The action list
Reservation Links
What is booked, what to do next, and what is just waiting for its booking window.
’til Buen Viaje and we out this BIATTCH Lele!!!
Everything that needs booking or doing before the trip, grouped by what it is and sorted by what needs you now. Finished things collapse out of the way. The filters pull up one category, one status, or one booking window.
Party: 2 adults on everything. Passports: both US, carried on the days flagged in the itinerary. Cards: the no-foreign-transaction-fee card. Confirmations: Europe 2026 / Reservations & Vouchers on Google Drive.
Purchases & reservations
Flights ✓4 / 4
Complete
Lodging ✓5 / 5
Complete
Intercity travel ✓1 / 1
Complete
Sights & tours6 / 18
1 need action
~10 min to knock out now
Shows & events ✓2 / 2
Complete
Dining2 / 5
1 need action
~4 min to knock out now
Pre-trip actions
You're on track.5 things need attention now. Everything else is booked (20) or waiting for its window (14).
Action available now: 5 items · ~54 min of hands-on time · 4 quick wins under 10 min. Waiting items are not counted.
Choose your mission
Reservations 51% booked (20 of 39) · Reconfirmations 0 of 8 due (they come up after you book, from about a week out; the full list is the final 7-day check on Prep).
Next actions
- UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), both of youbook now
- Borghese Gallery, timed entrybook now
- eSIM data, both phonesbook now
- Dishoom Covent Garden, London (before The Lion King)book now
- STEP enrolment (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), both of youbook now
Flights
The route is real. Four cities are officially connected.
Booked (4)
Los Angeles (LAX) to Barcelona (BCN)
Booked
Depart Mon 12 Oct, evening (~20:00-21:00) · arrive Tue 13 Oct, afternoon
The only nonstop. ~11h45. 2 adults + 1 checked bag. LEVEL flies this a few days a week, and Oct 11-13 are on the 2026 schedule.
Confirmed: LEVEL LL2624 · dep Mon 12 Oct 20:50, land 17:15 · seats 23C / 23A · Economy Light, fare $897. The booking reference is on the Drive voucher. Still to do: add the one checked bag in Manage My Booking (~$65) Economy Light has cabin bags only.
Fair price: LEVEL 'Economy Light' one-way runs ~$350-450 per person + ~€57 (~$62) for the one checked bag = ~$800-950 for two, all in. Over ~$1,150, wait a week or two, this route softens. 'Economy Comfort' (bag + seats included) is worth it only if it's within ~$60 of Light + a bag. Budgeted $850.
Barcelona (BCN) to Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
Booked
Fri 16 Oct, dep 08:00, arr 09:50
~1h50, nonstop. 2 adults, cabin bags only (1 underseat + 1 large cabin bag each), no checked bag.
Confirmed: Vueling VY6106 · Fri 16 Oct, dep BCN 08:00, arr FCO 09:50 · seats 2C / 2B (Space Plus) · €269.98 total (2 adults + 2 Space Plus seats), paid via Mastercard. The booking reference is on the Drive voucher. Still to do: online check-in opens 15 days before departure (about Oct 1); this confirmation email is not a boarding pass. Note: the 08:00 departure means leaving the Barcelona hotel well before its 12:00 checkout, plan an early start (airport by about 06:30).
What it's worth: €269.98 for two incl. seat selection, inside the ~$140-190 fair-price band once seats are added. Clean outcome.
Reconfirm nearer the time: online check-in opens about Oct 1 (15 days out) · a calendar invite is already on both your calendars for that morning.
How we booked it
Kept here on purpose, for the memory and in case anyone wants to book the same thing.
What we booked
Barcelona (BCN) to Rome-Fiumicino (FCO)
Fri 16 Oct
08:00 departure
2 adults
Vueling, nonstop
Fri 16 Oct
08:00 departure
2 adults
Vueling, nonstop
Price estimate Booked for €269.98 for two, seats included. Vueling and ITA Airways both run this route several times a day.
Choose
Vueling VY6106, the 08:00 nonstop, Economy fare with 2 Space Plus seats added
ITA Airways ‘Classic’ economy is the other reasonable pick, the bag is already in the fare. Ryanair flies BCN to FCO too now (not Ciampino), only worth it if it's meaningfully cheaper and strict gate-check rules are fine.
Search this exact phrase
Barcelona BCN to Rome Fiumicino FCOMatch before paying
- Fri 16 Oct
- a morning departure
- 2 adults
- cabin bag only unless you're checking one
Done when
the confirmation shows a Fri 16 Oct BCN-FCO nonstop for two.
Rome Fiumicino (FCO) to Paris Orly (ORY)
Booked
Wed 21 Oct, dep 10:10, arr 12:20
~2h10, nonstop. 2 adults, cabin bag + priority boarding included, no checked bag.
Confirmed: Transavia TO3911 · Wed 21 Oct, dep FCO 10:10, arr ORY 12:20 · €292 total (2 adults, €146 each, incl. cabin bag + priority boarding), paid via Mastercard. The booking reference is on the Drive voucher. Still to do: nothing yet; check in online closer to the date via My Transavia.
What it's worth: €292 for two incl. cabin bag and priority boarding, right in the ~$180-250 fair-price band for this route.
Reconfirm nearer the time: check in via My Transavia closer to the date (the app will show the exact window) · a calendar invite is already on both your calendars as a nudge, about Oct 7.
How we booked it
Kept here on purpose, for the memory and in case anyone wants to book the same thing.
What we booked
Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) to Paris-Orly (ORY)
Wed 21 Oct
10:10 departure
2 adults
Transavia, nonstop
Wed 21 Oct
10:10 departure
2 adults
Transavia, nonstop
Price estimate Booked for €292 for two, cabin bag and priority boarding included. Transavia owns the mid-morning bank of flights on this route to Orly.
Choose
Transavia TO3911, the 10:10 nonstop, with a cabin bag and priority boarding added
easyJet is the other real option if the time works better. FCO to CDG on ITA or Air France plus a flat-fare taxi to the Left Bank is the fallback, only if Orly departures don't line up.
Search this exact phrase
Rome Fiumicino FCO to Paris Orly ORYMatch before paying
- Wed 21 Oct
- a mid-morning departure
- 2 adults
- Orly, not Beauvais or Ciampino
Done when
the confirmation shows a Wed 21 Oct FCO-ORY nonstop for two, landing at Orly.
London Heathrow (LHR) to Los Angeles (LAX)
Booked
Fri 30 Oct, midday departure (~10:00-14:00, land LAX ~13:00-17:00)
Nonstop, ~11h15. BA, Virgin Atlantic and American all run midday departures. 2 adults, standard economy, checked bag included.
Confirmed: American AA137 · Fri 30 Oct, dep LHR Terminal 3 11:55, arr LAX 16:10 · seats 31C / 31B · $997 incl. seat selection. The booking reference is on the Drive voucher. Note: the receipt shows the checked bag is NOT in this fare; first bag is ~$95 added online in Manage Trip (from 24 h before), same at the airport, second bag ~$102.
Fair price: ~$430-550 per person one-way in standard economy (bag included), October is a low month. Good deal under ~$1,000 for two. It rarely spikes, wait if it's over ~$1,300. The bag is free here, so ignore any 'add a bag' upsell. Budgeted $950.
Reconfirm later (2)
Barcelona (BCN) to Rome Fiumicino (FCO): online check-in opens about Oct 1 (15 days out) · a calendar invite is already on both your calendars for that morning.
Rome Fiumicino (FCO) to Paris Orly (ORY): check in via My Transavia closer to the date (the app will show the exact window) · a calendar invite is already on both your calendars as a nudge, about Oct 7.
These do not count against booking progress. Full list: the final 7-day check.
Lodging
Every night has a home. Close the hotel tabs.
Prices are moving. The original planning number stays as the baseline so you can see what waiting has cost. The current figures are estimates and can shift. A rise of a hundred or two is not automatically a bad call if the upgrade genuinely improves the stay, but a rising price on its own is not a reason to chase a dearer room.
| City | Original | Recommended | Estimate | Drift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | $630 | Room Mate Anna | ~$768 | +$138 |
| Rome | $1,165 | Hotel Santa Prassede | ~$1,457 | +$292 |
| Paris | $346 | L'Empire Paris - Louvre | ~$601 | +$255 |
| London | $705 | citizenM London Victoria Station | ~$676 | -$29 |
| All four | $2,846 | current picks | ~$3,502 | +$656 |
London is under the original plan. Paris is +$255 against the old $346 plan, but a 1st-arr studio books near $560 today, so the real premium in the current picks is closer to +$180. Rome moved the most: the Monti apartment is up +$446 on its own planning number, enough that Hotel Santa Prassede is now the cheaper option, see the Rome lodging card for the live comparison. The Marriott Rive Gauche (nights 1 to 4) is on points and unchanged.
