by Belt Drive Betty | Jul 17, 2026 | Travel Tips
Paris is one of those cities where even a single day, done right, leaves you with memories that last years. The key is choosing carefully — you can’t see everything, so pick the experiences that speak to you and savour them properly. Here’s how to spend 24 perfect hours in the City of Light.
Morning: Café, Seine, and Monet
Start at a classic Parisian sidewalk café — Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, both legendary for their literary history and their café crème. Walk to the Seine and cross Pont des Arts with its romantic city views, then spend a contemplative morning at the Musée de l’Orangerie — smaller and more manageable than the Louvre, it houses Monet’s breathtaking Water Lilies murals in two oval rooms designed specifically for them. One of the most quietly moving experiences in all of Paris.
Mid-Morning: Montmartre
Take the metro to Montmartre and climb to Sacré-Cœur Basilica for one of the best panoramic views of Paris — without the crowds of the Eiffel Tower. Then find your way to Clos Montmartre, Paris’s only working vineyard, hidden behind a wrought-iron gate on rue des Saules. The open-air square of Place du Tertre, where local artists display their work, captures the bohemian spirit that made Montmartre famous. Lunch at Le Consulat — classic French onion soup, duck confit, crisp Sancerre.
Afternoon: The Marais and the Seine
The Marais district rewards slow wandering: boutiques, art galleries, beautiful 17th-century mansions, and some of the best falafel in the world on Rue des Rosiers. For something more leisurely, a one-hour Seine River cruise puts Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower in their proper context — seen from the water, Paris makes architectural sense in a way it doesn’t from street level.
Evening: Dinner and a Nightcap
For an authentic Parisian bistro experience, Le Bon Georges is a well-kept secret: hearty French cooking at its finest — steak-frites, mushroom fricassée, classic crème caramel. For a truly unforgettable splurge, Le Cinq at the Hotel George V (three Michelin stars) offers French cuisine at its absolute peak. End the evening at Bar Hemingway inside the Ritz Paris — cozy, old-world, and the perfect place to reflect on the day over a glass of Champagne.
Paris as a Cruise Port
Many Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises include overnight port calls in Paris — or fly-cruise packages that begin or end here. Regent Seven Seas Cruises pairs particularly well with Paris, given their commitment to ultra-luxury experiences and fully inclusive shore excursions. Talk to Renée about cruise itineraries that make Paris the beginning of something bigger.
Ready to plan your Paris trip or Mediterranean cruise?
Renée Charbonneau is a Certified Travel Agent and proud member of CMTA Travel Services in Grande Prairie, AB.
📩 Contact Renée at CMTA Travel Services
by Belt Drive Betty | Jul 3, 2026 | Travel Tips
Lima is one of South America’s great underrated cities — and increasingly, travellers are choosing to linger longer rather than rush through on the way to Machu Picchu. The world’s second-largest desert city is home to a culinary scene that consistently ranks among the planet’s best, coastal cliffs with spectacular Pacific views, and neighbourhoods that swing from colonial grandeur to bohemian cool. Here’s how to make the most of 24 hours.
Morning: Coffee and the Coast
Start the day with Peruvian coffee — some of the best in South America, known for its vanilla-toned sweetness and nutty aroma. The brave can try emoliente, a traditional herb-infused hot drink with maca. Then head to Óvalo de Miraflores and walk south along the Malecón promenade — a cliffside path above the Pacific with sweeping ocean views. Follow it to the artsy Barranco district, where the legendary Bridge of Sighs is said to grant wishes to anyone who holds their breath while crossing.
Afternoon: Food, History, and the Plaza Mayor
Lima’s food reputation is global — the city is home to several of the world’s top 50 restaurants. But the best foodie experiences aren’t always the fanciest: try fresh ceviche at a casual spot on Calle Berlin, or sample choclo con queso (Andean corn with cheese) and papa rellena (stuffed potato with aji sauce) from street vendors. For culture, the Plaza Mayor — a UNESCO World Heritage site surrounded by the Presidential Palace and Cathedral of Lima — gives you the city’s colonial history in one stunning square.
Evening: Pisco Sours and Peñas
No visit to Lima is complete without Peru’s national cocktail, the Pisco Sour. The Museo del Pisco is the obvious starting point, but any bar worth visiting makes an excellent version. If you want to go deeper into local culture, look for a peña in Barranco — hidden-away basement restaurants where couples perform traditional dances to live music, unchanged by tourism and utterly authentic.
Routing Through Lima — How It Works from Alberta
Lima is typically a gateway city for Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and G Adventures tours throughout Peru and South America. Spending a proper day or two in Lima before heading south is one of the smartest decisions you can make — and it’s easy to build into any South America itinerary.
by Belt Drive Betty | Jun 8, 2026 | Travel Tips
Food is the language that every destination speaks fluently. More travellers than ever are putting culinary experiences at the heart of their trips — booking cooking classes, food tours, and wine tastings rather than just sightseeing. Goway’s data shows a 21% increase in spending on culinary travel experiences, with Asia leading the charge. Here’s how to travel the world like a proper foodie.
1. Eat What the Locals Eat
The golden rule. A true foodie follows the locals away from tourist traps and towards the quiet trattoria beloved by neighbourhood regulars, the street stall with the longest local queue, the family-run restaurant where the nonna still oversees the kitchen. The soul of a destination lives in its food — and you find the best of it by going where the locals go. The soul of travel is really about connection — and food is one of the fastest ways to find it.
2. Be Adventurous
Being a foodie means eating outside your comfort zone — at least initially. The best tip: go where the locals go. If a place has a reputation for poor preparation, locals won’t eat there. Street food in Bangkok, grilled quail in Egypt, dim sum in Hong Kong — the rewards of boldness are enormous. Being adventurous in what you eat is how you discover new favourites that stay with you for life.
3. Don’t Forget the Classics
Every country has a national dish — and it’s classic for a reason. Any foodie worth their salt will explore the classics while travelling, building a foundation for culinary discovery that makes the modern innovations and fusions all the more meaningful. The tortellini in Bologna, the green curry in Chiang Mai, the asado in Buenos Aires — these dishes define their cultures for good reason.
4. Learn from Local Experts
Before travelling, research the cuisine. When in destination, join cooking classes and food tours with guides who have lived and breathed the local culinary culture. Booking with a travel expert who has genuine destination knowledge — and supplier relationships with top-rated food experiences — means you get the best of both worlds: the expert recommendation and the insider access.
5. Stay Humble and Curious
The best foodie travellers stay curious and humble. The more broadly you’ve eaten, the more tempting it becomes to think you’ve tasted it all. Don’t. The best discoveries often happen in a humble family-run cafe around the corner from your hotel. Approach every meal with openness and the table will reward you.
Ready to plan your culinary adventure?
Renée Charbonneau is a Certified Travel Agent and proud member of CMTA Travel Services in Grande Prairie, AB. She turns travel dreams into carefully crafted reality.
📩 Contact Renée at CMTA Travel Services
Plan your next foodie adventure: Belt Drive Betty is a Certified Travel Agent who can help you plan culinary tours and food-focused travel experiences. Get in touch to start planning. Sign up for the newsletter for destination inspiration and travel deals.
