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Help! Christmas Trip To France -- Need to decide today!

Hello friends!

This morning I stumbled upon a fantastic flight deal to Paris from Dec 24 to Dec 31 (I'm sure flying on the actual holidays helps). My husband and I were fortunate to have been in France in early September where we did Normandy, Loire and Paris. This trip is complete spur of the moment but the great flights feel like a sign :) Paris is always a good idea and we'd love to see the city at Christmas!!
Looking to see if anyone has any advice, suggestions on how to maximize these 6 nights. We arrive in Paris at 9am Christmas Day. My 1 minute of planning thus far has me thinking - 2 nights in Paris and then head East ... Alsace? How long is that by train from Paris? Stay there 3 nights then back to Paris? Are there day trips from Alsace or perhaps there is a better place to spend the 3 nights?!
Our return flight on 12/31 leaves CDG at 11am so thinking best to spend the night prior in Paris.

Clearly, at this point, you can see ANY advice or thoughts are welcome! Trying to see if I can come up with a plan in the next 24 hours before I need to decide to keep the flights!! THANK YOU!

Posted by
3279 posts

I’d suggest visiting Strasbourg, less than 2 hours from Paris via TGV. Jump down to Colmar on a day trip. Alsace is like Germany-lite so you get a taste of two cultures. I would take a TGV directly back to CDG and stay at the airport the night before you leave avoiding the hassle to get there early the=next morning. I’ve flown out of CDG on New Year’s Eve and it was a madhouse. Trains are quite busy over the holidays so make reservations early.

I don’t know where you’ll be staying in Paris on Christmas Day but consider splurging on dinner at Le Train Blue at la Gare de Lyon. Welcome back to Le Belle Époque!

Posted by
11570 posts

Strasbourg would be wonderful. I don’t know how the wine villages will look in December but we were there in April and the vineyards were bare, stark looking.
We did enjoy the wine villages though but not Colmar.

Posted by
1255 posts

Colmar Christmas market runs through Dec 29, and the Strasbourg market continues through Dec 30. Look at some of the other dates here. The train between Strasbourg and Colmar is v. quick/short. Day trips out of Colmar could include Basel and Freiburg, though both of those markets close before the holiday. I am sure others can provide more detailed train info, but for a brief overview of travel possibilities, I would check Rome2Rio. Sounds like fun!

Posted by
1444 posts

Maybe head to Strasbourg or other town/village/city the day you arrive. That way you can divide the time between them equally and only have to stay in two hotels/apartments over three.

Posted by
5697 posts

Hope you have bought the plane ticket already -- any time you can get to Paris is good, any other destinations are just icing on the cake.
Enjoy your trip

Posted by
2252 posts

Just do it! You have enough time to get the planning part done! I love spur-of-the-moment trips and sometimes I think they are the best kind. Frankly, I would spend the entire time in Paris but that's just me and I have had an ongoing love affair with the city since my first visit there in 1997. There is always something new to see or something I've seen before but now can see with "new" eyes. And there are lots and lots of day trip that you can easily do from Paris. Champagne tasting in Reims is one of my favorites... Chartes, Giverny, the Normandy beaches (oops-you've been there!) and even Mont-St-Michel although these are all farther away. Whatever you decide to do, have a fantastic time and be so pleased with yourself that you took this awesome opportunity.

Posted by
132 posts

Thank you all for your help!
The tickets are booked and looking forward to this last minute adventure. Looking at 3 nights in Strasbourg -- however, tempted to just spend 2 and spend the other night in a little town within 2 hour train ride --- any suggestions?!
I know the group consensus will be, not good use of time to pack up for one night -- but when we were in Italy a year ago we spent 1 night in Orvieto and I can't imagine having missed it! Is there a quaint little town worth the one night stay near Strasbourg? We would then be taking the train back to Paris for our last few days ...

Posted by
7161 posts

It would require a train to Colmar and then a bus but you could see if there's any availability in one of the villages near Colmar - Kaysersberg, Ribeauville, or Equisheim.

Posted by
740 posts

Mid night mass in the abbey on top of Mont Saint Michael is an unforgettable experience😁

Posted by
7161 posts

Mid night mass in the abbey on top of Mont Saint Michael is an unforgettable experience😁

I'm sure it is but it's 8 hours from Strasbourg and 6 hours from Paris, not exactly convenient for OP's trip.

Posted by
5697 posts

For any of the Alsace towns you will probably need to go back to Strasbourg to get your Paris train. We are spending 2 nights in Colmar then 1 in Strasbourg (have been to both before -- and we know there's a laundry room in the Strasbourg hotel) on our way to Stuttgart.

Posted by
740 posts

Good point Nancy! Think some else mentioned MSM.....

Posted by
4604 posts

Nancy, what is the name of the hotel in Strasbourg with the laundry room? Thanks

Posted by
5697 posts

Strasbourg location is more like a student apartment complex -- Residence Hoteliere Louise. Kitchenette area, prepared breakfast available at additional cost, walking distance (long) from train station. And ample free laundry facilities (washers AND dryers) in the basement.