Looking to travel to Paris? Since I was eight years old, I dreamed of one day exploring the city of love. My bedroom was filled with Eiffel Towers and maps of the city. When I was 14, I decided if I wanted to go to Paris, I would have to take action into my own hands…so I did. By the time I was 16 years old, I had finally saved up enough money to pay for my mom and me to travel to Paris and dine in the Eiffel tower. Through this process, I realized how affordable travel can be—especially in Paris. If you want to travel to this magical city, this is the article for you. I urge you to take action because your dream is only a flight away.

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Getting to Paris

My three best tips for plane tickets include Google Flights, Expedia, and Travel Zoo. I’ll dive deeper into how each website works and which one might be best for you.

Google Flights

This search engine seems so simple, yet is often overlooked when planning trips. Google is the world’s best search engine, and that does not fall short when it comes to flights. When exploring Google flights, make sure to use your laptop or computer so you can utilize the explore tab. When looking to book your trip, hit the explore tab on the left side of the page.

This will bring you to another page where you can explore flight options. When here, click on the dates tab. At the top, there should be two options: Specific dates, and flexible dates. If you can be flexible with your dates, then hit that tab for the best results. It will give you the option of choosing any time frame from a weekend to two weeks in any given month (off months will always be the cheapest). 

I am currently based in Washington, DC, as I write this article, so I listed above the cheapest round trip tickets from Washinton DC to Europe in the next six months. As you can see, it is only $342 for these round trip tickets to Paris. The catch is that it must be under their flexible dates. This particular trip is Monday, Feb. 27 – Tuesday, Mar. 7, 2023. You can play around with different months, weeks, and cities and find a trip that is right for you! Google Flights is a search engine, so it will direct you to the websites that have the best deals. These may not be the most comfortable flights, but for a budget traveler, it will be a good adventure!

Expedia

This is the perfect place to look if you are getting tickets and hotel rooms. They have deals like no other on trip packages. Expedia works best when you are staying in the same city for the duration of your trip because you will get the best deal by booking the flight and hotel together.

Taking the cheap dates I previously found on Google Flights, I put those into Expedia to explore the best deals. I would recommend playing around with several different dates until you find the best deal. I again set mine from Washinton, DC to Paris with the same dates. I then sorted from lowest to highest prices in order to get the best deals. You can look around on this site for any budget—whether cheap and adventurous or expensive and luxurious. You can also add on packages such as sightseeing tours or tickets to Disneyland Paris. 

Travel Zoo

This site is the most difficult out of the three, yet contains some of the best deals. The travel offers are unbelievable but tend to be very specific from one date and one airport. I usually check out the Top 20 page every week to keep my eye out for new deals. They don’t always have European options, but when they do, you want to book them fast. This website also works as a search engine that displays the best deals, so you will have to book it through another site afterward. Unfortunately, right now there are no Parisian deals, but keep an eye out for when they do come on. 

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Staying in Paris

Once in Paris, the next largest cost will be housing. With the rise of Airbnbs and house swapping, staying in other countries has become easier than ever. 

House Swap

Last summer my family house swapped our house in Los Angeles with a family from southern France. This way, we were able to say in Frace for free for an entire week. This is definitely the cheapest way to explore a new country. We worked out agreements to borrow cars as well which made transportation much easier. We were able to use the car to travel to nearby towns and attractions. We found this family through mutual friends on Facebook, but you can check out websites such as HomeExchange.com or HomeLink.org. Be sure to connect with friends from other countries and see if they would be willing to do an exchange. 

Expedia

Hostels

Hostels are increasingly becoming a nice place to stay while traveling. With proper research, you can find safe, clean hostels at an extremely low price. Hostels are my absolute favorite place to stay because of the community aspect. If you are unfamiliar with what hostels are, be sure to check out my in-depth introduction to the hostel lifestyle. Paris tends to have pricer hostels averaging around $50 for a dorm in peak season. To cut down costs, consider going during the off-season: fall or spring. Hostels are definitely worth checking out as they often are still cheaper than a hotel and provide a livelier atmosphere. 

