Dream Destination: A Paris Do-Over

The Louvre at Night

This time last year I went to Paris for the first time. I’d dreamed about going to Paris for years–I imagined what it would look like, what it would sound like, how I’d practice my French, and wear Parisian-inspired dresses while traipsing around the arrondissements in search of the picture-perfect cafes.

And then I got there. I was less than enamored with the place I’d built up in my mind and was beyond excited to see. I let a couple bad experiences taint an otherwise great time there.

paris is always a good idea

So today, I’d like to have a do-over. I want to go back to Paris and take it easy this time. Spend my days soaking up the art and history in Paris’ world-famous museums–The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Rodin, and Pompidou. Then bask in the sun while sitting at a sidewalk cafe, watching passersby. And round out the evening with a bottle of wine and a little picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower before watching it light up at night.

I’ve looked online and found a multitude of dream hotels in which I’d love to stay. Perhaps something on the Left Bank, within walking distance to everything. Or perhaps instead, find a quaint boutique hotel in Montmartre, which was my favorite of all the arrondissements.

View of Paris from Palais Garnier Opera House

Any way you look at it, I’m ready to head back to Paris and see if I will fall for it like so many before me have.

Have you ever had a less-than-great experience in a city and wanted a do-over?

Author: Megan

Megan is an ordinary girl who outgrew her small town and decided to try the world on for size. She's on a mission to travel, photograph, and write about the world.

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  • I need to take another crack at Tokyo. When I was there in the fall it was only for 3 days and I was exhausted, lonely and disoriented. The city was still amazing but I failed on the “eat local Japanese food” mission and I want to try again.
    Melissa recently posted..BlogHouse Made Me Less of a DorkMy Profile

  • My do-over would have to be Rome. It was the first large city in Europe that I visited during my first international trip (other than the US). I felt overwhelmed by the vastness of it and found refuge in smaller centred cities like Florence and Venice and especially loved the smaller cities of the Veneto.
    I felt like I wasn’t prepared for it enough and we stayed in a terrible location. I wouldn’t mind giving it a second chance staying somewhere that suits my interests, trying locally recommended restaurants and using the metro more (I only discovered its ease on my second to last day there).

    As a person passionate about France I’d like to know about what went wrong in Paris? I am worried after years of dreaming about it that I too will be disappointed in some way after building it up.

    Murissa
    The Wanderfull Traveler recently posted..Wine & Geology: Similkameen Wine ValleyMy Profile

    • That’s really interesting, Murissa! I absolutely loved Rome. But I can see where you’re coming from–it is large, it is overwhelming, and there are parts that I don’t think are worth visiting. Where did you stay there?

      And for Paris–it was just a series of misfortunate events. Nasty cabdriver when I first got there, elevator out at the hotel and having to lug bags up four flights of stairs, going the wrong time of year and everything was closed, having my iPhone stolen by Roma, etc. Plus, I was with my boyfriend at the time just a few months before we broke up, so things were already kind of going downhill at that point, and it didn’t make for the romantic trip I’d always imagined.

  • Yes, Megan! The first time I went to Paris I pretty much hated it! What was all the hype about? I didn’t understand… The people were rude, the city was – just a big city, and it was hot. Welllll, looking back, my situation was not at all conducive to being able to fall in love (much less enjoy) this beautiful city of love. I was 15-years-old and with a fairly big (high school choir) group. Cringe! I think about my first Euro-trip that summer with mixed emotions. It was a 2 week-jam-packed-5 country whirlwind. Yeah. Not ideal. But, it was a good introduction to the continent and familiarized me with the scenery and people. I’ve since been back (umpteen times) – to Europe in general. The next time I went to Paris, I DID love it! I think circumstance and maturity had everything to do with it. I was with my sister and two of my best friends. We picnicked at the Eiffel Tower w/ wine and cheese at night and took the city at our own pace, shopping, strolling through streets, dining al fresca, and just soaking everything in. The Musee d’Orsay was infinitely more meaningful, Chaps elysees more impressive. Everything was more magical. I allowed it to be. We met and befriended locals and embraced the city with a revered respect. All this to say that, heck yes! You should definitely give the city another try! You WILL fall in love- I promise (with the city. I’m no match-maker!) I did not mean for this comment to be an essay! haha! Well- let me know if/when you give it another shot! Also, the same thing happened to me re: Rome. 1st time, didn’t love it, second and third times- could not get enough of it! NYC might be this way for me too! I think its the initial shock of any city… You have to acclimate to it, and if you don’t have enough time, you don’t get the full and deserved effect…. ok – back to blogging!
    Lindsay recently posted..Fourth of July on Fox Glacier New ZealandMy Profile

    • I’ll certainly give Paris another chance, Lindsay! It has a lot of charm and a lot of class. It’s a city I’m dying to love, I just haven’t found it yet. I will say though, that when I walked up the stairs at the metro station in Montmartre and I heard the first bit of accordion, I was sort of smitten. Finally felt like I was there!

      As an aside–I can’t believe you didn’t love Rome the first time! I fell head over heels in love with it the instant I landed.

  • I’ve been to Paris twice. The first time was a whirlwind 48 hours with my fiancee, about a week after getting engaged in London. The trip to Paris was not planned but we had time in England and booked an overnight coach trip. This was 1998. We were broke college students, so just walked around, soaked it all in and went to the major sites. We loved it. Our second trip to Paris was last year, nearly 13 years into marriage and with a 6-year-old active boy in tow. The romance of the first trip was gone, but the city was still its fantastic self. We repeated some of the sites seen 14 years prior, and discovered new ones. Maybe when we were just kids visiting Paris we didn’t have it built up enough for it to not meet expectations. Last year I was afraid it wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable having a child with us. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. I hope you make it back to Paris and find that it’s a wonderful city. But like all destinations and experiences, it’s what we allow it to be. And some lodging advice: We stayed in an apartment in the Latin Quarter and loved it. Found it to be cheaper than most hotels and in a perfect spot.
    Lance recently posted..How Do You Bonnaroo?My Profile

    • Thanks for the accommodation tip, Lance! And I think you’re right–it’s what you allow it to be. I just let a few bad things/irritants get in the way of having a good time. Plus, I picked the worst possible time to go, as most everything was shut down due to holidays!

  • I wrote a post on a vacation do-over just the other day= mine was Australia #5DaysInQueensland – basically took my Mother on a trip of a lifetime for her, but it wasn’t exactly the way I would have done it for me! Still had a great time, just feel I need a vacation redo! and ps each time I go to Paris, it gets better!
    Cacinda Maloney recently posted..Sweepstakes: 2 Tickets to Norway on IcelandAir!My Profile

    • Yeah, I think that’s kind of where I’m coming from too, Cindy! I didn’t have the worst time ever, but I didn’t have the best time either. Just kind of want to wipe the slate clean and try it again!

  • I had a similar experience my first trip to Paris. Not that I had a terrible time, but I’d built up all these grand expectations in my head like I’m sure we all do. I’ve since been back and fell in love..so much so that I’m heading back to France in October again this year! Taking French lessons & hoping to be able to communicate better as well!
    Bon Jour!