Booked (5)
Barcelona, Eixample (3 nights)
Booked
Check in Tue 13 Oct (from 3:00 PM), check out Fri 16 Oct (until 12:00 PM, 3 nights)
First stop, straight off the overnight flight. Central Eixample, walkable to Passeig de Gràcia, the Gothic Quarter and the Sagrada Família.
Confirmed: Room Mate Anna, Carrer de Aragó 271, Eixample · Double or Twin Room, 2 adults, a king bed was requested but is subject to availability on arrival. The confirmation and PIN are on the Drive voucher, keep the PIN private, it can modify or cancel the booking. €655.52 paid on Booking.com (total price €710.96, incl. a €58.41 Booking.com-covered discount); €55.44 city tax (€9.24pp/night) due at the property. Non-refundable, no date changes. Still to do: nothing, just show photo ID and the card on file at check-in.
What it's worth: booked at €710.96 total (€655.52 paid, city tax at the property), right at the ~$800 all-in trigger set for this hotel. Good outcome.
Recommended upgradeRoom Mate Anna 4 star · 9.2 / 10 · ~1,000 reviews · 1 queen or king
Original plan$630Eixample apartment near the Sagrada Família
Current estimate~$768Room Mate Anna, all-in for two
Difference+$138+$46/night · +$69/person for the stay
Worth the modest upgrade, and this is the one we booked.
Why it earns the difference. Room Mate Anna buys more than a nicer room. It buys a front desk and luggage handling on the first European morning, an easier check-in after the red-eye, and a Passeig de Gràcia address that pays off across the whole stay, not just the one Sagrada trip. Barcelona is only 3 nights, so the apartment's kitchen counted for less here than it would in Rome, and it's only one commute toward the basilica.
Price trigger. This is what got booked, at €710.96 total, right at the ~$800 all-in line that was set going in.
Other options considered (3)
Praktik Bakery~$769 +$139
3 star · 9.0
Catalonia Boulevard~$859 +$229
4.5 star · 9.4
Room Mate Carla~$862 +$232
4 star · 9.2
None of these added enough over Room Mate Anna to switch. Anna sat where value and upgrade met.
Rome, Monti (5 nights)
Booked
Check in Fri 16 Oct (2:00 PM), check out Wed 21 Oct (until 10:30 AM, 5 nights)
The longest single stop of the trip. Monti and the streets right around it, walkable to the Forum, San Clemente, Santa Maria Maggiore and the Vatican bus.
Confirmed: Hotel Santa Prassede, Via Di Santa Prassede 25, Rione Monti · Double or Twin Room, 2 adults, a king bed was requested but the property hadn't confirmed it as of booking. The confirmation and PIN are on the Drive voucher and the calendar invite, keep the PIN private. €1,457 total, prepaid by Mastercard (Booking.com charges the prepayment at an unspecified time before arrival); €50 city tax due at the property. Non-refundable, no date changes. No elevator in the building. Still to do: call the property (+39 06 6975 6532) to confirm the king bed before arrival if it matters, otherwise expect twin beds.
What it's worth: booked at €1,457 (~$1,570), once Hotel Santa Prassede's live price actually undercut the Monti apartment it had been up against. See the price history below, that's the reasoning that led here.
Recommended upgradeHotel Santa Prassede 9.5 / 10 · 313 reviews · Monti edge
On the site, look for exactly thisHotel Santa Prassede17th-century Barberini building by Santa Maria Maggiore · breakfast included · no elevatorVia Di Santa Prassede 25, Rione Monti, Rome
Original plan$1,165CasaSomai, the Monti apartment
Current estimate~$1,457Hotel Santa Prassede, all-in for two
Difference+$292+$58/night · +$146/person for the stay
Prices moved in Hotel Santa Prassede's favor, and this is the one that got booked.
Why it earns the difference. Five nights still argues for space over a star rating in principle: a living area, a kitchen, a real bedroom-living split, right on top of the itinerary (Colosseum, Forum, San Clemente, San Pietro in Vincoli, Santa Maria Maggiore). But the price case flipped: Hotel Santa Prassede, the strongest hotel alternative, ended up cheaper than the apartment while adding breakfast, a front desk and housekeeping, so that's what got booked.
What actually happened: the apartment (CasaSomai) had drifted to $1,611 for the 5 nights, up from the $1,165 planning estimate. Hotel Santa Prassede had dropped below that, and came with breakfast, a front desk and housekeeping. Booked at €1,457 (~$1,570 all-in).
Price trigger. This is what got booked, once Santa Prassede's live price undercut the apartment it had been up against.
Other options considered (3)
Augusta Lucilla Palace~$1,422 +$257
4 star · 9.2 / 10 · ~1,800 reviews
+$257 over the apartment plan; buys a front desk, housekeeping and breakfast but a smaller room. Not chosen.
Ruby Giulia Hotel Rome~$1,704 +$539
4 star · 9.1 / 10 · design, opened 2025
The contemporary-design option you flagged earlier. Great rooms and tech, but +$539 was a lot for a smaller space over five nights.
Mecenate Palace~$1,642 +$477
4 star · 9.0 / 10
+$477 over the apartment plan. Too much incremental spend for what it changed on this itinerary.
Rome is the stop where a hotel star rating is worth the least, but the numbers moved and Santa Prassede won on price too.
Paris, Marriott Rive Gauche (nights 1 to 4)
Booked
Check in Wed 21 Oct, check out Sun 25 Oct (4 nights)
Paris Marriott Rive Gauche, near Montparnasse. Deluxe king room, on points and the Free Night Award.
Confirmed: In John's name, 2 adults. Deluxe Room, guest room, 1 king. Paid with the 35,000 Free Night Award on one night plus 180,000 points, and 67.60 EUR in Paris city tax on the card. Free to cancel until 11:59 PM Paris time on 20 Oct 2026. The confirmation number is on the Drive voucher. The four Nightly Upgrade Awards are requested and showing pending; check the Bonvoy app closer to the date, or call Marriott, and Titanium gets you the Executive Lounge.
What it's worth: the Rive Gauche cash rate these dates runs ~$320-420 a night, so ~$1,400 of stay for 180k points, the award and ~$75 tax, roughly 0.75¢ a point plus a free-night cert put to full use. A good redemption.
Paris, last two nights (nights 5 to 6)
Booked
Check in Sun 25 Oct (3:00 PM), check out Tue 27 Oct (by 12:00 PM, 2 nights)
Only the second Paris lodging segment; the Marriott Rive Gauche covers nights 1 to 4 and does not change. After Versailles on the 25th, then the Eurostar early on the 27th. The move between the two is already happening, so finishing in a proper hotel is low friction.
Confirmed: L'Empire Paris - Louvre, 48 Rue De L'arbre Sec, 1st arr. · Superior Double or Twin Room, 2 adults, king bed requested and approved by the property at no extra charge. The confirmation and PIN are on the Drive voucher and the calendar invite, keep the PIN private. €498.30 paid on Booking.com (total price €532.10, incl. a €44.40 Booking.com-covered discount); €33.80 city tax (€8.45pp/night) due at the property. Breakfast is not included (€25pp/night if you want it). Non-refundable, no date changes. Still to do: the property offers online registration before arrival, a link is in their “reservation confirmed” email, worth doing to save time at the desk.
What it's worth: booked at €498.30 for two nights, right in the recommended $600-650 all-in range once city tax is added. This is the upgrade this card recommended.
Recommended upgradeL'Empire Paris - Louvre design hotel · 8.8 / 10 Excellent · 904 reviews · king rooms, soundproofed, air-conditioned
On the site, look for exactly thisL'Empire Paris - LouvreIndependent design hotel, black and white diamond-pattern headboards, an Eiffel Tower mural in the lobby lounge8.8 / 10 Excellent, 904 reviews on Booking.com (English pages throughout, the official site defaults to English too) · air-conditioned, soundproofed · guests highlight the location and the front-desk staff by name48 Rue de l'Arbre Sec, 1st arr., 75001 Paris · 1 min walk from the Louvre, on Rue de Rivoli
Original plan$3461st-arr studio near the Louvre
Current estimate~$601L'Empire Paris - Louvre, all-in for two
Difference+$255+$128/night · +$128/person for the stay
Upgraded to L'Empire, and this is the one that got booked.
