But the unwritten code of conduct isn’t something that comes instinctively to the more than 4 million people who hop on board every day. In fact, each year 1.5 billion riders use the Paris Metro — that’s almost on par with New York City!

Even if you’ve ridden the subway in Chicago or New York, it’s still worth brushing up on how Parisians commute and get around the city.

Related: Will a Navigo pass save you money on the Paris Metro?

10 Paris Metro tips for riding like a local

Ready to buy a ticket and jump on the Metro? Here are 10 tips to help you fit in like a local while you’re sitting (or standing) on the subway.

1. Buy tickets in bulk

I only use the Metro occasionally, opting for a bike, and thus use the money-saving Navigo Easy pass with t+, contactless bundles of 10 tickets sold at a reduced rate (€17.35, a nearly 20% savings on buying tickets individually). You can purchase the Navigo Easy pass at all stations or RATP-approved stores, then add more tickets either in person or on your smartphone.

Local tip: If you do have a monthly or weekly Navigo pass that you simply touch to the turnstile, be sure to keep it in the bottom of your bag and try to swipe your bag across the turnstile, ensuring that the people behind you will have to wait while you swipe four or five times before the magnetic reader catches your card. That’s the sign of a true local.

2. Know when to sit and when to stand

In general, if you’re sitting in one of the fold-up chairs and staring into a sea of crotches, it might be time to get up and make some room. During peak hours, those folding seats should be off-limits. Feel free to throw the stink eye at anyone who thinks otherwise.

Also, offering your seat to an older person or a child is always appreciated, but don’t get carried away with it. Sometimes, guys, offering your seat to a 30-year-old, fit-as-a-fiddle woman could seem insulting or just kind of awkward.

3. Show generosity to performers… in the station

Generosity is a virtue, but illegality is not. It is interdit (not allowed) to perform in Metro cars, and performers usually have a permit to perform uniquely in the stations themselves.

When a performer comes on board belting out an Edith Piaf song or pumping their accordion, giving them money is supporting an illegal activity, and that’s just not cool (even if they are phenomenal). Save your coins for the respectful players in the stations that sometimes produce some amazing music.

4. Take the stares

Make eye contact — often. This is the Paris Metro, where staring is a national sport. Be warned, however, that looking at someone a few too many times will be interpreted as a come-on of sorts, as it may be intended, so be sure to look for your description on a Craigslist “missed connections” later that evening.

5. Keep it down

Do us all a favor and keep the loud discussions down. Engaging in a loud conversation or telephone call is a surefire way to stand out from the crowd. During morning and evening commutes, you’ll be the only one with your phone glued to your ear or chit chatting away at full volume with your friend. Read a book, listen to some music, or play Angry Birds, but save the drawn-out conversations for the café.

6. Be pushy

While you may have to push your way onto the Metro at any hour during the day, it’s especially common during the morning and evening commute. When the doors open, the wall of people can seem daunting, but giving an angry “pardon!” and a little elbowing will help you get aboard.
Touching isn’t balked at, so don’t be afraid to use your hand and physically reposition someone if they won’t move. Locals know the drill. And once in the train, squashed in the crush of people, you’ll often notice quite a bit of vacant space that has gone neglected. Locals love standing near the door, apparently. Laws of diffusion rarely apply.

7. Eat, drink and be exiled

Parisians eat at tables, at food trucks, or begrudgingly in the streets. Those who eat in the Metro are shunned and eventually sent to Belgium, so don’t do it. Plus, with the bouquet of aromas wafting through the tunnels, it’s not really the most appetizing of eating environments.

Know where you’re going before you get off!

8. Transfer strategically

Changing train lines once is acceptable, but annoying. Switching trains twice is sometimes necessary and really annoying. Switching three times is excessive and never required.
Know where you’re switching and where you’re going before you get off, to avoid that moment of lost panic that will signal to the pickpockets that you are, in fact, not a local. And avoid switching at the labyrinthine Chatelet-Les Halles for the love of all that is good.

9. All lines are not created equal

Locals have favorite Metro lines, but mostly they just hate certain lines. The 13 and the 4, both north-south lines, are among the most hated. Some revile the seemingly useless line 11, though it’s my personal favorite, catering to my needs. And taking the 1 is always like a trip to the UN, since it’s the most tourist-laden of them all. The 14 is a favorite because of its speed, and the 8 is often preferred to the more-crowded 9, since they generally go to the same areas.
So learn the lines using this Metro map, and be prepared to exhale frustrated and roll your eyes when someone says, “We have to take line 4!”

