Paris is NOT a Touristy Destination (No place is)

Updated: 07/23/18 | July 23rd, 2018

Updated: 07/23/18 | July 23rd, 2018

As winter continues on and the days get colder, I find people begin to think of travel: warmer places, tropical beaches, and spring trips. My inbox fills up more than normal with questions on where to escape to, what to see, and things to do.

But there is always a common theme to these emails: people want to avoid the “touristy” stuff. They want to avoid the crowds and see the local side of a city.

”I don’t want to go to Paris. It’s too touristy. Where else can I go that is like it but without the crowds?”

I cringe when I see statements like this. I understand the desire to explore places and find hidden gems. We want a glimpse at the local life. We want to be Indiana Jones and feel like we‘re discovering and experiencing something new, not simply joining a horde of other tourists and buying into mass consumption.

It’s good to see something different and explore what hasn’t been Disneyfied for tourists. But this idea that simply because a place is popular it’s become “too touristy” and thus ruined is….well, crap.

Paris is not touristy.

Neither is New York City.

Or Bangkok.

Or Cairns.

Or any other city in the world.

No place in the world is “too touristy.”

The problem isn‘t the destination — the problem is where you’re going when you’re there. The only thing that’s touristy are the spots you choose to see. The beaten path is beaten because it’s popular and everyone wants to see it. Why do the crowds clutter around the Eiffel Tower? Because it’s amazing. Why do people flock to Times Square? Because it’s iconic.

But if you’re sick of tourists and want a “local feel,” all you have to do is avoid those spots. Venture away from the crowds. Odds are good that you won’t find them a few blocks over. 90% never stray off the path. To say a city of millions of people is “touristy” is to focus on the tourist spots and then say that the whole city/country/region is like that.

And that’s just not true.

I live in New York City. Every day thousands of tourists wander its streets. I rarely notice them. I rarely see them. Why? Because I’m not walking around Times Square, clamoring to see the Wall Street bull, or fighting my way around the Met.

Instead, I hang out in my local neighborhoods and shops that most tourists won’t ever find or go to. My friends and I just live in this city and go where we know to go. I sometimes forget that NYC is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world because in my day to day life I’m not involved in that side of a city.

If you‘re only visiting the most famous sights, you’ll find any place touristy. Walk away from that area and head down a back alley and into a new neighborhood, and suddenly you’re surrounded by locals and experiencing local life.

Next time you cringe at all the tourists, look at your surroundings. Are you in a famous, highly popular area? if so, change where you are. Don’t skip the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, and make sure to walk the Champs-Élysées.

But then keep walking — you’ll leave behind the crowds who will never venture past that one block, and you’ll be free to explore new, untouristy areas all by yourself.

And once you start doing that, you’ll never call any city touristy ever again.

Get the In-Depth Budget Guide to Paris!

For more in-depth information, check out my guidebook to Paris written for budget travelers like yourself! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money in one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, and bars, and much more!! Click here to learn more and get started.

Book Your Trip to Paris: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight to Paris by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel in Paris with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear?
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Paris?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Paris for even more planning tips!

 

How You Can Experience 1920s Paris Today

If there is one era I’d want to visit more than any other, it’s Paris in the 1920s. I’m in love with that decade. The literature, jazz, optimism, style, and atmosphere — I love it all. Midnight in Paris is my favorite Paris movie, and I often wish I could make that real life.

However, unless you have a time machine, you can’t really visit 1920s Paris. What made les Années folles special can never be relived — the spirit, psyche, people, and music have long since faded away. But, as we have seen with the rise of Gatsby-themed parties and Prohibition-style bars, you can pretend! And that’s what I did on a recent visit to Paris, where there are still enough spots that recreate the era’s vibe to fill a visit.

