Expat Life in the South of France

As promised - 5 tips on “doing” Paris without breaking the bank.

• Accommodaion: Instead of spending your hard earned cash on overpriced, postage stamp size hotel rooms, try the excellent value bed and breakfast accommodation from approximately 75€ for a double room. Bookings can be made through Alcoves & Agapes  . For a longer stay, consider renting an apartment. Studios start at about 350€ a week up to about 1,500€ a week for two-bedroom apartments. Paristay have a large selection in all sizes and areas.
• Getting around: Paris has probably the best underground system of any city that I know of. A single ticket costs 1.60€, but a carnet of 10 tickets is only 11.40€. The tickets can also be used on buses, RER the suburban express trains, as well as the two tram lines. One ticket allows for two hours of travel between two Métro stops regardless of the number of transfers. Go ride!
• Scenic Seine: The Batobus river shuttle leaves every 25 minutes from several stops along the river, including the Champs Elysées, the Louvre, Notre Dame, St. Germaine des Prés, the Musée d’Orsay and the Eiffel Tower. A trip down this, the most French of rivers, in the most French of cities, is magical, with monuments, museums and great architecture lining both banks. A one day pass available at all Batobus stops or tourist offices, is 12€ and you can either stay on for a round trip or get on and off to have a closer look at the sights. This is far better value than the exorbitantly priced one hour tourist rip-offs on the Bateaux Mouches or the Vedettes du Pont Neuf.
• Art Anyone?  If several museums are on your list of things to do, then the Paris Museum Pass is your best bet. Covering more than 60 venues in and around Paris, including the Château de Versailles, the Louvre, the Orsay and several others, it costs from 32€ for a 2 day pass.  Most national museums including the Louvre and the Rodin are free on the first Sunday of every month.
• Arias for All: 62 standing room tickets at 5€ are available for all shows at the Opéra Bastille approximately 90 minutes before the show.  

If you have any questions, just shoot me a comment and I’ll be happy to reply.

There you have it. Bon Séjour!

As we shiver in the European winter, I  look forward to spring which is right round the corner.  Spring is probably the best time of year to visit Paris. The city emerges from its grey winter torpor and within just a few weeks its parks are resplendent with a riot of blossoms . The Jardin des Tuileries,  on the right bank of the Seine, and next to the Louvre is one of my favourites.