You have it RIGHT! I used your return to Paris on my last trip. I am 66 years old and I loved it. It was a perfect two days. Just keep doing what you are doing. It is perfect!
Living in Paris, I can confirm that I ended up feeling the same way that you did on some events. The lines are really unacceptable and sometimes the activity is not enjoyable or worth it, because it is too crowded. I take ballet classes regularly and it happens a lot that you would find yourself sharing a barre with 6 people and when it comes to the center, you cannot even see what the teacher is showing, because the studio is so crowded. (30 + people ) For your exercises in the center you really need to fight for your space and have to concentrate not being hit by others who have less control over their movements, although I attend intermediate to advanced classes. At some point, you get used to it and most of the other participants come in on a regular basis, so they already know the drill. If it comes to these 'insta-events' like concerts, or the Grand Palais events, you really want to avoid these places, as they very often turn out to be a scam of some sort. Sorry to hear about your bad experience with the 'first aid team' LOL . I can literally see these guys in front of my eyes, scrolling through their phones and having a good talk why you are suffering an injury. This clearly happened due to negligence on the organiser's part. . Welcome to Paris :-))) on the other hand Paris still has its secret places where you can enjoy wonderful moments every single day.
as a Parisian born in Paris, and like many Parisian people, I don't frequent often the big touristic places in West Paris, but mostly less touristic places in East Paris. When I was younger it was Rive droite and Rive gauche (of the Seine) but now it is more about West and East. You can go to the Père Lachaise Cemetery, it is free, very green , beautiful, and not so crowded (a lot of famous people are buried there, Jim Morrison of course, Oscar Wilde, and many French celebrities ....), also the Montmartre cemetery is charming ..... and it is not sad at all ...
Thanks for denouncing this scam, it is very wrong to get complacent with such deceitful events. I’ve been once to Paris and it was definitely overwhelming. I will be using your guide during my next trip. Wishing you a speedy recovery and a happy new year.
What a horrible experience. You must be saint to wait in that long line twice. So sorry about your broken hand. Thank you for all the wonderful information you always offer. Take care of yourself. Happy New Year💫
I thought it was just me thinking this! We live just outside of Paris, close to the Versailles Palace. My sister and her husband are visiting us and we thought it would be nice to take them to see the Versailles Palace. It was so busy and packed. It was not a very nice experience because people kept bumping into us and I felt like a sardine being squished into a tin... The same thing happened in Paris when we saw the Cathedral de Notre Dame de Paris. There were lines and lines of people waiting to go inside... We didn't buy tickets to go see the inside of the Cathedrale but it was just ridiculous how many people were waiting in lines to go inside... We did however buy tickets online to see the Versailles and it boggles my mind why they sell so many tickets and allow so many people to enter the palace all at the same time, it is seriously a safety risk...
I had the same experience at Versailles!! It was the middle of summer and was EXTREMELY hot and crowded. There was barely any space to move. While the palace was gorgeous, I was shocked at how poor the experience was--truly a safety hazard.
Wow, how dissappointing! I was so looking forward to hearing about this, I saw ads years ago and have been wanting to experience this. I am a former competitive figure skater and this sounds so dangerous, this would never happen in the U.S. and I imagine not in Canada either. This is complete negligence and putting the public at unneccessary risk. I hope they see your video and make adjustments for next year (if they plan to continue annually). As an example, 2018, I volunteered for the Skate America competition held at the Orleans Sport center in Las Vegas. This center was turned into an Olympic sized rink, complete with rubber matts (even though skaters wear guards) everywhere. Most times this is a basketball court but they have hockey tournaments there too from time to time. There really is no excuse. I am sorry about your accident, I hope you heal well and congratulations on (almost) getting to 25,000 subscribers. Keep going, your content and personality is wonderful!
OMG, firstly I’m so sorry about your hand. 😢 Sending good vibes for a speedy recovery. I’m also sorry to hear about that awful experience. Watching your video made me very anxious, as you continued to tell your story, I became more and more stressed. I hate crowds and so just the thought of all those people on top of each other trying to skate was giving me hives. 😩 I agree with what you’ve said about aesthetically pleasing over quality. Last year, I went to this cafe/breakfast spot in Notting Hill in London as my friend saw it on Tik Tok. We had to line up, surprise surprise. When we finally got in and got our food, we were very disappointed to say the least. And the food we got was not ‘complicated’, as in, we ordered coffee, some cake and my friend got eggs, worst eggs I’ve ever seen and tasted. 🤢 When we left, there was still a long line of people outside. All because the cafe was ‘cute’. It’s quite frustrating. If I am lining up for food, it better be good! Not just look good, but most importantly taste good. Everywhere there’s a line. If the place remotely looks cute or kitschy, you can bet there will be a line cause it’s been promoted on social media. 🙄 Sorry for the long comment. Thank you for your channel. Whenever I go to Paris, I try go where locals go. Crowds in Paris are unavoidable of course but being aware of where to go, to places recommended by people like yourself, who care about the QUALITY, makes travelling less stressful so again, thank you! 🙏🏼🥰
Thank you for sharing your experience. So sorry to see that you’ve hurt your hand again. Fellow Canadian here; Hubby and I moving to France in early 2026. Really enjoying you and the effort you put into your content. You are a lovely person, Arielle and you are greatly appreciated! All the best to You and Jean in 2025!!!
Stay true to yourself, Arielle. I am also from Toronto and when I saw the lineup to go "skating" I thought "Nope, this is not going to be good." The solution is exactly what you said...sell tickets for one hour skates with a Zamboni time in between. So sorry about your hand. Clearly those in the first aid room were not health care professionals. My son and his family just recently spent a week in Paris and I had sent him a link to your videos prior to their trip and they took some valuable tips from them. They did book a private tour (which is geared to young children) of the Louvre and they thoroughly enjoyed that. They sent me a photo of them viewing the Mona Lisa and there were not many people there at all. Which brings me back to the time years ago when my husband and I visited Paris which was long before social media so therefore...it was absolutely delightful. No line ups, no crowds. As we were in Europe cycling and camping for a year, we stayed in a campground in the Bois de Boulogne for two weeks and did everything on a budget and on bikes. It was delightful then and I don't think I would enjoy traveling now. (But if I did revisit Paris it would be by using your guides.)
