Paris Excursion with Do Something Different

In July 2015 I was fortunate enough to be invited to join a number of lucky agents in Paris with DoSomethingDifferent. Starting early on a Wednesday morning I met the other agents at London St Pancras as we boarded the Eurostar. Being my first ever time on the high-speed train I was excited to compare the experience with coach and air travel. To make up for the early start Lucy and Caroline; the DSD representatives, organised for us the chance to enjoy the Eurostarā€™s Business Premier Lounge. Getting up at 6am with defiantly compensated with free of charge latteā€™s, croissants and newspapers. After being thoroughly spoiled, the group and I boarded the train and begun our journey. Taking into account for a ten minute delay and going forward an hour as we entered France we arrived at our destination of Disneyland Paris at around two in the afternoon. Keen to get going we dropped off our luggage and headed straight into the park to make the most of our afternoon there. Opting to stay together we managed to get onto a number of rides and attractions with the Pirates of the Caribbean Ride, the Ratatouille adventure ride and Small World being the highlights for myself. I even managed to surprise myself when I joined the others on the Indian Jones ride. My family and friends all know that I am a bit useless on rollercoasters (even the tame oneā€™s) so when I survived and enjoyed the rollercoaster which had a full loop, I felt very pleased with myself.

The good vibes continued throughout the afternoon with everyone in high spirits heading into dinner at Planet Hollywood. With our time in Disney at an end and being well fed and watered, our first day in Paris was brought to a close with a viewing of the Disney fireworks show, a spectacular end to a spectacular day. We spent the night in the Relais Spa Dā€™Europe; just outside Disney, which provided a comfortable and fresh room and a moderate buffet breakfast.

For our first full and final day in Paris our rested group made our way to La Valle, to experience a Chic shopping experience. We were warmly welcomed by the staff with drinks, a light lunch and a presentation of the many shops and services provided by the outlet. As VIP guest we were given access to the lounge area, a twenty-five Euro gift card and a Starbucks Coupon. Whilst many of our group took full advantage of the discounted top-end brand shopping, I was more reserved and took advantage of the VIP lounge experience. As an extension to a Paris holiday or a trip to Disney, the shopping experience at La Valle fits the bill for both types of holidays. Whilst somewhat wasted on me, keen shoppers and bargain hunters could easily spend a whole day shopping at the various stores.

With our shopping done, we made the short transfer to the Westminster Hotel which is located in close proximity to the Place Vendome and the Opera. Offering a unique stay, each room is individually decorated with antique furniture and spa facilities. However the group and I didnā€™t have long to admire the hotelā€™s interior, as we had to have a quick turnaround to make it in time for our evening plans. As the sunset we made our way to the Port de la Bourdonnais to partake in river cruise up and down the Seine with Bateaux Parisian. Whilst on board for only a short time we were treated to a delicious three-course meal and copious amounts of wine to enjoy the sight-seeing trip. Booking a boat trip is a great way to see the different sights in Paris and there are a number of scheduled departures over the course of an evening so there is room for planning an evening. We took part in the earlier cruise because our evening was not over.

After a short ride on the Metro we arrived at Blanche to watch arguably the most famous cabaret show in the world, Moulin Rouge. Another first time experience for me, I was blown away by some of the routines exhibited during the show. Itā€™s an experience I would recommend to anyone who would be willing to give it a try. Still in an upbeat mood the group closed out the evening and our time in Paris with a lengthy night cap at a lovely piano bar close to the Westminster.
On our return on the Eurostar we enjoyed the equivalent of premium economy as we entered back into St. Pancras which included a meal and drinks on-board which provided the perfect tonic to the previous nightā€™s endeavours.

Despite being only a short two day trip, I thoroughly enjoyed myself as I think the rest of the group did. I would like to thank Lucy and Caroline from DoSomethingDifferent for their hospitality and allowing me onto the trip despite the short notice. Everything we experienced can be enjoyed by you as well. From theme park tickets, evening show tickets, access to sights and experiences DoSomethingDifferent offers a wide range of products for worldwide destinations to get you doing something different on your holiday. Which funnily enough you can book through with Classic Travel and if you wanted to find out even more about the trip or what I did, then donā€™t hesitate to call me or speak to the rest of the team about doing something different with your holiday.

Why don’t you take a look at the video I made below, which shows you even more of Disney and Paris! Don’t forget toĀ Like and Follow us on social media for further travel content!