Jessica Crum

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Paris Travel Guide


Top: Free People here // Jeans: Joe’s here // Booties: sold out (similar here) // Beanie: here // Purse: Tory Burch here // Peacoat: Salt Flat here
Bonjour les amis (hello friends)! As some of you know, my in-laws took our family to Paris over New Years Eve this year. It was honestly one of the best trips of my life and one I will always remember. We went for four days, and at first I was afraid that would be way too short, but I honestly think it was the perfect amount of time! We were able to do pretty much everything we wanted to before we got too exhausted. The weather was SO much better than I imagined it being in December. It was around 50 degrees every day and only rained on New Years Day, which was perfect because the entire city closes down (so we slept a LOT! lol). Although it was my first time in Paris, I think we were able to hit a lot of incredible hot spots, so I’m happy to share them with you guys.

Where to stay: Hotel Keppler





I cannot rave enough about our hotel. Hotel Keppler was incredible in every way possible. The French aren’t known for having “outstanding service”, but this hotel definitely broke that stereotype. It is a small, boutique hotel that combines traditional luxury and a fun, modern vibe. There are only 39 rooms in the hotel and the staff is outstanding. They knew each of our names from the day we got there and personalized every aspect of our stay. We would walk downstairs before dinner and the bartender would have our favorite glass of wine waiting for us. They truly went above and beyond and it made the entire experience unforgettable. I thought the location was perfect as well – it’s just a short walk from the Champs Elysées (main Street with a lot of shopping and entertainment) and about a 15-minute walk to The Eiffel Tower. If you’ve ever been to Europe, you know the hotels can be small. We got the “executive room” and it was actually perfect for 2 people. We did get a peek at the “classic room” and it looked a little small, but that’s completely a personal decision based on your needs and how much you’re willing to spend. Overall, we loved everything about our stay and would definitely go back next time we’re in Paris!




Jumpsuit: Lulus here // Jacket: Tahari here
Where to eat:

  • Le Georges – located at the top of the Pompidou (modern art museum) and has an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower! We went here for NYE and it was my favorite meal of the trip. The food was great, service was awesome (well, as “awesome” as service can get in Paris) and it had the coolest vibes. There’s a DJ that plays at night but isn’t too crazy so you can still enjoy your meal. Definitely recommend!

  • Frenchie – I really wanted to go here, but unfortunately we waited too late to make reservations and they were booked (+ they aren’t open on Saturday and Sunday, so that makes it a little hard). So first piece of advice – book reservations early! I’ve heard so many great things about this place (+ it’s the Kardashian’s favorite restaurant!) so it’s definitely on the list for our next trip to Paris!

  • Ladurée – famous spot in Paris, redound for their macarons (and they did not disappoint!). They also have a great lunch menu with sandwiches, salads, omelets, and other items.

  • Le Relais de l’Entrecôte – the best steak & frites place in all of Paris. They don’t have menus and only serve steak and fries (vegetarians beware!). They simply ask how you’d like your steak cooked. Then they bring you salad, followed by two servings of steak with frites and a delicious sauce. There is usually a line (and they actually don’t take reservations), so go early.

Other restaurants I received but didn’t have a chance to try out:

Experimental Cocktail Club – great for pre-dinner drinks
Market – delicious French-Asian cuisine, modern, fresh, delicious
Bistro Paul Bert – this is a small bistro with traditional French food, rich and delicious!
Ralph’s – Ralph Lauren Restaurant, beautiful out-door terrace dining room. Great for lunch or dinner.
Le Soufflé – absolutely delicious soufflé restaurant. Entrée (savory) soufflés as well as dessert (sweet) soufflés
Le Maison Blanche – very chic restaurant with an incredible view of Paris. French cuisine
Mme Shawn – when your sick of eating French food, come here for some delicious Thai! Several locations, so look up according to your area.
Chez Gladines – This features food from the Southwest of France – Basque cuisine. It’s inexpensive they have delicious food and great sangria by the pitcher. It usually has a fun, kind of party atmosphere – great for young people. Try their salads – they come with potatoes on them and are quite hearty!
















What to do:

  • Shop on Champs de Élysées – this is the most famous street in Paris and is full of luxury shopping, restaurants and entertainment. It is home to Louis Vuitton’s flagship store and the largest LV store in the world! The street extends up to the Arc de Triomphe, which is also a popular tourist spot (and gorgeous!).
  • Musée du Louvre – This is the largest and most visited art museum in Paris (and where you can see The Mona Lisa). It can be a bit overwhelming because there’s a lot going on, but it’s definitely worth going.
  • Château de Versailles – This was by far my favorite thing we did from our entire trip! Plan on spending most of your day (at least half day) at Versailles. It is the former home of the French Royal Monarchy – between Louis XIV to Louis XVI. You can visit the beautiful interior of the palace as well as 2,000 archers of its stunning gardens. We actually got a private tour guide (set up through our hotel) and I would highly recommend doing this! We were able to skip the two-hour line to get in and he explained every little detail about the kings, how they lived and told us the most fascinating facts you would never get if you were just walking through yourself. The gardens were absolutely breathtaking, and nothing was even in bloom! I would love to come back in the spring or summer one day to see all the flowers bloomed – it’s truly breathtaking!
  • Boat tour of the Seine River – This was another favorite of the trip! Taking a river cruise all around Paris was probably one of the most romantic things I’ve ever done. You get a glimpse of the city’s most historic spots while enjoying an incredible 5-course meal on the water. Definitely something I will always remember.
  • Notre Dame – This is the most famous church in Paris and it’s absolutely gorgeous!
  • Eiffel Tower – The most iconic thing about Paris… The Eiffel Tower. I don’t care how touristy it is, there’s nothing cooler than finally seeing it in person. It’s absolutely breathtaking at night (it lights up every hour on the hour!), and has a ton of restaurants around that give the best views. We didn’t actually go to the top because the line was so long and it was cold, but if you’re wanting to, I would recommend buying your tickets online in advance and skipping the line!

I’m so excited to share my FIRST EVER VLOG! A big thanks to my hubby for making it!

Feel free to leave a comment below if you have a question about anything I forgot, or any other recommendations! Jusqu’à la prochaine fois, Paris … (until next time, Paris…)!

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