Hotel, Air and Rental Car
You might consider forgoing perfect weather for affordability and plan your trip to Paris during the off-season (November to March), avoiding holiday peak times. Some airfares from New York to Paris can be found as low as $300 in the off-season, hotel prices are a steal and you will not have to elbow your way around a zillion other tourists. Check out which hotels and events are closed during the off-season, and plan things to do on your trip that take into account the occasional poor weather day (such as a day at a free museum, listed below). Consider ditching the rental car and travel via the metro--it is reliable and inexpensive and will save you all those horrendous parking fees. If you will be staying for a longer period of time, consider booking a Paris vacation rental rather than a hotel, which can save you a considerable amount of dough and may come equipped with a kitchenette that will save you the cost of having to eat out every meal.
Resources to Save You Money
Before you plan your sightseeing tour, visit the tourism office to check out their list of free events, receive your complimentary maps and find discounted coupons for museums and other events. The Office de Tourisme, located at 25 Rue des Pyramides, also has a number of satellite branches at the Gare de Lyon, Gare du Nord, Anvers and the Place du Tetre. Visit it online at www.parisinfo.com.
Another important thing to get straight quick is to never get cash from a money exchange company--they charge exorbitant commissions and their exchange rates are horrific. You may withdraw euros with your bank debit or credit card at most ATMs in Paris, which will save you money on fees.
Low-Cost & Free Events
The Louvre costs from €6 to €13 for admission but is free for visitors on the first Sunday of each month. If you cannot make it then, the least expensive time to visit is on Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:45 to 9:45 p.m. Those under 18 are admitted free to most Paris museums, and all municipal museums are completely free of charge; you can get a complete listing at the local tourist office. Free concerts may also be found for the budget-minded traveler, so pick up a Pariscope, which lists many free classical music events held in local churches on Sundays throughout the city. If you are into the theater, you might consider a last-minute ticket for a show as low as €5 if you do not mind standing while watching at the Bastille.
Free walking tours offered by Sandeman's New Europe are available for Paris travelers and begin daily at 11 a.m. at St. Michel Fountain. These 3-hour tours are led by entertaining guides who work only for tips and are a great way to get to know Paris. If you do not like to walk you can always bike, thanks to Vélib', which allows visitors to borrow a bike from one of 750 pick-up spots in Paris and return it at any other center within 30 minutes' time. Small rates are charged if you need to borrow the bike for longer than 30-minute intervals.
