There’s something about Paris. When I first went to Europe, there was no other place I was more excited about going to than Paris. It’s got a dreamy quality about it, but it’s not just a Hollywood manipulation – from misty gray mornings following your nose as you track down the best croissant to strolling the aisles at Port St Ouen looking for vintage finds, Paris has a “certain something” that can’t be missed. There are a million reasons to travel to Paris, but did you know that you can get a round-trip flight from within the USA to Paris for just $375? This is cheaper than when I just flew to Florida from Ohio! The trip of a lifetime to Paris isn’t out of reach.

This vintage postcard was bought for €1 at Port St Ouen, a vintage shopper’s heaven in the North of Paris. The flea market here is said to be one of the largest of its kind in the world.

One of the best views of the Eiffel Tower is from the top of Tour Montparnasse – 210 meters up!

Cheap Flights to Paris With Next Vacay

I think people have it in their heads that it would cost thousands at a minimum to go to Europe for a week, but it really doesn’t have to be that way if you are proactive about planning for your trip. I use Next Vacay to be on the look out for the crazy low price deals they email to me a few times a week. They emailed this deal of $375 to Paris and I just had to share this with you because I feel like it’s SO much more affordable to travel to places like Paris than people realize. I love that Next Vacay makes these deals known which makes dream destinations more accessible for us to travel. (I actually listed them in my favorite 9 websites I use to plan my trips and wrote a full review you can read here.)

Once you’ve got your flight, the next step in planning a trip is to find a hotel. I always tell people to research a bit first to see what area/neighborhood you want to be in rather than finding out later the amazing deal you found means you have to take a taxi 30 minutes into town each day. If you can find hotels in neighborhoods of Marais or St. Germain, you’ll love these areas with cool boutiques and shops selling baguettes on every corner. While you might think it’s great to be near the Eiffel Tower or Champs-Elysées, I don’t actually recommend these areas unless you’re rolling in the dough.

Because you are saving so much on a flight if you use deals like this from Next Vacay, it means you’ve got a little extra to use to get a nice boutique hotel or get a cheap hotel and use it to macaroons and nice wine.

This is an apartment in Le Marais with a little Parisian picnic using ingredients and wine from a local French supermarket!

The best things in Paris are taking long walks, taking in the views, and of course boozy brunches. Are you dying to visit!?

Just writing this makes me want to head straight back to Paris!

Now,  I’ve talked to a lot of my readers about the best ways to make their travel dreams a reality, especially traveling to Paris. When we talk about the details of their trips – walking down the Seine at sunset, or visiting the Eiffel Tower for the first time – their eyes light up with possibility and wonder. I absolutely love seeing how excited they get! But way too often that excitement fades. That’s because they start thinking about all the reasons they can’t “just go” to Paris.

And I totally get it.

When I started traveling, purchasing a quick flight to Paris was something other people did. Not me! How could I possibly just take off and go travel to Paris? It felt selfish. It even felt unfair. Like, “Who am I to just take off and enjoy a week in Paris?”

Then one day I asked myself “Why not? What’s stopping me?”

And that’s when I realized I had all of these reasons for saying no, without thinking of all of the reasons to say yes! The experience, the excitement, the culture, the beauty. I’d always dreamed of this trip, why shouldn’t I take it? Of course I deserve this!

A part of me wanted to believe everything would fall apart if I took time off for myself- but in reality, I knew things would be fine.

Yes, we’re all busy and it can be hard to make time for ourselves and our dreams. Going to Paris wasn’t just about having a luxurious vacation–it was me saying yes to myself, and my life. And all I needed to do to make it a reality was take one tiny step, which for me was signing up for Next Vacay–which has literally changed my life. These cheap flight deals are really a game changer.

So, Wait – What is Next Vacay?

I have been using Next Vacay for over a year. I reviewed them and it went viral – people started emailing me telling me the amazing deals there were getting from Next Vacay. I am so excited to see people getting to travel places they never thought they could! There are not many companies that I promote, and Next Vacay is something that I believed in back when they were a brand new company and I am so happy to see how huge they have become – being on the live news, TIME.com, and so much more.

Let me sum up how Next Vacay works in case you don’t want to read my past review:

You pay $25 for the whole year, input your local airport and a couple nearby ones, then they start emailing your deals that make sense for you (prices in the email are always round-trip). Then you use the deals to book directly through the airline they found the deal, not through Next Vacay. Basically, Next Vacay are just the deal hunters telling you when a crazy cheap flight is available from your hometown airport to well, anywhere in the world like Paris, Sydney, London, The Maldives, Hanoi, and New Zealand. They don’t send a deal out unless it’s a true “steal”. It’s a husband and wife team, and you’ll right away notice how personable the emails are.

Naveen & Shaylee Dittakavi, the husband and wife founders and deal hunters of nextvacay.com, sending deals out to members while waiting to board a flight

The fact that it’s $25 now and was $25 a year ago means a lot – they aren’t trying to raise their prices. $25 is so cheap to pay for a year of deals, that I’m surprised they haven’t! You can do a free month trial, and you can cancel if you don’t find a deal in six months that you like with a money back guarantee – so there’s literally no downside. They will email you before year two starts to see if you want to go ahead or cancel the subscription (before your card is charged).

What caught my eye with this website over a year ago, was when Naveen, the owner posted to Facebook he was on a roundtrip flight USA-India for just $300. I was like, wow, I NEED these deals in my life.

I haven’t been disappointed with at least 2 deals coming to my inbox each day to amazing places like Madrid for $450, Dublin for $400, Puerto Vallarta for $500 and Mumbai for $825 (with Columbus, Ohio as my home airport). You can also check out Next Vacay’s Facebook page where they share deals that their users got (which the users themselves posted to Facebook). It’s amazing to see people so excited about their upcoming trip.

