Advice regarding big weekend away?

LJD1_2

Hiya
My friend is 40 this September and we've been saving £10 a month for the last three years as she'd like us to go to Paris for a girly weekend. We're going to see the sights rather than clubbing and drinking (i'll take wine in my suitcase!!). So, I was wondering if anyone has any advice for our trip. We're hoping to get a flight and hotel for about £250 each and then planning what we want to see and walking and using public transport when we're there. It's obviously all got to be debt free friendly!
Thankyou xx

angchris

the only advice i have is certainly dont bother taking wine in your suitcase...buy it there its much cheaper! :beer: have a great time!...angchris

hypno06

When we went to Paris we bought a travel card in advance - worked out dead cheap for the Metro and I think it got you into some sights free/reduced too.

Also, there are lots of lovely park areas throughout Paris - pack up some baguettes and a bottle of wine and head over for a Sunday lunch picnic - the parks are full of families going for strolls and people doing Tai Chi in the morning. I just found them a really relaxing place to spend a couple of hours for free, especially in the morning before things opened/got going.

I am sure you will have a lovely time, and what a fab idea to have saved up so far in advance - well organised friend!!

cookie9

You can buy a book of tickets for the metro which works out to be fairly cheap.

Many restaurants have fixed price menus which can be a good deal.

Watch where you sit! Having a coffee or a drink will cost you more if you are outside rather than inside. Cheapest way to have a drink is to copy the French and stand at the bar.

LJD1_2

Thankyou for all your advice. To be honest I never thought of parks as free places to go hypno so we'll definitely add that to our list. I'm off to google free places to go in Paris xx

irishmist_2

Was in Paris recently as well, and had a great time. you can get a card called something like "Passeport de musees and monuments" from any metro station for (i think 1,3 or 5 days) and you can go to different places much more cheaply than paying separately for them.Also means much less queueing when you get there!

Paris is also just so great to meander around and enjoy without doing much at all! Like others have said fixed price menues are usually v reasonable and yu know what you're paying n advcance. Otherwise having big bowls of French Onion Soup is very reasonable and feels just so french to do!

The other thing that's worth getting is the Time Out magazine (not book) before you go - they give a really up to date list of cheap places to eat that are recommended and tried very recently, and usually have a list of cheap/free places to go/days when the museums are cheaper/free etc.

Have a great time!

Floss

I seem to remember that museums are free on Sundays (but don't quote me on that!).

Museum D'Orsay is fab - impressionists
Pyramids in the Place de Louvre are pretty spectacular, as is the Pompidou Centre with all its pipes on the outside painted bright colours.
In the Louvre, Mona Lisa is a lot smaller than you think, but if you can find David (he was in a basement 15 years ago!) he's worth a look!
Tuileries Gardens are lovely
Notre Dame is free
Montmarte is great to wander around, Sacre Couer (church at top) is also free - i think.
We walked along the Seine, with a baguette & bottle picnic from a supermarket.

Have a great time!

Raffles99

If you haven't booked flights, book NOW for September or you'll get stung.

However, check hotel prices before you book. Paris prices are very high across late Sep / Oct because of Fashion Week and the Rugby World Cup.

LJD1_2

Thanks for everyones comments. We're booking tomorrow night and then will start researching where to go etc. Getting very excited now as we've been saving for so long xx