That's so great to hear!
I think our concern about a tour vs. doing it independently was the free time, but on the other hand having never been to Europe, we love the idea of having all the details planned and not having to worry about everything! We are meeting with our travel agent this week to get the tour arranged! We are also hoping to add on 3-5 nights in Paris either before or after the tour!
We will probably do all the optionals as well!
Thanks!

okay.. finally done the travel blog. It's not very interesting I'm afraid. The tour starts on Tuesday the 25th, so you'll have to skip to there as it includes our extra days in London and Paris.
I've often included hotel room and dinner photos.
The info gets more and more scant everyday.

www.mytb.org/laj

Laj,

I loved reading your blog, it was interesting to me! I loved seeing hotel and dinner photos and the day by day!
I'm curious about your luggage, I noticed you brought a small bag, so I'm wondering how did you get home all the gifts you bought? Did you do laundry in your room or how did you handle that?
We are wanting to spend a few days in Paris before or after the tour as well, did you arrange that with Insight? I'm glad to hear you liked the Latin qtr. when looking around that is where my family suggested we stay!
Thanks!

Laundry is extremely easy to do in the room. I did my jeans every few nights! As there is usually no air con, I hung my clothers near the open window and they dried quickly. Many places have towel heaters that you can hang clothes over. Jeans will dry over night on them. If there are room heaters, you ask at reception and they switch them on for you. Things dry on them while you are out.

I went with only 9kilos of luggage. All my clothes were in roll up travel bags so sat flat. I took all disposable toiletries etc.
I came home with 19.9kilos! (20 is the limit)If I'd had a bigger bag I would have been overweight. This one was perfect when you have to start taking it around by yourself.That's where you notice the size and weight! It's also a superlight one and allowed me a few extra kilos (only 3 kg)My cabin bag was a superlight one and I had it filled to the brim too.
We booked our Hotel Muguet on recommendations at Trip Advisor. It was brilliant and half the price of my last hotel, which was nowhere near as good. The area was fantastic, with the market street Rue Cler around the corner. (google it!)
Our travel agent made the booking but we had to pay outside of our package a it's not a hotel TA routinely use. It's too small and quaint.

If it's photos you want to see... many more of them at http://picasaweb.google.com/lajlee

I guess I'm struggling with the whole packing thing! I've never packed that light in my life, though I know I always over pack!
So how many shirts and pair of pants did you bring for your trip? You were gone the amount of time that we will be, so this is really helpful!
It's good to know that it's easy to wash in the room! I've been reading about the roll up travel bags that take the air out, that seems like a good way to go for packing!
Your hotel in Paris looks really charming! I love the idea of staying in smaller, quainter hotels vs. chains!
Thanks for posting more pics, I'm off to take a look now!

To Laj
Thank you for posting your blog you are always very fast so good with doing that. You put me to shame. I am glad you had a good trip and it all went well. Bring on the next one. I know you said in an earlier post that you would like to go on a Christmas Market tour so good luck with that if you decided to do it. You will have to pack even lighter with all the great things that you can buy on one of those tours.

Would you believe that in 9 kilos of luggage I had 11 top and 4 pair of pants (3 of them jeans) plus 2 jumpers. (Wearing a set)
I have a whole lot of very very lightweight tops. They weighed under a kilo in total and take up no room at all. You can get by on 4 or 5.. but since they weighed nothing.. easy to take. One of my pants were a lightweigh, non crinkle sort of material that I wore at night.

Pam... I've got hints on a Christmas tour from my family over there. Pack virtually nothing and buy cheap items.. especially the winter jacket at Primark. Leave them to charity at the end. Clothes there were ridiculously priced. I bought t shirts fr 1 pound. Jackets were around 14 pound.

It is an amazing store and they have so much stuff and as you wrote very cheap. It sure would be the way to go. I did leave a few things in the charity bin a couple of years ago when in London but since then have learnt to pack less with lots of mix and match. I also would love to do a Christmas Tour.

Wow! I can't believe you had that many tops and jeans in that small luggage! I plan on getting the bags that take the air out to maximize space, I will just have to work at it!
Are you glad you added on Paris at the end vs. beginning of your trip? Our agent suggested the beginning and that's what we are planning at this time.
Did you have any really favorite shops, restaurants, etc... in any of the places that you went that you would suggest?
Thanks!

Oh I love London too much. I stay there before my trips.
Favourites in Paris?? No.. I just love all the market streets. Rue Cler, Rue Mouffetard. Google Market streets in Paris and you'll get some good places.
Le Florimond is an excellent restaurant. It was ranked number one on Trip Advisor and luckily it was just around the corner from our hotel. It was delicious and very french. Very hard to interpret the menu etc. A local cafe had one of the nicest meals though. It's really hit and miss. There is nothing like going to your local pattiserie and buying nice treats for breakfast.
I know people think Moulin Rouge is tacky, but I've been twice and really liked it both times.. just don't eat there.
make sure you get off champs Elysees and walk up the streets coming off it. The metro is really easy to use when you get the hang of it. Buying a carnet of 10 tickets is the best way to go.
Versailles is MAGNIFICENT. I didn't get to Giverny this time..next time when I do country France.