10. Love it

While the Paris Metro is far from perfect, it beats counterparts in New York and London by a landslide — at least this is what locals think. So when anyone disses the Metro because they have to wait six minutes for a train or because it smells like three-day-old urine, be proud and stick up for it, because love it or hate it, it’s the fastest and cheapest way to get you where you need to go in this town.

Your Paris Metro tips

Have a tip to add about the Paris Metro? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

More information

For more on the Paris Metro, visit the website of the RATP, the government agency that runs the Metro. The website offers information in English for tourists. RATP also has a handy app that provides everything you need to get around. Additionally, you can now use contactless payment methods like credit cards or smartphone apps to pay for single journeys directly at the turnstiles. Finally, if you’re currently planning a trip to Paris, be sure to swing by our guide to Paris for more articles on ways to save, plus reviews of recommended budget accommodations.

The post Paris: 10 tips for riding the Metro like a local appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

However, for those times when you might want to take in the Parisian scenery above ground or just avoid the Metro stairs and crowds, then you might want to use a ridesharing app like Uber.

We’ve taken rides with Uber around the city to help you find the best deals. We’ve listed real prices from trips in the city as well as to and from the airports — both Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY) — on all types of Uber.

Read on to discover helpful tips for using Uber in Paris to save on your transportation costs.

More tips for Paris
• Our favorite budget hotels in Paris
• The best SIM Cards for your trip to France
• 10 Money-saving tips for first-time visitors to Paris

Using Uber to get around Paris

Uber is legal in France, and it is very active in Paris. However, in 2016, Uber was fined €800,000 for operating an illegal taxi service with UberPOP — a service similar to UberX — in France between 2014 and 2015. Uber has since suspended UberPOP.

Currently, here are the available and legal services that Uber is operating in Paris: UberX, UberPOOL, Berline (French version of UberBLACK), UberGREEN, UberVAN, UberACCESS, Comfort, Uber Pet, and Moto.

Price points for Uber in Paris

When traveling within Paris, Uber can be an affordable way to get around the city. Here’s a breakdown of the prices across all the Uber services within Paris for the same trip from Avenue de Clichy in the 17^th arrondissement to the Eiffel Tower in the 7^th arrondissement on a Monday afternoon (5 km or 3.5 miles):

UberPOOL: €9.37
UberX: €13-18
UberGREEN: €13-18
UberACCESS: €13-18
UberVAN: €23-33
Berline: €23-31
Comfort: €20-€30
Uber Pet: €20-€33
Moto: €50+

The cheapest option: UberPool

Editor’s Note: Uber has suspended UberPool operations in several countries, including France, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It is typically the most affordable option when available.

As you can see in the prices above, UberPool offers the lowest prices. UberPool is where you share your ride with other guests. For example, if you want to go somewhere by yourself or with one other person, you can call an UberPOOL, and the driver may arrive with one passenger already in the car, or the driver can pick someone else while taking you to your destination.

UberPOOL is the cheapest option because you are technically splitting the full cost of an UberX with the other passengers. If you’re traveling alone or with one other person, UberPOOL is worth the discount. But keep in mind, if you are short on time, you are better off paying for a full UberX because you avoid the detour of picking up other passengers.

Also keep in mind that in the U.S., it costs $1 more to add a second passenger to your UberPOOL, and similarly in France, it costs an additional €1 to add your second passenger.

UberPOOL has a fixed price from both of Paris’ airports to Paris and vice versa. It doesn’t matter which arrondissement you go to or are picked up from, the price will be the same because Paris is treated as its own entity when it comes to airport travel.

The Uber app is widely used in Paris to get around the city. Photo: Pexels.com

Airport price points for UberPOOL

Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris (17^th arrondissement): €32.50 for 2 riders
Paris (17^th arrondissement) to Charles de Gaulle Airport: €31.50 for 1 rider
Paris (17^th arrondissement) to Orly: €32 for 1 rider
Orly to Paris (17^th arrondissement): €32 for 1 rider

Related: How not to blow your budget on a taxi from Paris airports

Worth it for groups and airport rides: UberX

UberX is where you have the whole four-door car to yourself. If you’re traveling with three or four people, then you would order an UberX. UberX is usually at least €4 more expensive than UberPOOL, but if you’re traveling with more than two people, it’ll be worth paying more to have all your party in the same car.

