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This City is the Underrated Star of the French Riviera, With Chic Hotels, Stylish Boutiques, and a Sense of Timeless Cool

This City is the Underrated Star of the French Riviera, With Chic Hotels, Stylish Boutiques, and a Sense of Timeless Cool

If I could offer one piece of advice to someone planning a trip to Nice, it would be this: Don't tell anyone you're going to Nice. The gateway to the French Riviera, the city has long been dismissed as a way station to smaller resort towns, the erstwhile stomping grounds of Matisse, Chagall, Baldwin, and Fitzgerald. Most of the time, people are actually thinking of places like Monaco and Menton, or influencer traps like St.-Paul-de-Vence and Antibes. Or Italy, which is not in France.
A dated but amusing British expression regarding the Nice airport is 'Gentlemen turn right.' To the right await the cypress-covered hills of Villefranche-sur-Mer and the coves of Cap Ferrat, the most expensive square footage in the country. But to the left is yacht-dotted St.-Tropez, so to an outsider, this is a baffling piece of local sociology. Either way the message is clear: one drives away from Nice; one does not loiter in the gateway. These people are, in fact, the ones missing the boat. Le Negresco hotel's dome, seen from the Promenade des Anglais.
For my flight from New York, I downloaded Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the 1988 comedy starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine that takes place in the fictional Nice enclave of Beaumont-sur-Mer. The film was a reminder of the city's outdated clichés: a place where a con man could live lavishly by relieving shoulder-padded women of their fortunes. A plausible premise, inspired by history. During the 19th century, Nice was a winter destination for the European aristocracy. When the French instituted paid annual leave in 1936, it became a popular summer destination and, by the end of the 20th century, a port for people allergic to living modestly (or, in the immortal words of Somerset Maugham: 'A sunny place for shady people').
By the start of this century, however, Nice had fallen out of fashion, both with discerning tourists seeking exclusivity and with younger Europeans, who associated the place with their parents. Now the tide is turning once more. New hotels, restaurants, shops, and bars staffed by passionate locals and patronized by an in-the-know clientele have begun to push Nice back into the spotlight.
The crown jewel of this renewed glamour is Hôtel du Couvent, an 88-room, monastic-chic hotel housed in a 17th-century former convent. Situated on Castle Hill in the city's old town, the property had been neglected since the 1980s. About 10 years ago, Valéry Grégo, a financier turned hotelier, visited the site at the behest of Nice's mayor. Grégo was so inspired by the historic structure that he would eventually sell his collection of boutique hotels around France and spend the next decade meticulously restoring the convent and its 2½-acre grounds. The dining room at Maison Joia.
After entering the hotel grounds (with four buildings, it's more of a campus), I walked through a stone passageway into a courtyard surrounded by tiered gardens and was presented with a freshly baked madeleine at reception. Then I was escorted past the on-site bakery, library, and apothecary (yes, apothecary) by one of the hotel staffers, who explained that her uniform—head-to-toe oxblood cotton—was a tribute to the Visitandine nuns who once lived on the property. My tower suite featured shuttered windows on all sides that cried out to be flung open. I obliged, leaning the upper half of my body out the window, scanning the sun-faded rooftops and, in the distance, an ultramarine strip of ocean. This, I thought, is a view with a room. From left: A veranda at Hôtel du Couvent; a housekeeper at the Hôtel du Couvent.
Hôtel du Couvent's austere design is another nod to the function of the original building, with unpretentious furnishings and a generous use of taupe. Every fixture and texture—be it the ecru sofa or the hefty square dining table—is precisely tailored to the space, and special touches like fresh flowers, silver bar accessories, and vintage books provide decorative flair. Exploring my airy suite, I found I could hold New Nice and Old Nice in the palm of my hand: little balms and lotions from au courant perfumer Azzi Glasser and pistachio marzipan from the 200-year-old confectionery Maison Auer. The courtyard at the Hôtel du Couvent.
