Paris Itinerary- Any glaring issues

After an 8 hour flight plus the other hours of travel, if you still have the strength to do what you planned on day 1, congratulations!

And don't forget that in November the pleasant walks may not be compatible with the nasty rain

Here are my thoughts:

Day 1: You've probably got enough sights listed for a full, non-jet lagged day

To me I feel having a planned activity the afternoon of arrival is more than I can manage. Sometimes I'm good to go, sometimes I need a nap. There are a couple of schools of thought...some make themselves push thru, others will nap for a short while. I would NOT book the Concergerie ahead. I would wait to see how you feel. At least you've not spent much on the Archeological Crypt (which is excellent by the way) if you have to abandon your plans. This location is not busy and you can easily walk up for entry if you don't make your booked time.

If you land on time at 930, I usually count on about 3 hours from the time I step off the plane to the time I'm walking into my hotel. Sometimes it takes less time, sometimes a little more but that gets my head around things. I drop my luggage and head out for lunch or a walk if it's before lunch service has started. Then you can see how things go...either return to your hotel to check in or head on a walk.

It will be dark about 530P in early November so that might affect how alert or tired you feel. I use www.sunrisesunset.com to get daylight times. Tick the box for Civil Twilight as well. Times for Nov 1 are:

Twi: 7:04am
Sunrise: 7:37am
Sunset: 5:32pm
Twi: 6:05pm

Day 2: This looks good

Day 3: Looks fine as long as this is not a Monday when the Orsay is closed

Day 4: Looks fine since you've got it booked already. I'd flip the sights and do Louvre first then tackle Orangerie which is much smaller. It's easy to walk thru the Tuileries Gardens between the two.

Day 5 & 6: This looks fine

Day 7: Don't book the Army Museum. It is not usually busy and you can see if you have time for it after the Eiffel Tower. This will work OK since you are not planning to go up in the ET. You might consider doing the Army Museum first, then maybe an early dinner on Rue Cler as there are a number of restaurants that serve all day long (Cafe Roussillion, Petit Cler, Cafe Central for 3) then do the ET last when the lights are on. Remember....dark at 5:30

Day 8: If you have an interest in the Army Museum, I might move yesterday's activities to today. The Army Museum is big and I find it very interesting. I'd do the Army Museum this morning, then late lunch along Rue Cler, then head over to ET, then aperitif perhaps at La Terrasse 7eme which is a cafe right beside the Ecole Militaire Metro stop. Your sights for today are mostly walk by and the Petit Palais takes less time (for me) than the Army Museum.

Day 9: Have your hotel book your taxi yesterday if that is how you'll get back to the airport.

To me just some uneven days with some very busy and some not as much. You'll have a wonderful time!

I agree with Pam. Your arrival day will be very busy and tiring, but most of what you have planned is outdoors or involves relatively short times indoors. Whatever you don't get done that day could be shifted to later, such as day 8 which is not very full. And I think you have the Orangerie and the Louvre in the wrong order, you'll probably handle them better if you can shift the times. Going into the Orangerie at 10 AM will leave you with a long gap until your 2:00 Louvre entry. Of course lunch is part of that but needn't take long, or require you to go very far afield.

But you have things well grouped geographically and you're giving enough time to Bayeux and the D-Day tour. It will be cold in November and days will be short, but Paris is wonderful any time of year and it isn't hard to avoid the worst weather. Bring layers, have a great time!

You will be very jet lagged even though only dealing with a six hour time change from Cincinnati. Flights from the east usually don’t give you enough time to eat, settle down, and fall asleep. I use sleep aids on long flights, like to Asia. I would not use them for an east coast to Paris flight,
On the first day go a Seine river boat cruise, one is across from Eiffel Tower, Bateaux Mouches or another is Vefettes du Pont Neuf by the Pont Neuf bridge. The breezes in your faces will keep you awake. And you will see many of Paris’ famous monuments.
Then go for a neighborhood walk and force yourselves to have dinner and stay up to a normal bedtime. Your first day would fill a week for me! Do not book anything else arrival day! The next you ‘ll be fine and can follow more of your itinerary.

Your first day would fill a week for me!

I agree completely.

I don't see how you will get all that you have listed for day one accounting for travel time from CDG to Paris and travel time between the sights and the shortness of the day and jetlag. You'll get into Paris and be set to go at around at 11 AM assuming your flight is on time and you have a 3 hour tour planned and other stops. Sainte Chappelle closes at 5 PM in November. I just don't see all of that day happening as listed.

