Let's Connect!

...

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Romantic Getaway on a Budget 2.2.11

With Valentine’s Day just a few days away, I’m sure some of you are racking your brains still for things to buy your Sweetheart. If you had a plan and are totally prepared, why not start thinking about a romantic getaway later in the year or even as an anniversary, birthday or next Valentine’s Day “Wow” vacation? I’m talking, of course, about the most romantic city in the world: Paris. While others may disagree with this title, I think more people than not still want to travel to France to see what they’ve been missing all this time. From the sidewalk cafes to Notre Dame, Paris is really a magical city. There’s so much to see and do that even if you don’t find it extremely romantic, you will find it extremely tourist friendly, with something to see or do around every corner. The only drawback to this great city? Price. Paris can be very spendy if you don’t plan out your trip ahead of time. And don’t let the fact that Euros sound cheaper than British Pounds fool you. Currently, the dollars to Euros exchange rate is 1.36 : 1, meaning 1 Euro = $1.36. Make sure you do the math when trying to figure out your budget. It doesn’t seem like much, but if you forget to add almost 40% to all of your purchases, that is huge!

Are you a Shereen Travels Cheap Subscriber yet? If not, please take a moment to do so by entering your email over on the right. (Please tell your friends where they can find me, too.)

So, let’s look at some ways to save in The City of Lights.

Spring, Fall and Winter are good times to travel to France. Anything, but Summer, really. Fall and Winter are going to be the least expensive times and also the least crowded. While shops and museums may be open shorter hours, you will be able to do more than you would in Summer, since tourists are sparse. Another upside: The air will have a chill, meaning you and your sweetie will spend a considerable amount of time snuggled together for warmth.

If you plan to do any real sightseeing in Paris, you should get yourself a Paris Pass. For one reasonable price, you can then skip the lines at many attractions, such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre, and go right in. In fact, over 60 attractions are included with your Paris Pass, making it the most valuable thing you can take with you, besides your passport and loved one. Gain entrance to 55 museums and monuments (unfortunately, the Eiffel Tower is not included), amazing attractions, like the Seine River Cruise, unlimited travel on the metro, buses and RER within Central Paris, an awesome guidebook and coupons for dining and shopping.


Just looking to take a few relaxing days out wandering the streets? Well, that’s a great way to save money, especially since there are so many things to walk around and see without having to pay entrance fees. Stroll the Champs de Elysee, take pictures of the Arc and the outside of Notre Dame, cross the bridges over the Seine, buy a baguette or crepe from a street vendor, enjoy the sculptures outside of the Louvre and on and on. 


One of my favorite memories, which may seem odd, was our trip to Pere Lachaise Cemetery. Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Marcel Proust and other notable historical figures have been buried here. It’s free to enter and they’ll even give you a map to guide you around. There is a donation box, and I suggest tossing in a couple of Euros, just for being able to walk among the mausoleums, tombstones and memorials. It’s simply amazing, the money and craftsmanship that went into the houses of the dead. We spent around three hours walking up and down the pathways and taking pictures of the magnificent structures and reading about those who were buried there and didn’t even see half of the grounds. It’s definitely a cheap day, but also very interesting. I plan to make another trip when I return. (Kudos to my husband for planning that day and including the cemetery, otherwise I would never have seen it.)


It’s pretty easy to get around town on public transportation. While it’s not as easy as it is in London and other big cities, mostly just because there aren’t as many stops, it’s still a great way to get from one place to another and also get your walking and exercise in once you arrive at your destination. Paris is a wonderful walking city. With everything to see, you won’t even realize how many miles you’ve put on your walking shoes…until you finally decide to sit down and get lunch somewhere. If you don’t invest in a Paris Pass, get yourself a daily or weekly Metro pass. It will save you money from buying each pass individually and make it much easier to keep track of.


