A budget-conscious visit to Paris might sound like an oxymoron. For the young traveler with ambitions larger than his or her wallet, there are endless creative ways to save.
The number one stop for culture lovers in Paris is the Louvre, the treasure chest of the art world situated in the heart of the city. The palace-turned-culture-storehouse is the largest and most visited museum in the world, with more than 8.3 million visitors last year. The Louvre was once a medieval palace and the crown seat of 700 year's worth of French royalty. It now houses 35,000 works of art including Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa to Egyptian sarcophagi to Venus de Milo. Visit on the first Sunday of the month for free and pocket the regular $16.50 ticket price.
Cut the Eiffel Tower admission price in half and hike the stairs to the second floor, 277 feet above the Paris skyline. The cost is about $4 versus a typical $10 elevator ride. Tourists won't have to do all 1,664 steps since climbing to the very top is prohibited, but be prepared to be out of breath from the view and the exercise.
Enter into the most visited Parisian landmark, Notre Dame, for free. The church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, teems with milling tourists by day and transforms into a courtyard of wine drinkers and guitar players beneath its stone carvings of the Virgin and Jesus in heaven by night. If ascending the towers is an absolute must, pack some identification with your birthday on it to get the reduced rate of about $6.10.
Don't overpay in tourist trap souvenir stores. The streets of Paris are teeming with street peddlers ready to haggle down their prices. Name a price and stick to it. Most of these guys come armed with goodie bags full of Eiffel Tower key chains five for $1.50, Pashmina scarves for $5 and jewelry gift sets for less than $10. Visit the nearest supermarket for some $6 bottles of French wine or chocolate that easily survive a plane ride home.
Avoid paying the average $15 Parisian daily special by heading to a corner crepe stand. Watching crepe-makers morph the batter into buttery pancake-like triangular wraps is entertainment in itself. A ham and cheese crepe with a chocolate banana combo for dessert can come out to less than $7.
Most museums will slash prices for you and thrifty opportunities await despite Paris's posh image of costly living. Even in Paris, ways around excessive spending are endless for the frugal and young.
2 comments:
I really like the new layout. cool background and as always, awesome pics. I hope I can take pictures like the ones you take when I start my sports photography career
Great story!! I will take your advice o wise one!! I miss you!! Cant wait to see you when you come back, I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE DOING WHAT MOST DREAM!!!
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