Just by paying $25, you get the best deals ever sent to your inbox which honestly opens up your life to so much – because travel is just “step one”. Once you get there, you will have life-changing experiences, meet friends, maybe meet a significant other like I did, or you might even find a new career from travel! It will open so many doors. I wouldn’t be promoting something I don’t believe in, and I really feel like for $25 this is a no-brainer. The best part is they find deals over holidays and long weekends, too, when you can actually take the time to travel.

Where do you want to travel? Paris, somewhere else? Start now! You can sign up for your free trial and start actually living out your wanderlust dreams at a fraction of the cost. If you aren’t sure it’s as cheap as I say, check out these recent trips Next Vacay members booked  – so awesome.

Click here to get a free trial to next vacay

Pin these cheap flight to Paris deals for later (just hover over and the Pinterest logo will pop up for you to click it):

This post is in partnership with Next Vacay. I was paid for this post but only write about things I truly believe in. I have been a happy user of their services for over a year and not only love this company but think it’ll be the smartest $25 you spend toward travel this year!

The post There’s a Million Reasons to go to Paris, But This Round Trip Flight For Just $377 is the Best One! appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

The following is a guest post about breaking stereotypes of French girls and clichés about French travelers.

When I started traveling and meeting people from all over the world, I soon discovered that many countries seem to have some kind of fascination with the french culture.

Americans, in particular, seem to picture us constantly wearing high fashion and walking around the streets of Paris with a baguette tucked into our little fashionable bags, always in view of the Eiffel Tower of course.

These kind of clichés make me laugh, and some of them are even true. I do wear scarves, love red wine and think french bread is the only kind of real bread. On the other hand, I’ve been sometimes confronted by clichés that are … less funny.

Wrong Clichés About French Travelers

1. We Are Dirty

I don’t know where this rumor started but french people are supposed to be dirty? I also heard many times that french women don’t shave. Luckily, that cliché, in particular, is easy to dispel, I just have to raise my arms! I swear, we take daily showers and everything, we’re clean and nice and smelling good.

2. We Are Lazy and Delicate

That’s something that annoys me. Really annoys me. Once I tried to help someone cook and clean and I was told nicely “no, just stay there (doing nothing), you look very French”. Or that idea that I’m too delicate to do anything by myself or carry stuff around.

Sometimes it’s just sexism, but it often gets worse when people find out I’m French. I’m traveling solo, carrying my backpack and walking miles on my own.

French women can be badasses just like anyone else!

3. Francophile

It’s often said that french people are a bit of a bunch of snobs. That they like their culture and language so much that they don’t care about anyone else’s.

I think this comes from foreigner’s experiences in Paris, where local people tend to be indeed a bit rude and refuse to speak English. But please know that there’s a whole country beyond Paris, where people are much nicer. And a whole bunch of English speaking and open minded people in France as well, I promise!

4. We Cheat

Now we get to the worse part and the one that affects me the most during my travels. People think that french people sleep around constantly.

Let me tell you right now: we don’t cheat on our partners any more than in any other country. The only difference with America is that we are more open about talking about sexuality in films or books. That’s it.

I often make up a fake boyfriend when I meet new people and I feel like it would be a better night for me if everyone assumes I’m taken, but it happened that to “I have a boyfriend”, I was answered “yeah but … you’re french”. Delightful!

Also, I’m sorry to break it to you, but we don’t eat frogs.

That said, I love my culture and my country, and I have to admit that my little French accent always has its uses when I need help on the road. Just, please, get the above clichés about French travelers out of your head. It will make my life easier as I travel the world!

Cora is a french writer and traveler. You can read about her adventures around the world and on to a greener way of life on The Path She Took. She is also a travel planner, contact her through her blog to get all her good advice!

The post 4 Clichés About French Travelers They Wish You’d Stop Thinking appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature the luxury side of an awesome city. Guest bloggers will share about either their hometown or a town they are an expat in and know very deeply so that you get a guide straight from a local.  E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

Luxury Guide to Saint Tropez

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in St. Tropez.

Hi, my name is Rob and I am the editor of Le Bon Lifestyle, a luxury travel and lifestyle blog providing readers with reviews and recommendations on the best hotels and restaurants around the world, with some friendly fashion advice thrown in to ensure you look your best on your luxury vacation!

I have been travelling to Saint Tropez for over 14 years and have an intimate knowledge of the area and the best places to stay and hang out.

What makes St. Tropez a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Saint Tropez is the epitome of luxury travel and perfect for those seeking a luxury lifestyle. There is such a positive energy about the town and that’s what I love about it most.

Saint Tropez has numerous fine hotels, villas and restaurants to keep the most discerning traveller happy.

What 5-star hotel is the best in St. Tropez?

For me the Pan Dei Palace is the best 5* Hotel in Saint Tropez. Hotel Byblos is more well known, but I prefer the Pan Dei’s understated class over the more in your face Byblos. Click here for rates and availability. 

What about boutique hotels in Saint Tropez, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

We have been returning to Hotel La Garbine for many years.

Located just a short walk from the famous Tahiti Beach, La Garbine is a small family run hotel with a good sized pool and well-appointed rooms.

Your host, Christian makes you feel like one of the family and provides a relaxed atmosphere in which guests can really unwind. Click here for rates and availability. 

Are there any fun luxury activities for the adventurous traveler in Saint Tropez?

If your pockets are deep enough, you could hire a yacht for the day and motor round to the Pampelonne beach and lunch at Club 55, former hangout of Bridgette Bardot no less.

Alternatively, you could take the short drive up to the beautiful, medieval village of Grimaud up in the hills overlooking Saint Tropez bay and take a spot of lunch in the Cafe de France.

