Money-saving tips in London and Paris
May 6th, 2003, 12:33 AM
#21
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Not all museums in Paris charge for entry. For instance, on the first Sunday of every month, the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Centre Pompidou and Musee du Moyen Age are free. In addition, the National Museums of Paris are free to all, at all times. There's a list of all the free museums here: http://www.ac.aup.fr/~cultaff/FreeParis.htm
Make sure you have a good map of Paris. As a city, it's fairly compact - much less "spread out" than London, and it can be really quick and easy to walk from place to place rather than jumping on the metro. Another option is to take buses whenever you can. Not that this will save you money, but it's a wonderful way to visit the city, and spot places or streets of interest that you might not have discovered otherwise...
As for restaurants, you can usually get better deals on fixed-price menus ("formules"
at lunchtimes, Mon-Fri. Most bars and cafes serve food at lunchtime (some serve in the evenings too), and you can get huge great salads served with French bread, or omelette and fries, etc. for around 7-9 euros.
As you will be staying in an apartment, another interesting option might be to pick up food from a "Traiteur Chinois" - these Chinese takeout places sell a range of prepared dishes (prawns, beef, rice, noodles, dumplings, duck, pork...), and will heat them up for you if required (otherwise you can heat them up yourselves in a microwave). Just remember they sell the food by weight - so it's in their interests to give you big portions! I know it's not "authentic Parisian food" but I always find it interesting to see how Chinese and other ethnic food varies from country to country in order to suit the local tastebuds!
One of the best budget options for a sit-down meal is to find a good creperie. The rue du Montparnasse, near Montparnasse station, is the obvious choice because it's packed with such places, but there are many others around the city. Make sure they serve "galettes de sarrazin" - savoury buckwheat crepes. You can get a crepe stuffed with cheese, mushrooms and ham, followed by a sweet crepe with ice cream and fruit, for example, for under 15 euros a head (and wash it all down with some Breton cider).
I don't think you've mentioned whereabouts you'll be staying in paris - if you're more specific I'd be able to recommend a few more eateries...
Make sure you have a good map of Paris. As a city, it's fairly compact - much less "spread out" than London, and it can be really quick and easy to walk from place to place rather than jumping on the metro. Another option is to take buses whenever you can. Not that this will save you money, but it's a wonderful way to visit the city, and spot places or streets of interest that you might not have discovered otherwise...
As for restaurants, you can usually get better deals on fixed-price menus ("formules"
at lunchtimes, Mon-Fri. Most bars and cafes serve food at lunchtime (some serve in the evenings too), and you can get huge great salads served with French bread, or omelette and fries, etc. for around 7-9 euros. As you will be staying in an apartment, another interesting option might be to pick up food from a "Traiteur Chinois" - these Chinese takeout places sell a range of prepared dishes (prawns, beef, rice, noodles, dumplings, duck, pork...), and will heat them up for you if required (otherwise you can heat them up yourselves in a microwave). Just remember they sell the food by weight - so it's in their interests to give you big portions! I know it's not "authentic Parisian food" but I always find it interesting to see how Chinese and other ethnic food varies from country to country in order to suit the local tastebuds!
One of the best budget options for a sit-down meal is to find a good creperie. The rue du Montparnasse, near Montparnasse station, is the obvious choice because it's packed with such places, but there are many others around the city. Make sure they serve "galettes de sarrazin" - savoury buckwheat crepes. You can get a crepe stuffed with cheese, mushrooms and ham, followed by a sweet crepe with ice cream and fruit, for example, for under 15 euros a head (and wash it all down with some Breton cider).
I don't think you've mentioned whereabouts you'll be staying in paris - if you're more specific I'd be able to recommend a few more eateries...
May 6th, 2003, 01:16 AM
#23
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Victoria and Albert Museum is one of the many free museums in UK.
In the center is an area with fountains and chairs where you can take your picnic to eat.
Get your picnic at Marks and Spencer in Covent Garden.
If you are near the Tower of London there is a Wetherspoons pub opposite. This chain of pubs offer really great value food and drink ,they are also child and teenager friendly especially in the lunch time.
In my experience Paris is more expensive to do anything than London.
Muck
In the center is an area with fountains and chairs where you can take your picnic to eat.
Get your picnic at Marks and Spencer in Covent Garden.
If you are near the Tower of London there is a Wetherspoons pub opposite. This chain of pubs offer really great value food and drink ,they are also child and teenager friendly especially in the lunch time.
In my experience Paris is more expensive to do anything than London.
Muck
May 6th, 2003, 05:27 AM
#24
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In my previous post giving prices for the Paris Museum Pass, I neglected one important fact: the Louvre, Orsay, Rodin, Carnavalet, and Pompidou Center are all free to people under 18.
Unless you'll have a minimum amount of luggage, I wonder if taking a taxi from the airport will be feasible. For airport shuttle minivan service, choose between Airport Connection (www.airport-connection.com) or Paris Airport Services (www.magic.fr/pas).