You are 100% spot on. As long as something is pretty on social media it doesn't matter how poor the inner working are, it is guaranteed to be a success. I wonder how many other people when you were there had to seek first aid and got such a pathetic experience.
Oh my gosh. Awful. So sorry Arielle! That would have made me so upset. And worse to have the rink staff brush you off and "diagnose" your hand as not broken. UH! 🙄 I'm sorry this happened to you. Having this injury is so painful and so so inconvenient. Watching how crowded the rink was gave me instant anxiety. Someone could easily get badly injured.
Surely this number of people in this space must have broken some kind of safety rule! Coming from Canada, it's shocking to see this kind of crowd on the ice at the same time. So sorry this happened to you. These First Aid attendants sound like the worst too. :(
As someone who’s never been to Paris or even France, I appreciate your perspective! I have purchased one of your itineraries to help in my planning. I want to avoid any tourist traps and come to see a more authentic experience of Paris. Thank you for all you do ❤
The story of this ridiculous event points out how important what you're doing is. I'd always rather go to some little place recommended by a local than a tourist trap. Your instincts are spot on; those people who ignored your guide and went for the "famous" spot deserved their crappy meal. 😅 Hope your poor hand heals quickly.
Very interesting content here. We just returned from a week in Paris. We loved being there at Christmas time. We did visit Galleries Lafayette to see the windows and the tree. And… got tickets to a fashion show which was very uninspiring. The crowds were thick and shopping there would not be enjoyable. But… we had to see it and it was beautiful but we spent a couple of hours there and did not go back… or purchase anything. We noticed restaurants near Notre Dame with artificial flowers all over the entrance … again likely for photo ops… and we actually did have breakfast at one of them. However, we paid attention to your restaurant recommendations and enjoyed some wonderful food. And we got into Notre Dame the morning of Dec 20 at 9 am with no tickets or lines and were awestruck at its beauty. I love your content, your conversational approach and honesty in sharing your life in Paris. So sorry about your hand… what a terrible experience…and congratulations on reaching 25,000 subscribers! Happy New Year.Keep up the good work!
Wow, this would be a lawsuit in the US and a very winnable one at that. Without any kind of threat of repercussions, no wonder they are running amok ! Merci pour le bouche-à-oreille et j'espère que votre main guérira rapidement ! 🙂
Hi Arielle, I hope you are feeling better. So sorry for you got hurt. Very sad what people do for profit, thanks for all the information. Wishing you a speedy recovery and a wonderful New Year. Continue success in 2025.
So sorry about your horrific expereince and broken hand! But please stay the course and stick to truthful reporting! That's why I chose to follow you and, in fact, going to purchase your 9th arr. guide to show support!
That's such a terrible experience :( hope u get better soon. I've been to the La défense patinoire two weeks ago and it was a pleasurable exp overall (even tough I lack the skill of skating :') ; the price was fair, wasn't super crowded and the ice was maintained properly. I've moved to Paris just recently but I've being following your videos way before that as I liked (still do) how honest and authentic you're. So now, wenever I decide to got out on the WE, I refere to your videos to not fall in some tourist traps and find some hidden gems; till now they've never disappointed me (can't say that about your friends though who decided to leave YOUR GUIDE and just follow some trends, talk about betrayal). Please keep being you and never stop posting videos which reflects how you see things, we love and appreciate your content!
We loved your recommendations in our recent visit. Don't change. Greatly enjoyed this video. We loved coming back to Paris a second time, as we had already seen the main sites on our firs visit, and were able to explore more of France, and most of Paris outside the crowded zones!
Arielle, so sorry about your hand. Wishing you a speedy recovery. ❤ Please continue with the content you share. It is what most of us are looking for and your effort is greatly appreciated. ❤️ Bonne Année 2025. 🎉
So sorry about your hand and bad experience. Thank you for the update! BTW, why don’t you clip the mic to your sweater, or put a scarf on to clip it to?
First of all, I’m so sorry that happened to you! I hope that there was a public outcry. I also hope that you heal quickly. As to your question about your business approach: I’ve been married to a Parisian forever. We live in the US, but go back and forth. I always tell people to stay away from the tourist traps. You will experience something genuine & incredibly enjoyable if you search out restaurantsoutside of the tourist areas, which is also true of less well-known attractions. The Emily in Paris approach is so false. If I didn’t have a Parisian husband as well as other friends & family to rely on, I’d definitely buy your guides. You’re doing a fabulous job, imho.
My husband and I went a couple of weeks ago and would recommend the premium pass for an additional 10 euros. That allowed for about 30 minutes of smooth skating. We left after about 45 minutes because it was quite a bit dangerous. And, yes, if possible take own skates because the ones provided are really uncomfortable.
I have experienced Instagram pollution in both Florence and Venice where I work 3 months of the year. Formerly delightful places have been ruined. For example Vivoli gelato a block from where I stay in Florence. I used to stop for one boule of gelato each evening but don’t at all any more. Why! A specific fancy coffee drink was posted on Insta a couple years ago and now there is a line “down the block” from the moment it opens to when it closes. 😢 I am in wonderful Paris for 3 weeks attending as many museums and galleries as possible! I enjoy your honesty. As I have also broken my dominant hand (and live on my own) just advise do all the PT possible. Especially since you broke it twice. Thanks for your personable and engaging work. You are a pro!!
Sorry about your injury- I see the same thing when we go to travel- the photos and brochures look awesome but when you get there its all smoke and mirrors and no substance.
Hi Arielle, I think there are both type of people…those who care for the photos only and others who want the experience. But I think there is room for both. I took some pictures of the iconic structure but I also walked over Paris and enjoy just being there…like you said so much beauty. I think is ok to offer trip schedule options with photo shoot and content in mind too. I’m sure there are many people who want that. Feel better soon.
