Heatwave - dreading holiday in Paris next week

[HotGrapefruit]

DH and I are booked to go to Paris next week. The average highs in June are around 23 degrees, which is about the max I can handle. But the forecast is up to 40 every day. This wasn't what we were expecting at all.

I'm dreading it. The metro doesn't have aircon and neither do any of the places I've booked to eat (I've now cancelled them all). We had an assortment of walking routes planned, but none are going to be realistic.

We've spent a fortune on a lovely hotel room and Eurostar travel, so I can't bear to cancel the whole thing.

Does anyone have advice or reassurance or am I just going to absolutely hate it?!

Yeah we are on for being 15 degrees higher than usual next week.

I was in the coolest place on our property earlier, our old barn, and even that was too hot. I can do 20 mins of stuff then have to go lie down in a dark room for 30.

I think you did the right thing. Now im going for my 4th lie down of the day.

I live here too and I agree

You can always buy hats with fans built into them. I hear they work a treat. Make sure you have a cooling spray, cold towels for the neck, arm guards to protect your arms from the heat and a large gallon bottle of water with you at all times. Always make sure you have your phone charged and ready in case you need to contact emergency services due to heat exhaustion. If you are a menopausal or a post menopausal woman, call in sick to work and lie in bed applying cold compresses to your forehead regularly. This is what women do in hot countries. Meanwhile the rest of us will just get on with life.

It’so boring isn’t it? Then again Îm counting myself lucky that I can work from home and no one in my family works outside or has to travel far. I feel so sorry for all the delivery drivers restaurant workers medical staff etc.

@Roonan

"Always make sure you have your phone charged and ready in case you need to contact emergency services due to heat exhaustion"

Worthy considerations for a holiday, sure enough 🥵 🤡

FWIW we spent a pretty miserable week in Paris during a heatwave in 2022. We couldn’t enjoy anything because it was too hot, we were planning stuff around using RER trains just because they had air conditioning. My DDs just gave up and retreated to the lovely air conditioned hotel bedroom for about three days straight. What larks. Not. I think you’ve done the right thing OP.

FWIW just got through Gard du Nord. It was very hot and stuffy but pretty efficient and the queues were not too bad

Sounds like a wise choice all in all OP.

Given the current cancellations and general rethinking, I would contactyour hotel @HotGrapefruit because they may be a bit more amenable to re-booking later in the year. Or a partial refund. Worth a try.

We are off to Arizona in a few weeks, guaranteed hot sunny weather, up to 48c last time we visited, love it but each to their own 😅

TBF though as I recall it Arizona's heat is a very dry heat and they're generally set up for it with really good AC so there's an escape.

Have to say we're fortunate lucky enough to be just outside the French red zone right now (we are orange) and even in a solidly built house, no A/C, it's not great...can't imagine what Paris is going to be like over the next few days.

Not really comparable to Paris, though. Very different climates and infrastructure and I think one can assume you've not planned your trip around spending entire days on your feet, exploring the cultural riches of Phoenix?

Definitely try and change your Eurostar tickets maybe to October? You can change for free if the price is less. I’ve done this. Also Paris is that temp is horrible, you may be able to change the hotels dates if you ring

Do what they do on the Med. Get up at 7 and visit stuff. Lunch at 12 outside in the shade. Drink a litre of water each with lunch. Siesta from 13.00 to 16.00. Go out again once the sun is going down.

I'm about 200 miles west of Paris, in the red zone and it is scorching. I'm coping OK as I am chez moi & taking it easy but there is no way I would be going on a voluntary trip to Paris atm.

You have definitely done the right thing cancelling, OP.

Go here it’s fabulous https://piscine-baker.fr
A floating outdoor pool on the river

I am here .. in a lovely air conditioned hotel at the moment.
We will see how I get on tomorrow.
Glad you have come to a decision you are happy with OP .. that’s all that matters.
Sit at home, buy some Brie and a baguette and put Edith Piaf on loud.

Good luck @LunaTheCat - I hope you have a fabulous time despite the heat! X

Have a great time Luna o. Glad to hear you’ve got good aircon that’s the main thing as long as you can rest in between venturing out
grapefruit .. have no regrets it’s BOILING here and just knackering now.

We did Narbonne in between 32 and 35 heat - coped but phew!

Booked an apartment which had a great air conditioner which helped.

Just a note for anyone with Eurostar tickets about exchanging them.

The website may not want you to exchange the onward tickets for a later dqte than the original return.

It tried to do this to me, I contacted them and pointed out there was nothing in the full terms and conditions that said this was a restriction. After that mysteriously I was able to do so!

So if anyone hits the same issue don't accept it -insist on your rights!

Just to say, at 10:30 pm here, I finally opened the bedroom window and the temperature indoors and outdoors was equal. Since about 7 am I've had to close the windows as it is cooler inside than outside.

If you are touristing here, please take it easy.

I’ve been trying for several days but the website just gives me errors and the phone line disconnects me. I’ve raised a complaint so hopefully they will resolve it…!

I got through by posting a reply on @eurostar - they sent a link to send a DM.

Much sympathy for losing the money, OP, but I'm sure you have made the wisest decision. Hope you have a peaceful time at home, or wherever you go instead.
I have just cancelled a short break in Somerset (39C so almost as bad as Paris), and lost £300 which is much less than your trip, but not nothing. I asked the hotel for a reduction on a future booking as I was to late for a refund, and they said no. Oh well. Still feels better than going and being frazzled.