Paris, France!!! *insert swooning sigh*
Once you think "vacationing in Europe", Paris is perhaps one of the first destinations that comes to mind. It definitely was for me. I'll start off by saying that my welcome to Paris was particularly memorable! The immigration officer, took my Jamaican passport, exclaimed “Bob Marley!” then proceeded to serenade me with, “No Woman No Cry”. The joys of having a Jamaican passport! Well, except for that time I was leaving Athens, Greece.
I think it’s safe to say, Paris is every traveller’s dream! Somehow we (unconsciously) view it as the pinnacle of travelling- a supreme accomplishment! Think about it, if someone toured Europe and didn’t visit Paris wouldn’t you likely think, “Then, where did you go???!!! Why did you go???!!!”
I'll start off my saying that my experience of Paris, was many years ago as a student. So this account is written through that perspective. It was the second European city I visited, meaning my travelling experience and expectations were somewhat limited. I didn't have much to compare Paris to. To put things into further perspective, my visit was before the advent of Instagram, travel blogs, iconic pictures of evening gowns blowing in the wind before the Eiffel Tower, Google Maps, Google Translate, etc. I'm hoping to one day return as a more seasoned adult/traveler and would love to make a comparison. That should be interesting and I'll keep you posted!
FUN FACTS: Paris is the second most visited city in Europe with 19.2M visitors per year. London takes first place with 19.6M. Paris is dubbed the "city of light" not because of how beautiful it is at nights, but because it was one of the first European cities to install street lights.
DESTINATION OVERVIEW: PARIS
Overall Experience: 10/10 (again, I was young and perhaps not the most objective. My perceptions may have been jaded by youthful exhuberance. Paris was #1 on my bucket list at the time. I was living a dream, hence I may have making assessments rather leniently).
Language Spoken: I feel so silly typing this but...French.
The People: Media often conveys French people as having a superiority complex and being unwelcoming to hearing any language but their own. This wasn't my experience. Mind you, I did speak intermediate French when I visited and used it for basic conversation. Perhaps this was appreciated, but overall, I didn't find Parisians to be snobby. They were neither very warm nor cold. They just seemed to mind their own business.
Currency Used: Euros
Visa Requirements: Schengen Visa, aside from those with passport from Europe, UK, USA, etc.
Best Suited for: Couples (of course!), Friends
Not so Great for: I'm not sure I'd say Paris is unsuitable for any travel setup. I recently had friend visit with their baby and 5 year old, and they said it was amazing (they found playgrounds, etc). Perhaps the stereotype of Paris being a Lovers' City (and especially the portion of the River Seine dedicated to lovers clasping a lock with their initials) may make you feel a little weepy about being single, if that's the case.
WHAT IS PARIS REALLY LIKE?
Paris is famous for romance, art, fashion, a sophisticated language, architecture and food/pastry. Whilst I will rush to say I LOVED Paris (and can’t wait to go back!), I will be just as quick to say it may not necessarily be the image of perfection you often see portrayed. It is the city of lights and the city of love, yes! Is it charming, captivating? Absolutely! Will you feel like you’re floating on air? If you’re like me, you might! But just so you’ll have balanced expectations, several visitors I know have expressed disappointment in the state of public transportation and general cleanliness. Persons from this camp may tell you the city is over-rated. What I will say is, it’s a real place on earth where real people live, so it isn’t flawless: you might find litter, experience the smell of urine in the subway and spot graffiti, for example. Basically, don’t expect utopia, and you should be fine!
SHOW ME THE MONEY: HOW AFFORDABLE IS PARIS?
I've heard that Paris is crazy expensive from recent visitors. It's likely things have changed, but when I visited, I didn't feel that way. My to visit Paris was in the spring, as a student. This meant budgeting was everything! In total, I spent approximately €100 on airfare and accommodation combined, for a 3-day stay! I’d say that was a huge win! One of the things that made this trip fit within a slim budget was a simple mentality, “I’ll perhaps get to visit again someday when I can do all the ideal things I’d like to, but for now, I’ll just aim for an appetizer, (or shall I say "hor d'hoeurve"), type of trip". So yes, like everyone else I wanted to take the Eurostar (Paris to London Train) and travel through the English Channel, but it was just too costly. So I opted to take Jet2, a budget airline, from Bradford, England to Paris and paid about €75 round trip!
