End of November, mum and I met up in Paris for our (almost) annual mother-daughter weekend. I mean, a Christmas weekend in Paris? What could be better? We were both looking forward to it. Making travel plans in the current climate is a bit risky, so when booking, I ensured that all could be cancelled until the week before. Just to be safe. But, against all odds (with Covid cases on the up again, we were a little worried until the last minute) we made it to Paris. And it does seem it was last minute, as travel restrictions were tightened again in the UK whilst we were on our Christmas weekend in Paris.
Destinations
What to expect flying out of London City Airport
London has not one or two, but an impressive six international airports. And London City Airport is the smallest of them all. But it does have some very unique features which make it actually one of the best airports for London. Intrigued? Well, let me tell you what to expect when flying out of London City Airport.
Christmas in Paris – What to Do & See
Paris is lovely all year round. But it becomes extra magical in the run up to Christmas. I’ve been fortunate to spend some time in Paris before Christmas in 2019 and I am beyond excited to announce that I will be having another Christmas weekend in Paris this year. But what is there to do in Paris before Christmas? Well, don’t despair. In case you are planning a trip to Paris this Christmas, I’ve got you covered. Read on for my Christmas in Paris recommendations.
Notting Hill Movie Locations Tour
I love a good rom com (so does Mr T occasionally, but he’ll never admit it, so don’t tell him I told you). You already know that one of our all-time favourite movies is ‘You’ve got Mail’. Last time we visited New York we took the opportunity to do our ‘You’ve got Mail movie locations tour’. Another favourite of ours is the 1999 movie ‘Notting Hill’ with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. As the title already suggests, it is set in London’s Notting Hill district. An area famous for Portobello Market, colourful houses, and Notting Hill carnival. And something that should not be missed on any London itinerary. So, next time you are heading to London, why not spend an hour or two on a self-guided Notting Hill movie locations tour.
Emily in Paris filming locations
Have you seen the Netflix series ‘Emily in Paris’ yet? I came across series 1 recently and binged it… I even got Mr T hooked (whoops, did I say that out loud?). It might not be everyone’s cup of tea. And Emily’s American accent when trying to speak French even makes me cringe (and believe me, mine most certainly isn’t anything to be proud of when stumbling three words of French). But it provides some light-hearted entertainment that was just what I needed. And features so many Parisian corners, that helped calm my wanderlust (temporarily). Whilst at the same time making me miss Paris so much more. To tie me over until my next Paris trip (or until season two is released), I decided to put together a little Emily in Paris filming locations tour. For us all to check out, next time we make it to Paris in person.
Best of Paris in two hours – a walking tour through Paris
I love Paris. And I would happily spend a weekend or two there at short notice (although unfortunately Mr T doesn’t quite share my love for Paris). However, most of my more recent visits were work related. Which obviously meant a lot less time for sightseeing. But you know what? That doesn’t mean you can’t see something of Paris before or after work. For those of you in a similar position and with limited time, I’ve put together a little walking tour through Paris. To show you the best of Paris in two hours. Intrigued?
See London’s Christmas Lights on Foot
London in the run up to Christmas is pretty special and should really be experienced at least once in your life. I mean, yes it can get super hectic if you leave your Christmas shopping to the last minute. And obviously loads of people come to London before Christmas, so that the city is packed. But it can be pretty magical, if you just take your time. Rather than getting caught in the hustle and bustle, why not spend an hour or two slowing down and enjoying the Christmas lights? How about a little London Christmas lights walking tour? I mean, what better way is there to see London’s Christmas Lights if not on foot? And best of all, it is completely free.
Is the Paris Navigo Card suitable for tourists?
When visiting a new city, working out which ticket is best for your needs should ideally be one of the first things to do. Otherwise you might end up spending a lot more money on public transport than you really need. And no one wants that. After all, we all know that city trips don’t come cheap, let’s not blow our budget on silly mistakes. When heading to Paris, there are many ticket options available, and I have written in great length about them. The one option that is probably least known to tourists is the Pass Navigo. What is it? Is the Paris Navigo Card suitable for tourists? And is the Navigo the cheapest option for my Paris trip?
London after Lockdown – What’s it like?
Up until March, heading into London was a normal thing to do. After all, I might not live there anymore, but I still work in London. Whether it was my daily commute into the office, meeting up with friends, shopping or simply exploring town, London was only ever a 45-minute train ride away. Occasionally a little longer, if train services were disrupted. But never ever could I imagine not being able to actually get to London for weeks on end. But then, it happened. The whole world came to a brief stop, the UK (and many other countries) went into lockdown. Although we are now gradually getting back to some form of normality, the new normal feels a million miles away from the old normal.
And the same goes for trips to London.
Best of London in three hours – exploring London on Foot
Are you considering heading to London for a day? Or do you live around London, but never really explored the city? Whichever reason, if you find yourself with a couple of hours spare, how about seeing the highlights of London in three hours? And best of all, you can explore all that London has to offer on foot. No need to get up close and personal with others on public transport. Sounds good? Well, how about you join me for a self-guided ‘London in three hours’ walking tour.