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Saint Tropez?

During the day, everybody heads to the beach, with the Pampelonne being the most popular.

Our favourite restaurant for lunch is Tabou Beach, located on Tahiti Beach. The satay prawns are to die for and you can chill with a nice glass of Domaine Ott Rose taking in the views and listening to some chilled house music.

After lunch, you can pick up the pace a little and head to Nikki Beach where the party really gets going…

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in [insert city] and what are their best dishes?

My favourite fine dining experience in Saint Tropez can be found at L’Escale, located in the Port of Saint Tropez.

L’Escale is the perfect place to sit down and watch the super yachts roll in whilst you tuck into a Plats De Fruits De Mer, followed by grilled Fillet de Saint-Pierre (John Dorey) and wash it all down with a glass or 3 of Laurent Perrier Rose Champagne.

Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best?

You will struggle to find a bad meal in Saint Tropez and most of the restaurants serve up a mean Creme Brûlée or Moelleux au Chocolat, but I would recommend those with a sweet tooth head to a Tarte Tropizienne patisserie for a cake of the same name. The cream filled brioche will leave you in a sugar filled trance of ecstasy.

Tell us all the hot shopping spots in Saint Tropez; who’s carrying the trendy local designers? 

Where do I start? Chanel, Cavalli, Gucci, Hermes, Villbrequin, Breitling…you won’t have a problem finding luxury designers in Saint Tropez, the issue may be the balance on your Amex at the end of it!

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in St. Tropez?

The Pan Dei has its own onsite wellness centre, and guests can enjoy a massage in their room, onsite or best of all on the Pan Dei’s very own 100-foot yacht in Saint Tropez port.

Time for a great sunset view… where would you go?

I always enjoy a sunset cocktail at the Senequier in Saint Tropez port as I settle down for a good old spot of people watching in the circus that is Saint Tropez marina at sundown.

For those looking for a romantic spot, Grimaud village has stunning views across Saint Tropez bay.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

We always head to White 1921 champagne cocktail bar to get our pre-dinner game on. They serve up a pretty mean (and large!) champagne Mojito, guaranteed to get you in the mood and as good as any we had in Buenos Aires recently.

If you end the night at a fancy club in St. Tropez, which one do you head towards?

Many would say Caves du Roy in the Byblos hotel, but I would avoid that trap. The club is hard to get into and seriously expensive once you do get in.

The VIP rooms are another option where, if you are lucky, you may get to see a performance by Snoop Dog or Carl Cox.

The easier and arguably more fun option is Papagayo, located in the marina, where I have partied many a time until 3am with my wife Gemma and several grey goose, soda, limes!

Rob is passionate about food and travel, and recently returned from a 3 month sabbatical to Europe and South America. Rob believes that travel needn’t be uncomfortable and tiring and prefers to tick off his bucket list in the luxury of a 5* hotel! You can find more luxury travel and lifestyle advice on the Le Bon Lifestyle website and follow Rob on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.

The post Luxury Guide to Saint Tropez appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

feature image: Bs0u10e0

A Luxury Guide to Cannes

Tell us a little about  yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Cannes.

I am a UK based luxury travel and lifestyle blogger. On my blog www.jet-settera.com, I write about the most luxurious jet-set destinations around the World and the hottest events that take place in these places. Every year I attend the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals, the Monaco Grand Prix, Oscars Parties in LA, Art shows in Miami, Basel, London and in Venice, Fashion Weeks in Paris or Milan. I spend a couple of weeks in St-Tropez every Summer, where I attend many villa and yacht parties. My blog allows my readers to have a glance at these upscale destinations and some of the most prestigious events around the World.

I have been to Cannes about 10 times as I regularly attend the Cannes Film Festival that takes place every May. This year’s festival is only a month away and my intention is to put you in the mood to visit Cannes, during the most glamorous film festival of the year.

What makes Cannes a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Former Lord Chancellor Lord Brougham set out to visit Nice in 1834, but he was stuck in a small fishing village called Cannes, because of a cholera outbreak in Nice. After this winter, he spent the next 30 winters in Cannes and he became the first person to spread the words to the European aristocrats to come and visit the place. By the beginning of the 20^th century Cannes had become one of the most glamorous cities of Europe. 

The World’s oldest and most prestigious film festival takes place in this beautiful coastal town every May for the last 68 years. During the 10 days of the festival, Cannes becomes a melting pot of celebrities, billionaires and wannabes. If you are looking for a quiet time in Cannes, you are better off visiting during the Summer, when the city is less crowded. On Boulevard de la Croisette the long beach promenade that traverses Cannes you can find Le Grand Theatre Lumiere, where the annual film festival takes place, as well as luxurious designer stores, hotels, beach clubs and Michelin-starred restaurants.

What 5 star hotel is the best in Cannes?

The oldest most traditional hotel in Cannes is the Intercontinental Carlton Hotel. It is situated right on the middle of the Croisette at at 58 Boulevard de la Croisette. Book into Room 623, also known as the Alfred Hitchcock suit. It was featured in the movie To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. The two domes on either sides of the hotel resemble the breast of a female courtesan. The terrace of the hotel is one of the best spots in town for people watching. It is a place where producers, actors, journalists meet for a coffee to get their next blockbusters started or promoted.

For an ultimate luxury experience stay in Hotel du Cap, Eden Rock in Cap d’Antibes. It is 15 kms away from Cannes and it is listed amongst the best hotels in the World. It is right on the coast of the Mediterranean overlooking the sea and the surrounding yachts. Many celebrities stay in this world famous hotel, therefore no one is allowed to take photos. The most prestigious events of the festival take place in this fabulous hotel, such as the amfAR Gala organized by Sharon Stone. The place is often surrounded by paparazzi. Even if you cannot afford to stay here, I recommend you to visit this place for lunch to admire the view and to take a stroll in the garden of this magnificent hotel.

