It had been over two years since I went to a different country (unless Cabo San Lucas, MX counts…). Having something you are so passionate about (traveling) get stripped away from you is indescribable. Thanks to Netflix, I binge watched Emily in Paris during COVID. For those of you who don’t know me, I hardly watch TV, so the fact I watched this show all in a day more or less says a lot.

I never had the desire to travel to Paris. I always thought the French would be rude since I didn’t speak it and I would say to people “the Eiffel tower isn’t going anywhere, so I am only going to adventurous places.” Little did I know I would fall in love with Paris and I was very wrong about the city and the people. I spent a week in Paris, France, and feel like I could’ve spent a lifetime. The food, the people, the shopping, the architecture… I don’t even know where to begin. Here’s a snapshot of my highlights and some recommendations if you ever plan to go!

I went to Paris in search of Alfie (sexiest main character in Emily in Paris – who I actually did run into IRL at Hotel Costes and freaked out), but since he was busy with Paris Fashion Week, I landed on searching for the best croissant. Stop by La Maison d’Isabelle if you want a buttery flakey croissant that has been voted on of the best multiple years in a row.

Next up on the dessert train…ice cream. In the heat of summer, theres only one way to cool down since cold brew isn’t a thing and Berthillon did not disappoint. I tried pineapple basil gelato and needless to say I was riding high.

Since I found my way into all the patisseries, walking around and sightseeing was a must so that I didn’t return to the US looking like a croissant…and lets be real, Paris has no shortage of sights to see.

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There are some sights that I think you should do a tour and some that I think you can gaze in awe from the outside. I went up both the Eiffel Tower (equivalent of Times Square SOS!) and Arc de Triomphe. I think you can skip a tour, and in the case of the Eiffel Tower, head to Champs de Mars for a picnic or Trocadero Gardens. Bring a blanket, baguette, champagne and voila! Also, potential unpopular opinion but I enjoyed walking/biking/drinking along the Seine rather than the river cruise on it!

Also, ICYMI, the Notre Dame cathedral is under reconstruction since there was a fire in 2019 that broke out and unfortunately it wont reopen until 2024 when the Olympics are in Paris. But, nevertheless another beautiful site to walk around and right next to it is Saint Chappelle, which is a Ornate, 13th-century, Gothic chapel with amazing stained-glass windows of biblical scenes. This one is worth a quick trip inside to see the stories along the stained glass windows.

A quick 15 minute walk away from the Notre Dame Cathedral are the Luxembourg Gardens which are stunning and full or both locals and tourists. There are chairs and benches around to take a load off your feet from walking around. One of my favorite spots I went in Paris – the greenery really is something else.

If you are planning to go to the Louvre, I recommend a small private tour. The museum is massive and I promise you there is more to see than the Mona Lisa in there. It’s the most visited art museum in the world, and having a guide to point out various paintings, sculptures and educate you on the history of the Lourve is fascinating and worth it. P.S. seeing the Mona Lisa feels like you’re at a mini Coachella…so mentally prepare yourself!

As for other things to do, well that involves walking and shopping! Hit up Le Merais (shopping), Montmartre (top hit but skip La Maison Rose), Marché aux Enfants Rouge (biggest closed market), Saint Germain, Champs de Elysee, Seine River, Avenue Montaigne (Shopping – don’t miss Dior), and Rue Saint-Honore (Shopping). If you are going to do some designer shopping – make an appointment with the store since there are usually lines and definitely bring your passport otherwise they wont give you the VAT refund slip.

Now, when it comes to food, there are actually endless options in Paris…after all, the Michelin star did originate in France in 1926. The last time I checked, there were over 115 Michelin star restaurants in Paris ALONE in 2020. That’s a lot of amazing food options.

Food recommendations (where do I start…)

Le Christine (great tasting menu)

Ober Momma or Pink Momma (pizza up to par with NYC)

Contraste (lunch tasting menu – great décor)

Korus (one of my favorite tasting menus)

L’Avenue (amazing people watching post shopping)

LouLou (next to the Lourve – great for lunch)

L'As du Fallafe (Bomb Israeli food in Le Marais)

Café de Flore (café)

Les Deux Magots (café)

Francois Felix (one of my fave café/dinner spots with live music)

Café Antonia (beautiful hotel with high tea – do not miss)

Chez Alain Miam Miam (DO NOT MISS - best sandwich ever and worth the wait)

I have more recommendations – if you have a specific ask let me know and I can help!

Bars/Drinks:

Hotel Costes

Le Bar

Little Red Door

Candeleria

No Entry

Bisou.

Cheval Blanc (Rooftop)

Hotel Plaza Athenee

Le Duc des Lombards

Tips:

Bike or Scooter around – it was one of the most efficient and prettiest ways to see the city

Download ‘FreeNow’ if you want a cab/uber – it’s better and faster

Buy designer stuff in Paris – the Euro to USD is almost 1:1 and you can get a VAT refund

Watch your belongings

Make reservations

Buy Skip the line tickets

Wear deodorant

HAVE FUN!

Mykonos Island... The perfect combo of beaches, partying and amazing food

Accommodation

I want to emphasize that the location of where you stay in Mykonos is really important given the issues around logistics on the island (which I will elaborate on). During my stay in Mykonos, I split my time between Mykonos Town and a 5 star resort that was secluded from everything. One key thing is if you stay in Mykonos town, it becomes closed off to pedestrians at a certain point, so get ready to carry your luggage down the narrow streets full of pedestrians.

