Have I been using my travel planning as escapism? Yes. Do I feel like I might have OVER planned... maybe. I need an honest review of my itinerary to see if there is maybe something I should add or subtract. For context, my husband and I are 30 years old with zero kids and two years of excess vacation savings burning a hole in our wallets and we are craving romance and adventure. We love to bake, cook and, obviously, eat! So we have booked an adorable apartment in the 9th from Feb 4-Feb 17th and we are hoping to eat our way through Paris. We have booked quite a few food tours and baking classes. However, am I limiting myself to just living in Paris instead of branching out to something maybe a bit more relaxing and low-key in the country? Or is this how we can get to know the real Paris? I'm a realist, I don't expect Paris to be a fantasy and I'm honestly a bit scared that we are going to get there and be a little bit stuck in a highly populated city, smashed with tourists and genuinely hate it or regret staying in one place for our entire trip. So here is what we have so far:
Friday, Feb 4th:
- 12:00pm Arrive: (Icelandic Air with a driver picking us up to take us to the airbnb *any advice on Icelandic Air appreciated)
- Find a health pass (*also any advice appreciated)
- 4:00 pm -7:00 pm: Local tasting tour of the area around our Airbnb (9th/Rue des Martyrs).
*I always figure having something booked in the afternoon after landing keeps you up and moving so you can try to adjust your time/sleeping schedule.
Saturday, Feb 5th:
- 9:30am-2:30 pm: Walking tour of major sites. (*This is a longgg walking tour that will cover just about all of the major sites and also get us familiar with using the metro. I figured this will be a great way to get our bearings)
- 7:00pm reservation: Se'bon
Sunday, Feb 6th:
- 9:00am - 11:30am: bread baking class (6th)
- 10:30 pm : Tickets to Crazy Horse (Chaps-Elysees)
*So this day is pretty much open for exploring whatever and doing whatever after the baking class and until 10:00 pm. I thought the flea market or hitting some of the museums that will be free today since it is the first Sunday of the month. Cluny, Musee Carvavalet, Rodin or Orangerie are all great options. I have a few restaurants in mind that are open Sundays.
Monday, Feb 7th:
- 12:15 pm- 1:45pm: Wine and cheese tasting near the Louvre
- 3:00pm - 6:00 pm: Louvre tour
Tuesday, Feb 8th:
- Bike tour of Versailles
*this will pretty much be all day. The bike tour catches the train with you from Paris and takes you to the market to shop for picnic supplies for brunch then you head inside for the tour
Wednesday, Feb 9th:
- 12:00pm -3:00pm: Food tour of St. Martin
Thursday, Feb 10th:
- 11:00am-2:00pm: Aligre Market tour in Bastille
- 7:00pm-9:00pm: Orsay museum tour
Friday, Feb 11th:
- 11:00am -4:00pm: Food tour of Le Marais
Saturday, Feb 12th:
- 8:50am flight to Germany to visit family. We return back on the 15th where we switch to an airbnb in Le Marais
Tuesday, Feb 15th:
-Arrive 1:30pm. *No plans. Maybe explore Le Marais and have a nice dinner. Atelier des Lumieres has caught my eye.
Wednesday, Feb 16th:
- 9:30 am -12:30 pm: Croissant baking class
- 3:45pm-6:45pm: Spa (*hammam, massage, facial. Basically get some good relaxation in before our flight the next day )
Thursday, Feb 17th:
*hopefully get some breakfast a Hollybelly before takeoff
- 1:15pm fly home
Things I'm assuming can slide in wherever and weather permitting: Flea market, Luxembourg gardens, Rodin Museum, Musee Carnavalet, Atelier des lumieres... and too many restaurants for the amount of food tours we have in here. Honestly, what should I cancel, what should I keep? Should we dump it all and go to a country château? Thoughts? Be brutal.