Nice itself dates back to 350 B.C., and many establishments mix the past with the present. But I don't know that I've felt the imprint of the old and the new in a city as clearly as I did during my stay at Hôtel du Couvent. And to make it extra apparent that I'd arrived at Nice's hotel of the moment: I had taken a surreptitious picture of a fashionable couple in business class who deplaned ahead of me (her with a softened Goyard tote, him with some manner of satchel I was sure I could sell for rent money), only to see them again, sharing a bottle of rosé in the courtyard as I left to explore the old town.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Nice's new, refined energy is where that energy is concentrated: in the touristy heart of Old Nice, amid the souvenir shops, alongside street performers playing 'Every Breath You Take' on the electric guitar. There are cool new restaurants like Lavomatique, an eight-table bistro with bar seating where thirtysomething patrons spill out into the street late at night, gossiping and laughing after consuming vegetarian small plates. Or Frisson, an ice cream parlor/coffee shop/concept store started by former Colette employees that served a 'detox' sorbet (kiwi, apple, and spinach). Or Marinette, a bright boulangerie that I visited three gluttonous mornings in a row for its cinnamon rolls. I paired them with coffee from Cafés Indien, which roasts its own organic blends. From left: A sitting area at Hôtel du Couvent; breakfast at the hotel.
There are also carefully edited gift shops like Trésors Publics, which has become a New Nice institution. 'We believe in the renewal of the old town,' said Nicolas Barbero, the shop's cofounder, who grew up in Cannes, about a half-hour to the west. Each winter, Barbero and his business partner, Antoine Bourassin, travel around the country selecting French products (candles, sandals, tooth-fairy boxes) that give their store a feeling of assemblage as much as curation. Many of the manufacturers of those items have been in business for centuries. From the outside, Trésors Publics looks like a set piece from a Wes Anderson film. From the inside, it traffics in what Barbero calls 'the real local,' with a story behind every French-made item.
Barbero has also noticed what he calls 'the return of good tourism'—visitors who appreciate the authenticity of Nice beyond the sunny beaches. He credits not only the city's vibrancy post-pandemic (when many Parisians moved south to the city) but also a fatigue with über-trendy destinations. 'You see people going to Ibiza, Mykonos, and Croatia and that's fine,' he said. 'But maybe they got bored paying 200 euros to see a sunset,' he added, referring to the pricey beach clubs of certain Mediterranean isles. Nice's old town.
That evening, I decided to watch the sunset, free of charge, while wandering down the seaside Promenade des Anglais, with the iconic pink dome of Le Negresco hotel in the distance. I grabbed an outdoor seat at Babel Babel, a Mediterranean café and wine bar that serves snacks like hummus and chickpea fries. Behind me, I overheard a pair of girlfriends in their 20s, talking over music and the rattling sound of skateboard wheels, discussing a speakeasy in a church. After some debate, I decided to deploy my terrible French: Pardon? Church? Bar? Quoi?
Yes, I had heard correctly. Even the churches of Nice are enticing a younger crowd and have a robust Instagram presence. Upon entering the stone nave of St.-Jacques-le-Majeur, I observed the usual House-of-God fare: cracked Baroque frescoes, a statue of a saint, a few earnest late-night souls creaking in pews. I was about to leave, thinking I'd gotten the wrong place, when I saw a pod of twentysomethings emerge from behind a velvet curtain next to the altar. One of them made eye contact with me, grinned, and winked. ' Oui, ' he said, ' c'est là .' Through another passageway I finally arrived at Le Bethél, a bar inside the church courtyard. There were string lights overhead, a chess game in the corner illuminated by candelabra, and older friends drinking wine. A Parisian rave scene this was not, but there was something undeniably charming about this wholesome bar (no hard liquor) drawing a multigenerational crowd. From left: Hôtel Amour Nice; Paloma Beach, east of Nice in St.-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
The truth is that, if one goes to Nice in search of over-the-top glamour, or the cultural panache of Paris, one will leave empty-handed. It's a city that is still getting its sea legs as an upscale tourist destination—or, rather, getting its sea legs back. But Nice is not interested in imitation. It's interested in embracing what makes it distinctive.
