Vayable + Summer of a Million Visitors

If there is anything Paris has done – besides driving me near insanity at times – it's to be a true explorer of the city. Every time I've lived in Paris I've been blessed with visitors (from the US) who constantly give me an excuse to see my adoptive city in new ways. This summer I set a new record with over 20 visitors in just three months (honestly I had to stop counting). It sometimes feels like a full time job, but a fun one! So I started offering up my own "experiences" through Vayable. I have a few other ideas, but for now I've dubbed my offering "Navigate Paris" with the idea that it's a crash course in understanding the city and how to get around, and focuses on a neighborhood (likely the one the guest is staying in). Last week I shared a few lessons I've learned from my "summer of a million visitors." An abridged version is below, but click here for the full post on the Vayable blog.

1. There is more than one way to do any given activity. That’s why locals are awesome – they know what's up and can save you time, energy, and money.
2. Just because everyone says you have to go to X or see Y or eat Z it doesn’t mean you’re going to love it just because they did. Think about what you love, and the kind of things that make you happy, and make those your priority.
3. Don’t be afraid to do something just because it’s “touristy.”
4. It's ok if you don’t accomplish everything you set out to. It’s always nice to have an excuse to travel again and go back!
5. The best possible words you can hear from your friends’ mouths when they visit you are: “All we want to do is walk, people watch and drink wine.” [True statement].
   

If you haven't heard of Vayable, definitely check it out before your next trip (or for a new way to experience your own city). They offer a huge range of experiences – from photography or moto tours – by a wide range of everyday people (including homeless tours in SF!). I particularly enjoyed this piece in Fast Co.Exist by Vayable CEO, Jamie Wong on "The Rise of the Micro-Entrepreneurship Economy" which talks more about the concept and how it works. And, yes, anyone can offer their own experiences as well!

Know someone coming to Paris soon? Maybe my tour would be a good fit!




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