Itinerary: Paris, France (2022)
In April of 2022, I finally mustered up the courage to travel solo for the very first time. Since I’ve never truly travelled solo before (to a place with absolutely no family or friends that had my back), I thought that going to Paris would be perfect.
I’ve only been to Paris once before this and it was with my brother during our first trip to Europe in September 2018. At the time, we had a lot of fun and I knew I wanted to go back someday. During that trip, we went through the typical first-timer tourist itinerary in the city - Paris Starter Pack as I like to refer to it.
On my second trip to Paris, I wanted to see places that deviated a little bit from the Paris Starter Pack.
In this first post (of hopefully many), I will share with you the places I visited on my second, but first-time-solo trip to the City of Lights.
Some general information about this trip:
Airline: Air Canada
Accommodation: Hotel
Season: Spring
Other logistical information:
This itinerary is for five (5) nights in Paris
This itinerary does not involve renting a car - I either walked or took public transportation only (except from/to the airport)
I brought 150.00 EUR in cash just in case I end up in a situation that called for cash payment and for tips - but I used my Credit Card to pay for my meals and shopping when I could.
One of the reasons I decided to take a plunge into this solo trip was because I was able to redeem my flight and hotel using points accumulated on my TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite card for my spend during COVID. I booked the flight through Expedia for TD. Overall, for flight and hotel, it cost me 380,000 TD Rewards points plus C$169.91 in taxes.
I did not roam through my provider at the time, Telus. Since 2021, I’ve been using, Airalo, an e-SIM service. I downloaded a 10 GB data plan for my whole trip (which ended up being just enough for the time I spent during the city for maps, music and regular internet browsing). If you want to get US$3.00 off your first e-SIM purchase, use my code CHALIC6466.
Traveling between Toronto and Paris
I flew out from YYZ - Toronto Pearson International Airport at 8:00 PM ET via non-stop flight with Air Canada to CDG - Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport. I landed in Paris around 9:00 AM local time and got out of the airport at around 11:30 AM due to passport control being severely understaffed.
Day 1
Arrival at CDG - Charles de Gaulle Airport
Took an Uber from the airport to my hotel, Timhotel Opéra Madeleine to drop my luggages off so I can explore a bit while I wait for the 3:00 PM check-in time
(Hot tip: For my trips, I typically budget for taxis or private transfers from/to the airports. Having said that, I committed the rookie mistake of paying almost C$80.00 for the Uber to my hotel while for the same distance, I could’ve taken an airport taxi for approx. C$60.00.)Bought a 3-day, Zones 1-5 Paris Visite Pass at Gare Saint-Lazare
(I committed multiple rookie mistakes here by (1) purchasing a Paris Visite pass and (2) purchasing it for Zones 1-5. For this itinerary, I could’ve saved money for convenient, unlimited rides across the whole Paris transit by getting myself a Navigo Decouverte pass instead.)Stopped by the Eiffel Tower - I went towards Passerelle Debilly, crossed the bridge and people watched
Shopped at Duvelleroy for a hand fan
Shopped at La Grande Epicerie de Paris for some bread, butter and tea to take home
Checked-in at the hotel
Day 2
Shopped at Rimowa at Galeries Lafayette Haussman
(Hot tip: You can have your purchase sent to your hotel anywhere in the city so you don’t have to lug your stuff around. Even if my hotel was less than 10-minutes walk away, not having to go back to drop my purchases saved me a lot of time and energy.)Visited Musee Rodin
Tried some chocolate mousse at Chocolat Chapon
Watched La Madeleine: Les Violons de France play Vivaldi's Four Seasons at Madeleine Church
(Hot tip: If you like classical concerts like me, visit Classictic in the city you’re traveling to book low-key shows like these)
Day 3
Shopped at Goyard
(Note: Be prepared to queue up in front of the store, there are no appointments at any Paris locations. Also, know your Goyard quotas/rules just in case you’re planning to purchase multiple items)Shopped at Bernardaud
Window shopped along Rue St. Honore
Went back to the hotel to drop purchases
Visited Musee Jacquemart-Andre
Day 4
Visited Musee Yves Saint Laurent Paris
(Hot tip: Visit the museum after 12:00 PM for optimal crowds. I visited during opening time and it was way too crowded to be enjoyed comfortably - this museum also has changing exhibitions, so make sure to check the programme to see something meaningful for you)Ate at Maison Noura
Shopped at Chaumet
Day 5
Visited Galerie Dior
(Hot tip: Make sure to bring earphones, there are no audio guides at the front but there are interactive parts of the exhibit that can be accessed through your mobile device)Visited Pierre Herme to try their world famous macarons and to take home as well
Went back to La Grande Epicerie de Paris for more food souvenirs
Visited Le Grand Rex to watch Top Gun: Maverick
Traveling from Paris to Toronto
My flight back to Toronto departed Paris at 1:00 PM but I arrived three hours (and again took an Uber 🤦🏽♀️) early to ensure I gave myself enough time to claim VAT refunds from my purchases and shop a little bit as well at the airport. Here’s a guide to VAT refunds at CDG - Paris Charles de Gaulle if you shop a little more than you’re willing to admit like me.
Writing this post now, I realize I could’ve packed in a little bit more places per day but I wanted to take things easy during my first solo trip (just in case I ended up in not-so-perfect situations).
Traveling with others is still top-notch when you have the right company. But I’ve learned a lot (and continue to learn) about my preferences in my solo trips that I don’t think I would’ve realized if I always traveled with people. So if you ever have the opportunity to travel solo, you should absolutely take it. I was anxious a lot of times but luckily, the trip didn’t end up too bad organizationally - and I enjoyed it enough that I’ve gone on a couple solo trips since this one.
Safe travels!
