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If you are like most people, you have dreamt of going to the city of love to eat a croissant, see the Louvre, and watch the Eiffel Tower glimmer over the city. Like most citizens of the US you probably believe the common misconception that Paris is ridiculously expensive to fly to, stay in, and see all the attractions. While I’m sure during peak seasons, such as May through September, prices are way out of most people’s budget, I’m here to tell you how you can achieve the French vacation of your dreams on a budget.
November, the end of fall/beginning of winter is a month where leaves fall, temperatures drop, and tourists clear out before Christmas. Many people are hesitant to travel during this time because it is not the warm summer months that most Americans visit Europe, and its not quite the holidays. If you are looking for cheaper flights & airbnbs, without the extremely cold and dark skies that come with the also affordable January & February, then Paris in November will be perfect for you.
Our round trip flight from Seattle to Paris was only $350, which I am aware is an extremely rare deal, but that is the beauty of budget travel. If you have a desire to see the world on a budget, being flexible with where and when you travel is key. This very affordable international flight was what sparked our desire to visit France, knowing we could fly for half the price during November. This flight was booked directly through American Airlines and had one layover in Dallas, Texas. Overall, the flight was an enjoyable experience as we had a whole row to ourselves and they served several meals, including chocolate ice cream. The flight home was a little bit longer, and they messed up our seats, but for the price of this flight I really could not complain.
During the five days we spent in Paris, we were able to see every museum or attraction on our list, while also attending the Paris Masters 1000 tennis tournament for 2 full days.
Here is a breakdown of how much each tourist attraction was for a youth (under 25 years old) in November. Entrance into the Arc De Triomphe which included access to the rooftop and museum inside the Arc was €13. A ticket to one of the most famous museums in the world, The Louvre, was only €17. The highlight of the trip was taking an elevator ride to the very top of the eiffel tower which cost only €13.50 . In total we spent €43.50 for all 3 major tourist attractions. Other sights we saw that were completely free included the Sacre Couer Basilica, which sits at the highest elevation in Paris and had the most breathtaking view during sunset. It is free to enter the basilica and is definitely worth the walk to the top of the hill. Unfortunately, during our time in Paris the Notre Dame cathedral was still under construction after the devastating fire that took place in 2019. We were still able to take the metro to the cathedral and they had a huge display all around the construction zone with photos and paragraphs talking about the fire and how they are rebuilding it, which was still an amazing sight to see.
The airbnb we stayed at was honestly the PERFECT location. Just ¾ of a mile from a metro station and barely over a mile from the Eiffel Tower, this apartment was located right along the Seine river and made for the perfect walk every morning to nearby cafes. This airbnb was an apartment that only we had access to during our stay with no in person contact with the host, and he responded to us very quickly over the airbnb messenger feature. The price was $60 US dollars a night and after all the extra taxes and fees, our total was $370 for a 5 night stay in Paris.
Having never been to Europe before, I was expecting the food to be WAY more expensive and was very happy with how much I had budgeted for our trip. While in Paris, we ate at a variety of types of restaurants including small cafes, to french fast food, to more high end restaurants. The most we ever spent on a meal for 2 people was about $58 and that was at a nice restaurant near the eiffel tower right after we got engaged. It definitely helps that my fiance and I do not drink alcohol, which I know can be a huge expense for travelers. After Paris we went to Rome, so my food budget was for all 10 days in Europe for myself and my fiance and we were able to stay right under $1,100 US dollars. When you break that down that comes to about $55 per person per day, and we went out for 3 meals a day, plus ridiculously priced concession food in the Accor arena during our full day there watching tennis. One thing we did not want to limit ourselves on was food because it is such an important part of experiencing different cultures and expanding your view.
We both brought one carry-on travel backpack and a small fannypack and were able to fit 10 days worth of clothes for the November weather in France. Good walking shoes are a must, and I seemed to be perfectly warm with either a turtle neck or a light sweater. Though I have only been to Paris once, I would highly highly recommend visiting during November if you are on a budget.
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