Choosing a flight time

An early step in trip planning is to scope out possible flight times and prices. We prefer nonstop when possible, and typically fly from Atlanta. While our trip to Barcelona had only one flight per day, it appears there are two to Paris from Atlanta on Delta. The Barcelona flight leaves at 5:30, so the 5:50 to CDG is similar, but I wonder if the 11 pm flight that arrives at 2:00 might be better because the hotel room or apartment would be ready to check in when we got there rather than having a half day to wander around before we could get a shower and some rest. Which would you pick and why?

Paris - What to see and do?

I posed a question to my Facebook friends asking them if a friend was planning a trip to Paris and she had five full days in autumn to spend there, what would they tell her to be sure to see and do.  I find that when exploring a new destination that one of the best resources is to ask people who have been there to share their highlights and experiences which often lead to sites and events that one might otherwise miss if relying solely on guide books.

 

In the first morning, over a dozen people responded with some great ideas – some I have heard of but don’t know much about, and some that I’m going to have to Google.  Here’s what they have offered so far*:

 

Notre Dame – and don’t miss the gargoyles

Versailles – and don’t skip the gardens

Arc de Triomph

Champs Elysees

Monmartre

Musee d’Orsay

Boat trip down the Seine

A day in the countryside

Sacre Coeur

Catacombs

Cite des Sciences et l’Industrie

Savor the food – paninis and crepes from the street carts

Ice Cream shop near Notre Dame that sculpts the ice cream into the shape of a rose

 

 

* I exempted the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Disneyland Paris from the question because these are things we know we would want to do.  DH visited Paris as a teenager but his opportunity to go to the top of the Eiffel was cancelled due to lightning.  And just like you can’t go to London without a visit to the British Museum, the Louvre is a must-do for us.  And if you’ve been a reader of this blog for any length of time, you’ll understand that Disneyland Paris is non-negotiable!

 

Have other places someone should be sure to visit while in Paris? Or things to do that one might not think about at first glance?  Share them in the comments and you may see them featured in a future blog post!