What about boutique hotels in Cannes, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

Hotel Le Cavendish at 11 Boulevard Carnot in the heart of Cannes, is about 5 minutes walk away from the beach. It was a Travellers’ Choice 2016 Winner of Top Hotels. It is famous for its delicious homemade breakfast. The beds are very comfortable and the staff is helpful and friendly. Click here for rates and availability. 

Are there any fun luxury activities for the adventurous traveler in Cannes?

Hiring a yacht is the best way to enjoy the South of France. Some of the biggest yachts in the World show up during the Film Festival in Cannes and many of them can be chartered. If you walk down on the Jetee Albert Edouard, you can see some of  the most incredible yachts in the World, such as Dennis Rich’s mega yacht the Lady Joy or Paul Allen’s Octopus.  Often times, there are celebrity parties on these mega-yachts. Roberto Cavalli threw a star-studded party 2 years ago on his yacht, where Kyle Minogue, John Travolta as well as Heidi Klum appeared.

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Cannes?

Most beach clubs are operated by large hotels on the Croisette and they host exclusive parties during the festival. Beach beds run around 40€ at Le Majestic Plage of The Majestic Barriere Hotel, where they serve a delicious seafood buffet lunch. If you are lucky you can watch a photo call during the festival here, I spotted Jennifer Lawrence during her photocall for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1. Also, the champagne reception of the 20^th anniversary Pulp Fiction screening took place here with Tarantino and Uma Thurman and John Travolta. Another hot spot during the day is the Carlton Beach. Get yourself a sun lounger and you can watch all the photo calls here during the festival. Borat’s mankini was first launched here.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Cannes and what are their best dishes?

The most famous restaurant is Palm d’Or, (named after the award of the 69 year old film festival) in the Martinez Hotel. It is a two Michelin-starred restaurant and a hot spot to see some of the celebrities who turn up in Cannes during the festival.

On the small streets between the Croisette and Rue d’Antibes, there are plenty of choices for restaurants, but one of the oldest most famous places is La Mere Besson 13 Rue Frères Pradignac +33 4 93 39 59 24 that has been open since 1959, and specializes in delicious seasonal Provencal dishes. Many French filmmakers turn up here for a meal after a red carpet premier.

A short taxi ride away from Cannes, is the famous seafood restaurant called Tetou 8 Avenue des Frères Roustan, Goulfe +33 4 93 63 71 16 facing the beach of Golfe Juan. After promoting Kung Fu Panda 2, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie appeared here for dinner.  The food is excellent, but make sure to bring cash as they will not take any credit cards.

Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best?

Vilfeu Glacier 14 Rue Bivouac Napoléon +33 4 93 39 26 87 in the historic old town, Le Suquet, makes the best ice-cream in town. Kim and Kanye showed up here a couple of years ago after a yacht party.

Tell us all the hot shopping spots in Cannes; who’s carrying the trendy local designers? Are there designers we should make sure to meet?

Le Croisette and Rue d’Antibes offers the best choices for shopping in Cannes. Beautiful designer shops like Chanel, Prada, Roberto Cavalli line up along the beach on the Croisette, while Rue d’Antibes offers less luxurious brands such as Zara, Mango.

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in Cannes?

Spa Diane Barriere by Clarins in the Majestic Barrier Hotel at 10 Boulevard de la Croisette +33 4 92 98 77 00 is a 450 m2  spa with sauna, steam room, sensory space, fitness room. The spa is free for hotel guests and 45€ for visitors. The spa offers a wide selection of beauty treatments, some of which were especially created for the hotel, using the famous brand Clarins.

Time for a great sunset view… where would you go?

Stay on the beach of Cannes to see the sunset at one of the Beach Clubs; Carlton Beach or Le Plage at the Majestic Hotel offer a great sunset view and a nice selection of cocktails. They often have DJs playing in the early evenings to ensure a fun atmosphere.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

Le Bar L’Amiral in the Martinez Hotel at 73 Boulevard de la Croisette, +33 4 93 90 12 34

This bar has won an endless list of awards and it ranks amongst the best piano bars of France. The venue is designed in an elegant art deco style, the walls are decorated with photos of celebrities. Have a martini on the terrace during the film festival and you will surely see some famous people sipping cocktails at the nearby tables.

Another upscale bar is the Carlton Bar at 58 Boulevard de la Croisette, +33 4 93 06 40 06 which is probably the best place for people watching as the place attracts some of the wealthiest, most famous people in town. The place is swanky and refined. This is a sophisticated place for beautiful cocktails and snacks, while you have to make sure to keep your eyes open for celebrities.

If you end the night at a fancy club in Cannes, which one do you head towards?

Gotcha Club at Place Franklin Roosevelt +33 4 93 45 11 11 is the hottest night club in town, where celebrity DJs like Bob Sinclair and David Guetta are spinning during the film festival. Regulars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Justin Bieber can be often spotted in the VIP section during the festival. The after party of Expendables 3 took place here two years ago, when all the biggest Hollywood actors showed up like Antonio Banderas, Sly Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Bio:

Barbara is a London based luxury travel and lifestyle blogger of www.jet-settera.com. She left her country when she was 17 to conquer the World as a model. Ever since she has lived in seven countries and visited 63. She blogs about the hottest jet-set destinations and the most prestigious events around the World such as Venice, Cannes San Sebastian Film Festivals, Oscar Parties in LA, Fashion Weeks in Milan or Paris, yacht parties in St-Tropez as well as Prince Albert’s wedding in Monaco. She writes about art shows like Freeze in London, Miami Art Basel or the Biennale in Venice. She also writes about adventure travel across Asia, South-America and Europe. Read about her latest adventures to Cuba, Argentina, Chile and Brazil on her blog. Find her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Google+.

