How to Plan A Trip to Paris
For many, going to Paris is a dream destination. That’s why France is one of, if not the most, touristed countries in the entire world. People dream of taking their pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower, dining at upscale restaurants, touring the Louvre, and taking coffee at one of Paris’s many quaint cafes. But how does one get there, especially in their twenties, with all the other financial obligations that plague us (bills, student loans, car payments, taxes etc)? Even more vexing, as Paris is the City of Love, you might just have it in your mind to bring your significant other along for the ride. How do you make sure you get the quintessential Paris experience, and that your loved one does, too?
First Things First — Getting There
There are people who love finding the absolute cheapest flight possible. Point collectors will tell you of advanced strategies they employ in order to get their flights to and from Europe covered for free. There are all kinds of great strategies out there to finding cheap flights, and I am surely not a master of them all. What I did do, however, was find reasonably priced tickets on a reputable airline during the off season.
I strongly recommend purchasing your flights as far in advance of your actual trip as you can. This will keep prices down, and is a great way to start chiseling at the sizable investment you are going to be making into your European adventure.
Practice Good Spending Habits
When I went to Europe in the fall of last year, the closer the trip got, the more aware I became of my spending. Anything that I did not have to buy, I tried not to purchase. This is simply because the more money you save while you are home leading up to the trip, the more money you can spend while you are actually there. Also, it helps to practice good spending habits leading up to your trip because a world of temptation awaits you, once you are actually there. You’ll want to buy a few things. But you certainly don’t want to break the bank!
Finding Your Accommodations
Booking accommodations in advance, like purchasing flights, will also save money in the long run. There are a bevy of options for you to choose from in Paris, ranging from low cost and bare bones, to extravagant and posh. For me, somewhere in the middle is just right.
Considering location is also vital when planning your Paris getaway. To make things easier on you, do a peripheral scan of all activities, attractions, restaurants and venues within the area of the hotel. This can make things easier, especially once you’ve narrowed it down to a few choice hotels. What cafes and attractions are nearest might just settle the score and have you booked and ready for your vacation!
Luckily, in Paris, everything’s pretty easy to reach. However, I do recommend not being afraid to spend the money you need to spend on getting a really good place. You’ll want to be comfortable during your stay. There’s nothing better than coming home to a comfortable room that you really enjoy after a long day of sightseeing.
Spacing Out Purchases — Avoiding the Credit Cards
It’s not wrong to pay for your travel with credit cards. However, you might find it even more fulfilling if you are able to pay for much of it with your own, hard earned cash. To do this, it’s helpful to space out purchasing flights, booking hotels, and getting tickets to attractions over the course of several months leading up to your getaway. Got a sizable refund from the IRS this year? Use that to purchase flights. Just got a bonus at work? Invest it in your lodgings during the trip.
Additionally, you can also set up a high yield savings account leading up to the trip. Every paycheck, deposit a set amount to this special travel account, and watch your bank account grow! This way, you’ll have plenty of reserves in the bank to handle any expected or unexpected expenses that arise during the course of your travel.
Getting an Insider’s Look at the City
Of course, for many, going to Paris is a once in a lifetime adventure, which means you are going to want to see as many of the sights as possible. Watch out, though. These attractions can quickly add up to a fortune. Is there a way to avoid it? Well, as it turns out, going to Europe in your early-to-mid-twenties has its upsides. If you can swing getting there, you’ll find that once there, many attractions are actually free for those under 26. For example, the Louvre offers free evenings for youth and young adults every Friday. Take a cursory glance at these special offers and wear your youth loud and proud. It won’t last forever!
Additionally, getting the Paris Museum pass is a great option for sight seers who can’t get enough of attractions. For a fixed fee, a plethora of sites open up to you. Indulge and enjoy! And make sure to purchase your museum pass ahead of time in order to skip the ticket lines at individual sites!
Planning Your Schedule
In my early twenties, I could not be bothered to plan a schedule for vacation. Schedules are for work weeks, not vacations, after all — right? Now that I’ve reached the ripe old age of mid-twenties, however, I’ve realized something — schedules are for vacations, too. This is particularly true if you are planning to go to more than one location during your trip, or if you are going to Europe as a couple.
You don’t need everything ironed out or a contract signed. But having a general outline of what you’re going to do can definitely be helpful.
Make planning your trip in advance part of the adventure. Schedule dates with your SO at a cafe where you can get away from the everyday noise and distraction of your lives and figure out what is most important to the both of you during your upcoming trip.
Do you need lots of time to just lounge or explore leisurely? Or do you want to make sure you SEE IT ALL. There’s no right or wrong answer, but having even a loose schedule in place will help you achieve your goals, whatever they may be.
But a word of caution: even for the most ambitious travelers, there’s simply too much to see in the old country to ever see it all in one go. You might be able to suck the marrow out of Paris, but Europe offers so many sights and experiences that it would probably take a lifetime of travel to enjoy them all.
