I Took a Big Trip to Paris!!

I’m not sure if you noticed, but I didn’t post anything the first week of November. After a 20-year hiatus from European travel I was able to break free and take a short (5-night) trip to Paris! I’m sure this won’t surprise you at all, but this trip was built around a flight deal I published in May (link here).

I’m not going to bore you with all the details, but we had a fantastic time and I know some subscribers like to hear from me personally on occasion so here we go (Link to original “about me” post if you’re a new subscriber). The timing of the trip wasn’t a perfect match for any life milestones, but it was close enough to my wife’s birthday (November) and our anniversary (September) to make it a celebratory trip.

Here are a couple travel takeaways:

“Free” Media Sucks - Don’t Let it Ruin Your Trip

I think we’re all aware of it, but Facebook and any “free” sources of media are all making money off us from advertising. These companies do that by following us around the internet, recording our preferences, and even studying our psychology. They then drive us to their websites by showing us content that is specifically targeted to our interests. Website visits = advertising dollars. Sometimes this can be helpful, but most of the time it can feel intrusive and downright obnoxious. In the weeks leading up to my trip to Paris my online news and Facebook feed were full of articles on Paris bedbugs, French airport evacuations, heightened travel advisories, and incidences of anti-Semitism in Paris. All of these articles were impossible to ignore and extremely interesting but didn’t do a lot to get me excited about traveling. Despite all the headlines we chose to travel and had a wonderful trip without issue. People were friendly, there were no bedbugs to speak of, and we felt safe walking through Paris at all hours of the day and night! Don’t be careless when planning your next trip, but don’t let social media or “free” media squash your sense of adventure.

Google Maps is your Friend

Downloading Google Maps can be a game-changer when it comes to exploring a new city. Having the map downloaded to your device gives you access to maps offline, which means you no longer need to worry about unreliable internet connections or excessive data usage. This feature allowed me to bookmark a hundred different points of interest, bakeries, cafes, restaurants, museums, and unique stores. As we explored Paris, we were never far away from something I wanted to see or eat. Additionally, having the offline maps provided a sense of security, ensuring that we wouldn’t get turned around in unfamiliar surroundings.

International Flights are Pretty Amazing

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed flying with Delta. At this point in my life airline travel is usually a domestic flight to somewhere warm on a discount carrier like Spirit or Frontier.

This Delta flight came in at around $550 bucks so the value of traveling 7,900 miles ($0.07 cents a mile!!) and getting meals, snacks, and drinks included seemed unusual and almost like a luxury. I also found the hospitality of the crew to be exceptional. We had the same crew on both flights, and I got to chat with the same flight attendant on each trip. He has 28 years of experience flying with Delta I enjoyed hearing his Paris recommendations and interesting travel stories from throughout his career. He even gave me a sneak peek at the crew quarters located underneath our plane (Airbus A330-300), which I thought was pretty cool!

Speak and Eat Like a Local

I’ll be honest. I know about 10 words of French. I was nervous about traveling with such a limited knowledge of the language, but I did ok. Google translate was a HUGE help and thankfully a lot of Parisians speak some basic level of English. I was always sure to offer a “Bonjour” or a “parlez-vous anglais” and a “merci beaucoup” to every conversation and I think that helped. I found as long as you make an attempt to speak French most people will greet your warmly and help you out.

As an added benefit having a little bit of the French language at your disposal will give you confidence to get off the beaten path and experience all of the food options Paris has to offer. By far my favorite meals in Paris were the local sandwich shops, chocolate stores, cheese shops, and bakeries. These stores are small and can be a little intimidating, but they are delicious and so worth the efforts!

Pay to take the Guided Tour

I don’t know if I’m getting older or what, but I would much rather pay more and take a guided tour than wander around a museum undirected. We learned so much more about the sites we visited by being with a guide. We fed off their energy and passion for the places we visited, and it really added to our trip in a positive way.

Paris Eye Candy

If you’ve made it this far thanks for being a subscriber! I’ve loved building this small community of Michigan travelers and am excited for the next year and the next trip!