After leaving Switzerland, we arrive in Paris, France.
Paris Day 1 – check in and chillax
As we do not have any activities for the night in Paris, we just check in and explore the surrounding area.
Paris Accommodation 1 – Airbnb
Pros
- friendly host
- clean room
- clean bathroom
- near to Metro station (around 5-10 minutes walk)
Cons
- cannot cook (not even microwave)
- stairs only (the host help to bring our largest luggage up lol)
Price: RM319.84 for 1 night
You can take a look at the listing here.
By the way, I recommend getting a Navigo Easy Travel Card at the train stations. You can purchase tickets via the Île-de-France Mobilités app and then upload the ticket to the card via NFC. However, during our visit, the NFC function is only applicable for Android phones.
And depending on your itinerary, you can consider getting the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass.
Paris Day 2 – Disneyland Paris
For the tickets that you buy in Île-de-France Mobilités app, it is only applicable for Zone 1 rides. However, Disneyland Paris is in Zone 5. Therefore, we purchase the ticket at the ticketing counter which we then take the train from Jaures to Nation. And then from Nation to Marne-La-Vallée Chessy via the RER-A line. However, please take note of the station at the information board as the same line also goes to Boissy-Saint-Léger.
We purchased the package directly from the Disneyland Paris website to get access to both parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park) + accommodation. We feel that the package price is worth it’s value and most importantly the convenience. Disneyland Paris is the final station of the line and it will take around 45 minutes 1 way to the town which is time wasting. Therefore, we recommend to get the package.
In addition, we also top up for Disney express hotel check-in & luggage service. With this, you can drop your luggage at the check-in counter at Marne-La-Vallée Chessy station and enjoy the parks immediately.
Before heading back to our hotel, we eat at The Royal Pub at Disney Village:
Paris Accommodation 2 – Disney Newport Bay Club
If you are staying at any of the Disney hotels below, you’ll get free shuttle to and fro Disneyland Paris.
Pros
- clean big room
- private bathroom with bathtub
- near to Disneyland Paris (around 5-10 minutes bus ride)
Cons
- 2 separate beds instead of 1 queen/king size bed
You can check out their other hotels here.
Paris Day 3 – scary experience
Before heading to the park, we leave our luggage at the hotel’s luggage storage area instead of using the luggage service that we have bought. This is because we want to watch Magic Over Disney which is only available on certain dates in January and November. And just nice one of the day of Magic Over Disney is our final day in Disneyland Paris. However, if you use the luggage service, you will have to retrieve your luggage before 9pm. But it will be impossible for us as Magic Over Disney will end at 9pm.
The Scary Encounter
After watching Magic Over Disney and Disney Dreams, we head back to the hotel to get our luggage. When we reached Marne-La-Vallée Chessy station, it was very quiet as most of the people has left. Out of nowhere, a guy starts following us. He has this Gollum from Lord of the Rings look and he keeps glaring at us. We quickly move to a group of 3 people and sit together with them while waiting for the train. It’s really scary as he just keep circling around us while continuously looking at us.
When the train comes, we have a headache. This is because the train has 3 levels. We can either stay on the same level as the platform or go up 1 level above or head down 1 level below. While we are making a decision, he keeps walking up and down the stairs, but keeping his sight at us.
Luckily, there were more people boarding and we quickly bring our luggage down 1 level. And just nice there are only 2 seats left and we quickly take it. But he doesn’t give up, he still walks past us a few times, while never a moment looking away from us. Not long after, the train departs and he sits at the top level behind us which he has sight over us as I can see his reflection from the window. My wife brings out our camera stick and I’m ready to fight him if he does anything. The whole journey was very unpleasant as we are constantly in a fight-or-flight mode.
Just before arriving at our station, we quickly move our luggage to the other end and exit from there. Luckily he didn’t follow us as I think he left the train at some earlier station.
Paris Accommodation 3 – Hotel Luna Park
We didn’t take any photos of the hotel except the 1 photo below which is the stairs we take everyday there. You can take a look at the listing here.
