How much to plan in advance?

We%26#39;ll be in Paris for 10 days later this month. We were last there 17 years ago, and have done the basics (Louvre, Eiffel Tower, etc). I have sort of got a rough itinerary planned but am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the choices.

I want to find a reasonable balance between having a plan and being free to wander around. With restaurants, how easy/necessary is it to book in advance? If we are just choosing one from the street, are there any particular signs or pointers that are good or bad omens?

With day trips (we will probably do Chartres and maybe one more, not Versailles as I have been twice already) is it necessary to book tours in advance or can you just get the train and go to the tourist info office in town to see what they have got available on the spot?

The apartment we are staying in has internet, is it worthwhile to take the laptop so we can do more planning/booking online when we are there?

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Yes--PLAN PLAN and plan again, as the old saying is %26quot;It is better to travel hopefully, than to arrive%26quot;.

But then use the plan as a skeleton to hang your days on, something is bound to distract you and off you go at a tangent. Then next morning you can revert to plan (or itinerary) and start again.

When you miss out on some %26quot;must see%26quot; on your current trip, you have the perfect excuse to return for another bite of the cherry.

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I agree with Navrad. I don%26#39;t like to fly by the seat of my pants. Plan an itinerary, but don%26#39;t worry about checking off everything on your list (I%26#39;m one to talk). Something is bound to captivate you to the detriment of another item on your agenda. Happy planning!

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We set up our days in 3 hour blocks. Each block is a theme, some themes take more than one block. This give us a general plan that we can move around if need be. We make a list of must-dos, and nice-to-dos and slot them in.

Don%26#39;t forget to leave one 3 hour block for spontaneity;)

Yes, bring the laptop, and the proper adaptor, just don%26#39;t spill wine on it.

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We like to visit certain food markets which are only open twice a week, so we pre-plan a morning there as soon as possible so we can hit the 2nd day if the weather is bad.

We usually pick a specific Paris Walk, and not every walk is given on every day, so this, too, is a pre-planned item.

And we have a favorite cafe where we have been having dinner on the first night in Paris, so this is pre-planned.

When we arrive we check for any new exhibits at the Exhibition Center or the pompideau Center to see if we will want to go over there one afternoon.

Everything else fits around these activites and are decided on when we are there.

ht

Pjk

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No harm in planning, many people find it fascinating. Ultimately you can spend each day just walking around in difference sections of the city but having a few structured ideas can be very helpful.

Take your laptop and there are a good number of reasons to do so. If you need an adapter as the previous poster so capably points out, they are available at FNAC or Darty for several euros.

Here are my suggestions for available day trips in March:

http://www.chartres-tourisme.com/

http://www.chateaudechantilly.com/

http://www.disneylandparis.com/index2.jsp

http://www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/

http://www.provins.net/

http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/

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I leave in 13 days for Paris! I book a flight and an apartment. End of planning. I%26#39;ll read a lot, but more in anticipation than needing to see anything specifically. I%26#39;ll be traveling solo in the south of France for a week after Paris, but I%26#39;ll wing it as far as towns and hotels. Trains are always running.

At this point in my life, I know what I like to do and where to find it. If I leave things open, there%26#39;s more of a chance of something new and interesting popping up.

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dear Spotlight99

Well I%26#39;ve never planned before and I feel I%26#39;ve missed so much. i%26#39;m so glad I%26#39;ve found this forum.

Over the years we have spent alot of time aimlessly wandering around, which can be great and relaxing and if you are lucky you %26quot;discover %26quot; things, (that everybody else knows about anyway. So you are better doing research before you go)

I only started using this forum last year just before my 8th or 9th visit.

I had a list of must do%26#39;s and would like to do%26#39;s last year which worked well and I feel we achieved more but I didn%26#39;t really feel we were as organised as some of the people on this forum.

This year I am having a lot of fun planning my itinerary. Hopefully I wil also save time by planning my metro and walking routes in advance. (Which drives my husband mad when we are there).

Some poeple publish itinearys which take my breath away! They are planned with military precision but I%26#39;m afraid that wouldn%26#39;t do for me. I am on holiday so I don%26#39;t want to be rushing around.

I am leaving time for exploring and discovering but the difference is I have an idea where I am exploring and discovering.

There is plenty info on what to avoid, restaurants with pictures of the food. Rue de Huchette/Harpe. We have never booked restaurants, but we are not foodies and don%26#39;t want to pay alot, so we just wander along and go into an inexpensive restaurants based on the price and the menu. This year I will take a list of recommended restaurants with me.

Personally I will not take a laptop, I have enough luggage to carry without a laptop and I have better things to do on holiday than go on the internet. There are internet cafes if you are desperate.

You can get the train to Chartres there was a recent post about this. Enquire in the search box above.

Planning is part of the enjoyment . Happy planning!

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