Things to See and Do

• 20 rue Jacob – Back in the ’20s, a lot of American expats hosted salons that would bring together artists and writers to discuss and debate specific topics. One of the most famous was led by writer Natalie Clifford Barney. Although the building she lived in has been rebuilt since her time, during the day, you can often peer into the courtyard and garden where she held her salons.
• The Luxembourg Garden (Jardin du Luxembourg; 6th arrondissement) – This is one of my all-time favorite places to visit when I’m in Paris. These beautiful and gigantic gardens, which surround the Luxembourg Palace (now home to the National Assembly), are also full of walking paths, chairs to relax in, ponds and fountains, statues, and finely manicured lawns that can’t help but inspire and soothe you. On a warm day, the gardens are bursting with people. In his day, Ernest Hemingway was also a fan, and it is said he wrote a lot during his strolls around the gardens.
• Shakespeare & Co. (37 Rue de La Bûcherie, www.shakespeareandcompany.com) – Located across from Notre Dame, Shakespeare & Co. is one of the most iconic bookshops in the world. The original store opened in 1919 and served as a popular haunt for writers such as Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and others who fancied themselves writers (Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast has a chapter about his visit). The original location closed during WWII. The current store and location dates to 1951. It still captures the spirit of the writer class and does a lot to support writers (it has 13 beds writers can sleep in for free!), hosting readings and events throughout the year. I love wandering through its stacks and picking out unknown titles.
• Montmartre – The Left Bank was the main hangout of artists and writers, but when they crossed the Seine, they went to Montmartre, where the cheap shops, cafés, and restaurants served as a backdrop to their discussions and work. They painted in the squares, debated in the streets, and wandered the tiny cobblestone streets in solitary thought. Today, thanks to the cheap housing, the area is still home to artists and painters (though it is far more touristy)!
• 27 rue de Fleurus – Another salon was hosted by the famous Gertrude Stein, who lived at this address. Anyone who was anyone attended them, including Joyce, Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Guillaume Apollinaire, and Ezra Pound. Today, the rue de Fleurus is a quiet street and the house she lived in has been remodeled, but there’s a plaque above the address marking this famous spot, so you can sit for a moment and imagine what it would have been like to see all the greats walk in and out!

Where to Eat

• Les Deux Magots (6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés, www.lesdeuxmagots.fr) and Café de Flore (172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, www.cafedeflore.fr) – These two cafés are most synonymous with the Lost Generation (those who grew up during and just after World War I). Located right near each other in the now-trendy Saint-Germain-des-Prés quarter of Paris, these cafés are where all the artists and writers hung out in the 1920s. Picasso, Hemingway (again), Simone de Beauvoir, André Gide, Jean Giraudoux, Jean Paul Sartre — they were always here. Les Deux Magots sits on the corner of Boulevard Saint-Germain and Rue Bonaparte and fills the sidewalk with its chairs and tables, while the inside retains its old look: white walls, columns, and large mirrors. Café de Flore, with its large plants and flowers in the entranceway, is cozier but also retains its old-style marble floor and red leather seats.
• La Closerie des Lilas (171 Boulevard du Montparnasse, www.closeriedeslilas.fr) – At the far end of the Luxembourg Gardens, you’ll find this tiny little café with a dimly lit interior and large outdoor patio hidden from the street by giant plants. It is said that Hemingway first read The Great Gatsby here. Like the other venues, the interior is still identical to how was it was 1920s.
• Le Polidor (41 Rue Monsieur le Prince, www.polidor.com/en) – In Midnight in Paris, this is where Gil meets his idol, Ernest Hemingway. During the 1920s, this was actually a popular location for the likes of Joyce, Hemingway, André Gide, and Antonin Artaud. Thanks to the movie, restaurant is doing a booming business, but if you can find a seat, you’ll see that the hard-wood interior and décor has changed little since the ’20s. Imagine yourself sitting next to some famous artist of the day over delicious food and wine!

Where to Listen to Music

There aren’t many original music and jazz clubs left that have been around since the 1920s. Most have shifted focus, but if you want to listen to some good music, I recommend these three jazz bars:

• Le Caveau de la Huchette  (5 Rue de la Huchette, www.caveaudelahuchette.fr) – This place has become increasingly popular since it was mentioned in the hit movie La La Land.
• Le Caveau des Oubliettes (52 Rue Galande, www.caveau-des-oubliettes.com) – An awesome club in the Latin Quarter. This small venue is an ex wine cave dating back centuries. Small and intimate, it’s my favorite of the three.
• Le Duc des Lombards (42 Rue des Lombards, www.ducdeslombards.com) – On the right bank, this jazz club is probably the most famous (and touristy) of the city but it gets incredible acts and pumps out some of the best jazz and blues in the area!

