Paris is an amazing city. Amazing but expensive. I’ll never claim to be a Parisian expert, but after a handful of trips there over the past few years I’ve spent about a month collectively there.
1. Getting there: People rant and rave about the Eurostar. And it’s incredible, that’s true. Many people also get great deals on tickets. However, one person’s “great deal” on the EuroStar is still over budget for me. One day I’ll have the budget to travel to my heart’s extent, but right now I can’t spend more than £50 return for a ticket. So more often that not Sam and I take the EuroLines bus from London Victoria to Paris. Tickets on the bus average around £19 each way, and if you plan well, you can take the bus overnight, minimising the amount you spend on accommodation. Don’t rule out the budget airlines. Sometimes you get a great deal. But if you don’t live close to an airport, most of the budget flight check in times are at times when the tube has just started. So you might end up spending more getting to the airport than you spend on your flight. Just take the bus.
2. Accommodation: I’ve reached the age were I don’t really find hostels particularly fun anymore, especially when Sam and I are traveling as a couple. But don’t rule out the hostels because you think you’ll be piled into a huge group dorm. Most hostels offer private rooms (some ensuite, some not) for significantly cheaper rates than a hotel would. I have a hostel that’s my go-to in Paris, where we can get a double room, ensuite with breakfast included for less than £50. The room might be basic but the views are gorgeous. Besides, how much time are you actually going to be spending in your hotel room when you are exploring a new city? A hotel is probably the last thing I’d splurge on.
3. Eating: Paris is famous for its incredible cuisine. It’s also famously difficult to eat on a budget. Someone once said that eating on a budget in Paris can leave one feeling like “a spectre at a feast” which is totally true. So here are my tips: skip eating at restaurants for the most part and visit local shops and picnic most meals. For example, for dinner one night Sam and I grabbed a bottle of champagne and some bits from the local shop; two baguettes from the local boulangerie; amazing cheese and saucisson from a fromagerie; and dessert from a patisserie. Then we took it all down to the Seine and dined at our leisure. And looking around us, loads of people were doing the same thing. Total cost of that meal? Approximately £10. And everything we ate was local and fresh, and that included the bottle of champagne. If you want to eat a hot meal at a bistro, just avoid the heavily tourist areas and you should be able to get some much better deals!
Have you traveled to Paris before? What are your money saving recommendations?
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