Rome, London, & Paris: My Exact Costs & The Very Real Lessons
A trip across Rome, London, and Paris. Plus, a perfect Father's Day gift, the best book I've read lately, and a wholesome viral sensation.
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At the start of 2026, I gave myself a challenge: To go on a solo 10-day international trip. I’ve traveled solo many a time, but I hadn’t done a multi-country trip in years, and I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone.
I booked ten days landing first in Rome and leaving from Paris, giving myself the freedom to do whatever I wanted in between. I intentionally chose three cities I’d visited before, so I could feel as comfortable as possible, and it removed any pressure to see the sights," instead opting for a slower pace.
(If you’re curious about how I planned to stay safe, I’ve shared some tips on this podcast and in this previous post.)
Two days ago, I returned home from my trip. How did it go, and what did I do? I’m sharing exact numbers and plans below, as well as lessons I learned along the way, so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.
Stop #1: Italy
A question I am often asked is how I can afford to travel regularly, and in this case, to Europe during peak summer. The answer, again and again: Points.
Back in January, I used the PointsYeah Daydream Explorer function to play around with dates and cities (which I recapped here). I knew I wanted to spend the first half of this trip in Italy, so I booked a flight on Flying Blue from ATL-MAD-FCO for 36,000 points and $48.10 in taxes.
In retrospect, I probably would’ve booked the direct flight instead of the one with the layover, but I had used a lot of points lately and was worried about losing them all, so I kept this as low as possible.
I landed at 3PM at Fiumicino Airport, and for reasons unknown, I decided to take the train into the city—maybe because it was 1/4 the price for the same travel time, or maybe because I wanted to get comfortable with the train, as I’d use it the next day.
It took longer than I intended (the first train left without me, fun!) and it wasn’t fun to carry my bags from Termini to my Airbnb, but alas, I learned my lesson.
The following morning, I doubled back to Termini for my train to Grosseto. While you can purchase tickets at the station, I highly recommend downloading the Trenitalia app and buying them in-app. The ticket was approximately 20 Euros.
By the time the track number appeared, it was the farthest track in the entire station, nestled all the way in the back—a half-mile walk (!). Many of us booked it to board the train on time, and because it was particularly crowded that morning, you could not comfortably sit with your luggage.
My lesson here? Start walking as soon as your track number shows up, and be prepared to stand on the train if you have to, even if it’s a 2-hour ride.
Eventually, we pulled into the Grosseto train station and I took a cab from the station to my favorite hotel in the world. The last time we went here, my husband and I had rented a car, so this was a new experience, and it cost 50 Euros to get there from the station despite being only a 20-minute drive.
For when I inevitably return, I’ll probably save myself all of the aforementioned hassle and just book a car again. I’m really glad (and proud!) I used public transit, but I’m not entirely sure I saved any money or time.
I arrived at La Pescaia, and finally could breathe. It was like coming home.
I was booked from Sunday to Thursday, and looked forward to finally sleeping in, eating nourishing and delicious meals, and lounging by a pool for hours on end. As the time before, it did not disappoint.
I’ve waxed poetic before on how magical this space is, closer to the west coast of Italy, outside of Porto Ercole. There are a limited number of rooms, and the property is expansive enough that it never feels busy or crowded. It was exceptionally quiet during the time I went, where some days, I saw maybe two or three other parties and no one else.
Their food is impeccable—elevated peasant dishes (zucchini carpaccio with crushed pistachios and lemon olive oil, pappa al pomodoro with old bread)—the wine list is excellent, and the portions are generous even by the pool. And at $275/night, it is, in my opinion, a steal for a Tuscan-style summer. If I could, I would book years in advance.
Having that much downtime gave my brain a break, but it also led me to several realizations that are personal and vulnerable, but worth sharing:
Several readers, followers, and people in real life asked why I was doing a solo vacation. Perhaps because they thought I was separating from my spouse and celebrating in an Eat, Pray, Love way? That isn’t true at all—my husband simply didn’t have the PTO, and I wanted to challenge myself to do it on my own. Every night at dinner, when I pulled up to a table for one and spent the time reading a book on my phone, I got stares. I realized I was being judged or maybe even pitied, and that made me even more insecure about being alone. Then my brain thought: Are you projecting your own insecurity about it, and no one really cares? Who’s to say, but it certainly felt like a recurring theme.
As a short and curvy South Asian woman, I felt distinctly out of place at times: By the pool or eating gelato, for example. In a continent defined by Eurocentric beauty standards, I could feel the judgement from others for daring to get dessert each night or by showing my un-thin body in any way. The thought occurred to me that maybe I was projecting my own insecurity once again, and I tried to quiet those voices.
