MY #1 TRAVEL RECOMMENDATION FOR 2025

A new year is here and travel plans are being set into motion. There is  no place like home for the holidays, but many of us will be itching to get away in 2025. My travel recommendation for this year is a city I adore and have visited before. This summer will be 10 years since my last visit. It is Paris!

Paris is a timeless and special place. It was one of the first European cities I experienced as a tourist and in stereotypical fashion, romanticized it until this very day. I still have lots to learn about Paris, but I can share what I do know and why I recommend it (who wouldn't, really).

Coming down from its Olympic triumph, Paris will be business as usual this summer. The refined boulevards, landmarks and museums will be filled with idealistic tourists. They say you never forget your first time to Paris. If that is the case, I suggest seeing all of the classic attractions. That is why we are here, right? To see those things we've heard about. As cliche as it is, a visit to Paris without the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre is incomplete. Others include cruising up the Seine, watching 'Moulin Rouge', or taking in the beautifully haunting Palais Garnier, home to the opera. Fashion lovers can enjoy a walk down the Champs Elysees and bask in the home of Chanel and Dior, to name a few. My personal favourite is the Notre Dame Cathedral as I love the mysterious gargoyles. Although they are meant to be frightening, there is something lovable about them as they stare deeply in thought over the city. 

With the main events out of the way, you can get to know the city better. This could include hopping on the metro, sitting at a local cafe or attempting your French. I remember I was so proud for not getting completely lost on the public transit. Escape in Paris' dreamy neighbourhoods and try some local delicacies. You can never go wrong with a golden, flaky croissant when you travel. Next time, I would be sure to explore the vibrant Latin Quarter or Saint-Germain. Poetic and historic, these districts are brimming with art, history and architecture. 

If you are visiting London, it is entirely possible to do a day-trip via the Eurostar, which was my introduction to Paris. Ah, it feels like yesterday. No matter how you choose to explore it, make sure to indulge in the things that make Paris...Paris. 

There is no place quite like it. Will you visit in 2025?