Where to Drink

• Harry’s New York Bar (5 Rue Daunou, www.harrysbar.fr/en) – This is where they created the Bloody Mary and the Sidecar. This nondescript bar opened in 1911 and was a popular hangout for Fitzgerald and Hemingway. The tiny bar, with its deep wood finish, carved ceilings, and red leather seats, still remains intact.
• Dingo Bar (10 Rue Delambre) – This is where Hemingway first met Fitzgerald. It was popular with the Lost Generation because it was one of the few places that were open all night (and they liked to party late into the morning). Today, it’s an Italian restaurant called L’Auberge de Venise, but the original bar remains and you can still come and pretend to have a drink with “Papa.”
• The Prescription Cocktail Club (23 Rue Mazarine, www.prescriptioncocktailclub.com) – From the street, all you see is a curtained window, but when you get inside, you’re reminded of a 1920s NYC-style speakeasy. True, this place didn’t exist in the 1920s, but if you’re looking for incredible cocktails and an ambiance and class that says “welcome to history,” slide up to the marble bar and enjoy a drink in this darkly lit bar with exposed bricks and old-fashioned furniture.
• The Little Red Door (60 Rue Charlot, www.lrdparis.com) – Located in the Marais, this is another bar looking to recreate that 1920s speakeasy vibe. It’s easy to pass the little red door of a nondescript building that hides this beautiful small bar with brick walls, eclectic furniture, and amazing (strong) cocktails. While it lacks the true ’20s feeling of the Prescription Cocktail Club, it’s still a fun place to visit!

***As Hemingway once wrote, “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” Paris has changed a lot since les Années folles, and while it will never be the same, you can visit the old haunts and — just for a moment — transport yourself back in time and imagine what it was like.

As Hemingway once wrote, “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” Paris has changed a lot since les Années folles, and while it will never be the same, you can visit the old haunts and — just for a moment — transport yourself back in time and imagine what it was like.

Recommended Books and Movies

Photo credit: 4, 5

Paris is NOT a Touristy Destination (No place is)

Updated: 07/23/18 | July 23rd, 2018

As winter continues on and the days get colder, I find people begin to think of travel: warmer places, tropical beaches, and spring trips. My inbox fills up more than normal with questions on where to escape to, what to see, and things to do.

But there is always a common theme to these emails: people want to avoid the “touristy” stuff. They want to avoid the crowds and see the local side of a city.

”I don’t want to go to Paris. It’s too touristy. Where else can I go that is like it but without the crowds?”

I cringe when I see statements like this. I understand the desire to explore places and find hidden gems. We want a glimpse at the local life. We want to be Indiana Jones and feel like we‘re discovering and experiencing something new, not simply joining a horde of other tourists and buying into mass consumption.

It’s good to see something different and explore what hasn’t been Disneyfied for tourists. But this idea that simply because a place is popular it’s become “too touristy” and thus ruined is….well, crap.

Paris is not touristy.

Neither is New York City.

Or Bangkok.

Or Cairns.

Or any other city in the world.

No place in the world is “too touristy.”

The problem isn‘t the destination — the problem is where you’re going when you’re there. The only thing that’s touristy are the spots you choose to see. The beaten path is beaten because it’s popular and everyone wants to see it. Why do the crowds clutter around the Eiffel Tower? Because it’s amazing. Why do people flock to Times Square? Because it’s iconic.

But if you’re sick of tourists and want a “local feel,” all you have to do is avoid those spots. Venture away from the crowds. Odds are good that you won’t find them a few blocks over. 90% never stray off the path. To say a city of millions of people is “touristy” is to focus on the tourist spots and then say that the whole city/country/region is like that.

And that’s just not true.

I live in New York City. Every day thousands of tourists wander its streets. I rarely notice them. I rarely see them. Why? Because I’m not walking around Times Square, clamoring to see the Wall Street bull, or fighting my way around the Met.

Instead, I hang out in my local neighborhoods and shops that most tourists won’t ever find or go to. My friends and I just live in this city and go where we know to go. I sometimes forget that NYC is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world because in my day to day life I’m not involved in that side of a city.

If you‘re only visiting the most famous sights, you’ll find any place touristy. Walk away from that area and head down a back alley and into a new neighborhood, and suddenly you’re surrounded by locals and experiencing local life.

Next time you cringe at all the tourists, look at your surroundings. Are you in a famous, highly popular area? if so, change where you are. Don’t skip the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, and make sure to walk the Champs-Élysées.

But then keep walking — you’ll leave behind the crowds who will never venture past that one block, and you’ll be free to explore new, untouristy areas all by yourself.

And once you start doing that, you’ll never call any city touristy ever again.

Get the In-Depth Budget Guide to Paris!

For more in-depth information, check out my guidebook to Paris written for budget travelers like yourself! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money in one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, and bars, and much more!! Click here to learn more and get started.

