HenryBoo Travels to: Paris

Paws, Pastries, and Parisian Adventures

Folkstone to Paris – 219 miles

Day One kicked off bright and early – as in, 1:30 AM early (yes, that’s a real time). We threw ourselves into the car for a 20-minute ride to the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle Passenger Check-In, running on pure excitement, sleep deprivation, and the power of Twinings Tea.

This was the moment. Would all the planning, paperwork, and research pay off? Would our four-legged VIP, Henry, officially become a European traveler? We had no backup plan – just crossed fingers and a very well-behaved dog.

Cue the drumroll…

The pet check-in? An absolute breeze. We’re talking tail-waggingly smooth. Massive shoutout to our amazing vet for triple-checking everything – T’s crossed, I’s dotted, and Henry’s vaccine records squeaky clean. Worth every penny. With a quick scan of Henry’s documents and a few nods of approval, we were officially cleared and given the go ahead. Europe, here we come!

First stop – Paris!

• Hotel – Tulip Residences Joinville-Le-Pont
• We paid – £87.52 (1 night)
• Pet charge – €10.00
• Parking charge – €10.00

Before joining the car queue, we made the all-important pilgrimage to Starbucks – because even at 2 in the morning, caffeine is non-negotiable. Meanwhile, Henry got to stretch his legs and sniff every blade of grass in the pet exercise area before taking care of business like a pro.
By around 3AM, we began driving onto the train, ready for our 3:40 AM departure. Sleepy eyes, full cups, and one very content pup watching Alvin and the Chipmunks on Netflix – Europe was just a 35 minute tunnel away!

Before we knew it, our seatbelts were back on and we were driving off of the train into the crisp French morning. Just another three hours to go, and we’d be in the City of Lights. We had pre-booked parking at a car park near the Arc de Triomphe but, to my husband’s dismay, we had to circle it multiple times thanks to unexpected road closures and park somewhere completely unplanned. If you survive driving around the Arc de Triomphe, you can survive anything!

Once we finally parked, it was off to the metro with Henry quite literally strapped to our backs in his VIP transportation backpack. We hopped on Line 6 and rode it straight to Trocadéro station. After our 1am start, we were ready for some breakfats at Carette, a famous cafe known for its Art Deco charm and luxurious pastries and hot chocolate.

It’s safe to say France isn’t exactly famous for its warm hospitality but honestly, we didn’t arrive with sky-high expectations. As someone who’s spent her entire adult life working in hospitality, I get it France. Long hours, demanding customers, and the constant smile… sometimes a little indifference is just self-preservation right? After about a 20 minute wait, we were lucky to get a beautiful seat outside the front of the cafe. A perfect spot to people watch all the tourists on their way to see the Eiffel Tower. We ordered a croissant, a pain au chocolat and the famous ‘Chocolat Carette‘ to share and I have to say, Parisian hot chocolate just hits different! Thick, rich, and borderline magical. Was it ridiculously overpriced? Absolutely. A total tourist trap? Without a doubt. But would I go again? Honestly… probably yes. The little round table wobbled every time we moved, the wicker chairs squeaked beneath us, and the air smelled like espresso, warm pastry, and a hint of exhaust from passing scooters and it felt like I was and extra in ‘Emily in Paris‘. We might have stayed longer, basking in the charming chaos, if it weren’t for the waiter’s not so subtle glances, arms crossed and half-smile fading – clearly waiting for our prime spot to free up and keep the queue moving. But alas, I had a schedule to stick to… and Paris waits for no one!

Chris and I have visited Paris before, but we couldn’t let Henry miss out on seeing the Eiffel Tower could we! So we took a short stroll across the road to the Jardins du Trocadéro, where the view of the iconic landmark is nothing short of postcard-perfect. The sun was out and proud by this point, casting a golden glow over the fountains. Henry was suitably impressed – although that may have just been the croissant crumbs still on his face. After a few photos we decided to move onto our next stop. We took the metro over towards the Louvre museum. Unfortunately dogs aren’t allowed in the museum but they are allowed in the shopping centre underneath… like I planned that or something. My main mission was to visit Laudree and pick up a box of macarons, a staple on any Parisian trip. Once the goods were acquired, we walked outside to have a look at the glass pyramid that covers the Louvre museum.

There is not a lot of spots for shade around here so keep it quick when taking your dog with you to visit the Louvre.

