Budgeting your way through Paris

I must admit, Paris isn’t the cheapest place in Europe to visit but it also isn’t the most expensive, if done right.  Read on to get an insight on how you can budget your next Paris trip!

Since Paris is such a popular tourist location, it’s inevitable that it’s going to be pricey but that’s only if you’re looking in the wrong places.  First and foremost if you plan to fly there, I’d recommend using ‘Google Flights’ or ‘Expedia’ to see all the best costs for airlines and airports in one place, and if possible try to avoid visiting at peak times for some great discounts throughout the year.  I pushed my visit a couple of weeks out of summer to the beginning of September and managed to save massive amounts for travel and accommodation.  Speaking of accommodation, Paris is so luxurious and high end and offers plenty of hotels to that standard, however there are also so many options for a fraction of the price that have the same spectacular views.  Using websites such as ‘Trip Advisor’ and ‘Expedia’ will again give you an overview of all hotels in the specific area you’re looking for with a broad range of prices.  For even more bargains, AirBnb is amazing for accommodation at low prices (and surprisingly great views!)

I think my biggest shock when visiting Paris was the cost of food and alcohol, especially cocktails!  The streets surrounding the Eiffel tower are so full of restaurants and the most aesthetic cafe’s it’s overwhelming so sometimes the easiest thing to do is to get into the first one you see without checking the prices first.  A lot of the time they’ll sit you down themselves without giving you a second to think about prices, so my first tip would be to have a little walk first, check out the prices and then decide which restaurant suits your budget best.  They may not always be the closest one to you but the metro is so easy to use that a little adventure feels like nothing and worth it to save a bit of money!  Regarding cocktails, all I’ll say that a single tastes just like a double (it’s pretty strong out there) and a double costs the same as a quadruple, so make sure to confirm what you would like and check they don’t charge you any extra at the end.  I can’t tell you how many singles I asked for and doubles I paid for because I wasn’t checking, and it wasn’t cheap!

When walking around the Eiffel Tower, there are hundreds of locals out and about trying to sell all sorts of souvenirs, keyrings, champagne and more but don’t get too roped in.  Yes the twinkly Eiffel towers may be beautiful but ask yourself – Is it worth 20Euros?  Probably not.  By the end of your trip I can guarantee you will be an expert in saying “No thank you”, “I’m alright, thank you” and dodging the odd scam.

Last but not least, a big part of your stay will revolve around visiting the tourist attractions and many of them may require a cost.  Booking beforehand will always guarantee you a cheaper price so try planning your trip day by day to allow you to book your trips in advance, whether that be a hop on hop off bus tour, a walk around the louvre or a trip up the Eiffel tower, my ‘What-To-Do list’ gives you a full selection of the best spots to visit and how.