Book Your Trip to Paris: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight to Paris by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel in Paris with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear?
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Paris?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Paris for even more planning tips!

 

The Mayan Ruins of Tulum

While I was in Mexico last week, I had the chance to visit Tulum. Tulum is an ancient Mayan city located right on the beach. In fact, a popular thing to do here after working up a sweat from walking around is to go swimming in the ocean. There’s nothing like swimming in the shadow of some ruins, right?

Tulum was a thriving capital and trading city until the Spanish came and destroyed it in 1518. After that, the city was abandoned and left to the jungle. Now, it’s one of the most popular and largest Mayan ruins in Mexico. It’s incredibly beautiful, especially given its location near the ocean. This is one of those places where my words could never do it justice, so I’ll let my pictures talk for me:

The Observatory

The Observatory and a beautiful backdrop

The Cenote House

El Castillo

The beach where everyone goes swimming

Imagine this as your view. The Mayans had great beachfront property!

A protected area for turtle nesting

For more information on travel to Mexico and the Mayan Riviera, plan your trip using my guide.

Note: My trip to Mexico was sponsored by Riviera Maya tourism.

All the Baby Names Kate Middleton and Prince William Have Boosted in Popularity

Mateusz Wlodarczyk/NurPhoto via Getty Images

This story was originally published on September 21, 2017.

Little Prince George may only be four years old, but according to the Office for National Statistics, he’s already a huge tastemaker.

The prince, who just recently had his first day of school, appears to be following in his mother’s footsteps by influencing the British people in big ways, even with just his name.

As the office recently revealed, one of the most popular baby names for 2016 in both Wales and England was indeed George, and it was no doubt inspired by the adorable royal.

According to Vogue, the moniker George appeared to plateau in the early 2000s, hovering between the 16th and 12th most popular name in the United Kingdom. However, after July 22, 2013, the day the new heir to the throne arrived, the name quickly began to rise. In 2014, Vogue noted, it made it into the top 10, in 2015 it was the fourth most popular name, and in 2016 it came in at number three.

And it’s not just George creating a rush for royal names. Little Charlotte, who will soon be a big sister, also caused a huge spike in the popularity of her classic name. Charlotte, according to one name tracking site, plummeted in popularity over the years, falling to the 25th most popular name in the United Kingdom. However in 2015, when Charlotte was born, all that changed. Now the name has skyrocketed back up to the number 12 spot.

Related: Prince William Hints Kate Middleton's Due Date Might Be 'Sooner Than You Think'

Even the names the royals simply discuss for their new heirs appear to trend, according to Vogue.

“When Kate was pregnant last time with Charlotte we had a huge surge of interest in the name Alice. So much so, that the name went from being a 50:1 outsider to the 5:2 favorite,” Katie Baylis, spokeswoman for Betfair, a bookmaker, told Vogue.

Joe Crilly, spokesperson for William Hill, another bookmaker, agreed, adding, “Most of the names towards the top of the betting are ones which have been popular the last two times around and we expect they will be again.”

So will the royal couple’s third child cause a naming trend? It’s likely, especially when you consider bookmakers are favoring more classic names like Alice, which according to the Telegraph is currently the firm favorite for a girl at 7/1 odds, while Arthur, at 10/1, is the male favorite. Other potentials to keep an eye out for — and ones that could see an upcoming bump in popularity as well — are Victoria, Alexandra, Albert, and Philip. 

Airbnb Reveals the Top 17 Most Popular New Neighborhoods

Airbnb announced its annual list of the top trending neighborhoods around the globe on Wednesday. This year’s list includes West Seattle, Chutes-Lavie in Marseille, and Fitzroy in Melbourne, Australia, among others.

A quick look at the eclectic mix of destinations also reveals some trends: Travelers are seeking out less dense neighborhoods in urban areas that have access to parks and greenspace, according to Airbnb. They're also looking for listings that have close proximity to public transportation, or are within walking distance to attractions and restaurants. There were also some notable foodie destinations this year, including Midtown Miami and Bangkok's Din Daeng district.

Last month, Airbnb unveiled Trips, a new service offering travelers tailored experiences led by hosts. Some of the offerings in these 17 emerging neighborhoods include a two-day wellness immersion in Miami, and a tour of the underground food scene in Seoul.

Scroll down to see the emerging neighborhoods for 2017. Note: The percentage growth listed is of inbound guest arrivals at listings on Airbnb in each neighborhood from 2015 to 2016.