Same thing is happening in the states for all kinds of events. We purchased expensive tickets to a Halloween in Lights event at Callaway Gardens here in Georgia. We were fully expecting room to see and enjoy, but instead were just to shuffling through pathways shoulder to shoulder. Couldn’t even eat or go to the restrooms because the lines were so long because of so few options. Venues spend all their money on flash, then skimp on safety and comfort, and they then sell as many tickets as they possibly can without any regard for the customer, but people keep going year after year. It’s just ridiculous!
How disappointing. I am so sorry that you had a horrible experience and I pray that you have speedy recovery. Like you said, you would think this event would have been handled much differently after they did such a great job with the Olympics. We watched fencing at Le Grande Palais, and there were several entrances and they handle the lines and crowds with ease. We were crossing Pont Royal last night and I was mesmerized by the lights in the Grande Palais. I think the ice skaters at the Tuileries Christmas Market had more room to skate last night. We are expats at the end of our assignment moving in 10 days. I feel lucky to have lived here and be able to experience the non-tourist things about Paris.
I totally agree with you. We had the same experience here in the USA with a Halloween in Lights event at Callaway Gardens here in the state of Georgia . Events sell way more tickets than the venue can safely and comfortably host. They make the event beautiful, but they have no focus on safety or comfort. Their focus is $$$€€€. Thousands of people waiting in line for hours for food and bathrooms and walking shoulder to shoulder for the “experience “ is just ridiculous even if the tickets were cheap. Which they aren’t! It’s a ripoff! Sad!
Paris has always placed an importance on aesthetics. That is what attracts the rest of the world to the City of Lights. But with the democratization of travel and the availability of free media platforms like TikTok almost anyone can be a content creator, a phenomenon that both intensifies the latest trends but also makes the trends more fleeting. Next summer Le Grand Palais will be forgotten in favor of the next big thing. I’m sorry that happened to you; my big takeaway from this is that Paris cannot manage ice skating rinks well. With the lack of skating experience you witnessed from other skaters, I imagine there isn’t a large enough knowledgeable public that can demand a better skating experience. The whole event sounds like a novelty.
Social media has degraded the quality of life. Life is better if you put your phones and cameras down. Talk to people, see the sights… interact. If social media continues, it won’t stop….. we have to stop.
Dear Arielle, thanks God that there are people like you who are honest in their appoach to this topic. Its truly shocking what you have reported here....I hope very much that many people will watch your video and refrain from visiting this event. I wish you a quick recovery for your hand and a happy New Year, and enjoy your time as much as possible.
Wow that sounds super disorganized and frustrating! Here in the US people would be shouting and probably rushing the doors. And no rubber covering the exterior of the rink is not protective. Sounds like trash. The company that put it on should be sued. Growing up in SoCal I don’t know anything about winter activities but the many times I’ve gone to a skate rink and took ice skating lessons there was always rubber around the rink. I’m also shocked the ice didn’t crack with the amount of people on it
this is an important video..thank you. i think that most large cities on other countries have the same problem .. i think it would be more fun. and efucational to go to smaller cities and see the history that they have.. just like you have shown us Jean’s lovely home town and george’s amazing olive grove and city in greece. that’s what’s important to me. /so thank you for those videos… sorry about your hand… take care 🌸
How awful! I can’t even imagine how many people had their holiday ruined by getting hurt there! I hope you heal very quickly! The right hand really sucks, so inconvenient and annoying. I went through that in June when I fell, broke my right wrist and had emergency surgery to put in a plate to fix it. But Jean is so caring, I bet he will wash your hair and offer lots of help yo you. Enjoy being treated like a queen👸
Sorry to hear about your painful experience! I think the "do it for the 'gram"/ tiktok perspective is exhausting and makes experiences feel more transactional for all.
So sorry you had such a horrible experience and broke your hand to boot. What terrible rink first aid. They should be ashamed of themselves. ⛸⛸ Keep your guides the way they are. Your local's perspective is the best. ❤💜🥰
you're right, grand palais skating sounds like a scam - i'm infuriated just hearing about it! To your point about places existing just for virality - we're going through the disheartening period where businesses can get away with being superficial. but i think we'll reach a saturation point and people will expect authenticity and quality again. GET WELL SOON!
Great video...totally agree with your comments they ruined a great event with greed! Too bad it looked lovely but it sounded actually unsafe! Too many people to evacuate in an emergency! Also agree to wait 2 hours for a reserved time for terrible ice not okay...hope you complain to the organizers...
So sorry for your unpleasant experience, ❤️❤️. One would believe after hosting the World , during the Summer Olympics, we as Human Beings would learn how to manage Big Crowds. Back to the drawing board‼️ Get well soon and take care of yourself ❤️🇫🇷❤️.
I think you should leave your itineraries as they are. One suggestion might be to add photo op areas to each one as a traveler might be passing them if they are close to the places in your itineraries.
Stay honest - I would much prefer to visit the authentic places/food/culture of Paris. Who really wants fake?? I love your content and am sorry you had such a poor experience. Sending hugs and healing xxx
Unreal... it looks beautiful however, as far as you were treated is not cool. So sorry this happened. Happy New Year is right around the corner for YOU:):)
That sounded like a terrible time. Yes the building is beautiful. But I hate crowds. And would have never stood in line, in the rain. The fact that you went back says a lot for you. I’m so sorry you broke your hand. I can only imagine how bad that hurt. I probably would have smacked one of the guys at first aid, with my good hand. I hope you don’t waste your money going back there again. I used to ice skate a long time ago. I remember wiping out on my stomach sliding across the ice. I was a teenager and used to go to an ice rink. I’m 65 now and can still remember that wipe out.
What a terrible story. I guess the upside is that those of us who know better can visit all the great places that are not on social media and have less tourists to deal with. We love Paris and have visited many times. This March will be our first trip in 5 years, can't wait!
Dadly, this is happening all over. I live in a Christmasy little town in the US, and I think people lise a part of their mind when it comes to visiting a place known for touriism! They cannot park, frive or even get around in their vehicles. They believe they sre the only ones one the road. They travel as if nothing exists around them , no one thought for safely crossing a street, no concern gor children or elderly. All for a silly photo op! And the photos aren't something they care about, they just want to post them! Ill be honest, really dedpise the new mentality.
