I have been to Paris many times, wandered around, fairly aimlessly, and managing to scrape into see a few of the sites.
However, I have never experienced a trip like the one I had with my 15 year old son, Archie. It was truly fabulous and despite the fact that he has never been to Paris before, Archie organised the whole trip, start to finish! I literally just turned up!
We stayed at a hotel called Hotel Triangle d’Or located 10 minutes from the Louvre and we paid just €170 per night for our room. The room was small but the staff were so welcoming and helpful and the hotel spotlessly clean. It had everything we needed and to be honest, we only slept there!
Day 1:
We took the early Eurostar, got to Paris at midday and checked into the hotel.
We then grabbed a sandwich along the way and took a wander through Jardin des Tuileries and Place de la Concorde, taking a break on one of the deckchairs before making our way to the Louvre. As the Louvre is so huge it was the right decision to start there as it took the rest of the day! The queues moved quickly, even around the Mona Lisa. It was really warm inside the museum and remember to wear comfortable shoes as we walked for miles.
We wandered back to the hotel and then got ready for dinner at Monsieur Bleu.
The restaurants interior is divine, the staff helpful and the food delicious. The best part is its proximity to the Eiffel Tower; not all tables have views of the tower so best to check in advance. It was pretty expensive, but worth it. I would love to go back when the weather is better and we could eat outside on the terrace.
After dinner we walked to the Trocadero Esplande and climbed to the top where you get the best views of the Eiffel Tower. It has an amazing sparkly light show after 9pm! We jumped in an Uber home (we had no issue getting cabs and they were fairly priced).
Day 2:
I am not a morning person but Archie convinced me to get up early and we headed to Cafe de Flore where we queued for 10 mins to get a table. It is very compressed inside but we had the most amazing croissants I have ever eaten!
After that we walked to see the Sainte Chappelle which I had never been to before, it has the most beautiful windows I have ever seen and it’s a breathtaking place.
We then headed to Notre Dame which is still closed due to the fire but is worth wandering around the perimeter. We took a little break at Shakespeare and Co. (a tiny book shop with little snugs where you can take a rest).
We then took the Metro to Montmartre from Luxembourg station then climbed up the many steps to the Sacre Coeur. We bought the most delicious sandwich from Grenouilles Paris. You really get the best views over Paris from the Sacre Coeur.
After this we took the tube back to the Palais Garnier, another place I hadn’t been before. The Opera house is glorious and we will definitely come back and see an Opera there in the future. That evening we ate at Brasserie Dubillot (really good value, classic French bistro food and buzzing).
I have never been to the Ritz in Paris before but I’m pleased we went, me to check out the merch in the shop (the tote bags at €60 make great gifts) and we had a delicious cocktail in the Ritz Bar. The staff were so welcoming and it was fascinating to people-watch. It was then a 10 minute walk back to our hotel.
Day 3:
We treated ourselves to the most divine hot chocolate from Carette with fresh whipped cream. It set us up for the day and the forthcoming climb up the Eiffel Tower. Our tickets did not include the lift (as even ticket holders have a huge queue) and though I moaned and groaned with every step it does give you a better experience if you climb. They have made a huge effort with the viewing stations and they all include loads of seating. Thankfully you can take the lift down!
It was a 5 minute walk to the river where we took the batobus to Le Marais.
We wandered around Le Marais and all its shops and as the weather was so beautiful we walked back through Paris and to our hotel.
On our final night we went to Perruche for dinner which was my absolute favourite meal of the trip. The restaurant is on the top of the Printemps department store. and if you ask for a seat with a view of the Eiffel Tower and you can see the light show after 9pm. The rigatoni pasta was literally the best I have ever eaten! There is a huge terrace which I would also love to revisit in summer.
That evening we ended the day with a cocktail at the George V hotel, again amazing for people watching, I preferred the Ritz though!
Day 4:
Archie went to visit La Grande Epicerie, a huge gourmet grocery area, and I had a lie-in! The rest of the day we wandered along the Champs- Elysees and got to visit a few shops. I adored the Kith Store which has a lovely cafe downstairs and the fabulous array of trainers and streetwear. I also enjoyed the Lacoste and Adidas stores which are beautifully curated.
Finally, the last climb of the trip was up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe (make sure you buy your ticket in advance as there are long queues).
We then picked our bags up from the hotel and headed back on the train.
I will be back! Now that we have found an affordable hotel I would love to go back when the weather is better, hit the shops and enjoy the outdoor bars and restaurants.
I don’t think I will ever forget this weekend and I feel blessed that Archie and I got to spend this time together making memories. Next, he is taking us all to Amsterdam!!
