expensive city

SalB

We go to Paris because there are such reasonable hotel prices there. You can also eat very well without spending a fortune. Public transportation is excellent and inexpensive. If you are on a budget, Paris is a great choice!

Start right here on France.com for good priceso on hotel rooms. We usually stay at the Hotel de la Sorbonne in the Latin Quarter and book right here on France.com. The hotel is right across from the Sorbonne University, one block off a major Paris street, an easy walk to Notre Dame, the Louvre, the d'Orsay, Ste. Chapelle, the Luxembourg and Tuileries Gardens and a bit further but still an easy walk is Place des Vosges and the Pompidou Center. We walk on over to the Picasso Museum and have walked out to the Eiffel Tower but you might want to take the Paris Metro (subway) to the Eiffel Tower and certainly to Sacre Coeur with its fabulous view over the Paris rooftops.

Go to the Home Page of France.com and try a hotel search. The most reasonable central city hotels are in the Latin Quarter. The prices are listed here and there are photos and lots of very honest (and sometimes cutting) reviews. You can also check reviews of these hotels at http://www.tripadvisor.com as a reference.

Keep in mind that in France hotels are priced by the room unless they state otherwise. Many other countries price by the person so what looks expensive in Paris is usually a good price simply because it's for the room. Parisians love children so take advantage of their good nature and see if you can bargain down the price by getting a cot or two put in your room.

If you don't find a hotel in your price range, look on the left side of your screen at the long blue bar and under Lodging, click on Hostels. These are youth hostels (for any age group) and quite a few very inexpensive hotels. Check the hotel ratings on Trip Advisor to see if it's okay.

Restaurants in France are required to put their menus on display outside so you can see what the prices are before you go in. Parisians love to stroll along menu shopping so join them and find a restaurant that has something you are willing to eat at a price you can afford. To save money on food, have your main meal at noon when prices are lower. In the evening eat street food, baguette sandwiches, crepes or something of the sort or better yet, stop at a grocery and get a picnic. Bread, cheese, fruit and water or wine is a great meal in a park or even in your hotel room.

Buy a carnet (say "car-nay") of Metro tickets for transportation. You will get a little packet of 10 Metro tickets you can share amongst your group. When you run out, get another carnet. The two of us only use 10 (or fewer) in a week. Paris is a great city for walking because it is pretty small for a city. There are all kinds of Metro passes but you have to buy one for each family member and that can add up quickly. The passes also need to be used on consecutive days so if you buy a 3-day pass, you only have three days to use it. The carnet can be used any time by anyone and sharing is okay.

There are lots of free things to do in Paris so take advantage of them. Parks are great; churches have marvelous art and the occasional concert; summer is festival season and many are free; there are street performers everywhere and just walking is great entertainment.

Have fun!

it looks like its a great food budget