Epic guide to London and Paris

“Fill your life with adventures, not things. Have stories to tell, not show” - Unknown

I plan most trips at least three months in advance. My most recent trip to London and Paris was planned in less than a month and happened to be one of my most epic trips. It started with a friend telling me about a reasonably priced roundtrip airfare ticket via Delta for $380. I texted my friend Eden about the deal. Her response was “HECK YES” and the rest is history. Our weekend was filled with dope hotels, beautiful ambiances, sightseeing, and quality luxury shopping. Read on for my guide to an epic 3-day weekend in London and Paris.

*we flew from Boston (BOS) not New York (JFK)

London

According to U.S. News Travel, March-May are the best months to travel to London. This is when you can find the lowest airfare and hotel prices. I visited London once in March and most recently in May. I agree that those are the best months to travel wholeheartedly. The weather is decent with an average temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the sun is shining for your proverbial tourist pics, and the flowers are blooming.

Hotel

When I walked into the door of the W Leicester Square, I knew we were in the right place. Great music was playing from the small club located in the hotel. In addition, the staff were exceedingly gracious and accommodating. The room itself was hip and a vibe. Everything in the room (lights, television, temperature) was controlled by an iPad and mirrors covered most of the square footage of the room.

The location was convenient. The W hotel Leicester Square is the center of entertainment and hip vibes. There are a plethora of cinemas surrounding the hotel and ChinaTown. One night, Eden and I walked around to find food. It was rewarding to simply roam around basking in the cool and hip vibe that is London.

Food

I am in no way, shape, or form a FOODIE. I’m a safe eater. If I have a taste for something nice, I opt for steak or lobster. Other than that , I’m always opting for chicken. London isn’t known for its food. But there are two restaurants that you should definitely visit.

Burger & Lobster

Burger & Lobster is slowly but surely making its way around the world. It has nine locations in London, two in NYC, and one location in Dubai, Bangkok, Genting Highlands, Kuwait City, and Singapore.

They’re known for their namesake, juicy burgers and succulent lobster.

We went to the Burger & Lobster that was attached to our hotel (another reason why the W Leicester Square is so great). I ordered the Burger & Lobster combo and substituted the 1lb lobster with a lobster roll. The food was AMAZING! The truffle butter was to die for. With nine locations, I’m sure you’ll find one that’s close to wherever you plan to stay.

Sketch

If you spend time on Instagram, I’m sure you’ve seen a post of a super cute restaurant with pink decor. That is Sketch. Long story short, Sketch is a vibe. It has a beautiful ambiance, excellent service, and good music. You will not be impressed with the food. I ordered a dish that had lobster submerged in mashed potatoes. Let me just say that the food doesn’t compare to Morton’s Steakhouse in the States. However, I highly recommend going for the vibe and experience. It is imperative to book reservations in advance if you think you want to have dinner at Sketch. It is always crowded. Everyone lives for those instagrammable moments. Click here to schedule a reservation. Be sure to book The Gallery.

Shopping

If you have thoughts about making a major luxury purchase, wait until you travel to Europe. For one, the prices will be cheaper, then you’ll be able to get more money back via VAT refunds.

VAT stands for (value added tax) and is defined as " A tax levied on the difference between a commodity's price before taxes and its cost of production." In America tax is added at checkout, abroad tax is incorporated into the sticker price. If you don’t pay taxes or live in the Europe, you get the tax back. VAT typically ranges from 9%-25%. In addition to the already lower ticket price of luxury items in Europe, you can expect to receive 9%-25% of your purchase back. Request VAT documents at the time of your purchase.

When you’re headed back to America, take the documents to the Global Blue or Travelex at the airport and you will receive a refund in the form of cash or credit card. It is best to opt for cash, as the credit card refund can take up to two months. It’s important to note that you are only able to get VAT back on goods, not services such as food or hotel accommodations.

Harrods

Harrods is the destination for all things luxury. You will find the most iconic luxury brands from Dior to Hermes in one location. You can also purchase a luxury vehicle at Harrods. Clearly, Harrods has it all. I didn’t shop much, but my travel partner tore Europe to pieces.

At Harrods, she purchased a mini Lady Dior. After converting from pound to dollars, the total came to $3100. We took her purchase to the VAT department at Harrods. The documents indicated that she will receive $500 back in VAT at the airport. Grand total $2600. The same bag retails for $3400 and would be approximately $3600 in the United States. That’s approximately $1000 in savings.

Important note: When asked if you want to pay in pounds or dollars, always pay in pounds. When you pay in dollars, the cost will be at least 3% more. Be sure to download a currency converter to your phone before you travel so you’re aware of the exact dollar amount you’re paying.

Sightseeing

There are there iconic spots in London that I suggest everyone visit.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is still the official residence of the Queen. Tourist access is prohibited during the Spring, Fall, and Winter. During the Summer months (July-October) tourists can explore 19 rooms in Buckingham Palace. I’m sure it is best to purchase tickets in advance.

Click here for more information. If you can’t make it inside Buckingham Palace, just take a picture in front of the gates.

London Eye

I didn’t visit the next places on my most recent trip but had a chance to visit in March 2017.

