dealing with heat and rain

My girlfriend is in Normandie and she says it's been really hot there. The Atlantic is cold though this time of year. I think the best idea is to look for public pools or beaches, as a way to cool off in the afternoon. Guys at public pools need specific swim suits, you can buy them at the pool.

Alternatively, do like the Spanish and plan a siesta time midday. Stay indoors in an air conditioned space if possible (maybe a museum?). Go to a grocery store and buy a case or two of bottled water regularly and make sure everyone stays hydrated.

Take a break in the afternoon or use air conditioned museums if it stays hot. It will vary. For example, the hot weather today in the south of England will drop 10 degrees celsius tomorrow.

If you planned for late June in Provence and didn't expect high heat you had bad information. In Provence particularly hot and hotter will be the order of the day now until September.

The rain isn't usually all day. You'll welcome it as things will cool down. It usually rains hard in some places for a short while and passes.

You don't want a full sized raincoat. Who will carry it, especially in the heat? Duck in when the clouds turn black, and when the sun comes back out again you come back out too.

Enjoy the trip!!!!

And yes, slather on that SPF 30++ sunscreen. Don't forget a hat. If you don't like rain you can have a hat that works in both rain and sun.

We usually travel mid-Sept to early Oct (usually some hot days, most just right) but a few years ago did Italy the first few weeks of Sept - where we had mostly hot days. Def plan museums/inside spaces with AC in the afternoons - I don't recall the Louvre being particularly cool tho, if that is one of your 'stay cool' places. Most days, we retreated to our accoms for a few hours to relax and cool off...not really doable if you are on the road or don't have centrally located rooms.

Of course, in the heat, drink lots of water. Pick up a sturdy umbrella when you are over there for the rain (I did notice some hotels/other places we stayed in would have umbrellas for people to use)...and if you can - especially if you are in a city and can go back to your room during the hottest part of the day to relax - get out early before it gets really hot, and stay out into the evenings when it (hopefully) cools off. So do your outdoor sightseeing early/late in the day if possible.

Oh - also want to mention - hopefully you have waterproof shoes/sandals (yeah, w/p sandals sounds weird, but it's more 'sandals that won't be ruined if they get wet and will dry quickly'). Nothing fun about walking around in damp shoes all day if you get caught in a rain storm. I have some Teva sandals that dry quickly if they get wet, are super comfortable and great on uneven surfaces as they have a grippy sole. Hopefully you are able to pack a backup pair of footwear in case the ones you are wearing take a soaking and need a day to dry out.

Too late now of course to get new shoes/sandals, but something for others to be aware of. And cooler clothes/ones that will dry fast if they get wet are also a good idea. I pretty much live in lightweight capri pants in the summer - I find just having the lower half of my legs exposed keeps me cooler (I don't do shorts), along with the sandals (hot feet for me = grumpy Nicole). And of course lightweight skirts are great as well.

We're in St-Jean-de-Luz, where it hit an oppressive 100° today. High temperatures are predicted for two more days, so we just booked an all-day bus tour to the Guggenheim Bilbao for Wednesday. An air conditioned bus, plus a day at a marvelous air conditioned museum sounds like a winning combination right now.

Stay in an air-conditioned hotel.
Close any shutters and drapes during the day.
If the hotel isn't air-conditioned, do not open the windows during the day.
Drink water, not much alcohol.
Visit the supermarket's freezer section from time-to-time.
Eat ice cream, ask for "glacons" in beverages.
Don't eat heavy meals.
Take walks very early in the morning and late at night.

It probably won't rain as much as you think it will, and it will probably be light rain.
Bring a lightweight poncho.

There is nothing else you can do but tough it out.

If I travel in hot weather, I bring a tiny spray bottle with me, the ones you get travel sized hairspray in. Empty it out and wash it, and fill it up with water when you are going out in the heat. Feels wonderful on your face and arms in a heatwave!!
And move slowly, don't rush, and stop often.

woinparis- you know I was just advising US citizens.
I haven't lived with air-conditioning for 10 years. Staying on the beach in Normandie without it too - not afraid of heat or rain, either.
And yes...I will be drinking an alcoholic toast to you!

For heat, I second Nigel's advice to wear a sunhat. Bring one with a brim all around, not a baseball cap. Walk slowly. Take breaks. Drink plenty of water.

For rain, bring a small umbrella. If you don't have one, buy one there. You don't want a huge golf umbrella. It probably won't rain all day. Take a break if it starts to rain hard. Keep your sense of humor. If you get really soaked, go back to your room and change. This rarely happens.

You know, a little light rain can be mighty refreshing on a really hot day...
I'd leave the umbrella at home and just enjoy getting a little wet.

I'm waiting to see what the weather will do in Trouville. If I get a little wet, it won't be a total loss - after all, it's the beach!
Or, you can always go to a nearby cafe and wait it out.

On the other hand, it will be very difficult wandering around in the 36 C Paris heat today.
Tourists always drop like flies. Be careful and stay in the shade.

"Tourists always drop like flies": me too!!

Signed, Wimpy Heat-Hater

In the last week I've melted in Toulouse, Lyon, Albi and now Annecy. The last three have been in the 90s (as high as 97-98F). I think I'm going to head out by 8 AM tomorrow to walk a bit around the lake. If I wait till later in the day it will not be fun. All I can say is, "Thank heaven for air-conditioned hotel rooms."

Boy, am I glad I'm heading north rather than south, though I fear it will be at least 2 weeks before I reach Normandy and get some relief (I hope).

You should really take your walk around 6, instead of 8 AM - it will be too hot by then.

You were right about that. It got warm pretty early. And I didn't get out of the hotel by 8 AM, either. It is a real disadvantage, not being a morning person!

You should get a dog that tells you when it's time to go!