Five Tips for Traveling Through Paris

I'll be honest: I've stopped counting how many times I have visited Paris because it’s like a second home by now. I run into family and friends more often than I care to admit, and I joke that I couldn’t “hide” in Paris even if I wanted to. 

So, here are five tips I have gathered over the years:

1. Skip breakfast at your hotel, especially if you are in the city. There are so many bakeries in Paris, Google Maps has made it an official option when searching for anything near you. You can typically get a viennoiserie (croissant / pain au chocolat / pain aux raisins) for under 1.50 EUR each. Pair that with a coffee or fruit juice and you should be able to get a decent breakfast for under 5 EUR. Most open fairly early at 7:00 a.m., so it’s perfect to grab on your morning walk.

2. The more authentic a restaurant is, the more likely it is to not accept American Express. Prepare cash before you leave the US. Most banks can provide euros if requested in advance and some might ship to your door.

3. You may not be able to book a hotel directly on its website if you are using an American Express card. Do not fret! Find the email provided under the hotel’s contact info and reach out. The hotel staff will respond with a paper form that you can fill out.

4. Always ask for la formule du jour when eating at a restaurant. This is ideal if you want a dessert or an appetizer with your main course, and you want to eat what’s in season. It’s typically under 20 EUR, which is cheaper than ordering a la carte.

5. Avoid eating at restaurants conveniently located near tourist spots. The options tend to be limited or pricey and typically do not offer local cuisine. This is true anywhere, but especially in Paris. It would be unfortunate to be in such a food heaven and miss out on all the douceurs that there are to try.

Bonus Tip: If you are staying in a lively neighborhood that is likely to be noisy at night, such as Pigalle, request a room on the highest floor, away from the elevators and without a terrace. Thank me later!