Thinking of a budget international holiday? How about Paris? That’s right - you can holiday in the French capital for under one lakh per head. Here's how!
City Travel: Public transport in Paris is well-organised and easy. A common ticket allows you to travel by bus, tram, metro, local train or underground railway. You can go as far as you like in the city in one direction for under 2 Euros per person. Buy a batch (carnet) of 10 tickets from the automatic ticket machines at every underground metro station, and each ticket will cost you less than 1.5 Euros.
For shorter distances, walk. Everyone in Paris walks, so pack a good pair of walking shoes. For instance, the distance from the Champs Elysées to the Eiffel Tower is walkable, so don't bother with metros or taxis.
A woman takes the sun on the bank of the Seine river, in Paris, France, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017 as temperatures raised up to 32 degrees Celsius (89 Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
Eat like a Parisian:
A restaurant meal in Paris can average 30 euros per head. Hire an apartment or house with a kitchen to enjoy the fine flavours of France. Put together your own meals with the fantastic French produce available, for a fraction of the cost of a restaurant meal.
Hit the local Monoprix, Carrefour or corner supermarket at 7am for warm, freshly-baked baguettes. With baguettes, jam, butter, cheese and fresh veggies, you can make an endless variety of fantastic sandwiches or bruschettas. Eating ham and cheese sandwiches in Paris is a must-do - most supermarkets sell packs of 2-3 ham sandwiches for less than 3 Euros.
COIMBATORE, TAMILNADU, 27/11/2013: French baguette bread at "V's", a cafe, bakery and pastry shop at Saibaba Colony, in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu. Photo: K. Ananthan
The delicately-flavoured fruit cordials or sirops are excellent value for money as beverages, and very typically French! Sample French culinary classics like duck or Cassoulet sausages in a microwavable format for under 5 euros a head. For vegetarians, couscous, rice and quinoa dishes with pre-packed side salads abound.
Sightseeing for free:
You don't have to pay to see all the sights in Paris. Picnic in public parks, explore museums and visit churches – without paying a penny! The Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Sacré Coeur church have no entry fee, so you can see these world-famous places for free! Or visit the Petit Palais museum, the Museum of Modern Arts or the Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens for no charge. On the first Sunday of the month, the iconic Louvre Museum and Musée d'Orsay have free entry.
People watch the Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, left, at its new place in the Louvre museum, in Paris Tuesday, April 5, 2005. The Louvre Museum has moved Da Vinci's ``Mona Lisa'' to a bigger room, refurbished at a cost of euro 4.8 million (US$ 6.1 million), giving a better view of the 500-year-old masterpiece to the millions who come to see it every year.(AP Photo/Francois Mori)
Avoid Tourist Traps:
For three or four people, a taxi to go to the airport and back costs just as much as the train or bus, since Charles de Gaulle airport is outside city limits. Avoid the touts inside the airport, and take a taxi from the designated taxi stand outside the airport.
Shopping for souvenirs?
Avoid Eiffel Tower keychains – they are available in Bangalore as well. Wine-shopping in Paris is not a good idea, unless you are a wine connoisseur. And never take wine on a plane – the temperature fluctuations will play havoc with the taste. You can, however, get good-quality dark chocolate for a good price in Paris, so load up on chocolate bars for friends and family back home.
Bon voyage!
