Paris Travel Planner – Step-By-Step Guide To The Trip Of A Lifetime

When you're planning your trip to Paris wouldn't it be nice to have friends who are Paris travel experts? As it turns out, we have years of Paris travel experience, and we're happy to share it with you. So, we'll be your best friends in Paris. Use our advice to plan a smooth visit to the City of Light. Let's make it the trip of a lifetime!

To get you started we've devised a fail-safe vacation planner, with easy-to-follow steps, making sure you do the right thing at the right time. Airfare and accommodations will be the biggest planning decisions, followed by activities planning. You've got your passport, right? If you're coming from North America, the UK or Australia, that's all you need, no visa is required to visit France. Right, let's get started.

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Experience the Splendor Of Versailles

Versailles with Priority Access + Gardens
Skip the long lines to experience the grandeur of Versailles on a guided tour. Stroll through the stunning gardens with your guide, then visit Marie Antoinette's estate.
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Half-Day, Skip-the-Line Tour of Versailles
If you don't have a full day, this popular half-day tour of Versailles includes priority access with an expert guide. The small-group ensures personal attention and includes transportation right from your hotel.
More information…

Versailles with Priority Access + Gardens
Skip the long lines to experience the grandeur of Versailles on a guided tour. Stroll through the stunning gardens with your guide, then visit Marie Antoinette's estate.
More information…

1. Lock in Your Airfare

Airfare to Paris

Forget about hotels and restaurants for a minute, airline booking is the first step in your planning. With thousands of accommodation options, you'll certainly be able to find a place to stay in Paris, no matter what your travel dates.

The peak travel period to Paris is June through mid-September. Christmas in Paris is another high season that lasts from around December 18 through the first week of January. Shoulder seasons are late September to mid-December.

2. Choose Your Paris Arrondissement

Paris Arrondissements

Flights booked? Now it's time to decide on accommodations. If you're like most travelers, you'll want to stay in a central area of the city. As a visitor it's rare that you'd want to stay outside the city limits.

Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements or districts numbered 1 through 20. Of these, the most central (for attractions and activities) are:
Right Bank: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th.
Left Bank: 5th, 6th, 7th

In our guide to Paris arrondissements you'll learn all about these neighborhoods, where to stay in them, and what to do in each district.

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Find Hotel Deals for Your Dates in Paris

Check the complete list of Paris hotels to find current sale prices on rooms in every arrondissement. Save 10%, 20%… or even more!

Paris Hotel Deals
Find hotels in the Latin Quarter, Saint Germain, the Right Bank, the Marais, near the Eiffel Tower.
Search for your hotel

Find Hotel Deals for Your Dates in Paris

Save on hotels in every arrondissement of Paris – the Latin Quarter, Saint Germain, the Right Bank, the Marais, near the Eiffel Tower. Save 10%, 20%… or even more!
Search for your hotel

3. Find the Perfect Hotel

Find the Perfect Hotel

We've reviewed a lot of Paris hotels in all areas of the city, and know that there are scores of really good hotels to choose from. Left Bank hotels and Latin Quarter hotels. Charming hotels and luxury design hotels, and so many more that it's hard to know where to begin! Don't worry, though, a good place to start is by reading our Paris Hotel Guide.

4. Arrange Your Airport Transfer

Arrange Your Airport Transfer

Happy with your hotel and arrondissement? Good. Before we forget, let's arrange to get you from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to central Paris, and back again.

The most common way to get from the airport to the city is by taxi. But, our favorite ways are shuttles or a private car service. With these you can expect to be picked up near your arrival gate and delivered right to your hotel or apartment. Read our complete guide for more information.

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Skip-the-Line at the Louvre Museum

The Louvre's Greatest Masterpieces
Skip the lines make the most of your time in Paris with a whirlwind tour of the must-see works of art in the Louvre on this professionally-guided tour. The top choice.
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Louvre Skip-the-Line Tour
Head straight to the front of the line, then journey through art history on a 3-hour private Louvre visit. On this complete tour, an expert guide reveals subtle details about the artwork.
Check Availability…

The Louvre's Greatest Masterpieces
Skip the lines make the most of your time in Paris with a whirlwind tour of the must-see works of art in the Louvre on this professionally-guided tour. The top choice.
Check Availability…

5. You've Made It – You're in Paris!

Paris Travel Planner

Yippee! We got you to Paris and you're snuggled into your cozy hotel. Now we need to make sure that we've helped you plan you Paris activities before you leave home. Paris is a busy place, and you can't wait until you arrive to try to sign up for the best things to to. You'll either find yourself waiting in ling line-ups or be disappointed that activities have sold out.

Don't worry, it's easy to do all that planning in advance, before you hop on the plane. In Part Two of the Paris Travel Planner we'll tell you how to do it, the easy way!

Reminder – Plan Your Special Event

Christmas in Paris

Paris is a great place to celebrate special events and holidays, that goes without saying. Perhaps a marriage proposal, a honeymoon, a special birthday or anniversary, or Christmas in Paris. To get started you might want to consult one of our guides, full of tips and advice to create an event in Paris that you'll never forget.

Six Free Paris Planning Guides

A Gift from Us to You.
Bon Voyage !