By James Stone -


Although refusing to tip waiters and robbing baguette-laden old women down cobbled streets would certainly save a few pennies, it is possible to have a cheapish time of it in Paris without offending or upsetting anyone - as I found out with my girlfriend this February.

Setting up base at a small hotel on the edge of the Latin Quarter was a clever move. The area is popular with cash-strapped bohemian types and students; the Sorbonne is just down the road, meaning restaurant and shop prices cater to those with little money to spare rather than rich American tourists.

The old French lesson favourite, the carnet, was a handy travelling tool for nipping around on the metro. This book of ten single journey tickets cost just €14.40, far cheaper than a single journey ticket and laughably inexpensive when compared with the London Underground, Oyster card or not. Walking is the cheapest option of all, and with so much to see in the city that isn't in a guidebook; my girlfriend often found herself being dragged down enticing alleyways that I just had to see.

Armed with our carnets, we struck out for the major sights on our first full day. The Eiffel Tower had to be checked off, and it was to my delight that we could pay around €3 each for the pleasure of walking up to the second stage, where we could then catch a lift to the top. However, a combination of vertigo and a long line of Japanese tourists queuing for the elevator saw us go no further than the deuxieme etage, but the views, over the Champs de Mars below and away down the Seine and across town to the Pantheon, were still spectacular.

Following a lovely walk along the Champs de Mars towards the military academy, we got back on the metro for the journey to the Champs Elysees. A stroll down this boulevard is not the most relaxing of experiences but enjoyable nonetheless, especially as the Arc de Triomphe loomed in to view. It is possible to head up to the top but it was enough for us to watch a small wreath laying ceremony and attempt to translate some of the inscriptions on the walls.

A combination of carnet and some pottering about got us to the Louvre. €8.50 isn't much to get in to one of the world's foremost galleries. The Mona Lisa was pulling in the punters, although the Venus de Milo was having an off day and we could get in for a close look.

We found the Petit Pontoise restaurant on our second night. This inexpensive, Latin Quarter eatery was great fun. It was cheese fondues all round, which were excellent, and it was only our penchant for good wine that saw the bill escalate. Indeed this proved to be our downfall on a number of occasions.

Our last day saw us enjoy a boat ride along the Seine, coupled with many hours of walking around some of the quieter parts in Paris, such as the delightful Ile St Louis – with little expense incurred.

Perhaps the greatest piece of money saving advice I can give you is to find yourself on a flight that is overbooked. Airlines, particularly ones that cater to a large number of business passengers, regularly overbook their flights in the knowledge that many travellers will never turn up. Well, it appears there were a lot of Frenchmen keen, goodness knows why, to get to Birmingham on the Sunday morning of our return. We were put on a flight to Manchester instead, and pocketed €250 each in compensation, as well as a complimentary hot chocolate.

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