Toasting the Moon in Paris

Travel for 2 cost breakdown (at the time of writing this post):

Hotel Félicien by Elegancia – $150 per night
- A TOAST THE MOON FAVORITE HOTEL!
Return Flights from SFO to CDG – $400 pp
Food/Drinks/Entertainment/Transport/Souvenirs for 4 days – $750
GRAND TOTAL FOR 2 TRAVELERS – 4 days: $2150

***At this time, we are not endorsed by any outside affiliates. That said – when booking our trips, we have had a lot of success with Hotels.com, Skyskanner, and Tripmasters.

Booking

Booking a trip to France (and all of the EU) is easy for Americans! The US passport allows US citizens to enter the EU visa-free for up to 90 days. You will be free to roam all Schengen Area countries (including Germany, Italy, Austria, The Czech Republic, Belgium, Finland, etc.). All you need is a US passport, flights, and accommodations and you’re good to go!

Nous Adorons Paris!

Paris is the “Toast the Moon” favorite city in the world. I know that it is very clichéd to make that statement, but it is where both Noah and I feel at home.

To Americans, the French are often misunderstood. We have heard how the French are rude and unwelcoming to Americans. Further, there are vicious rumors that people in France refuse to speak English even if they are fluent. All of these accusations CAN be true – but they don’t have to be.

The French are more formal than the USA – shocker! They likely won’t become your best friend in the course of a five minute conversation, and they probably won’t give you their life story (as would, say, the Irish). They are a proud people, and they have the goods to back it up!

If you show that you care about what they are making, doing, preserving, and creating (and especially if you care enough about their culture to make an effort at speaking their language) they will open up and be very kind and welcoming to you.

Do they feel like they “need” us? No, absolutely not. They are happy with or without us. So, show curiosity – it’s probably why you are there anyway, right? And, you will see a whole new world. And, in our opinion, there aren’t many cultures that can top them!

One of our favorite stories from Paris involves going into a local bistro called Bistrot 31 on the Right Bank in the 16th Arr. As soon as we walked in the door and asked for a table (in our very best French) the waiter quickly poured us an aperitif and showed us to a table. He brought us menus and then offered to give us an overview of the selections in English. They brought us item after item of what they were excited to have us try (many ended up being free of charge!). After the primary dinner crowd died down, the wait-staff, bartenders, and chefs continued to bring us French-specific items and drinks that we were told we had to try in Paris. It was a delightful evening of new friends and new experiences, and it’s one that we won’t forget.

What We Did

Our primary focus on this trip was to see some of the legendary museums, explore the top neighborhoods to experience the culture, and enjoy a lot of cheese, wine, and French fare.

Days 1-2: Musée d’Orsay, Bistrot 31, Le Marais, Champs Elysees, The Eiffel Tower

These two days were incredible. They call Paris the City of Lights and the City of Love, and it certainly fits both of these titles. The Musée d’Orsay might be my favorite museum of all time. It’s not too big that you feel overwhelmed (ahem…The Louvre), and it’s put together in a brilliant way that makes you feel like you are exploring and finding hidden treasures through the hallways. It was absolutely fun and fascinating!

Le Marais and the Champs Elysees are two different shopping/dining experiences. You will see many high-end stores that you recognize in both neighborhoods, but Le Marais is quaint and full of small hidden streets and alleyways – similar to Greenwich Village in New York. Whereas the Champs Elysees is a large area of wide-open walkways and modern design – more similar to 5th Avenue in New York. Both are equally fun and romantic – it just depends on what you enjoy most. Or – do it our way and explore both!

Days 3-4: Montmontre, Le Sacre Coeur, The Louvre, Notre Dame, Saint-Germain-des-Prés

What can you say about seeing the most beautiful city in the world from all angles? We would highly recommend seeing all of these places at least once in your life. But, on top of that, find a neighborhood that fits you and just wander. Paris is a beautiful place to be lost, and you will never be too far from a Metro station. Let your desires roam!