Such a shame that happened to you. When I visit a place, I do enjoy seeing it from the perspective of the locals, I feel you see more that way. Don’t let this change your view! 😊❤
Hi Arielle! Happy to see you back and sorry to hear you had such a disappointing experience! Regarding the topic of people visiting Paris or certain events in the city just for the pictures, I guess this will never change especially for first timers - do you think you could put together a video or even videos about free Instagramable places you would recommend? I think this would be very beneficial to your audience while also allow you keep the separation between the content you normally produce and the kind of content that may be more "viral"
I checked and saw many horrible reviews about this ice-rink event on google map of the Grand Palais. But it’s about the organization,right? I wonder whether the place itself is worth any visit without the ice-rink?
I agree that the “experience” should be the goal vs the “photo op!” Please don’t redo your guides based on some rude/unappreciative “friends.” As far as I am concerned, they got the meal they deserved!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽. Praying for your speedy recovery chica!🙏🏽🤗
I can’t agree with you more about this analysis of Paris. I’ve been to Paris many times, even visiting twice this year. I’ve always loved the city, but this year it was so commercial, soulless and unoriginal. And yes, I had to stand in line for everything. And I was not in Paris these last two times during peak tourist season like June, July or Christmas time.
Bonjour. Sounds like a company rented the Grand Palais to make maximum profit with minimum effort. I wonder how much the insurance cost per ticket. Was this a week long event only? Get well soon.
Sounds like you should follow the old saying: "Nobody goes there anymore, it's way too crowded!" 😂 Venice and many other places are very much the same situation these days.
This was a money-making scam. I am surprised that you did not expect the crowds. Every beautiful building in Paris has major lines. I am very sorry you broke your hand.
That experience looks terrible, I wonder the extent of legal responsibility the organizer holds. Very poorly planned. Personally I very much enjoyed when I visited Place du Terte and also Giverny. I would never visit Eiffel Tower or Versailles or Louvre again. I suppose best to just provide people information based on your experience and they will decide for themselves.
I'm actually surprised by this. France is a bit of a joke around the world when it comes to striking. I've heard many times, 'oh the French fart and they'll go on strike'. Striking is something I support because it's usually a principled thing to do. So for the French to have such disregard to Health and Safety and false advertising is quite surprising to me for a nation that I thought was still very principled.
YES. It is so frustrating seeing so many people not actually experiencing Paris. Running from spot to spot in their evening gowns to get photo ops. If it's not content creators, it's the poor people who follow these creators who have huge expectations, and are let down. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Paris. Love it. But I always tell people, go with no expectations. Just go, wander, and don't expect a thing. Paris is, IMO, the most incredible city, but people there just for the photo ops are making it a bit frustrating. *Also... watching this as a Canadian... No rubber!?! 😬😳🙈
I’m sorry you broke your hand. If you would be in the United States, you would definitely have a lawsuit.. I’m assuming it’s not like that in France? I’m really glad that I am older and I don’t fall for these social media traps. I actually like to go to places that are not crowded. That’s why we usually travel to Europe in the winter.
Mmmmh ça sentait l’attrape-nigaud, ça se confirme… Désolé pour ça. Les événements trop marketés et trop branchés sont souvent décevants, mais là j’avoue ils ont fait fort dans la nullité. Les fausses affirmations du genre « plus grand xxx d’europe/monde » sont un grand classique aussi. Je connais au moins deux villes françaises qui ont « la plus grand place d’Europe » 😅.
I think it's the organisers' fault but the tourists as well should make an effort, do some research and demand more (which is usually less people). I was in Paris on a week trip with my family a month ago. Watched a lot of your brilliant videos and read a lot before, always was interested in French culture, unfortunately they were interested in following tiktok and going where there was most people, believing that it means it's the best. So we had to go the Eiffel Tower ('it's the biggest symbol of Paris') where the experience with the security guards (after losing a bag) was more or less like your experience with the first aiders. Thankfully, I managed to get them to Bouillon Pigalle (after your recommendation) and we had the best meal ever. After having some tiktok meals, which were pretty to look at (at Bistro Victoire) but totally inedible. Many thanks for your videos. And please upload more of such kind. I also love the historical guides through the arrondissements.
You have it RIGHT! I used your return to Paris on my last trip. I am 66 years old and I loved it. It was a perfect two days. Just keep doing what you are doing. It is perfect!
Living in Paris, I can confirm that I ended up feeling the same way that you did on some events. The lines are really unacceptable and sometimes the activity is not enjoyable or worth it, because it is too crowded. I take ballet classes regularly and it happens a lot that you would find yourself sharing a barre with 6 people and when it comes to the center, you cannot even see what the teacher is showing, because the studio is so crowded. (30 + people ) For your exercises in the center you really need to fight for your space and have to concentrate not being hit by others who have less control over their movements, although I attend intermediate to advanced classes. At some point, you get used to it and most of the other participants come in on a regular basis, so they already know the drill. If it comes to these 'insta-events' like concerts, or the Grand Palais events, you really want to avoid these places, as they very often turn out to be a scam of some sort. Sorry to hear about your bad experience with the 'first aid team' LOL . I can literally see these guys in front of my eyes, scrolling through their phones and having a good talk why you are suffering an injury. This clearly happened due to negligence on the organiser's part. . Welcome to Paris :-))) on the other hand Paris still has its secret places where you can enjoy wonderful moments every single day.
as a Parisian born in Paris, and like many Parisian people, I don't frequent often the big touristic places in West Paris, but mostly less touristic places in East Paris. When I was younger it was Rive droite and Rive gauche (of the Seine) but now it is more about West and East.
You can go to the Père Lachaise Cemetery, it is free, very green , beautiful, and not so crowded (a lot of famous people are buried there, Jim Morrison of course, Oscar Wilde, and many French celebrities ....), also the Montmartre cemetery is charming ..... and it is not sad at all ...
i live in NYC and these kind of "events" are rampant. the 'tiktokification' of NYC has been so maddening
Thanks for denouncing this scam, it is very wrong to get complacent with such deceitful events. I’ve been once to Paris and it was definitely overwhelming. I will be using your guide during my next trip.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and a happy new year.