Why it earns the difference. L'Empire is not an upgrade just because it has four stars. It is at 48 rue de l'Arbre Sec in the 1st, a minute from the Louvre and Rue Saint-Honoré, with a real front desk and concierge, luggage handling for the check-in and the early Eurostar checkout, soundproofed rooms and a king bed. You are changing hotels on the 25th anyway; ending Paris in a boutique hotel instead of a walk-up studio meaningfully improves the last two nights for very little more than a studio now costs.
The maths that matters: versus the original $346 plan L'Empire is +$255. But a 1st-arr studio books around $560 today, so the real premium for choosing L'Empire over a studio right now is only about $40, well inside the $150 line where a hotel is the clear call. If L'Empire climbs past about $225 to 250 over the current studio price, drop back to the studio.
Price trigger. Book L'Empire if it holds around $600 to 650 all-in. Between roughly $150 and $225 over a current studio it becomes a judgement call; past ~$250 over, take the studio.
Other options considered (6)
Hotel Crayon~$480 +$134
8.8 / 10
Lion d'Or Louvre~$510 +$164
8.6 / 10
Timhotel Le Louvre~$560 +$214
8.0 / 10
Hôtel Crayon Rouge~$576 +$230
9.0 / 10
Hôtel Louvre Bons Enfants~$622 +$276
8.2 / 10
Hotel Louvre Saint-Honoré~$636 +$290
8.2 / 10
Hôtel Thérèse and Hôtel Molière, the two you leaned to in the last pass, both run about $850 to 905, above L'Empire. L'Empire is the better intersection of price, location and hotel service for two nights.
London, Victoria (3 nights)
Booked
Check in Tue 27 Oct (from 2:00 PM), check out Fri 30 Oct (until 11:00 AM, 3 nights)
Last stop, a packed schedule: Westminster, two West End shows, the Tower, Borough Market, the War Rooms, the Studio Tour, The Ivy, then wheels up. London has no tourist tax and VAT is in the rates, so these figures are all-in.
Confirmed: citizenM London Victoria Station, 292 Vauxhall Bridge Road, Westminster · King Room, 2 adults. The confirmation and PIN are on the Drive voucher and the calendar invite, keep the PIN private. £500 total (£416.67 + £83.33 VAT), paid in full. Non-refundable, no date changes. Breakfast not included (£20.50pp/night if you want it). Still to do: nothing, just show photo ID and the card on file at check-in.
What it's worth: booked at £500 (~$676), right at the estimate this pick was carrying. This is the itinerary that doesn't reward paying more for room size.
Book and stop searchingcitizenM London Victoria Station 4 star · 9.4 / 10 · 2,000+ reviews · XL king, ~14 m²
Original plan$705citizenM London Victoria Station, the plan pick
Current estimate~$676citizenM London Victoria Station, all-in for two
Difference-$29-$10/night · -$14/person for the stay
citizenM, and this is the one that got booked. It came in under the original number and this itinerary does not reward paying more for room size.
Why it earns the difference. The room is small, about 14 m², and that is fine for this stop. London is the most schedule-heavy leg of the trip and you will be in the room only to sleep. What you do get is the right things: a very short walk to Victoria Station, an XL king with blackout blinds, a strong shower, a fridge, a smart TV, food and drink and guest service around the clock, and quick check-in and out. Paying substantially more here buys floor space you will not use.
Price trigger. Stay with citizenM unless The Rubens at the Palace drops to within about $150 total of it. At roughly $200 or more apart, citizenM stays the better value. Book it direct on citizenm.com.
Other options considered (5)
The Rubens at the Palace~$900 +$195
5 star · 9.2 / 10 · ~1,000 reviews
The only real experiential upgrade: a Red Carnation hotel on Buckingham Palace Road by the Royal Mews, the hotel itself part of the London experience. +$195 over the original plan, about +$224 over citizenM today. The itinerary already delivers a lot of London atmosphere outside the room.
The Windermere Hotel~$704 -$1
boutique · 8.7 / 10 · Pimlico
The value pick from the last pass, about level with citizenM's original number. A fine choice, but citizenM's current price undercuts it.
The Resident Victoria~$940 +$235
9.6 / 10
Excellent rooms, but the current rate has climbed well past citizenM.
The Clermont London, Victoria~$1,040 +$335
9.2 / 10
Grand station hotel. Not enough more for this itinerary.
For a leg where you are barely in the room, none of these beats citizenM on value. Rubens is the one to reconsider only if its price falls close to citizenM's.
Reconfirm later (2)
Rome, Monti (5 nights): the king bed request wasn't confirmed by the property as of booking - call ahead if it matters.
Paris, last two nights (nights 5 to 6): do the property's online registration before arrival if there's time - saves time at the front desk.
These do not count against booking progress. Full list: the final 7-day check.
Intercity travel
The channel crossing is set. Paris to London, seats and all.
Booked (1)
Eurostar: Paris (Gare du Nord) to London (St Pancras)
Booked
Tue 27 Oct, depart between 09:00 and 10:30
About 2h20, centre to centre. 2 adults, Standard class.
Confirmed: Tue 27 Oct, dep Gare du Nord 10:01, arr St Pancras 11:30 · Standard, Coach 2, seats 77 / 78 · $294. The booking reference is on the Drive voucher. Before travel: complete the Advance Passenger Information in the booking, and apply for the UK ETA (see Entry paperwork above).
Fair price: the cheapest Standard fare is ~£38 per person, but only if you book the day the date loads (~6 months out). It climbs past £100pp if you wait, and Oct 27 is UK half-term so fares run higher. Target ~£45-70pp (~$115-180 for two). Over ~£100pp, wait or shift the departure. Budgeted $280.
Sights & tours
Needs action now (1)
Borghese Gallery, timed entry
Do now
~8–12 min · Some choices
Tue 20 Oct · 13:00 · 2 adults
A 2-hour timed entry, 2 adults. The day is built around the 13:00 to 15:00 slot. Sells out weeks ahead.
Price: €15pp + a €2 booking fee, ~$40 for two, official. A third-party 'skip the line' just adds €15-25pp for the same ticket. Budgeted ~$60 for two.
We are booking
Galleria Borghese
Tue 20 Oct
13:00
2 adults
standard timed admission
Tue 20 Oct
13:00
2 adults
standard timed admission
Choose
standard timed adult admission
If the page looks different
- Visit
- Tickets
- Purchase
Match before paying
- Tue 20 Oct
- 13:00
- 2 adults
Done when
the confirmation shows the 13:00 entry for two.
If you do not see the exact product described here, do not buy a substitute. Come back later, or use the steps above.
Do this: Book the 13:00 entry on 20 Oct, 2 adults, on the official ticket office site only.
Waiting to open (11)
Paris Museum Pass, 4 days, x2
Waiting
~5–8 min · Easy
Booking opens about 23 Sep. Buy about 30 days out, first use 23 Oct
€105 each in 2026 plus a booking fee, about $235 for two. Reconfirm the price before buying. Covers the Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie, Versailles palace, Sainte-Chapelle, Rodin and more. One per person.
Fair price: €105pp for the 4-day + a small fee = ~$235 for two. Fixed official price (it has crept up, reconfirm). GetYourGuide and Tiqets list it too but add their own fee, buy direct.
Reconfirm nearer the time: Reconfirm the 2026 price before you buy, it has crept up.
We are booking
Paris Museum Pass
4 days / 96 hours
2 passes
first use Fri 23 Oct
4 days / 96 hours
2 passes
first use Fri 23 Oct
Price estimate €105 each, ~$235 for two.
Choose
4 days / 96 hours
The pass is not the timed reservation. After you buy it you still book separate timed slots for the Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle and Versailles.
Match before paying
- 4 days / 96 hours
- quantity 2
Done when
two 96-hour passes are issued.
Do this: Buy 2 of the 4-day pass. First use is the Louvre on 23 Oct; it then runs 23 to 26 Oct, covering the Versailles palace and everything else. It does NOT cover the Versailles Musical Fountains, that is a separate garden ticket.
Louvre, timed entry (with the pass)
Waiting
~5–8 min · Fussy
Booking opens about 23 Sep. Fri 23 Oct, 09:00
A time slot is required even though the pass makes entry free. 2 adults.
Fair price: free with the Museum Pass, just a mandatory time slot. No charge. (Without the pass it's €22pp.)
We are booking
Louvre timed reservation
Fri 23 Oct
09:00
2 people
Museum Pass holder
Fri 23 Oct
09:00
2 people
Museum Pass holder
Price estimate €0 reservation.
Choose
Reservation, Paris Museum Pass holder
Search this exact phrase
Reservation Paris Museum Pass holderDo not choose
- a standard paid Louvre ticket
- a second admission if you already hold the Museum Pass
Match before paying
- Fri 23 Oct
- 09:00
- 2 people
- Museum Pass holder
- €0
Done when
two timed reservations show Oct 23 at 09:00.
