Paris Plans

photo credit Mike O'Bryon This time next month I will.be.in.PARIS! I can hardly believe it. I am going with my mom and older daughter for a week, and words cannot even begin to describe my enthusiasm. I have a stack of Paris guidebooks, a stack of Paris-with-kids guidebooks, a huge number of Paris travel articles Evernote, and a list of about 500 restaurants I'd I'd love to try to cram into 6 days.  Here are some odds and ends I'll be thinking about these next few weeks before our trip.

• To buy: the Paris Museum Pass or the Paris Pass? 

• Duolingo: I've been using this app for about a year and I just boosted my goal from "regular" to "serious." If you've never tried this, I really recommend it, and if you're not into French, you can use it to practice a whole bunch of other languages. It's really fun and interactive and weirdly relaxing. The best part that it's free.

• Global Entry: I applied for this for my daughter and myself. It's spendy, but I think skipping customs lines with a potentially exhausted 6 year old upon re-entry to the US will be worth it. Also it lasts for 5 years and automatically gives you TSA pre-screened status, so...no more bare feet at the airport for this gal.

• Clothes: I will not buy new clothes until I get to Paris. I will not buy new clothes until I get to Paris. I will not buy new clothes until I get to Paris. I will not buy new clothes until I get to Paris. I will not buy new clothes until I get to Paris. I will not buy new clothes until I get to Paris.

• Movies: The entire Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight franchise. Amalie. Chocolat. Hugo. Last Love. Jules et Jim, and Ratatouille.

• Jet lag:  We'll be flying overnight. We leave around bedtime our time and arrive in the morning, Paris time. The funny thing is that it will feel like 2am to us. To nap? Or to go out and seize the day in hopes of acclimating to Paris time quickly. Or to ignore it all & try to catch a midnight concert in the courtyard of the Louvre?

Any tips from frequent travelers? Have you traveled to Paris with kids?