Anytime is a good time to go to Paris. That said, He-weasel and I have talked a lot about the date we will go and we have had a lot of back and forth about when is the best time to go to Paris. March is a great month because flights are really cheap ( $420 round trip from NYC and $540 round trip from L.A.). Rooms are much cheaper in March too, as much as 90 to 100 Euros a night cheaper.
Last time we were there it was March and gray, overcast, and cold. We needed to carry coats everywhere we went. Also, the trees were bare and not a single flower was growing. Paris is still beautiful in late Winter, to my mind there is no place better to be in later Winter than Paris but it is still Winter.
The song “April in Paris” makes it sound like April in Paris is all spring time, daffodils, and Audrey Hepburn in blossom pink suits and buttercup yellow hats that look like over sized macarons but it can be rainy, gloomy and gray. Don’t get me wrong— I love rainy, gloomy and gray but we want to walk in Paris with Lily and we don’t want to be carrying umbrellas, rain hats and have a wee wet Westie. The upside of April in Paris there are still great room rates and flights to be had—and April is our anniversary and yes there are daffodils, cherry blossoms and bits of green to be seen.
I explained all of this to He-weasel and I was willing to sacrifice great weather for great prices He-weasel is not. He-weasel said that this time he wants to see Paris in full bloom. He also wants weather good enough not to need to carry coats, umbrellas, or scarfs. He says we can delay celebrating our anniversary for a month or celebrate it twice.
So, May it is. But prices are up in May and our budget remains the same. What is a weasel to do? The genius, generous, cupcake baker supreme and expat, Leesa (with some help from her tres gentile homme), took it upon herself to find us a fantastic three-star hotel in the heart of the 6th arrondissement that has a warm bienvenue for small dogs at an exceptionally low price. We will be getting a Superior room at a better price than we could have gotten for a standard rooms at comparable hotels—and we will even may have a view of Notre Dame. I am not announcing on the blog where we are staying as it would be a bit like putting up my home address and telephone number on the blog. Wouldn’t it?
Update on Lily prep for Paris: We have gotten very generous babysitting offers from some of the expat readers I envy. He-weasel and I cannot thank you enough. Thanks to you we might make it to a museum or two while we are in Paris. When I told Lily that she might have an afternoon or two with some of you she licked my face which is her way of saying, “C’est fantastique!”
Lily’s vet gave us a perscription for a tranquilizer for the flight. Her European microchip has been ordered. Deja Pseu has generously offered to loan us her Sherpa dog carrier so Lily has a snug and safe place to spend the flight. Lily sends more licks of love to you, Deja.
Lily is hoping for a little update in her wardrobe for her first trip to Paris. A jaunty flowered collar, a tutu, and maybe a spring coat. Okay, it is me that wants those things for her. Well, it will be her first time in Paris and she should be appropriately attired for her debut to French society. Oui?
More info on When to Go to Paris and descriptions of Paris in March, April, or May.
