Bon jour! I just got back from a whirlwind weekend in Paris, and so excited to share all the details with you all. It was quite different than my last visit to Paris, but Paris is always a good idea, right?! Over the last few months, I’ve been working with Strong Travel to expand my traveling experiences. This trip to Paris was an eye opener to the travel industry, and I’m so happy to be a part of it.

Now when I signed up to go on this trip, I didn’t realize I’d have to pack in a carry on… Kinda freaked out, but accepted the challenge. Not going to lie, I think I’ll be packing a carry on for a lot more of my weekend getaways. Maybe… 🙂 I’m sharing a few of my packing tips below along with all my outfits I wore in Paris for the weekend. AND…lucky for you there is a HUGE $500 Target gift card giveaway below that would be well spent on travel preparation!

OUTFIT #1 | GINGHAM TREND

OUTFIT #2 | SOPHISTICATED PARISIAN

PACKING TIP #1

Finding a GOOD carry on bag! I recently purchased this black marble suitcase because it’s so cute (duh), but also because it has a hard case. I suggest a hard case because no matter how much stuff you pack the size will always fit in the overhead storage compartments on the plane. Honestly, I ended up with extra space left over!

OUTFIT #3 | CLASSIC BLACK

PACKING TIP #2

Roll, roll, roll… I thought the “rolling” trick was a joke until my first trip to Europe. I’m not exactly sure why rolling over folding makes such a difference, BUT it totally does. Like I said, I thought I wasn’t going to have enough room for everything I wanted to bring but when I finished with the clothes I had plenty of room. I even managed to bring a mini hair dryer and mini steamer!

OUTFIT #4 | CASUAL TOURIST

OUTFIT #5 | SIMPLE SHIRTDRESS

PACKING TIP #3

Stick with the basics. You can never go wrong with black or white wherever you’re traveling. Two pairs of shoes are honestly all you need: heels and flats. I got these black suede mules for the trip and they were so comfortable. We walked 20,000 steps on Sunday and I walked half the day in them without blisters!

So what else did I pack for this trip… My suggestions:

• Jeans – you can get away with two pairs. A casual pair for the daytime, and a nicer pair for night.
• Striped top – you just can’t go wrong with a cute striped top in Paris
• Trench coat – always bring a jacket because you’ll either be cold on the plane or the weather can easily change
• Dress – I pack a dress just in case we decide to go somewhere really nice for dinner
• Cute top – you can easily wear a cute blouse like this black lace top alone and the next day with a jacket
• Yoga pants – because comfort on the plane is most important
• Crossbody purse – you want to have something that can’t be stolen easily! Wear your purse in front and never on one shoulder

PLACES TO STAY AND SEE IN PARIS

I was so thankful my good friend Ashley (Impossibly Imperfect) was on the trip with me! You always need a photographer companion, and how cute is this picture we took at the Shangri La Hotel?! We had so much fun wandering around the streets of Paris, and indulging in all the delicious food.

Obviously the Eiffel Tower is the best thing to see in Paris, but the hotel is an easy ride to a lot of other great spots:

• Champs-Élysées – fantastic shopping or window shopping for me
• Arc di Triomph – never been to the top, but great views
• The Louvre – get a guided tour (best money you’ll spend) and watch the sunset
• Sit at a cafe where all the chairs face the street
• Montmartre – might be my favorite tourist thing to do! Walk down the side streets instead of taking the gondola back down
• Notre Dame – we went on Easter Sunday; even if you aren’t religious it’s an amazing experience
• Two things to eat: chocolate croissant + macaron (Eat as many as you can! They’ll never taste the same…)

The Peninsula Hotel – This is where we stayed for the weekend which is right down the street from the Arc di Triomph. It’s a fantastic location close to the Eiffel Tower, and clearly you can see above the views are incredible!!

Le Royal Monceau – my absolute favorite bc the style is so modern mixed with classic Parisian. P.S. how cute are these bikes out front?!

Ritz Paris – After a huge renovation they just reopened! This is the ultimate Paris hotel… This is where Chanel lived for several years, and it’s right down the street from the original Chanel store. Not to mention…it’s the only hotel in the world that has a Chanel spa!!

Also, you must go to The Hemmingway bar for a drink. Apparently, if you are single this is the place to meet your husband. So mad I didn’t go back for a drink Saturday night!

Four Seasons Paris – I was excited to see this hotel because my parents stayed here, and had such amazing things to say. When you first walk into the hotel there is a beautiful display of flowers which they change out each month. The rooms are very classic Paris style, and have some beautiful views. This was our last hotel visit so we had dinner at Le George which might be one of the best meals I’ve ever experienced. I didn’t know what Michelin Star restaurants were until a few years ago, and now it’s on my bucket list to visit as many as possible.

These are all 5-star hotels which I highly recommend, but don’t hesitate to reach out if you are looking for a boutique hotel too! I can help plan anyone’s visit to Paris so just ask!

– The Blonde

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