Bonjour and welcome to my guide on how to visit Paris as a family without breaking the bank. Below, you’ll find some of the best tips and tricks to have a tres magnifique time in Paris on a budget. Keep reading to find out more.
Grab a budget overnight flight.
One of the smartest tips when it comes to enjoying a budget stay in Paris as a family is to get the cheapest possible flights you can. The great thing about this is that these flights are usually overnight, which makes them ideal for families as the kids can sleep on the way and wake up refreshed and ready to go as soon as the plane touches down.
Of course, you’ll want to make sure they have the most comfortable journey possible and that they get some decent sleep, so it’s worth bringing a few things from home, including a sleep mask, travel pillow and lightweight fleece blanket. You may even be able to convince the little ones to travel in the PJs, especially if you buy them some Disney-themed ones so they feel part of the whole trip experience!
Enjoy the city as soon as you land.
Family holidays can be expensive, and this means that time at your destination is often at a premium once you arrive. Happily, you can make the most of every minute by enjoying the beautiful city of Paris almost as soon as you have landed.
To do this, it’s best if you get your flight to Paris Orly Airport (ORY), as this is the closest to the city. Although train services run from both airports to Paris city center.
Then, instead of heading to your hotel, choose one of the big sites you have been longing to see like the stunning glass pyramid topped gallery the Louvre. The trick here is to first find a service that offers luggage storage Paris Louvre close by. Then you can drop off your cases without needing to worry about carrying them around all day. This means you are free to explore the Louvre as a family, as well as any other sites in the center. You can then pop back to the facility just before it’s time to head to your accommodation to pick up your luggage. The best thing is that these luggage storage services are incredibly budget-friendly and cost less than 7 Euros a day per bag!
Book your accommodation ahead of time.
While it may be tempting to see where the wind takes you, it’s always a better idea when you are travelling with family to book and confirm your accommodation ahead of time. It’s also a good idea to do this because booking ahead of time is the best way to get a good deal. Indeed, the further ahead of your trip you book, the larger discount per night per room you can enjoy.
Visit Disneyland Paris for less
If you’re travelling to Paris with your family, kids of all ages will likely want to visit Disneyland Paris. The good news is you can keep such a trip low cost if you follow some of the following advice.
The first thing you can do is to go for a single day, as this will keep the ticket prices down. It’s also a good idea to go in off-peak times, such as the beginning of January or September. Getting tickets for the middle of the week rather than the weekend will save you money as well, and be sure to check Disney’s calendar to make sure that there are no special events on when you plan to go, as these could raise the price of your ticket for the day.
Research and choose restaurants before you go.
The last tip can save you so much money and a lot of hassle at the same time. This is because if you research the restaurants you will use ahead of time, you can make sure that they both fit your budget and that they are family friendly.
I find the best way to do this is to work out where you will be when it comes to each meal time by having a daily itinerary. Then you can Google that location for family-friendly budget restaurants or use services like Trip Advisor to find the best places that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. By doing things this way, you can even book ahead of time if you like, which can help you manage your budget well.