It is in this spirit that new hotels like Mama Shelter Nice, Hôtel Amour Nice (from the beloved Parisian chain), and Hôtel Amour Plage (same brand, closer to the shore) have opened. Meanwhile, young chefs are reviving regional dishes to delicious effect. The elegant and meticulous Maison Joia is a prime example. The restaurant combines flavors from across France, including chef Julien Pilati's native Champagne and the Brittany of his wife, Laetitia. The standout of the cheese plate was a creamy wedge from Corsica. Bread from the couple's favorite Portuguese bakery is served to 'really open up the appetite,' as Julien explained. In Nice, most haute cuisine dishes are some manner of regional fusion (think olive oil instead of butter) but at Maison Joia, the experience is seamless. Nota bene: dining in this bright box of a space, with its single-flower centerpieces, feels a bit like being on the set of a play about a restaurant. But reader, I did not suffer. Perhaps, with time, Maison Joia will join international favorite Les Agitateurs, also in Nice, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2021. From left: The rooftop restaurant at the Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel, in France; the Promenade des Anglais.
Late the next morning (turns out alcohol has the same effect on the body, even if you consume it inside a church), I took a swim in Hôtel du Couvent's lap pool, a spectacular oasis atop the gardens. I then consumed the best niçoise salad of my life ( Was it the scallions? I thought afterward, zooming in on the photograph I'd taken) while sitting in the shade of an olive tree. Then I said goodbye and packed my bags for a very different view of the city. From left: Grilled chicken with red kuri squash and amba sauce at Lavomatique; the restaurant's exterior.
The Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel, which occupies a Belle Époque building that dates back to 1848, feels a world away from a former convent. The 151-room hotel and spa was renovated in 2022 and has a clublike rooftop restaurant from which I could see the planes land at Nice airport. 'You can almost scratch their bellies,' joked Gaudéric Harang, the general manager.
'Even the shops are being renovated,' he added, gesturing down at the row of luxury boutiques that included Hermès, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. 'They reflect the elevation of luxury and what the city has to offer.' While this is an accurate metric of Nice's commercial popularity, it was wasted on someone who, until very recently, was zooming in on photos of scallions on her phone. I was more curious about his favorite local spots, since he is a local himself. From left: Fanny Vedreine and Louis Girodet, owners of the Fanfan & Loulou café; socks for sale at Trésors Publics.
'Honestly, the amount of small, very good restaurants in the old town is insane,' Harang said, lighting up, 'I love the institutions, too, like La Petite Maison. Nicole Rubi, the owner, is in her 80s. But Nice is still a hub. To be here is to use the city like that. You have to explore.'
A fine point if there ever was one. As delightful as it is to plow through what's new in any city, it can start to feel like consuming the foam from a cappuccino and tossing the coffee. Yes, it was time to pluck from those well-meaning recommendations from friends who had been to the surrounding areas. Spend a day in St.-Paul-de-Vence. Go to the Matisse Chapel. Sit on the same barstools that Picasso used to sit on at La Colomne d'Or. Find Chagall's grave, then see so much mid-century art at the Fondation Maeght that you can't remember a time when you were not looking at mid-century art. From left: Giacometti sculptures outside Fondation Maeght; viewing a Chagall at the Fondation Maeght.
This is to say nothing of the merits of a day spent on the area's better beaches. I am partial to the understated Plage Paloma, on Cap Ferrat, to which blue-and-white VW buses transport beachgoers from the marina. Or Plage Mala, farther to the east on Cap d'Ail, where I watched an elderly man wade into the water, smoking slim cigarettes, while a woman in a glittery bikini twisted a beach umbrella between the rocks like she was boring a hole into the earth. Perhaps the only notable shift in Nice's infamous beach culture is a reduction in toplessness, thanks in part to the prevailing presence of camera phones. But Nice proper feels like an exciting and current place to come home to after hitting the classics.
