A Springtime Visit to Paris and the Chic Le Royal Monceau
Last month we had the pleasure of returning to one of our favorite destinations, Paris. It was a quick stop over on our way to Provence and the French Riviera but we made the most of time. We checked into the Le Royal Monceau and were immediately taken with the touch of whimsy (note upside down flower pot arrangement) and sleek, modern vibe of this Philippe Starck designed hotel. Our suite came complete with delicious welcoming macaroons, plush robes, linens and Clarins bath products and even a guitar for Mr. C.T. They thought of everything!
Last month we had the pleasure of returning to one of our favorite destinations, Paris. It was a quick stop over on our way to Provence and the French Riviera but we made the most of our time. We checked into the Le Royal Monceau and were immediately taken with the touch of whimsy (note upside down flower pot arrangement) and sleek, modern vibe of this Philippe Starck designed hotel. Our suite came complete with delicious welcoming macarons, plush robes, linens and Clarins bath products and even a guitar for Mr. C.T. They thought of everything!
A video tour of our suite
Jet lag had set in but we were determined to freshen up, explore the neighborhood near the Arc de Triomphe, and enjoy a Parisian dinner. We didn’t have to walk far to find this charming spot, l'Elysée Saint Honoré, just down the block. Fresh chevre salad, the savory fish special, and a rich cannelloni paired with a lush red suited us just fine on this watercolor evening. After many hours of travel, we slept like babies in Paris that night!
With only one full day in Paris we enjoyed breakfast ensuite then set off to wander and explore, enjoy some cafe’ life and soak up the culture of Paris.
Our wanderings took us from ritzy boutiques to classical French apartment buildings with peek-a-boo gardens, to stops at the hip Hotel Costes and Budda Bar Paris. Eventually, we landed for lunch at La Coupe D’Or on Saint Honore’ for a fondly remembered chevre salad. As you can see, I found the French crowd to be very friendly.
“Paris is always a good idea.”
Let’s face it, the food in Paris is always a highlight. On our final night the concierge recommended we visit Allard for a truly authentic dining experience. The simple, yet luxurious fare, is unforgettable. The roasted Bourbonnais free-range chicken with roasted potatoes was unlike any chicken we had ever tasted. It was infused with butter (french style) and dripping with flavor. This classic is now owned by famed chef Alain Ducasse who endeavors to keep the traditional menu alive.
“For over 80 years, Allard has been one of the most sought after gourmet addresses in Paris
Located in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, it remains one of the last authentic French gourmet bistros. Today still, the establishment is filled with the spirit of Marthe Allard, « mother cook » who founded the restaurant in 1932. Allard is above all the story of a peasant from the Burgundy region who traveled up to Paris carrying her sincere and generous family recipes.”
Paris by night
Le Royal Monceau in Paris is one of the preferred partners for the CADENCE travel brand and is a member of the Virtuoso luxury network. As a travel advisor, it’s exciting to share our favorite destinations with blog readers and clients. Contact me to receive VIP upgrades and amenities at this luxurious and chic hotel.
Virtuoso Amenities:
Upgrade at time of booking, subject to availability
Complimentary buffet breakfast daily for up to two in-room guests served in La Cuisine Restaurant
Guaranteed late check-out until 4 PM
$100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Next up on our trip to France: Provence
A Sunny Afternoon at the Parisian Flea Market - Porte Vanves
Paris is adorned with a number of colorful flea markets or brocantes as they are often called. On our first trip to Paris, in 2003, Scott and I spent an afternoon at the famed Clignancourt flea market, also known as the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, and thought to be the largest flea market in the world. We shipped home a small container filled to the brim with chandeliers, sconces, trays, perfume bottles, prints and charms from Paris long ago.
Paris is adorned with a number of colorful flea markets or brocantes as they are often called. On our first trip to Paris, in 2003, Scott and I spent an afternoon at the famed Clignancourt flea market, also known as the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, and thought to be the largest flea market in the world. We shipped home a small container filled to the brim with chandeliers, sconces, trays, perfume bottles, prints and charms from Paris long ago. On this trip, we stopped in at the smaller scale weekend market of Porte Vanves, near the apartment where we stayed. Aside from an eclectic mix of silk scarves, china, cutlery, jewelry, watches, books, and just about anything your heart desires, the people watching was fantastique. The saxophone solo was an ambient bonus to our sunny afternoon at the brocante in Paris.
My finds from the Parisian Brocante
These are a few of the treasures I gathered at Porte Vanves. A colorful silk scarf, a jewel-encrusted mirror, a couple of cocktail rings, a gilded framed mirror and a small statue. The gilded mirror and a small statue (not pictured) remind me of the charming Parisian apartment where we stayed during this trip to Paris. The petite Porte Vanves also makes finding small gifts to carry home an easy option.
Port Vanves Brocante - Heather Lindstrom on 2017-07-05.
