Add time in Paris before or after the Paris and heart of France tour?

...wondering if I should just arrive the day the tour starts...or if I should tack on the extra days in advance...

Given how unreliable air travel has become (with all the rescheduling and rerouting), the safest choice will be to add on the extra days in advance even if you have to change hotels. We always go over a few days early to avoid Murphy's law coming into play. We've been on at least one trip where some of the group didn't arrive until the next day.

Just something to consider.

Too bad your tour hotel is not available for 1 night prior to your tour.

I'm with TC. I would never plan to arrive the day of any important event like a tour, a cruise, a wedding,... that requires a transatlantic flight. In the past few years there seems to be more delays and diversion of flights due to weather, strikes, airplane maintenance and disruptive passengers.

Personally, I would book 1 night at a reasonable price hotel near the tour hotel. Don't "move in" and unpack.

If this is your first time in Paris, I would prefer the multiple extra nights at the end of the tour. You'll be more comfortable moving around Paris, maybe even doing a day trip. You'll have a chance to go back to the patisserie or shop you walked past earlier.

I'd add one night prior and the rest for after. There's a lot of time between now and October. Keep checking with the tour hotel. And book a nearby hotel for the night prior that you can cancel if it doesn't work out. Enjoy!

I've taken this tour and you will love it. I think the extra days should be after the tour as you end up in Paris again and by then you will be more familiar with France and how to navigate Paris. However, like others I do think you should arrive at least a day or 2 earlier than the tour start. Travel is just not dependable these days and you will also need time to get over jet lag. Why not get another hotel for 2 nights in a neighborhood close to your tour hotel? I've stayed one or two nights prior to many tours and changed hotels the day of the tour. I just treated myself to a taxi to take me from one hotel to another and packed so the things I would need for the 1st couple days were easily accessible in my luggage. Which hotel is the tour hotel in Paris?

Where is your tour staying? Asking because near the hotel where my Paris and HOF tour stayed there are some nice hotels within a short walk. I'm not sure if this tour still stays there or not.

Also where does yours end? Mine ended by the Arc de Triomphe so I moved back to "my" neighborhood afterward.

I would NOT arrive the day the tour starts. As mentioned above, too many things can go wrong with flights.

I added one day on the front end but that was only because I was doing it back to back with the Best of England and there was just a short time in between. I also added days on at the end!

The tour starts at Hotel Lennox, Montparnasse. It looks like it’s fairly close to Luxembourg garden. It ends at Hotel Dauphine, Saint Germain, which is really close to Pont Neuf. It’s hard to know, when looking at a map, what would be within walking distance when carrying your luggage. It will also depend when my flight arrives, too, as if it lands in the afternoon then I won’t have time to explore that day, so may want two nights before the tour.

Right behind the Hotel Lennox Montparnasse is the Hotel Villa Madigliani. They have single rooms.

You access the hotel through the archway to the left of the Hotel Lenox entrance doors. (see google street maps)

We could see the hotel out the back window of the our rooftop room of the Hotel Lennox.

Have you looked to see if they have any rooms prior to your tour? That way, you'd only be moving your bags about 200 feet.

https://www.villa-modigliani.fr/en/

And I agree with others, arrive a least a day, preferably two days early before your tour.

Thanks Derek, that is a great location. I will keep it in mind. Looking at the map, there are some others not too far away that are cheaper. The Hotel Celtic is only $169CAD. Lots of places in the area don’t have availability, or only have one night, not two.

Anita, I'm not familiar with hotels in this area. But, looking at reviews for the Hotel Celtic, I wouldn't stay there. The ratings on various sites are low.

Hotel du Lion has a small single room available for €240 for 2 nights October 1-3, free cancellation until
29 Sept. and no prepayment required. It's about 15-20 minute walk or a short taxi or bus ride to the Lenox Montparnasse.

The reviews look okay for a budget hotel. I would consider booking this for now since it's a good rate. It's possible something else in your budget will open up in the next few months and you could cancel.

Maybe someone on the forum knows the hotel and can advise you.

Thanks so much for that suggestion jeanm, I did exactly as you suggested and reserved two nights. It gets good reviews on booking.com, also, and it’s close to a train station, too.

Anita, glad you found something in your budget. The room will be tiny, but for 2 nights I'm sure you'll be okay.

