Travel France on a Budget – A Holiday in Paris

Imagine yourself taking a sunset stroll along the River Seine, enjoying a pastry after a day of taking in culture and art in the City of Lights. If spending your vacation time in France is a dream come true, but a little out of your price range, don’t worry! Here are some tips to help you keep saving while you’re away in France.

The City of Lights

If you’re hoping to visit France on a budget, it’s best to choose one destination that gives you the most holistic taste of all that this beautiful country has to offer. When it comes to culture, art, history and cuisine, Paris is the center of it all. By choosing one main location in France – specifically Paris – you will be able to do many varied activities all in one place, and reduce the costs of traveling in the country.

Accommodation

Besides airfare, lodging is typically the biggest expense when traveling. If you don’t mind skipping the room service, or the 5 star hotel that has just created a new Resort pool design to rival the pools in St Tropez, there are some cheaper options that will stretch your budget much further.

Do your research and try staying in a university dorm room. It’s much less expensive than a hotel room — the average cost is about $35 USD a night, and it can help you relive your college days. Hostels are also a great way to stay within your budget. A private room will run you around $85 USD, but will host your entire party; if you are traveling alone, go for a public room, which will reduce the cost. Getting a hotel room in a suburb outside of the city, or even camping there, can reduce your expenses. Couchsurfing or renting someone’s house or apartment for your stay is a better option, too.

Food

While you don’t want to miss out on the five-star cuisine Paris has to offer, there are some ways to avoid breaking the bank to eat. During your vacation, try to splurge only on larger meals once or twice, as each will cost around $30 USD per person. For your other meals, have a picnic: buy the ingredients at an open-air market, and make sandwiches to enjoy by the Seine. Pastries from a bakery are a cheap and delicious way to start your morning. Also, don’t forget about the wine! A bottle can be purchased for under $5 USD.

Transportation

When you stay in the city, the cheapest way to get around, besides walking, is take the metro. Individual rides will cost around $1-2 USD; if you are staying longer, a rail pass will be worth the fee. If you plan to get out of town and drive, consider boarding with Autoeurope, a short-term car rental program similar to the Zipcar programs in Philadelphia and New York City. For a small fee, you will be able to use one of the cars in the Autoeurope fleet whenever you need it at a reasonable cost.

Attractions

During your Parisian vacation, you won’t want to miss the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and all the other museums and attractions around the city. However, each entry ticket can run you between $10-20 USD per person. To reduce this cost, think about getting a Paris Pass. This pass gives you admission to almost all the sites in Paris, and even offers transportation, all for a flat fee. Also, check the websites of the places you want to visit; they may offer free entry on certain days to students and the general public.

Beyond Paris

If you’re looking to visit other parts of France besides Paris on a budget, certain cities will help you stick to your budget. Nice is a great place to visit if you’re interested in seeing the French Riviera, and it’s much cheaper than Monte Carlo, Cannes or St Tropez. Also, try Marseille, as you will be able to find cheap accommodations and still get a big dose of art, culture and cuisine.

Traveling the world but staying frugal can be a tricky task, especially in France. However, if you do your research to find accommodations, food and attraction tickets at a lower price, you can make it happen. Wherever you travel, make memories, take photos and stay cheap!