Now that both Sundance and Gallifrey One (for this year) are finally over and done with, my free time is now being focused towards my third Paris trip in September. It’s going to be a great relaxing trip, now that I’ve seen most of the major sites, and my big plans are to re-visit the Louvre (at what I hope is a less crowded time) and a few lesser known free museums. Obviously, I’m focusing more on food this time around, as that was the most enjoyable thing I remember about the last trip.

In preparation, I’ve downloaded David Lebowitz’s Paris Pastry Guide. And I’ve organized personalized Google Maps around specific areas and pastry shops so that I’ll know where to find them when I get there.

I’m also debating which airport to fly out of. As it stands, flying out of St. Louis (a 3 1/2 hour drive from here) is $326 cheaper than flying out of Memphis (a 2 hour drive from here). Even after accounting in a higher parking rate in St. Louis, gas to drive there, as well as one night’s hotel accommodation (after I return), it’s still going to save me around $200. I looked at flight times, as well and I can get a 4 p.m. flight out of St. Louis which gives me plenty of time to drive to the airport that day (and still leave the house later than if I were flying into Memphis). And with a shorter layover at Newark, I end up spending less time actually traveling than flying out of Memphis on that first day.

Coming back, however, gets me into St. Louis around 6 p.m., so hence me needing a hotel that evening. It’s a long flight and driving 3 1/2 hours right after would be dangerous. But thanks to the wonder that is Priceline, I bet I can get a rate of $50 around the airport.

So that might just be the plan. Obviously, I still plan to wait to book the flight because I believe fares will be lower. But if I save on flying out of St. Louis, that’s more money to spend on pastries in Paris, right? And that sounds like a good idea to me.

But being as I don’t know what flights are going to be once fall fare sales go live, who knows which aiport I’ll be choosing? But it’s nice to know I have options.

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