If you are travelling from the Americas (including the Caribbean), consider an airline such as TUI fly or Eurowings Discover, which often offers tickets to Europe (Belgium, Germany) for as little as half the cost of mainstream airlines- they are hidden gems! Go directly to their website instead of searching travel sites, where they aren’t usually listed. Once you’re already within Europe, it’s pretty affordable to move from country to country. When booking tickets, a common question is, “Which Paris airport is Best?”. We travelled to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France and found that we had uncomplicated access to the city via public transportation, so you may want to consider this port. Another tip to reduce costs, is the time of year. Travelling outside of the summer months, June-August, will be much cheaper as this period is the peak season. Winter or spring fares are likely cheaper. For the best of both worlds (warmer weather without the crowds and high fares) aim for May or September, before and after peak season, respectively.
My “hor d'hoeurve” mentality meant that I was fine staying in a lower-end hotel in Paris. Our choice was “Hotel Premiere Classe”, which by the way was very clean and comfortable, and even provided complimentary breakfast! I travelled with two girlfriends— this cut costs significantly. We each paid a total of €25 for a shared room for 3 nights! So when it comes to Paris hotels, don’t be ashamed to scale down a bit once you’ve conducted your due research. Even on your IG reels/stories, no one will know/care where you stayed, plus you'll be spending most of your time sightseeing anyway! Once it's safe and clean, I think the cheaper accommodations are fine! Booking.com is a great place to find accommodations. They allow you to select your budget, landmarks you wish to be close to and in some cases, even allow free cancellations!
Just these tips alone will make your trip so much more financially feasible!
GETTING AROUND: TRANSPORTATION IN PARIS
Paris is well-connected with the Metro being the main means of public transport. You can easily get from the airport to the city centre using a regional train (RER). There are also buses, taxis trams as alternatives, but the Metro was my go to, the fastest and most efficient.
Things to Do in Paris, France (that are free or not so expensive)
1) Arc de Triomphe/Champs Élysées- this is first on my list because very unexpectedly, it “wow-ed” me the most. I expected the Eiffel Tower to have this effect, but the Arc caught me by surprise! I froze as I beheld it! The Arc de Triomphe was built on Napoleon’s orders after one of his victories. The monument recognizes French soldiers who fought and died during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The arch is just so majestic to take in- a brilliant piece of architecture that caused me to scream uncontrollably on the inside, “This is it!!! I’m in Paris!!!”*Budgeting Tip: There is the option to climb the arch, where you can visit a museum and access a panoramic view of Paris at a cost. However just seeing it, which is free of cost, is awesome on its own.
2) Boat Ride along the River Seine- this was nothing short of magical! The ideal option is a dinner cruise complete with live music, but again, with my hors d'oeuvre budget, I opted for a scaled-down version, without food and music and it was still spectacular! You can find cruises leaving from Vedette Du Pont Neuf along the Seine— from my experience, there's no need to book the budget alternative in advance. I’d highly recommend doing your cruise in the evening/night when the bridges are illuminated! It’s intensely surreal! The ride will take you past the Eiffel Tower which lights up brilliantly at night and blinks for 5 minutes on the hour, every hour between nightfall and 1:00 am.
3) Chateau de Versailles - this was my "big spend" and I don't regret it one bit! I've seen many palaces and this one reigns supreme (especially courtyard wise). Chateau de Versailles, a former royal residence, showcasing French baroque architecture, lies outside of Paris. However you can get there using the RER train in less than an hour. It's truly worth the time and d'argent (money) from my experience. A bonus was seeing a replica of the Statue of Liberty that France gifted the United States along the way (I've read there are at least 5 of them in Paris)!
4) The Eiffel Tower- Did I really have to say this? This symbol has represented Paris, and by extension France, in movies, photography, poetry and in our wildest dreams. If it's one international monument we all know, it's this one! Le Tour Eiffel is grand, rustic and truly a memorable sight! Originally called the 300 meter Tower, this iron built structure was designed by Gustav Eiffel in 1889 to celebrate France's know-how and industrial advancement. Now it's a symbol of romance, prestige and ultimate travel goals! You have the option to climb this famous structure to get a view of fhe city, but planning a picnic or a photoshoot with it in the backdrop are other alternatives.
