Getting to the Alps is quite the journey, and you have a few options. Last time, we flew into the nearby city of Lyon, which requires an extra connection within Europe, and experienced a 2-4 hour drive to our resort. This time, we flew nonstop from the US to Paris, then took the train to Grenoble, where we had another hour drive to the resort. I do not necessarily recommend this approach, but we wanted to add a night in Paris in to the trip so it worked well enough. I had the opportunity to fly Delta Premium, which sits between Comfort+ and Business. It was comfortable enough, but felt a bit overpriced for what you get—no pre-departure drink service, limited meal choices, and only a modest increase in seat recline. The footrest was nice, though, and if you’re going to splurge on this cabin, the front row is absolutely the way to go.

Charles de Gaulle Airport required a long walk to reach customs, border control, and baggage claim. Thanks to a strong presence and partnership with Air France, Delta has designated Sky Priority lanes at boarder control, which definitely helped speed things up. From there, we hopped on the TGV InOui train in first class, which I would strongly recommend, especially if you’re traveling with luggage. Boarding starts early, trains fill quickly, and space matters. I’d also suggest choosing the lower deck so you’re not hauling bags upstairs. The ride itself was comfortable and smooth, though the Wi-Fi left a lot to be desired.  

With limited time in Paris, we had to be intentional—and the Louvre was an absolute must-see. What we didn’t fully grasp beforehand was just how enormous the museum truly is. Even with a plan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Thankfully, our guide Antoine was exceptional. We were in a small group of just six people, which made a huge difference—not only for the experience itself, but also for logistics. Groups of seven or fewer have access to faster entry lines, saving a significant amount of time. If a small-group tour isn’t available, any tour with skip-the-line access is well worth it. Visiting independently, however, requires patience for long entry lines and some serious navigation skills inside the museum. You can click here to view and book a tour today!

While the Mona Lisa room was predictably packed, my favorite part of the visit was learning about the history of the Louvre itself. Many people don’t realize the building dates back nearly 800 years, originally serving as a medieval castle. Walking through the excavated remains of the old watchtowers and moat was fascinating and gave the museum a whole new layer of depth. I was also surprised by the sheer volume of Greek sculptures on display—but with over 35,000 pieces of art, there truly is a little bit of everything. 

Our time in Paris was short—just an afternoon and evening—which realistically isn’t enough for both the Louvre and a dinner at the Eiffel Tower. But thanks to a pedicab ride through the city, we managed to make it to our reservation at Madame Brasserie more or less on time. One important Paris tip: always assume it will take much longer to get anywhere by car than Google Maps suggests. Traffic is dense, streets are often one-way, and delays add up quickly. Walking is often faster, and pedicabs—while priced per person and admittedly not cheap—can use bike lanes and bypass much of the congestion. Uber does work as well, but expect longer-than-anticipated wait times both for driver matching and pickup. Dinner at Madame Brasserie was well worth the effort. We upgraded to a window table, and the views over the Seine were incredible. The four-course meal did not disappoint, wine pairings are available, and everyone is welcomed with a glass of champagne—a very Parisian way to end our whirlwind visit.