What is the shortest trip you would take to Paris?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

DP but I don't understand what the issue is. You are coming home and getting hours back because of time change. You don't need a red eye. Just take the afternoon direct flight, get in around dinner time, eat dinner and go to bed early since you will be tired. Paris is not enough of a time difference to require any other approach. I like the red eye on the way over because it allows me to get a full day there when I arrive and not lose an entire day to travel. I like the 6:45 Air France out of Dulles -- they do a quick dinner service and keep the cabin lights low, I never have trouble falling asleep early and can get 4-5 hours, and then you get into CDG just after 8, can drop of luggage and spend a day doing low key activities like museum/cafe/parks, then catch a quick nap before dinner. Very little jet lag this way. Coming home is even easier.

I don't understand why people are having trouble with this. It's among the easier international flights to take in terms of time change and jet lag. We're not talking about going to Australia or India or something.

The issue wasn't with the afternoon return flight- I agree, it's a simple thing, and I have done it a few times with zero issues. The issue is with the post that suggested this schedule:

"Overnight Friday
Saturday all day
Sunday day
Overnight Sunday
Back to work on Monday"

Which would max allow you time in the city from say 8 AM Saturday (if you take the early red eye from Dulles, which is tough to sleep on because it leaves around 6 PM) through 2 PM Sunday (to get to the 5 PM later flight back), so a total of 30 hours in the city. Seems...not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think PP’s suggestions are doable, but flying at least in Business class will make all the difference. It’s also important to have reasonable expectations. A short trip allows time for a quick taxi tour around the sights, or even a bateau mouche, but you’re not going to be walking all over town. You don’t have to deprive yourself; there’s still time for the Cafe de Flore or even Taillevent, but you have to set priorities.

We lived there, so don’t feel compelled to do every tourist thing. Since we’ve only done longer trips to Europe, we are more weighing if a few days is worth it or would we be frustrated. (Leaning towards worth it, especially since we don’t often have jet lag issues).

I did a weekend once for a family event. Required stamina, but fun. I’ve done overnights in Paris on the way to somewhere else and even one day/night was enough that I’d do it again in an instant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like weekend runs to paris

How many nights total (including the overnight to Europe)?

3 nights including travel
Overnight Friday
Saturday all day
Sunday day
Overnight Sunday
Back to work on Monday

Sounds like a nightmare, sorry.

Its a trip for the young.

[Anonymous]

Probably 5 days (assuming you land the morning of day one. That is always a bit of a lost day).

[Anonymous]

Also, the jet lag is totally overrated for a city with tons of night life like Paris. Just stay on American time. Sleep in until late morning, then explore the museums all afternoon, then have dinner and party until early morning. No problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Paris years ago, but have not been back in maybe 15 years. We are currently living on the east coast, and have a milestone event coming up (but also limited time off). What is the minimum amount of time for a trip to Paris to make it worthwhile (include day of departure and day of return travel)? When we go to Europe, we typically go for at least ten days (but don’t have that much time off this year). On the day we land, we try to keep moving, have an early dinner, and go to bed. We usually adapt, and have no problem getting up and out the next morning. How short is too short?

I never go less than a month. Not worth it.

What a stupid response. Even if it were true for you (side eyes), we are NOT talking about you!

[Anonymous]

We went in April for a total of five nights and had a nice leisurely time. Probably could've cut a day to make it four nights and not feel like it was too short. The first day for us is usually lost on international flights as my spouse doesn't sleep well on planes and need time to adjust to jetlag but if we were better at adjusting I might be able to shave off a day. Still think four nights is probably the ideal amount for a short trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Paris years ago, but have not been back in maybe 15 years. We are currently living on the east coast, and have a milestone event coming up (but also limited time off). What is the minimum amount of time for a trip to Paris to make it worthwhile (include day of departure and day of return travel)? When we go to Europe, we typically go for at least ten days (but don’t have that much time off this year). On the day we land, we try to keep moving, have an early dinner, and go to bed. We usually adapt, and have no problem getting up and out the next morning. How short is too short?

I never go less than a month. Not worth it.

What a stupid response. Even if it were true for you (side eyes), we are NOT talking about you!

I didn't write this but it clearly was posted as sarcasm.

[Anonymous]

I've done long weekends in western Europe a few times. Fly Thursday night (after a full day of work), leave Monday or Tuesday day. Tuesday is better, but Monday gives you two full days and a "recovery" day. I can work remotely so I've even worked some hours on that return flight to take off as little work time as possible.

Not ideal, but certainly fine. I would absolutely only do it if the flights were cheap and nonstop.

[Anonymous]

I did 6 nights in Paris last year and I'd totally go back for a long weekend. The flight sucks but it's worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're French living in DC and usually go for at least 10 days, as you say, to get over jet lag. But for funerals, etc, we've had to make do with shorter visits, and those are always brutal no matter what. I suggest taking as much time as you can afford.

You’re so funny! Jet lag. IAD to CDG is about 7 1/2hrs and only a 6 hour TZ difference. Jet lag doesn’t start until you are traveling on a 12+ hr flight. You sound like a European soccer player. Oh my knee, my knee.

[Anonymous]

5 days total: 2 to travel, 3 to be in the city . No less because it’s not enough time there to justify the travel time and jet lag otherwise

[Anonymous]

We have done Paris a few time for 2-3 nights. More often we do Nice/Cannes for 3 nights.

Early 40's.

Going to Paris for 10 days in March and 3 days in April.

[Anonymous]

One day per one hour of travel. So if it takes five hours to fly to CDG, then five days in Paris.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Paris years ago, but have not been back in maybe 15 years. We are currently living on the east coast, and have a milestone event coming up (but also limited time off). What is the minimum amount of time for a trip to Paris to make it worthwhile (include day of departure and day of return travel)? When we go to Europe, we typically go for at least ten days (but don’t have that much time off this year). On the day we land, we try to keep moving, have an early dinner, and go to bed. We usually adapt, and have no problem getting up and out the next morning. How short is too short?

I never go less than a month. Not worth it.

What a stupid response. Even if it were true for you (side eyes), we are NOT talking about you!

I didn't write this but it clearly was posted as sarcasm.

Indeed