UberX is the cheapest option while using Uber for getting to the airport because most times, the driver won’t be picking up anyone else, so you get the benefit of UberX for the price of UberPOOL.

Airport price points for UberX

From Paris (11^th arrondissement) to Orly Airport: €29-40
From Orly Airport to Paris (17^th arrondissement): €40-54
From Paris (11th arrondissement) to Charles de Gaulle Airport: €37-50
From Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris (11th arrondissement): €36-49

Here’s a rundown of the other Uber option in Pari:

UberGREEN is the same price as UberX but it means that you will be riding in electric or hybrid vehicles. There’s no option to have an UberPOOL with UberGREEN — you will pay the full price of the whole car.

UberACCESS is the same price as UberX and UberGREEN. It means that you will be riding in a car that has wheelchair accessibility. There’s no option to have an UberPOOL with UberACCESS — you will pay the full price of the whole car.

UberVAN has room for up to six people in the ride. It is more expensive than UberPOOL and UberX.

Berline is Uber’s French version of UberBLACK. It offers high-end rides with professional drivers in a luxury vehicle. It is the second-most expensive Uber service in France.

Comfort: Uber Comfort has top-rated drivers as well as larger and newer vehicles.

Uber Pet: Traveling with one small pet? For a higher charge than the UberX, Green, or Access options, you can bring Fido or Fluffy in the Uber with you.

Moto: Uber has recently expanded its ride-sharing app for motorcycles and scooters. This is the most expensive option but can get you to your destination quickly.

Other ways to get around Paris

While Uber in Paris is a solid option, there are other ways to get around Paris besides this and the Metro.

Lyft

For those wondering about Lyft, it currently does not operate in Europe, so you can’t use it in Paris.

Taxis

If you don’t want to deal with ride-sharing apps, a taxi from Charles de Gaulle Airport or Orly Airport to Paris (and vice versa) is fixed at a flat rate. CDG is €53 for the right bank and €58 to the left bank, while ORY is €37 to the right bank and €32 to the left bank.

Have you used Uber in Paris? Tell us about your experience and what tips you use to save.

The post Uber in Paris: How to find the cheapest rides appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The Navigo

The Navigo pass is a card that allows you to enter the Metro or bus system by simply tapping your card at the turnstile or on board. No paper tickets. No multiple visits to the machine. Once your card is charged for the week or month, you can take the Metro, bus or tram as many times as you’d like within a certain area.

Depending on your plan, the Navigo will cover only a certain number of the five zones in the greater Paris region. Most visitors will only visit within zones 1-2, but you can buy for zones 1-5 if needed. Separate “supplement” tickets can be bought to get to the outer zones for those isolated trips to Versailles or the airport.

It’s a convenience for those commuting to and from work every day, but the Navigo isn’t always going to be a budget traveler’s best friend.

To purchase a Navigo pass, you can go to any Metro station. Photo: Bryan Pirolli

Short Visits

If you’re only in Paris for a few days, I don’t think that you should even consider it. A monthly or weekly pass isn’t worth it, and you can rely simply on the “carnets,” or packs of 10 tickets purchased at a reduced rate of €14.90. So you get 10 rides split between however many people you’d like. Just note that paper tickets will be phased out by 2021, so you might not want to stock up on too many carnets.

Besides, walking is the best way to explore the city.

Related: 10 tips for riding the Metro like a local

Longer Visits

If you’re here for at least a week, you may want to consider a weekly pass. The passes start on Monday and are valid through Sunday, so if you arrive on Friday, you’ll still have to buy regular tickets (or carnets) and wait until Monday to start the weekly pass. If this seems frustrating and complicated, don’t even bother with it.

The pass costs €22.80, plus €5 for the actual card that needs to be purchased from a ticket window. So the total is €27.80. But there is one more thing you need: a photo of yourself. You used to have to get the photo taken at a station, but now you can do it yourself. Your photo could be any size, and it does not have to be glossy or photo paper. There are instant photo booths in major stations if you need to take one there.

