First Trip to France

EuropeHilton
Written By Sarah Park

Some trips start long before you book them. France was that trip for us, something we talked about, imaged and quietly saved for over time.

The Breakdown

  • Destination: France (Paris, Lyon and Nice)

  • Trip Length: 9 nights

  • Trip Timeframe: Early April

  • Total Spend: $1,598.24 | €118

  • Booking Platforms:

    • Flight: American Airlines, Air France: $

    • Stay: Hilton, Airbnb

    • Public Transportation: SNCF Connect

  • First-Time Traveler Score: ★★★★★

First Impressions

Because of how long we dreamt about it, France felt familiar and new at the same time. Paris was beautiful and crowded in a way that felt expected but still exciting. Even with the energy of the city, everything felt walkable and well connected, which helped keep the trip from feeling overwhelming.

As we moved through Lyon and eventually to Nice, the pace naturally slowed. Each region was unique with its own charm, and by the time we reached our final destination, the trip had fully shifted into unwind mode.

Early April ended up being a great time to go. Mild temperatures, fewer crowds in some areas and enough warmth in the south to enjoy being outside.

Our Stay

Each stay on this trip served a different purpose, and overall, location mattered more than anything else.

In Paris, we stayed at Hotel Narcisse Blanc, primarily because of its proximity to major attractions. Being able to walk most places and return to the hotel throughout the day made sightseeing far more manageable. The hotel itself was comfortable and well maintained, but the staff truly stood out. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, welcoming and genuinely helpful. Our Paris stay was booked with points, totaling 315,000 Hilton Points.

In Lyon, we stayed at an Airbnb located in Old Lyon. The location was ideal, so quiet and charming. One thing to keep in mind is that this area has cobblestone streets, narrow walkways and homes built vertically. There are no direct roads within the buildings, so our Lyft driver dropped us off nearby and we had to walk a bit and climb many flights of stairs with our luggage to reach the Airbnb. It wasn't easy, so something to consider when booking a more traditional stay in Lyon, especially if you're traveling with suitcases.

In Nice, we stayed at Hotel Le Perouse, located right along the coastline. While the hotel staff was less friendly or helpful compared to Paris, the location was perfect. Being steps from the ocean and the French Riviera made it the perfect place to end the trip. Our Nice stay was booked with points, totaling 100,000 Hilton Honors Points with two nights covered by our Free Night Rewards Certificates.

Activities

Our itinerary was structured city by city, with a mix of major sights, guided tours and built-in rest time so the trip.

Day 1: Arrival in Paris

We arrived at CDG and headed straight to our hotel to settle in. The first day was intentionally light and focused on walking and shaking off travel fatigue. We explored the area around the hotel, visiting some patisseries and fromageries, walked along the Seine, crossed Alexander III Bridge and took pictures at the Arc de Triomphe.

Day 2: Versailles Day Trip

The second day was the start of our official itinerary. We took the train to Versailles in the morning and spent most of the day there. Highlights included touring the Palace of Versailles and doing a bike ride through the gardens, which made the experience far more immersive and less rushed than walking the grounds.

Day 3: Paris Photo Session & The Louvre

We started with a morning photo session, something we agreed to do whenever we travel as a way to document trips beyond phone photos. We were excited to start this new tradition in Paris with the Louvre as our backdrop. After our session, we spent most of the day at the Louvre, fighting our way to find some of the famous artwork there. The rest of the day was spent shopping and wandering nearby neighborhoods.

Day 4: Train to Lyon & Sunset Food Tour

We checked out of our hotel in Paris and headed straight to the train station to catch our ride to Lyon. After arriving and settling into our Airbnb, we went out for the evening Viator food tour, Lyon Sunset Food Tour – A Full Taste of France by Do Eat Better, which ended up being one of the highlights of the entire trip. The tour took us through Old Lyon while we stopped at different spots to try local favorites, including cheese from a small fromagerie, charcuterie with Côtes du Rhône wine, praline pie, quenelle and a regional liqueur. It was such a fun way to get to know the city and understand why Lyon is known as the food capital of France.