On my last night, my stomach stuffed with miniature lobster rolls from the beachside restaurant L'Eden Plage Mala, skin soaked with sun—take that, anti-aging facial—I sat down for a glass of natural wine at Fanfan & Loulou. The two-year-old café and wine bar is run by a couple from Paris, Fanny Vedreine and Louis Girodet. It's beloved for not only its selection but also its origin as a wine delivery service during the pandemic. A lone bicycle was the duo's mobile wine cellar, as well as a way of getting to know their new home. From left: A sea view from the Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel; the hotel's lobby.
'We arrived three months before COVID,' Vedreine said, pouring me a glass of German Riesling called Space Dream. 'We thought, 'Okay, we have no friends and no connections. But we found such a community here.' ' In addition to running the wine bar, Vedreine is a new mother and a writer with a focus on feminism and art. I wondered if she ever missed the energy of Paris. 'I worked in nightclubs and bars and journalism in Paris,' she said. 'I have good memories. But I want to do something for myself, to live life for myself.' From left: Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel; a guest room at the hotel.
As she said this, we looked over our shoulders to see three stylish Americans approaching. One of them was tearing his face away from his phone, looking embarrassed to be lost and sheepish to have missed what he and his friends were looking for: the fanfan & loulou sign painted in massive letters over the doorway. Vedreine smiled at me and excused herself to greet them. 'This is the place,' she assured them. Oui, c'est là .
From left: Place Charles Félix, in Nice's old town; a cantaloupe dessert at Maison Joia.
A version of this story first appeared in the August 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "Nice Dreams ."
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I've Lived in France for 10+ Years—Here's How to Visit Paris on a Budget
I've Lived in France for 10+ Years—Here's How to Visit Paris on a Budget

Travel + Leisure

time16 minutes ago

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I've Lived in France for 10+ Years—Here's How to Visit Paris on a Budget

Despite living in France for nearly a dozen years, I still swoon every time I see the Eiffel Tower lit up. Calling Paris romantic is an understatement—the city has inspired poets and artists, who still pilgrimage here today in search of inspiration that can be found in nearly every turn, in every arrondissement. The city is a must-visit destination for many, but you don't need to shell out on splashy hotels and haute cuisine to experience the best Paris has to offer. A fresh baguette and beautiful bottle of wine on the Seine can be just as memorable as a Michelin-starred meal. With the right planning, you can have the trip of a lifetime in Paris without breaking the bank—here's everything you need to know. A busy Paris park on a sunny day. Heather Durham/Travel + Leisure While it's always a good idea to visit Paris, some seasons are busier than others, particularly around the end of May during Roland-Garros (the French Open), the summer months, and around Christmas and New Year's. While hotels and airfare may be lower in the winter, Paris can be wet and cold—not ideal for strolling and sightseeing, but great for museums and cozying up in warm cafes. 'To keep to a budget, timing is key,' says Mark Bonte, co-founder and CEO of French Side Travel. 'Booking your trip at least six months in advance means you're getting not only better availability for top guides and iconic hotels, but better pricing as well.' It seems like my social calendar is consistently packed with friends visiting the city from May through July—and this is actually the time of year I skip town to avoid the crowds. This is also the most expensive time to visit; those looking to save money should aim for the shoulder seasons in October and November or February and March. As a travel writer who plans trips that revolve entirely around restaurants, I'm often asked the best places to try in Paris and when to book. Even in low season, Paris has become busy enough that nearly every sought-after restaurant requires a reservation—especially classics like Le Bistrot Paul Bert, which only accepts reservations via phone. This isn't New York, though. Unless you're planning a splurge-worthy meal at triple Michelin-starred Plénitude, whose waiting list is months long, you can reserve three weeks to a month in advance at most. And while most spots are known to shut in August for summer holidays, this is slowly changing as more restaurants keep their doors open or host pop-ups with guest chefs. I'm one of the few people in Paris who actually wants to be in town this time of year, enjoying long, balmy summer days sipping rosé on rooftop terraces or sprawled on a blanket sunbathing in my neighborhood park, Buttes Chaumont. The exterior of Palais Royal. Leopoldine Bauer/Travel + Leisure Expedia travel expert Melanie Fish recommends booking flights on a Sunday, which can save up to 17 percent compared to Friday bookings, and departing on a Thursday instead of a Sunday, which also saves around 17 percent. If you're flexible, Fish says you can score deals on last-minute trips as well. Last year, the sweet spot was around 60 days, but this year, the best deals (around 10 percent off) have been between 18 and 29 days out. 