To insert your photo, peel the adhesive cover on the Navigo card and stick on the photo. Then you slide it into a plastic cover that comes with your pass. You can do this later, at your hotel or whenever you have a free moment. This is convenient because someone else (like a friend living in Paris) could buy the pass for you ahead of time, so you’ll be ready to go from the moment you arrive.

But for just €29.80, you could have 20 tickets or two carnets, that will probably be more than sufficient for your trip. If you think you’ll take more than 20 rides in a week, then consider the weekly Navigo.

Or maybe consider re-organizing your trip, because that is a lot of time in the Metro.

Related: 50 ways to save time and money in Paris

Really Long Visits

If you’re staying for more than three weeks, you may want to opt for the monthly Navigo at €75.20 for all zones, which includes all 20 districts of Paris. Like the weekly pass, you’ll need to purchase the card and get a photo for it.

These passes start at the beginning of the month and have an advantage that the weekly passes do not. On weekends (midnight on Friday to midnight on Sunday) and holidays, the passes allow you to travel to any zone. So if you are planning weekend trips to Versailles, Disneyland, the airport, or anywhere else that is outside of central Paris, you could end up benefiting from a monthly pass.

And chances are if you are here for a few weeks, you’ll have walked enough that the comfort and ease of the Metro will come in handy more than just once a day.

Bottom Line

Plan it out. If you’re staying out in zone 4 for some reason during a prolonged three-week stay, you might want to consider the monthly or weekly pass to save money.

But if you’re staying central for a few days, forget the Navigo pass. It would be a shame to waste hard-earned money on a Navigo that you end up not using at all.

What do you think?

Do you agree with our assessment of the Navigo pass? Have you purchased one when visiting Paris? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below.

The post Paris: Will buying a Navigo pass help you save on the Metro and bus? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Certainly not at the Charles de Gaulle airport. Consistently one of the most complained about airports in the world, there is now a small glimmer of hope for its future. A project is underway to create the CDG Express, a train that will whisk you away from the airport and to Paris’s Gare de l’Est (pretty central) in about 20 minutes.

The catch? We’ll be waiting until 2027 — if we’re lucky.

In the meantime, what’s the best way to get into Paris? Opinions are split. For those with extra cash to burn, it’s a private car service or taxi. For the rest of us, well, we have other options.

Below are the best affordable options for getting to and from central Paris from Charles de Gaulle. We’re writing this with a typical traveler in mind, someone who’s carrying a standard piece of check-in luggage and a small backpack or bag, and who has an average tolerance for discomfort. Ready to hit the town? Here are your options:

Related: How not to blow your budget on a taxi from the airport

Riding the RER B to central Paris offers a no-frills welcome to the city. Photo: EuroCheapo

Option 1: RER B to Gare du Nord

Financially, the RER B train to Gare du Nord is your most economical option. At €11.40, it’s relatively quick and efficient if there are no strikes.

But the train is, well, unsavory at best. While I’ve never had any problems per se, the last trip to the airport was animated by two lovely men smoking some seriously stinky blunts and blasting angry rap music on their iPhones. Pickpockets and scam artists, mixed with crowded peak hour commutes and hauling your luggage up and down, make it one of the least welcoming entrances into Paris.

I take it, but I hate it.

Verdict: Thumbs down.

Option 2: Roissybus to Opera

For a bit more money (€13.70) the Roissybus will take you every 15-30 minutes between CDG and the Opera Metro station. You’ll have to worry about traffic and potentially crowds, but at least you’ll be avoiding lugging your bags around the transportation system. However, it can be stressful if you’re stuck in traffic.

Verdict: Thumbs down.

Option 3: Public Night Bus

For those who take weirdly early flights because they’re cheap, getting to Charles de Gaulle can be a headache. The Metro only starts around 5:30 am, so there’s little hope of making a 7 am flight.

You can take the night bus, called the Noctilien, from the Gare de l’Est station, which runs while the Metro is closed. Buses 140 and 143 leave for CDG about every 30 minutes or so, but battling the night crowds can be, well, a nightmare.

Verdict: Thumbs down.