"On the first day go a Seine river boat cruise, one is across from Eiffel Tower, Bateaux Mouches or another is Vefettes du Pont Neuf by the Pont Neuf bridge. The breezes in your faces will keep you awake. "
That's what I thought too only to find that three of the four in my family fell asleep.

Day 1
Don't expect to get a lot of sleep on a red-eye flight. If you are connecting in New York, you'll have a 7-7.5 hour flight, leaving around 8.30 pm to arrive at 9.30. There is likely to be a dinner service and a breakfast service on the flight, using 1.5 hours each. That leaves - at best - 4 hours of quiet time. The only way you get close to 7 hours is if you can shut out the noise and the light and skip meals and beverages.
Do not underestimate the difficulties getting oriented - different language, currency, signage. Take a taxi or limo service to your hotel! It will be even more confusing to navigate the public transport system on arrival. You don't know how much jetlag will affect you, so do not plan to do much on your first day. It sounds like this is a self-guided walk. Don't book anything more than what you already have. See how it goes. I'm not sure I could (or would want to) do all that in a single day in Paris, even after a good night's sleep and well into my trip. Leave the other "need to book" sites for another day.

Day 2
Allow plenty of time to get to the train. It might be a good idea to do a trial run on Day 1, just so you don't get muddled on Day 2. It sounds like you'll be going in rush hour (though probably in the "other" direction), it may take extra time to get to the station (unless your hotel is walking distance). Work out how long it will take you to get from the Versailles station to the Palace (not the sight) entrance and allow for a wrong turn or two. The gardens/grounds are very extensive. Consider using the little train or renting bikes. I hope you are planning to visit the estate of Trianon. It's some distance from the palace (and the train back to Paris).

Day 4
What are you planning to do between the 2 museums? The Orangerie only needs an hour or so. Maybe spend a little time at the Place de la Concorde and stop in at Angelina's for a hot chocolate and a pastry?

Thank you all so much! We are definitely pushing the Marias walk/Hotel de ville to another day.

I think if we can do the RS historical walk and eat that will be a success in itself for the first day! His walk includes (Notre Dame, Paris archaeological crypt, Deportation memorial, Shakespeare and Company Bookstore, St Severin, Boulevard St. Michel., Sainte-Chapelle, Cite metropololiain metro stop., Consiergerie, Place Dauphine. Post Neuf and the Seine). These are all close geographically thankfully. I know we cannot nap when we arrive or we will have continued difficulties adjusting. Staying awake and moving is key. His guide book says to give 3-4 hours to go through it all. Has anyone done this walk?

We will have noise cancelling earplugs, masks, sleep aides, neck pillows, blankets, comfortable clothes, and a foot hammock thing for the tray table to keep our feet off the ground for the plane. We will have already eaten dinner and have a row of just two seats. I am planning on conking out asap and skipping dinner/drinks. We will try our best to sleep. Its an 8.5 hr flight from Cincinnati direct to Paris.

I am planning for 3 hours from landing to arrival in the city. We will have carry-on bags only. Our hotel is steps away from the Chatelet les Halles station as well. So RER B to that station only with no changes. They will store luggage for us until check-in. If timing works out better in our favor, thats great! If not, I expect not to be 'exploring' until 130pm. Our hotel is an 11 minute walk to Notre Dame if we can do so without walking into walls staring at the sites.

The orangerie booked at 10am had no reason other than starting left to right geographically with lunch/gardens in the middle. We plan on staying at the Lourve from 2-6 which is closing time. I know we will be ready to be done with museums for the day!

We are big walkers. 10-12 miles a day isn't unusual with our kids for a Disney trip. They will not be with us this time unfortunately which will simplify things a bit. I intentionally left the back end of the trip more open to fill with perusing or adding things we missed in earlier days.

I am so enjoying this forum. Thank you all for your expertise!

Already advised on reddit.