5) The Notre Dame- as a kid, I watched and loved the Hunchback of Notre Dame so I just had to see this! Churches are an important part of the European experience and history. This one in particular, is said to be the most beautiful display of French Gothic architecture. You may remember that there was an unfortunate fire at the Notre Dame in 2019. The landmark is still being restored; as such, sadly some parts of the building have been lost and it's no longer open for visits inside. I visited long before the fire, however, given my budget I didn't pay to do the tour and was still impressed by the outside alone, plus it was free!
*The L'ouvre Museum, which houses the famous Mona Lisa, is another excellent place to visit. I'd highly recommend this, if you have the time and funds. I had neither, so I opted out. I'm hoping to go in the future!
FREEBIES (FIVE FREE ACTIVITIES IN PARIS)
1) Eiffel Tower Light Show- remember I told you above how this was a highlight on my Seine cruise? You can enjoy this spectacle each night, as the famous monument lights up!
2) Church Hopping- with intriguing architecture and history, viewing the exterior of churches like Notre Dame can be quite fascinating, however savouring the interior of Paris' many churches such as Saint Sulpice and Saint Germain-des-Prés is also fabulous & free.
3) Free Museum Visits- on the first Sunday in every month entry to most museums is free!
4) Gardens- enjoy free parks such as Jardin de Louxemburg; make it photo-opp worthy by planning a lunch picnic with deals from the supermarket!
5) Galeries Lafayette- this a popular Parisian department store. Not only can you window shop, buy you can also take an escalator to observation deck where one can enjoy free panoramic views of Paris! Oh là là!
WHAT TO EAT IN PARIS
REALITY: This isn't necessarily a dream list, it's what I had (see below for what's ideal)
1) Poulet (Duck Confit)- when I studied French in high school, we learned a lot about "Le Poulet" and how common it was in French culture. So I had to have it! I'll say it was much better than duck I've had elsewhere! Well cooked and much higher quality.
2) Crêpes- those flatter versions of a pancake & one of France's signature desserts. Tried it and I loved it!
3) Chocolat Chaud (French Hot Chocolate)- the very word "café" is French, so I didn't think it was fitting without visiting one. I always dreamed of sitting outside a Parisian cafe, sipping on my chocolat chaud, people-watching. I soon learned that dream was not going to be realized - at least not in it's entirety, as I had to pay an extra amount to sit on the outside! Perhaps it was just that café, but yeah, I stayed inside. The hot chocolate was tasty though!
4) Pain au Chocolat- a pastry (popular breakfast item) made with a brioche type bread filled with dark quality chocolate! I loooooove it! There are cheap alternatives in the supermarket. You can buy a pack of about 8. We had these as on the go snacks to save some bucks.
WHAT YOU SHOULD REALLY EAT IN PARIS
EXPECTATION:
1) Escargot- a national symbol of France, these snails are a beloved French dish. I'm still not sure how I'll work up the courage to try it, but I've told by a Francophone friend that they are delicious!
2) Filet Mignon- mignon means "dainty" so the term refers to a tender or delicate cut of beef. A friend of mine who visited, said this was everything!
3) Eclairs- pastry... yum! This treat is made of light dough filled with pastry cream and topped with various options, but usually chocolate! Let's go!
4) Macarons- another sweet treat! Made of almond flour and whipped egg whites, these delicate biscuit sandwiches come with various fillings and flavours.
5) French Onion Soup- well seasoned, and made of sweet onions, this warming starter is covered with gooey Gruyere cheese!
6) Bread (Croissants/Baguette)- Boulangeries (bread shops) are very popular in Paris. While studying the language, I remember learning that the French buy fresh bread daily and it's a huge part of their culture. Try buttery croissants or a hearty bageutte for breakfast.
7) The Cheeses- France has over 246 types of cheese! Now that's a lot to choose from, but here's a shortlist to make choosing a bit easier: Chevre Frais, Roquefort, Camembert de Normandie, Raclette. Bon appetit!
WHAT I HOPE TO DO THE NEXT TIME I VISIT PARIS
Tour the L'ouvre Museum
Have all the foods I missed!
Do An Evening Dinner Cruise with Live Music
Climb the Eiffel Tower
Visit the Opera (Palais Garnier)
A girl can dream, right! What's your dream? What sites in Paris would you like to visit?
So in short, yes, I do think Paris is worth the hype, though it may not meet every expectation the media sets us up for. Do I think it's the best city to visit in Europe? Having travelled a bit more, the answer is "No!", but that's for a whole other blog. Stay tuned for that one!
For more of my take on Paris, feel free to check out my vlog: