A Weekend Mini Break to Paris with Olympus
A Weekend Mini Break to Paris with Olympus
Where? Le Marais, Paris, France.
Exactly? We stayed at Le Pavillon de la Reine a stunning Parisian boutique hotel in the heart of Le Marais. It’s part of The Small Luxury Hotels Group.
When? April 17, travelling on Eurostar Business Premier, more on that later.
Why? I love Paris in the spring, it’s a photographer’s dream destination, especially on crisp, sunny mornings which we had plenty of on this trip. I regularly get asked what camera I use to take the photos on my blog and the answer to this is an Olympus Pen camera. I’m a huge fan of them already, so when Olympus asked me and my best blogger friend, Lorna Luxe to come to Paris to try out the new 30mm Macro lens, I was thrilled. Add to that my buddy and photographer Jay McClaughlin would be photographing us and teaching us how to use the new lens during our trip. It could only be a win win situation!
Here’s my photo diary of our weekend mini break to Paris with Olympus…
Feeling romantic on my Juliet balcony at the Pavillon de la Reine hotel & Spa, wearing a Zimmerman playsuit.
Where we stayed?
Set in one of the oldest and most beautiful squares in Paris, Le Pavillon de la Reine Hotel and Spa is a quintessentially Parisian boutique hotel. Accessed through a discreet pretty archway off the Place des Vosages, entering the spectacular foliage filled courtyard is a like discovering a hidden oasis of calm, set just off the main square filled with stylish galleries, boutiques and cafes.
Built in in 17th century by King Henry IV of France today the hotel is privately owned and family run. It exudes palatial decadence whilst retaining an intimate, romantic charm. The 54 rooms and suites are sophisticatedly decorated in a contemporary style fusing antique elements from its rich and vivid history with modern design classics. It’s a design lovers dream and my ideal hotel for a sexy little weekend mini break in Paris.
Having an instagram goals moment with my breakfast in bed.
My suite was an apartment-style room with double height, floor-to-ceiling windows, a Juliet balcony and a mezzanine level where the bed was located. It’s so wonderful waking up with a view of the sunlight filled courtyard. Followed by breakfast in bed, it was a dream!
Super stylish interiors, each of the rooms have individual colour schemes and art works.
Picture perfect toiletries in the black marble bathroom. It’s all about the details.
The balcony in my room provided the perfect back drop to my outfit shoots.
Paris in Detail
After a sumptuous nights sleep in the dreamily soft bed, I met up with the gang ready for a day of photography and shooting in and around some beautiful Parisian settings. First stop, a photography lesson with our friend and Olympus ambassador, photographer Jay McClaughlin.
We were testing out Olympus’ latest bit of kit, the new 30mm Macro lens, perfect for getting up close and personal with nature and detail, so we got a little practice in at the Jardin du Plants perfectly manicured gardens.
The result – below the depth of filled with the flora and fauna in the foreground in focus.
Then time for a few outfit posts shot by Jay – above Bonnie wears pink floaty dress by Whistles and below the details.
After a busy morning of shooting it was time for a spot of lunch, I’ll have the oysters s’il vous plait!
Above my strawberry cheesecake at Chez Julien up close.
What to wear in Paris – stripes of course! Afternoon outfit shoot wearing stripe skirt by Dorothee Schumacher and sunglasses by Rayban at Very Exclusive.
And after a flying 24 hour visit, it was time to head home. But not before getting to spend a little time in the brand new Eurostar Premier Classe Lounge (pictured below), which I might add is definitely worth paying the upgrade for!
We travelled Business Premier both ways and the gorgeous new lounge at Gard du Nord is super chic. The decor is comfortable yet stylish with trendy modernist furnishings with a touch of Art Deco thrown in. The complimentary food and snacks on offer were yummy, I love freshly baked madeleines. We also got to enjoy a special Raymond Blanc breakfast on the way there and 3 course dinner on board the return train, this comes as part of the Business Premier package :) Love a bit of luxury on route, I could get used to this!
So back to London and prepping for my next journey.
Join me next time to see my trip to Tuscany with Ferrari.
Bon Voyage xx
I love the photographs and you are looking so gorgeous. Olympus is my favorite brand. Keep posting such beautiful photographs with Olympus :)
You’re so lucky to be in Paris! It is one of my dream destinations to visit. All of your photographs are beautiful, and I love your outfits. I love photography, too, and if I was in Paris I know I would take so many photographs.
All that food is making me hungry. The place looks so inviting
Wow, that looks so fancy, I want to have your life…
This would be a dream come through, to visit this place. Love your collection and style.
Wow…amazing short trip. I ‘ve been in Nice, St. Tropez and Montpellier but never in Paris. I must put in my schedule. Great photos!
That sounds like an amazing adventure. Loved looking at all your photos.
It’s a beautiful place and it would have been difficult to leave! The rooms are as grand as rooms get, you can’t expect less from a place like Paris after all!
OMG for the out of town sponsored trips and instagram goal photos. Am literally tempted to buy Olympus camera :)
I loved everything about this post, from the hotel room to the outfits to the description to the photos. And ofcourse Olympus make good lenses.Thumbs up!
Wow, I love your photos and your outfits too. I am definitely bookmarking this blog. Great work!
These photos are so breathtaking!! I would love to visit Paris. Inf act, it is number 1 on my bucket list.
These pictures are incredible! Paris looks like such a beautiful place to visit, there’s so many amazing sights.
Chelsea | http://www.chelsea-Elizabeth.co.uk
Love your photos! They make me want to visit Paris more now than ever. Wish it were close enough for me to take a simple weekend trip.
Wow these photos are perfection! What a breath of fresh air. I also have an Olympus (the olympus pen e-p5) and love it! xo
Wow .. a journey through Paris in the lap of luxury! Good for you. The hotel is exquisite .. I’d never want to leave. Plus all of your pretty outfits. I especially love the pink dress .. it’s flowy and dreamy. Perfect for a vacation!
someone please send me. this looks like an amazing place. peaceful and so fun! can i just go now?
I love the effect that you have achieved with this camera when taking the flowers picture, and love the food as well. Lots of photography exercises in Paris for sure! Love the trip, and all of the adventures, the hotel is out of the world gorgeous, and so are you and all of the outfits! What an awesome travelling experience!
Looks like an amazing weekend in Paris! The hotel looks awesome, and the food looks even better WOW! Nothing is much better than good food and wine in Paris! Love this!
These are beautiful pictures and yes the light in Paris is stunning in the spring. Its crazy packed with tourists, but its still very, very beautiful.
Your pictures are awesome! I love all of them! I have an Olympus too but I do not like using it. The pictures never come out the way I want it to and I always end up using my phone. Yours, however look awesome!
Wow, what an amazing place. I just love all these photos. The food looks delicious!
Nice pictures. Paris has lots of tourist attractions. Must see..
This whole Parisian trip is literally Instagram goals. Everytime I read your posts I get so excited to see where you travel to next!
I love Paris.. it really is the city of love.. it looks really warm here, unlike the Uk right now..
Wow, this is beautiful! And that pink dress is so feminine and stunning on you!
I would love to travel to Paris someday. Thanks for sharing
Paris has always be on my wish list. The photographs have come out great. Olympus has done a tremendous job with this camera :)
You travel to the coolest places! The hotel looks absolutely amazing!
I see more and more bloggers switching to Olympus camera from DSLR . Is there a big difference in the quality of the pictures or it is just the practicability? You look stunning ♥
It looks like you are having a lovely time. I will have to add this to my travel wish list.
You looked absolutely stunning in all of your photos. Looks like you were having a great time. And the new camera did a great job as well. Loved the picture of the flowers.
Oh my goodness!! This was such a beautiful post. The apartment was everything and your outfits?!!! On Point!
Oh my gosh, that Zimmerman romper, that dreamy suite, that luscious looking food… The photography is flawless and beautiful…well done!
Omg!! You are gorgeous and right now I am super envious of this blog. Travelling in style and writing about it is what my dreams are made of. You are living it. More power to you girl!
Incredible photographs and truly a style story. You said it perfectly – it’s all in the details.
Looks like you had a great time there and I really love your outfit you looks gorgeous on that.
A break like this! It would be so hard to go back to reality. It’s beautiful and it’s Paris! It’s tough to leave and it’s tempting to stay there forever.
I would have stayed the whole week if it was in a place this beautiful. I love Paris and my daughter and I had the time of our lives there last Spring! I sure would love to visit again.
What a beautiful palce to getaway too! I too have an Olympus Pen and thinking that I need a new lens and this one takes pictures so well.
Wow what a wonderful Paris trip! I just love the hotel you stayed with the rich decor and grounds.
It looks like you are having a lovely time. I will have to add this to my travel wish list.
Thanks to share.
Looks like an incredible and relaxing weekend getaway! Paris is such a romantic and beautiful city to get to escape to (not to mention stylish). All your outfits are incredible – very polished and classic style. Your choice of delicate jewellery pieces to accompany these styles works very well and ensures the clothing itself isn’t detracted from.
Ahh I love Paris, your photos are amazing! You look so beautiful as always and this has totally made me want to go back there!
You’ve been to so many beautiful places, but there are no articles from Monaco here. You must visit the French Riviera once! Greetings from Nice, Thomas :)
Ah so I’m actually heading to Monaco in two weeks time, so there will be soon xx
I mistook the comments ;-). I wanted to write that this is great information about your visit to Monaco! Do you already have a sightseeing plan?
It’s nice to see these beautiful pictures made in my beloved France. You should visit the French Riviera, there are plenty of great views here, where you will take great photos! Greetings from Nice :)
Thanks so much x