If you do not see the exact product described here, do not buy a substitute. Come back later, or use the steps above.
Do this: Book a 09:00 timed entry for 23 Oct, 2 adults, and select the 'Museum Pass holder' ticket type so it stays free.
Versailles, palace timed entry (with the pass)
Waiting
~10–15 min · Fussy
Booking opens about 25 Sep. Sun 25 Oct, 09:30 (opening)
Palace entry slot, 2 adults, pass holders.
Fair price: free with the Museum Pass, just book the slot. No charge. (Palace-only without the pass is €21pp.)
We are booking
Step 1, Palace. Versailles palace, timed entry
Sun 25 Oct
09:30
2 adults
Paris Museum Pass
Sun 25 Oct
09:30
2 adults
Paris Museum Pass
Choose
the timed palace entry for Paris Museum Pass holders
Step 2 is a separate ticket: the Musical Fountains garden admission (the next item). It is not on the Museum Pass.
Do not choose
- another full Passport ticket just to enter the palace, when the Museum Pass already covers the included admission
Match before paying
- Sun 25 Oct
- palace 09:30
- 2 adults
- Museum Pass option
Done when
you hold a timed palace reservation for 09:30.
If you do not see the exact product described here, do not buy a substitute. Come back later, or use the steps above.
Do this: 'Palace' timed entry, 25 Oct 09:30, 2 adults, 'Paris Museum Pass' option.
Versailles, Grandes Eaux Musicales (Musical Fountains), x2
Waiting
~5–8 min · Some choices
Booking opens about 25 Sep. Sun 25 Oct, book with the palace slot
A SEPARATE garden ticket, about €10.50 each (~$23), not on the Museum Pass. Runs every weekend April to November; the 25th is a Sunday. The gardens close early that day at 17:30.
Fair price: ~€10.50pp official (~$23 for two). Fixed. Book on chateauversailles.fr with the palace slot.
Reconfirm nearer the time: Reconfirm the Grandes Eaux Musicales schedule and the early 17:30 garden close for 25 Oct.
We are booking
Step 2, Fountains. Grandes Eaux Musicales
Sun 25 Oct
garden admission
2 adults
Sun 25 Oct
garden admission
2 adults
Price estimate ~€10.50 each, ~$23 for two.
Choose
Musical Fountains Show / Grandes Eaux Musicales garden admission
Not included in the Paris Museum Pass. Buy it alongside the palace slot.
Match before paying
- Sun 25 Oct
- Musical Fountains garden admission
- 2 adults
Done when
you hold garden admission for the same date as the palace slot.
Do this: Add the 'Grandes Eaux Musicales' garden ticket for 25 Oct, 2 adults, alongside the palace slot. Reconfirm the schedule 2 to 3 weeks out.
Sainte-Chapelle, timed entry (with the pass)
Waiting
~5–8 min · Some choices
Booking opens about 26 Sep. Mon 26 Oct, about 09:00
A slot is required. 2 adults, pass holders. Security screening is separate, the chapel is inside the Palais de Justice.
Price: free with the Museum Pass, just the slot. (Without the pass it's €13pp.)
We are booking
Sainte-Chapelle timed reservation
Mon 26 Oct
09:00
2 people
Museum Pass entitlement
Mon 26 Oct
09:00
2 people
Museum Pass entitlement
Choose
the pass-holder timed access
A timed slot is needed even though the Museum Pass covers admission. Security screening is separate, the chapel sits inside the Palais de Justice.
Match before paying
- Mon 26 Oct
- 09:00
- 2 people
- pass-holder / timed access
Done when
two timed reservations show 09:00.
Do this: Book a 09:00 slot for 26 Oct, 2 adults, pass-holder ticket. Go early, the stained glass is best with morning light.
Notre-Dame, free timed reservation
Waiting
~3–5 min · Easy
Booking opens about 24 Oct. Mon 26 Oct, around 10:30 · free
Entry is free, and so is the timed reservation, but slots are released only a day or two ahead, so this is not a weeks-out booking. Same-day slots also appear.
Free. Ignore paid 'skip-the-line' Notre-Dame tickets from resellers.
We are booking
Notre-Dame, free timed reservation
Mon 26 Oct
around 10:30
2 people
Mon 26 Oct
around 10:30
2 people
Choose
a free timed entry slot
Do not try to book this weeks ahead. Free slots are released shortly before the visit, check Oct 24 to 25 for the 26th, and new slots can appear the same day.
Do not choose
- paid 'skip-the-line' Notre-Dame entry from third-party sellers
Match before paying
- Mon 26 Oct
- around 10:30
- 2 people
- free
Done when
a free reservation confirms Oct 26 near 10:30. If none, free walk-up access is the fallback, subject to the queue.
Do this: Around 24 to 25 Oct, check for a free timed slot near 10:30 on the 26th. If none, free walk-up access is the fallback, subject to the queue.
Westminster Abbey
Waiting
~5–8 min · Easy
Booking opens about 27 Sep. Tue 27 Oct, a 13:30 timed entry
2 adults. Last entry about 15:30. Closed Sundays.
Fair price: ~£30pp advance online (~$76 for two), audio guide included. Official site, fixed price. Third parties don't undercut it. Budgeted $75 for two, right on.
We are booking
Westminster Abbey, general admission
Tue 27 Oct
~13:30
2 adults
Tue 27 Oct
~13:30
2 adults
Choose
Verified live 10 Sep 2026, top of the list: the card headed “General admission Westminster Abbey”, button labelled “Choose”
You want standard afternoon admission after the Eurostar arrival, audio guide included.
Do not choose
- “Abbey Unlocked tour 08.30 - 10.00 (selected dates)”, a 90-minute early-morning private tour, wrong item and wrong time
Match before paying
- Tue 27 Oct
- ~13:30
- 2 adults
- card titled “General admission Westminster Abbey”
Done when
the confirmation shows the afternoon entry for two.
Do this: Book a 13:30 slot for 27 Oct, 2 adults, audio guide included. This is the afternoon of arrival, so leave a little slack in case the Eurostar runs late.
Tower of London
Waiting
~5–8 min · Easy
Booking opens about 28 Sep. Wed 28 Oct, 09:00 (opening)
2 adults.
Fair price: ~£35-36pp advance online (~$90 for two), the cheapest way in, walk-up is a few pounds more. HRP.org.uk only. Budgeted $100 for two. Check the London 2FOR1 against it, if a qualifying rail ticket applies it halves this.
We are booking
Tower of London, standard admission
Wed 28 Oct
09:00, opening
2 adults
Wed 28 Oct
09:00, opening
2 adults
Choose
Verified live 10 Sep 2026: the plain “Tower of London” card, “Buy tickets” button, standard admission includes the Yeoman Warder tours and the Crown Jewels
At checkout there is an optional 10% donation, pre-ticked on some flows. Fine to leave it, just don't be surprised by it, it is not a hidden fee, it is a charity ask you can remove.
Do not choose
- “Keys Club experience” upgrade (Tue/Thu only)
- “Ravens experience” upgrade (Wed/Fri only)
- “Tower of London + Opening Ceremony experience” upgrade, these are optional paid add-ons, not the base ticket
Match before paying
- Wed 28 Oct
- 09:00
- 2 adults
- standard admission
- no upgrade experience added
Done when
two standard Tower admissions are confirmed.
Do this: Book the first entry, 09:00 on 28 Oct, 2 adults. Plan to walk straight to the Crown Jewels before the queue builds.
Churchill War Rooms
Waiting
~5–8 min · Easy
Booking opens about 28 Sep. Wed 28 Oct, 14:00
2 adults. Timed entry, about 90 minutes inside. Last entry about 17:00.
Fair price: £34pp advance (~$86 for two) for autumn/winter dates, on the IWM site. Fixed. Budgeted $75 for two, run it up a little.
We are booking
Churchill War Rooms, general admission
Wed 28 Oct
14:00
2 adults
Wed 28 Oct
14:00
2 adults
Price estimate Verified live 10 Sep 2026: £34.00 per adult, ~£68 (~$88) for two.
Choose
the ticket option literally labelled “Adult | Churchill War Rooms | General Admission”
You can arrive up to 30 minutes after your timeslot, e.g. a 14:00 booking lets you in until 14:29, not guaranteed earlier.
Do not choose
- “Become an IWM Member”
- “Book Member Tickets”
- a guided premium tour
- a special event
Match before paying
- Wed 28 Oct
- 14:00
- 2 adults
- “General Admission”, not a member or guided option
Done when
two general admission tickets confirm the 14:00 slot.
