Tips For A Weekend In Paris
Ah, Paris. Such a romantic, vibrant city. It brings dreams of lights, the Eiffel Tower, la vie en rose and good wines. Are you planning your first trip there? Here are a few tips to make the most of your holiday and keep the budget down.
How to get there? Plane or train? It all depends where you live really. The ideal way is to jump on the Eurostar as it will get you right in the center of the city, and you can take more luggage with you. They also sell Metro tickets on board, which will save you time on arrival.
Velibs are the Parisian equivalent to the London “Boris Bikes”, although much cheaper. You will need to buy a subscription, which can be by day, however the first half hour is free. There are many stations around so you just need to go from one to the other and exchange the bikes to travel for free around the city!
Is a trip on a bateau-mouche tacky or romantic? I like it most at night; you will still have a brilliant view of the buildings along the way and you will arrive at the Eiffel Tower when the lights are on, where you can enjoy the towers twinkling display – as they do every hour for a few minutes. If you’re planning a romantic weekend; go on le pont des arts at sunset for a beautiful view on the Seine. A lot of people propose there with a bottle of champagne. You will also see hundreds of locks on the grid – couples write their initials on it and throw the key in the river.
To experience a real atmosphere, have lunch in a bistrot rather than a restaurant to experience the authenticity of French dining. The counter is called a zinc, an espresso a petit noir, a latte a café crème. Food is reasonably priced too, most even serve sandwiches or croque-monsieurs – a toasted sandwich with a béchamel ham and cheese filling. A croque-madame would have an egg on top.
Want to keep your budget down? Just go to the local market (your hotel can tell you where/when it is), get some seasonal fruit, some fresh cheese and a baguette and indulge in a lovely picnic along the Seine. As a general rule, it is always handy to always pack some plastic cutlery in your suitcases. Try the organic market on boulevard Raspail (Métro Sèvres-Babylone) every Sunday morning – very inspiring.
The French are also masters in the art of cake. So much so that the best shops have seasonal trends - as fashion would have summer and winter collections…haute-pâtisserie! My favourites are Ladurée, Pierre Hermé and Pain de Sucre. Some of thier creations look and taste amazing!
On Sundays, Parisians love to go for a brunch, a nice option that will cover both your breakfast and lunch. There are plenty of offers around – I particularly like the one at Le Loup Blanc. I’d also recommend you share and experience our love of coffee but also our love for teas. Stop off at Le Palais des Thés for a wide range off teas from all over the globe, which truly are delicious and very reasonably priced. You will be charmed by the aromas and the cute packing; which make for perfect presents to take home with you.
Coming with the kids? Take them to the Galerie de l’évolution at Lé Muséum, Le jardin d’acclimatation, which are fun for the whole family. Along the Centre Pompidou is a fountain with colourful sculptures that will fascinate the little ones. If you have children, you will love La Poussette Café , where you can enjoy a light lunch with kids-oriented meals, a real baby changing station, a play area and a cute boutique. Sadly, you will have to pay a fee for most Parisian museums. However, if you plan your trip well; entrance is free the first Sunday of every month!
Beauty fans head for the huge Sephora on the Champs-Elysées where you can try perfumes & make-up for free untll midnight everyday! Be sure to take a walk around Le Marais, starting with la rue des Francs-Bourgeois. The area is dotted with quaint boutiques rather than just chain stores. Just plan on an extra suitcase – the stores are all so very tempting!
Sunday is mostly closed so plan your shopping on the Saturday. A number of shops, having been open on Saturday, prefer to open late morning/early afternoon on the Monday. Do check the opening times in your guidebook/on the web to avoid disappointment!
Finally, the French are sometimes perceieved to be a little arrogant at times; and being French myself I can safely say…they are! But try your best with your few words of French; even if they are just Bonjour, s’il vous plait and merci. The locals will really appreciate this, and we do find our language with a touch of a British accent lovely.
If this hasn’t persuaded you to visit Paris; be sure to check out our Groupons Getaways deal for a luxurious two night stay at the Hotel Balmoral. With champagne for two, french wine, plus VIP passes to the Louvre, make you’re trip to the City of Love one you’ll never forget.
Photography by: andvic, lucepotabile, tulanestudent14, Mikey Roach, Panoramas and missmeng
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