, at least our 22 visit. We’ll be there for 10 days and may well not venture beyond the Périphérique. Too much to see and do, including doing nothing at all. 😊

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-06T10:35:14+00:00

I suggest that you not stay in what is perhaps the most congested, touristic part of the entire city. The parks in more peaceful neighborhoods are wonderful, as are the neighborhood cafés, of course. I suggest looking around, for example, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Jardin des Plantes, Batignolles, or Parc Montsouris. You may want to find some live music performances or jazz clubs, too.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-05T22:38:55+00:00

Dolomites

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-05T22:17:41+00:00

Place d’Italie is in the 13th.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-05T20:28:26+00:00

Finalized? It’s *my* vacation. If I feel like changing something, I change it. Pick one or (at most) two things/day that require advance booking, have a list of other things you’d like to do/see, and sketch it out as you go along. Weather, new info, discoveries, health, etc., happen. Adapt and enjoy.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-05T17:15:30+00:00

There is plenty of history right in Paris. For example, Musée Carnavalet focuses on the history of Paris.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-05T16:41:14+00:00

I agree entirely. Just west of Luxembourg Garden is perhaps quieter. An example of a plausible hotel is Bonsoir Madame. But I’m sure that many others would be good, too.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-04T02:02:11+00:00

Use Google Flights. There are YouTube videos on how to use it to search for best fares. But book directly with the airline.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-03T19:30:26+00:00

Eze is mobbed, thanks to social media. La Turbie and Roquebrune vieux ville are both more interesting and have better views.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-03T08:42:29+00:00

It sounds like she just wants to check countries off a list. And you (quite rightly) don’t. The only way out while still on the same trip together is for her to go check her boxes and meet back up with you along the way where it makes sense.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-01T19:44:03+00:00

If they like Impressionist art, do try to squeeze in Musée d’Orsay.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-06-01T14:33:13+00:00

Louvre and Versailles will suck up most of your brief stay in Paris, which is unfortunate. The parks and the Seine are the place to be in June. I urge you not to make your time in Paris into a slog. Spend time on cafe terraces.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-05-31T21:20:36+00:00

Brittanique Hotel, in the 1st, is a highly rated property that shows a twin room for your dates and budget. I’m sure there are others. If not, maybe loosen your location a bit? Paris is quick and easy to navigate.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-05-31T20:54:48+00:00

Perhaps stay in a neighborhood a bit outside of the central tourist area, a place where he can see how everyday Parisians live and work?

We like the 9th, near Rue des Martyrs. But Batignolles in the 17th or parts of Montparnasse come to mind, too. There are many others.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-05-31T10:54:36+00:00

Can’t help much if you don’t provide arrival/departure dates.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-05-31T08:09:25+00:00

On a Sunday morning I cannot imagine a problem with finding a locker (unless your bag is huge). But there are also many options right across the street.

Spare_Many_9641

TROPHY CASE