Do this: Book a 14:00 entry for 28 Oct, 2 adults, on the IWM site. It is a 15-minute tube hop from Borough Market to Westminster.
Seine sunset cruise with champagne, Paris
Waiting
~8–12 min · Some choices
Booking opens about 1 Oct. Thu 22 Oct, board about 18:00
A one-hour sightseeing cruise, 2 adults, with the champagne option.
Fair price: ~€35-50pp for the 1-hour cruise with a glass of champagne (~$90-120 for two). The 'premium' / 'VIP' boats at €90pp+ aren't worth it for a sightseeing loop. Budgeted $75 for two.
Reconfirm nearer the time: Reconfirm the 22 Oct sunset time and the cruise timetable, then pick the slot that puts you mid-river at nightfall.
Vedettes du Pont Neuf · boards at Square du Vert Galant, the tip of Île de la CitéWe are booking
Resolved 10 Sep 2026: Vedettes du Pont Neuf, “Champagne Cruise & Happy Hour”
Thu 22 Oct
the “Sunset Cruise” departure, at twilight
2 adults
Thu 22 Oct
the “Sunset Cruise” departure, at twilight
2 adults
Price estimate Verified live 10 Sep 2026: €31 per person, ~€62 (~$68) for two, includes one glass of champagne each.
Choose
on the product page, the “Sunset Cruise: at twilight” departure, NOT the “Happy Hour Cruise: 19:15” fixed departure
Real timing risk. Sunset in Paris on 22 Oct 2026 is 6:47 PM. "At twilight" likely means the boat leaves close to that, so a 1-hour cruise puts you back at Île de la Cité somewhere around 7:40-8:00 PM, with your Le Train Bleu table at 20:00 at Gare de Lyon. That is tight, not comfortable. Confirm the exact departure clock time when you book (it firms up closer to the date), and plan a taxi straight from the boarding point, not the metro, if it runs late. If the confirmed time doesn't leave at least 20 minutes of transfer, move the cruise to an earlier day or accept a later Le Train Bleu seating instead of forcing it.
Do not choose
- the fixed “Happy Hour Cruise: 19:15” departure, 19:15 + a 1-hour cruise ends 20:15, after your Le Train Bleu table
- a different operator (Bateaux Parisiens, Bateaux-Mouches), unless this one is sold out for the date
Match before paying
- Thu 22 Oct
- Vedettes du Pont Neuf
- “Sunset Cruise: at twilight”, not the 19:15 Happy Hour
- 2 adults
- 1 glass of champagne each
Done when
the confirmation names Vedettes du Pont Neuf, the Sunset Cruise departure, and states an actual clock time that leaves transfer room for 20:00 at Le Train Bleu.
Do this: Book the departure closest to dusk on 22 Oct, 2 adults, add the drinks/champagne package. The tower's golden lighting comes on at nightfall, then it sparkles for 5 minutes at the top of each hour, aim to be mid-river for that. Reconfirm the sunset time and the timetable before booking.
Louis Vuitton hot-stamp appointment, Paris (2 passport covers)
Waiting
~10–15 min · Fussy
Booking opens about 12 Oct. Sun 26 Oct, ~16:00
Free heat-stamping of initials + a foil colour + a small motif onto passport covers you already own. It's on the Oct 26 walk (Galeries Lafayette / Saint-Germain).
Fair price: free. If a store says it's only free with a purchase, try another, several Paris stores do it as a courtesy on pieces you already own. Never pay for it.
We are booking
Louis Vuitton hot-stamp, 2 passport covers
Drop-off: Sat 24 Oct, LV at La Samaritaine
Pickup: Mon 26 Oct
initials + foil colour + a small motif
Drop-off: Sat 24 Oct, LV at La Samaritaine
Pickup: Mon 26 Oct
initials + foil colour + a small motif
Choose
personalisation / hot-stamping of covers you already own
Two steps. First, phone a store to confirm they will stamp existing covers and that the turnaround fits a Sat 24 drop-off and a Mon 26 pickup. Then drop both covers on the 24th at LV in La Samaritaine (it fits the Marais and Île Saint-Louis day), and pick up on the 26th. Only use Galeries Lafayette or a Saint-Germain store instead if they confirm same-day directly.
Do not choose
- the Champs-Élysées flagship as the primary plan, the walk-in wait is 1 to 2 hours
- paying for it, it is a free courtesy
Match before paying
- existing covers accepted
- both covers
- drop-off Sat 24 Oct
- pickup before the Oct 27 Eurostar
Done when
a store has confirmed existing covers, both covers, the drop-off date, and pickup before Oct 27.
If you do not see the exact product described here, do not buy a substitute. Come back later, or use the steps above.
Do this: Two weeks out, call the LV inside Galeries Lafayette (or the Bd Saint-Germain store) and ask for a personalisation / hot-stamping appointment for Sun 26 Oct afternoon, 2 items. Confirm on the call that they will stamp a piece you already own and that they do it on-site, not send-out. NOT the Champs-Elysees flagship, the walk-in wait is 1-2 hours. Backup: Selfridges or New Bond Street in London.
Booked (6)
Sagrada Familia, 'with Towers' + audioguide
Booked
Thu 15 Oct · basilica 14:00, tower 14:15
2 adults, self-guided, audioguide included, Tower on the Nativity facade.
Confirmed: Booked on the official site, Thu 15 Oct, basilica 14:00, Nativity tower 14:15, 2 x General €36 (€72 total). The locator is on the Drive voucher. Before you arrive: download the Sagrada Familia Oficial app and load the tickets + audioguide with the locator and John's email. Non-transferable; photo ID checked at the door and the tower.
Fair price: €36pp is the fixed official price, ~$79 for two. Resellers charge €55-75pp for the identical ticket.
Park Güell, Monumental Zone, x2
Booked
Wed 14 Oct · 09:30
Timed entry to the Monumental Zone (the terrace, the serpentine bench, the mosaic dragon), 2 adults.
Confirmed: Booked on the official site, Wed 14 Oct, 09:30, 2 tickets, the Monumental Zone. The locator is on the Drive voucher. Tickets are valid at the booked time and for 30 minutes after; download them before you go, the app on wi-fi is easiest.
Fair price: €18pp official (~$40 for two), fixed. Bought on parkguell.barcelona, the identical ticket a reseller would mark up.
How we booked it
Kept here on purpose, for the memory and in case anyone wants to book the same thing.
What we booked
Park Güell Visit
Wed 14 Oct
09:30
2 adults
self-guided, Monumental Zone
Wed 14 Oct
09:30
2 adults
self-guided, Monumental Zone
Price estimate Verified live 10 Sep 2026: the “Choose your experience” page lists five cards top to bottom, in this order.
Choose
the first card, titled exactly “Park Güell Visit”, green BUY button
Search this exact phrase
Park Güell VisitDo not choose
- 2nd card, “Park Güell Guided Tour”
- 3rd card, “Park Güell visit with Gaudí House Museum”
- 4th card, “Park Güell Guided Tour in Catalan”
- 5th card, “Park Güell Group Visit”
Match before paying
- Wed 14 Oct
- 09:30
- 2 adults
- card 1 of 5, plain “Park Güell Visit”
Done when
the confirmation shows Oct 14, 09:30, 2 admissions.
If you do not see the exact product described here, do not buy a substitute. Come back later, or use the steps above.
Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel, official guided visit
Booked
Mon 19 Oct, 11:00
Official Vatican guided visit (“Musei Vaticani - Visite Guidate Singoli Musei”). Shoulders and knees covered, enforced. St Peter's is free and separate; the dome is paid on the day (~€10pp, last admission ~17:00 in Oct).
Confirmed: Booked direct on the Vatican site, Mon 19 Oct 11:00, 2 pax, €80. The booking reference is on the Drive voucher. On the day: go to the Viale Vaticano entrance 30 minutes early (10:30), show the voucher to staff at the reserved-booking line (right side of the main entrance), clear security, then collect the tickets at the “Sportello Visite Guidate” (guided-visits desk). Non-refundable, no changes to date/time/pax. Stairs on the route.
Fair price: €40pp for the official guided visit (~$88 for two) is the fixed rate and cheaper than a third-party group tour. There was no deal to wait for.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour, The Making of Harry Potter (with Breakfast at the Hogwarts Table)
Booked
Thu 29 Oct · breakfast 08:45, tour 10:00 to 10:30
Leavesden. 2 adults. The breakfast is in a dedicated space with the Great Hall long tables; the tour itself is self-paced, 3.5 to 4 hours. Oct 29 is inside English school half-term, its busiest week, so the early slot is the right one.
