Going to Paris and London-need help

Definitely 5 days in Paris....or all 5 in London. Don't split the time between the two. I'm so not a fan of drive-by, checklist tourism. Better to stay a bit longer in a great city and soak it in, rather than hurrying from one sight to the next.

In Paris, you can often get an apartment at prices comparable to a hotel...which means you get a kitchen and washer/dryer (so you can skip the checked bags, always a plus). Beware that Paris hotels can make NYC ones seem spacious and palatial...

Paris has wonderful food shops and outdoor markets...if you like to cook & eat, it can be very nice to play at being Parisien and shop a little to make simple meals a few times during vacation.

I've used Paris Nice Home to rent before...the manager meets you either to hand over keys or to collect payment when you arrive. The apartments in the ville Montorgueil or in the Marais are very well sited for tourists. LINK /

Money is easy: order a few euros from your local bank so you have a bit of money in your pocket. While there, use your debit card to get more euros. Your chip credit card will work, but you'll have to sign, so it might take a minute or two longer for an establishment to handle your card...but most tourist friendly places are quite accustomed to our non chip n pin cards and will not bat an eye at the signature required stuff.

Paris is well situated for a few easy day trips...a short 45 min train ride to Versailles to tour the chateau & gardens, a slightly longer trip out to Monet's house & gardens in Giverny....or to Rouen, Riems, or Fountainbleu. So don't worry about "seeing everything" in 5 days (which is completely a joke in Paris), as you can take a short train trip if you want.

First off, whatever you have budgeted, double it. Food is very expensive in Paris and wine is cheaper than bottled water (not the worst thing). We did 12 days, 5 in London 7 in Paris and it was just enough to whet the appetite in both cities. Can't wait to go back. I found Paris to be much more enjoyable, more interesting, and the Parisians more friendly.

We stayed at Hotel le Mathurin, and I thought it was amazing. Helicopter out to Versailles, train to Normandy, and a whole day for the Louvre. If you attempt to speak French, you will find that the natives will gladly converse with you in English; however, if you just assume they speak English, they will largely ignore you.

Also, everything they say about gypsies and pickpockets is true. Put your money in your front pockets.

I'd do a combo -- 3 and 3 or 3 days in Paris and 2 in London. A Tale of Two Cities!

Some great advice on this thread for my trip in may.

Here's another recommendation, maybe spend 4-5 nights in one and 1-2 nights in the other? I would not do 3/3. 3 nights is just not close to being enough time. When you first plan you assume 3 nights equals 3 whole days, but the reality is that 3 nights can sometimes actually mean 1.5 days. You arrive the first day and have a 1/2 day at best, then the last day you leave and have a half day at best.

A really nice plan might be something like 5 nights in Paris, then take an early train like 7AM to London. Spend a day in London to see the major sights, then fly out the next morning.

I'd do that way before I did 3/3 and 5/1 barely makes sense.