I have done pieces of the walk from the audio tour and the map off the website. I'm looking at the map on the website and it has not been updated after the ND fire.

https://d3dqioy2sca31t.cloudfront.net/Projects/cms/production/000/004/448/original/3c66122982ac08e67e321e97929f63b8/map-historic-paris-walk-AT.pdf

You can't go from the Archeological Crypt thru the garden area to the Deportation Memorial as this area is closed and filled with trailers and other construction materiel. From the Crypt walk along the street on the North side of Notre Dame to the back of the construction area and then cross the street to the Deportation Memorial.

https://goo.gl/maps/a18bifzvi7ezXPuN8

When you cross the bridge and head to Shakespeare and Co, be alert and on your guard. The last couple of times I've been in that area the sidewalk in front of Shakespeare was very crowded and there were a number of "Roma petition girls" stationed along the front of the store. These scammers will say motion that they are deaf/mute and want you to sign some kind of petition on a clipboard. At this point they will push the clipboard into your stomach to distract you and one of their cohorts will try to pickpocket you. SO....be pickpocket proof along this area and just hold your hand up in a "NO" motion and keep moving. TBH, I avoid walking this sidewalk and will just walk along the regular sidewalk by the street. I'd skip Shakespeare & Co when you are a little jet lagged unless this is a #1 must for you all.

If you are hungry, I'd get a sandwich from Hure which is on Rue d'Arcole, then take it over to Square du Vert Galant and sit on a bench in the sunshine. This is a neat location in the middle of the river and one that the locals enjoy. Don't feel you have to follow Rick's walking route exactly...you can do it in the reverse as well. When you are walking from the Chatelet area you can easily walk across the bridge by Hure, lol.

I popped for the expense of Delta One last trip in April hoping to sleep on the flight. The lady in the pod ahead of me talked the whole flipping night, lol! I hope you are able to sleep like you think you will. IF you do need to nap there is no shame in it, just set an alarm and only sleep for 1-1.5 hours. You'll have to do what works best for you and your circadian rhythm!

Have a wonderful time!

Seems like you've thought it through. Wise to leave things more open at the end so you have fallback time if you don't make it through everything on day 1. I haven't done the RS guided walk but I've been to all the places on it, indeed they are close together and some are just walk-bys. But it would be worthwhile, on day 1 or later, to go into the Sainte-Chappelle. The stained glass is the main attraction there and you have to be inside to appreciate it. Getting in can take awhile, not just because it's popular but also because it's located in Paris' courthouse complex, meaning an extra layer of security on the way in.

Good luck with your sleep plans on the flight. You're obviously doing all you can, hopefully you'll have success. If not, the adrenalin from arriving in Paris should power you through most or all of that first day.

What is the hammock thingie that works with the tray table? Inquiring insomniac minds want to know! ;-)

It's for us folks with short legs - usually I have incredible leg fatigue/pain from sitting up all night on the flight without anywhere to put my feet.

Kim one great amenity of premium economy is there are footrests.

https://www.amazon.com/Airplane-Footrest-Adjustable-Accessories-Footrests/dp/B07Z6KV4DC/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?crid=2KBUF8TVJFY04&keywords=airplane+foot+rest&qid=1663014787&sprefix=airplane+foot+rest%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-4-spons&psc=1&smid=A2Y5SRF15JGWQN&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExOFpWWEROME40TTdIJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjQzNzQ4MVM4NlJJOUk2TTRXJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3OTM3MDkyTE40UjdHNEtVRE4yJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

If that link doesn't work look up airplane foot rest on amazon. My husband made fun of me fore getting it but I think it will help. LOL!

I'm glad you've taken so much into consideration already. Very well done.

RS walks always take me longer than they say - there's so much to look at along the way :-) It's a very good idea to print out the maps for the walks ahead of time. Sometimes the audio directions can be unclear.

The best way to see Sainte-Chapelle is to go to an evening concert. Arrive early and you'll have time to walk around and admire (and take photos) of some of the stained glass, then look at the rest while listening to the music. It's usually light classical, often Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

One of the best things to do in a Seine cruise, my favorite is this one from Pont Neuf (near Sainte-Chapelle). The best time is around sunset, so you start in daylight, then watch as the lights go on and see the Eiffel Tower lit up.

Angelina is a tradition, especially for hot chocolate. Here's the menu. You should probably make a reservation. Their pastries are delicious. Unless you are really hungry, hot chocolate each and splitting a pastry is very filling.

I think you have WAAAAY to much planned for your arrival day, but you can just play it by ear and put things off for another day if you can't do them then.

When we visited the Conciergerie in May, there was no line.

The rest of your itinerary sounds good. Have fun!