The post Luxury Guide to Cannes appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

Feature Image via Flickr: Federico Grechi, edited by me.

A Luxury Guide to Nice

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Nice and the South of France.

Hi, I’m Namrata. I was born in India but have lived most of my adult life traveling and exploring the world. I run my own clothing label, Doe Designs, initially a stylist and still do it when I find the time, I love traveling and sharing m experiences with everybody! I am also currently enrolled at the London College of Fashion for an MBA program in Fashion.

As enchanting as India seems to people from the outside, I am a terrible case of the grass is always greener on the other side. I love Europe and Australia I studied my under graduation in Melbourne and fell in love with the city that I still consider one of my top places to live and visit.

Today, however I am writing about one of my favorite holidays in the South of France, I wouldn’t say I am exactly an expert of the region but having spent a considerable time over the summer a couple of years ago I would love to share my insights and thoughts on one of the most spectacular places in the world. It’s the perfect blend of beauty, European charm and classic French style vacationing.

What makes Nice a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Nice is definitely one of the most glamorous places to visit amongst the other beautiful cities along the coast of the South Of France, Monte Carlo, Cannes, Antibes and St. Tropez are a must visit on this trip. I would recommend making Nice the base of the vacation with its ultra chic vacationers, and gorgeous hotels to stay at, not to mention the absolutely breathtaking ocean. Although they have pebble beaches once you turn on your music lay back take a dip in the pristine water and soak up the sun you’ve long forgotten about the pebbly terrain.

I have to mention the absolutely fabulous food and restaurants in the city, at the top of the list is the two Michelin starred restaurant Le Chantecler at the famous Hotel Negresco. Located right on the famous Promenade des Anglais overlooking the breathtaking ocean, it’s an absolute gastronomical delight!

The beauty of Nice however doesn’t quite only lie in visiting high-end restaurant or strutting the high-end shopping streets, there’s a plethora of cute and delectable restaurants throughout the city, one such gem is a classic French restaurant, Bistrot d’Antoine in the Old town Nice. It’s extremely popular amongst the locals and why wouldn’t it be with its delicious Mediterranean cuisine and reasonable prices. 

What 5 star hotel is the best in Nice?

Located right on the famous Bay of angles Hotel Negresco would definitely be my pick for when you are in Nice. The hotel boasts some of the most spectacular views of the city and each room has been tastefully designed by the owners themselves who are self-confessed art connoisseur. As a family owned hotel for more than 50 years, the striking white and pink building complete with its gorgeous domed tower is a National historic Monument. You can be rest assured that your breakfast views from the gorgeous balconies overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean sea will leave you breathless and what better way to start your day! The service is exceptional as expected and for art lovers it’s an absolute treat. Click here for rates and availability. 

photo via flickr:Román Emin

What about boutique hotels in Nice, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

There are so many gorgeous little boutique hotels to choose from in Nice, mostly to fit in any budget. People have this misconception that the south of France is extremely expensive and overpriced but honesty barring Monte Carlo and perhaps Cannes during the film festival in May, my sister and I ended up spending so much time at the beach that we didn’t overshoot our budgets at all (not that we had one in mind).

Some of the places to stay that I would personally recommend would be Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée: gorgeous views and the if you can get yourselves to book the Sea Side Suite with its insane sea view and floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to your private terrace, marble bathrooms –basically you get my drift – THE WORKS! For something perhaps a little bit more pocket friendly NH Nice and Hotel la villa Nice Promenade are great options as well !

Are there any fun activities for the adventurous traveler in Nice?

Nice has heaps of options for the adventurous traveler, I would be kidding myself and my readers if I said I was conventionally adventurous, but one can be adventurous in different ways right? My sister and I hired bicycles for our time in Nice and did a lot of cycling in and around the city, went up to the famous Castle hill, rode across the beach, went towards the outskirts of the city and found it super fun and a great way to burn those extra calories we were adding up eating all the delicious food.

Besides this, one can parasail, snorkel, paddle board, go out and dive and I am pretty sure there are areas around the south of France to sky dive and bungee jump.  A few travelers we spoke to during our breakfast at the hotel were on their way to sky dive one morning!

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Nice?

I’m an absolute sucker for a day at the beach, so if I’m a in a city where there’s an ocean then that’s where you’re gonna find me. People often complain about the pebble beach in Nice and although being very bias to Australian beaches and soft sand, the water is so immensely stunning and the temperatures and tides just perfect for a lazy swim and hours of sunbathing!

You can choose between the public beach or the private beach, sometimes if you eat lunch at one the restaurants on the beach, the allow you sit on the private beach. We did both and both were equally fun.

If you’re looking for something more stimulating you could always stroll around the many alleys of this enchanting city, some parts of it aren’t as modern and  have been preserved, as a symbol of “Old Nice”, when you head inland from the sea front you start to notice these row of  low cottages (Ponchettes), some renovated partly that have been converted into quaint cafes and gorgeous art galleries.

You can also browse around one of the most famous markets in France which is normally set up behind these cottages.

images via flickr: Luca Nebuloni

People watching is one of my favourite ways to pass time in a new city, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and just soak in sights and sounds of a different culture, understand what makes its heart beat: children playing in a park, couples falling in love some arguing their ways in and out of a situation haha….its a wonderful thing to be able to absorb things raw and untouched.

Check here if you’re looking for some lovely Nice day trips.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Nice and what are their best dishes?

People have this misconception of Nice being a very expensive holiday destination, and as a regular traveler I can assure you, it could be and it doesn’t HAVE to be. You can make it work just wonderfully within your budget-high, low or medium!