Confirmed: Thu 29 Oct · the Breakfast at the Hogwarts Table package for two: breakfast 08:45 (be at the studio by 08:30), Studio Tour start 10:00 to 10:30, plus a butterbeer and a souvenir guidebook each · £254 total. The booking reference is on the Drive voucher. E-tickets are attached to the confirmation email (also saved to the Drive voucher folder), show them on a phone or printed on arrival. Non-refundable. Still to do: book the Watford Junction shuttle-bus return (~£3pp, on board or online), it is not in this package.
Fair price: the standard adult ticket is ~£53.50pp; the Breakfast at the Hogwarts Table package runs ~£127pp. Paid £127pp, the fixed package price, it is a deliberate splurge on top of the standard tour (about £150 / ~$185 more for the two of you than plain entry).
Colosseum arena floor + Forum + Palatine, guided tour (Ivo Tours)
Booked
17 Oct · both 10:00
Guided tour with arena-floor access and headsets, 2.5 hours, in Spanish.
Confirmed: Both now on the 10:00 tour, 17 Oct ($133 each). The booking references and PINs are on the Drive voucher. The old 9:30 seat was swapped when a second 10:00 spot reopened; the $83 refund went to a GetYourGuide credit that covered most of the new $134 seat. Le Andra's ticket lives only in the GetYourGuide app, no PDF. Spanish, 2.5 h, arena floor via the gladiators' gate. Meeting point Via delle Terme di Tito 93, be there 15 min early with passports.
Fair price: a guided arena-floor tour with headsets normally runs ~$65-90pp. Both seats priced at ~$133 on limited October availability; the reopened 10:00 spot was taken to get you on the same tour.
Eiffel Tower, lift to the summit
Booked
Thu 22 Oct, 12:30 (moved from 10:00)
2 adults, 'Lift to the summit', plus the Champagne Ballet Cocktail option.
Confirmed: Booked on the official site, Thu 22 Oct, top floor by lift, 12:30, 2 adults, plus the Champagne Ballet Cocktail option for two. The order and QR codes are on the Drive voucher. €117.40 total. The 10:00-12:00 window sold out before booking; 12:30 was the next real availability, so the rest of the day shifted around it (see the day page). Still to do: download or print the ticket PDF, don't save it to a phone wallet (the tower asks for that specifically).
What it's worth: booked at €117.40 for two (€73.40 of that the lift tickets, €44.00 the champagne option), a deliberate add-on over the plain ~$80 lift-only fare, not an accident.
Reconfirm nearer the time: Check the summit is operating (weather and maintenance can close it) and the exact 22 Oct sunset time for the cruise.
How we booked it
Kept here on purpose, for the memory and in case anyone wants to book the same thing.
What we booked
Eiffel Tower
Thu 22 Oct
12:30 (10:00 sold out first)
2 adults
the top / summit, by lift, plus the Champagne Ballet Cocktail
Thu 22 Oct
12:30 (10:00 sold out first)
2 adults
the top / summit, by lift, plus the Champagne Ballet Cocktail
Price estimate Booked: €117.40 total for two (2 × €36.70 lift tickets + 2 × €22.00 champagne option). The 10:00-12:00 window sold out before booking; 12:30 was the next open slot.
Choose
the card titled “The top” · subtitle “Ticket with access elevator” · Adult €36.70 each, plus the “Champagne Ballet Cocktail – Adult” option at €22.00 each
Search this exact phrase
top ticket elevatorDo not choose
- “Second floor” cards (€23.50 or €14.80), wrong floor
- “The top, ticket with access stairs 2nd floor + elevator” (€28.00), that's the stairs option, not full elevator
Match before paying
- Thu 22 Oct
- 12:30
- 2 adults
- card titled “The top”
- “Ticket with access elevator”
- €36.70 adult
Done when
the ticket says “The top” and “Ticket with access elevator,” not a second-floor or stairs ticket.
If you do not see the exact product described here, do not buy a substitute. Come back later, or use the steps above.
Reconfirm later (4)
Eiffel Tower, lift to the summit: Check the summit is operating (weather and maintenance can close it) and the exact 22 Oct sunset time for the cruise.
Paris Museum Pass, 4 days, x2: Reconfirm the 2026 price before you buy, it has crept up.
Versailles, Grandes Eaux Musicales (Musical Fountains), x2: Reconfirm the Grandes Eaux Musicales schedule and the early 17:30 garden close for 25 Oct.
Seine sunset cruise with champagne, Paris: Reconfirm the 22 Oct sunset time and the cruise timetable, then pick the slot that puts you mid-river at nightfall.
These do not count against booking progress. Full list: the final 7-day check.
Shows & events
The curtain is set. Pride Rock, Uganda and Hogwarts are locked in.
Booked (2)
The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre
Booked
Tue 27 Oct, 19:30
Covent Garden. 2 adults, Royal Circle N.
Confirmed: ATG Tickets · Tue 27 Oct, show 19:30 (bars open 18:00, be in your seat by 18:25) · Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington St · Royal Circle, N 24 and N 25 · £88.95 each = £177.90 (incl. £29.64 VAT), paid on the Mastercard. The order number is on the Drive voucher. The eTickets are the PDF on the Drive voucher, load them on both phones or print them. Non-refundable, no exchange after purchase.
Fair price: face value for the Royal Circle runs ~£75-95pp. Paid £88.95pp for Royal Circle N, a clear but rear seat in the second tier, fair for this house, not a bargain. Budgeted $150 for the two; came in ~$90 over at ~$240.
The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales Theatre
Booked
Wed 28 Oct, 19:30
By Leicester Square. 2 adults, Circle Row G.
Confirmed: Delfont Mackintosh · Wed 28 Oct, 19:30 · Prince of Wales Theatre, Coventry St · Circle, Row G, seats 20 and 21 · £110 tickets + £7 booking fee = £117. The order number is on the Drive voucher. Tickets come separately as a paperless mobile ticket, they are not in the confirmation email. Have the Delfont Mackintosh ticket link or app ready on the phone before you go.
Fair price: ~£45-85pp for stalls rows E to L (~$115-215 for two). Paid £55pp in the Circle, a fair mid-price seat for this house.
Dining
Needs action now (1)
Dishoom Covent Garden, London (before The Lion King)
Do now
~3–5 min · Easy
Tue 27 Oct, 17:00 (moved from 18:00)
A party of 2, an early table 6 minutes from the Lyceum. 18:00 is not bookable, see below.
We are booking
Dishoom, moved from 18:00 to 17:00 on 10 Sep 2026
Covent Garden branch, 12 Upper St Martin's Lane, WC2H 9FB
Tue 27 Oct
17:00
table for 2
Covent Garden branch, 12 Upper St Martin's Lane, WC2H 9FB
Tue 27 Oct
17:00
table for 2
Price estimate Verified live on Dishoom's own SevenRooms widget 10 Sep 2026: 17:00 shows as an open, bookable slot for 2.
Choose
the Covent Garden branch (not Kensington, Shoreditch, King's Cross, Carnaby or the others, Dishoom has 9+ locations), 17:00
Why the time moved. Dishoom Covent Garden only takes bookings before 6pm for a table of 2; from 6:00 to 9:30pm it is walk-in only, with queues of 30 minutes to an hour reported at that time on a weekday evening. The old 18:00 plan could not actually be reserved, and a 30-60 minute walk-in wait was a real risk against The Lion King seated-by-18:25 target. 17:00 is a live, bookable slot with room to eat and still walk the 6 minutes to the Lyceum well ahead of curtain. The day's schedule (below) has been adjusted to match: the Westminster walk now wraps by 17:00 instead of 17:15.
Do not choose
- an 18:00 booking, Dishoom Covent Garden does not take reservations at 18:00 or later for parties under 6, confirmed on their own site and booking widget
- a different Dishoom location, always check the address reads 12 Upper St Martin's Lane
Match before paying
- Dishoom Covent Garden
- 12 Upper St Martin's Lane
- Tue 27 Oct
- 17:00, not 18:00
- table for 2
Done when
the confirmation shows the Covent Garden branch, 12 Upper St Martin's Lane, at 17:00.
Do this: Book 17:00 on 27 Oct, party of 2, Covent Garden branch, 12 Upper St Martin's Lane. Not 18:00, see the time change below.
Waiting to open (2)
Bar del Pla, Barcelona (first-night dinner)
Waiting
~3–5 min · Easy
Booking opens about 22 Sep. Tue 13 Oct, 21:00
Modern tapas in El Born, a party of 2. Or a walk-in works if you go early.
We are booking
Bar del Pla
Carrer de Montcada 2, El Born
Tue 13 Oct
21:00
table for 2
Carrer de Montcada 2, El Born
Tue 13 Oct
21:00
table for 2
Choose
a 21:00 table for 2
If they are full, any neighbourhood bodega near the apartment is fine on night one.
