Why I Created Your Essential Guide To Paris
BY LVOG
Why I Created Your Essential Guide To Paris By LVOG
Planning a trip to Paris can quickly become overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with the city’s layout, neighborhoods, or transportation system. With countless attractions, dining options, and accommodations spread across its iconic arrondissements, it’s easy to feel lost before you even arrive. Even for those who have visited before, Paris is a city that constantly evolves.
There’s always something new to uncover, whether it’s a tucked-away café, a boutique on a quiet side street, or an exhibition that’s not in the guidebooks. Over the years and many visits, I found myself receiving the same questions from friends, family, and readers: Where should I eat? What’s worth doing? Where do I find the charming spots that feel truly Parisian?
That’s why I created Your Essential Guide to Paris by LVOG, a thoughtfully curated companion designed to help travelers experience the city with intention and ease. This guide isn’t about checking off every tourist box; it’s about feeling the rhythm of Paris, knowing where to linger over a meal, discovering that perfect shop, and exploring neighborhoods that reveal the city's timeless charm. I wanted to create something that reflects the way I personally explore Paris—slowly, with a sense of wonder, and always with an eye toward style, authenticity, and beauty.
How The Idea Of The Guide Came About
The idea for the Paris Guide began a few years ago while I was sitting at a café, jotting notes in my notebook, as I always do in Paris. I was thinking about all the questions I get—where to eat, shop, stay, and everything in between—and how helpful it would be to put it all in one place.
But I didn’t want it to be just another guide. I wanted it to feel personal, like a thoughtful extension of planning your own Paris trip, but with an elevated and chic touch. The only problem? I’m not a designer, not even close. And honestly, it took two years for the vision to come to life. After I tried to make several attempts of a guide that I wasn’t happy with, I was about to give up when-
It all came together by chance. I was chatting on Instagram with a reader who’s now a dear friend, and we got to talking about Paris and the guide. It turns out she’s retired from marketing and digital publishing. A few weeks later, she was designing Your Essential Guide to Paris.
What makes this guide even more meaningful to me is that a reader—someone who connected with my work, loves Paris, and understood my vision —was the one who helped bring it to life.
My Paris Love Affair
Ever since I was a child, Paris has held a special place in my heart. Though I had never been, I knew it was a city of magic—a place where inspiration flourished, where beauty and culture intertwined effortlessly. It lived in my imagination as a world of elegance, charm, and endless possibility.
When I finally arrived in Paris in my 30s, it was everything I had dreamed of and more. The moment I stepped onto its cobblestone streets, I felt an unshakable connection, as if I had known the city forever.
Paris is where my heart and soul come alive. It’s a place where the smallest moments hold the deepest meaning—the quiet ritual of a morning café crème on a terrace, the simple joy of reading a book alone in Luxembourg Gardens, the beauty of fresh flowers carried home just because.
It’s a city where food is not just nourishment but a celebration, where long, lingering meals with family and friends are a way of life. Each time I return, Paris still holds the same magic as that very first visit. It continues to inspire me, shape me, and remind me to savor life’s most beautiful details.
What You Can Find In The Guide
Inside Your Essential Guide to Paris by LVOG, you'll find my favorite spots, must-visit shops, charming places to eat, essential tips, and hidden gems that embody the city's timeless elegance.
I created the guide to help you explore Paris intentionally, savoring its beauty and allure in a way that feels effortlessly authentic.
The guide offers a thoughtfully curated Parisian experience far from the hustle of tourist-packed itineraries, and looks at Paris through my eyes.
There are 115 pages of my recommendations- everything from unique Parisian experiences to where to shop for vintage finds.
I couldn’t be more excited to bring this vision to life finally. Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing sneak peeks inside the guide! I look forward to sharing more with you.
xo-Noelani