I knew that having that much alone time would lead to some spiraling, as my brain tends to ruminate. After a very tough last year, I was worried about letting my brain run loose, and at one point, I did have a very human breakdown. I actually ended up grabbing old papers from my backpack and using it to journal through my feelings, and after calling my husband who gently consoled me, I felt much more at peace. I even texted Emily Edwards about it, and she said something that really stayed with me: “Well, I’m even more proud of you for going, then. I’m of the belief that putting yourself in a position like this (where you know a freak out is likely) is one of the best ways to work through whatever that feeling is.” Giving myself grace after such a year was truly the most important part of this trip.
By Thursday morning, I wasn’t exactly ready to leave what I consider paradise, but I accepted my reality. Because I had a very early morning train for Pisa Airport, I had to book a taxi through the hotel, and this cost me 80 Euros (!!).
And when I got to the train station, the most Italian thing to happen did: My train to Pisa was cancelled due to a strike. I panic-decided to jump on whatever train was still scheduled that got me closer to Pisa. (This ticket from Grosseto to Pisa was approximately 15 Euros.) I ended up taking the train to Livorno, transferring to Pisa Centrale, and then transferring again on the Pisamover to the airport.
Once again, I recommend just renting the damn car and avoiding the headache completely. (For the record, I support workers striking for better wages and conditions and would love to be Team Public Transit 100% of the Time, but when you have limited days, a car is undoubtedly a game-changer.)
At Pisa, I dropped off my bags, went through security, and tried to get a bite to eat. It’s a very small airport, so you don’t need to show up three hours early, like in the states. But there are also immigration and customs to go through if heading to another country, so keep that in mind.
Stop #2: London
I landed in Heathrow Airport around 2PM, and after grabbing my bags, I took the tube to The Grafton Arms Pub and Rooms. My coworker-turned-friend Lea and I chose to stay here due to its proximity to Wembley Stadium and its location in Marylebone—a neighborhood I hadn’t stayed in on my five previous trips to the UK. (It is a very cozy, diverse, and boutique-lined area; worth checking out.)
The room was well-kept, clean, and the crew kept small snacks and waters for us, but be warned that it is up several flights of stairs without an elevator. Luckily, their team brought our bags up and down. We walked to a local branch of Rosa’s Thai, had an early delicious dinner, and I went back to rest after a long chaotic day of travel.
The next morning was Lea’s birthday (!), so we celebrated in style: We grabbed brunch at Joon Cafe (get the saffron latte and thank me later), then walked across the city to check out Word on the Water, a bookshop on a boat in the Regent’s Canal. Afterwards, we sat by the barge and made our way to another fan-favorite bookstore: Daunt in Marylebone, which is just a few minutes away from the Baker Street stop. I bought a journal, tote, and a book, and we moseyed along the street stopping in small shops along the way before heading back to our room.
Then it was time for the purpose of my London pitstop: To see Harry Styles and Shania Twain in concert at Wembley Stadium. We managed to get tickets for his first night of twelve there, and after the fact, I made a “trial reel” of what to know about the show that I posted without thinking, and now it has over 120,000 views (lol). The people want to know about what to expect!
(TL;DR: Show up early, public transit is wildly busy, food inside is slim pickings, and the show runs 45 minutes for Shania and two hours for Harry.)
Stop #3: Paris
Then it was time for my final stop: Pareé. I only picked here because the flight to get home from Paris was the cheapest points-wise than any other European hub, and so it was a helpful reminder that, while Paris is gorgeous, it is not the city for me—Rome is and always will be.
I wanted to try something different this time: Instead of flying, I opted to take the Eurostar train from London’s St. Pancras to Gare du Nord.
A couple of learnings here:
You can compare times and prices on Trainline but I recommend booking directly.
Book early. When I first looked it up, tickets were around $100, but by the time I went to book a week in advance, it jumped up to $300. I didn’t expect that, but the train was fully packed, so there’s definitely demand.
St. Pancras station doesn’t have a ton of seating after you pass security and border control. Be prepared to stand while you wait for platform information.
The train Wi-Fi isn’t reliable—it didn’t work at all during the 2.5-hour journey.
I do think it’s worth taking again; it brings you directly into downtowns in both directions, instead of the airports outside of the city. Plus, the train was clean, efficient, and on-time.
In Paris, I stayed at the NH Paris Ópera Faubourg, about a 15-minute walk from the station. It’s in a safe and walkable area, and I was able to use my Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit towards this stay, so two nights here only ran me $250.
Upon arriving, I walked around the 9th Arr. to get my bearings, and I ended up in the Passage des Panoramas, which was one of the first covered passages in the city and founded in 1799. Today, it has beautifully ornate architecture and plenty of vintage and antique stores; I purchased old books and prints to bring home. I stopped at Ravioli Nord-Est for some dumpling soup (delicious, cheap) and then headed back to my room.