What a horrible experience. You must be saint to wait in that long line twice. So sorry about your broken hand. Thank you for all the wonderful information you always offer. Take care of yourself. Happy New Year💫
I thought it was just me thinking this! We live just outside of Paris, close to the Versailles Palace. My sister and her husband are visiting us and we thought it would be nice to take them to see the Versailles Palace. It was so busy and packed. It was not a very nice experience because people kept bumping into us and I felt like a sardine being squished into a tin...
The same thing happened in Paris when we saw the Cathedral de Notre Dame de Paris. There were lines and lines of people waiting to go inside... We didn't buy tickets to go see the inside of the Cathedrale but it was just ridiculous how many people were waiting in lines to go inside...
We did however buy tickets online to see the Versailles and it boggles my mind why they sell so many tickets and allow so many people to enter the palace all at the same time, it is seriously a safety risk...
I had the same experience at Versailles!! It was the middle of summer and was EXTREMELY hot and crowded. There was barely any space to move. While the palace was gorgeous, I was shocked at how poor the experience was--truly a safety hazard.
@@adriannalwI’m going in June because my grandson request it. I’ve visited Paris three times and never had any interest. I expect to be miserable.
Wow, how dissappointing! I was so looking forward to hearing about this, I saw ads years ago and have been wanting to experience this. I am a former competitive figure skater and this sounds so dangerous, this would never happen in the U.S. and I imagine not in Canada either. This is complete negligence and putting the public at unneccessary risk. I hope they see your video and make adjustments for next year (if they plan to continue annually). As an example, 2018, I volunteered for the Skate America competition held at the Orleans Sport center in Las Vegas. This center was turned into an Olympic sized rink, complete with rubber matts (even though skaters wear guards) everywhere. Most times this is a basketball court but they have hockey tournaments there too from time to time. There really is no excuse. I am sorry about your accident, I hope you heal well and congratulations on (almost) getting to 25,000 subscribers. Keep going, your content and personality is wonderful!
OMG, firstly I’m so sorry about your hand. 😢 Sending good vibes for a speedy recovery. I’m also sorry to hear about that awful experience. Watching your video made me very anxious, as you continued to tell your story, I became more and more stressed. I hate crowds and so just the thought of all those people on top of each other trying to skate was giving me hives. 😩
I agree with what you’ve said about aesthetically pleasing over quality. Last year, I went to this cafe/breakfast spot in Notting Hill in London as my friend saw it on Tik Tok. We had to line up, surprise surprise. When we finally got in and got our food, we were very disappointed to say the least. And the food we got was not ‘complicated’, as in, we ordered coffee, some cake and my friend got eggs, worst eggs I’ve ever seen and tasted. 🤢 When we left, there was still a long line of people outside. All because the cafe was ‘cute’.
It’s quite frustrating. If I am lining up for food, it better be good! Not just look good, but most importantly taste good. Everywhere there’s a line. If the place remotely looks cute or kitschy, you can bet there will be a line cause it’s been promoted on social media. 🙄
Sorry for the long comment. Thank you for your channel. Whenever I go to Paris, I try go where locals go. Crowds in Paris are unavoidable of course but being aware of where to go, to places recommended by people like yourself, who care about the QUALITY, makes travelling less stressful so again, thank you! 🙏🏼🥰
Thank you for sharing your experience. So sorry to see that you’ve hurt your hand again. Fellow Canadian here; Hubby and I moving to France in early 2026. Really enjoying you and the effort you put into your content. You are a lovely person, Arielle and you are greatly appreciated! All the best to You and Jean in 2025!!!
Stay true to yourself, Arielle. I am also from Toronto and when I saw the lineup to go "skating" I thought "Nope, this is not going to be good." The solution is exactly what you said...sell tickets for one hour skates with a Zamboni time in between. So sorry about your hand. Clearly those in the first aid room were not health care professionals. My son and his family just recently spent a week in Paris and I had sent him a link to your videos prior to their trip and they took some valuable tips from them. They did book a private tour (which is geared to young children) of the Louvre and they thoroughly enjoyed that. They sent me a photo of them viewing the Mona Lisa and there were not many people there at all. Which brings me back to the time years ago when my husband and I visited Paris which was long before social media so therefore...it was absolutely delightful. No line ups, no crowds. As we were in Europe cycling and camping for a year, we stayed in a campground in the Bois de Boulogne for two weeks and did everything on a budget and on bikes. It was delightful then and I don't think I would enjoy traveling now. (But if I did revisit Paris it would be by using your guides.)
You are 100% spot on. As long as something is pretty on social media it doesn't matter how poor the inner working are, it is guaranteed to be a success. I wonder how many other people when you were there had to seek first aid and got such a pathetic experience.
SO SORRY THAT YOU WERE PUT THROUGH THIS!!!!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!
FEEL BETTER SOON!!!!
SENDING ❤ AND BEST WISHES!!!!!
you articulated the feelings I've been having so well!! hope your hand heals quickly. :)
This sounds absolutely insane. Hope you have a speedy hand recovery.
Oh my gosh. Awful. So sorry Arielle! That would have made me so upset. And worse to have the rink staff brush you off and "diagnose" your hand as not broken. UH! 🙄 I'm sorry this happened to you. Having this injury is so painful and so so inconvenient. Watching how crowded the rink was gave me instant anxiety. Someone could easily get badly injured.
Surely this number of people in this space must have broken some kind of safety rule! Coming from Canada, it's shocking to see this kind of crowd on the ice at the same time. So sorry this happened to you. These First Aid attendants sound like the worst too. :(
Keep doing what you are doing! The whole tourist aesthetic is so antithetical to a good experience. I love all of your local advice.
As someone who’s never been to Paris or even France, I appreciate your perspective! I have purchased one of your itineraries to help in my planning. I want to avoid any tourist traps and come to see a more authentic experience of Paris. Thank you for all you do ❤
You don’t have to go to Paris. Paris is the very small capital of a huge country.
Thank you. Hope your hand heals well soon. Happy New Year!!
