I spent a night out in Paris, where they don’t know my name, and I got into some trouble with that drink in my veins.”
Halsey
Paris for $100/Day: 4 Travel Tips
- How to Travel to Paris
- Where to Stay
- What to Eat
- Free Activities
Paris is always a quick detour for me for two reasons: First, Paris isn’t exactly my style so a day or so is enough time for me and secondly, I love Disneyland Paris (which I have a separate post about) so any time I am within train distance, I have to go! This post will give you some ideas on what to do, where to stay, what to eat, and most importantly: how to save money in the city of love!
How to Travel to Paris
Personally, I can fly from New York for a pretty affordable price all year long. For those of you who can’t, take advantage of the off-season! The most popular time to travel to Paris is April-September, so try going in the fall rather than the spring or summer. Flights are a lot less in October than in June and all of the attractions are less crowded too!
Where to Stay (and why!)
We chose to stay in the Residhome Roissy Village for $176. First of all, it cost us less to rent a private room with a bed, a pull out couch, and a kitchen than it would have to rent two beds in a hostel. This was our most expensive hotel for the trip, but we anticipated Paris to be pricey. The reason this hotel was less pricey than others is because it was about 19 miles/30 km away from major landmarks. A benefit that they had (and one I’d always look for in the future) is free transportation from the airport, as well as a free shuttle to the Eiffel Tower!!
Alternatively, I have also stayed closer to the city center for less, but you will have to be willing to take public transit (or fork out the euros for an Uber) because the smaller hotels in the city center will not have shuttles to/from the airport.
What to Eat
If I could spend all 24 hours eating crepes and croissants , I WOULD! Seriously, these are things I tend to pass on in my home country, but in France they are can’t-miss items.
Paris is one of the only places in the world that I actually enjoy mornings. My first recommendation is to find a cafe with a view. We chose Boulangerie-Patisserie de la Tour Eiffel, which is located at 21 Avenue de La Bourdonnais, because it had a great view of the Eiffel Tower and there was no wait. If you’re not a local Parisian, you can find it by simply wandering around the east side of the Eiffel Tower. I ordered a crepe and a cappuccino, while Drew got a croissant and espresso. Our totals were each under 10 euro (don’t forget, the tip is automatically included in Paris)! We honestly could have people watched and eaten pastries for hours, but we wanted to make the most of our day.
The night before, we chose to get street food and it was the best decision we made the entire time that we were in Paris. We ordered a crepe and a croque monsuier, then sat in the grass and watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle while we split our food. This also saves so much, because there are no tips involved and you can order a la carte instead of ordering an entire meal. I usually try to do this not only to save money, but so that I can try as many new foods as possible!
Free Things to Do in Paris
One of the most beautiful (and cost efficient!) things that you can experience in Paris is to walk along the River Seine. We headed east from the Eiffel Tower with no destination in mind. I prefer to walk this way because I can truly enjoy the scenery and culture without always trying to figure out where I am going. Now I know that when traveling (especially internationally) some people prefer to have a plan or destination at all times. I totally agree, and that’s why I try to put at least a 2 hour block into my planner that simply says “wander”. Though this may not be the way you prefer to travel, I hope you try it just once on a vacation and see where it takes you!
24 Hours Later
I love spending the night in Paris. Though it is not my favorite city, there is a little bit of magic that keeps me returning for more. The city is gorgeous to walk through, street food is amazing, and the biggest tourist attraction is completely free to see! If I could change anything, I’d chose an AirBnb that is more affordable than the hotel we chose. With that simple change and a travel partner, 24 hours in Paris can easily be done for less than $100 per person.
One last tip: Check out Fodor’s Travel Book on Paris! Click here or on the picture to buy!
