As I sat on the Eurostar with a glass of champagne in one hand and over 3,800 euros in cash in the other, I couldn’t help but chuckle. I couldn’t believe this was actually happening and I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have been chosen for this ‘challenge’.
In case you missed it, I was set up with the #24HourMillionaireChallenge by the National Lottery to spend £2,739.72 within 24 hours. This is the amount you would earn every day for a year if you won £1 million. Every Wednesday in May you had a special chance to win £1 million in the Millionaire Raffle, which you were automatically entered into when you bought a Wednesday Lotto ticket. Tomorrow (May 27th) will be the last millionaire lottery, so if you are interested, please check it out!
When I asked where they thought I should go with my newfound wealth, after hundreds of comments, tweets, and emails, the clear winner was Paris!
Oh, Lara. Spending 24 hours in Paris on a millionaire’s budget is almost a dream come true for him, so I thought this was a treat. My blogging buddy Vicky Flipflop helped me splurge on cash during this epic 24-hour period of his.
So what did we do with this cash!?
Here’s how to spend 24 hours in Paris like a millionaire…
#1: Dinner at an incredible restaurant
Our first stop on this challenge was dinner at La Dame De Pic. We enjoyed a delicious 5 course menu which included the best duck I’ve ever tasted and a delicious bottle of fizz. As Bubbles came to mind, we started to get the hang of this billionaire’s lifestyle.
#2: Cocktails at one of the fanciest hotels in town
Upon leaving the restaurant, we asked for recommendations of “fancy” places for cocktails. It took us a while to translate ‘Fancy’, but the waiter clearly understood as he sent us off in the direction of Le Meurice.
We were sure they wouldn’t let us in, but we staggered across the marble floor and entered the bar, just like we did every day. We immediately noticed that a famous model was sitting across from us (but after racking our brains for 15 minutes, we couldn’t remember her name!) and… A famous French rapper, DJ Swagg Man, was sitting behind us. DJ Swagman is easily recognizable by his Louis Vuitton tattoos all over his head. Yes, his head looks a lot like a handbag. An elegant person.
We had cocktails on a plush banquette and I still couldn’t quite believe we were here.
#3: A stay in a luxury apartment
Millionaires don’t stay in old hotels, so we chose a huge apartment with a view of the Eiffel Tower. The three-bedroom apartment has a large kitchen and luxurious living/dining area. The balcony that wraps around the side of the building was the perfect place to sip an espresso and soak up the Parisian vibe.
#4: The fanciest breakfast of my life
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and the French breakfast is the best. Who can resist a basket full of freshly baked breads and pastries!?
We headed to Hotel Plaza Athénée and were greeted like old friends by the very friendly staff. We were shown to a huge booth and ordered tea, coffee and a pot of fresh juice while browsing the menu of pastries. Yes, there was a pastry menu that included all the croissants and delicious treats made fresh that morning.
#5: Shopping!
You can’t visit Paris without going to the Champs Elysees and doing a little shopping. I headed straight to the MAC store for new makeup and my favorite lipstick, Lady Danger.
Next up is Sunny in billionaire style. I’ve never owned (real) designer sunglasses, but this Christian instantly fell in love with Dior sunglasses.
The best part about shopping with a big budget is choosing what you like first. As soon as you enter the store, you will find something you like. Then he looks at the price tag and finds it’s way over budget, so he spends half an hour looking for the next best thing. It was great to be able to actually buy the first product I saw.
#6: Macaroons at Ladurée
When I asked people to recommend places in Paris, I was overwhelmed by the number of people who recommended Laduree. This is a beautiful cafe with the best macarons in town, and although touristy, it was beautiful and well worth the visit.
I tasted the richest hot chocolate I’ve ever had in my life. You could almost eat it with a knife and fork. And I ate macarons that were as soft and delicious as you can imagine. I also bought macarons for the person who came with me. I hope you enjoy @SaraVox74!
#7: Horse and carriage ride around Paris
I was able to quickly get to the Eiffel Tower by dash. There, a horse-drawn carriage was waiting to take Vicky and me through the streets of Paris. This was a really nice and relaxing way to tour the city and enjoy Paris at a slower pace.
#8: Lunch overlooking the Louvre
Our next stop was the Louvre and we stopped at Café Marly for lunch. This beautiful restaurant has one of the best locations in Paris, with a large terrace overlooking the Louvre. I may have been a millionaire, but I couldn’t resist a cheese and bacon burger and a cold beer.
We then took a walk along the river after lunch and headed to Lovelock Bridge. Through his Twitter, I asked @TNLUK’s followers who would like a bridge key with their name on it. So many people responded to me, but one lucky follower won the lock!
#9: Shopping at Galaries Lafayette
As the day was coming to an end, I made a quick stop at Galeries Lafayette to do some more shopping and buy gifts for @TNLUK followers.
I packed new handbags, perfume and chocolates for my followers.
#10: Giving out gifts
One of the strangest things that happened that day was while waiting for the Eurostar. I bought some boxes of chocolates to give out to people at the station, and to my surprise, they contained chocolates. I needed a lot of encouragement to get people to accept me. A strange British girl handing out chocolates will definitely be seen as suspicious!
I had the most amazing time being a millionaire for 24 hours. If you have a big budget, Paris is definitely the city to visit!
A big thank you to the National Lottery for making this possible!