Are we mad to book Paris for a holiday next week ?

It's fine. We had a few days of heat but it's going to be low twenties for the next ten days or so. Getting in from Beauvais is going to take a little while. Book for anything you want to see - Tour Eiffel, Le Louvre. Alternately, go to the Arc de Triomphe which is free, from which you can see the Grand Arche at La Défense at one end of the axis, and Tuileries and the Louvre at the other.
Walk down rue Mouffetard in the 5th. Walk around the small streets in the Marais.
Paris is not a dump. Rouen is also lovely, as is Caen.

I think with the run up to the Olympics, many things have been blocked off. It might be better choosing another city if you want to go on a break now and choose Paris as a later date, probably after Olympics as I think it will be a bit chaotic. One city (weather may be like ours though) that could be fun is Copenhagen and similar prices to Paris. Possibly an Italian or Spanish city with great architecture could be an option.

Le Monde had a story this week saying that there were far fewer tourists in Paris than usual - presumably because everyone thinks it’s going to be super busy and chaotic so is staying away. So I’d say go for it!

Ignore the naysayers.

Go. Have fun.

Personally I wouldn’t bother with the Tower but head for D’Orsay and the Orangerie.

We stayed at a lovely hotel opposite the station which was very handy as we on the Eurostar. The walk to the centre is ok, about 20 mins but when we do city breaks we like to walk. The tour buses also go from near the station station so we booked 48 hours tickets for that. You will have a great time, it is an amazing city.

Go for it! I dream of doing last minute trips like this but can never quite pluck up the courage to be spontaneous enough! It will be busy but capital cities always are and I'm guessing that with the Olympics a few weeks ago, they've done a big clean up effort. We stayed in an ibis near Gare du Nord last time we were there, only for one night and although the hotel was fine, the area outside felt a bit seedy so there might be better alternatives. Enjoy!

Go to Rouen instead it's nearer and you don't have to worry about the Olympics 😁

Don’t stay anywhere near the big stations.

apart from that, have a great time. I have been many times for work and travel. Definitely worth seeing. Be a bit cautious, particularly withdrawing cash.

if you can’t find a cute hotel with space, there are a few Ibis in useful locations.

If you’ve missed tickets for going up the tower, don’t worry you’re missing nothing. Have dinner or drinks at cafe Kleber or one of the other restaurants at Trocadero and look at the tower from the clear view over the river and park- it’s much nicer. (If your daughter might like the Dior Museum- definitely book - it’s very close to Trocadero). Then book to climb the Arc de Triomphe instead for the view.

This hotel is very central and seems to have last minute offers. Not the most stylish but excellent position and will allow you to do a lot on foot. I think sometimes last-minute holidays are the best. Have fun!

http://www.perreyve-hotel-paris-luxembourg.com/en/special-offer-hotel-paris/i/offre-speciale/special-lastminute-offer.html

I wouldn't.
There's the first round of the elections, that might not be pretty and there will be some spontaneous protests for sure.
Ok if you want to experience the real parisian life, not so good if you want to relax and do some sightseeing.

Literally got back today. Paris is stunning, it's sparkling clean right now and beautiful :)
Expensive but no more so than London. Book the Louvre - that was very busy. The Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower are amazing to see.
Have a wonderful time.

Paris is a dump. And sooo expensive.

So many better places to go, that won't cost you an arm and a leg : Krakow, Prague, Spain, Venice.

Look for hotels near Marais or St Germain. From there you can walk uk lots of great places.

The two weeks before the opening ceremony much of the area around the route of the opening ceremony (which takes in many of the big sights) is closed off. You are not able to enter these areas without a permit because you live there or have appointment there etc. Maps are available online that show the closed off areas. I think if it is next week you will just about miss these fully closed off areas, but much of the staging and barriers are already built. My central Parisian family have been complaining a lot the last couple of weeks about the inconvenience, even though they are looking forward to the Olympics themselves.

All the seating is up around Place de Concorde and the Eiffel tower, and lots of routes are closed. I really wouldn't go if it's your first time because you will miss so much. It's like going to London and not being able to get near Buckingham Palace

We've stayed around Gare du Nord and the Opera house, but the best place we stayed was Montparnasse. It's a bit further out, but cheaper and transport is easy. Nice restaurants and relatively quiet too.

I imagine flights are cheap because Beauvais is as far from Paris as Dover is from London (my Dad used to drive to Beauvais regularly).

That said, if you can find a decent deal I'd say go for it. The Olympics doesn't start yet, and it was great in London in the run up to them in 2012. Bit of an extra buzz in the air.

Try to book now for any attractions you want to visit, otherwise you’ll have to queue for them all.

@TakeOnFlea ha ha indeed. Paris has very similar weather to the South Eastof England (unsurprising seeing as it is only a couple of hundred miles away). Next week it is forecast to be low 20s with some rain.

That said, I did walk across Paris a couple of years ago in mid July in 36 degree heat - it was vile.

I loved living in London during the Olympics. Such a good atmosphere, all the volunteers in central London and it just felt positive. Paris might be the same.

"I'd go later in the year - Paris, like many cities, is horrible in the heat."

What heat?!

Remember with some iconic locations they can be best appreciated with a bit of distance. The best view in Paris is from Tour Montparnasse because it includes the Eiffel Tower. The second best view is from the rooftop terrace of Institut du Monde Arabe (free, but you do have to pass through security).

Wear comfy shoes.

I was going to say, the hotels near the Gare de Nord are usually not amazing, and the area is not the best. Having said that I've stayed there many times and never got bitten or mugged.

I would go to Paris and not think twice about it, the Olympics won't even be on yet. And I remember when they were on in London we were told the whole city would be chaos but in fact it was absolutely fine.

i've stayed in a hostel right by gare du nord many times as a solo female. completely comfortable walking the streets at night. the area is absolutely fine if you're streetwise. if you've ever walked around any uk city at night you'll be fine in that area.

also a super convenient area for transport links, it's not next door to the tower but it's not a hardship to get there on the metro- very easily navigable