Here are Rick Steves' (Europe Through the Back Door) "Top Ten Kids' Spots in Paris" as found in his Paris 2002 guidebook:
1. Luxembourg Gardens 2. Jardin des Plantes 3. Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars Park 4. Trocadero 5. Notre Dame, Towers, and Crypt. 6. Seine river Boat Rides 7. Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees 8. Versailles 9. Pompidou Center 10. The Cite des Sciences in the Parc de la Vilette.
Rick also recommends Frence marionette shows, called guignols, which take place in several locations, mostly in big parks. See Pariscope or L'Officiel des Spectacles (sold at newsstands), under "Marionettes, " for times and places.
Unless you'll have a minimum amount of luggage, I wonder if taking a taxi from the airport will be feasible. For airport shuttle minivan service, choose between Airport Connection (www.airport-connection.com) or Paris Airport Services (www.magic.fr/pas).
Here are Rick Steves' (Europe Through the Back Door) "Top Ten Kids' Spots in Paris" as found in his Paris 2002 guidebook:
1. Luxembourg Gardens 2. Jardin des Plantes 3. Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars Park 4. Trocadero 5. Notre Dame, Towers, and Crypt. 6. Seine river Boat Rides 7. Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees 8. Versailles 9. Pompidou Center 10. The Cite des Sciences in the Parc de la Vilette.
Rick also recommends Frence marionette shows, called guignols, which take place in several locations, mostly in big parks. See Pariscope or L'Officiel des Spectacles (sold at newsstands), under "Marionettes, " for times and places.
May 6th, 2003, 10:17 AM
#25
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I'll be staying in Chelsea in London and in the 8th in Paris (rue Lincoln). So if you have any restaurant recommendations, please list them here.
It's good to know that some of the museums in Paris are free for children.
Tim, thanks for your suggestions!
It's good to know that some of the museums in Paris are free for children.
Tim, thanks for your suggestions!
May 7th, 2003, 12:34 AM
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Annoyingly, the 8th arrondissement (and particularly the area round the Champs) is not an area overflowing with good quality budget restaurants (to my knowledge, at least!). It's not a neighbourhood I know particularly well, either... so I had a look in my Time out Guide to Eating and Drinking in paris.
Under their "Budget" recommendations, the only place listed in the 8th is the Hippopotamus on avenue Wagram (part of a chain of children-friendly eateries serving steak, chicken, burgers and other grilled fodder).
Elsewhere in the guide, they give a very good review of a restaurant called Escrouzailles Colisee, at 36 rue du Colisee in the 8th, specializing in the cuisine of South-west France. Cityvox also has a review of this place, and quotes prices of between around 17 - 23 euros for the lunch/dinner menus which seems very reasonable for this part of Paris!
Under their "Budget" recommendations, the only place listed in the 8th is the Hippopotamus on avenue Wagram (part of a chain of children-friendly eateries serving steak, chicken, burgers and other grilled fodder).
Elsewhere in the guide, they give a very good review of a restaurant called Escrouzailles Colisee, at 36 rue du Colisee in the 8th, specializing in the cuisine of South-west France. Cityvox also has a review of this place, and quotes prices of between around 17 - 23 euros for the lunch/dinner menus which seems very reasonable for this part of Paris!
May 7th, 2003, 02:46 AM
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I found food the best way to save money in both cities as it can certainly be one of the major expenses. As others have said, in London do sandwiches. They are MUCH better than prepackaged sandwiches available in the US and they are available everywhere - all little neighborhood shops, train stations, touristy areas, etc. You don't have to go to the "better" places like Pret et Manger". I was really surprised how good and fresh the plastic wrapped sandwhiches were in England. Any sit down restaurant is going to be expensive. I was in London in March and found all the budget recommendations were at least 9-12 pounds which is over $15. So just picnic. The sandwiches (and packaged cookies, etc) are really quite good and people watching is better outside than in.
In Paris I also do a lot of street food - baguette sandwiches, crepes, etc. The area around Place St Michele on the left bank (rue de la Harpe, etc) has tons of inexpensive restaurants with prix fixed menues. In the summer it's very touristy, but the food is quite good. They usually have several options and the cheapest ones (as of last summer about 8-10 euro) are sometimes only available before a certain time (like 7 o'clock). So eat a little on the early side and save 2 or 3 euro per person.
In Paris I also do a lot of street food - baguette sandwiches, crepes, etc. The area around Place St Michele on the left bank (rue de la Harpe, etc) has tons of inexpensive restaurants with prix fixed menues. In the summer it's very touristy, but the food is quite good. They usually have several options and the cheapest ones (as of last summer about 8-10 euro) are sometimes only available before a certain time (like 7 o'clock). So eat a little on the early side and save 2 or 3 euro per person.
