Paris

 This wasn't my first trip to Paris however, I made sure to check out the well known as well as the lesser known spots. 

The rafael hotel, paris

When I travel, I like to pick my Hotels from the Leading Hotels of the World Club. The collection is pricey, if you are looking to spend less money, I recommend at least using them as a guide to nicer parts of the city.

I picked the Rafael Hotel because it had a spectacular terrace view of the Eiffel Tower where you can enjoy cocktails or a light meal. The hotel is a block away from the Arc de Triumph and within walking distance of nice cafes and restaurants. The hotel itself was beautiful inside. Very nice decor, classy, boutique vibe. The room itself was spacious, comfortable and was designed with the traditional Paris decor. 

Hop on hop off bus tour, paris

Paris is a big city, if you try to walk, Uber or Taxi, it is going to be a long, expensive day. I would say the best way to get around is the bus tour. The bus stops at all of the major attractions, allowing you to hop on or hop off at your leisure. I used L'Open Tour, which has a buses circling all day. I think I waited no more than 10 minutes each time. 

I loved this because you get to pick and chose what you want to see. The tour includes headphones for a historical narration of the city in your chosen language. Best option for newbies. 

rodin sculpture museum

My favorite artist of all time is Auguste Rodin. I fell in love with his work as a little girl, while visiting my family at Stanford University. The detail, the emotion, the overall realness of the sculptures fascinated me at age 10 just as much as they do now.

The museum in Paris features the famous "Gates of Hell" (pictured above) and the "Thinking Man." There is a beautiful outdoor garden with tons of roses, displaying several of the statues. This exhibit is not nearly as big as The Louvre. It is often overlooked however it is worth the visit!