That sucks that they let an event be as dangerous as it was and then not care when people got hurt
So sorry about your hand. I enjoy your content because the way you present it
The story of this ridiculous event points out how important what you're doing is. I'd always rather go to some little place recommended by a local than a tourist trap. Your instincts are spot on; those people who ignored your guide and went for the "famous" spot deserved their crappy meal. 😅 Hope your poor hand heals quickly.
Very interesting content here. We just returned from a week in Paris. We loved being there at Christmas time. We did visit Galleries Lafayette to see the windows and the tree. And… got tickets to a fashion show which was very uninspiring. The crowds were thick and shopping there would not be enjoyable. But… we had to see it and it was beautiful but we spent a couple of hours there and did not go back… or purchase anything. We noticed restaurants near Notre Dame with artificial flowers all over the entrance … again likely for photo ops… and we actually did have breakfast at one of them.
However, we paid attention to your restaurant recommendations and enjoyed some wonderful food. And we got into Notre Dame the morning of Dec 20 at 9 am with no tickets or lines and were awestruck at its beauty.
I love your content, your conversational approach and honesty in sharing your life in Paris. So sorry about your hand… what a terrible experience…and congratulations on reaching 25,000 subscribers! Happy New Year.Keep up the good work!
Dont change your guide it’s perfect. I have been going to Paris since 1972 seeng your take is spot on. Great video
Wow, this would be a lawsuit in the US and a very winnable one at that. Without any kind of threat of repercussions, no wonder they are running amok ! Merci pour le bouche-à-oreille et j'espère que votre main guérira rapidement ! 🙂
Hi Arielle, I hope you are feeling better. So sorry for you got hurt. Very sad what people do for profit, thanks for all the information. Wishing you a speedy recovery and a wonderful New Year. Continue success in 2025.
So sorry about your horrific expereince and broken hand! But please stay the course and stick to truthful reporting! That's why I chose to follow you and, in fact, going to purchase your 9th arr. guide to show support!
So well presented ❤️
Thank you 🌟
Wishing you and Jean a wonderful New Year , filled with little spaces of joy and giggles and happiness ✨✨✨💕🧚♀️🧚♂️💕💫
It’s so refreshing that you actually have a such a truthful view and suggestions Thanks for being you ❣️Happy New Yeay
That's such a terrible experience :( hope u get better soon. I've been to the La défense patinoire two weeks ago and it was a pleasurable exp overall (even tough I lack the skill of skating :') ; the price was fair, wasn't super crowded and the ice was maintained properly. I've moved to Paris just recently but I've being following your videos way before that as I liked (still do) how honest and authentic you're. So now, wenever I decide to got out on the WE, I refere to your videos to not fall in some tourist traps and find some hidden gems; till now they've never disappointed me (can't say that about your friends though who decided to leave YOUR GUIDE and just follow some trends, talk about betrayal). Please keep being you and never stop posting videos which reflects how you see things, we love and appreciate your content!
We loved your recommendations in our recent visit. Don't change. Greatly enjoyed this video. We loved coming back to Paris a second time, as we had already seen the main sites on our firs visit, and were able to explore more of France, and most of Paris outside the crowded zones!
This was ridiculous! Hard to believe you had to experience such a pricey pain! So sorry.
What a horrible disappointing experience. I hope your hand heals quickly. Love your content!
Arielle, so sorry about your hand. Wishing you a speedy recovery. ❤ Please continue with the content you share. It is what most of us are looking for and your effort is greatly appreciated. ❤️ Bonne Année 2025. 🎉
Hope you heal soon! Excellent video!
So sorry about your hand and bad experience. Thank you for the update! BTW, why don’t you clip the mic to your sweater, or put a scarf on to clip it to?
What a nightmare! I'm so sorry you went through that.
First of all, I’m so sorry that happened to you! I hope that there was a public outcry. I also hope that you heal quickly.
As to your question about your business approach:
I’ve been married to a Parisian forever. We live in the US, but go back and forth.
I always tell people to stay away from the tourist traps. You will experience something genuine & incredibly enjoyable if you search out restaurantsoutside of the tourist areas, which is also true of less well-known attractions. The Emily in Paris approach is so false. If I didn’t have a Parisian husband as well as other friends & family to rely on, I’d definitely buy your guides.
You’re doing a fabulous job, imho.
The Grand Palais seems to be able to get hundreds of people in for fashion shows through multiple doors?! 2 hours is insane.
I also really appreciate you saying all of this! I go crazy when I see people who went there for three days and somehow know all the best places.
My husband and I went a couple of weeks ago and would recommend the premium pass for an additional 10 euros. That allowed for about 30 minutes of smooth skating. We left after about 45 minutes because it was quite a bit dangerous. And, yes, if possible take own skates because the ones provided are really uncomfortable.
great video, thanks for that!
I have experienced Instagram pollution in both Florence and Venice where I work 3 months of the year. Formerly delightful places have been ruined. For example Vivoli gelato a block from where I stay in Florence. I used to stop for one boule of gelato each evening but don’t at all any more. Why! A specific fancy coffee drink was posted on Insta a couple years ago and now there is a line “down the block” from the moment it opens to when it closes. 😢 I am in wonderful Paris for 3 weeks attending as many museums and galleries as possible! I enjoy your honesty. As I have also broken my dominant hand (and live on my own) just advise do all the PT possible. Especially since you broke it twice. Thanks for your personable and engaging work. You are a pro!!
Sorry about your injury- I see the same thing when we go to travel- the photos and brochures look awesome but when you get there its all smoke and mirrors and no substance.
Hi Arielle, I think there are both type of people…those who care for the photos only and others who want the experience. But I think there is room for both. I took some pictures of the iconic structure but I also walked over Paris and enjoy just being there…like you said so much beauty. I think is ok to offer trip schedule options with photo shoot and content in mind too. I’m sure there are many people who want that. Feel better soon.
Thank you for this info. It's shameful how you were treated when you broke your hand. I think I would have created a scene if I was treated that way.
Don't follow the crowd is our motto. We prefer the authentic local experience like you. Feel better thanks for sharing.
Wow! In the states you would be able to sue the event organizers.
