My Secret Paris

To save money in Paris we bought a few of our meals and a bunch of wine to take home to friends and family, at a local grocery store. Don’t shop in a store designated for tourists, look for one the locals use. You’ll get a taste of the real culture of the neighborhood you are in, and save money! We found wonderful bread and cheese that you just can’t get at home, taking it back to our hotel to enjoy for a quarter of the price you’d pay in a cafe. The clerks loved the fact that we were venturing off the beaten path, and were extremely sweet and helpful (who says the French are rude?) Use the money you save on  whatever you want, we all know Paris is full of things to spend your money on!

One of the best tips I can give to those visiting Paris has to do with one of the most basic staples of any travel experiences: water.  Although it may be easy to overlook, you will often find yourself looking for an available source of fresh and clean water, especially if you are traveling in the summer.  Unfortunately, many operators of tourist attractions are aware of this as well and consequently charge exorbitant amounts for a bottle of water.  Inside the Louvre, for example, the gift stores charge 2.50 euros for a small 500ml bottle.  You will find similar prices being charged outside of the museum and at other busy tourist locations.  In order to avoid spending so much money on water, I would advise travelers to go to local grocery stores and purchase large bottles there.  We were able to find 2 liter bottles of water for as little as forty or fifty euro cents.  You can store these large bottles of water in your hostel or hotel room.  Each morning, before leaving for a day of sightseeing, you can use these large bottles to fill up a small bottle to keep with you during the day.  Keep a second bottle in a purse or shoulder bag and you should have enough to last you the whole day.  Do this everyday and you will save a good amount of money across the entire length of your trip!

The best way to see Paris is to walk around it. You can take a map, close your eyes, and randomly point to two locations on the map. Then spend the day vaguely walking from point A to point B. This is a cheap way to get around, as well as being the best way to ‚Äòfeel’ the city. The metro isn’t too expensive either, and getting a ‚Äòcarnet’ of 10 tickets usually is the best deal.

Montmartre is the most wonderful area, and at least one sunset should be experienced from up there. (Make sure you watch Amelie before going there!). You should definitely eat crepes while in Paris, but try to move away from the most touristy areas. That way you should get a nice combination of authentic quality and good prices. Near Place de La Bastille, there are many wonderful restaurants and small bars, each offering a varied atmosphere.

If the weather is nice, spending time outside is a fantastic way to understand what Paris is about! The Jardins Luxembourg is teeming with life in Spring and Summer, as are all the parks. Walking along the River Seine is a must. A visit to the cemetery Pere LaChaise is always interesting. You can buy a guide to the celebrity graves in any of the shops or bars just outside the cemetery. Don’t buy them from anyone walking around selling them ‚Äì you’ll end up paying twice as much!