Get a breathtaking view of the city while riding the London Eye. You can purchase tickets in advance or walk up to purchase tickets at the window.

Big Ben

Big Ben is an iconic landmark of London. It is currently undergoing renovations that are scheduled to be completed in 2020. You can’t go inside, but a picture outside should suffice.

Transportation from Paris to London

I’ve never met a train that cost $260 to travel 2.5 hours until I purchased a roundtrip ticket from London (St Pancras International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) via Eurostar. After getting over the price of the ticket, the journey was smooth.

London’s train station is much better than the one in Paris. At the train station in Paris, it costs to use the restroom. 0.70 euro to be exact. It is important to be vigilant at this train station. There will be people begging for money. There will be people asking if you need a taxi (IGNORE THEM). They will throw you into a black town car , tell you one price, then charge double or triple once you reach your destination. Make sure you head to the taxi line for a legit taxi. Even the legit taxies will be upset if the drive is 15 minutes or less and will tell you to get out of their taxi (it happened to us). On our way back to the train station after a day in Paris, our Uber driver told us to watch our luggage like a hawk. He said that someone will try to distract you by asking you the time, while the other takes off with your luggage. Long story short, take an Uber if you can. The ride will be more relaxing and the price will be cheaper.

If you despise trains, I suggest you catch a flight from London Heathrow to Charles de Gaulle. The initial price may also be cheaper than Eurostar, but it’s important to take a few things into account before booking a plane ticket from London to Paris.

Both London Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle airport are approximately one hour from the center of London and Paris. An Uber ride to and from the airport will be approximately $80 each way. When it’s all said and done, both train and plane/cab ride will take the same amount of time 2.5 hours. Both the London and Paris train stations are in the center of the city.

Hotel

W Paris Opera

Once again, the W is such a hip and cool hotel. I plan to stay at a W every time I travel. The room was beautiful and the staff was gracious. I had a gorgeous view of the Opera house right outside of my window. This hotel is approximately a nine minute drive to the Eiffel Tower and an eight minute drive to the Louvre. This hotel was directly across the street from the iconic Paris opera house and down the street from the Galeries Lafayette shopping center. The Galeries Lafeyette is practically the Harrods of Paris and has been crowned “The best shopping mall in Paris”. I didn’t visit as we were in Paris for only one day. But I highly recommend it if you have time.

Food

Once again, Paris isn’t known for its food. I was only in Paris for one night. However, I did eat at a very nice Italian restaurant La Piazzette located at 98 Rue Montmartre 75002. The pizza was delicious and was made with the freshest ingredients. You can definitely tell that the American food industry is tainted. Everything tastes so fresh and different abroad.

Shopping

Visit a consignment shop in Paris. Think about it. The most iconic luxury brands are produced in Paris. Paris gets fashions way before the States, therefore what’s old to the women Paris will be new to us. One woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure.

CornerLuxe

CornerLuxe is an awesome consignment shop in Paris . CornerLuxe has multiple locations and a website. Eden purchased a stunning Chanel Maxi bag for approximately $3800. It was manufactured in 2011 but was brand new. The previous owner never wore it. This bag retails for over $6000 in the US plus tax. It is not possible to get a VAT refund on consignment items as they are used.

I purchased a quintessential Tom Ford for Gucci clutch. I paid $280. This bag retailed for over $1700 when it launched in 2003. It is in pristine condition. It’s my new favorite bag.

Galeries Lafayette

If you want a one-stop shop, I suggest the Galeries Lafayette . It’s a one-stop shop for all things designer. I didn’t visit, but I’ve heard that it’s exemplary.

Boutiques

All of the fabulous fashion houses have a boutique in Paris. If you’re looking for a particular bag or shoe, visit the boutique. Most of the boutiques (Dior, Gucci, and Chanel) are spaced out so you might need to take an Uber from place to place. The original apartment of Coco Chanel is located at 31 Rue Cambon . While you can’t tour her apartment, you can shop at the boutique on the ground floor.

Sightseeing

Paris has more places to sightsee in London. You can’t go to Paris without visiting the following places.

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is even more beautiful in person. There is an option to eat dinner inside of the Eiffel Tower, but you will need to book accommodations in advance.

The Louvre

You have to see the Mona Lisa for yourself. It is best to purchase tickets for entry into the Louvre in advance so you won’t have to wait in long lines. Click here to purchase a ticket for the Louvre. If you don’t purchase a ticket in advance, there is a possibility that ticket sales will end before you're able to gain entry.

Entertainment

The Moulin Rouge

If you’re into shows, I highly recommend The Moulin Rouge. The show was very entertaining and captured my attention from start to finish. The show is approximately two hours in duration with three different showtimes 7 pm, 9 pm, 11 pm. If you only have one to two days in Paris, I suggest you go to the 11pm show after all of the malls and tourist destinations are closed. The show is sexy and risque. It gives you the vibe of musical, but with extraordinary acts that are difficult to put into words. There were an African contortionist and exceptional skaters. Most of show, the women are topless and only wear thongs. Don’t take your kids. You have to see it for yourself. Click here to book your tickets for the Moulin Rouge in advance.

Following the suggestions on this list will definitely lead to a fun-packed time in London and Paris. Enjoy.