A few weeks ago, my sister, Christina, and I spent a week in Paris. We had the best time exploring the city, visiting museums, checking out the local markets, and eating all the delicious French food. It was the first time we’d taken a trip together, but it won’t be our last. We’ve already decided we want to make this a yearly thing.
Early September was a great time to visit. We had great weather most days and it wasn’t super hot outside. It rained off and on the day we toured Versailles, but since we were indoors, it didn’t really matter. We were able to do all the “touristy” stuff you’ve got to see while in Paris, but also just wander around and explore the city. My favorite way to travel!
Getting to Paris
To get to Paris we flew French Bee Airlines from Newark to Orly. It was our first time flying this airline, so I was a little skeptical, but it honestly couldn’t have been a better experience. The crew was very nice and accommodating, the seats were comfortable, the food was decent, and we both actually got a little sleep on the plane (something normally hard for both of us). French Bee is considered a budget airline, but I found the experience much better than the 3 big airlines in the US (United, American, and Delta). I would happily fly with them again.
Where We Stayed
Both my sister and I have been to Paris before, so we had a better idea of the areas of the city that we liked. We stayed in the 9th arrondissement in the Hotel Joyce. The room wasn’t anything fancy, but it was very clean, the beds were comfortable, and the staff was great. When in Paris, (or really most places in Europe) don’t expect a large room unless you’re willing to drop a lot of money. The rooms are smaller than what you’d get in the US, so pack light and know what to expect.
Staying in the 9th was ideal. We were able to walk to most places and only used the metro 3 times during the entire trip. When we did need the metro, the station was only a few blocks away. We were surrounded by cafes, shops, restaurants, and bars, giving us plenty of options for dining. All of the food is so good in Paris, but one of our favorite meals was at Les Canailles, a Michelin Star restaurant right next to our hotel. We did the 3-course meal for 45€ and it was to die for!
Trip Highlights
There were so many great things about this trip, but seeing Versailles was definitely one of my highlights. The first time I went to Paris, I wasn’t able to go because the line was so long to get in. By the time we would have gotten in, it would have been closed. This time, we planned ahead and booked a tour with skip-the-line tickets. Our tour guide was fantastic and taught us a lot of interesting facts, including that the fabric used for the curtains costs around 3,000€ per sq. cm! Seeing that level of excess makes you understand why the French Revolution happened. The Paralympics were taking place while we were there, so it was neat to see the stadiums where the equestrian events were taking place.
Another fun thing we did was take a perfume workshop at Le Musee du Parfum Fragonard. This was one of the most interesting things I’ve ever done while traveling. We learned so much about how perfume is made and even got to make a bottle of our own scent, a unique souvenir that will remind me of our trip every time I wear it. Both my sister and I forgot to take pictures while we were here, but trust us, it was worth it!
We spent a day exploring Monmarte, where we went to the only vineyard in Paris. This was a really interesting tour, mainly because it’s so unexpected to see a vineyard in the middle of a city. Many artists worked here including Auguste Renoir and Suzanne Valadon. You’ll see many of their works on display in the museum. You can also see Suzanne Valadon’s apartment and explore the Renoir Gardens while you’re here. All sales from the vineyard go towards charities in the city, such as feeding senior citizens or helping children and disabled groups.
Take a Trip with your Siblings
I absolutely love Paris and I’m so glad that my sister and I were able to take this trip together. It’s something that we’ll remember for the rest our lives. I’m hopeful that a sister’s trip will become a yearly tradition.
