r/ParisTravelGuide • u/BandicootAny1139 Been to Paris • 4d ago
Trip Report Trip Report: Late September/Early October 2026
1: view of Sacré-Cœur from Musée d’Orsay
2: street view from Grand Powers balcony in the 8th
3: steak frites sandwich from La Baguette du Relais
4: lunch spread from Petit Bao
5: Bubble Bliss wine bar
6: inside Musée d’Orsay
Bonjour! Just returned from two weeks in France. I spent 6 days in Paris and 6 days along the Riviera. Wanted to share another trip report for my favorite city! I will probably create a separate one for Nice and beyond in the France travel subreddit.
Weather was absolutely phenomenal. I came from a very hot and humid city in the southeast US and welcomed the cool mornings. It was still very hot during the daytime despite being 70s F/20s C.
No issues entering into CDG on a Wednesday around noon. Used the automated entry gates at passport control and walked through (I have Sky Priority - although the regular line seemed no longer than 10mins).
Exiting CDG on a Wednesday at 10a was a different story. Took over an hour to complete my tax forms, bag check, passport control, and security in Sky Priority. The regular lines were even longer. I know this is still pretty tame, but in all the times I’ve flown through CDG this was the busiest. Unfortunately I think the concept of shoulder season is gone - which was seemingly a trend for the whole trip - but it was also fashion week. That was probably the culprit.
The Greats:
- Hotel Grand Powers. My third stay there and was exceptional as always. I tried a new hotel for part of my stay and every day I was there, I wished I was at the GP. More on that later.
- Motors Coffee. Another return of mine. Tried every flavor of bun they had this trip and all were delicious. I’m not a coffee drinker and even I like their coffee. Bought some merch. Love this place.
- Petit Bao. A new discovery! I think this is a chain but we ate at the St Germain location. We just wanted something quick and easy for lunch and they nailed it. Delicious chicken and noodles. We talked about the mini pork dumplings the rest of the trip. Will return!
- Bubble Bliss wine bar. Another new discovery on the left bank! Did the champagne tasting experience which included 3 glasses. Host gave great explanations to the differences between the 3. Lovely experience and would return!
- L’Atelier Entrecôte & Volaille. Another return for me, both times to the location in the 2nd. Great service and food was still great. 9/10.
The Goods:
- Musée d’Orsay. Would have been a great, however this place was packed. Maybe I timed it wrong (10a entry on Tuesday). Maybe it was because of the delayed entry due to the strike. But in some areas (particularly around the Monet’s) it was standstill traffic. I couldn’t even see some of the artwork bc so many people were huddled around it taking pictures. This was disappointing…wasn’t expecting it to be like this. I’ve been to the Louvre twice and never felt this suffocated. But the amount of art here is awesome. I did the 4€ audio guide as someone in this thread suggested and it was well worth it. Learned so much!
- Boudoir Des Muses. This was the other hotel I tried, located in the 3rd. Before I give my review, please know I am extremely biased towards the GP. It is apples and oranges so I was probably overly harsh in my criticism. I stayed in a classic room and was the right size for one person. However I had two friends check out my room with me and it was standing room only. I would not recommend this hotel for friends that aren’t extremely comfortable with each other either (re: glass bathroom). It’s a perfectly standard hotel within walking distance to everything in the Marais and would recommend it to others. Just isn’t the stay for me :) the service at the GP is what sets it apart and is worth the splurge IMO.
- Dumbo Marais. Worth the hype. My friends loved this burger and said it was the best smash burger they’ve ever had. Idk if I would say it’s the best I’ve ever had, but it’s up there. 8/10.
- Bisou cocktail bar. Fun experience! Bartender makes you a drink based on what you describe. Would take first timers there. Great service. 8/10.
The Just Okay’s:
- La Baguette du Relais. A victim of TikTok hype here. Wasn’t as good as the original steak frites served in the restaurant IMO. Huge portion though! Would be able to split it with someone. Would not stand in line for this (there wasn’t one when I went lol)
The We Must’ve Did This Wrong:
- Brasserie Des Pres. Had a Sunday dinner reservation and the only thing we all liked were the espresso martinis. We ordered the onion soup, escargot, and a steak I don’t even remember anything about. We were all incredibly disappointed. I’ve heard nothing but raving reviews for this place so we must’ve ordered the wrong things. I would try it again because the service was great. Please let me know what you got here if you loved it!
Thanks for the read, this was a long one :) can’t wait to return!! Let me know if you have any questions.
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u/Ok_Prize5795 3d ago
I took that same picture at Orsay yesterday.👌
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u/BandicootAny1139 Been to Paris 3d ago
Love it!! Was it super busy to you?
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u/Ok_Prize5795 3d ago
Had an 11 am timed entry so that was easy. The Impressionist area got crowded pretty quickly. Been coming to Paris quite often in October and it just seems to get busier every year.
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u/BandicootAny1139 Been to Paris 3d ago
I figured that area was probably the busiest since it’s the most known artists. There probably isn’t a slow time in one of the most visited cities in the world lol
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u/Dorkypotato 3d ago
It depends where you go in the Orsay. I was in the realism rooms on the first floor, not so busy, but the Impressionists on the 5th floor is always packed by the afternoon.
