France

We took a trip to France in March of 2024. We love to travel in the off-season because there's less tourists, the weather is cool, and there are lower costs on hotels and excursions. We spent a week in Paris and a week in the Loire Valley to visit a bunch of châteaux's. We also spent some time at Disneyland Paris.

Paris Highlights

While in Paris, we were able to visit a wide range of locations. We enjoyed some incredible food and went on unique excursions — including a ghost story walking tour called Paris: Uncover the Dark Side of Paris.

We also saw a comedy show called Oh My God She's Parisian! and took a private tour of the Paris Opera House, which included access to backstage corridors and even a glimpse of the underground lake — an absolute must for Phantom of the Opera fans. Email AROP for details at entreprises@arop.operadeparis.fr

Another fun night out was our visit to the Moulin Rouge. We highly recommend booking the dinner + show experience. Those who only booked the show were seated in the very back with limited views. The performance was fun, unique, and wonderfully creative — well worth it.

One of our favorite stops was Sainte-Chapelle. The stained glass inside is absolutely stunning. We went early in the morning and had very few people around, making it feel serene and magical. It’s worth every bit of the entrance fee.

We also visited The Pantheon, a beautiful structure which is the final resting place for many famous figures in French history. We were able to visit and pay our respects to Madame Curie, Victor Hugo (author of *Les Misérables*), Alexandre Dumas (*The Three Musketeers*) and Louis Braille. My mom has a special connection to Braille as she worked with blind youth before retiring.

Our least favorite excursion was a Paris by TukTuk ride. Because of the cold March weather, the tuk-tuk had to be enclosed, which made visibility poor. There were few stops and limited sightseeing, so we would not recommend this option during the colder months.

We stayed at the Hotel Les Jardins du Luxembourg. It was our favorite accommodation during the entire trip. From the made-to-order breakfast to the incredibly friendly front desk staff — especially the manager — everything was wonderful. The suite-style room was perfect for our group of three, offering two separate bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a shared common area. The hotel is tucked away on a quiet dead-end street, meaning no traffic noise, and it's located just steps from a beautiful park.

We also enjoyed a visit to the rooftop of Galeries Lafayette, where you get a gorgeous view over the Paris Opera House. There's even a cool photo-op sign up there, and best of all — it’s completely free. Inside, the mall is absolutely stunning with its glass dome ceiling.

Another unforgettable experience was a video mapping and music performance by Luminiscience inside an old Parisian church. Although the show is no longer running as of this writing, it was absolutely spectacular — easily one of the most moving things we saw.

We also had the iconic afternoon tea at the Ritz Paris. Honestly, it wasn’t the best tea experience we’ve had — the room was kept very warm, and we were quite overheated. That said, the setting was elegant and ideal for taking a few glamorous photos in formalwear.

Of course, we made time to see the **Eiffel Tower**, though we opted not to go inside. We found the view of the tower itself far more beautiful than the view from on top of it. We visited during the day and returned at night to watch the sparkling light show from the Trocadéro Esplanade, a famous vantage point across the Seine.

We chose not to visit the Louvre, as we’re not particularly interested in art, and decided to spend our time elsewhere. Similarly, Notre Dame was closed for renovations, and after many church visits around Europe, we were ready for something different.

On one of our many wonderul days in Paris we took a Secret Food Tour. It was fascinating to learn about the origins and customs surrounding many famous french delicasies.

Finally before we headed off in our rental car to the Loire Valley we took a quick trip to London on the EuroStar as I can't resist being that close to The Phantom of the Opera and not purchasing tickets. We also paid our respects to the incredible designer of The Phantom of the Opera Maria Bjornson before the performance. You can find her gravesite here.

Versailles Day Trip

We took a day trip to Versailles via private car, and it was magnificent. We booked breakfast at Ore, which includeda private entrance — totally bypassing the long lines. Highly recommend this option! Once inside, we were blown away by the palace and especially the grounds. If you go, be sure to arrive early enough to rent a golf cart — the estate is massive. The gardens built by the queen were especially stunning.

Loire Valley Highlights

In the Loire Valley, we based ourselves in Amboise at the Hotel Le Choiseul, which we loved. Unfortunately, as of July 2025, the hotel is currently closed for renovations until 2026. It had a wonderful breakfast and is located just below the Château d’Amboise — our favorite château of the entire trip.

We also visited the Château de Chenonceau, which sits beautifully over a river. It has absolutely stunning grounds and a very unique layout — easily our second favorite.

The Château de Chambord, though grand and striking from the outside, was a bit underwhelming inside. The interiors felt rather bland, and the grounds were not especially interesting.

We also visited the Château du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years. The château features incredibly detailed models of his inventions and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. A fascinating and inspiring place to explore.

Disneyland Paris

Our visit to Disneyland Paris and the adjacent park (Walt Disney Studios Park) was a mixed bag. The second park was under heavy construction, so there wasn’t much to enjoy there — we suggest avoiding it until construction wraps up, reportedly in 2026 or 2027.

Disneyland Paris itself is much smaller than the U.S. parks, but very charming. Most rides are scaled-down versions of the originals. One highlight was dining at Walt’s – An American Restaurant on Main Street.

The drone show was the absolute highlight of our Disneyland visit — the first we’d ever seen, and it was truly magical. The Disney Village (Paris' version of Downtown Disney) was disappointing: outdated and lacking charm. Overall, Disneyland Paris was our least favorite of the Disney parks, but we still had a fun time.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we had an incredible trip. As for the myth that French people are rude to Americans — we found that to be completely untrue. Everyone we encountered was kind, helpful, and welcoming. We would absolutely love to return and experience even more of France’s rich culture, stunning architecture, and delicious food.