Match before paying
- Bar del Pla
- Tue 13 Oct
- 21:00
- table for 2
Done when
the confirmation shows 21:00 for two, or you have accepted the walk-in plan.
Do this: Reserve 13 Oct 21:00, party of 2. If they are full, any neighbourhood bodega near the apartment is fine on night one.
A proper Roman trattoria, Rome (dinner)
Waiting
~3–5 min · Easy
Booking opens about 26 Sep. Sat 17 Oct, 21:00
La Carbonara on Via Panisperna, or Broccoletti, a party of 2.
We are booking
A Monti trattoria
Sat 17 Oct
21:00
table for 2
Sat 17 Oct
21:00
table for 2
Choose
La Carbonara on Via Panisperna (takes bookings)
Da Enzo does not take bookings and is cash only, decide which you want.
Match before paying
- Sat 17 Oct
- 21:00
- table for 2
Done when
you hold a 21:00 table, or you have committed to queueing at Da Enzo.
Do this: Reserve one Monti trattoria for 17 Oct 21:00, party of 2. La Carbonara takes bookings; Da Enzo does not and is cash only.
Booked (2)
Le Train Bleu, Paris (the big dinner)
Booked
Thu 22 Oct, 20:00
A table for 2 in the historic dining room, up the staircase in Gare de Lyon.
Confirmed: Booked through TheFork · Thu 22 Oct, 20:00 · table for 2 · Place Louis Armand, Gare de Lyon. Free to cancel from the confirmation email. No deposit taken. Restaurant direct line +33 1 43 43 09 06 if the plan changes.
The table under the gold ceiling is yours.
Fair price: the reservation is free, no deposit. Dinner runs ~$150-200 for two with wine, that's on the Oct 22 page. The set menu is the value play.
How we booked it
Kept here on purpose, for the memory and in case anyone wants to book the same thing.
What we booked
Le Train Bleu
Thu 22 Oct
20:00
table for 2
main dining room, not the bar
Thu 22 Oct
20:00
table for 2
main dining room, not the bar
Choose
the direct reservation for 20:00 in the main room
The restaurant takes bookings on its own site and via TheFork. Use direct first; compare TheFork only if it offers the same 20:00 table on better terms. Do not move the time or the restaurant to chase a discount.
Match before paying
- Thu 22 Oct
- 20:00
- 2 people
Done when
the table for two is confirmed at 20:00.
The Ivy West Street, London (the farewell dinner)
Booked
Thu 29 Oct, 19:30
The original Ivy, green awnings, a party of 2. Julian's must-do, the last night.
Confirmed: Booked via OpenTable, Thu 29 Oct 19:30, a table for 2. Le Andra holds the reservation and sent John an invite to join it on his own OpenTable, worth accepting so it's on both phones.
How we booked it
Kept here on purpose, for the memory and in case anyone wants to book the same thing.
What we booked
The Ivy
the original, at 1-5 West Street
Thu 29 Oct
19:30
table for 2
the original, at 1-5 West Street
Thu 29 Oct
19:30
table for 2
Choose
The Ivy at 1-5 West Street (not an Ivy Cafe, Brasserie, Grill or Asia spin-off)
Match before paying
- The Ivy
- 1-5 West Street
- Thu 29 Oct
- 19:30
- table for 2
Done when
the confirmation reads: The Ivy, 1-5 West Street, Oct 29, 19:30, 2 guests.
Entry & travel admin
Needs action now (3)
UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), both of you
Do now
~10–15 min per person · Some choices
Do this now · one application each · needed for the Eurostar on 27 Oct
US citizens need a UK ETA to enter the UK. It is checked at UK entry control at Gare du Nord before you board the Eurostar. Valid 2 years, multiple entries. Decision usually comes in minutes; allow up to 3 working days.
£20 per traveller. Official GOV.UK or the 'UK ETA' app only. No third-party 'ETA service' site.
We are booking
UK ETA
one application per traveller
the passport each of you will travel on
one application per traveller
the passport each of you will travel on
Price estimate £20 per traveller.
Choose
the official GOV.UK ETA application, or the 'UK ETA' app
You need a passport, an email, a payment method and a face photo. Do this twice, once each.
Do not choose
- any third-party 'ETA service' site, they only add a fee
Match before paying
- John's application uses John's passport number
- Le Andra's uses hers
- £20 paid each
Done when
both travellers have ETA approval emails and each approval is linked to the correct passport.
Do this: Apply for both travellers, one application each, on GOV.UK or the official app. Each uses the passport that person will travel on, check the number matches before you submit.
☐ John's ETA approved
☐ Le Andra's ETA approved
☐ each approval linked to the correct passport
☐ John's ETA approved
☐ Le Andra's ETA approved
☐ each approval linked to the correct passport
STEP enrolment (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), both of you
Do now
~5–8 min · Easy
A few minutes, do it any time before you fly
Free State Department programme. Puts the nearest US embassy or consulate in touch with you if something happens on the trip, and sends alerts for the countries on your route. One-time, no cost.
Free. Official government site only, step.state.gov.
We are booking
STEP enrolment
step.state.gov
both travellers
trip dates + Spain, Italy, France, UK
step.state.gov
both travellers
trip dates + Spain, Italy, France, UK
Choose
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, on step.state.gov
Done when
both travellers are enrolled with the trip dates, the four countries, lodging and an emergency contact.
Do this: Enrol both travellers with the trip dates and the four countries (Spain, Italy, France, UK), plus your lodging and an emergency contact. Also on the Prep & packing page.
eSIM data, both phones
Do now
~8–12 min · Some choices
Buy and install before the flight on 12 Oct
Regional eSIM covering the EU and the UK, about 10 GB, 30 days. Estimate about $40 for two.
Fair price: Airalo 'Eurolink' 10GB / 30 days is ~$23-27 per phone. Under ~$55 for two is right. Holafly unlimited is ~$65-75 each, only worth it if one of you tethers a laptop a lot.
We are booking
Airalo 'Eurolink' eSIM
one per phone
~10 GB / 30 days
one per phone
~10 GB / 30 days
Price estimate ~$23 to 27 per phone.
Choose
Eurolink regional eSIM (covers EU + UK)
Install the profile now, switch it on when you land in Barcelona on the 13th. Keep the US line on wi-fi calling only.
Match before paying
- Eurolink regional plan
- one per phone
Done when
both phones show the Eurolink eSIM installed.
Do this: In the Airalo app buy the 'Eurolink' regional eSIM (covers EU + UK), one per phone, install the profile now, and switch it on when you land in Barcelona on the 13th. Keep the US line on wi-fi calling only.
Waiting to open (1)
ETIAS (EU / Schengen authorisation)
Waiting
Watch only. Not a booking, and nothing you can do yet.
ETIAS is not yet operating. It is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026. No application should be made unless the official EU system is live for an Oct 13 entry. You are not behind on this.
Do not pay any 'ETIAS' site. Not live, not required for this trip. If it launches it will be ~€20pp on the official EU site only.
Do this: Check the official EU status at 30 days out and again at 7 days out. Apply only if it has actually gone live for this trip, on the official EU site, never a third-party 'ETIAS service'.
Apps & check-in
Loading tickets and boarding passes into the right apps before you fly. Not reservations, but do not skip them.
GetYourGuide app, holds both Colosseum tour tickets
Do now
Install and log in before you fly (12 Oct). Open it again in Rome the night before, 16 Oct.
The Colosseum arena-floor tour tickets live only in this app, John and Le Andra both 17 Oct 10:00. Both bookings are under John's account, so Le Andra's ticket shows there too. No paper, no PDF.
Free.
Do this: Download on both phones, sign in to John's account, open Bookings and confirm both tour vouchers load (tap each one so it caches offline). The meeting point and the guide's phone number are in the booking.
Sagrada Família Oficial app, tickets + audioguide
Do now
Install before you fly. Load the tickets a day or two before, and download the audioguide on hotel wi-fi on 14 Oct.
Loads the 'with Towers' tickets (15 Oct, basilica 14:00 / Nativity tower 14:15) and the free audioguide. The audioguide is a large download, do it on wi-fi.
Free.
Do this: Download on both phones, enter the locator (on the Drive voucher) and John's email to load the tickets, then download the English (or Spanish) audioguide over wi-fi before you leave the apartment on the 15th.
Eurostar app, mobile tickets + live platform
Do now
Install before you fly. Add the trip once, it then works offline.