Like I said, I've not stayed in this area, but the hotel is convenient to 2 good metro lines and the RER B station is right outside the hotel door as well as a couple good bus routes.

Have you decided to stay in Paris at the end of your tour?

Yes, I will stay a few nights after the tour, just haven’t decided how many. I’m thinking five, but I need to make a list of things I want to see. I do want to get down to Versailles one day, and I see the tour makes stops at Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle, but doesn’t go inside.
I’m thinking of a VRBO or apparthotel would be better for my budget, maybe in the Marais area, which seems quite walkable?

Anita, when you contacted the Hotel Lenox, did you call or email, or just check their booking site? If the latter you might email and let them know you are on the RS tour. Some start/end hotels will hold a block of rooms for early arriving RS tour members, since they know some people will want to arrive early or stay late. Worth a shot.

We've seen people who arrive the day the RS tour starts fall asleep at the first night's dinner because of jet lag.

I have to tell you that if you get a hotel close to the tour hotel, it really isn't as big of a hassle as you might think to change hotels. I have done this several times for various reasons. You arrive at one hotel, spend the night. In the morning, leave your luggage at reception and head out for a day of sightseeing fun. In the afternoon, come back and pick up your luggage and wheel it the block or two to the tour hotel and check in.

If you pack thoughtfully, (I use a packing cube with one day's clothing set up) you really don't unpack at the first hotel and it is pretty easy.

Stan, I emailed the hotel and told them I was on the tour, and I was wanting to arrive a day early. I was simply directed to their website, and when I couldn’t find anything other than suites available I emailed again, in case I was missing something, and was told that’s all that was available.
Carol, you probably right, I was looking at check out and check in times, and thinking I was going to waste a lot of time changing hotels, I overthink things sometimes, well more than sometimes.

KD has it right -- get a nearby hotel that is cancellable and keep checking for a night at the tour hotel. It is a pain to move but there are several reasons to put your extended stay at the end. You will have an idea of what you missed the first time and you will be in Paris to fly and not have to rush back wasting a good vacation day to be in Paris the night before your flight.

And yes always a day before a tour.

Arriving the day your tour begins is a recipe for disaster! Just wayayay too many possible glitches!
I would definitely plan 2 or 3 days in Paris, before joining the tour!

I see you will be coming in from western Canada...you will be seriously jet-lagged after that long flight! We flew in from Ottawa, last time we went to Paris, and it was a very...um...busy? trip! A few days to relax, with a gentle exploring of Paris will help you to better enjoy your tour. Don't plan any major "visit" on your first day. Just walk a bit and sit in cafés and soak up the atmosphere. Or choose a "gentle" activity that first day that is not on your tour list...maybe visit a park or a museum?

A soft start to your European trip will allow you to better enjoy the rest! Have fun!

I see the tour makes stops at Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle, but doesn’t go inside.

I was on this tour in April. We did indeed go inside these churches. If you have any questions, give the RS office a call. This way you can plan your free days better.

I see you solved your hotel dilemma. I did exactly this and stayed in a hotel across the street to our starting hotel. It was easy and convenient. On the other hand, I don't really unpack my suitcase except for toiletries and needed electronics anywhere I travel. Easier to not leave something behind, IMO. I thoroughly enjoyed this tour.

Hi Anita, I agree with Carol that it’s not a big deal to switch hotel locations. I purposely stayed in a different neighborhood when I arrived two days early for the 1-week Paris RS tour several years ago.

If your current plan doesn’t work, we have stayed at Hôtel Sainte-Beuve multiple times. It’s easy walking distance from your tour hotel - north & close to Luxembourg Garden.

You’re very close to the Vavin metro stop, so check out which neighborhoods are on that line, too, for easy navigation for these pre-tour hotel days.

Personally, I wouldn’t pick anything close to a train station.

Thanks for that info Wray. I think I will email the RS office and double check if the tour goes inside as a group. I’ve read several posts now that say no, but most are older posts.
I keep checking the tour hotel website, but now they have zero availability. There are many hotels in the area, but I’m trying to keep my budget as low as possible so I can extend my stay in Paris longer afterwards. At the same time, I don’t want to go too cheap and regret it. It can be a fine line. I think the one I have reserved at the moment will work if I don’t find anything closer to the tour hotel.
Now my dilemma is deciding on a hotel or an apartment for my stay afterwards, and what area.

