When we went to Paris, I packed a lot of dresses and flat sandals. Dresses are a super easy and cute way to pack for a trip. They are a no fuss kind of outfit. This dress was perfect. I kept the styling really simple because of the cut out back and cute buttons on the shoulder. I let the details do the talking.
Outfit Details:
Coy in Crimson Dress: c/o Modcloth
airbnb. I love that website! The timing wasn’t right for our stay, but I would definitely use it next time if I planned better.
2. We did however stay at The Grand Hotel Saint Michel and I can’t say enough good things about it. Super modern, good size room, comfy bed, free internet, awesome bathroom. The best part by far was that we had a balcony in our room. We sat out there every night, chatting, drinking wine and eating pistachios. It was in a great location too!
3. Go with an idea of things you may want to do, but do not go with an itinerary. I feel like that defeats the purpose of Paris. Wake up each day and see what the day unfolds. Let plans change based on where you are, what you feel like doing or your mood that day.
4. Walk! Walk! Walk! We walked everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE. Some of my favorite moments where walking back to our hotel after we had missed the last metro. We saw so much more of the city that we would have missed, if we had taken the bus or the metro everywhere. When you don’t have an itinerary than you have the time to walk and take things slow.
5. Stay away from all the touristy things. Go see the monuments of course but don’t get sucked up in all the gimmicky tourist crap. Experience the real Culture.
6. Explore the neighborhoods of Montmartre and Le Marais. So cute!
7. Take this bike tour, if you are going to do one sight seeing tour. It is awesome!! Someone recommended it to us and it the best advice we got. We took it at the beginning of our trip so we would know where to go back and explore the rest of the trip.
8. Go ride bikes around the gardens of Versailles (you don’t have to pay to go inside)!
9. HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF PICNICS!!!
10. Stay up late and experience the city at night. I think we went to bed every night at like 3am.
I went on that bike tour, too (I think I might have mentioned it to you, but I can’t remember – I mention it to EVERYONE I know “know” who goes to Paris)! It is SUCH a good tour – I was only in Paris for .2 seconds (okay, like 2.5 days, but that feels like .2 seconds), and I was worried it would be a waste of my time – so worth it, plus my guide was adorable (he was one of the co-owners of the company).
What a great dress!
That dress is delicious on you.
You make me want to travel. And you make me want a closet full of adorable dresses like that. Aah, someday when I don’t have twin toddlers, I’ll travel again…
I LOVE that red dress. The cut out is just the right size, and the buttons are too cute! Can you still wear a normal bra with it? I am lusting hard after that dress now…
More of Paris yay! … You are so cute together!
Cess O. <3 The Outfit Diaries
Gorrrrgeous dress! And lovely photos of Paris.
I think Paris would be such a nice place to visit but I feel like it’s become a bit too cliche for me to go.
Love the dress and simple styling! And love the pics of you and Kev too, you both look adorable, love your jeans look. xo veronika
Yees! Love staying up late on vacation. I have had some of the best memories (and worst hangovers!) from staying up all night and enjoying life.
Love the back to that dress, but I am guessing you do, too 🙂
beautiful dress, red looks great on you … and thanks for the tips on France, we will be there next summer and I will for sure be looking into the things you mentioned!! thanks a bunch!!
jess
http://www.jesscauseblog.blogpsot.com
Love your easy breezy parisian style!!!! xo, Kim http://www.eatsleepwear.com
That sounds like an amazing trip! 🙂
A perfect dress. Will have to go back and retrace this trip, but I love the idea of staying up until 3 a.m.
Ah Paris looks amazing.. I want to go so badly!
And your dress, I LOVE THE BACK 🙂
~Tammy
http://www.bayparkdream.blogspot.com
Wow, I am new to your blog and you are so lovely! These photos are beautiful and I love that dress on you and how you styled it.
Look forward to following along 🙂
Let me tell you. That Paris photo of your leggies + French bread + delicious yummies = purely divine. <3
i have those sandals from wanted and i just love em, they go with everything!! and i love your dress, the piping is the best!
<3 steffy
Steffys Pros and Cons
I have been to Paris 4 times and each trip was different (super touristy-local infusion)… i think your tips are wonderful! you make me miss Paris so much! picnics are a MUST… we made plenty of stops at the Monoprix.
I’ve been to Paris once, but it was a school trip in High school. So it was very tourist-y and we couldn’t stray too far from our teachers. I would kill to go back and really explore!
beautiful pics. i love paris, i can’t wait to go back…. with my husband next time 🙂
I just got back from Paris 🙂 it was my 6th time but I still haven’t seen or done enough. I revisited Père Lachaise this time, I think it’s one of the most beautiful places in Paris. The Marais is also a favourite (I think that’s what you also meant instead of Maris?) and for picnics I get supplies at the Lafayette Gourmet floor – the pastries and asian deli counters are awesome 🙂
You look very parisian dressed like this, it’s lovely!
this red dress is perfect for paris! its all so romantic 🙂
The only time I have been to Paris was when I was in high school. I went with my parents and younger brother …. and remember thinking at the time “this is going to be so much better when I come back some day with the love of my life!”. Thank you for the great tips – it’s inspiring me to take the trip maybe sooner than later!!!
We used airbnb.com in Amsterdam and LOVE IT!! We will use it again and again on our travels; what a great experience. In Paris, we stayed in a hotel because I happen to work for a large hotel chain. However, I think airbnb is the way to go!
Beautiful pics, but hope you guys didnt eat that bread!
Red. Dress. Is. Killer. LOVE the style and cut and colour, it’s absolutely perfect for Paris! Sounds like you had a great time…I’m quite jealous. I’ll have to ask for travel tips when I go next year.
<3 Cambria
http://www.jupefashion.blogspot.com
You look so great in that red dress, it’s beautiful! Never visited Paris but it’s on my top 3 list of places to visit hehe 🙂
Wow, this sounds like the perfect trip! Those photos of Paris are beautiful 🙂
You look gorgeous, and the details on the back of the dress are amazing!
oh goodness, your pictures are so dreamy. i just got back a few weeks ago from studying abroad in France this summer and i went up to visit Paris for a long weekend and it was just magical. i totally agree with walking everywhere- it’s such a good way to see the city for what it really is. so beautiful. thanks for putting up the rest of your pictures 🙂
Love your blog
Love Paris
BUT
I miss Running Monday 🙂
It looks like the trip was amazing! I think the picnics are a great idea because eating at the restaurants can get really pricey. Oh and the dress looks amazing on you! 🙂
xoxo
love your list!!
these pics are pretty romantic!!
xoxo
love your photos 🙂
I love your red dress !
If you go back to Paris, try to rent a ” Velib’ “, It’s my favorite way to go back home after a party !