Same thing is happening in the states for all kinds of events. We purchased expensive tickets to a Halloween in Lights event at Callaway Gardens here in Georgia. We were fully expecting room to see and enjoy, but instead were just to shuffling through pathways shoulder to shoulder. Couldn’t even eat or go to the restrooms because the lines were so long because of so few options. Venues spend all their money on flash, then skimp on safety and comfort, and they then sell as many tickets as they possibly can without any regard for the customer, but people keep going year after year. It’s just ridiculous!
Not true…it is happening in America as well even with “Disney” events.
This is not the US. Welcome to the city of Paris.
How disappointing. I am so sorry that you had a horrible experience and I pray that you have speedy recovery. Like you said, you would think this event would have been handled much differently after they did such a great job with the Olympics. We watched fencing at Le Grande Palais, and there were several entrances and they handle the lines and crowds with ease. We were crossing Pont Royal last night and I was mesmerized by the lights in the Grande Palais. I think the ice skaters at the Tuileries Christmas Market had more room to skate last night. We are expats at the end of our assignment moving in 10 days. I feel lucky to have lived here and be able to experience the non-tourist things about Paris.
I totally agree with you. We had the same experience here in the USA with a Halloween in Lights event at Callaway Gardens here in the state of Georgia . Events sell way more tickets than the venue can safely and comfortably host. They make the event beautiful, but they have no focus on safety or comfort. Their focus is $$$€€€. Thousands of people waiting in line for hours for food and bathrooms and walking shoulder to shoulder for the “experience “ is just ridiculous even if the tickets were cheap. Which they aren’t! It’s a ripoff! Sad!
It looks utterly ridiculous and unenjoyable
I was in Paris for the first time in October 2024. Your videos helped immensely! I hope your hand heals quickly.!
You’re on point!
Paris has always placed an importance on aesthetics. That is what attracts the rest of the world to the City of Lights. But with the democratization of travel and the availability of free media platforms like TikTok almost anyone can be a content creator, a phenomenon that both intensifies the latest trends but also makes the trends more fleeting. Next summer Le Grand Palais will be forgotten in favor of the next big thing.
I’m sorry that happened to you; my big takeaway from this is that Paris cannot manage ice skating rinks well. With the lack of skating experience you witnessed from other skaters, I imagine there isn’t a large enough knowledgeable public that can demand a better skating experience. The whole event sounds like a novelty.
Social media has degraded the quality of life. Life is better if you put your phones and cameras down. Talk to people, see the sights… interact. If social media continues, it won’t stop….. we have to stop.
Dear Arielle,
thanks God that there are people like you who are honest in their appoach to this topic.
Its truly shocking what you have reported here....I hope very much that many people will watch your video and refrain from visiting this event.
I wish you a quick recovery for your hand and a happy New Year, and enjoy your time as much as possible.
Wow that sounds super disorganized and frustrating! Here in the US people would be shouting and probably rushing the doors. And no rubber covering the exterior of the rink is not protective. Sounds like trash. The company that put it on should be sued. Growing up in SoCal I don’t know anything about winter activities but the many times I’ve gone to a skate rink and took ice skating lessons there was always rubber around the rink. I’m also shocked the ice didn’t crack with the amount of people on it
this is an important video..thank you. i think that most large cities on other countries have the same problem .. i think it would be more fun. and efucational to go to smaller cities and see the history that they have.. just like you have shown us Jean’s lovely home town and george’s amazing olive grove and city in greece. that’s what’s important to me. /so thank you for those videos… sorry about your hand… take care 🌸
How awful! I can’t even imagine how many people had their holiday ruined by getting hurt there! I hope you heal very quickly! The right hand really sucks, so inconvenient and annoying. I went through that in June when I fell, broke my right wrist and had emergency surgery to put in a plate to fix it. But Jean is so caring, I bet he will wash your hair and offer lots of help yo you. Enjoy being treated like a queen👸
Sorry to hear about your painful experience! I think the "do it for the 'gram"/ tiktok perspective is exhausting and makes experiences feel more transactional for all.
So sorry you had such a horrible experience and broke your hand to boot. What terrible rink first aid. They should be ashamed of themselves. ⛸⛸
Keep your guides the way they are. Your local's perspective is the best. ❤💜🥰
you're right, grand palais skating sounds like a scam - i'm infuriated just hearing about it! To your point about places existing just for virality - we're going through the disheartening period where businesses can get away with being superficial. but i think we'll reach a saturation point and people will expect authenticity and quality again. GET WELL SOON!
Very astute comments. Thank you.
Great video...totally agree with your comments they ruined a great event with greed! Too bad it looked lovely but it sounded actually unsafe! Too many people to evacuate in an emergency! Also agree to wait 2 hours for a reserved time for terrible ice not okay...hope you complain to the organizers...
FEEL BETTER SOON!!!!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MAY THE NEW YEAR BRING YOU GREAT BLESSINGS!!!!!
So sorry for your unpleasant experience, ❤️❤️.
One would believe after hosting the World , during the Summer Olympics, we as Human Beings would learn how to manage Big Crowds. Back to the drawing board‼️
Get well soon and take care of yourself ❤️🇫🇷❤️.
I think you should leave your itineraries as they are. One suggestion might be to add photo op areas to each one as a traveler might be passing them if they are close to the places in your itineraries.
Stay honest - I would much prefer to visit the authentic places/food/culture of Paris. Who really wants fake?? I love your content and am sorry you had such a poor experience. Sending hugs and healing xxx
Unreal... it looks beautiful however, as far as you were treated is not cool. So sorry this happened. Happy New Year is right around the corner for YOU:):)
That sounded like a terrible time. Yes the building is beautiful. But I hate crowds. And would have never stood in line, in the rain. The fact that you went back says a lot for you. I’m so sorry you broke your hand. I can only imagine how bad that hurt. I probably would have smacked one of the guys at first aid, with my good hand. I hope you don’t waste your money going back there again. I used to ice skate a long time ago. I remember wiping out on my stomach sliding across the ice. I was a teenager and used to go to an ice rink. I’m 65 now and can still remember that wipe out.
