Seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris had always been on my bucket list, and to be honest I hadn’t really given much thought about what else the Paris might have had to offer.
To find out, I took the Eurostar from St Pancras to Gare du Nord, which, travelling in Standard Premium Class was easy and comfortable. I arrived in Paris and transferred straight into the heart of this beautiful city. Our first stop included a drive down Champs-Élysées toward the Arc de Triomphe on our way to the 5* Hotel Lancaster, part of The Leading Hotels of the World collection. The hotel is small and intimately stylish, exquisitely and tastefully decorated to give it an exclusive atmosphere of elegance and charm.
In the afternoon we had a whirlwind tour of the sights of Paris, including a walk up to the Sacre Coeur in the Montmartre area and a cup of hot chocolate in the Marais area. On my next trip to Paris I can’t wait to explore the little alleyways, which are full of shops, restaurants, bars, fashion boutiques, hotels, art galleries and coffee shops.
That evening we stayed at the 5*Le Meurice hotel, across the road from the Tuileries Gardens and close to the Louvre Museum. As you enter the hotel you immediately feel the opulent luxury with the high columns with mirrored glass doors, high ceilings, marbled floors and gorgeous chandeliers. My satisfaction with the hotel didn’t stop there either - once in my room I felt like I had escaped to a stunning quiet haven, with plenty of space, a huge king-size bed and marbled bathroom.
Early the next morning we caught the TGV to Reims, which took about an hour. An expert local guide took us on a walking tour and, through his stories really brought the history of the city to life, especially the history of Notre Dame Cathedral.
After lunch we headed off for a tour of G.H. Mumm Champagne House, where we learnt a little of the process of making Champaign, and even got to do a little tasting. Yum!
Back in Paris we spent our second night at the Grand Hotel du Palais Royal, a modern, high-end and refined hotel. The rooms, although smaller than the Le Meurice, made good use of the space available, and were tastefully decorated and welcoming. The hotel was situated close to the Louvre Museum, on a quiet road, which gives the relaxing feeling that you have escaped the hustle and bustle of the city.
After a good night sleep and an early breakfast we were transferred to Paris Orly airport for our short flight down to Nice, where we walked through the terminal for our Helicopter transfer. Oh I sound so matter of fact! In reality we were all extremely excited about arriving into Monte Carlo in such extravagant style. The transfer took about 7 minutes as we flew over the Med, giving us a bird’s eye view of the beautiful coast of southern France and Monaco.
In keeping with our elaborate grandiose outing we lunched at the Cafe de Paris before viewing the majestic Hotel de Paris and the Hermitage Hotel, which has much the same detail but with a much softer more feminine appearance.
We also visited Port Palace, which had wonderful views of the Marina, and The Metropole Hotel, which was one of my favourites - a small, understated, stylish hotel that appears timeless in its decor.
Next I stayed at the Fairmont for two nights. This hotel is huge, and has a resort hotel feel to it as well as wonderful views of the Med.
A very pleasant surprise was the Columbus Hotel, which is a modern classic hotel with a contemporary feel. Besides the Jardin Exotique gardens, the Aquarium, Museums, beach and Casino there are plenty of Bars and Restaurants. Just make sure to reserve your table! Monaco is a wonderful holiday destination whether you’re staying for a week or two, or for a shorter break.
Here are my top tips for Monaco:
Tip number one is to have your transfers booked beforehand. It takes all the blood, sweat and tears out of lugging your suitcases, getting lost and wasting precious time of your holiday.
Two would be to have a local tour guide, they will enhance your holiday experience by pointing out things of interest and giving you the history of the places you are visiting. And, if they are very good, they’ll bring the past to life and leave a lasting impression that you will carry with you for a long time to come.
Travel Blog by Debbie Smith
Phone Debbie: 01989 562555
Email Debbie: [email protected]
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