You can do a lot with little in the country that currently holds the World Cup.
These tips will guide your expenses on a trip to France and help you ball on a budget!
Getting your visa is the hard part, exploring is easy!
No matter your income or budget, if you are set to travel to France, there are ways to cut back on unnecessary expenses and still have fun during the trip.
Travel during off-season
Spring and summer are the most popular times to visit France, especially Paris. By travelling to France in the off season, you’ll find unspoiled landscapes, fewer tourists, pristine beaches, and cheap accommodation. Also, these busy weekends – 17 April, 1 May, 8 May, 25 May, 5 June – are bank holidays in France. Holidays when tourists would be pouring into the country will cause a hike in prices. However, off-season might have less infrastructure but usually cheaper.
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Go with a partner
Group trips reduce the burden of expenses. Bills like transportation, feeding, housing split between partners could be a real lifesaver, especially compared to when on a solo trip.
Accommodation
Be open to accommodations that aren’t necessarily traditional hotels if you’re visiting France on a budget. Renting an AirBnB outside the centre of town or staying at an affordable hostel is a good way to cut down on costs of staying in France.
Take day trips on the train
Don't be scared to use public transport! The local transportation in France varies a lot depending on region, but within most major cities, it’s decent. Day trains and buses are also a affordable way to explore the country. If you take a train 30 minutes east of Nice you can reach Monaco. If you take a train 30 minutes west, you will be able to reach Cannes. Great thing is both can be done in a day!
Meals
Shopping for meals and groceries at supermarkets such as Monoprix, Carrefour, M&S, and Franprix are your cheapest options for buying food in France. Restaurants that cater to only tourists (in English, etc) are crazy expensive because locals don't eat there so the prices are hiked. Better to buy your groceries and cook the meals yourself, or better still, stock up on snacks and eat meals at restaurants only when necessary.
Talk to locals
Locals know best. Speak to locals about the best restaurants to visit, attractions, transport and can even serve as your tour guide, for free! Don't be shy to interact with the locals around you.
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Avoid private beaches
The private beaches generally charge about 10 – 20 EUR entry per person and then charge you for your lounge chairs, drinks, food, etc. The public beaches are just as beautiful and definitely the way to go! It's also advisable to buy sitting rafts around before visiting the beach, as most of the beaches have pebbles instead of fine sand.
Visit less tourist spots
Generally, popular areas like Paris, restaurants and attractions are sure ways to spend a lot of money. However, if you insist on visiting tourist attractions, avoid buying admission tickets online because those are usually hiked.
Avoid toll roads
Avoiding motorway tolls will lead you down smooth, fast routes. The prettier and more winding ones allow you to discover sights, towns and villages en route. However, the scenic roads are ideal for leisurely road trips, but can be too slow if you just need to get somewhere. Best to buy a map and utilize Google maps to see which toll roads you can avoid when possible.