We go to Paris at least once a year for weekends or day trips (only a couple of hours on the Eurostar for us) and I would definitely agree with Tothill about bing alouvre tickets In advance or getting there very early. Three isn't really a 'quiet time' any more - rather like London! We have so many more Chinese and Arab tourists than we used to and they come all year round. Interestingly I don't see as many American tourists as 5-7 years ago - not sure why.