Day 5: Exploring Lyon

We started the day with another Viator tour, Lyon Highlights & Secrets Walking Guided Tour, to explore Lyon. Our tour guide took us through Place des Terreaux, Vieux Lyon and up to Colline de Fourvière, where we got some of the best views of the city. Having a guide show us around and explain the history was better than if we had just wandered on our own. It was a great way to see and learn the highlights of Lyon before spending the rest of the day exploring at our own pace.

Day 6: Travel to Nice

First thing in the morning, we took the train from Lyon to Nice, which felt like a clear shift from city exploring to coast mode. After checking into our hotel, we walked along the Promenade des Anglais and walked to dinner at Le Plongeoir, which ended up being one of the best meals of the trip. The views were unreal, right over the water, and it felt like the perfect evening to start our trip in the French Riviera.

Day 7: Old Nice & Food Tour

We spent the morning exploring Old Nice, walking through Cours Saleya market and climbing up to Castle Hill for some of the best views of the coastline. Later, we did another Viator food tour, NO DIET CLUB - Unique Local Food in Nice !, focused on regional specialties like pan bagnat, socca, farcis niçois, pissaladière, macarons and Italian ice cream. While it was nice to try a variety of dishes in one afternoon, this tour didn't feel as well organized as our Lyon experience. A few stops didn't seem prepared for us, at one point we were even told we couldn't wait or sit at the tables outside even though we were customers. It also felt less localized overall. There were places, like the fresh seafood market, that we passed but didn't experienced, which made it feel lighter compared to the depth of our Lyon tour.

Day 8: Monaco, Monte-Carlo & Èze

Our last full day in Nice, we booked a half-day Viator tour, Monaco, Monte-Carlo and Eze Village Small Group Half-Day Tour, which we highly recommend, especially since private transportation is provided. We stopped at viewpoints overlooking Villefranche-sur-Mer and St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat before heading to Èze, which ended up being one of the prettiest places we visited withs narrow streets and panoramic views. In Monaco, we saw the Prince's Palace, Casino Square, Hotel de Paris and drove part of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit. It was a packed half day, but it was worth it to see so much without having to coordinate it ourselves.

Day 9: Return Home

Our last day was all travel. We flew from Nice (NCE) to Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and then from CDG back home. We felt good about seeing and experiencing as much as we could in France without feeling too overwhelmed, which was exactly how we hoped this multi-city trip would end.

Dining

Paris & Versailles

Lyon

Nice

Overall, we loved almost every meal on this trip. L'Escargot Montorgueil and Le Plongeoir were out standouts for very different reasons. At L'Escargot, the food was savory and rich, and we had such a great experience with the waiter and the overall atmosphere. It was our first time having French escargot, but we realized we have had snails before in Korean cuisine, just prepared differently. It was interesting and honestly really good to try it in a more classic French style.

Le Plongeoir was memorable in a completely different way. The setting is so unique, right over the water, and the views were beautiful. The food felt fresh and unique, the type of menu that you could only try there.

Out of the restaurants, Takuto was just okay for us and didn't stand out. We also wish we could have made it to Fratelli Castellano, but it was closed the day we planned to go. Truly, France reminded us how much food shapes our travel experience and this trip absolutely delivered.

Things We Learned (So You Don't Have To)

  • VAT Tax Refund - If you live outside the EU, you can get a VAT refund on eligible purchases if you meet the minimum spend at a single store and request a tax refund form at checkout. Before leaving the EU, validate the form at the airport kiosk before checking your bags to receive the fund back to your card or in cash.

  • Set Up Global Blue Mobile App - One of the main VAT refund providers used by many stores in France. If the retailer partners with Global Blue, you can:

    • Track your refund digitally

    • Upload documents

    • Monitor refund status

    • Choose refund method to card

    You still need to validate your tax-free form at the airport kiosk before leaving the EU, but the app helps you manage and track the refund afterward. Other providers you may see: Planet Tax Free, Wevat

Sarah Park
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