Europe

From Paris With Love…

Since I was able to score an inexpensive flight to Brussels, why not take advantage of the location and catch the train to a few other countries? Weeeeelllllllll, it didn’t work out that way. Because I’m a procrastinator, I waited too late to book the train tickets to Paris, and they skyrocketed to $200+. We ended up country-hopping via bus, Flixbus to be exact. The tickets were about $30 roundtrip. Had we purchased the train tickets in advance, they would’ve been around $40 roundtrip. Moral of the story: book your train tickets in advance!! The closer you get to your departure date, the more expensive the train ticket.

Our accommodations were at the Courtyard Paris Arcueil, which was located about 6 miles outside of Paris. I had a voucher for a free night at a category 1-5 hotel and enough reward points to cover the remainder of my stay. My grand total was $0!! These reward programs really pay off!! Now let me put this out there…Paris hotels are very expensive, at least from what I saw. Since my niche is budget-friendly traveling, it would be remiss of me to recommend the more expensive hotels. Courtyard Arcueil was very nice, and it is located across the street from a mall and within walking distance to the metro station! It doesn’t get any better than that! Whenever I travel, I ALWAYS become familiar with public transportation systems. This method of transportation will save you a lot of money. Besides, the traffic in Paris was horrible. You’d be paying an arm and leg for a 6-mile taxi ride. When we first arrived, we caught a taxi to our hotel. You remember me saying it was 6 miles away, correct? Guess how much we were charged… $55!!!!!

By the time we freshened up and hit the streets, it had already started to get dark. We asked a passerby for directions to the metro, and we were on our way. I let my heart guide me, and it was not long before I saw her peeking above restaurants, glimmering in the night sky. We walked a little closer to get a better view. If you would have asked me ten years ago, I would have never thought I’d ever be standing beneath the Eiffel Tower. She was a beauty, sparkling and twinkling, demanding the attention of all life around her. Because we were freezing, we did not linger too long. The weather was cold, wet, and gloomy. Make sure you check the weather before packing. I’d hate for you to be stuck with Miami attire in 40 degree weather.

Because Paris is a large city, it would take several posts to discuss everything we did. You can, however, find them below. The Catacombs were on my list, but time was not on our side. We ate at several different restaurants and cafes, but one that stood out in particular is Vapiano. It’s a pizza and pasta bar located at Les Quatre Temps. No, I did not go all the way to Paris to eat pizza and pasta, but we had been exploring all day and our stomachs were touching our backs. I do encourage you to try croissants, macaroons, and baguettes though. If you get any entrée in Paris that contains egg, it will be poached. The menus read fried, but I know a poached egg when I see it. Lol.

  • Eiffel Tower
  • Jardin Du Luxembourg
  • Sacre Coeur
  • Arc de Triomphe
  • The Louvre
  • Pantheon
  • Notre Dame de Paris
  • Les Quatre Temps (Mall in La Defense)

Words of Advice

Now, I would like to provide you all with a few tips when visiting Paris.

  1. Ladies, it would not be wise to carry a large purse. You will be an easy prey for pickpockets. Instead, carry a cross-body and wear it beneath your jacket. Men, it would not be a good idea for you to carry your wallet in your back pocket.
  2. When taking pictures, hold on tight to your phone. You wouldn’t want anyone to roll up on you and snatch it out of your hands while running or on a bike.
  3. As I previously stated, purchase your train tickets in advance. If you wait until the last minute like me, Flixbus is always an option. We traveled to both Paris and Amsterdam via Flixbus. Some buses had wifi and electrical outlets.
  4. Speaking of electrical outlets, don’t forget your travel adapter. If you’re staying at a hotel, they may have some that you could borrow or purchase. I purchased one, and it is suitable for use in several different countries.What tips do you have for someone traveling to Paris?

13 Comments

  • Amy Gimblet

    Paris was amazing!! Good job on the free Marriott stay! Being a loyal member does pay-off. Flixbus was the WIN, especially with the free WiFi and ability to charge devices, not so awesome when a lady falls asleep on your shoulder.

  • Laura Johnson

    Wow! I just read your post. Not only was it beautifully written, but the experience! Just incredible!
    The tips and inside info are great! I’m soaking it in. My fav is the one about the trains because I was considering taking a train from Williamsburg or Philly to DC – just looking at all the schedules made my eyes cross. I don’t have much experience with trains but we are huge fans of public transit!
    I nixed the train trip because it just took too much time away from museum hopping.

    I am inspired by your travels Ms Livi. I will definitely keep reading. ❤️
    Laura

  • Mia

    I’m glad you enjoyed your stay in Paris! I love the historical monuments in the Latin Quarter are beautiful. Even walking through the city is a perfect way to enjoy the City of Light 🙂

  • The Wanderful Me

    Great pictures and awesome advice! I’m always so afraid of someone riding by on a bike and snatching my phone right out of my hands. I once heard that someone was taking a picture with an iPad and someone literally came up, punched the person in the stomach and stole the iPad – NUTS. Anyways, great post on Paris! Love it.

  • Rebecca Brianne

    A $55 cab ride?? Yikes!! I would have been internally freaking out. That’s much worse than here in Boston. I guess it balances out the cheap bus ride, haha – and the pictures are worth it! Beautiful!

    Best,
    Rebecca

  • nomadbytrade13

    We had the same train issue, but in reverse. Our plan was to leave Paris and take a train to Brussels, but we waited too long to book. We ended up cutting Brussels out because they were so expensive and just split the extra day between Paris and Reims en route to Luxembourg. It wasn’t the worst thing that could’ve happened, but definitely a good lesson.

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