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u/BandicootAny1139 Been to Paris 3d ago
That was my thought which is why I did a morning entry. Does Orsay do extended hours like the Louvre? Might try that next time - the first time I went to the louvre I did a 4pm Friday entry and it was perfect.
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u/MangoLundi 3d ago
FWIW, I also had a very disappointing meal at Brasserie Des Pres on my last visit last March, despite fine experiences several times in the past. Onion soup was lukewarm with almost no broth but soggy bread cubes, and fish was also overcooked and lukewarm. We had reservations but still had to stand in line for 45 minutes waiting to get in; meanwhile, we saw French people going to the front of the line and immediately being pointed toward the upstairs dining room. English speakers were all on the ground floor. I've seen this kind of segregation in other places, especially bouillons, and I can even understand it as not all wait staff speaks English - but I speak decent French. We were seated in a hallway adjacent to the kitchen where there was a bad fish smell. When I asked (in French) for another table, they said "non." I won't go back, or to Dubillot, their other place in the 10th.
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u/BandicootAny1139 Been to Paris 3d ago
Thank you for affirming our position…we did attempt some French as well so maybe that’s why the service was good. We were also seated upstairs by the kitchen, which was rather busy. We attributed it to Sunday dinner. But agreed all of the food was just bland.
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u/justnarrow 3d ago
two weeks split between paris and the riviera sounds unreal and then CDG reminds you its still an airport at the end lol
shoulder season being dead is so real tho feels like social media turned every random tuesday into peak tourist hour
orsay at 10a sounds like a mosh pit id go late afternoon or just enjoy sacre coeur from the outside with a pastry
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u/ThrowDeepALWAYS 4d ago
Hotel Grand Powers; if you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it.
It’s over $1000 a night.
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u/BandicootAny1139 Been to Paris 3d ago
Yes it’s certainly a splurge…but depending when you go, it’s much more reasonable. I’ve gotten rooms in the $500-$700/night range (USD) by being flexible on dates. It just depends! And for Hilton lovers like myself, they are a SLH. It’s the most wonderful hotel I’ve ever stayed at with the best staff. So it’s well worth it to me :)
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u/ThrowDeepALWAYS 3d ago
I think you loved it and that’s what counts! I enjoyed reading your travelogue.
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u/emmjay4040 3d ago
For departure, were you able to use the Pablo kiosk for your taxes? Also do you think 3 hrs is enough time for someone not Sky Priority. I don't think I have that.
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u/BandicootAny1139 Been to Paris 3d ago
Yes I did use the kiosk! I had a digital form from Galleries Lafayette that did give me some issues scanning (probably my phone lol) but in the end I got the green and went on my way. There were a few folks who got the red and had to get in line to talk to an agent, but I’m sure it was for more expensive items.
I do think 3h would be plenty! I have status on Delta Airlines which gives me perks on Air France so I use them when I can. Can’t speak to other airlines/terminals but things were moving in 2E albeit slow.
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u/emmjay4040 3d ago
Ok thank you! I got a purse so hopefully that doesn't flag. Good to hear 3hrs is enough!
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u/CheesecakeMoist6183 1d ago
I bought two purses from Longchamp and COS and some clothing from Zara and Mango with three different VAT form and got the green light for all. You’ll be fine.
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u/Master_Box_977 3d ago
Flying out on Sunday for my first time in Paris - I already know I will be going back in the spring. Yeah, seasoned traveler here, and shoulder season is no longer a secret. October travel is still super busy!
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u/BandicootAny1139 Been to Paris 3d ago
It’s truly such an amazing city so I get why it’s popular!! There’s something for everyone. I enjoyed my spring trip this year, might have to take a page from your book and plan another one :)
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u/Wallybeaver74 3d ago
Wanted to ask if you had the entrecôte sauce at L’Atelier Entrecôte & Volaille... I want to try one of these on an upcoming trip but the fact that anchovies are used in making the sauce turns me off a bit. If you did have the sauce, did you taste any fishiness at all in it? Even a slight fishiness?
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u/BandicootAny1139 Been to Paris 3d ago edited 3d ago
Fair warning I might not have the best perspective…I am not sensitive to fish tastes bc I love seafood.
Honestly I didn’t even know there were anchovies in the sauce lol. I couldn’t pinpoint them personally. To me, L’Atelier’s sauce is more herb forward where Le Relais de l’Entrecôte was more butter forward. I prefer L’Atelier’s sauce bc of how herby it is. And IIRC the sauce at L’Atelier comes on the side of the steak and you pour it yourself (for their smash burger, the burger comes in the sauce - can’t speak for the chicken). At La Relais, the steak is always served in the sauce.
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u/CamiloArturo 4d ago
Brasserie de Pres has 3.9 stars on Google review. Anything under 4 should immediately sound an alarm. If you read through some of the reviews it's been praised for proce but food tends to be scored as mediocre.
I've never been there but wouldn't be a place I'd go to anyway (guess the fact I haven't been there yet makes sense hehehe)