This season we have a 12 day shooting hiatus during production this summer and I am ecstatic! I have extreme waunderlust and 7 months of straight work doesn’t allow for travel. But this season we have a break for Fourth of July! If you’re like me and have an incessant need to travel but are on a budget then here’s the “How To” for you!
How to spend a week in paris for less than a $1200
A Godsend in the world of Airlines: Nowegian air
Norwegian Air is an affordable airline with the some of cheapest flights from the US to Europe.
The MEca of search engines: skyscanner.com
Sky Scanner compares millions of flights to find you the cheapest deal, fast. This is absolute best flight search engine I have found. However, if you’re a student I recommend you try Studentuniverse.com. You have to have a student ID and email address. I used Student Universe to plan my whole European backpacking trip when I was in college.
HOw to search for flights:
- When searching search one-way. It’s usually cheaper then booking a round trip. You don’t have to stay within one airline so you have more options.
- Leave from a major hub. I live in Norfolk, VA. It’s always cheaper for me to fly out of Richmond. Which is only an hour and half away from me. Another option I have is to leave out of New York. I can easily get to JFK (NYC) for around $150 from RIC. Or I take the 6 hour Mega Bus for just $25!
- Search on a week day around 2pm.
- Book flights about 6 weeks in advance if possible!
OUTBOUND FLIGHT
Return FLIGHT
Leaving June 8th 2015
TOTAL: $616
Hostel
If you really want to travel on a budget then staying at a hostel is the best solution. Hostels in Europe can be top-notch. If you do your research you can find excellent places that are cheap, modern, clean and friendly.
I suggest St. Christopher’s Inn. They have hostels all over Europe. Staying with a hostel chain means more accountability, better communication and higher standards. I’ve stayed our St. Christopher’s in London and at Gare Du Nord in Paris.
When searching for the right hotel I look for:
- Breakfast
- Bed sheets provided
- WIFI
- In room lockers
- Organized Social events
Seven days and six nights at St. Christopher’s Canal, Paris: 33.62 per night
TOTAL: $238.35
FOOD Budget
- Breakfast – Free
- Lunch – $12 a day ($85)
- Dinner- $15 a night ($100)
- 25% off food and drink specials downstairs in Belushi’s bar and restaurant
TOTAL: $185
FUN
- Walking Tour Free
- Night Tour of Montmatre $13
- Versailles Tour $30
- Organized Pub Crawl $15
- The Louvre $12
- Tour Notre Dam Free
- Visit Jim Morrision and Oscar Wilde Free
- Luxembourg garden Free
- Wine Tasting
- Boat Cruise $13
- Wine Tasting $30
- Take a stroll along the canals Free
- Get lost in the old district Free
- Window Shop Free
- Sip coffee in a cafe $2
- Read a book in a garden Free
- See the Eiffel Tower Free
TOTAL: $115
TRIP TOTAL: $1155
Check out what I did on my last trip to Paris: CLICK HERE