Non Disney (?) travel - Going to Paris/France

[Shawn d]

Just wondering how your planning is going? We are planning on going in 2025, and I am in the heavy research phase. Have you had luck in booking accommodations yet? Will you be flying direct to Paris?

Sorry not replying sooner. My planning for Disney was virtually nil. I wish I would have planned a lot better but my focus was on the Olympics which I was very meticulous. I booked a hotel close to CDG which hindsight sucked but it was the right price. Was planning to flying with Lufthansa Pearson-Munich-Paris but got cancelled and got turned into YYZ-Paris direct

 

[Shawn d]

If you're still looking for things around Paris, check out Les Frenchies vlog. Very informative and useful.

Yep definitely checked them out. VERY informative

 

[buzlite]

I’m thinking of going to Milan in 2026! When would you recommend booking flights and hotels? I am worried everything will be blocked and reserved for groups. Was the flight to Paris a reasonable price? I wasn’t sure if they’d price gouge during the olympics. Alternatively I thought about flying to a different area of Europe and taking the train.
Thanks again for posting your journey! It’s hard to find info on booking.
Also…
Go Canada Go

 

[Shawn d]

I’m thinking of going to Milan in 2026! When would you recommend booking flights and hotels? I am worried everything will be blocked and reserved for groups. Was the flight to Paris a reasonable price? I wasn’t sure if they’d price gouge during the olympics. Alternatively I thought about flying to a different area of Europe and taking the train.
Thanks again for posting your journey! It’s hard to find info on booking.
Also…
Go Canada Go

Book ASAP. Do NOT book airbnb. A LOT of people did that and got taken advantage of and/or cancelled by the owners before the Olympics started. While I say book asap. Make sure you have tickets before you book airfare/hotels.

Airfare was done with Air Miles. Oh believe me, Olympics will cause airfare and hotels to price gouging. You CAN fly into another part of Italy/Europe but be mindful of the planning.

Ultimately, the best advise I can give to you and everyone is to think of planning for something like this is to plan EVERYTHING to the letter and then double that. It makes planning for Disney look like a simple thing

 

[Shawn d]

Another thing I cannot emphasize enough. If anyone is thinking of going on an Olympic trip, do NOT plan on doing anything other than the events on that day. You have to go thru security and line up at the venue 90 minutes before the match. I went a couple days before the events to acclimatize with jet lag and see the sights before the Games started. I was able to for the most part didn’t get to see the louvre or Notre Dame for example, but by the end I was absolutely exhausted when I got home. 16 hour days on my feet

 

[buzlite]

Book ASAP. Do NOT book airbnb. A LOT of people did that and got taken advantage of and/or cancelled by the owners before the Olympics started. While I say book asap. Make sure you have tickets before you book airfare/hotels.

Airfare was done with Air Miles. Oh believe me, Olympics will cause airfare and hotels to price gouging. You CAN fly into another part of Italy/Europe but be mindful of the planning.

Ultimately, the best advise I can give to you and everyone is to think of planning for something like this is to plan EVERYTHING to the letter and then double that. It makes planning for Disney look like a simple thing

When do they usually release tickets? I’m on the email list.
I think the earliest I can book hotels is usually 9-12 months out?
Thanks for the heads up on Airbnb! Will definately avoid that.

 

[Shawn d]

When do they usually book release tickets? I think the earliest I can book hotels is usually 9-12 months out?
Thanks for the heads up on Airbnb! Will definately avoid that.

My friend who has ben to MULTIPLE Olympics says that ticket lottery is prob 12-15 months out, possibly 18 months. So if you go to the Cortina Olympic website, you can sign up for the lottery right now. If you are selected, you will be notified in january or february next year. If you aren't, you can try to buy tickets in April of next year. If I can offer some personal advice, try to get a hotel close to Cortina or Milan that you can access with the Metro/train. I did that with a small city about 45 minutes outside Lille. I got a nice little room (solo traveler) literally across street from train station for 85 euro a night as opposed to a hotel in Lille which would have cost 300 euro a night