'If this is cutting it too close, use Price Drop Protection on the Expedia app,' she advises. 'Add it to your flight booking and get an automatic refund if the price of your flight drops on Expedia after you've booked.' Business-class-only La Compagnie offers daily flights between New York and Paris, with round-trip prices starting at $2,500—a fraction of the cost of other business-class fares. Another budget-friendly option is low-cost carrier French Bee, with one-way fares from New York to Paris Orly starting at $118. Air France also has its twice-annual Le Rendez-Vous promotional periods in late summer or early fall and winter, and it's when travelers can find some of the best prices of the year. 'For travelers looking to experience Paris in style without splurging, winter and the shoulder seasons are ideal,' says Christian Vernet, CEO of La Compagnie, who recommends booking two to three months in advance and staying flexible with your travel dates. 'Our best deals to Paris are typically available for travel in January, February, and again in the fall, particularly from late September through November.' By using tools like price tracking on the Expedia app or setting up Google Flights alerts, you can compare prices and snag the best one when a deal pops up. With Expedia's Flight Deals tool, for example, you can search for flights departing from your home airport anywhere in the world and see where to fly for less. Right now, it's showing round-trip flights to Paris from New York JFK in August for around $438 (40 percent less than the typical price), while round-trip flights from Los Angeles are 45 percent less than usual, around $681. Mr. Tripper/Courtesy of Château des Fleurs 'The beauty of Paris is that it isn't a weather-dependent destination—no matter the time of year, there is something to do and reason to find yourself in the City of Light,' says Bonte. "Travelers are often faced with inflated prices because they don't know where to look and go to what they have heard of or what pops up on a quick search—and these properties will often be more expensive due to their brand recognition.' Bonte suggests that to get the most out of your money, look at boutique hotels like Hôtel La Fantaisie, Hôtel Hana, and Château des Fleurs. Visiting in off or low season months like early December or January through March (outside of events like Fashion Week) is also when you'll find lower hotel rates, especially at some of the more sought-after five-star and Palace properties. August is when locals flee the city and many restaurants shut for summer holidays, but it's also 'a rare opportunity to experience Paris at a gentler pace,' says Magalie Murillo, general manager of SO/ Paris, adding that hotel rates are lower during this time. 'With many Parisians away, the city reveals a more intimate side, ideal for wandering through the quiet streets of the Marais, enjoying riverside walks along the Seine, or admiring Notre Dame without the crowds.' Airbnbs can be a budget-friendly alternative to a hotel, especially for groups or families traveling together. Similar to hotels, look outside of the landmark-heavy arrondissements and popular neighborhoods like Le Marais, opting instead for an area like Bastille or Belleville, where you'll still be centrally located but may find better deals. Ask any local the quickest way to get around Paris, and they'll all give you the same response: le métro . A single ticket costs €2.50 and is valid for two hours (as long as you're connecting and not leaving the network) on the metro, bus, funicular, express tram, and RER (suburban railway system). If you download the Bonjour RATP app, you can purchase tickets at a reduced price and get the latest updated information on any service changes or strikes that may be taking place. If you're planning a full day of sightseeing, opt for a one-day Navigo unlimited travel pass, which costs €12 a day and offers access across the Paris region. You can also purchase airport tickets through the app, as well as at ticket booths in both Paris Orly and Charles de Gaulle. 