When beloved Hallmark star Barbara Niven headed overseas to film the new Lacey Chabert-led series “Paris is Always a Good Idea” in France and Spain, she took four jam-packed suitcases — and a bunch of advice from her “Hannah Swensen Mysteries” co-star and dear friend Alison Sweeney, who’s an old pro at filming overseas.
But after the shoot wrapped on May 18, 2026, Niven adorably revealed to her fans in an Instagram video that she’d had to “buy an extra suitcase,” admitting that she had no idea how she was going to get everything home.
Barbara Niven Says Her ‘Whole Room Has Exploded’
As Niven panned her camera around her hotel room to reveal clothes, food, and knick-knacks strewn about, her honesty about her travel dilemma was relatable and refreshing.
Noting that the cast and crew had “just wrapped the very final scene and setup” of the new series, Niven stifled a laugh as she admitted, “I just got back to my hotel room, and now I am packing up five suitcases. I came with four, and now I have five because I had to buy an extra suitcase!”
Wide-eyed, she continued, “And my whole room has exploded, I have everything out. I’ve just got to show you. This is not how I live, but I’m trying to organize!”
The longtime “Hannah Swensen Mysteries” star panned her camera around the world to reveal leftover food on her hotel table, a laundry basket of clothes, and a closet full of wardrobe pieces as she lamented, “Somehow I’ve got to pack up before morning because they’re picking me up at 7 am for the airport!”
Alison Sweeney Says It’s No Surprise Barbara Niven Packed So Many Suitcases
HallmarkOne person who’s not surprised at all about Niven’s jam-packed suitcases is Alison Sweeney, with whom she’s been making “Hannah Swensen Mysteries” since 2014. Niven plays Hannah’s mom, Delores, and the two have grown so close over the years that they often stay together while filming.
In early May, while Sweeney was promoting their latest movie in the franchise, “Best Served Cold,” she told EntertainmentNow how thrilled and proud she was of Niven for accepting the “Paris Is Always a Good Idea” role and a fun adventure in France and Spain.
An enthusiastic world traveler, Sweeney has filmed Hallmark projects overseas, including “The Wedding Veil” franchise with Chabert and Autumn Reeser. In early 2025, while filming her “To Barcelona” movies with Ashley Williams, she visited the exact spot where Niven was staying and shooting in Spain — a beautiful resort town called San Sebastián.
“She travels heavy,” Sweeney quipped, noting that she urged Niven to be smart about packing and planning, since many hotels in the town don’t even have elevators. “I was trying to be her assistant. I was like, ‘You have to plan this out ahead of time. Do not be caught off guard.'”
Lacey Chabert Dropped By With Comfort Food for Barbara Niven
Before Niven dove into packing, she revealed to her fans, “But I just got a knock on the door by the sweetest person ever. Guess what Lacey just brought me? Dinner!”
As Niven opened a large box of pizza, she scoffed, “As if I could eat a whole pizza! But man, I’m gonna try.” She noted that Chabert also brought salad, marveling, “That’s just who she is, so I just wanted to say thanks.”
“Wish me luck packing, please,” she concluded. “I may be up all night, but I will make that plane back and tomorrow I’ll be in my own bed! But wow, what an experience this has been. Thank you, Hallmark.”
We’re trusting Niven managed to get all five of her suitcases packed up and to the airport on time today. “Paris is Always a Good Idea” will premiere on Hallmark+, and though a date has not been announced, she did tell fans in her video that it will be out “pretty quickly.”
