5 Tips to Visit Paris, France on a Budget

When most of us think of traveling to Paris, we think about high end French food, haute couture, and expensive hotels. It doesn't have to be like that, nor does it have to mean hostels and backpacking. There is a middle of the road, affordable option, that simply takes a little planning.

Airfare

First, make sure that you're flexible. You can find some great bargain airfares that won't be advertised by the airlines if you simply join the popular travel forums and log on regularly. The people who post in these forums are incredibly helpful, often posting fares that sell out before the search engines pick them up. Create a membership id, and post questions for the forum members, make yourself known. You'll pick up lots of tips from seasoned travelers who love to share their experiences. I recently purchased a roundtrip airfare from Florida to Paris for under $400 all inclusive, due to the helpful suggestion of a fellow forum member!

Lodging

I would highly suggest renting an apartment in Paris. You'll have much more room than you would in any but a five star hotel, with the added benefit of a kitchen with a refrigerator and stove. If you shop around carefully, you can find a beautiful one bedroom apartment in the heart of historic Paris for under $100 a night, all inclusive. Having a kitchen will allow you to keep simple food on hand for snacking, and it's wonderful to get up in the morning, prepare your own fresh coffee, and sit on your balcony and watch the sun rise over Paris, while still in your pajamas. Another benefit of having your own apartment is that most include a washer and dryer, so that means you can travel very lightly and do a quick load of laundry one evening, midway through your trip.

Getting Around

The absolute best and easiest way to get around is the Metro. There are metro stops everyplace; it's clean, safe, and easy to navigate. Stop at any Metro station information window, and pick up a free Metro map, buy a carnet of tickets (ten tickets) for about $14, and you'll be on your way.

Sights

An endless amount of fun can be had for under $20, even in the capitol of haute couture and high-end cuisine.