Photo courtesy of Brad Jennings
Find delicious places to eat on a budget! This one is so easy, I wish I had the options last time I was there. Food can really add up, especially if, like me, you didn’t do your homework and assumed there would be amazing food everywhere you turned. Unfortunately, it wasn’t so. Check out these options for finding and booking meals in Paris and saving money while doing it!
  • TopTable.com: Not only can you make reservations online with TopTable, but you can see diner reviews, menus, get big discounts and accrue points for each reservation you complete to earn your way to a free dining certificate. Even if you’re already in the city and want to have lunch in an hour, make your reservation just to get the points credited to your account when you check in.
  • Groupon: Sign up for this deal-a-day site and get emails each day with the new deal. It can be entertainment, dining, personal services, shopping or more. The point is, there is plenty that Groupon has to offer that might be relevant and useful to your trip. Many of the selections are 50% off, so already that’s a significant saving on one aspect of your travel day.
234 x 60
  • KGB Deals: Another great deal-a-day site like Groupon. I've seen many great deals for dining in Paris. 
Get a vacation rental instead of booking a hotel room. This is especially good if you’re planning to spend a week or more in Paris. Weekly rates are cheaper than nightly rates and can offer significant savings over hotel rates. I think I’ve raved about the pros and cons of these enough, so just check out these links to find some awesome deals.


HomeAway.com, Vacations with more room.






So, you didn’t already plan a getaway or buy a gift and you can’t put together a trip to Paris in a week and a half? What’s that? You’re not made of money? Don’t worry. Most of us aren’t, which is why this blog exists. So, for those of you that need a little help to stretch your budget, these deals are available and might be able to keep you out of the doghouse (unless you’re lucky and Valentine’s Day isn’t a big deal in your house and your Sweetie is happy with a kiss).


Spend a few days in Las Vegas. Sure, Vegas doesn’t scream ROMANTIC, but there are plenty of things you can do there that can up the love vibes:
  • Book a table for two at The Eiffel Tower Restaurant inside the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas for a fantastic French meal and view of the lights of Vegas. You can almost forget you’re not in Paris.
  • Score two tickets to the Cirque du Soleil Beatles show Love playing at the Mirage. You can find tickets on discount through BroadwayBox.
  • Ask the hotel to add a bottle of champagne and some chocolate covered strawberries to your bill and have them waiting in your room when you get there.
  • Check out a steamy show like Folies Bergere, Fantasy, X Burlesque, Striptease or Crazy Horse.
  •  Stroll through the streets of Paris and New York inside both Paris Resort & Casino and New York New York. Stop to buy a baguette or sit at a sidewalk café to sip a cappuccino.
  • O solo mio! Take your significant other on a gondola ride through Italy at the Venetian. 
  • Find a room at a respectable hotel on The Strip with Orbitz from $49/night.
Purchase a lovely bouquet of flowers through your preferred Frequent Flyer program. You may get a discount, but you’ll definitely earn miles towards your next trip. (Hint: Search for coupon codes on ev'reward and retailmenot.)

Keep the love going. Celebrate V-Day a few days later and book a beautiful fireplace room at the Carmel Resort Inn in Carmel-by-the-Sea (CarmelCalifornia) outside theSan Francisco area for half off regular rates. Stay for just $59 per night, including breakfast. Book by February 8 for weekday stays from February 15 through March 31. Hurry! Rooms are selling out fast.

Get up to 50% off romantic getaways, like beach resorts, from Orbitz, plus free nights, incentives and more!


Make restaurant reservations wherever you are with OpenTable or TopTable. Find discounts and earn points toward future dining.


As you can see I've changed up my page a bit. Now you can find all my sites that I've written for on the sidebar to the right. You can click and go right to my article. I do ask that you take the time to check out the rest of the site while you're there, as they can be very useful for travelers and budgeters alike. There is now a list of my favorite links on the sidebar as well, and you can grab my button, too, if you would like to point others to my blog from your blog or website.

Do you have a travel site/blog that you’d like me to write a travel article for? Contact me here and give me details. I’d love to do it!

1 comment:

Pin It button on image hover