Really sorry that you have such a horrible experience. I skated there in 2019, it was a different experience back then.
Just wondering: what are the other options for ice skating in Paris that are much more enjoyable (and less expensive)?
What a terrible story. I guess the upside is that those of us who know better can visit all the great places that are not on social media and have less tourists to deal with. We love Paris and have visited many times. This March will be our first trip in 5 years, can't wait!
Dadly, this is happening all over. I live in a Christmasy little town in the US, and I think people lise a part of their mind when it comes to visiting a place known for touriism! They cannot park, frive or even get around in their vehicles. They believe they sre the only ones one the road. They travel as if nothing exists around them , no one thought for safely crossing a street, no concern gor children or elderly. All for a silly photo op! And the photos aren't something they care about, they just want to post them! Ill be honest, really dedpise the new mentality.
Such a shame that happened to you. When I visit a place, I do enjoy seeing it from the perspective of the locals, I feel you see more that way. Don’t let this change your view! 😊❤
Hi Arielle! Happy to see you back and sorry to hear you had such a disappointing experience! Regarding the topic of people visiting Paris or certain events in the city just for the pictures, I guess this will never change especially for first timers - do you think you could put together a video or even videos about free Instagramable places you would recommend? I think this would be very beneficial to your audience while also allow you keep the separation between the content you normally produce and the kind of content that may be more "viral"
Wouldn't making a list of Instagrammable spots contribute to the problem she's addressing?
I checked and saw many horrible reviews about this ice-rink event on google map of the Grand Palais. But it’s about the organization,right? I wonder whether the place itself is worth any visit without the ice-rink?
I think with Paris as a popular destination, its bound to happen....I hope you get better soon! Bonne Sante!
You should send an X-ray of your broken hand to that first aide office.
Montmartre is stressful because of the risk of pickpockets, too.
Hard copy paper guides are hard to cart around. What about a QR code link to an online version of your guide that makes it more accessible on a phone
I agree that the “experience” should be the goal vs the “photo op!” Please don’t redo your guides based on some rude/unappreciative “friends.” As far as I am concerned, they got the meal they deserved!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽. Praying for your speedy recovery chica!🙏🏽🤗
Worst meal I ever ate in Paris was in Place de Terre
I can’t agree with you more about this analysis of Paris. I’ve been to Paris many times, even visiting twice this year. I’ve always loved the city, but this year it was so commercial, soulless and unoriginal. And yes, I had to stand in line for everything. And I was not in Paris these last two times during peak tourist season like June, July or Christmas time.
Yeah Paris not Paris anymore. Something is different.
Bonjour. Sounds like a company rented the Grand Palais to make maximum profit with minimum effort. I wonder how much the insurance cost per ticket. Was this a week long event only? Get well soon.
Sounds like you should follow the old saying: "Nobody goes there anymore, it's way too crowded!" 😂
Venice and many other places are very much the same situation these days.
As a Canadian, this must have been so offensive and the callous way you were treated! Your SM observations very prescient.
This was a money-making scam. I am surprised that you did not expect the crowds. Every beautiful building in Paris has major lines. I am very sorry you broke your hand.
So sorry for your accident and horrible experience at the ice rink. Wishes for speedy healing and a better 2025.
That experience looks terrible, I wonder the extent of legal responsibility the organizer holds. Very poorly planned. Personally I very much enjoyed when I visited Place du Terte and also Giverny. I would never visit Eiffel Tower or Versailles or Louvre again. I suppose best to just provide people information based on your experience and they will decide for themselves.
Such a terrible experience. Definitely not the Rideau canal ice skating (which is amazing), so sad for the experience and your broken hand, Arielle.
Hope your hand heals quickly!
I'm actually surprised by this. France is a bit of a joke around the world when it comes to striking. I've heard many times, 'oh the French fart and they'll go on strike'. Striking is something I support because it's usually a principled thing to do. So for the French to have such disregard to Health and Safety and false advertising is quite surprising to me for a nation that I thought was still very principled.
YES. It is so frustrating seeing so many people not actually experiencing Paris. Running from spot to spot in their evening gowns to get photo ops. If it's not content creators, it's the poor people who follow these creators who have huge expectations, and are let down.
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Paris. Love it. But I always tell people, go with no expectations. Just go, wander, and don't expect a thing.
Paris is, IMO, the most incredible city, but people there just for the photo ops are making it a bit frustrating.
*Also... watching this as a Canadian... No rubber!?! 😬😳🙈
You should have gone to the ice rink of La Defense or Parc André Citroen : fewer people, more place to skate and less expensive 😉
Bonne annee Arielle et Jean
I’m sorry you broke your hand. If you would be in the United States, you would definitely have a lawsuit.. I’m assuming it’s not like that in France? I’m really glad that I am older and I don’t fall for these social media traps. I actually like to go to places that are not crowded. That’s why we usually travel to Europe in the winter.
Mmmmh ça sentait l’attrape-nigaud, ça se confirme…
Désolé pour ça. Les événements trop marketés et trop branchés sont souvent décevants, mais là j’avoue ils ont fait fort dans la nullité.
Les fausses affirmations du genre « plus grand xxx d’europe/monde » sont un grand classique aussi. Je connais au moins deux villes françaises qui ont « la plus grand place d’Europe » 😅.
I think it's the organisers' fault but the tourists as well should make an effort, do some research and demand more (which is usually less people). I was in Paris on a week trip with my family a month ago. Watched a lot of your brilliant videos and read a lot before, always was interested in French culture, unfortunately they were interested in following tiktok and going where there was most people, believing that it means it's the best. So we had to go the Eiffel Tower ('it's the biggest symbol of Paris') where the experience with the security guards (after losing a bag) was more or less like your experience with the first aiders. Thankfully, I managed to get them to Bouillon Pigalle (after your recommendation) and we had the best meal ever. After having some tiktok meals, which were pretty to look at (at Bistro Victoire) but totally inedible. Many thanks for your videos. And please upload more of such kind. I also love the historical guides through the arrondissements.
And you had the option to not use those tickets! Sometimes it is better just to walk away…you are young.
Bet you had line crashers ahead of you.