To celebrate both mine and my husband’s 40th birthdays we decided to fly to Paris for a romantic weekend getaway.
We flew with Easyjet from Birmingham Airport, which went off without a hitch. The flight was on time with no delays, and our take off and landings were excellent.
We stayed at the 4* Rochester Champs Elysee. This was a lovely Traditional Hotel and the staff were incredibly helpful and very friendly. We were given a room upgrade to a Superior room as we were celebrating a special birthday. We also received a complimentary bottle of bubbly! I thought this was a lovely touch and it made our break even more special.
The hotel was in an excellent location, close to the Champs Elysee. There were also two metro stations just a stone’s throw from the hotel, which made getting around town to see the sights very easy and convenient.
Topping our list of things to do was a visit to the iconic Eiffel Tower. We chose to do this at night, which was fabulous as we could see all of Paris lit up, with dusky amber hues pouring out of the cafés that lined the boulevards and alleyways below. I would recommend booking your trip up the Eiffel Tower beforehand to avoid disappointment and also to wrap up warm, as it can be cold at the top!
The next thing on our list was a visit to the famous Louvre Museum to see the Mona Lisa, which was a fantastic experience. We also loved the Egyptian artifacts. We took a cruise along the River Seine and walked around the Gothic Cathedral Notre Dame in the heart of the city. We also visited the Arc de Triomphe built to celebrate Napoleon’s victory at the Battle of Austerlitz. One thing we didn’t get chance to see was the Moulin Rouge show. Maybe next time.
France is famous for its cuisine and the boutique capital offers no shortage of dinning options. There are special culinary experiences to be had all over Paris whether you choose to dine at a grand Michelin-starred restaurant or in the window of a small independent cafe. They say if you want value for money you should eat away from the attractions in restaurants hidden up the side streets, where you can find many set meal menus for a set price.
Shopping is another fantastic draw of Paris. You’ll find the large department stores such as Printemps and Galaries Lafayette offering immense choice. If street markets are what you enjoy then head to Rue Mouffetard close to the Latin Quarter, and if you’re looking for the latest fashion you’ll need to look down Rue St Honore, Boulevard St Germain and Avenue Montaigne.
We loved Paris. There is so much to see and do and it is very easy to get to. If you don’t like flying then you can take the Eurostar form London St Pancras.
Travel Blog by Irene Jones
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