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I've found the Citymapper app to be the most accurate when it comes to navigating Paris, since it pulls in the time and price for each mode of transport—and helps you map out the quickest route on the metro or bus. A busy street in Paris with outdoor dining. Leopoldine Bauer/Travel + Leisure 'If you're willing to shell out a bit more, one of the best ways to get a taste of Paris's famous fine dining without the exorbitant price tag is to take advantage of the weekday prix-fixe lunch,' says Emily Monaco, a Paris-based journalist who runs culinary tours and plans bespoke itineraries for visitors in Paris. 'Chantoiseau's €29 lunch deal is a total steal given the quality and precision—not to mention the address in the heart of Montmartre.' 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'The dining room is built around one of the few remaining pieces of Paris's medieval fortifying wall, and they even make their own ice cream in-house! I also love the Lebanese sandwiches from Le Cèdre just off Place de la Contrescarpe in the Latin Quarter and the delicious Thai food at Funky Ba—you can easily eat well for under €15 at either spot.' What started in the 19th century for the working class to eat affordably, the bouillon concept has more recently been revived in the city thanks to Art Nouveau-style spots like Bouillon Julien and Bouillon Pigalle, with its retro red leather banquettes and mirrored walls. The philosophy is still the same: French classics like steak-frites and Burgundian escargots bathed in garlic and parsley served all day long. Prices start as low as €2.50 for eggs mayonnaise and €13 for duck confit with fries, with a pitcher of wine equivalent to the size of a bottle for around €12. 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'Rather than planning a more typical walking tour followed by a separate lunch, you can get two in one and engage all your senses on your visit to Le Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, or even Paris's covered passages.' If you're planning to check multiple museums off your list, the Paris Museum Pass offers access to some of the most famous in the city, including the Musée du Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and even the Château de Versailles (a two-day pass costs €70). Museums in Paris are generally on the more affordable side, although some require you to book for a specific time. Tickets for the Fondation Louis Vuitton are €16, but popular exhibits like David Hockney 25 require reserving a few days in advance since slots fill quickly. When my parents visited, we skipped the Louvre in favor of smaller museums and galleries like the Musée Gustave Moreau, meaning fewer crowds and time waiting in line—plus, tickets are nearly half the price. 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I quit my job, divorced my husband, and moved to Italy to retire. I miss my kids, but I'm happier and healthier here.
I quit my job, divorced my husband, and moved to Italy to retire. I miss my kids, but I'm happier and healthier here.

Yahoo

time17 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

I quit my job, divorced my husband, and moved to Italy to retire. I miss my kids, but I'm happier and healthier here.

Cindy Sheahan quit her job, got divorced, and began traveling abroad for a bigger, fuller life. She's visited more than 50 countries, but one city stole her heart: Palermo, on the island of Sicily. Sheahan told Business Insider she's happier, healthier, and saving more money in Italy. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cindy Sheahan, 64, who retired from real estate in 2017 and left Colorado to travel abroad. In 2025, Sheahan settled in Palermo, Italy. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. In 2017, I was at a crossroads. A lot of people I knew were dying, and I started thinking: You really don't know how many days you get or what's promised to you. I figured I'd start traveling abroad. My company was kind enough to let me take a sabbatical while I sorted out my world. It turned out to be a mistake for them, because I decided I wasn't coming back. Once I stepped out the door and visited places I had only dreamed of and ate food I had only read about, it was ridiculous to think I was going to go back to my "normal life." I wasn't getting any younger. I figured I could always work again if I wanted to. But right now? I wanted to climb a waterfall in Cambodia and ride a motorbike in Vietnam. So I quit my job, retired, and divorced my husband. We had 30 years together and raised our amazing kids. But I didn't want just to walk the dog, play pickleball, and tend a garden. I wanted a bigger life. I thought living abroad would be temporary, but I was wrong After the divorce, I