"Caution....this is pretty long with detail and chatter, so if this bothers you it's better to move on to the next thread!"
Due to various outside factors a tour did not work out for me this spring so I decided to go to Paris for 3 weeks and have a āstaycationā, hahaha! It is a mystery to me as to why I love Paris so much! I am SO not a big city gal but something about Paris just resonates with me. Part of it is that I stay in a fairly quiet area and I generally know where to go to get away from throngs, including a few areas in the Louvre where there are few people!
I first visited Paris in 1973 and was not terribly comfortable but it was my first trip abroad. I also visited in 1974 and 1976 and just didnāt like it. I finally went back in 2014 on the RS 21 day Best of Europe tour and followed that with Rickās Best of Paris tour. That sealed the deal. Both Dimitri and Rolinka, my guides, helped me understand Paris and how to get around efficiently.
Flights: I am a Delta flyer so flew Spokane->Seattle->CDG and CDG->SLC->Spokane. I got an unbelievable deal on the RT ticket. In fact I wasnāt even planning to buy the day I looked but the price was $793 RT Comfort Plus from Spokane and that never happens. Over time and by checking the Delta website every. single. day. my persistence was rewarded and I was able to buy up to Delta One on the international legs and use miles for the Spokane to SEA leg. I went Comfort Plus for the last leg home as it was never a reasonable buy up either with money or miles. All flights were on time (or early) and completely full.
EES Entry/Exit at CDG: In another thread I think the general consensus is that the EES entry system is consistently inconsistent at CDG. Coming in, I landed about 13:07 (early), deplaned about 13:17. We landed at an M gate at terminal 2E so you have to take the shuttle train to the K gates where the international arrivals hall is. There was no one in the area but our plane (they might have been finishing processing another batch just ahead of us). I went thru the Sky Priority lane and was directed to the EES kiosk where I had a picture taken, fingerprints done (this took about 5 times because ā¦.wellā¦.old lady fingers!!), asked about 5 questions (including do you have enough money to cover your stay and do you have health insurance) and was then channeled into a line to see a border control agent. She looked at my passport then seemed to be waiting for the computer to update with what Iād input 50 feet away, lol, and sent me on my way (no stamp). I was out to the curb and in a taxi by 13:55. On leaving, I also went thru the Sky Priority/Delta One lane which is down a side corridor. There was no one ahead of me. The EES kiosks were closed with big red Xās. The staff member sent me to an egate where I was quickly processed and on my way without speaking to an agent. There were big signs out at Security saying not to take out liquids or electronics.
Hotels: With a 20 night stay I usually split between 2 hotels. I stay at Hotel Muguet and Hotel Relais Bosquet. At Relais Bosquet I usually pop for the extra 35E per night for an ET view room. Both hotels have people on the front desk 24/7 and look at whoever is entering the building which makes me feel pretty safe. Each hotel has its advantages. Muguet - wonderful linens, super towel heaters that will dry anything you hand wash!, fabulous Sergio on the front desk and is women-owned. Relais Bosquet - closer to the ET so you can watch it sparkle from your room, better breakfast, bigger room, small fridge. Both are near dozens of good places to eat. They are not used exclusively by Americans as the ladies checking into Muguet ahead of me were from Mali and the couple ahead of me at Relais Bosquet were from Ukraine.
Continued....