We’ll Always Have Paris — LIFE WITH DANI

PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA - AUDREY HEPBURN

Bonjour! After binging Emily in Paris on Netflix, I wanted to share the deets on my awesome trip. I went with a group of 6 ladies to celebrate my 27th birthday from April 7-10 2018. I flew from LaGuardia Airport in New York to Charles De Gaulle Airport on Air Canada with a stop in Montreal. I made sure to book a night flight that arrived in Paris by 9:30 am. This gave us enough time to check into our AirBnB in the Montrouge area, grab a quick bite to eat and rest until dinner time since we had a bit of jet lag.

Here’s my Three Day Guide to Paris:

Day 1: GET SETTLED

Check-in to your accommodations, eat at La Quincaillerie Generale and relax.

Night 1: Dinner on the Seine River

For our 1st night in Paris we enjoyed dinner and a boat ride along Paris’ famous river. The $63 cruise lasted about 1.5 hours. This included a 3-course meal of a foie gras starter, a main course of fish or chicken, dessert & your choice of wine or champagne. We were also able to see some of Paris' main attractions on the cruise, including the Louvre Museum, Musée d’Orsay and the iconic illuminated Eiffel Tower.

Day 2: Time to Explore

The initial plan was to do a walking tour that I found on Google but unfortunately we arrived late. Instead we walked around the city, visited the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre & shopped for souvenirs. I recommend walking tours if you’re strapped for time since you’ll be able to see more with an experienced guide. After a delicious lunch at Chez Alexandre (lots of options for our big group), we went back to our apartment to rest & prepare for our evening activity.

Night 2: Enjoy the Cabaret Show

We spent our evening enjoying the “Feerie” show at the Moulin Rouge - a must see if you’re visiting Paris! I thoroughly enjoyed the dancing, music and acrobatic presentations for $86. The costumes were beautifully detailed & added to the overall experience of the night. We were also able to enjoy champagne as my actual birthday approached. Since we opted for the 11pm show, we grabbed burgers from Quick - French version of McDonald’s since it was conveniently located next door. TIP: Get there early so you can get great seats. We were able to score amazing seats at the front!

Day 3: New Experiences

Luckily we had an amazing Uber driver from the previous night so we hired him to take us around the city on our last day. If you meet one you like, get their number so you can eliminate transportation woes!

We wanted to try something different and opted for a Candle Making Class via AirBnB experiences. It started off with delicious tea and a quick olfactory lesson. Up next, we selected our preferred scents and began the candle making process. This experience lasted 2 hours which was a great way to create a keepsake from your amazing trip to Paris!

After the class, we spent some time walking around the Montmartre area. We visited Sacré-Cœur (the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church) and soaked up some beautiful views overlooking the city. Since no trip to Paris is complete without crepes, our driver took us to Glaces Crepes Panini - a to-go creperie located beside Moulin Rouge and oui, oui they were delicious and super affordable! Since I’m more of a savory girl, I got the chicken & cheese but my friends were also raving about the Nutella based option.

Before heading to the airport, we stopped to take some quick pics by the Arc de Triomphe.

Paris DOs & DONTs:

Do be mindful of your surroundings. Like visiting any other country it is important that you stay vigilant and be on the lookout for pickpockets especially in the Moulin Rouge area at night. Also beware of street scams.
Do spend some time shopping for souvenirs in the flea markets and street vendors but remember to bargain for the best prices. We were able to get super affordable berets. #RINGARDE
Don’t get flustered even if things don’t go according to plan. I am a huge planner and my Paris trip taught me the importance of going with the flow. Even if your schedule gets derailed, Paris is a beautiful city to get lost in and explore!
Don’t believe the stereotype that French people are mean. They’re usually willing to help once you are polite.
Do check the weather and plan accordingly. Since I visited in April and it was in the 60s, I packed jackets, jeans,sweaters & booties. I packed using these packing cubes and I swear by them! Don’t forget your umbrella just in case. I ended up purchasing one, but it did make for a cute photo prop.

My quick vacay in Paris was coming to a close and it was time to head to Italy to create more European memories. Though my trip was short, I was still able to get a glimpse of what the city has to offer and I can’t wait to return to the City of Love & Lights!

Until next time...au revoir mes amours!