So yes, there are a ton of restaurants, some even Michelin star, that could be a perfect date night dinner serving up exotic French delicacies but you could also grab a picnic basket, chose a spot in one of the many beautiful parks and have a lovely night under the stars enjoying local favorites such as “SOCCA” local crepes made from chickpea flour with a million toppings to choose from.

Ratatouille is another specialty of the region and available at many restaurants, With Italy being such a close neighbors it’s not surprising that pastas and pizzas find itself on many menus in restaurants in nice and they DO NOT disappoint!

Let’s talk desserts in Nice- what place makes the best?

I can’t really say what’s the BEST place and the BEST dessert. I have an extremely sweet tooth (I am gorging on chocolate as I’m writing this blog) so yeah…my recommendation would be to walk down the street Rue de France and discover all the little desserts offered by different patisseries and boulangeries. The displays are so colorful tempting and very promising. Definitely eat some Macaroons, try the chocolate and almond stuffed croissant, I will mention the crepes again, my favourites are the strawberry with butter lemon and sugar but there are lots to try from and honestly I don’t remember where I ate them because every place was really really good!

At restaurants, I usually order a crème brulee, and try not eating too heavy a main haha!

Tell us all the hot shopping spots; who’s carrying the trendy local designers in Nice?

I’m not sure why, being a designer and a stylist, shopping wasn’t at the top of my list when I first arrived in nice, it never actually is once I see the ocean BUT we did shop towards the end of our trip. Nice is a lovely place to shop both high-end designer stuff, local trendy boutiques and markets and the regular high street brands. Its got everything! A good place to start would be the old town and the markets that we spoke about earlier for little collectibles, souvenirs and jewellery. To find regular stores, like Zara, Bershka , Pimki you should head straight to avenue Medecin which runs the north-south length of the modern city centre.

The famous French department store Galeries Lafayette is definitely worth a browse. I always try to buy something local from the place I am in, a painting, a hand-made souvenir or a local brand. I did find very interesting stuff at the local evening markets that get set up in the summer and remember buying a gorgeous leather bracelet/band.

Time for a great sunset view in Nice… where would you go?

Negresco would be a great place to go for a sunset view I would  imagine and it is highly recommended, but we took this little train that runs from the end of Promenade des Anglais costs approx 10 euros and takes you through the flower market, the Maseena Square and the Castle hill and a couple of other spots, it stops for ten mins at the Castle and that’s pretty much where our ride ended since we were so mesmerized by the views, the sunset and the beauty of that place that we had long forgotten how we got there haha! It was a wonderful walk/trek down the hill but I think we saw more that way.

Jean-Pierre Dalbéra via Flickr

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

Bar De Oiseaux is a great little spot in the old town, although it may be a little difficult to find it has great live jazz music, sometimes a comedy act amongst other entertainers, named for the birds that inhabit the area for 5 bucks on entertainment nights it’s a great little spot to start the night and mingle with some locals in a relaxed atmosphere!

Often people gather around promenade des anglais for live music events that take place over the summer months and make for a fun and entertaining way to start a night

If you end the night at a fancy club, which one do you head towards?

Voulez vous danser avec moi? Haha I had to throw in a bit of my French here, well there are plenty a fancy clubs to choose from and although I am not a party/clubbing person I do have a few recommendations for those who would like to go !

Le Trois Diables which translates to the three devils has been a popular spot with locals and tourists for years, happy hours run from 5pm -9pm. Another one that’s popular is Le Ghost: comfortable and interesting interiors create an excellent atmosphere for the skilled in-house DJ’s, who play at this small speakeasy kinda vibe club, great energy and great music cover up for a small dance floor ;) if you’re looking for something fancy and classy, to mingle with the high-end nice locals , L’ambassade is probably the best place to go and splurge!

Namrata Puri is a Delhi girl who’s lived abroad and has a taste for all things fabulous from fashion to food. Other than being an extreme foodie, she’s a stylist, fashion consultant AND has her own line as head designer for the very popular Doe Designs where she whips up modern neon saris and long silky maxi skirts. Check out her designs on the Doe Designs Facebook page, Doe Designs Instagram, and to follow her personal instagram for more food pics click here.

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Western europe was the first trip I took abroad. I was so new to travel I didn’t think of it as Western Europe because I was completely unfamiliar with the East. It was just Europe! I’ve put together a sample Western Europe Itinerary that could be done over the course of 1-2 months, or of course longer if you want to travel slower.

This is the route I took my first time abroad. It’s not perfect; I missed some cool places but I did hit the popular “highlights”. I’ve written about each place already but thought it would be helpful to see it all in one post.

In order to travel this route, it was all by train, metro, and local bus once. I actually never had to take a cab. Okay, there was also some hitchhiking. I bought a Eurail pass & did have to make reservations in the popular cities. I visited during summer. Each city has a link to a blog post written about it with tips.

Before you start planning your Western Europe itinerary, make sure you…

1. Find a cheap flight on using my tips.
2. Get travel insurance with World Nomads. Here’s a comparison of plans and price calculator.
3. You can usually stay just 90 days as a tourist.

Backpacking Western Europe Sample Itinerary

Sample Western Europe Itinerary

1. London, UK. A staple in any itinerary to Europe, London has so much to see that you’ll NEED at least 3 days but could of course spend more time here. Your feet will hurt after all the sightseeing but from Big Ben to the London Eye and Westminster Abbey, it’s pretty dreamy. I see people walking to and from work past such amazing architecture and think maybe I could do a 9-5 if it was in London. Here are some Luxury tips for London and here’s a guide for a revisit to London.

