paris in november

I sympathize with your stomach issues but it would be good if you didn't let that stop you from seeing the world, even in November. The weather couldn't be any worse than Columbus, Ohio and you can dress for that with leather shoes (or whatever keeps you dry) and whatever you wear at home to keep warm and dry. If you're like many people who just go from covered parking into a dry area, rethink your wardrobe a little. Get a waterproof jacket, bring a hat and gloves and a scarf and layer dress from the inside out. You just have to be a little more careful about planning your time in Paris - make a schedule, check out the places you want to visit on the internet and check for restrooms there. Parisians have to go, too. Squash a small or half-used roll of toilet paper flat and keep it on you, in case you run into restrooms without. With any luck, you may even have decent weather, albeit not warm. Europe had a hot spring and mostly pretty miserable summer with a nice day here and there, so it's hard to predict what will happen in late November. Paris is beautiful, don't cheat yourself and be afraid. You could always go to the Caribbean if you need a sun fix and save Europe for another time. I would not - and I'd bet when you come back you'll be glad you gave yourself this experience.

Oh no! Don't skip Paris! We go to Paris every year in the sort of Thanksgiving-to-Christmas time frame, and we love it. Yes, it can be rainy and chilly - but that just makes the sun, when it peeps out (and it does!) that more glorious. (Caveat emptor: I live in Seattle, and I don't like heat. Adjust your perceptions accordingly.) Specifics about the weather can be found via the cool weather finder link on this site (in the FAQs), and here: http://goparis.about.com/od/events/a/ParisNovember.htm The tourists have mainly fled in November - although there's an influx closer to Christmas - and you get a feeling (almost) of being a Parisian! I just love it. If you are in Paris late enough in November, you'll be in time for the beginning of "les fetes" - or, "les illuminations de Paris" - a giant street fest of lights and stalls with gifts and mulled wine and rides and tons of food. It is MARVELLOUS. And there are restrooms at frequent intervals along the Champs Elysses when the stalls are up - clean, and only .50 Euro. (You might not be in time, but if you are, check it out.) Which brings me to restrooms. Bear in mind that museums have great, clean restrooms. Cafes have restrooms. Most of "les grands magasins" (Au Printemps, les Galleries Lafayettes) have FREE clean restrooms. There are JC Decaux kiosk-style restrooms on bigger streets. I recall it being a Euro to get in, but I hear some are free. Haven't used one of those. Finally, Slow Travel has an EXHAUSTIVE treatise on Parisian restrooms, here: http://www.slowtrav.com/france/paris/rl_restrooms.htm

I have been to Paris a couple of times in late November and it was damp, sometimes a bit rainy, definitely cool, but a million times better than November in Montreal! This year I will be in Paris in December, and can't wait.

hey thanks all for your reply; i think this got me more excited to go and will deal with the rest room issue when the need to go happens . question on Kira's advise about les illuminations de Paris: is there a website for this? thanks!

I was in Paris for 2 days in November 2010 and definitely found it to be a bit blustery... I'd pack mittens and a scarf in addition to a good warm jacket.

Blustery is a good way to describe how it can be. As long as you're prepared for cold (and the possibility of a damp/wet cold), you shouldn't have a huge problem walking around. Just know that you might spend more on metro and bus tickets than if you were there in warmer weather. As for the bathrooms - Bathrooms can be located in Paris, and we've never had a problem. We manage by always using the restrooms when they are available. However, if your problem is that you will need to find a restroom urgently at times, this could be a concern. You may need to tether yourself to places that have restrooms available close by. You can't just always duck in to a restaurant and use their bathroom. I think you should still go, you just might have to be hyper-conscious of where the bathrooms are.

@ Jonathan: I just googled "Paris les illuminations de Noel 2011" - and got a bunch of hits. Most of them, predictably, in French. According to www.tout-paris.org the 2010 Champs Elysses lights/festival began November 22nd at 6:00pm. Which doesn't really help for 2011, except to indicate that they'll (hopefully) be up prior to Thanksgiving! Here's a site in English with some good description: http://www.travelsignposts.com/France/sightseeing/christmas-in-paris

Easy access to toilets is one of the reasons I always buy a museum pass.

hello, thank you all again for replying: additional follow up to the weather: -the rain itself: you talking about it misting, or drizzle, steady, or heavy rain? And in your honest opinion, would you skip paris on November and go somewhere warmer/dryer in europe like Spain or Rome? Thanks

In my honest opinion, I would NOT skip Paris. But then, I don't travel for the weather. And Paris is my favorite city in the world, hands down. Others - those who like to travel to a warmer, sunnier climate in fall and winter because of the sunnier-ness - will feel differently. So I would say you should ask yourself what your priority is. If you want sunny beachy weather, then yes, save Paris for spring or summer. In my experience, the rain in November is more of a patchy drizzle. I suppose there might be a downpour from time to time, but in the last 10 years of being in Paris in November/December, I do not recall a real drenching rain. We got caught by a GIANT downpour one day in April of 2009... but that was actually kind of fun. I now quote from discoverfrance.net: "Spring, from March to May, is the driest season. Rainfall is distributed fairly evenly throughout the other seasons. Average annual precipitation is 607-641 mm (24-25 inches). The most rainfall recorded in a single day was on 24 August 1987: 95.7 mm (3.77 in). Paris is known for its frequent showers, which tend to pass just as quickly as they arrive. It is not unusual to witness bright sunshine one moment, then a quick shower followed by a return to sunshine -- all within the course of a few minutes' time. For instance, there are about 171 days a year with precipitation of over 0.1 mm (0.004 in.), yet only 16 days with more than 10 mm (0.4 in.). Thus, it is practical to carry a small umbrella with you in all seasons."