We would like to take our 18 year old granddaughter to Paris. We have been there once, and she has never been there. She loves museums and fashion and music. The only dates we are all free are July 26 until about August 8. We'd want to spend 4-5 days there. Is that a terrible time to be in Paris---tourists, weather, etc.? Any suggestions of place to stay?
Posted by
Chicago
8166 posts
It is only a terrible time if you don't like hot weather.
I would lodge away from the city center probably because I have been to Paris 8 times and it is quieter less expensive safe in the 20th arrondissement at the Naudad Hotel or Ibis Pere La Chaise and both have air conditioning
You should give more detail specifying what kind of lodging you are looking for price wise otherwise you get a lot of responses that don't fit your needs.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
No way would I stay out of the center for such a short visit.. its easy to find a hotel in a central area with air conditioning.. and I have always done so for last few decades! IF..( and only if.. as it is not always roasting hot) if it is hot and you want a break from the heat by returning to hotel, staying central makes it much easier to pop in for a late afternoon rest before going out for dinner etc.
I have been visiting Paris since the 70s.. and while mostly in july or august, I have also been there in May, June, September and October.
Crowds in june and September seem about the same to me personally . Sometimes hotels have discounted rates from mid july through August ( business travel is down, but tourists can fill in those gaps) .
I see no issue with a summer visit.. there are a few advantages. As I said, possible lower hotel rates ( often lower that June or September) . I like the long daylight hours. And , its nice to visit the Paris Plage on a warm summer evening( fake beach set up on banks of Seine from mid july to about mid -late August) .. there are street musicans,, people picnicking, and a concession to buy a nice cold hard cider or beer!
The main downside for me with summer visits is the heat.. I really don't handle it well.. but I have also been there when it was not hot, and one august visit was cool and rainy.. so one cant assume it will be too hot all the time.
There may be some restaurant closures in August.. but its usually not the whole month nowadays,, and its usually smaller family run places.. and there are always another thousand or so restaurants open anyways..so unless you know of a favorite then don't worry, the closures don't affect most tourists in the least.
Posted by
Paris
10203 posts
Yes, precisely because you'd be there at a time when there are relatively fewer tourists in the city, you can probably stay closer in for less money. just be sure to book a hotel with a/c. No reason to stay out in the 20th (the 20th is fine, I used to live there, but if I were coming for a few days in July/August, I'd stay closer "in").
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Glad to hear that she likes museums. Most are well climate-controlled, particularly for paintings.