I am a small town girl from Lucedale, Mississippi who has always had a pretty bad case of wanderlust. Europe was on the globe in our classroom as kids but it was never really on the realm of possibility of places I would even dream to get to see. But the older I got the more curious I was about the rest of the world. Fast forward to a life in the music business. Nashville > LA > NYC and back to Nashville. By the time I married my husband, we had both seen a good part of the good ‘ole USA so we immediately started our adventures with a honeymoon in Italy and I have LOVED seeing this great big world ever since. I wanna see it ALL! Our international travels have certainly slowed down a little since having our kids as my babies  are still pretty young to appreciate a European Vacation but when I knew our 15th wedding anniversary was coming up I felt it was time for Kevin and I to dust off our passports and reconnect. One of my favorite cities I’ve ever visited was Paris. It’s history, shopping and beautiful cobblestone streets were enough to keep me longing for a return trip and I started planning in my heart long before we ever booked a flight. I’m not going to bore you with every single detail of every single croissant and baguette and glass of wine, but suffice to say this. You must see Paris once in your life. It is surreal. It’s magic. Photos cannot do it justice. It is a place to be experienced and experienced with someone you love.

Photos: @flytographer (and the ever fabulous Rachel)

How we got there

Okay. It’s a LONG flight. My husband is extremely tall and he wouldn’t survive straight up coach. But we priced first class every way to Sunday it was INSANE. So, here is what we did. Kevin and I flew Delta from Nashville connecting in JFK then straight on to Charles DeGualle Paris . Our flight was around 8 hours from JFK. Their partner was Air France to Paris. We flew “Economy Plus” which is similar to domestic first class but still not First Class, or even business class ( a tier down from first) on an international flight. Its a little more expensive that straight up coach but not nearly as pricey as it’s more luxurious peers. There are larger seats in “Economy Plus”, with a recline at the bottom (think lazy boy) and great service. I would highly recommend this carrier and this “line” of seating.  We also sat in an Emergency exit row and his long legs had plenty of room. They  never cease feeding you and drinking you and making sure you have everything you need. One day when the kids are older and we return to Europe with our youngin’s (redneck for children) I would certainly choose to travel this way. All that being said, we flew Delta One which is first class home. It IS. BALLER. It is the Ritz Carlton of first class. The flight felt too short. We layed down FLAT in our delta “Suite” and slept. We were fed like overstuffed cattle. It was BAMAZING.  It was luxurious. It was worth every single dollar. It was a lot of dollars. However it was our anniversary and you only live once. If you have miles or are planning a trip like this, I suggest doing what we didn’t and save your miles and fly in the best way you can afford to travel. Plan in advance. Build up those miles and fly for free. Its a very long flight, and if you calculate how much money are spending on flights, and meals and hotels per hour you are going to be there…. it pays to be rested when you arrive and not have a tweaked back from being scrunched up like a sardine. No matter your budget for travel, I will say this. Travel. Don’t let the details or the worry stop you from living your life.

Where we stayed

SHANGRI-LA PARIS

Okay. This place is a literal PALACE. It is arguably one of the fanciest and most beautiful hotels in Paris. It is also NOT where we were supposed to stay. We couldn’t find our hotel reservation to the HIGHLY googled and researched hotel that was 1/4 of the price (HOTEL GRAND POWERS) and in a panic booked the Shangri-La ON THE PLANE TO PARIS based on reviews and reputation and the fact that there was nothing else available because it was Paris Fashion week. We were pretty much freaking out. Long story short, this hotel is the nicest most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed at or maybe ever will. This Palace is the former home of a Prince (the grandson of Napoleon Bonaparte… no joke) and has since been converted to a luxurious hotel within walking distance if everything and with unrivaled Eiffel Tower Views and an underground pool and Spa that is equally as beautiful as the rest of the hotel. The service is unparalleled and if you have it in your budget this one is a winner.

HOTEL GRAND POWERS

This is the hotel we were supposed to stay at. It is a lot more economical than the other hotel but has a much more boutique and hip vibe. I insisted on staying in a place within walking distance to most sights and this one fit the bill. It also had AMAZING reviews on almost every website and should we go back to Paris one day we would definitely stay here. All that being said, Paris can be a very expensive city to visit. Keep that in mind when looking for hotels, but my thought is this. I would rather spend more money on a hotel that his nice and comfy than on cabs because we chose to save a little cash and ended up staying near the airport.

