Paris or London trip?

[Anonymous]

My husband and I have decided to try for a trip to either London or Paris in January. We know the weather is not ideal, but we plan to take advantage of that with the reduced prices. I'll be 26 weeks pregnant at the time, so we'll moderate our activities a bit, which means location is really important. Neither of us have been to London, and I haven't been to Paris since I was a teenager (my husband has never been).

So question for all the well-traveled among us:
1) Should we prefer one location over the other?
2) If so, where should we stay?
3) Any other tips for planning this vacation?

[Anonymous]

We . . . like you enjoy traveling to interesting places. We have friends who travel to Disneyland and the Caribbean for their vacations. They are just about the dullest most dim witted people in the world. When we ask them what they did on vacation they kind of blank out and say something to the effect of "Oh . . . we went in the water or we drank a lot of pina coladas, or we went on a lot of rides, but the kids were afraid of Mickey Mouse. Why would anyone go to any of these dopey places more than once?

When we travel, we try to go to places we have not been to yet. I'd like to go back to Paris, because there is so much there and I know we didn't see it all. So I know how you feel about wanting to visit Paris again. But, at least at this moment you have had a Paris experience and you have visual memory of The City of Lights.

However, if you've never been to London, that would be my bet, because it will provide you with a second and entirely different and equally enriching experience.

Good luck, bon voyage, and have fun

[Anonymous]

I'd go to London as I think London is a better place to visit in winter. Some of the fun of Paris is the outdoor aspect, which would be less fun in winter. The other factor would be the food and wine - London's got some pretty great food now but I'd really hate to go to Paris and not be able to eat and drink everything.

[Anonymous]

Are you art lovers? Find out what's showing at the museums during that time. Obviously for art one would first think of Paris but the Tate, the National Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert museum are all excellent. The other thing (as a PP noted) is that Paris in January is dark and cold... it's so much more beautiful and enjoyable in the spring. London can have inclement weather all year so that's not so much a factor.

[Anonymous]

I'd take Paris in a heartbeat. If you haven't been since you were a teenager, things will be so much different for you now. I felt like London was more like NYC and that Paris was something altogether different. Plus, the breakfasts in Paris are the best ever. Sleep in and roll down to your local cafe and get the standard croissant/french bread/coffee, there is at least one or two cafes on every block. I would do that every single morning! (Hey, aren't you allowed one cup of coffee a day when you are pregnant? The cups there are very small, too.)

[Anonymous]

I prefer Paris. I'm not an Anglophile with their food and sour personalities (which has been my experience with most Brits).

[Anonymous]

The food in London is now excellent, from world-class restaurants to gastropubs or ethnic food. You might need to do a bit more planning ahead, but you can eat as well there as you can in Paris, and certainly there is more variety.

As for sour personalities, I think both the English and French are similar in that they have a good sense of humor but tend to be more reserved than Americans.

[Anonymous]

Why not do both? You can get the Eurostar (it only takes 3 hours) and do a couple of days in each place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I prefer Paris. I'm not an Anglophile with their food and sour personalities (which has been my experience with most Brits).

[Anonymous]

I would not do both, who needs the shlepping especially when you're pregnant. You can't go wrong with either, but I might lean towards London, because neither of you has been there.

[Anonymous]

It is funny, I think the general consensus seems to be Paris. I'll keep doing my research. Thanks all!

[Anonymous]

Another consideration is that at 26 weeks pregnant your feet might get a bit sore. In which case it might be nice to relax in the afternoons and go and see a film or a show. In that case, London would be the best place to go, unless of course you speak fluent French.

[Anonymous]

Are you definite on going to London or Paris? Rome or Venice might be nice too (and then there's Spain....)

[Anonymous]

For how long are you going? If you're going for five days, pick one place. I think you can't go wrong with either. I love both for differenet reasons. One option is to pack as light as you can and yes, just take the train between the two. It's very doable. Even if you don't pack light, here's an option, one I've done a few times. Pick your preferred city and make that the main destination. Let's say you're going for 7 days. Spend 3 days in London, and early the morning of the 4th, take the train to Paris. Spend days 4 and 5 in Paris, return late on day 5 to London. Come back to the same hotel you started with in London. Without paying for the nights you're away, the hotel will gladly store your luggage in the luggage room for the 2 days you're away and youc an just take an overnight bag to Paris. I wouldn't push it while pregnant, but you could even do a day trip with the train. Of course, if you went to London or Paris, there are plenty of doable day trips within each country such that you don't need to cross the Channel for diversion.

[Anonymous]

London is super easy to get to (shorter flights - direct access from airport into the city) and get around. I went there 2 years ago for a 4 day getaway with my husband. I would not go to both! It will dilute the trip. I've been to paris 4 times in my life and i think it gets better with every trip. Paris is harder to acclimate to because of the culture and language differences. Because your husband hasn't been to paris before I would think london would be better.

Do the tate musuem and that carousel thinkee in the thames! food was great although everything was super expensive.