Paris on the cheap

[xigris]

My 12 year old DS is desperate to visit Paris. There’s 5 of us in total and I’m slightly shocked at the prices!

We’re planning on going in late June for 3 nights - Thursday to Sunday. And yes, taking them out of school for 2 days. All 3 have 98% and above attendance and none are in critical years / sats and end of year exams are all finished.

DH and I went years ago and I don’t remember travel and accommodation being as eye watering. I’ve been to other European cities and it’s not been as expensive. I know it’s the Paris olympics this year but not until the end of July.

So, do any of you have any Top Tips? We live in London. Don’t mind how we get there. Would ideally like to stay fairly central. Can be very basic as we plan to be out most of the time. Could be a hotel (was thinking Premier Inn type) or Air B&B. We’re also happy to have the 5 of us in one room.

Are there any good websites you’d recommend?

Thank you all so much! I wonder if I’m just being really unrealistic. We were hoping for travel and accommodation to be around the £800 mark, or less. Am I mad?

I imagine prices are high due to the olympics. Can you go later in the year?

£800 for 3 nights accommodation AND return travel for 5 people over a weekend in peak season?? You're having a laugh surely?

We stayed at St Christopher's Inn near Gard du Nord for a night a few years ago. We were travelling from Glasgow to Disneyland Paris by train but didn't get to Paris until 9pm. It's a glorified youth hostel but we felt very safe and the breakfast was reasonable too.

Eurostar have cheap fares across June.

Drive, book a suburban Airbnb or hotel. It's about £5-600 for the accommodation but you then need a ferry (cheaper than shuttle) petrol, fares in Paris.

@HundredMilesAnHour sadly I think you’re right! I’m just very out of touch. Thought it was worth a post on here though in case I’m missing something.

@Allmarbleslost our youngest starts secondary in September hence wanting to go this side of the summer. We’ve never taken them out of school before - we just happen to be in a “safe” zone before the end of this school year.

@snoopyfanaccountant thank you! I’ll have a look at this

My toptip would be to go much later in the year when both olympics and paralympics are well and truly over. Next year would be even better. Paris will be a madhouse in June and if you can still get decent hotel rooms (and get into the sights you want to see) it will cost you a fortune.