2. Paris, France. Of course you should spend a couple of days in Paris. Beware it’s a little hard on the budget. Before the movie “Taken” came out, we were in a train station in Paris trying to think of where to spend the night when a cute young Parisian guy noticed we were lost and offered us his home. It was awesome and we saw Paris with him over the next few days. Sometimes travel is about taking risks, and this one paid off!

3. Zurich, Switzerland. Certainly not my favorite place on this list, but a hub nonetheless. We were forced to go here when trying to leave Paris for Rome and realizing the train was full for two days. This is a problem sometimes in the popular summer months. We showed up the day of the Summer Parade and it was WILD! Again, we couchsurfed but stayed only 1 night because it wasn’t part of our itinerary.

4. Finale Ligure, Italy. We wanted to go somewhere that was on the coast, but not as expensive. I saw online this castle you can stay in Italy for 20 bucks so I emailed them right away to make a booking. It was a cute town and a great introduction to Italy. We stayed 3 days.

5. Rome, Italy. WOW! This is a city that takes some time to see (Colosseum, Vatican city) . We made a mistake of not staying long enough. It is a bit overwhelming so I suggest taking a free walking tour through your hostel. Another suggestion is stay somewhere a bit pricier if it means you’re closer to the center of town. You’ll save on transport- not only money but more importantly TIME.

6. Florence, Italy. Florence was just stunning. I’ve never forget walking the market with gelato and watching the sunsets. You’ll need to save extra with the intention of buying leather in Florence and other goodies like pashmina scarves (which are clearly fake since they are 5 usd). I stayed 3 days here.

7. Venice, Italy.  I know I should go back to Venice because I was a little worn out and didn’t really enjoy my time there. I feel like all I saw were tourists and it was packed to the brim. People go for a reason tough: the little lanes of water and boats instead of cars. Expect high tourist priced food here that won’t be as good as other places. Stay 1 or 2 days. Here are some Venice travel tips.

8. Vienna, Austria. This was also during my “burnt out” phase and also we showed up on a Saturday night, Sunday everything was closed, and Monday we left. I’ve been back since, actually this month, and got to see a lot more. A post on that is coming soon!

9. Salzburg, Austria. The COOLEST place in Europe, maybe!? I loved Salzburg. Talk about a fairytale land. It’s incredible. We went to a beer garden first, got drunk, realized we had nowhere to stay, and crashed with new friends we made at the cutest little Austrian farm-house. Unreal little town! Stay a couple of days at least. The museums and fortress are really cool. A little peak into the magic of Salzburg’s fortress.

10. Interlaken, Switzerland. If you’re traveling solo, this is a town you’re sure to meet some people. There are two popular hostels and lots of youngsters hanging out for extended amounts of time. Hang-glide, paraglide, sky dive, ice climb, rock climb, kayak, or canyon; this is the epitome of adventure in Europe. Situated between two glacier lakes, with the Swiss Alps in the background, it’s the most beautiful place I’ve seen. Stay 4 days or more so you can do more activities and budget for them. Read more; Guide to Interlaken and Canyoning Interlaken.

11. Berlin, Germany. Berlin is the “cool” city of Europe. It’s trendy, fashionable, has great clubs and bars, and has some very open-minded people. Overall, I never hear travelers say a bad thing about Berlin. I think it was a bit cliquey and many cool places are hush-hush, so Couchsurfing and meeting locals is imperative here. I also LOVED the free walking tour of Berlin and learned a lot.

12. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam is full of history, but it’s also full of “coffee shops” and you’ll need to make a bit of an itinerary so that you can be sure to see what’s there. I was 19 and did not see all that I should have. Walking the streets and seeing the lifestyle and everyone riding around on bicycles is adorable so even if you did nothing, you’d see a cool scene.

13. Delft, Den Haag, Maastricht. I’m putting all this together because they’re all very small towns in Holland. I changed my flight and stayed solo when my travel buddy went home and Couchsurfed to these towns. They were very cute and fun. I recommend seeing one country a little more in-depth and I chose Holland (because it seemed safe). Couchsurfing Holland was ideal because I had a host and I really got to see the towns the way locals do. Delft was my favorite.

A few extras…

You’ll have noticed I missed biggies like Ireland and Spain. They usually require flights which I couldn’t afford, so I waited and hit these up on my next trip to Europe, before I traveled onward to Eastern Europe. I don’t want to write about Ireland and Spain in my “Eastern Europe” post as it’ll confuse people, so will mention them here, now.

• If you have the budget, add Dublin to the top of this list, and head to Spain after France, before Italy.

Dublin, Ireland. One of the many places that I wish I’d had more time in- but not in Dublin. Two days were enough in Dublin, but I wanted a week to see the countryside (a week which I didn’t have). I did take a train out and see a bit, but it’s truly gorgeous so don’t spend too much time in Dublin downing Guinness. 7 Travel Tips for Dublin.

Madrid, Spain. Madrid was culturally impressive but for me, a little boring. Many people argue about which is better: Madrid or Barcelona? But I think they are so different you can’t really compare. Madrid seemed more old-fashioned to me. Tips on backpacking Madrid.

my couchsurfing hosts in Madrid who showed us everything!

Barcelona, Spain. The party place! I had a BLAST in Barcelona, even though I got pickpocketed and had to call my couchsurfing host from jail. Eating delicious food, downing sangria, checking out amazing art like Park Guell, and enjoying the incredible nightlife. Nowhere has such life in it like Barcelona.

Valencia, Spain. Valencia was much more chilled out, kind of like a typical beach town- but old school. I really enjoyed my time here although didn’t stay in “Old Town” as we should have. The beach was stunning and we had a blast at the bars. I did find the buses hard to navigate mainly because of language barriers. Tips for Visiting Valencia.