The Eurostar (27 Oct, Gare du Nord 10:01). A printed ticket is already in the Drive folder; the app is the backup and it shows the gate and any delay. It also nudges you to complete the Advance Passenger Info, which you must do before travel.
Free.
Do this: Download on both phones, add the trip (John's surname + the reference from the Drive voucher), and complete the Advance Passenger Information for both travellers inside the booking. Check the UK ETA is approved before the 27th.
Marriott Bonvoy app, mobile key + lounge, Rive Gauche
Do now
Install before you fly. Mobile check-in opens the day before, 20 Oct.
Paris Marriott Rive Gauche, 21-25 Oct, on points. The app gives mobile check-in, a digital room key, and confirms Titanium for Executive Lounge access.
Free.
Do this: Download on John's phone, sign in to the Bonvoy account, and do mobile check-in on the 20th so the room is ready when you arrive from Rome. Check whether the four Nightly Upgrade Awards have cleared to confirmed, and ask at the desk about the suite if they have.
City transport, what to install per city
Do now
Set these up on hotel wi-fi the night before each city, or all at once before you fly.
You do not need a transit app in every city. This is the short list of what actually helps.
All free. Tickets bought in-app cost the same as the machines.
Do this: Paris: 'Bonjour RATP' or 'Ile-de-France Mobilités' to buy t+ carnet / Navigo Easy and route the Metro. London: no app, just tap a contactless card or phone at the gates (Oyster is not needed). Barcelona: optional 'TMB App' for the Metro; a paper T-casual (10 rides) is simpler. Rome: Google Maps offline + paper 100-minute tickets, no app needed. Download Google Maps offline areas for all four cities before you go.
TheFork, restaurant booking and fallback
Do now
Install before you fly. Use it only when it actually helps.
A booking app for Barcelona, Rome and Paris restaurants. Le Train Bleu can be reserved through it as well as direct.
Free. Promotions vary by restaurant, date and time, treat any discount as a bonus, not a plan.
Do this: Use TheFork only when the restaurant you actually want is listed there, or when you need a nearby fallback. Book direct with the restaurant first where you can.
American Airlines app, boarding passes for the flight home
Waiting
Booking opens about 29 Oct. Install before you fly. Check in from 11:55 on 29 Oct (24 hours before AA137).
AA137, 30 Oct, LHR Terminal 3 11:55. Mobile boarding passes for both of you, and it flags any gate or time change.
Free.
Do this: Download on both phones, add the trip (John's surname + the reference from the Drive voucher). Set a reminder for 29 Oct, 11:55 London time to check in both passengers and pull the mobile boarding passes. Confirm the checked bag is in the fare while you're there.
LEVEL app (or web check-in), boarding passes for the outbound
Waiting
Booking opens about 11 Oct. Install before you fly. Online check-in opens about 30 hours before departure (~11 Oct).
LEVEL LL2624, 12 Oct, LAX 20:50. LEVEL's app is basic; web check-in on flylevel.com works just as well. The point is to have boarding passes on both phones before the airport.
Free.
Do this: From about 30 hours out, check in on flylevel.com (or the app) with the reference from the Drive voucher, add the boarding passes to Apple Wallet / Google Wallet on both phones. Do this before you also add the one checked bag.
VAT refund provider app, only if you use one
Waiting
Install only after a qualifying tax-free purchase, not in advance.
If a shop in Spain, Italy or France issues a Global Blue or Planet tax-free form, that provider's app can track the refund. Don't install every refund app up front.
Free. Only worth it if you actually made a tax-free purchase.
Do this: After a big EU purchase, note which provider is on the form (Global Blue or Planet) and install that one app if you want to follow the refund. The paperwork is handled at Gare du Nord on Oct 27.
Booking timeline
Book now
- ☐ City transport, what to install per city
- ☐ Dishoom Covent Garden, London (before The Lion King)
- ☐ Eurostar app, mobile tickets + live platform
- ☐ GetYourGuide app, holds both Colosseum tour tickets
- ☐ Marriott Bonvoy app, mobile key + lounge, Rive Gauche
- ☐ STEP enrolment (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), both of you
- ☐ Sagrada Família Oficial app, tickets + audioguide
- ☐ TheFork, restaurant booking and fallback
- ☐ eSIM data, both phones
- ✓ Barcelona (BCN) to Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
- ✓ Barcelona, Eixample (3 nights)
- ✓ Eurostar: Paris (Gare du Nord) to London (St Pancras)
- ✓ London Heathrow (LHR) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- ✓ London, Victoria (3 nights)
- ✓ Los Angeles (LAX) to Barcelona (BCN)
- ✓ Paris, Marriott Rive Gauche (nights 1 to 4)
- ✓ Paris, last two nights (nights 5 to 6)
- ✓ Rome Fiumicino (FCO) to Paris Orly (ORY)
- ✓ Rome, Monti (5 nights)
90 days out
30 days out
- ☐ Churchill War Rooms
- ☐ Louvre, timed entry (with the pass)
- ☐ Paris Museum Pass, 4 days, x2
- ☐ Sainte-Chapelle, timed entry (with the pass)
- ☐ Tower of London
- ☐ UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), both of you
- ☐ Versailles, Grandes Eaux Musicales (Musical Fountains), x2
- ☐ Versailles, palace timed entry (with the pass)
- ☐ Westminster Abbey
- ✓ Colosseum arena floor + Forum + Palatine, guided tour (Ivo Tours)
- ✓ Eiffel Tower, lift to the summit
- ✓ Le Train Bleu, Paris (the big dinner)
2 to 4 weeks out
On the ground
City transit
Buy on arrival
Barcelona: a T-casual, 10 rides. Rome: single 100-minute tickets, buy a book of them. Paris: a Navigo Semaine loaded on each phone. London: nothing, just tap a contactless card or phone.
Do this: Barcelona and Rome: machine at the first metro station. Rome, skip the Roma Pass, the only paid sights it would cover for you are the Borghese and Castel Sant'Angelo (~€28pp of value against a €35pp 48-hour pass), and it doesn't help at the Colosseum tour or the Vatican; single tickets are cheaper. Paris: buy the Navigo Semaine in the Ile-de-France Mobilites app (no counter, no photo). The Navigo Semaine runs Monday to Sunday no matter which day you buy it, so bought on the 21st it covers to Sun the 25th and the Orly ride in; add a Navigo Jour day pass each for Mon the 26th. (The Rome and Barcelona multi-day cards run on consecutive hours from first use, not calendar weeks, so no Sunday trap there.) London: contactless auto-caps at about 8.90 pounds a day, use the same card or phone every time.
Airport and station transfers
Buy on the spot
Barcelona: Aerobus A1 at Terminal 1. Rome: Leonardo Express at the FCO station. Paris: Metro Line 14 from Orly (Orlybus is gone), change at Bercy to Line 6 for the Left Bank, or a flat-fare taxi.
Do this: Barcelona and Rome: ticket machines right by the exit, pay by card. Paris: if you buy the Navigo Semaine at Orly it covers Line 14 straight away. Ignore anyone offering a taxi or a 'shuttle' inside a terminal.
A third West End show, if a spare evening opens
Day before or day of
The Lion King and The Book of Mormon are already pre-booked. A third could be Matilda or Operation Mincemeat. Not the Hunger Games show.
Do this: Open TodayTix on the day or the day before. A matinee (Wed, Thu, Sat) is roughly half the price of a Friday or Saturday night.
London 2-for-1 attractions
Check before booking attraction tickets
The 2FOR1 deal needs a QUALIFYING National Rail paper ticket that matches the promo rules (the travel date, the route, the named attraction). It is not unlocked by any random 3-pound ticket, and buying a throwaway ticket as a 'key' does not reliably work.
Do this: Check daysoutguide.co.uk against the Tower (and the Churchill War Rooms) and against any train you are actually taking. If a real journey qualifies, print the voucher and bring the paper ticket. If not, skip it and just book direct.
Tax-free (VAT) refund forms
Collected at each purchase, handled at the EU exit on 27 Oct
Only EU purchases (Spain, Italy, France) qualify. The UK ended tourist VAT refunds, nothing to do at Heathrow.
Do this: Ask for the Global Blue or Planet form at the till on any big EU purchase and keep the goods with you. Paris to London on Oct 27 is the final EU exit: French forms may use the French PABLO electronic process at Gare du Nord, and Spanish and Italian paperwork is handled per the issuing country and refund provider instructions there. Allow extra time at Gare du Nord if you bought anything tax-free.
Not being booked
Travel insurance
Skip
Decided against it.
Add-ons under consideration
Decide 2 to 3 weeks out
A third West End show if a London evening opens, priced on the extras page. The Roma Pass is not worth buying for this trip. Nothing here is booked or budgeted.