All aboard the SuperShuttle! Photo: kennejima

Option 4: SuperShuttle

Sometimes you’ll be tempted to take a taxi for about €50-70, but that’s far from the budget route. If you don’t mind getting to the airport a bit early and getting to know your fellow passengers, opt for the SuperShuttle. The door-to-terminal shared van service costs €20-40, depending on the time of day, but it’s probably the most affordable option for a semi-private airport service.

Verdict: Thumbs up.

How do you get into Paris?

Which of these options do you use to get into Paris? Do you have a favorite — or an addition to our list? Share your budget-friendly tips for getting in from Charles de Gaulle in the comments below!

The post How do you get from Charles de Gaulle to Paris without spending too much? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But then there are those times when you land in Paris on a rainy day after a sleepless night in cramped cattle class and endure an escargot-paced jet-lagged slog through customs at the airport, or realize you booked yourself an early morning departure on a frigid winter morning, and hauling yourself and your belongings onto public transport is not worth the savings.

Here are some tips for minimizing costs if you decide to splurge on a taxi to or from the airport. (Related story: Money-Saving Tips for Taking Taxis in Paris.)

From the Airport

Getting a taxi from the airport is a no-brainer requiring you to follow the signs to the taxi stand, get in, give your address to the driver, sit back and hope for the best.

If it’s rush hour, you might end up paying up to €60-70 for the luxury of a ride into town, since trips to and from the airport are not price-regulated as they are in big American cities like NYC and a traffic jam can add a hefty mark-up to your fare.

During off hours when traffic is flowing, a taxi ride into central Paris can drop down to €35-40, meaning that if you are traveling with at least another person, taking a taxi makes more financial sense, since the bus fare for each person ends up being around €11.

Going Back to the Airport

The city’s blue and white taxi stands, ostensibly meant to give passengers an easy place to find a taxi, are often deserted. And if you happen to accidentally hail a cab within 50 meters of a taxi stand, they are not allowed to stop.

In the mornings, on a rainy day or late in the evening, it can be impossible to find a taxi on the street, which makes it tempting to book online with one of the city’s major taxi companies, or call ahead.

The Cost of Advanced Planning

It might be convenient to pre-book a ride to the airport, but if you schedule a taxi to pick you up at an appointed hour, don’t be surprised to find that there is already €10 or more running on the meter, as taxis start charging you from the time they are dispatched, not from the time they pick you up.

If you want to take a taxi but don’t want to pay the extra dispatch charge, leave yourself a bit of time to wander around and find one. If your luggage is light enough to lug around with you and you are patient, you can save money by hailing a cab on the street or at a taxi stand as well as at certain hotels.

A Note on Luggage

Drivers are allowed to charge €1 after the first bag for any additional luggage of 5 kilos (11 lbs.) or more that is large enough to require being stowed in the trunk.

The Tipping Point

Remember that tipping is optional for Paris taxi rides, and not expected. If your driver was pleasant and competent, feel free to round up a few euros, but don’t waste money on an American guilt tip in a country where the rules of gratuity are not the same.

The post How Not to Blow Your Budget Taking a Taxi to or from the Paris Airport appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But taking the occasional taxi to get from point A to point B is the sort of small luxury that can make a world of difference when you are tired, traveling with children or older people or in a group to make the ride more affordable.

Here are a few guidelines to help you navigate the rules and quirks of Parisian taxis so that a minor indulgence doesn’t turn into a calamity for your wallet.

Before You Get In

First of all, make sure that you are taking one of the city’s 17,357 official taxis, easily identifiable by the “Taxi Parisien” panel perched on the roof. These cabs are manned by card-carrying licensed drivers who are required to pass medical exams and have their taxis regularly inspected to make sure they are both clean and in top working order, as well as regulated meters that protect you from being ripped off.

It probably goes without saying, but never get into a random black car with a solicitous driver asking “Taxi?” A free Parisian taxi will stop if you flag it, but never hound you to get in.

Never on Sunday

Note that Paris taxis have a three-tiered rate system: A, B and C. The bottom line: Taxis are the most expensive on Sundays (and holidays), slightly less expensive from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. and the least expensive from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every other day of the week.

Don’t Blow Your Taxi Allowance on Short Distances

Unlike some cities where the minimum ride is negligible and you can feel justified taking a taxi to get somewhere faster, the minimum ride in Paris is a whopping €6.60. So don’t waste money taking taxis on shorter routes that you can access via public transportation or on foot.