Pros
- near to Metro station (around 5-1o minutes walk)
- has private bathroom
Cons
- cannot cook (no microwave)
- narrow and long stairs
Price: RM1232.57 for 3 nights/ RM410.86 for 1 night for 2 pax
Paris Day 4 – Lourve Museum, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe
For the remaining days in Paris, we just go to the famous tourist attractions and finding food.
For your information, the Eiffel Tower will sparkle every evening for 5 minutes every hour on the hour when the night falls. One of the nice spot to take photos or videos of Eiffel Tower is from Trocadéro Gardens.
Paris Day 5 – Food Hunting
We have been craving for Chinese food and we found 1 while exploring the town:
Paris Day 6 – Tax refund
The next morning, we head to Gare du Nord to take the Eurostar to London.
You can do the tax refund at Gare du Nord if you are leaving European Union (EU) countries. In our case, as UK is no longer part of EU, we have to do our tax refund before leaving.
If you purchase items worth 100.01 Euro and above, you will receive tax refund of around 12%. However, do check with the store as not all stores provide tax refund. In our case, we receive a form as below from the store which is handled by Planet Tax Free. If you would like to use other companies such as Wevat or Airvat, do inform them and follow the steps in the website accordingly.
Once at Gare du Nord, you will see PABLO Kiosks as below. Just scan the barcode of the form and make sure the screen turns green with a smiley face. If it appears red, get help from the officers nearby. We got our refund back around 2 weeks. You can also track your refund for Planet Tax Free here.
London Day 1 – ArcelorMittal Orbit
After checking in at Berjaya Eden Park London Hotel, we head to ArcelorMittal Orbit where we do the slide which we purchase the ticket from the official website.
They used to sell videos of you sliding down the tower but it’s no longer available. But you can ‘feel’ the ride from this IG reel here.
After the fun thrilling slide, we go to Poppie’s Fish & Chips for our dinner.
I ordered a jellied eel to try it out but boy, what a bad mistake that I made. The fishy taste is really strong and I don’t like the texture. As much as I tried to force myself to finish it, I couldn’t finish the last piece of eel as it’s getting warmer and the smell getting stronger. Order it at your own risk, but who knows, maybe you’ll like it.
After our dinner, we walk around town to see the Christmas decorations and also visiting the Chinatown.
London Day 2 – typical tourist
The next day, we check out the main tourist attractions – Borough Market, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and London Eye.
If you watched Uncle Roger’s video, you will know the shop below:
Below are the food that we tried and they are all really good which you can also check them out when you are in Borough Market.
After the good meal at Borough Market, we head over to Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and London Eye.
At night, we take the night flight of Singapore Airlines to Singapore.
Singapore Day 1 – check in and rest
After reaching Singapore and doing some lounge hopping, we check in at Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy. I bought the Accor Plus – Explorer Pass membership where you’ll get 2 complimentary night stay at Accor brand hotels. I wanted to stay at either Swissôtel The Stamford or Fairmont Singapore but both are not available on our days in Singapore.
Singapore Day 2 – Marina Bay Sands
The next day we head over to Marina Bay Sands. If you hold a Mastercard World or Mastercard World Elite, you can get a complimentary Sands Lifestyle – Elite tier membership 3 months upgrade which comes with a lot of benefits such as:
- 6 complimentary tickets per month to SkyPark Observation Deck, Sampan Rides, and Digital Light Canvas
- 2 complimentary all-access tickets per month to ArtScience Museum
The promo will end on 30 Jun 2025 which you can read about it here.
Firstly, we check out the Dior Christmas tree and the casino.
After that, using the Marina Bay Sands app, we get our complimentary tickets thanks to the Elite tier membership free upgrade.
Last but not least, a must-take photo of the HSBC Rain Vortex Jewel Changi before heading back to Malaysia.
Please feel free to share your travel experience to Paris, London, and Singapore in the comments section below.
