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Discovering Paris with Riviera Travel: Highlights of My City Break

Discovering Paris with Riviera Travel

Georgia, Digital Marketing Executive at Travel Club Elite, recently took a trip to Paris with Riviera Travel. In this review, Georgia shares the standout moments from her visit, discusses the quality of the tours and Riviera’s fantastic organisation of the trip, and also offers her recommendations for anyone considering a visit to Paris. Be sure to listen to the podcast version on Spotify.

So, this was actually my first trip to Paris. I planned it for a friend who’d been before, but for me, it was my first time really getting to see the city. I’ll admit, I kind of used it as the perfect excuse to finally go! Of course, I wanted to tick off all the iconic spots – places like the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Tuileries Gardens, the palaces, and the Louvre. Those were high on my list. But being there, I quickly realized there’s so much more to Paris than just the big landmarks.

This was also my first time traveling with Riviera Travel on an actual holiday. I had been on a familiarisation trip with them before, but this was different—it was a proper getaway, and it didn’t disappoint. One thing I found really convenient was Riviera’s regional departure options. Living near Birmingham, it can be a hassle to time trains and connections to London for trips like this. Riviera made it easy – they arranged trains from Birmingham to London and timed everything perfectly. We had plenty of time to get to St. Pancras, go through security and customs, and even get settled on the Eurostar.

They also grouped us together in the same section of the train, which turned out to be a great icebreaker. It gave us the chance to chat and get to know each other before even arriving in Paris. That made the whole trip feel more friendly and relaxed – by the time we got there, we were already in little groups exploring together. The tour manager was brilliant. When we arrived at the hotel, all the check-ins were already done for us, which meant no waiting around at reception. He handed out room keys as we got off the coach – which was a really nice touch. Throughout the trip, he was flexible and accommodating. While there were scheduled activities each day, he made it clear that if you wanted to explore on your own or skip something, that was fine as long as you kept him in the loop. It gave the trip a nice balance of structure and freedom.

The highlight for me was definitely the visit to Versailles on the second day. Riviera offered pre-booked timed tickets, which made a huge difference since it was quite busy. The palace and gardens were just stunning, and we had plenty of time to soak it all in. I also loved that we got some free time to explore the town of Versailles itself, which I hadn’t expected. It was lovely to wander around and see another side of the area.

On the last night, we did a night tour of Paris, and it was magical. We’d already done a daytime city tour, but seeing everything lit up was something else. The Eiffel Tower sparkled, the Christmas markets were glowing, and all the bridges and buildings were illuminated—it was such a beautiful way to experience the city. If it’s your first time in Paris, I’d say don’t miss going up the Eiffel Tower for the views. A river cruise is also a must if the weather’s decent—it’s a charming way to see all the historic buildings along the Seine. My advice for anyone considering Riviera Travel? Take full advantage of their regional departures and pre-booked experiences. It makes everything so much easier, and you can relax knowing it’s all sorted. Would I travel with Riviera again? Absolutely. They made my first trip to Paris such a memorable and seamless experience.

 

Interested in experiencing the same itinerary as Georgia? If so, call free on 0800 707 6229 and speak to one of our experienced travel experts about your enquiry for exclusive savings on holidays with Riviera Travel.

ABTA 40+ years

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