Podcast 136: Bonjour, Paris! Top Ten Tips + highlights from my recent trip to Paris
- Jun 11
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 15
Hello hello, and welcome to Episode 136 of Life On the Brink!
Earlier this spring I had the opportunity to travel with Josh for my 30th birthday- to Paris! This has been a bucket-list destination for me for years and we finally did it! It was extraordinary and beautiful, and even though neither of us had ever been to Europe before, I was able to feel prepared and flexible. It can be overwhelming when researching for a trip, so in today’s episode I’m sharing my Top 10 tips for traveling to Paris, plus some personal highlights from this very special.
“There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other. We always returned to it no matter who we were or how it was changed or with what difficulties, or ease, it could be reached. Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it.”
-Ernest Hemmingway, "A Moveable Feast"
What’s in my teacup? Drinking the Eiffel Tower blend from Damman Freres, yes, one of the teas I brought home from Paris!
TOP TEN TIPS: travelling to Paris
*I'm just leaving a rough list here along with any links I mentioned in the episode. If you'd like the full detail, listen to the audio in the player above!*
Stay in the city and prioritize the hotel over the flights
-We stayed at Hotel WYLD Saint Germain in the Latin Quarter!
Rather than use a strict itinerary, I had an ongoing list of things we could do on my phone.
However, some things I really recommend booking ahead.
-Examples: the Louvre, Disneyland, Giverny, Eiffel Tower, also I booked a cooking class at Le Cordon Bleu well in advance and it was well worth it!
When it came to packing, I prioritized separates that could be mixed and matched (mostly white, beige, blue, neutrals), plus a few dresses, and two pairs of comfortable shoes.
Bring an outlet adapter. You'll definitely need it if you live outside Europe.
-also, a portable travel luggage scale came in super handy!
Actually learn some French. Everyone was super patient and helpful as we tried to speak as much as we could, but knowing a little bit really helped with directions and communicating.
-This article of 13 essential phrases is a great and simple way to start.
Bring a water bottle. there are places to fill up water everywhere and you can always get free water at a restaurant by asking for "une carafe d'eau"
Figure out your bank or money situation beforehand. It's simple enough to get cash from a local bank ATM, but being aware of exchange rates, ATM fees and foreign purchase fees are good to know in advance.
Be aware of your surroundings. We were never scammed, but we knew what to look for!
Buy a commuter MetroCard
-I highly recommend downloading the Île-de-France Mobilités (IDF Mobilités) app, where you can purchase individual tickets and scan right from your phone, but we also bought a physical card from a metro attendant for a weekly commuter rate that was SO worth it.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR TRIP:
– Drinking hot chocolate at Café de Flore
– Baking a chocolate tart at Le Cordon Bleu
– Being sung "Happy Birthday" in French at Le Grand Colbert
– Seeing "The Wedding at Cana" in the Louvre
– Ordering quiche and salad at a corner bistro
– Finding my perfect trench coat at a thrift store
– Riding bikes through the Norman countryside
– Seeing Monet's Japanese bridge in real life
– Standing under the Eiffel Tower
– Riding the Ratatouille ride in Disneyland
– Zoe running to meet me in the airport
– Josh telling me a week later that he already cherishes the memories of the trip
This Week’s Little Joy: Kristin Johns' chocolate chip cookie recipe. I think it's truly my favorite version of this cookie ever in the world, and I've brought these to a few game nights lately and they are such a hit. I currently have some dough still in the freezer for when the craving strikes!
What I’m Listening To: "Impossible a prononcer" by Pomplamoose.
Thank you so much for listening! Feel free to leave a comment, or head to Apple Podcasts to leave a star rating or review. If you have any suggestions for future episodes, send an email in the contact form on this site. I’d love to hear from you, and I'll be back next month!
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