EuroCheapo's Paris Articles

May 13 Strictly speaking, the suburbs of Paris (“la banlieue”) are those communes that lie beyond Paris “intramuros,” in other words, outside the Peripheral Boulevard, the highway that runs around the city. While the word “banlieue” is meant to be a socially neutral term, the media often use it in a derogatory sense that is inexact and » Read more

May 06 Paris is a city for couples, and the countless number of lovers embracing in the streets is a constant reminder. But solo travelers needn’t shy away from the City of Light. Take it from an expert – there are plenty of ways to indulge in Paris on your own! Here are some tips I’ve developed » Read more

May 03 A few weeks ago I wrote about some favorite budget hotels in Paris’ less-touristic 19th and 20th arrondissements. These are great small hotels that I believe are too often dismissed by travelers as not central enough for their trips. However, as I pointed out, Paris’ northeast quarter is buzzing these days, and travelers seeking out » Read more

Apr 29 With its world class museums, Paris is a veritable feast for art lovers. If you’re planning on spending some of your time in the French capital soaking up all that glorious artwork on display, then it’s worth planning on how to get the most out of it. The majority of the city’s museums charge an » Read more

Apr 24 Legend has it that Oscar Wilde remarked shortly before his death: “My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go.” The comment pertained to the hotel room where he was staying, which would become his final resting place. These days, the same building houses » Read more

Apr 22 There is a certain, almost voyeuristic charm to taking the buses in Paris. While plenty of tourist buses pack visitors in and offer them headsets to learn about the history of the major monuments, why not opt for a more local soundtrack? If nothing else, at €1.80 a ticket, riding the public buses is definitely » Read more

Apr 17 When looking for your home away from home in Paris, there are a few things to consider: location, comfort, ambiance, and, of course, price. But just because you’d rather save on accommodation and spend your cash on the many other fine things Paris has to offer doesn’t mean you have to settle for a shabby, » Read more

Apr 12 Northeast Paris is witnessing an interesting phenomenon. In this multicultural collage of gritty historic neighborhoods, bohemian quarters and more recently, piecemeal gentrification, several independently-run, quality budget hotels are enjoying increased popularity with travelers, thanks mostly to word-of-mouth. While these properties may be too far away from the traditional touristic routes for some tourists, other travelers » Read more

Apr 11 After a day of meandering through Paris’ museums, trolling boutiques or pounding the cobblestones as you see the sights, there’s nothing quite like taking a load off and parking yourself at a corner café to partake in that most pleasant of French table traditions, “l’apéritif,” or “l’apéro” for short. The French cherish that time of » Read more