Paris/London - 2.5 days in each

[Deleted]

I love the thread below with 5 days in London, but I will have just 2.5 days in Paris and London in a few weeks.

DH and I are taking my parents. Originally, we were taking DS and I got some great suggestions about what to do with a kid, but we have decided to leave him at home so it will be Dh and I, and my parents (who have never travelled anywhere, let alone Europe).

We have limited time in each city (this trip is paid for by DH's work). We DO get a free city tour in each city.

Here is our tentative itinerary, please help/critique!

Day 1- overnight flight to Paris.

Day 2 - Paris - Arrive 10am. Hope to arrive at hotel by 12noon. Check in. Spend afternoon at Eiffel tour and/or napping. Dinner at hotel from the company.

Day 3 - morning we have company meetings (UGH) but I might be able to take my parents out while DH has these. Our hotel is the Westin Paris Vendome, so I need a suggestion of something close by. Perhaps walk to the Louvre? Neither of my parents are museum people, but I think they would enjoy walking there at least. Or a visit to the Arc de Triomphe.
 2-5pm city tour from the company. 

Dinner -

Evening?? Something that might be fun to do at night. I thought perhaps the Eiffel Tower if we don't get this in the first day, if not an evening cruise of the Seine. There are 1-hour cruises that depart every hour from a few companies. Any recs?

Day 4 - full free day until 6pm, company dinner. Could use 2-3 ideas of what to do. Perhaps Sacre-Cour, Notre-Dame, walking along the Champs D'Elysee??

Day 5 - 9am train to London. After we arrive we have a 2-hour city tour, then hotel check in. We then have the afternoon  & evening free. Our hotel is the Intercontinental Park Lane London (between Hyde Park and the Buckingham Palace Gardens). Suggestions welcome for a few things to do close by. Maybe walk to Oxford St and check things out??

Day 6 - full free day. Morning - Changing of the Guard/Buckingham Palace? Lunch - Tower of London, St.Pauls Cathedral.

Day 7 - full free day. Westminister Abbey, British Museum?? I know my mother wants to do the Winston Churchill war rooms.

Day 8 - fly home.

Suggestions for moderately-priced (or less!) places to eat would also be welcome.

Bonus points if anyone wants to plan our days completely

[mdgirl]

I wouldn't plan too hard with Paris. We've been three times and I've enjoyed it more each time because we have less scheduled and spend more time just wandering around enjoying ourselves. It really lends itself to that!

For day 3 if your parents are in decent shape I'd walk from your hotel up the Champs-Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. It's a really nice stroll and there are lots of stores and cafes where you could stop along the way. And if they're in good shape you could go to the top of the Arc for the view. The whole city radiates out from it and it's neat to see. Then you could walk or take a cab back. We did a night tour with Bateaux-Mouches once and I think it would be a good activity for the 4 of you. I think it boards near the Eiffel Tower, at least close enough to get a good view.

For Day 4 I would Notre Dame, then maybe walk over to the Ile St. Louis to stroll and have gelato. Also in the other direction is the Sainte-Chapelle, which is beautiful.

I'm not too much help with London.

ETA: And I forgot to say get hot chocolate at Chez Angelina right near your hotel. It's a bit touristy but worth it.

[alleinesein]

What weekdays will you be in London? If you will be there Wed-Sat here is a good itinerary for one day.

-Tower of London, get there when they open and do the Yeoman Warder Tour. You can purchase tickets in advance online and save a few $$. Head across the river in the early afternoon and grab lunch at Borough Market. After lunch you can hop on the tube and head over to Westminster Abbey/Parliament. From there you can walk to Buckingham Palace.

A few things- There is a fee to visit Westminster Abbey BUT if you attend a service there it is free. You just wont get to browse around and get the tour info.

I dont eat fancy in London; I eat a ton of sandwiches from Marks and Spencer because they are cheap and tasty. I also love Nandos and they are all over the city- Peri Peri chicken and its reasonably priced.

The British Museum is easily a full day if not more. Some of the museums have extended evening hours a few times a month so double check on their websites to see if any will fall during your visit.

[Deleted]

Has anyone gotten the London City pass? Worth it?

[scout8]

If your parents like to walk, I think the London Walks tours are great. It might be fun to do one of the pub tours in the evening. www.walks.com/

[mbcdefg]

Mar 7, 2014 8:09:50 GMT -5 @lauriergirl28 said:

Has anyone gotten the London City pass? Worth it?

We got it for our trip in 2010. IMO it was worth it. It included an Oyster Card for the Tube, and it also included a guided ferry tour of the Thames. Admission to most sites was also included ... the only place we visited that wasn't included in the pass was Westminster Abbey.

We also had tea at The Orangery at Kensington Palace, and when we presented the card the price went down a bit to 20GBP per person.

When we took the Thames ferry tour it dropped us off in Greenwich. We went up the hill to the observatory/Prime Meridian, and then went to a bar near the dock. By the time we were ready to leave Greenwich, the last tourist ferry had left for the day, but a commuter clipper came along and we boarded that. We showed them the pass and they knocked a few pounds off the fare.