A Paris Vacation Fit for Your Budget

Whether it’s a hotel stay, shopping or dining out, a vacation to Paris can be a pricey proposition, especially if you’ve got your sights set on an upscale trip. But there are plenty of ways to stretch your dollar.

Posted 4:29 a.m. Mar 21, 2018 — Updated 4:29 a.m. Mar 21, 2018

SHIVANI VORA

, New York Times

Barkley Hickcox, a Paris specialist and an owner of Local Foreigner, offers a few tips.

Travel at the Right Time: The ideal time to visit Paris is between November and April, when hotel prices are at their lowest. Some high-end properties offer even further discounts if you book a stay several months in advance.

Hickcox is a fan of visiting during the first half of December, when the city is decorated with holiday lights and is particularly beautiful. If you prefer warmer weather, April can be a mild and sunny month to visit. But if you’re on a budget, avoid going in June and September, because hotel rates are at their peak.

Choose the Right Accommodations: Families traveling to Paris should consider staying in a high-end apartment instead of a hotel, Hickcox said. “An apartment is less expensive than booking multiple rooms at a five-star hotel, and since you have a kitchen, you can save money on food costs by eating in occasionally,” she said.

Companies like OneFineStay, Paris Perfect and Paris Attitude have a range of luxury apartment listings in the city.

Eat Smart: Go for lunch, when the tab will be much lower and the cuisine just as good. Several popular restaurants offer affordable midday prix fixe menus.

Frenchie has a four-course, seasonally-driven menu for 45 euros (about $56) while the four-course lunch menu at Septime, another seasonal spot, is 42 euros. For dinner, Hickcox recommended going to restaurants in residential neighborhoods such as South Pigalle, the Haut Marais and Montmartre. One of Hickcox’s top resources to find off-the-beaten path restaurants is the blog Paris by Mouth.

Pass on Taxis or Cars: “You can fully appreciate the city’s beauty by walking, and it’s designed for walkers, because there are walking paths and sidewalks everywhere,” Hickcox said.

For longer distances, she suggested using the city’s bike share system, Velib. A weeklong pass costs 15 euros, and there are stations everywhere. Or, try the Métro, the Paris subway system. It’s convenient, and you can buy daily and weekly passes.

Shop the Flea Markets: While Paris has no shortage of big-name designer stores, the city’s flea markets are full of unusual and far more affordable finds. Marché aux Puces St. Ouen, for instance, sells vintage furniture, vintage designer jewelry and handbags as well as old books, maps and other knickknacks. Hickcox also likes Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves, a smaller, more manageable version of St. Ouen.

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