For more on Vanves read Treasures and Trinkets at the Vanves Flea Market on Paris Perfect.
Are you a fan of shopping at flea markets?
Which one is your favorite?
A Parisian Apartment Style Brunch
One of the most alluring reasons to stay in a Parisian apartment while visiting Paris is savoring a taste of the French way of life. With a boulangerie, fruit market, grocery, patisserie, butcher and international market on nearly every block, it’s easy to gather the freshest, tastiest ingredients each day to create memorable bites.
Our Parisian Apartment style brunch in Paris
Brunch in the Parisian Apartment
One of the most alluring reasons to stay in a Parisian apartment while visiting Paris is savoring a taste of the French way of life. With a boulangerie, fruit market, grocery, patisserie, butcher and international market on nearly every block, it's easy to gather the freshest, tastiest ingredients each day to create memorable bites.
It doesn't have to be elaborate, though it can be, for us it was simple, fresh and flavorful. These are a few of the items we collected for brunch in the Parisian apartment in July. Pain au chocolate croissants, café crèmes, asparagus quiche, juicy peaches, and fresh scrambled eggs for one morning. This was our simple, fresh, tasty le petit déjeuner in the Parisian apartment.
(Click on images for slideshow)
Where is your favorite place to brunch?
For more on this romantic Parisian apartment.
To book your dream getaway to Paris contact us - Curated Travel.
Our Stay in a Romantic Parisian Apartment
With sparkling crystal chandeliers, vintage velvet couches, luxurious linens, time-worn books, a pastel collection of vintage plates, whimsical accents like a jaunty top hat, and a touch of animal print, the details of this apartment are charming. The skeleton wall, meticulously restored, is a nod to the early history of this charming space.
parisian-apartment-stylemindchiclife
Our Stay in a Romantic Parisian Apartment
Every now and then the opportunity arises to experience something truly memorable while traveling. Our stay in this romantic Parisian apartment was just that. My blogger friend, Corey Amaro, and her French Husband, Yann, created the classic Parisian apartment, back in 2013, with their renovation of his long owned apartment. In this light-filled pied-à-terre, on Rue du Chateau in the 14th Arrondissement in Paris, you will find all the Parisian romance you are seeking.
With sparkling crystal chandeliers, vintage velvet couches, luxurious linens, time-worn books, a pastel collection of vintage plates, whimsical accents like a jaunty top hat, and a touch of animal print, the details of this apartment are charming. The skeleton wall, meticulously restored, is a nod to the early history of this charming space.
Click on an image to view in slide show mode.
Corey purchased most of the antique pieces at Porte Vanves brocante nearby. It is a picture perfect market that she encouraged us to explore during our visit and we did. I will share more of our visit to the brocante, as well as other Parisian adventures, in an upcoming post.
The elegant bathroom gleamed as though lit from within with marble and shine. There are TWO (count them!) crystal chandeliers. You can't help but feel "slightly French" preparing for the day in this beautiful space. Corey has feathered the nest with all the creature comforts of home. Fluffy, fragrant white towels, every bath essential you could imagine, and delicious smelling French toiletries. This is surely a glimpse into the elegant and well-stocked Parisian home.
The bedroom is plush with luxurious linens, light filtering curtains, romantic sconce lighting, and charming details. The often photographed 'wall of maps' was a labor of love for Corey and is the perfect accent for this quintessential Parisian apartment.
This apartment is located in a true Parisian neighborhood, just as promised. Everything you want or need is easily reached by foot. The boulangerie, the café and bars just across the street, as well as fresh fruit stands, market, butcher, bistro, wine and cheese shops are within a short stroll. The metro line, #13 Pernety, is just a couple of blocks away and it is a direct line to the Champs Elysee and central Paris. This multi-cultural neighborhood adds to the unique Parisian charm of staying in the 14th.
Our time in Paris was just what we hoped it would be. Days started with a few quick few steps to the boulangerie across the street for café crèmes and croissants, strolling the neighborhoods, catching the metro to our typical haunts in the heart of Paris. A morning at Musee D'Orsay, lunch at our favorite St. Germain Cafe, a sunset ride on the Bateau Mouche on the Seine. If we weren't out late at a local café we enjoyed the cool evenings, windows thrown wide, enjoying a glass of wine in the shadows, watching the locals gather at the neighborhood bar just across the street. Sublime Parisian life!
If you are looking for a truly Parisian life experience, a stay at this romantic Parisian apartment is all the inspiration you need. If you are planning a trip to Paris, I have a number of recommendations to make your trip picture perfect. Contact me at Curated Travel.
Thank you to Corey and Yann for making our stay at your romantic Parisian apartment unforgettable.
