Thank you all for tuning in to chat about some of the best tips and tricks on getting to Paris and what to do in the City of Light.
The first step is getting there and my favorite way to search for flights is Skyscanner. They have an app or a website and you can select and watch flights and they will send updates when the prices go up or even better down. When it comes to purchasing the flight it’s best to stay with the major airlines and not buy the flights through the 3rd party clearing houses. If something happens and you need to cancel, you are less protected by those sites that buy in bulk from the major carriers.
Where to sit in the plane is always a personal choice. Are you an aisle or a window? Are you back in economy because you can care less how you get there or is it first class or nothing. Today prices are extremely high. The carriers are trying to recoup those losses and you pay the price unfortunately. Some chose their flights based on fares and others stick with a certain carrier. The section you choose is another personal choice.
Once you get to Paris where you stay is the biggest decision you can make. If it is your first time then stay in the center where you are close to most of the major things you want to see and can walk everywhere. If you are just there for a few days a hotel is great and there are thousands of rooms in the city. Those two are seeing some pretty high price hikes and especially for the summer it is pretty steep. For a more extended period of at least a week an AirBnB or VRBO is a smart way to go as it will be less expensive and you can also have a refrigerator and washing machine in many apartments.
Paris can be expensive but there are lots of ways to save money. Picking up fromage, wine and a baguette can all be done for under 20€ and fill you up for a few meals. It’s also the best! Groceries are much less expensive also, especially compared to the US right now. Some days you can spend 50€ on lunch and some days you pick up a jambon beurre and sit in the Jardin du Luxembourg and it’s amazing. There are so many great ways to have some amazing experiences that don’t cost a ton of money.
Other great things that won’t cost a single centime are visits to the Jardin des Tuileries which is filled with statues and little pockets to sit in the shade. The Jardin du Luxembourg has 107 statues that fill this oasis of the Left Bank as well as the grand basin with the sweet boats for kids that do cost a few euros, tennis courts and every other sport you can think of.
A favorite museum is the Musée des Arts Forains that is for everyone that is a kid at heart. Inside they have vintage carnival and circus games, carousels and really fun rooms that take you back in time. You may have seen it in Midnight in Paris when the characters rode on the bicycle powered carousel and you get to do the same thing. You can ride on each of the carousels and even play some of the games. It is so much fun and even if you don’t have little ones go check it out. Most tours are in French, they occasionally do English tours but in the next two months there aren’t any on the schedule. Even if you don’t speak French, don’t skip it. Tickets are released 30 days out and are 18.80€ per person and during the summer they have three entries a day. You MUST have a ticket in advance.