Do you find Paris too busy and too expensive?

Paris is Paris, but you've probably been there already, I think. Many people find it too busy and too expensive now that the Olympic Games are being held there. The little hotel you always booked (dthere are 4 nice and original hotels in Paris) might have become three times as expensive. If you want to get away for a bit, it might be a good idea to think about Lille. It's only a three-hour drive and it's the second-best shopping city in France (after Paris, of course).

Here are some reasons why you might want to go to Lille (Rijsel):

1. It's nearby. You could even do it as a day trip. You won't, because it's way too fun, but it could be done.
2. It's a mix of Paris, Antwerp (here are some delicious food hotspot tips there) and Ghent. Three times fun, then.
3. Ideal for a weekend trip (by the way, these are the 18 things you think during a childless weekend away).
4. From vintage to Vuitton, it's all there.
5. You eat deliciously there (these are 7 classics from French cuisine that you must know).

In the Vieux Ville district, you'll find most restaurants and there are also many delicatessens. For example, there's a shop that specializes in Norwegian salmon.

Eating and sleeping: I would do that at L’Huîtrière (I got that tip from Bartsboekje.com) or Le Bloempot, run by the finalist of the Belgian Top Chef edition who started his career here. The menu is French, using vegetables and herbs as much as possible from their own garden. Oh, and it's located in an old carpentry workshop in the former butcher's alley of Lille, just the Meatpacking District of Lille. By the way, it's hidden behind a blue door, so you'll know that for sure.

I am very honest and lovingly tell you that I prefer to get my sleep and dining tips from Bartsboekje.com and they recommend Little Suites in Lille.

By the way, Lille is also incredibly photogenic, very old and authentic, and is known for its signature blue that you see everywhere in the city. So you've found your next destination.