July 10-24. Starting in London and ending in Paris. Appreciate suggestions for splitting time, lodging, and anything else. It will be husband and I, son (27) and daughter(16). We've previously used Priceline with success in London and stayed in the 5th in Paris. Those trips were just husband and I. Would like to keep lodging under $250 per night if possible. Considering using London walks for a side trip to Stonehenge. Want a day trip to mont st. Michel not sure if we should go on our own or a tour. Daughter would love suggestions for unique shopping. Thanks
Posted by
Land of La
9202 posts
Leaving London a couple of days before the Olympics, good move. Rent apartments. Vrbo is a great website to review. Or use Priceline again. Got the Marriot in Regent's Park for $90 last trip. Room was great. 2 dbl beds, flat screen TV, large bathroom. Was pleasantly surprised. Easy tube access. Fun cafe in the adjacent public library. Lovely walk to Regent's Park. London Walks are stellar. Great day trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury. Unique shopping? In London, Carnaby Street, Camden Lock Market, Brick Lane, Bond Street and Oxford Street. For Paris buy Timeout Paris when you arrive to discover what's hip and new.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
With a week or so each on two of the great cities of the world, you will not run to of worthwhile things to see and do. So best advice is for all of you to dig into some guidebooks and learn what activities will make the trip as fabulous as possible for you. I personally doubt that those day trips to MSM are a good use of time, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Still, consider if another day trip (Charters? Fontenay Abbey?) might not scratch that itch better.
Posted by
Mission Viejo, Calif., USA
1010 posts
We took a Gray Line bus tour out to Mont St. Michel in 2010. It was such a boring ride out there and back. There isn't much to see inside of the Mont. It is a long ride. It isn't pretty inside at all. We were there in June and it was hot as you know where. It is quite a long hike up inside of the Mont too. The photos look way better than it actually is. The tide was out, so it was really dry around the Mont. We looked so forward to going all the way out there, but wished we had saved our money. When you leave the Mont, you go down a tiny walking street with all the tacky stores. It is quite the tourist trap. There isn't anything to do there either. We had to sit in an non air-conditioned, tacky store to wait for our tour to leave to go back to Paris.