London/ Paris recs nye- jan 5th

You're spending the cash/points and time to get over to Europe for the first time, and you have two days in each city?? If money is no object, and you're going to go back for a longer trip in 2026, great.

Is this a proposal trip or something that can't be postponed until, oh, the sun is out in the Spring?

In Paris, make sure to do a night time boat tour down the Seine past the Eiffel Tower. Get a playlist ready to play on the boat. Women love it. The boat we were on was based near the Notre Dame. The boat was private, not one of those big boats with 100+ people.

I'd suggest watching "The Layover" with Anthony Bourdain. He spends 24-48 hours in each city. It appears to be on YouTube. ETA: He hit Paris three times.

Here is a list of where he hit in Paris. I like the mix of simple/fancy he does in each episode. Berthillon Ice Cream in Paris, even in winter, is great. We ate at a little cafe right across the street before the ice cream. Just don't forget that a lot of the beauty of Paris is spending an afternoon doing zilch which sitting at a cafe.

ETA: Use and abuse the concierge at your hotel. Ask them where they would get croissants from, etc. If you can afford it (or have the points) stay at the Prince de Galles. Especially if you have status, you can get upgraded to a suite that has so many rooms that you'll have trouble defiling each room before you leave. Their concierge is also extremely responsive pre-trip. They arranged to have an off menu dessert prepared and waiting in our room on check in, etc.

You arrive in London on Jan 31st so leave the states on Jan 30? That’s going to be an arse kicker to stay up until midnight if so on your day of arrival.

What are you looking to do? It’s really just a highlight trip here, they are both huge cities with tons to do.

For Paris I would recommend for hotel Canopy by Hilton Eiffel Tower. For a nice dinner I would recommend Monsieur Bleu.

For London, I would recommend Hilton Hyde Park. You basically on top of two different tube lines. For a nice dinner, Fenchurch in the Sky Garden.

If you do the London Eye, do the VIP group tour. They don’t pack you in and you get a glass of champagne.

We were in London and Paris this summer. Paris, I would recommend the Maison Chomel hotel. Small hotel, nice area. London, I would stay near Covent Garden area. If you like plays, they have a bunch. We did two and Phanton was the best.

The restaurant Birratz? Thank you for the rec

London:
Dishoom in covenant gardens
Best Indian food on the planet.

I haven't been to London in a long long time, so I'm no help there. Paris I can help with.

Dining: Breakfast / lunch/ dinner

I would make reservations for dinner and places you would really like to visit. but honestly I would wing it with breakfast and lunch. Your hotel breakfast will likely be very good, but you will have numerous bakeries and cafes within walking distance of any hotel you choose. Part of the fun of Paris is just wandering around. Have a destination in mind, and have fun on the walk over there. You will not run out of things to see.

For lunch, I would whip my phone out to see what was around us and had at least 4 Google stars lol. It was a win every time! Or, stop in a hotel bar for an afternoon drink. Your options are quite endless, and they will all be good choices. The French take eating seriously. It will not be spiced up South LA food, but it will be fresh and cooked well.

If you're choosing fine dining, this is a good spot with pretty views of the Seine and Eiffel Tower at night. It's on the 7th floor of the Cheval Blanc hotel and has one Michelin Star.

Le Tout-Paris

We also enjoyed this one (at this board's rec). Pretty dining room, but not exactly fancy. Good food, fun and relaxed vibe.

Poulette


Experience : Sites to see Bars/ drinks/ areas cant miss or unique places that surprised

The Army Museum (Hotel des Invalides) is amazing! You can see Napoleon's very humble tomb.

Notre Dame is stunning, but there are gorgeous cathedrals all over. Pro Tip: If you attend Mass, you don't have to wait in line.

The Louvre...just do it. You don't have to spend all day or even 2 hours. Just spend some time walking around, swing by the Mona Lisa, and leave when you're ready. They will give you a map and you can head to that area. It does get busy, but later in the afternoon on weekdays, the crowds thin considerably.

Go to Printemps and/or Galeries Lafayette and go up to the viewing platforms (free). Cool views of the city, and all of their Christmas window displays will still be up.

The Tuileries Christmas Market should still be up at that time, so that could be fun to walk through.

The Palais Garnier (opera house) is stunning!!! You will need to book a ticket, but very cool to see.


Hotel recs mid level spend/ romantic_ boutique spots

Not sure of your idea of "mid level" because Paris will be expensive this time of year. Mid level here is low level there, if that makes sense.

This hotel is right by the Louvre, as the name suggests, and is about as centrally located as you can get for the main sites. It's owned by Hyatt, so that's a plus if you have points. It's also on the American Express fine hotels list, so the included perks are nice, if you use that.

Hotel du Louvre

My other choice is on the left bank in the St. Germain area. Also a fantastic location, but much quieter and tucked away. It's pretty, cozy, and romantic, I think. It feels like coming home after a long day out in the city. Would have stayed longer, if we could. They also have a Guerlain spa downstairs and Diptyque products in your bathroom...a plus for the ladies!

Relais-Christine

Tips:

Honestly, Paris will blow you away. It's so gorgeous is hard to put into words. The French are extra, but in the best way possible. You could spend your entire trip just staring at the architecture. Hard to put into words!

1. Make sure to say "bonjour" when you enter any room. It's their thing, and how all interactions begin. Very rude not to acknowledge people.

2. You can attempt French, but unless you're very good, pretty much every service person in Paris speaks at least some English. Many are fluent. The outer towns, not so much, but you will be fine in the city.

3. You may have a girl approach you with a clip board and ask you to sign something. Do not engage.

4. Uber works seamlessly there and a car won't take longer than 5 minutes. No advice on the subway, because I like to see out of the window on vacation.

Have so much fun!