Pits, Peaks & Points Paris

Cindy

Peaks: Champaign breaks at the cafes, dinner at Chez Diane, amazing food store, hot chocolate at Cavette – don’t forget to get the whip cream!

Pits: Not enough time and rain

Points:

·         Buy all your cosmetics and perfumes (Nuxe body oil and perfume are fantastic) all at one drug store. You need to spend at least $100 to qualify but that is so easy between face creams, sun screens and perfume. If you buy at multiple stores you can’t add all your receipts together.   Ask them first to make sure they will file the paperwork for you so you can get a portion of your tax back. They will need your passport number and credit card number – not a scam. They will then give you the receipt and paperwork that you scan at the airport. It is super easy and there are signs for the kiosk to scan. Tax refund showed up on credit card within a couple weeks.

·         Get hot chocolate and whip cream at Cavette. It is amazing, but go early because a line can form. We were there at 9:00 and no problem.

·         Use your iphone wallet to buy your train and bus passes. Really easy and no chance of losing the ticket. Be sure to scan it else you can get a ticket.

·         Don’t bother with a bouillon unless you need to save the money and then still don’t.  Food not that great. Go buy a baguette sandwich for $5.00 and enjoy!

·         Take an early morning flight out of Paris so you don’t have to get there 3-4 hours early for security as everyone suggests. We breezed through with a 7:30 am flight.

·         Biggest point of all…make sure you have enough time. Four days was not enough for me.

 

Andy

Peaks: Chez Denis, under ground jazz, Union Boulangerie, outdoor break for champagne at Nimrod, wandering the neighborhoods, bottomless chocolate mousse

Pits: grey and rainy

Points: be ready to walk, be ready to eat, opt for authentic experiences over touristy hot spots

 

Come back or Move On

Cindy: Come back for sure! This city has my heart.

Andy: Come Back