Choose a traveling route using Pass www.ratp.info

At first sight, the Parisian metro seems confusing but, if you are a visitor, you only have 2 choices: use single trip tickets or buy a pass for several days that will allow you to use, without limit, both the metro and the bus.

• Single Trip: €1.60
• Carnet (a pack of ten, single trip cards): €11.40

Paris Visit Pass (is you choose this you will travel without restrictions in a specific number of zones for a specific number of days):

• 1 day pass: €8.80
• 2 days: €14.40
• 3 days: €19.60
• 5 days: €28.30

Museum Pass

Visiting the museums of Paris is an essential thing if you are a tourist. Many of them hold art pieces unique in the world. A Museum Pass is a very good choice and it will help you skip queues and give you access to many of the major monuments like Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe.

• 2 day pass: €32
• 4 day pass: €48
• 6 day pass: €64

Free Museums

You don’t have to pay a fee in every museum in Paris. Some you can visit for free. For example, all national museums are free of charge on the first Sunday of each month (but you will have to endure the long queues) and if you’re under 25 you can visit the Louvre for free every Friday night (only after 6pm).

Also, other museums offer a free entrance depending on their schedule and they are worth checking out.

Here is a list of a few of the most visited free museums:

• Le Petit Palais- Fine Arts Museum: www.petitpalais.paris.fr
• Musee Carnavalet- Museum of Paris History: www.carnavalet.paris.fr/
• Paris Modern Art Museum: www.paris.org/Musees/Art.Moderne.Ville/
• The House of Victor Hugo: www.musee-hugo.paris.fr/

Parisians respect the lunch time and that is when you will find some good deals. For example, a three Course lunch menu costs around €10 – sometimes with a glass of wine included.

At dinner time, many restaurants offer good deals but not as cheap as lunch menus. The Latin Quarter (opposite Notre Dame) is the place where you will find the largest concentration of budget eating but you should check out other areas too.

Coffee Break

If you are tired of strolling or just want to stop for a coffee, you will have a large variety of offers. The cheapest coffee (or whatever drink you may want) will be in bars. Also, sometimes the price depends on the place you sit at. If you go inside and sit on a table, a sum between 10%-50% could be added on to your bill. If you sit on the terrace- considered a premium spot – some places could double your bill. Besides that, you should always be aware on the size you order. You may want to specify before when you order. Otherwise, many restaurants and bistros often give you the largest measure.

Sleep (and eat) outside Paris center

If you decide to escape the center of Paris, you will reach The Boulevard Peripherique – the road that circles the city and defines the limits of Paris. Outside this road, there are the suburbs and all the prices drop considerably.

If you want to find a cheap hotel but still be next to the city, pick one close to the city limits. The price for a room is, most of the times, a fraction of the price in center town. Sometimes, by sitting outside the city limits you are closer to some tourist objectives. depending where you base yourself you could be closer to many of the major sights than

Rent and apartment

If your stay in Paris surpasses a few days, it would be cheaper to rent an apartment rather than stay in a hotel, or even hostel. All apartments are equipped with a kitchen and this way you can also save money on food costs and cook it yourself. It’s worth hunting looking around as good offers can be found even if you’re staying just one or two nights.

Find the Supermarkets

Supermarkets are hard to find in center Paris if you don’t look around carefully. But most of the times there are supermarkets or small shops around many of the major attractions.

Franprixwww.franprix.fr, Monoprix www.monoprix.fr and Atac www.atac.fr are a few of the largest chains in the city and they are not far away. Grab something to eat and have a picnic in one of the city parks. You will feel like a true Parisian.

Book Ahead

Plan your trip carefully and by booking ahead a hotel or hostel, you will save some money for sure. A clear example is booking a train. If you do that online at www.voyage-sncf.fr, you can save up to 75% compared with buying it at the station. The same example applies to some museums and even restaurants.

So if you haven’t been there or you are planning your trip, you are in for a treat.

First of all, if you are thinking that in order to have a great time in Paris you need to learn French, you are wrong. I have seen that this issue is sometimes a point of concern for travelers to Paris and an occasional complaint from those who have been.

Never forget that you are a tourist, a visitor. Things will be different to get used to the idea. This fact is true for any trip, whether you go outside the US or within if you visit other regions. So don’t expect to feel comfortable all the time. And don’t force yourself to image that you have to know everything because is not true. This is true in restaurants, shops, when taking public transportation, visiting churches, and more. Many times, the local people don’t like travelers because they expect all to be just like home. Accept change and try to work with that.

Sometimes you will feel uncomfortable but try to remember that much of the fun in foreign travel is the discovery of new places, people and customs. This is why you left home: to discover the new.

Another issue for foreign travelers to Paris is the language. If you don’t speak French you will have a little challenge but that’s shouldn’t restrain you from visiting or keep you from having a great time. Us too expect tourist to speak English when they come to our country, the Parisians are the same, although, in Paris, and in many European citiesm English is like a second conversational language.

Do your part and try to learn a few words of the new language if you can. Learn how to say: hello, good by or thank you; how to ask for the bathroom and similar easy phrases. Get a little help and buy a set of tapes and a small phrase book and practice. Don’t worry about having a perfect accent. The people will for sure appreciate the effort and they will show you courtesy. And a friendly smile and all will go smooth and you will have a great trip.

One other hand, acknowledge the fact that, when traveling, we have in many countries the reputation as “ugly Americans,” loud and rude. It is, of course, a generalization but try to remember this. Keep in mind that the recent development in Afghanistan and Iraq some foreigners may develop some sentiments about America that are not all the time positive. Don’t give the locals more reason to resent you. Be gentle, diplomatic and pleasant. Observe the local customs and try to adjust your ways. Also, people will ask for your opinion so be careful about what you say.

Don’t forget to pack a good guide book. There is a huge offer on the market and you will have where to choose from. Take a small one so that you can carry it around while walking. I have used the books from Frommer’s and Fodor’s. they were excellent because they also offer ideas for things to do, maps, suggestions for dining and hotels plus reviews. You will have a lot of useful information at hand.

I never go on a trip to a new place without one of these, regularly updated. Prices and ratings are usually included, and you can form an opinion and adjust your budget accordingly. Also they have the hours and days of operation so that you don’t miss going to a particular museum on your last day.

Another thing you must have in your purse or pocket is a good map that is easy to carry around. I bought the heavy duty, triple-fold laminated maps called Street Smart in many cities and they are amazing. They have the major tourist attractions visibly marked (museums, churches, shopping centers, parks, etc.) with symbols for the different types of buildings and attractions. Besides that, on these maps you can find the subway stations and other transportation lines and stops. It is great if you want to know how to get to a church, museum or other attractions. Fit the map in your pocket or purse and get them out when you need them. If it rains or you use it frequently, it will now break because it is laminated.

Another small advice is to take a good digital camera with plenty of batteries. Take them at home because overseas they are expensive. Take lots of pictures. They will be your memories of your tour to Paris. And look around for the rules about taking photos. Many museums, galleries and churches do not allow photography. Respect their wishes. There is a good reason to do that.

And even if you have a good map and you know it map by heart, you could get lost. Paris is a big city. Don’t be scared. Unless you are on a strict time schedule, I encourage you to enjoy the discovery of a new street you didn’t expect and try to figure out by yourself where you are and where you have to get.

And do as the locals do. Mingle and window shop, stop in a café, take a few pictures, and just wander around. Ask for directions and talk to people. You will get good advice and a smile. When you decide to visit certain areas, you could take a cab. It costs money, but you will not get lost.

So pack your bags and hop on the plane. Paris is waiting for you!

Stay tuned for more recommendations on things to do and see in Paris.