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?!

If you don’t have one already, I highly recommend a sun umbrella. Amazon sell them. It makes a big difference to be always shaded from the sun

Booking a holiday for late June was always a huge risk. I only go away in autumn and winter now as I can't cope with anything over 22 degrees. I'd buy a good quality neck fan and one of those cooling towels and a spray bottle. Seek out places with air conditioning. Swim, eat ice cream.

I’m well use to exploring cities in extreme heat. The culture is to get up exceptionally early and to do the hot stuff early on in the day. Then ensure that you are in an air conditioned building b6 1pm onwards eg an air conditioned museum.

The alternative is to fins a pool during the hot period and visit attractions later in the afternoon when it’s less crowded and being to cool - check out late opening hours.

I have visited places like Rome in a heatwave so really it’s manageable.

There are several swimming spots in Paris so get to know and use those.

Also fro relief plan trips outwards to more garden like attractions. Versailles way from the crowded bits has huge areas of grounds/ shade and is great. What about a trio to Monets gardens or another chateau?

Really I would not fret as so many places will be air conditioned or churches which are cooler.

Once it gets to 4pm it cools or early morning.

Carry a water bottle and refill it

Look at parc de sceaux if you are south paris . Just outside on RER B. It’s woody has a lake and is beautiful. You could take a picnic ..

Lots of good advice here.
I went to Amsterdam in Sep a few years ago
thinking I would avoid too high temps
It was 40 degrees every day
Adjusted plans and visited lots of museums and got out and about early in the day
Had a fab time still
Hope you enjoy your trip
you will enjoy yourself op

Not many Paris hotels have pools.

Put summat comfy on them trotters.

We are staying by Notre Dame, so once we are in, I feel it will be okay - it's the journeying via GdN that I'm very anxious about.

I've tried to move the dates but the hotel won't allow it!! Gutted.

I am very anxious as the forecast is getting worse if anything, but I can't bear losing all this money.... Never again!!

Yes, quite! I love the rain/cold. If I could cancel and not lose so much money I would. I said to DH I'm prepared to lose 1k for cancelling but I can't bear losing all of our holiday budget!!!

No, there's no pool and we are not remotely interested in jumping in canals...

I've got a walking stick I use when I'm fatigued so will make sure I take that with me everywhere and people might take sympathy with the old lady...

I saw something on the news last night about a cooling station being set up in Paris, but i only caught the tail end of it - maybes Google where/what that is?

This should help

Only wear natural fibres.
Shoes that won't hurt if your feet puff.
Freeze a water bottle and mini ice packs to take it with you.
Do any sightseeing super early - beautiful and not crowded.
Fully rehydrate at the end of every day.
Can you afford to take the odd taxi if the metros with AC aren't going where you need?

Yes we can afford a taxi although I guess you don't know if it's got aircon until you get in... so we'll probably avoid too much travel I think!

They do mostly let you put the windows down low (unlike some UK drivers!) which generates breeze! I think you will manage taxis and they will be your best transport option.

But you are not wrong to be thinking ahead about all this as I got a couple of pop up notifications on my phone about caution in temperatures abroad next week. It made me think of your thread - unless of course it is some creepy algorithm because I was on your thread yesterday!

I'm in paris right now and it's already v hot. However, the Metro (unlike the Tube in London) is OK. Top tip: go to Rodin museum. The garden is wonderful and shady. Get there for 10am when it opens

Ah I mentioned swimming but yes it doesn’t sound the right solution 😉 I wouldn’t want to do it either!

I love the winter too. Which is a shame when you live in Paris 😂

Maybe go and hang out in some nice air-conditioned department stores. I love Paris department stores. La Samaritaine is not too far from Notre Dame and it’s beautiful. There is a nice little café at the bottom too, which should be air conditioned. I appreciate that shopping is not everyone’s thing!

It’ll be fine. You won’t be in Gare du Nord for long and it’s easy to get to notre dame from there. It’s a few stops on theRER B line .When you come out of the eurostar it’s right there
I think you can buy a ‘carte navigo ´ in the Eurostar for your tickets but you can do it on your phone ( I have an old style navigo card so haven’t tried the phone app for myself yet but uk friend did it recently) It’s worth working out getting your metro / rer tickets before you get there as there’s often a queue at the vending machine. If you want a taxi the rank is easy to find too I think, obviously only get a proper taxi 😉( or uber.. there’s loads about in Paris)
Did you book your slot for visiting Notre Dame? ( last time we went we booked ) it’ll save queuing outside at least it will be cool in there. Book the other museum visits too if you haven’t already. You have the parc de Luxembourg which is a fairly short walk from notre dame 😉

If you are at a hotel maybe they can recommend a driver/car/company. Do get advice on price before you go as some are shockers. Well worth it if it takes the stress away and makes travelling about doable. It may be that you can get a driver for chunks of each day.

Maybe take a Seine boat trip to see the sights - again get advice on which are not crowded and have aircon.

This is a good idea OP you could even ask if the hotel can arrange a driver to pick you up at gare du nord? As advised do ask for the price first though.

Honestly I think you’d be crazy to get a cab from GDN to Notre Dame. Stuck in traffic with no way of knowing if cab has AC or not.

GDN - St Michel ND is literally just two stops on the RER B.

Agreed but it depends on what time they arrive I suppose.