To Henry and Chris’ dismay, I decided we would take a long, scenic walk to Luxembourg Gardens. Henry wasn’t exactly thrilled about the ‘scenic’ detour. His little legs probably would’ve preferred wheels over cobblestones, and every few minutes he’d let out a dramatic sigh or stop to sniff some baguette crumbs outside a Boulangerie but even he couldn’t resist the occasional wide-eyed stare at the fluttering pigeons and the burst of colours from window boxes filled with flowers. Finally, we arrived at the Luxembourg Gardens – a beautiful park bursting with vibrant plants, neatly trimmed hedges, and the soft chatter of locals enjoying the sunshine. We had a lovely wander around the park, passing by ornate fountains, young children sailing toy boats in the water, and groups of friends gathered around tables, sipping their wine. We found ourselves at a charming little outdoor restaurant called “La Terrasse de Madame” where we were quickly seated and Henry was promptly served his bowl of water. The food here was really fresh and tasty. My salad was crisp and flavourful while Chris enjoyed a comforting plate of fish goujons and chips, perfectly cooked. Henry behaved like a true gentleman, he was wonderfully content chilling under my chair, in the shade and out of the way while watching the steady parade of plates of food going back and forth from the kitchen.

We did manage to stretch out our time at the restaurant and soak in the atmosphere as much as we could. It’s not every day you’re sipping a cocktail in the middle of a Parisian garden, where the world feels like it slows down just long enough for you to really savour the moment. By this point, we’d been on the move for well over 12 hours and were more than ready to wrap up the day with our final stop. We took the metro back to our car and had to tackle our way around the Arc du Triomphe once again before driving 15 minutes down the road to park up right next to the Siene river. Our final stop for the day was a relaxing river cruise with a company called ‘Bateaux-Mouches‘.

I did my research and this was one of a few companies that will allow dogs on their sightseeing cruises however, they are not allowed on the lunch or dinner cruises.

We would have loved to sit up top and enjoy the open-air views, but the heat was creeping up to about 30C and I was a little worried about Henry overheating. Thankfully, we snagged a couple of seats right underneath an air conditioning unit. Not exactly the most romantic setup but sometimes comfort has to win.
The cruise lasted a little over an hour, and in that time we sailed past so much history – gliding by the grand Notre Dame Cathedral, the stunning Musée d’Orsay, and enjoyed an up-close and personal views of the Eiffel Tower in all its glory! And let me tell you, this poor pup couldn’t keep his eyes open as he snoozed away on my lap. And to think – this was just day one!

I would definitely recommend dedicating a couple of hours of your day to a river Seine cruise. We were treated to stunning views of Paris that you just can’t get any other way plus it gave our feet and paws a well needed break from all the walking. Tickets were only €7 each and parking, believe it or not, was actually FREE!
I think it would be amazing to experience this cruise at night, watching the sparkling lights, especially from the Eiffel Tower, bringing the City of Lights to life in a whole new way – added to the bucket list.

After the river cruise, it was time to get this poor dog into bed! We had a 35-minute drive to our hotel in Joinville-Le-Pont. Thankfully, the room was a big step up from the night before – cool, modern, and much more comfortable. Plus, it had plenty of underground parking and was conveniently close to a McDonalds which we could walk to. Unfortunately, I had to compromise and let Chris choose dinner every so often… because even in Paris, sometimes you just need a McNugget fix.

As our first day in Paris came to a close, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for every moment of research and planning that led to where we were- the chaos of driving around the Arc de Triomphe, people watching with my favourite hot chocolate and Henry’s naps on the Seine cruise was worth any bit of anxiety. Traveling with a husband and a pup means a few compromises, but it also means making memories that are uniquely ours. Paris is a city that charms you in its own time and way, and we can’t wait to visit again in the future. We’ve always had positive experiences here, and I still spend my nights dreaming of croissants, river views, and laughing at my husband carrying Henry in a backpack!

Getting around Paris with your dog:

Small dogs are allowed on all forms of public transport in Paris free of charge, as long as they are carried in a bag or container no larger than 45cm. In practice, we often saw small dogs simply sitting on their owners’ laps. As long as they’re well-behaved and not causing any disturbance, it seems unlikely you’ll run into any issues.
Larger dogs are permitted on the RER and Metro as well, but they must be on a leash and wear a muzzle. They require a reduced fare ticket.