We stayed at the Fresh Boutique Hotel,which had the perfect location in town, right next to top food places like Avra and Interni and nightlife locations like Void and Scandinavian Bar. Mykonos town has quaint streets and beautiful décor, along with some great shopping. The second half of our stay in Mykonos was at the Anax Resort and Spa, secluded on the cliff side and has only been open for 2 years now, which is no surprise by the décor, service and top-notch amenities throughout the resort.

Transportation

Transportation in Mykonos is an absolute disaster. Yes I read online that there are only 30 taxis, but no one gave me advice on the best way to get around. If you are not drinking, I would recommend getting an ATV, which allows you the freedom to get wherever you want whenever you want. I caution you though, people are crazy in Mykonos and definitely be smart about driving on one – it can be dangerous. Make sure you get at least 150cc, otherwise you’ll be crawling up the hills.

We rented an ATV our first day after waiting 30 minutes at the Taxi stand with no sign of a taxi. Getting a taxi in a short period of time is all luck in my opinion, and if you have reservations anywhere, it’s not worth risking and ruining your trip standing by a taxi stand the entire time. Mykonos also has this sneaky system of “private transfers,” (aka expensive taxi) and they linger outside the clubs/restaurants – they are definitely a last resort and can be a saving grace to get home so you’re not stranded outside the club at night (buyer beware they are pricey). Mentally prepare yourself and plan accordingly for transportation in Mykonos.

Food & Beach Bars

I ate my way through Greece, and I recommend that you do too. The food is fresh and amazing, and if you love seafood and Greek salads, then you’re in the right spot. If you want to go to some of the best food places in Mykonos, I highly encourage that you make reservation. Like many other European cultures, lunch doesn’t happen until around 4pm and dinner isn’t until 10pm and likewise clubs thereafter. Most of the beach lounges have restaurants attached to them, where you can have beds reserved to lay out and then go eat at the restaurant and return to soaking up the sun. I didn’t have one bad meal in Greece, so I'll highlight below some of my favorite places in Mykonos.

Alemagou: I missed Iza Goulart and Alessandra Ambrosio here but one day. This is a hippie, chic day beach club and food spot. This part of the island can get windy, so check the weather before you go. The food is good and the location is hidden which is rad, but make reservations.

Interni: This restaurant is in Mykonos town and has the coolest vibes inside – all white décor with overarching bougainvilleas. Cocktails are over 15 euro each, but they are crafty and yummy. Don’t be surprised if by midnight you have 60 year olds turning up and grabbing you to dance. Overpriced spot, but you’re paying for ambiance and a good time and it’s absolutely worth it.

Nammos: Nammos is definitely one of the “sceniest” places I have ever been, with everyone rolling in on their yachts and ordering more magnum bottles of rose than I’ve ever seen. This is a beach club and a restaurant. Note that there are politics related to where your beach lounges are, and it’ll cost you whopping 60 euro per beach bed, but the water is calm and clear for you to see right down to the bottom. 1pm it’ll be nice and quiet and by around 4 o’clock the yacht moms will be commandeering the tables dancing on them and having champagne showers. You might spot a VS model or pro athlete here, and I feel like Nammos is a place that shouldn’t be missed if you go to Mykonos. The 5 star restaurant attached has fresh seafood and prime time people watching. Make reservations for beds and the restaurant.

Sea Satin: Sea Satin, which is located in Mykonos Town, looked like a nice candlelit seafood dinner place when I arrived at 10pm, but after about 1 hour of being there for dinner, people were dancing on the tables the waiters were giving free shots. The food was excellent (expensive of course), but you pick out your dinner – fish, shrimp etc. and they cook it fresh family style. Don’t order King Crab Legs – they are frozen from Alaska.

Scorpios: Another “sceney” and expensive place with lots of older, yet very attractive and wealthy, people eating, drinking and dancing. Scorpios is a beach lounge in the day and then turns into a dinner and club/lounge (that closes at 1am!) at night. The setting is absolutely STUNNING and the food is quite amazing. This place is massive and has a hippie, bohemian vibe to it, almost like Coachella. Get the hummus- you won’t be disappointed.

Spilia: Spilia is a tucked away, romantic and tiny restaurant built in to the cliff side near Agia Anna. This place is not sceney and not turning up quite like the other places I’ve talked about so far. The views are amazing and so is the food. They are known for their Uni, so if this is your thing then you should definitely order it. We also ordered the sun dried octopus which you can see is fresh when you walk up and it was to die for. Spilia is a must do if you are in Mykonos.

Looking for late night food? Try Souvlaki Story in Mykonos Town or one of the many crepe places to satisfy your sweet tooth.

There are several great beach bars and restaurants in Mykonos (Avra, Panormos, Solymar, Kalua etc.), and while expensive, they are fun and have good food. I didn’t highlight all spots out there to go to, but these are just some of my favorites. And if you still have enough energy after day partying then head to Cavo Paradiso, Scandanavian Bar, Carpice, Void, Paradise club, or one of the many more places to watch a Mykonos sunrise.