Locations such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Champs-Élysées are going to be more expensive, so look to places like Montmartre, Montparnasse, the Latin Quarter, or Le Marais for cheaper accommodations. 

Check out my Selina Hostel article for a sneak peek into what hostels look like these days. 

Airbnb

The rise of Airbnb has drastically cut down costs for group travel. The more people you travel with, the lower the cost will be for the Airbnb (after splitting fees). Airbnbs near the Eiffel tower average around $200 a night (on the very conservative side), but split between four people, it only costs you about $50. One thing to be mindful of is the hidden cleaning and service fees that are quickly added on. If you enjoy privacy and personal space when traveling, then Airbnb might be the perfect option for you. 

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Activities in Paris

Paris is a beautiful city containing many free activities that will accommodate your budget travel. Photos are always my favorite souvenirs, and the best part is that they are free! Seeing sights such as the Effiel Tower or Arc de Triomphe are completely free. You do not necessarily need to go to the top. Down below are some of my favorite free things in the city

Museums and Monuments

Parks

Parks are a great way to experience the beautiful scenery of Paris for free. Some of my top recommendations include Tuileries Garden, Champ De Mars & Trocadéro, and Luxembourg Gardens. Tuileries Garden remains directly outside of the Louvre and might be a perfect way to spend your time after touring the museum. There are plenty of activities to experience in this park including the 200-foot Ferris wheel. Champ De Mars & Trocadéro have less greenery, but some of the most amazing views of the Eiffel tower in all of Paris. If you are looking for that picture-worthy spot, then this is it. Luxembourg Gardens are located in the middle of the city and are a must-see for anyone visiting. It was first inspired by the world-famous Boboli Garden and remains a staple of beauty in Paris. 

Walking Tours

The best way to Experience a new city is through a free walking tour. When I first arrive in a new place, I often book a free walking tour in order to learn the history and layout of where I am. Big cities like Paris are no exception. Budget a $5 tip, but you do not need to tip much. I often check out Guru Walks for tours. They have posted reviews about tour guides and different tour experiences. I would recommend looking into several as Paris is a big city and the tours will explore different aspects. 

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Food

Now obviously food is not going to be free, but if you look in the right places, you can find very affordable deals in dining options. 

If you are planning to eat out, it will be cheaper at lunch times. Restaurants often switch to more expensive menus whenever dinner rolls around. 

If you have access to a kitchen, cooking meals are significantly cheaper as well. Cooking your own food is an experience on its own. You can make a trip to the local markets for fresh daily produce and ingredients. 

Be careful what you order to drink! Drinks in France are served very differently than in America. Water costs extra money and soda is served at room temperature in a glass. It is surprisingly cheaper at most places to order a glass of wine or beer with your meal. 

Eat like a Parisian for breakfast! Often times when in Paris, I would stop by the local market for a baguette, and orange juice or coffee. This was typically a cheaper breakfast than eating at a restaurant. 

Picnicking can be an affordable way to eat with some of the best views in the world. Bringing food out to the gardens around the Eiffel Tower can be an affordable way to eat while admiring an infatuating landmark. 

When eating inside a restaurant be careful about the “sitting fee.” Often times restaurants will charge you if you sit inside the cafe, so be sure to take advantage of the patio seating area. 

And don’t forget, you don’t have to tip! Oftentimes, they will attempt to take advantage of the fact that you are an American and they will ask you how much you would like to tip when in reality, they should not expect a tip at all. This can add unnecessary fees to your dinner that you did not need to pay.

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Transportation

Once in the large city, you will need a way to get around.

Metro

This is the cheapest and easiest way to get around most of the city. Metro tickets start around $2. You can buy a metro pass for 1-5 days of unlimited travel starting at $14. This will save you lots of money on navigating the city. The metro connects most parts of the city together. 

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