How to Plan an Awesome Trip to Paris, France

For many, a trip to Paris is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the City of Lights. Planning your trip doesn't have to be stressful with a few key tips. You can plan the vacation of your dreams to Paris!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet
• Access to information about Paris
• Money
• Willingness to embrace a new culture

1. Decide when you will leave for your trip. Plan to take 7-10 days off of work for your trip. It will take a day in travel for both the to/ return voyage, so you will lose two days off of your trip. It is about a 7 hour flight from the East Coast of the United States to Paris, France. If you don't have a passport, get one.

2. Prepare a budget and start saving money. You will need money for: airfare, transportation from the airport to your hotel, hotel/ hostel fare, dining out, entertainment, souvenirs, and any emergencies that may come up (for example, your digital camera gets stolen). Budget at least $2000 for your trip. You can save money on hotel if you travel with someone. You can save money on airfare by travelling during the winter when it is colder in Europe.

3. Look for cheap airfare online (on sites such as Travelocity and CheapFlights) and book your flights. Some of these sites allow you to book your hotel at the same time as your plane ticket.

4. Research Paris and make your itinerary of places that you would like to visit during your trip. Some must-see spots in Paris are: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre (art museum/ palace that has the Mona Lisa and other famous works of art), the church of Sacre Couer at Montmartre, the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysees, the cathedral of Notre Dame, the palace of Versailles, and the Catacombs.

5. If going out to eat is important to you, research restaurants in Paris online. A personal favorite is Charlie Birdy off of the Champs-Elysees.

6. Decide how you will bring your spending money. Traveler's Cheques are dependable, but they are not always the easiest to cash. Many (although not all) places in France accept Visa and AmEx. You can find ATM machines almost everywhere and most offer an English language option.

7. Pack for your trip. Pack lightly, but don't forget any items that you may need to make your trip more pleasurable (such as American deodorant- only you know what you will need exactly). Make sure that you can walk a considerable distance with your luggage and that it is not too heavy. You can save a considerable amount of money by using the Metro (city subway) from the airport to the center of Paris rather than a cab (savings of $80-$100). However, it is a lot harder and more stressful to operate the Metro with large, heavy bags.

8. Sit back and enjoy your vacation. If something minor goes wrong, try not to let it ruin your entire trip. Make an effort to learn some French before you leave. Your life will be a lot easier. A lot of people say that the French think Americans are rude, but a lot of that could be prevented if more of us went to France speaking the language (even a small effort is appreciated) and embracing the culture. Leave the burgers in America and try the famous French specialities. If you are craving something close to American food, pizza should satisfy your craving on your trip (but go to a place where it looks like Italians are working, so it will be more authentic).

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a close eye on your valuables while you are travelling. There are many pickpocketers in Paris, but if you keep your cash / cards close to your body, you are likely to avoid theft.
• Relax and have FUN! Be open to new ideas and experiences.
• Bring a travel umbrella, because you never know when it will rain in Paris!
• Do not wait until the last minute to pack, or else you will probably end up bringing a lot more than you need.
• You can save a lot of money by avoiding travel agents ("middle men") and booking your flight / hotel yourself online or over the phone.

[flor2729]

on 1/15/2009 Excellent article and great ways of planning a trip to Paris. I hope to visit there one day.