The show’s three seasons have inspired hate-watching, escapist joy and general confusion. Throughout, Emily (Lily Collins) has approached her adoptive city the way one might approach a theme park: carelessly, eagerly and with an uncritical quest for fun as the utmost priority. The Chicago transplant’s alternate reality is more comparable to the sparkling sterility of the France Pavilion in Epcot than the vibrant French capital.
So Emily’s refusal to assimilate to life á la Parisienne makes Paramount Global’s recent decision to license the show for official “Emily in Paris” vacation packages a confusing one.
The media conglomerate’s partnership with Dharma, a travel start-up that sells vacations themed around different brands and experiences, offers superfans the opportunity to spend four nights and five days in Paris while indulging in Emily-approved fantasies.
The trips are all hosted by lifestyle influencers, or “Emileaders,” who curate the itinerary. First up: an Emily-inspired trip in April 2024 curated by Ines Tazi, the reality TV star who appeared on Netflix’s “Perfect Match” and “The Circle: France.”
The pitch: to experience Paris and its delights the way Emily would have wanted. The price: $3,601 for a shared room and activities, not including airfare. The problem: Emily’s Paris, while glittering and glitzy, is defined by its clichés. The show is propelled by Emily’s shallow engagement with French culture and a seemingly endless cascade of faux pas.
The “Paris by Emily” trips, which are offered in groups of 8 to 16 people, promise such attractions as a class on the art of seduction and “Only-Emily” retail experiences. Other possible itinerary activities include cocktail-making and cafe French lessons, a surprising addition given Emily’s initial refusal to learn the language beyond the most elementary vocabulary, much to the chagrin of her co-workers at luxury marketing label Savoir.
To be clear, I love “Emily in Paris.” I binge-watched all three seasons upon their premiere: The wildly impractical outfits, the petty drama and the constant stress of Emily’s bad decisions make it a dishy dream. But that doesn’t mean I want to live in Emily’s two-dimensional world.
Given how much hate the show has gotten for its reliance on worn-out stereotypes, both about American expatriates and about the French, it’s surprising to see the Hollywood powers-that-be advertise a trip based on the recommendations of a protagonist that is seemingly ignorant to the true life and charm of her adopted city.
“Emily embarrasses me, as I don’t see her trying very hard to integrate into French life,” one American expat in Paris told the New York Times earlier this year.
Still, since its 2020 premiere, the show has bred an array of tour offerings in the city that show off routine filming locations like Emily’s apartment in the 5th arrondissement or Café de Flore, one of the oldest cafes in Paris (and one of Emily’s many haunts). The city’s own official tourism website offers an “Emily in Paris”-themed itinerary to curious travelers.
“Series like Emily in Paris make you wish there was a ‘Book This Trip’ button at the end of every episode,” Dharma chief executive Charaf El Mansouri said in a statement announcing the Paramount partnership. “That’s the opportunity we see ahead.”
With a city as bursting with “must-see” things to do as is Paris, the appeal of a preplanned itinerary themed after your favorite comfort watch is clear. But the offer also reflects a concerning trend that asks travelers to plan trips with unrealistic expectations and Instagram posts in mind, rather than let themselves be swept into the unique spirit of the places they visit.
On its website, Dharma calls the “Paris by Emily” trips “so shareable.” While coming home with pretty pictures is a nice part of any vacation, there’s so much more to Paris — or any city, for that matter — than a well-framed shot of the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night.