*All Images Heather Lindstrom
Curated Travel: Packing Tips - Edited Accessories + New Favorites from grayc glass
I've learned to minimize and refine my packing style through trial and error. I believe it was that three-week vacation to Italy and France in 2011, lugging an overweight suitcase on and off train platforms, up tiny staircases of hotels, and out of taxi cabs, that finally made me a believer in the less is more approach to packing and traveling. I was also grateful that neither Scott or I developed a hernia hoisting that bag up and down for three weeks.
Packing Tips: Edited Accessories
When it comes to accessories: Never underestimate the power of a sleek pair of sunglasses, a great scarf, signature jewelry and a fedora while traveling.
I've learned to minimize and refine my packing style through trial and error. I believe it was that three-week vacation to Italy and France in 2011, lugging an overweight suitcase on and off train platforms, up tiny staircases of hotels, and out of taxi cabs, that finally made me a believer in the less is more approach to packing and traveling. I was also grateful that neither Scott or I developed a hernia hoisting that bag up and down for three weeks.
Accessories have always been an issue for me, especially when traveling to an area with a chic sense of style, like Paris, the Riviera, the Amalfi Coast or a luxury resort in the Caribbean. Despite refining my clothing list, I had a hard time saying 'no' to many of my favorite accessories. This habit led to a hefty jewelry and accessories case to lug around with me, even during lengthy travels.
I'm a firm believer that switching out jewelry, scarves, and accessories can transform a basic black outfit, making them the perfect travel hack. That said, I was still hauling around more than I needed, due to sheer indecision, in the packing process. I also noticed that I often wore just a few statement pieces to keep it simple anyway.
For my trip to Italy and France last summer, I vowed to break my habit, and I seriously edited the jewelry and accessories that I packed.
*I carefully laid out a few must-haves, a gold bangle, Trina Turk bracelet, a statement ring from grayc glass, crystal studs, a sparkly necklace, gold framed earrings and a Marc Jacobs rose gold watch. I knew that these would be my go-to statement pieces for three weeks of travel so they had to be right.
*I reviewed my clothing pieces, arranged by outfits, to see that I had the right pieces to work with each ensemble.
Rather than 25-30 items, as usual, I had 7-8 thoughtfully chosen accessories which made the process of packing, traveling and dressing each day much more simplified.
I used the same system when packing accessories for Secrets Papagayo in Costa Rica last March.
I snapped this pic in Paris from my perch in the Parisian apartment we rented last summer. This is one of my favorite signature rings designed by fused glass artist Courtney Gray of grayc glass. I wrote about my visit to Courtney's studio a couple of years ago for the blog. Courtney has a huge range of statement pieces available in her online boutique. She is also a founding member of my FEISTY group for Female Entrepreneurs. I often find myself reaching for a grayc glass statement ring to pack since I'm a fan of cocktail rings, the fused glass is beautifully unique and they remind me of home in Chico, no matter how far I travel.
A few of my latest favorites from grayc glass and her blog post featuring Curated Travel
Do you have statement pieces and packing trips for travel?
The Fascinating Thing About Travel
The fascinating thing about long distance travel is how you can pack a bag, cue up in line, enter a veritable cylinder for a ride in the sky and hours later the door opens to an entirely different world. The language, the architecture, the smells, even the pace of life around you. It is a bit surreal, especially after a long flight -- or two or three -- and being awake 30+ hours, but I always love that moment. It feels like re-entry to the world or time travel, and I'm hooked on the experience. Long distance travel is grueling, but the reward is definitely worth it.
The fascinating thing about long distance travel is how you can pack a bag, cue up in line, enter a veritable cylinder for a ride in the sky and hours later the door opens to an entirely different world. The language, the architecture, the smells, even the pace of life around you. It is a bit surreal, especially after a long flight -- or two or three -- and being awake 30+ hours, but I always love that moment. It feels like re-entry to the world or time travel, and I'm hooked on the experience. Long distance travel is grueling, but the reward is definitely worth it.
On our last night in Paris Scott and I took a boat ride on the Seine, just as we did on our visit together back in 2003. Paris was crystal clear and the views of the city were amazing from the vantage point of the river. After sundown, we ended up at a picturesque café in Saint Germaine for a caprese salad and a carafe of rosé. We enjoyed lively conversation with new friends from Argentina, Switzerland, and the US under the moonlight, and didn't even think about the time until midnight. Time escaped us again! Thankfully we had already packed for our trip home the next day since we had to be up at 3:00 am to catch the shuttle to Charles de Galle and enter that cylinder in the sky.
We made the trip home safely, following 29 hours of travel, and are digging out from mountains of laundry, piles of mail and all the usual. It feels good to be home and sleeping in our own bed again. That's the fascinating thing about travel... it all feels a bit surreal. I'm still dreaming of the beautiful places we visited on this trip, and I'm looking forward to sharing more on Italy and Paris. Despite all the beauty, and a desire to return as soon as possible, we are again reminded that there is no place like home.
What have you been up to this summer?