Where to Shop

  1. Champs Elysses: This place goes without saying as the creme de la creme of shopping ventures. It’s beautiful wide sidewalks and high end shops are certainly something to see and they end at the Arc de Triomphe. It can deflinetly be a little touristy but that’s okay! We are tourists. You can find everything from Zara to souvenir shops and bakeries on this particular street. There is also a Galleries Lafayette and Printemps which are Paris’s version of Barneys. There is also a monoprix there (Paris’s version of Target) to pick up some cute things for the kiddos.
  2. Haussman : If you really want see something beautiful hit up the Galleries Lafayette and the Printemps on Haussman. With it’s glass ceilings and beautiful bakeries and macaroons in the basement it is a wonderful place to shop and take advantage of the VAT tax as they have an entire department dedicated to getting you your money back from the included taxes which can sometimes be up to 20% depending on your purchase.
  3. Shop Local: Wander down any cobble stone street in Paris and you are bound to find a Patisserie, Macaroon store or boutique with unique finds you won’t find anywhere at home. This is one of my favorite things to do. Get Lost.
  4. Chanel: Wander down 31 Rue Chambon and you can find the Chanel store (as well as many other high end boutiques). But this isn’t just any Chanel. This is the place where Coco Chanel lived and showed her collections during the beginning of her career. You can also get a better price on designers like Chanel, Dior and Celine in Paris because all of these collections are designed and produced right there. Time for a new handbag? There is also a young handbag brand I love called Polene’ which are beautiful bags and you can find them in any of the above mentioned stores for much less.
  5. Carousel de’ Louvre: After you have seen the Mona Lisa (which is a must see) there is a beautiful shopping area underneath the Louvre full of Parisian designers and a wonderful Laudree so you can pick up one of their dark chocolate Macaroons!

WHERE TO EAT

Okay here is the truth. We didn’t make a single reservation before we went. I know this may seem insane because Paris is full of high end, fancy places to eat. But my idea of a good time involves wandering around the city with a big baguette and some Gruyere and finding a bench in front of a fountain to sit on. Or walking into a Patisserie and picking up a chocolate croissant and a cappuccino and sitting outside and watching the people. Paris is also full of amazing French & Italian restaurants and we ate at so many wonderful places. I highly recommend asking the concierge at your hotel based on the dietary preferences of you and your party and going from there. We didn’t eat a bad meal while we were there. But here are a few I really enjoyed.

  1. Maison D Laudree: This is the OG of Macroon shops. Yes, you can find them other places but none of them are in Paris. Their Pastries are also pretty fabulous.
  2. Mokus L’ECUREUIL : This wonderful Italian restaurant is extremly close to the eiffel tower and the food is amazing. Some of the best Pizza I have ever had plus a great deal of healthy options as well plus a pretty fabulous wine menu.
  3. D’Chez Eux: This is a classic French Bistro. Kevin and I split the roast chicken and everything we ate here was fabulous. Would highly recommend for a classic French dinner.
  4. Roy: We found this darling little chocolate shop wandering down a darling little street. They make their own Nutella and it is fabulous. Every piece of chocolate we tasted from this family owned business was incredible. You will love it.

WHAT WE SAW

  1. Musee de Louvre: Okay. This is a a must see. Not only is the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo there but the Giant Pyramid from the Tom Hanks movie The DaVinci code is there too! HOWEVER… PLEASE READ THIS. BUY TIMED ADMISSION ONLINE BEFORE YOU GO. The lines can be very long to buy a ticket. Buy a timed admission (even the day of) and skip the line. We learned this thanks to our hotel concierge. Also, go see the French Crown Jewels. And the Egyptian Mummies and go see the base of the Louvre and what the Museum used to look like when it was basically Cinderella’s Castle. It’s fascinating. The whole place is pretty amazing.
  2. Tulleries: The Gardens behind the Louvre are something to behold and walk through and drink a cappuccino and eat a Chocolate Croissant and take a photo beside one of the many fountains while you walk toward the Eiffel Tower standing in the distance. Yes. It’s dreamy.
  3. Eiffel Tower: It lights up every night on the hour and half hour after 9pm. There is s restaurant up there and an elevator. And it’s a sight. Do it.
  4. Trocadero: This is the spot to get photos of you and your people in front of the Eiffel Tower. It’s where the photos above were taken by Rachel at Flytographer. It’s dreamy. And busy. And worth the hike up the stairs.
  5. Versailles: What can I say. It is CRAZY BIG. The gardens are the most beautiful I have ever seen. Ever. The Palace is incredible. Their are TWO MORE CASTLES on the grounds and Marie Antoinette’s “Farm house” she had built to get away from Palace life. I will never forget this place. This is also a place you should PURCHASE TIMED ADMISSION ONLINE (thank you Rachel at Flytographer) and walk right in at the time you choose instead of standing in the line that wrapped halfway around the Palace. We took the local train to Versailles from Paris . There is a stop right by the Eiffel Tower and trains run every 10-15 min. You buy a ticket at the kiosk or desk (maybe 7 euro?) and you literally get off at the stop labeled Versailles and walk two blocks. It’s about a 25 minute train ride. There are many audio tours you can do inside the Palace if you want all the history. You can also rent bikes or golf carts to see the grounds or buy a ticket for the tram which takes you to all the major stops in the gardens and grounds. It is WAY too big to see on foot, like 1,900 acres big so I highly recommend one of these options for seeing the grounds of Versailles. Which are a MUST SEE. There are also many lovely restaurants right outside the gates and so many places to eat inside and outside the grounds of Versailles when you get hungry.
  6. Coco Chanel: Her beautiful apartment is located at 31 Rue Chambon in a dreamy little neighborhood. She showed her first collections on the stairs of this place and her store was and is still there. Certainly something to see for a fashion lover.
  7. Arc de Triomphe: Located at the end of the Champs Elysses. It is a beautiful and a monument to the freedom of France. It is also HUGE.
  8. Musee de Orsay and Musee ‘de Orangerie: Two beautiful museums we didn’t make it into but we did walk by. Next time Paris. For the art lover, I think these are probably a must. They are located very close to the Louvre and the Tulleries and you could hit them up in the same day if you move fast.
  9. Photo at the Seine: and walk across the Pont des Arts bridge with all the locks. They sell them everywhere or if you want to bring one and leave your mark in Paris.
  10. Notre Dame: We saw it before the fire and it was closed when we were there this time but I HIGHLY recommend going to this holy place. Walk through if you can or just stand outside in awe. But it is a thing to behold. Especially the stained glass windows which tell the story of Jesus.
  11. The Opera: What a beautiful sanctuary for music. The French honor the arts and this is a shrine. Maybe you can’t deal with the music or maybe you love it but the actual building that houses the Opera is gorgeous and happens to be next door to the Galleries Lafayette and a Five Guys burgers… which tastes just as good in Paris as it does in Nashville!
  12. Flytographer : The last morning we were there we woke up with the sunrise to visit the photographer I had booked through @flytographer. A service providing professional photographers in most major cities. I could do an entire post on this amazing company. We met Rachel (an American living in Paris for a decade) at the Trocadero, a suggested location for an incredible view and a perfect light with the sunrise. She was so professional and lovely to work putting us both right at ease and giving perfect instruction I forgot we were even taking photos. Even Kevin was laughing and having fun, and NO he wasn’t thrilled to have a photo shoot in Paris.  I will never go on another vacay and not use them. They are SO reasonably priced and as you can see, the photos came out pretty perfect. They will hang in my home remind my husband and I how we celebrate 15 years of marriage in such an exciting way instead of relying on the kindness of another random tourist to capture a moment we have spent 15 years dreaming about and a small fortune on!

