My Paris Agenda

A Little Preview of What is to Come for 2026

My Paris Agenda is a post I love to write to give the purpose of a trip. There are some new readers here, and I thought this would help answer some questions, too!

Sézane Book Party for Paris Every Day

For this particular trip, I was in town for a book launch party for Paris Every Day at Sézane. It was a pinch-me moment when they asked to host a party for community members and to celebrate the book.

The party was at the end of January, and I wanted to arrive a few days early to beat jet lag and avoid any travel delays.

My January Paris Plans

For the last couple of years, I have planned a trip to Paris in January. After a busy fourth quarter, this is when I plan for the year ahead and set goals (personal and professional). I start the year slowly, easing into things.

Unplugging from social media, taking long walks around Paris, and photographing the city help get my creativity flowing. The perfect jump start to the year.

I am very lucky to have a Paris community of friends to visit with. This time around, especially with the Sézane party, I was able to connect with old friends. I also made new friends this trip. I look forward to seeing them again on future trips.

Paris Projects for 2026

To give a little preview of what I have in store for 2026. I am working on reorganizing The Paris Guide! This is my third year of The Paris Guide, and I have learned so much from your feedback. I have decided to organize it by arrondissement to help with specifics on where to stay, eat, shop, and explore. For travelers who love exploring Paris by neighborhood, this will help!

The Paris Guide will be available in both digital and print editions, arriving this spring.

I am also adding more itineraries by season. Initially, I had a spring version. I will be adding winter, summer, and fall. Right now, my idea is to organize them by Right Bank and Left Bank. I would love to know your thoughts. For travelers who prefer to stay on one side rather than the other, I think this will help tailor your trip a bit more. Paris is quite large with a lot to do.

There is one more special guide I am working on, more details on that soon! I know it will be something you enjoy.

If there is anything else you are looking for in 2026 that would help make your travel or armchair travel better, I would love your feedback in the comments.

Funding for Paris

My Paris trips are paid for by me and always by me. It has not always been easy, depending on cash flow and years. I have been lucky to always find a way to make Paris work into my schedule.

Hotels, meals, and transportation have all varied in price over the years. While this has been a challenge, it has also helped me give a variety of recommendations for each type of traveler. I really know how to do Paris on a budget.

Your trust in me is my top priority. I prefer to pay for hotels and meals so I can give an honest review to my readers. Your support through ordering my book, Paris Every Day, photographs from The Print Shop, or ordering suggestions from my affiliate links is how I am able to go to Paris.

Paid subscribers to Substack help too! At this time, I do not have the bandwidth to offer paywall content. Becoming a paid subscriber helps fund all the travel and meals that turn into recommendations. My goal is always for you to have the best trip to Paris.

What does a typical trip look like?

This recently came in as a reader question. Since I am not a travel planner, what does a trip to Paris entail?

I started as a Paris photographer back in 2010, and this will always be my first love and passion. The Print Shop launched almost ten years ago after being on Etsy for many years. I am always looking for new photos to add. The images I shoot happen by chance, not by design. I have no idea what each day will bring. Paris is full of surprises. This is the joy and fun of my job.

During this particular January trip, there were a lot of rainy days. Some were unexpected. I love Paris in the rain. It feels like an added moody layer, especially in the colder months. Paris rainy shots look beautiful in black and white. I can’t wait to edit what I shot.

I plan a lot in advance and bookmark spots on Google Maps of places I want to visit. Reservations for meals can be challenging, so I book in advance. Some of my days revolve around a certain area or reservation.

For example, I wanted to try Chez Carrie and also booked a facial at Seasonly, just a short walk away. This helped maximize my time. I also discovered new coffee shops in the area. Paris is like NYC, with something new opening all the time. I travel to Paris four times a year, and it is still a challenge to keep tabs on everything in the city.

I was in Paris for six nights. While I could have stayed in the same hotel or apartment, I moved around a bit. This is challenging and requires some logistics. I have learned to schedule a lunch and check out right at noon. My bags are either held at the hotel, or I move them to the next hotel. This all depends on where my lunch plans or meeting are in the city. If I am lucky, I can check in early. That is not always the case.

Why did I move hotels? For the pure reason of research. The first hotel was in the 9th arrondissement, one of my favorite areas in Paris. I wanted to add to a blog post and see what was new in the area. Being based here for a night gave me more time to explore. I actually found a restaurant and went back a few nights later just to try it.

The Sézane event was on the Left Bank, and I wanted to be within walking distance. I discovered a new hotel on my last trip and booked a few nights there.

While I originally had a fourth hotel booked, I ended up cancelling it and extending my stay at Pavillon Faubourg Saint Germain. It made the weekend much easier, and on the last day in Paris, I wasn’t moving once again.

Exploring hotels in January is easier, as prices are usually lower due to the slower season. Also, there is a better chance of an upgrade. This is also true of air travel.

*Photos of me by Katie Donnelly Photography