Cruising hotel listings this morning. Curious if anyone has stayed in this area:
https://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/hoteldupre.en-gb.html?aid=311088&label=hotel-59583-fr-ZytA8hiEEbzPla1_N8V80QS275166613139%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atikwd-5512857403%3Alp9001507%3Ali%3Adec%3Adm%3Appccp%3DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YcUc3ZfdbbfEjx46svoSs2o&sid=db8b82507bfaf3769f95e63f5e0a1f1b&all_sr_blocks=5156301_374678077_0_2_0&checkin=2025-10-13&checkout=2025-10-18&dest_id=-1456928&dest_type=city&dist=0&group_adults=1&group_children=0&hapos=1&highlighted_blocks=5156301_374678077_0_2_0&hpos=1&matching_block_id=5156301_374678077_0_2_0&nflt=price%3DCAD-min-200-1&no_rooms=1&req_adults=1&req_children=0&room1=A&sb_price_type=total&sr_order=popularity&sr_pri_blocks=5156301_374678077_0_2_0__60300&srepoch=1748709067&srpvid=21417415d63a032b&type=total&ucfs=1&activeTab=main

Here’s another hotel - absolutely nothing special, but I just wanted budget, safe & good location for those two days:

“For these two nights, I stayed at Grand Hotel des Balcons – just north of the Luxembourg Gardens, my favorite garden. The hotel room was tiny as expected and basic but was quiet; I slept well.”

Anita, is Hotel du Pre for your pre stay?

If so, you would definitely have to taxi or a much longer bus/metro ride plus walk to the Lenox.

"I do want to get down to Versailles one day, and I see the tour makes stops at Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle, but doesn’t go inside."

Your tour definitely goes inside Saint-Chapelle. It probably depends on the line at ND as to access.

The day you arrive, the Cemetaire Montparnasse is in the area and has some interesting gravesites if that is of any interest to you.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montparnasse_Cemetery

Here is a wonderful YouTube video from RS guide Vero (channel is France with Vero). I ate here at Le Select a few years ago with some friends who were staying at Lennox Montparnasse for their Paris and HOF tour. They had Vero for their guide so maybe you will too!

https://youtu.be/xlB_SftPL6U?si=syrKnUQDMC5dpzC-

There is an excellent market by the Edgar Quinet Metro station entrance (from there down to the Montparnasse Cemetery entrance) on Wednesday and Saturday. They have a really good striped shirt vendor, hahaha!

I also got the best drink ever at Cafe Odessa also across from the Edgar Q Metro. It was a Saint-Germaine spritz. So delicious. I think the food was good but apparently don't remember, hahaha!!

https://lor.paris/m/odessa-paris/89902027-90a8-4070-b682-48f63443df08

I will also add that I use the Timeshifter app to help mitigate jet lag. I fly from Eastern WA, so same time zone as you are. You do have to plan ahead but the last 2 trips I had very little going over or coming back home. 1st round trip is free.

I also suggest you look at the Lennox website about 60 days out from your tour as this is when the final payments are made and RSE might cancel a room or two if people cancel their tours. You might pick up something then. I'm glad you have a back up booking, though!

What a fun time you will have!

Jean, sorry, I should have said, looking at this area for after the tour, also looking at places in the Marais area. Just want to be close to sights I haven’t seen, or a short transit ride.

Pam, thanks for the suggestions. I am taking notes.

Anita, I would start a new post for your after hotel. Seems many responders don't read anything beyond the original post!

Anyway, give your budget in Euros and even the dates and you'll get some good suggestions.

The Hotel du Pre is a bit of a hike to many attractions. So you may find yourself using the bus or Metro more often.

For example, Hotel du Pre is about a 45 minute walk to Notre Dame.

Staying in the Marais would be a 10-20 minutes walk.

If my goal in Paris is to see the sights, I try to stay within 15-20 minutes of the Seine. With a metro station and bus stop nearby, you can get around easily.

And again, Paris is busy with conventions in October. If you come across something refundable that looks good, grab it before it's gone. You can always keep looking.

Thanks again, jeanm, you have been very helpful. I was thinking of starting a new thread once I figured out my to-do list, but maybe I should do that now. When I look at the map things that look close could be much further than I think because I don’t know the terrain, or length of the blocks, etc.