Seeking input from past participants of Paris and the Heart of France

I took this tour a few years ago. It was 6 months after my knee replacement and I had no problems. I was even able to walk up the hill in Mont St. Michel to visit the abbey at the top. I recall that visit was the most challenging for walking.

Stephen, this was our second RS tour, in 2015. We loved every minute of it. It was fast paced, but not overwhelmingly active or tiring. The bus rides are not too long. Do take and use your guidebook to help orient yourselves and to plan your free time. The basic language skills (Bonjour, merci, etc.) were very helpful during the trip as we were encouraged to interact with locals everywhere. We took the RER from the airport, but I would take a taxi to make it easier. CDG was as bad as its reputation.

One thing we agreed on was that it only gives an introduction to Paris. You dont spend nearly enough time there, and the tour doesn't include some of the things you might consider important like Versailles or the Eiffel Tower. So my suggestions would be to plan on a few extra days before or after, or both to enjoy more of Paris. I think after would be better, as you'll feel confident and experienced.

I took this tour several years ago and loved it. We came three days early to get over jet lag and spend time in Paris doing the things not listed on the itinerary. We got the museum pass and spent a couple of intense days plus we took a day trip to Versailles. We mainly walked from site to site - which helped on the jet lag by giving some valuable sunlight. Then the tour was great. I've done twelve trips now and this one is easily in the top four. And you'll probably find a lot of well over 65's on the tour!

I, too have done this tour and it was wonderful! I loved the smaller towns and variety of sights - medieval to DDay to gardens to Paris!

I agree also it barely scratches the surface for Paris. I always recommend arriving one -2 days early in case of travel hiccups and on this one, staying after for as long as you can manage. By then you'll have a good handle on Paris and will feel very comfortable getting around on the Metro if you don't live somewhere where you routinely use public transport.

I actually did this tour back to back with Best of England which turned out to be a wonderful combo. Best of England ends in London where I stayed an extra day or so and then took the Eurostar to Paris. Not only is travel easy but the cultures are very different, food is different, sights are different. Just awesome!

Here is a link to my trip report. Although it was 2015 the itinerary has not changed and most of the information is still useful.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/trip-tour-report-for-best-of-england-paris-hof

Hi Pam: Just read your excellent trip report for both tours; thanks for sharing it! I always enjoy reading your comments and just noticed you had reached the 10K-post milestone; congrats!!!

I enjoyed this tour four years ago--and now I'm headed to the Best of Paris tour this fall to soak up more of that wonderful city. If you are healthy and fit, you'll be fine. At Mont St. Michel, get up early for the dawn service. I'll never forget it or spending the night on the island. If Dale Booth does the Normandy tour, you're in luck. Have fun!

Definitely get up early for the service at Mont St Michael.

@Mindfulness - thank you so much for the kind words! These 2 tours were wonderful!

I took this tour several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Every stop on the tour was enjoyable for me, no exaggeration. I didn't expect to enjoy Paris as much as I did; the experience drew me back to Paris several times since. There is so much to see and do, I suggest, as other posters above have: arrive one day early (especially with air travel delays, etc. these days) and book several days after the tour is over to enjoy Paris on your own. Read what you can about the places covered and view the videos. There is a ton of information packed into this website. Make a list of places you would like to visit and restaurants you may wish to dine in, with addresses and days/hours of operation and take it with you so you'll already have choices of what to do on your free time before, during, and after the tour. If you're tired, you can always order a coffee or glass of wine at an outdoor café and watch the world go by.
The Métro is very convenient and easy to use (your tour guide will show you how, but it's a good idea to view a YouTube video before you go).
NOTE: As this will be your first trip to Europe, read the Tourist Scams and Travel Tips sections or view the video on this website. Pickpockets, distractors, and other scammers will be in the public transit systems and at tourist sites looking for money and valuables, especially in Paris. Don't let them ruin your trip. Be prepared and you will enjoy your visit.

Hi atkinsonsd,
I did this trip in 2019 and loved it. There are quite a few people your age on this tour so I wouldn't worry about the physical demands. Sounds like you both will be fine.
There are some great suggestions here, and I agree that arriving a few days early will help. They're right about not getting to see enough of Paris on this trip, but it is a nice taste of Paris. You might also consider doing the Rick Steves Best of Paris 7-day tour following your Heart of France tour. That way, you would get many of the top attractions knocked out on one trip.
But, as Ric says, know that you will most likely return one way, so there's always next time to see more of Paris, and that would give you something to look forward to.
If you can check out Rick's videos on Paris and France in general, that would be helpful. He has a lot of practical advice both in his guidebooks and in his YouTube vids. The packing and security vids are important to set you up for success on your trip there, especially if it is your first time in Europe. Doing your research ahead of time will save you major headaches when you're over there.
Hope this is helpful, and hope you enjoy your trip!
Happy travels.
MC