moved into a small apartment in Colorado with a monthly rent of $1,700. I still have it and rent it out to traveling nurses abroad. In the beginning, I thought I'd travel the majority of the year, come back to the States, and live a "normal" life there for one month a year. For some time, I did that. I've visited nearly 50 countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Madagascar, Turkey, Cyprus, and the more popular spots, like France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. After being a mom to four kids, it's amazing to travel alone. Eating, sleeping, and reading when you want to is nice. You can go back to the same restaurant twice or visit a museum. You have no one to apologize to or explain yourself to. I remember sitting on a bench in front of Picasso's famous painting Guernica in the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid. Who knew I could sit and look at it for half an hour without anyone saying: "Oh my God, can we go? Are you done?" It was a sense of freedom that was incredible. The US was no longer for me After seven years of full-time backpack and hostel traveling, I was ready to set up a home base. I wanted to put my toothbrush on my own sink and put my clothes on a hanger somewhere. I knew I didn't want to live in the US anymore. Not only did I feel empowered abroad, but I also felt that the US no longer aligned with my values. I wasn't into the US's overconsumption. With the divisive political climate and the ridiculous gun culture, there was no way in hell I'd live there after experiencing a more peaceful life in so many other countries. Palermo, Italy, has my heart In 2022, moved to Portugal on a retirement residency visa. After about 11 months, I realized I could apply for Italian citizenship through ancestry, and the process would be faster in Italy than in the US. That was a game changer. For some time, I explored different parts of Italy, trying to determine where I wanted to live. I lived in a small medieval village in Umbria, and visited Bologna, Milan, Torino, Rome, and Florence. Then I went to Palermo, a city on the island of Sicily, and it hit me: I had found my soul city. Palermo is a feast for the senses. There's laughter, joy, noise — it's completely lovely. I moved to the city in October 2024. I didn't want to live in the suburbs — though living in the outer areas will always be less expensive and, in some ways, more authentic. So, I chose to live in the city center. I live in an area where I can walk for about 15 minutes and be at a cathedral, the gardens, or in the neighborhoods where all the restaurants, markets, and festivals happen. Palermo has a vast and active expat community. I feel safe in my neighborhood. I have a good friend who lives by the local train station, about a 30-minute walk from my apartment. I walk back from her house all the time late at midnight, and there's no stress — I'm not walking with my keys in my hand. My apartment is about 1,100 square feet, and I pay around $800 monthly plus a $100 condominium fee. It came completely furnished and is gorgeous. I have three sets of French doors that open onto three separate balconies. The floors are terrazzo with border patterns, and there are medallions on the 12-foot-high ceiling. My bathroom is spacious, which is hard to find in Italy, where showers are often the size of a phone booth. The apartment building dates back to the early 1930s. Although it is old, compared to some other buildings in Italy, it feels relatively new. Life is more affordable in Italy I couldn't afford my lifestyle if I moved back to the US. I receive $1,500 a month in Social Security. It's not enough to cover rent in Denver, but abroad, it easily covers my housing and much more. Daily expenses are affordable in Palermo. I love that I can go to the grocery store and not break the bank. You can buy tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, and everything else for a song. Healthcare is also much more affordable in Italy. In 2024, while traveling in Tunisia, I broke my foot. When I returned to Italy, I had two sets of X-rays and two appointments with an orthopedic specialist, and the total cost was less than $150. At the time, I wasn't even on the national healthcare system. Now that I'm an Italian citizen, I'm fully covered, which means there's no charge for general care. If I need to see a specialist, like a dermatologist, I might pay around $40. I am happier in Italy than I'd ever be in the US Living in Italy, I make a new discovery every day. That sense of wonder and joy has become a regular part of my life. I feel like I outgrew a lot of people and places in the US. Don't get me wrong, I desperately miss my friends and family, especially my kids. But they're all able to travel, and they'd much rather visit me somewhere fun than grab a drink at a bar in Denver. My quality of life has improved in Italy. I walk almost everywhere, so my blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol are in better condition. I eat better, I've made new friends, I've cut down on expenses, and most importantly, I'm happy. Read the original article on Business Insider

