Firstly, I would recommend investing in a Paris Pass for an extended stay in Paris or if you plan on doing a lot of travelling with public transport and sightseeing. This pass has many advantages; such as free entry to the best attractions, free entrance to over 55 of the most famous museums, a guide book, special offers in the big name shops and it included a Paris Visite card which gives you free, unlimited travel on the Metro, buses and RER within central Paris.

Secondly, get some decent budget accommodation sorted in Paris to cut costs and leave you with something to spend on having fun. If you are not planning on visiting all the typical sights, you can afford to book a hotel in Paris in a lesser known area by tourists and take advantage of lower room rates.

So, here are some special spots in Paris that certainly won’t be on every other tourist’s itinerary:

The Buddhist temple. You will find this place of worship in the Asian neighbourhood of Paris, strangely housed in an underground car park! It is the only large public garage in the area, so it’s not hard to find and you will find the temple as you walk in and, on the right. This isn’t a tourist attraction, it is a real, active temple so, while visitors are welcome, they are expected to be respectful and treat it as such. Worth a visit just for the novelty factor. You could also combine a trip to the temple with a meal out in one of the Thai or Vietnamese restaurants in this area in the 13th arrondissement.

Another favourite place of mine in Paris is the Musee Marmottan du Claude Monet. This attractive little museum houses a modest collection which was mainly donated by the artist’s son and contains sketches, small canvases and works by other artists that Monet had collected himself. This is a good choice if you are travelling with children as they offer guided tours of the gallery for children based around the themes of: flowers, landscapes, the seasons and the portrait.

The Parc Floral de Vincennes is a beautiful park with seasonal flower displays, located near to Chateau de Vincennes. This is a great place for a romantic picnic or a family day out as it also contains an amusement park, a pond, and a puts on puppet shows on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays in the afternoons for 2.60€. You will find a few restaurants dotted around if the weather is not too good and there are live jazz performances in the park on Sundays in summer.

Don’t strike Paris off of your list of places to visit once you’ve “done” the major sights; go back time and time again and discover the city’s more hidden treasures.

The 2009 Paris Nautical Show will take place as scheduled from the 5th till the 13th of December at Porte de Versailles. Although the the City of Light is far from the sea, the Paris Nautical Show is renowned throughout Europe fo being one of the most important nautical shows. Over 1200 exhibitors representing 1400 trademarks will present their latest products, which come under three main categories: sailboats and water tourism, jetskis and equipment.
The great thing about shows like this is that there is something for everyone, whether you are a professional in the field or you just love the sea. If you are interested in sail boats and yachts, come and visit the 2009 Nautical Show in Paris.

This tournament has been going on since 1990 and includes both singles and doubles categories, having acquired a high level of prestige as testified by the number of stars gracing the winner’s list in recent years. Among the winners in the singles category are David Nalbandian (2007), Nikolay Davydenko (2006) and the unforgettable Andre Agassi, who won in 1999. So why not see a premier sporting tournament rather than the usual visits to the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame and the Arc de Triomphe during your stay at the capital of the baguette? ]]> http://www.vacationrentalsspain.com/paris/game-set-match-tennis-in-paris/feed/ 0 http://www.vacationrentalsspain.com/paris/alternative-paris/ http://www.vacationrentalsspain.com/paris/alternative-paris/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:23:29 +0000 Rebecca http://www.vacationrentalsspain.com/?p=91 If, like me, you have been to Paris, seen the Eiffel Tower, done the Louvre and drunk coffee in quaint Parisian cafes overlooking the Champs Elysees, you may think that you have seen all that the French capital has to offer, but you couldn’t be more wrong! Paris has a whole alternative side, far from the beaten tourist track which is both interesting and a real eye opener as to what contemporary Paris is all about. Here are some tips on where to find the “real Paris”……

Logically, picture postcard Paris is in the centre of the city, neatly arranged around the Champs Elysees and Montmartre; so it makes sense to think that as you go further out of the centre you go further towards a more genuine image of the city. Having said that, if you go south you will come across some very affluent residential areas which are of little interest unless you like drooling over beautiful properties. Going north-east you will find some the venues for Paris’ alternative scene, from dingy smoky bars to cheaper, international restaurants.  Art squats in Paris  are also located in this area and give an interesting insight into the city’s underground scene and how that revolutionary French spirit is kept alive in Modern Paris.

As far as accommodation is concerned, B&B’s in Paris can be a good option for a more independent stay, but check exactly what is included in the price when you book as you may find you get your bed but no breakfast. Another alternative for meeting likeminded travellers are the many hostels in Paris.

For alternative shopping, check out the city’s flea markets. My personal favourite has to be Les Puces de Clignancourt for its bustling atmosphere and sheer size. You can buy all sorts here and I always feel like anything I buy there already has a secret history and a story to tell.

For culture, skip the louvre and head for one of the city’s excellent smaller musuems such as the lovely Orangerie, which houses some of Claude Monet’s finest works or hunt out the hidden Buddhist temple in the Asian quarter.

The Paris we all know and love is timeless, beautiful and romantic, but dont come here and overlook what’s back stage as it will help you understand Paris and its people and, ultimately, get more out of you trip.

Techniques for finding cheap accommodation vary from city to city and Paris is rather unique in this sense. Terms like Bed and Breakfast and guesthouse are usually synonymous with lower rates in England for example, but not necessarily in Paris. A lot of Bed and Breakfasts actually charge for the breakfast spread, so don’t be fooled into thinking you are going to get a free meal included in the price of the room! A good, safe option is to look for a cheap hotel in Paris which, while not luxurious, is clean and comfortable. Focus on location rather than frills and expect little more than a place to stay and you’ll do just fine! Private apartments in Paris are a good alternative if you are travelling with a group or just craving a bit of privacy and the freedom to come and go as you please.
Even bearing these things in mind, Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, so there are other factors to consider when trying to reduce costs stick to your budget, like when you travel (November to March is cheapest).
As far as getting around is concerned, use the night bus to make your way back to the hotel instead of a taxi and buy a 10 trip metro ticket to save money or a Paris Visite card which allows unlimited use of all public transport and can be bought in any metro station.
For a chic and cheap night out visit the Opera Garnier and see a ballet or opera standing up or simply stroll along the Seine and admire the Notre Dame Cathedral illuminated under the starry skies. And during the day, it’s good to know that the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and most other museums are free on the first Sunday of the month.
You don’t have to feel miserable about not being able to dine at one of the city’s fine restaurants either; what is on offer at the local bakery or street market is enough to make a gourmet chef’s mouth water and will cost you next to nothing. Paris’ answer to poor backpackers looking for cheap eats: Let them eat cake!