FAQ

  1. Can you use your major credit card everywhere? The answer to this is Yes. However, our particular card charges a 3% fee for all International purchases so best to check on that before you leave and make a choice.
  2. Do you need cash? Absolutely. There are many places you can exchange your US dollars for EUROS but you will need cash for tips at the hotel. You will also need cash at restaurants because it is not customary in France to leave a tip, so there is no spot on the reciept for a tip but they do appreciate one (anywhere from 5%-10%) when the service is good. So you need cash. Also, we had a few cabs that said they took credit cards but really only took cash. FYI, use uber where you can. It’s cheaper and you won’t run out of cash.
  3. There are SO many beautiful parks and Museums there that are must see’s. You could spend a week there and just go to the parks alone. Do explore the city  parks.
  4. KIDS. Okay, we saw so so many people with kids there. Very kid friendly city but I am not sure I would say totally stroller friendly as there weren’t elevators everywhere and also INSANE drivers. You would def wanna keep a tight hand on your little ones. There are also markets and bakeries everywhere there so I don’t think you would have any trouble finding “kid friendly” fare should you be on the hunt. There is also American fast food everywhere and a Starbucks should you be in need of a cake pop or a happy meal.
  5. Google Translate is such a life saver if you don’t speak French. I do however recommend learning some basic phrases. Pretty much everyone speaks English but they do appreciate when you ask first and are much friendlier when you don’t assume! Parle vous Fracias!?
  6. Cell Service is PRICEY if you don’t call your carrier before you leave.But ours ended up being an extra $10 a day and we just used my phone the entire time we were there then my husband would hook up the the WiFi at the hotel for service when we got back in the evenings. You can also pick up a SIM card when you get there for $20 bucks and change yours out if your phone has one for a total of $20 for international service.
  7. Airport taxis are pretty pricey. We used this car service we found on google and it was about $150 Euro which is more than a cab but I knew he wasn’t carting us around Paris racking up charges and we weren’t trying to get a cab at 6 am after a red eye. I recommend this if you are coming in after all night flight. Plus he met us at baggage claim, carried our bags and his car was waiting right out front when we arrived . Extremely clean car, very professional.
  8. Speaking of cabs… you cannot hail a taxi there. It’s not like New York. You go to a taxi stand and wait. And good luck finding one… can I say uber? We love walking and exploring so this is what we did.
  9. Hotel Concierge, utilize it. They know the best spots for you and your kids and your boyfriend and your Nana and they can tell you how to get there and the shortcuts to not have to wait in line. This is their full time job. This is why you need cash. Tip them well. This is your new BFF.
  10. Paris can be cold and rainy. Pack a rain coat and collapsable rainboots. Maybe you will get pristine weather, but if you don’t you will be happy you packed these!
  11. Wear comfy shoes. In fact bring a few pair in case you get blisters. We averaged 6-8 miles a DAY. But it was glorious and think I even lost a pound or two while we were there from all the walking!