'If You Can't Pay For The Trip, You Shouldn't Take It': Expert Warns Against Buy Now, Pay Later Travel Trend
'If You Can't Pay For The Trip, You Shouldn't Take It': Expert Warns Against Buy Now, Pay Later Travel Trend

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'If You Can't Pay For The Trip, You Shouldn't Take It': Expert Warns Against Buy Now, Pay Later Travel Trend

This summer, millions of Americans are planning trips — and a growing number are using buy now, pay later services to help cover the cost. These short-term installment loans, offered by companies like Klarna and Affirm, are being used to pay for flights, hotels, cruises, and even event tickets. According to a NerdWallet survey, 18% of summer travelers planned to use BNPL this year. Klarna reported a 50% year-over-year jump in travel bookings, and Affirm (AFRM:NASDAQ) said its travel-related volume rose 38% in late 2024, topping $1 billion. While BNPL may seem appealing — especially when it comes with no upfront costs or interest — experts caution that it's not always a smart choice. Don't Miss: Be part of the breakthrough that could replace plastic as we know it— $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. It's Not Just Luxury Travel Anymore BNPL was once associated with high-end purchases, but that's changing. Andrew Lokenauth, founder of told CNBC that many of his clients now use BNPL to pay for basic travel, such as visiting family or attending weddings. "It's not just luxury vacations anymore," he said. "I've worked with over 100 clients drowning in BNPL travel debt, and it's not pretty." BNPL loans typically have zero flexibility — miss a payment, and you might face late fees or damage to your credit score. Even Affirm, which doesn't charge late fees, began reporting pay-over-time products to credit bureaus this year. Trending: This AI-Powered Trading Platform Has 5,000+ Users, 27 Pending Patents, and a $43.97M Valuation — The Debt Can Outlast the Trip The biggest risk with BNPL travel financing is that the fun may end, but the debt lingers. NerdWallet found that 30% of travelers who used credit cards for summer travel in 2024 still haven't paid off their balances. The average credit card interest rate, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, is over 22%. BNPL doesn't charge interest in many cases, but it can still lead to overextension. A recent Consumer Finance Protection Bureau report found that 63% of BNPL borrowers had more than one loan at a time — also known as "loan stacking" — at some point in 2021 and 2022. Disney vacation planner Jackie Steele said he's seen more clients use BNPL to pay for Disney trips, sometimes to make last-minute travel happen or to upgrade their experience. "I always caution people — especially younger adults or families on tight budgets — to look beyond the monthly breakdown," he told Caution and Have a Backup Plan Some travelers say BNPL made their trips possible. One traveler told CNBC she used it to book a last-minute trip to Miami, calling it a "lifesaver." But when she missed one payment reminder, she was hit with extra fees. Some experts say that BNPL can work if used wisely. Fiserv Head of Embedded Finance Sunil Sachdev told CNBC that the service has matured in recent years and, so far, hasn't resulted in widespread defaults. Still, Lokenauth doesn't sugarcoat it: "If you can't pay for a vacation outright, you probably shouldn't take it." Smart Alternatives for Summer Travel Before reaching for BNPL, consider alternatives. According to NerdWallet, 91% of travelers are already looking for ways to save — such as using credit card points or choosing budget hotels. "Travel rewards aren't fine wine — they don't get better with age," NerdWallet spokesperson Sally French says. "In fact, with airlines and hotels constantly tweaking their loyalty programs to a level that's usually not in your favor, your points could be worth less next summer than they are right now." No matter your destination this summer, planning ahead — and paying responsibly — can help you avoid turning your dream vacation into a long-term debt burden. Read Next: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article 'If You Can't Pay For The Trip, You Shouldn't Take It': Expert Warns Against Buy Now, Pay Later Travel Trend originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

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