Paris has a reputation for being expensive for visitors, but here's the good news:

Paris is not any more expensive than most major cities—and cheaper than some—if you know how to buy.

Let's look at your principal travel expenses:

LODGING
Hotel rooms in the center of major cities are expensive, and Paris is no exception, but keep these points in mind:

—Taxes and service charges are included in the room price quoted to you. They will not be added to your bill when you check out. Compare this to New York City, where a service charge and up to four different taxes and fees may swell your bill when you check out.

—You can request a discount if you plan to stay more than a few days. For weekly, bi-weekly or monthly stays, discounts are definitely in order.

—Staying a week or more, you'll probably get much better value for money by renting an apartment. In October 2008, we rented a spacious, fully-equipped two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment for a month at the same nightly cost as a small double room in a hotel. Check these examples—>>

—Staying at a hotel out of the center, perhaps near the airport, and commuting to the center by Métro and/or RER trains, may save you a substantial amount. In fact, if you have a rail pass, you can even stay in a smaller, cheaper city away from Paris and commute to the center daily.

—Staying at a youth or travelers' hostel can cost very little, and you could be right in the center of everything. More...

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