The next morning, I grabbed an incredible vanilla pecan tarte from Rose Bakery and walked two minutes to the Cadet bus station. I downloaded the Bonjour RATP app and purchased my ticket there, which you then validate on the ride, and I took the bus about 30 minutes north to the Saint Ouen market.
My friend Tyler and I went shopping for antiques here last year, but it turns out, we barely touched the surface at the time. This sprawling market—the largest in the world—was buzzing, with maze-like setups and blocks and blocks of stands. I purchased an artist palette I’ve been wanting for a long time and two vintage pieces of art that I’ll frame for our living room, spending several hours here before my feet hurt too much to continue.
If you like art, books, or design in any way: You must go.
After resting for a bit, I had one last evening to enjoy, so I leisurely strolled around the Montmartre neighborhood again, popping into boutiques, and stopping at Pepe Martyrs, one of the most highly-rated spots for pizza in Paris. It wasn’t anything to write home about if I’m being honest, but it was satisfying enough. Then I moseyed back to the hotel and packed for my return home.
Upon checking in for my flight back to Atlanta, I received an offer to upgrade to Air France business class for $600. I’ve never gotten one before that was cheap enough, but for a lie-flat business class seat for 9.5 hours, I leapt at the chance.
Let me tell you, after 10 days of walking thousands of steps and hauling my luggage, both my plantar fasciitis and hidradenitis suppurativa were acting up, so this was honestly one of the best decisions of my trip and worth every penny.
My original flight was only 19,000 points and $240 in taxes, so once I added this in, I ultimately paid 19,000 points and $840 for business class—not bad at all. Plus, since I get 4x points on the CSR, I gained 3,500 of those points back immediately.
In total, over the ten days, I spent:
~57,000 points and $888 on my flights there and back
~$700 for trains, planes, cabs
~$1,900 on accommodations
~$1,000 on food, shops, and miscellaneous
When I add it up, it’s a bit jarring, but I also intentionally paid more for places that were safer, and I had to pay the singles tax on my hotel rooms/Airbnb. Luckily, I budgeted at least $3,000 for this trip earlier this year. The additional spend I racked up between shopping and the business class upgrade, I offset through freelance work.
Five years ago, I only dreamed of a life like this—where I could book this kind of travel for myself and not worry about money. To shop for antiques in Paris, to sip mocktails by a pool in Tuscany, to see one of my favorite artists in his home city.
Maybe most importantly, I genuinely pushed myself out of my comfort zone and it stretched me in ways I couldn’t have imagined a few years back. It reminded me that I can traverse the globe on my own; that I can navigate challenges in other languages and still survive just fine; that even when my brain spirals, I can come back to myself.
I have much to be proud of, and I am. I hope if you decide to do this on your own, that you beam with pride for yourself.
🧳 For this trip, I brought my trusty carry-on along with the BÉIS travel duffle, because it was easier to have two smaller bags stacked atop one another than to roll a massive suitcase on cobblestone streets. I was honestly really impressed by how much this duffle could pack, and it slid onto my carry-on handle so I didn’t have to carry it. (I used the crossbody strap once I checked my bag in.) It looks like BÉIS is offering free personalizations for a limited time, so it might be worth gifting for yourself, as a Father’s Day present, or for the friend constantly on business trips.
📘 If you’re a fan of Tom Lake or Bel Canto, I think you’ll adore Ann Patchett’s latest book, Whistler, like I did, as I devoured this in one day while sitting by the resort pool. In the simplest terms, the story is about the impermanence of life, and as someone whose life looks extremely different than it did a year ago, that really struck a chord with me. As with all of Patchett’s books, you’ll be left in awe.
🔋 At a corporate event, I was given a portable power bank as swag, and I brought it along with me—now I’ll never travel without it. While the version I have isn’t available, I found this very similar alternative: A 5-in-1 travel charger that includes USB-A and USB-C ports, two charging wires, three travel adapter prongs, and a MagSafe Apple Watch charging pad. I used it every single day, and it became the real MVP of the trip.
🥲 If you’ve been following any World Cup content, you might’ve seen Freddy, the German tourist visiting the states for the first time and documenting his trip. He’s become a bit of a viral sensation, and he’s even getting warm welcomes from states like Louisiana. Very wholesome.
💳 For AmEx Platinum users: Don’t forget to use your $50 Saks credit before June 30th or it’s gone forever. Maybe for some beauty travel-sized items?
See you next week! —Henah x
I love the jacket you’re wearing in the concert photo! It pools like such a special piece 🌼
I stayed at The Grafton Arms on a solo trip a few years ago! I had forgotten about the saga of getting my bag to the top floor.