Paris.... over a three day weekend- is this practical?
 

A friend of mine is always going to a European City with friends over long three day weekend. She has alot of energy and claims such a short trip is very practical and she does not feel jet lagged or tired, due to the energy of the trip. (She sleeps on the plane like a baby)

I think I would not sleep a wink on the trip and would just be sick tired due to stress of trying to do so much with so little sleep.

Would a three day weekend in Paris be logical, economical and practical?

yes. you'll walk alot thru the city (no time for being tired, strong french coffee helps as well), the monuments, museums are open on weekend, shopping has to be done on saturday - limited availability on holiday/sunday.

I did that the other way round, 48h weekends at SFO from CDG ... ;)

My husband and I have done 4-day trips to Europe (leave Thursday, return Monday). One was during a time when both our jobs were in jeopardy and we just needed an escape- didn't want to spend a lot of money. Last year we went to Scotland from Kansas and kept it short because I didn't want to run out of vacation days (but we WERE running out of single-cask whisky and wanted to see an exhibit at the Royal Museum of Scotland). We're repeating the Scotland trip next month. Typically, though, we go for a week.

Neither of us sleeps well on planes and we're older (I'm 53 and he's 68) but we still enjoy these trips. Fortunately, next year I get 4 weeks of vacation and we have a pile of Hilton points so one of our trips may be around 2 weeks.

Is a 3-day trip practical? No, but sometimes it's fun to be a little crazy.

I make a beer run to Germany or the UK at least twice a year over four day weekends.

And I usually don't sleep a wink on the plane. Thank God for WT+ on BA!

I've done business trips like that and it is very possible, but tiring.

I'd say that if you have time to recover when you get home then, what the heck, go for it.

Worst case you have two lovely days in Paris instead of three. Not much downside there.

Been there, done that. Who needs jet lag when you have adreneline (enthusiasm) and coffee?

A few years back I spotted one of the next weekend cheap fares in an AA email, and I had an AA voucher that was about to expire. Mrs. Gargoyle and I went to paris for a 3 day weekend, spent $1000 total for air fare, hotel, food and shopping. We had a great time..

Each winter we do a 3 or 4 day MR to somewhere in Europe, those are fun.

I've done many 2 and 3 day trips to Italy. One last year (a B/E award ticket in July booked about 5 days prior to the trip, who says you can't get DL award tix if you try); routing was a bit rough due to the last minute nature, spent 48 hours travelling, and had 52 hours in Italy, finished all my work in the first 36 hours and then relaxed and hung out with friends.

Absolutely practical. I've done it. Also did a two-nights-and-one-day trip to Santiago, with a full day in the city there. Overnight flight schedules from the U.S. in both directions make this a bit more practical than Paris, but you have one more day.

If you can get a late afternoon return flight on Sunday and are into that sort of thing, you might enjoy the traditional Latin mass at Notre Dame. There's a nearby RER station to get to CDG.

Only downside is you'll hate to leave that soon, but you probably know that.

most of my Europe trips are 2-4 day weekend trips, and I think thats just perfect.

You can go more often :) and dont feel like you are not going to visit
such a place for a long time.

Now only if they lift the carryon restrictions... I can get back to my
weekend flying routine.

Why ever not? I do lots of two-night trips from the UK to US cities.

I've done it. It's very mangeable. You get to Paris in the morning, and also leave in the morning. Manage your sleep on the plane correctly on the way over, and no problem.

M8

Yes, but you can't see everything. Research and pick what you want to see and prioritize.

Absolutely! ^

We did Paris in 3 1/2 days, and we made a list of "must see's", then grouped them by arroindesmont (sp?) and spent a day in each section. We were exhausted at the end of 3 1/2 days and our feet hurt from walking so much but it was worth. Luckily we had an 8 hour train ride to Germany after that so we could rest.
Paris is so beautiful- take every opportunity you can to visit! :D

I did this in February, arrived in CDG on Thursay morning, left Sunday afternoon. I had a great time, just wandering around and enjoying something different. The best part is after a few "crazy" trips like this my friends are not even surprised anymore when I tell them my plans. :)

Many of us here on FT make mileage runs often. For exampole, my wife needed about 10,000 airmiles to requalify on United for elite level ( Premiere Executive, ie, 1p.) a year ago. Soooooooo she flew non-stop on Luft. metal IAH-Frankrurt, had a nice dinner close to airport, and returned the next afternoon. (Yes she sleeps on plane with the aid of ambian.

We have both done a three day RT to Paris, three day RT to Vienna (Wien), etc. and since neither of us have problems with jet lag and even given that we are "seniors", we have fun and do not "overdo" as we know we will be returning again and staying longer in the future.

Have a great time in Paris...and remember you will be back.