re: Travel Question- London and Paris

I can't speak for London but I can Paris.

We stayed on the Left Bank in the St Germain Des Pres area last time. Very chic and centrally located, and easy to get anywhere. We loved our hotel, it was more boutique. Hotel Madison. There are nicer places but we were very happy with it.

Get familiar with the neighborhoods (arrondisements) of Paris and where you want to stay. They have distinct personalities. They are easy to google and find out about. The lower the numbered district, the closer it is to the center of town, which is where you probably want to be.

Most people speak English. In fact virtually everyone. Don't believe the BS that they are rude. They do not smile, that's just how they are. Attempt to speak some French to them first, even if its to ask if they speak English. They will love you for it. ALWAYS say Bonjour when walking into a shop/restaurant/bar/cafe. They expect it and consider it rude if you don't.

ParisByMouth.com is a GREAT resource for food/drinks. They have lists for many different types of places and are usually really on top of the trends and latest places. Paris has some of the best restaurants you can possibly imagine.

I recommend L'ami Jean, Septime, Spring.

Take the Metro (subway) everywhere. You can take cabs and Uber if you want but the Metro is VERY easy, especially with Google Maps, cheap as hell, and there is literally a stop on every other corner. It is amazing.

I rented a Travel Wifi Hotspot last time I was there and it helped me a great deal. Could use Google Maps, Translate, etc with ease and get around.

One thing about Paris though: Try not to stick to a rigid schedule. Its a place you REALLY need to just stroll and enjoy.