Read next | sample itinerary for Eastern Europe

Pin this backpacking Western Europe itinerary for later:

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Let’s say you’re rolling in the dough… you have so much money that you could pick random places to travel and not worry about budget. Usually I wouldn’t even consider this, but thanks to a reader’s e-mail, it’s been brought to my attention people like this exist!

They don’t want to know which places are convenient or easy to get to- they want to know what are the BEST and coolest places in the world. They may have all the money in the world but only a couple weeks to fly from place to place. I can’t say which are for sure the best, but I can give you my opinion!

So here we go, my 5 favorite cities in the World

except one is and island & one is a state, but hey, SEO ;)

1. Dubrovnik, Croatia.

It’s been getting this reputation of being too crowded and too touristy but it’s a stunning town. Here you’ll get to see the prettiest town I went to in Eastern Europe complete with a fairy-tale castle (the one from Game of Thrones), winding alleys like a small town in Italy, delicious pizzas and local food, and some of the greatest ocean views I’ve ever seen. On top of all that, it’s got a serious cultural bonus: you get to stay at a Sobe and have a local woman treat you one of their own kids. If you want to visit here, consider a full Croatia road trip!

2. Ko Lanta, Thailand.

Ko Lanta might not stay this way for long, but as of late it’s been known as the most beautiful sunset in the world… with not nearly enough people there to see it. Just the way I like it! Of course you have everything the other islands have: good food, great nightlife, and even better 5 star hotels, but having a whole stretch of beach to yourself in Thialand? Nothing better.

3. Goa, India.

There’s no greater adrenaline rush than coming to India, but if you’re short on time you won’t get to really take it all in. In a rush, just come to Goa and enjoy a mixture: get a massage for under a buck on the Arabic sea, indulge in coconut curries, wash a few elephants, take a spice plantation tour, and maybe even partake in one of the impressive Psy trance parties on Anjuna beach. Maybe I’m bias since this has been my home as of late, but Goa holds such a special place in my heart.

4. Corfu, Greece.

It’s said to be the most beautiful island in Greece. Other than the typical bright blue sea views, you get all that Greece is known for (seafood, white and blue houses, parties) and on top of that you have way fewer tourists than it’s counterparts Santorini and Mykonos. The island has a historic Old Town, a castle, forts, and plenty of outdoor activities. The island is “greener” than others and quite possible the most beautiful place in the Mediterranean.

5. Paris, France.

Paris, France photo source

Paris isn’t only for hopeless romantics; it’s for shopaholics and those who keep their noses buried in history books. Get dressed up in your favorite black outfit and pretend to be Parisian in one of the street side cafes. Wonder the Louvre and sip wine under the Eiffel Tower. Take the time to see Notre-Dame and peak through second-hand novels at the Shakespeare and Company book store. After all your site-seeing make sure you aren’t too tired to sip cognac and take on the luxurious nightlife.

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This is a story about two tourists in Paris. Everyone had seen “Taken” except me and I was warned repeatedly “don’t get in a taxi with a stranger in Paris.” Got it. (Disclaimer: when you warn me not do something, like go to Albania, I’m going to do it).

So after missing the train to Paris and using crocodile tears to get on another train free of charge, Amanda and I were finally in the most glamorous city in the world (I thought at 20 years old). We decided to book our ticket out of Paris while we were there so we didn’t have to come back to the station. We were responsible like that.

The clerk was a very cute French guy. The train was full to almost everywhere, but using our map of Europe we brought he helped us settle on Zurich. We had no plans so that was fine by us. He said something like  “you two seem a little lost” yes, yes we are! “you have anywhere to stay?” nope “would you like to come stay with me? I get off work in an hour… we’ll take a taxi” ok, how nice of you!

Being ‘Taken’ in Paris is fun.

An hour later off we went to who knows where, and hour outside Paris. Believe it or not, this isn’t a horror story. This is a magical story. Thibault, my 3 day French boyfriend had a beautiful French house, cooked amazing homemade food (his dad was a chef), and took us on a tour of Paris and the Louvre (do NOT get your hopes up for the Mona Lisa) we never could have put together ourselves. From hand-holding at the base of the Sacre Coeur Basilica, and café lunches on busy fashionable streets, to being scolded for eating my French fries with my fingers, and surrounded by a permanent cloud of smoke, drugs, fur coats (in summer) and skinny women… it was exactly like I thought Paris would be.

Above, the Louvre and below, the view from Sacre Coeur Basilica

I finally have seen Taken, and wow is that an unrealistic movie.  When my parents called and had realized Amanda was coming home in 3 weeks and I was staying alone in Europe longer (woops) and on top of that, staying a random dudes house in Paris (there I was being TOO honest). … I think they almost lost it. But couchsurfing 2 weeks alone in Europe was loads of fun, even when I stayed with the possible neo-nazi and slept with one eye open. Remember to Couchsurf safely.

Our new French Friends house and garden

Things like this seem to work out for me, that is when I take risks, like traveling India alone. Maybe I’m lucky or maybe its like I choose to believe: I have a good judge of character. IF you are unlucky and think everyone looks nice then you probably shouldn’t go home with strangers. For me the staying at strangers, hitchhiking, and sleeping in peoples front lawns in my sleeping bag are surprisingly some of the best/funniest memories I have of my travels.

OK now for the point of the story:

TAKE RISKS and don’t be afraid to ask questions or try new things. If you are traveling the world you’re already taking a risk… so multiply it. I cannot impress upon you how important it is for personal growth and keeping each day exciting. My favorite way to experience each new city is with the help of a local. How boring it would be to always take a taxi and stay in a nice hotel that was pre-booked each night. Take the path less traveled, throw off the bowlines… ok I’m combining quotes here but you get it. LIVE while you’re traveling, don’t just go through the tours with your camera clicking away.

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