I’m in the middle of prepping for our trip to Paris and thought that it might be good to get all my  preplanning stuff on paper (or, more accurately, on the blog). I knew last fall that we would definitely be traveling to Paris, France this July. But that was about the only thing I was sure of. Where would I stay? What are the must-sees? What should I bring along with me? Those were all questions that trickled in over the months in between. As a former educator I’ll always be under the assumption that when one person has a question (I had so many) others probably have the same question too whether they raise their hand or not. So if you’re planning or hoping to plan a trip to Paris soon then this post might be for you. 

Where I’ll stay: I talked to a few friends about where to stay and the answers were so varied I didn’t walk away with a definite plan. The city is divided into 20 arrondissements, so you’ll hear people refer to them by number. One of the people I spoke with said she stayed at three different hotels in three different arrondissements which made my head spin. So I ended up turning my search over to Al at Worldwide Travel, who became our travel guy. He said something that changed everything for me. “I know most people think that Paris is really huge but it’s not. It’s like DC, it’s a pretty small area.” That was a Eureka moment for me as I realized that no matter where we stayed I’d still be able to see (and visit) all of the attractions on my list without much trouble. He suggested this hotel, Le Diamond, Hotel Raphael, and Renaissance Paris. I’ll let you know which we chose when I do my review. Bottom line is you can stay anywhere but just do a little research about the neighborhood (arrondissement). The 1st is supposedly the most popular, the 6th is a fan favorite, and the 18th is considered the most beautiful, but I am sure there would be those that would argue about that too. And make sure you read the hotel reviews.

What I’ll bring: I will be doing a What I wore in Paris post soon so I’ll spare you all the fashion stuff for now but aside from the fancier dinner looks, 

-I’ll be sure to pack a crossbody. Those are essential when visiting any big city in my opinion. They keep your valuables safe, and keep you hands free, and a chic one can be worn with more casual and dressy looks. You can find the one featured above here.

– I’ll also pack a portable steamer and plug converters (France has a slightly different one than is used in most of the EU). 

-A cell phone battery pack- as I’ll be using my phone a lot to navigate the city. 

-A trench coat- even though temps will be in the high 70s or 80s during the week they dip down to the mid to high 50s at night (I love this one).

-I’ll also bring a scarf, a cashmere shawl, and a jean jacket (here’s my go-to).

-In that same vein, along with a few pairs of linen pants and shorts I am bringing denim (these are a current fave).

-And last but not least I’ll be bringing a mini umbrella, I am told it rains quite a bit in Paris even in the summer.  

What I’ll do: We’re doing a day trip to Versailles with a tour of the gardens. I plan on seeing all the typical attractions- the Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower of course, but what I’m really in search of are those gems off the beaten path. I found this link to 20 Unusual Things to Do in Paris For the Unique Traveler. I’m going to play those by ear and pick a couple, but I wanted to share them with you too. We’re also on the fence about the train to London. I think in the end we will probably do it. London is only a 2-hour train trip and I haven’t been since I was a kid. Though I suspect we will be making a trip to London either way very soon. It’s on the list.

And finally for my designer-fashion loving friends: To Birkin or not to Birkin, that is the question. This will also be a whole blog post either way. Let’s start at the beginning. For those of you who do not know, Paris is home to Hermes and the Birkin was named for Singer and Actress Jane Birkin in 1983 after their chief executive sat next to her on a flight and watched the contents of her straw bag fall out of the overhead compartment. The rest, as they say, is history and it remains one of the most sought after handbags in the world- even though my girl Beyoncé said hers is in storage (Beyoncé if you’re reading this, call me).

Okay, back to my trip. Though I am not getting my hopes up too high I am going to attempt to get one of those coveted appointments (which is tough to get and does not guarantee a bag by the way). The Birkin Bag has been a wishlist item for as long as I can remember-though I am leaning more toward the Kelly Bag right now. The first time I saw a Birkin in person was on a trip to NYC with my daughters almost a decade ago. A resale store in Soho had a vintage Birkin in a glass case. I don’t remember which exotic skin the leather was made of but it must have been something quite spectacular. They had it priced at $137,000. Yes, you read that right. But a typical Birkin doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Maybe just a small fortune. Anyhow, It’s my 50th birthday, so wish me luck, friends!

I’d love to hear about any recommendations you have for planning a Paris visit too. 

Until Next Post, 

Xo Tonya Parker