Bonjour Paris

Paris is a beautiful city. We were there for four days and we thoroughly enjoyed every bit of our stay there. We stayed in a street called Rue Cler and I think we made the right decision because it gave us a glimpse of how the Parisians live. It's not overly touristy and most importantly, it's near the iconic Eiffel Tower, which is one of the most visited places in the world.  Coming back to Rue Cler, it is one of the most famous markets in the city so you can expect market-type vibe but Parisian style. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants so that you won't go hungry. Furthermore, there are two metro stations nearby with the nearest being the Ecole Militaire metro station.

The first place that most tourists go to after reaching Paris is the Eiffel Tower. Do keep in mind that there are lots of pickpockets around this area and we were specifically warned by the locals to be careful because those who steal are well- dressed and as such, you won't know that they are after your belongings. Entering the Eiffel Tower garden area is free but if you want to go up the tower you need to buy tickets for the same. There are two types of tickets to access the tower: ticket to second floor and to the summit. We bought both the tickets and the best view of the city was obviously from the summit. There are also two restaurants up the tower but reservations are required for the same. What we did was we booked the dinner at ' 58 Tour Eiffel' online and just went for the same on the specified date.

Your Paris trip can not be complete without taking a cruise in the Siene River.  You can buy the tickets directly from the venue as there are many tour companies operating cruises several times a day. It would be a good idea to check the timings online and plan your day accordingly. You can even buy the cruise tickets online!

Though I really wanted to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, it was unfortunate that it caught fire before our trip and we were not able.to visit the same. However, we did manage to get a glimpse of the iconic structure during our cruise in the Siene River. This cathedral was once the pride and joy of the locals and many claim that the fire not just destroyed this tourist attraction but also took away a part of the Paris spirit. 

Last but not the least, make sure you keep a day for Disneyland (especially if you are travelling with kids)! We stayed at a hotel near Disneyland so that it will be convenient for us to travel back and forth. The distance between the city center and the amusement park is quite far so you need to keep this in mind when you are planning your trip.

I should also mention that near Disneyland, there is a place for huge bargains and it's called "Val D'Europe". You will find plenty of brand names to choose from, and I feel you should at least spare a few hours exploring the shopping complex.