Safety in Numbers

If you are traveling with a group, keep in mind that most sedan taxis will usually take up to three people. There are more mini-van taxis and larger vehicles on the road these days that can accommodate a group, and some drivers will allow you to squeeze in a fourth passenger, but keep in mind that they are allowed to add €3 to the fare if they do.

A Tip About Tipping

In France, tipping your taxi driver is not expected, so don’t feel obligated to offer a large gratuity and only round up to the nearest euro on a small fare.

Also, see my related post: How Not to Blow Your Budget on Taxi Rides to and from the Paris Airport.

The post Money-saving tips for taking Paris taxis appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Think Before You Go Unlimited

The Paris Visite pass is an unlimited pass designed for tourists that offers all-you-can-ride passes of 1, 2, 3 and 5 days as well as local/airport bus combos.

But Paris is a very walkable city, and you might end up resorting to public transport less than you think. Be sure to do the math before you go for this easy option as you may end up spending more than necessary for convenience.

Buy a Carnet

If you don’t need an unlimited pass but expect to make at least 5 round-trips during your visit, plan ahead to save money by purchasing a carnet of 10 tickets (€13.30) that you can buy in any Métro station, a considerable savings over the regular €1.70 ticket price. These tickets are good for rides with one transfer within a 90-minute period on the Métro, bus, or bus/tram.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to use them for a combined Métro/bus or Métro/tram transfer. Use this handy tool for planning your route ahead of time to make the most of the transfer bonus.

Never Buy Your Tickets on the Bus

You can buy single tickets on the bus for €2, and unlike, say New York City bus drivers, Paris bus drivers will give change, and happily make the rest of the bus passengers wait while they do.

But in addition to paying about 30% more for a single ticket, tickets bought on the bus are good for one leg only; you are not allowed to make transfers, which means you could end up paying €4, or more than double the price of a regular ticket, if you need to transfer.

The post 3 Ways to Save Money Riding the Bus in Paris appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

While they’re definitely worth shelling out for, there are a few different options to sift through. Here’s our Cheapo guide to choosing the Seine river cruise that’s right for you… and your budget.

Bateaux Parisiens

With departures from both Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, the Bateaux Parisiens offer the most basic of the “bateaux mouches.” With pre-recorded audioguides detailing the sights along the one-hour trip, it’s a perfectly fine and basic way to experience Paris from the water. Just be sure to go later in the evening or night when there are slightly fewer groups crowding the docks.

At just €13 (€14 from Notre Dame) and €5 euros (or €6) for children, it’s not a bad choice, even if it can feel a bit over-the-top touristy at times.

Vedettes de Pont Neuf

There’s something about having a real human commentating that makes this company seem a bit more interesting, even if the poor commentator might still not have every English conjugation under their belt. The one-hour tour offered by the Vedettes de Pont Neuf are a bit less of a cattle call than the Bateaux Parisiens and leave centrally from their dock off the Pont Neuf. While passing by all of the same monuments, the boats have the added advantage of ending up back at the Pont Neuf, smack in the center of the city.

Deals on their website might allow you to score tickets for €8 instead of the normal €13 ticket price. Pre-buy if possible!

We love the Batobus for its hop-on-hop-off service. Photo: AndyRobertsPhotos

Batobus

My pick for exploring the river, the Batobus is Paris’s water taxi, taking tourists from major attraction to major attraction. Its eight stops include the Musée d’Orsay and the Jardin des Plantes, meaning you can get off and wander a bit before hopping back on to the next dock. Or just grab a spot on the deck and watch the city go by. You can stay on all day if you want! And there’s no pesky commentary in several languages to distract you.

Tickets start at €15, but Groupon can be your friend here!

Canauxrama

While the Seine is the main aquatic thoroughfare in Paris, don’t forget the canal which runs through the east of the city, meeting the river by the Bastille neighborhood. The trendy area is worth a visit from the Canauxrama, the slow-moving cruise that passes through the old lochs and even underground, while offering commentary in several languages. Kids love watching the water rush in and out as the boats pass up and down the canal.

While canal cruises cost €16 for a 2.5 hour cruise, online tickets are reduced to €13.50. For further savings, try Groupon, which regularly discounts the boat tickets up to 50%.

Your favorite way to cruise?

Do you have a favorite way to see Paris by boat? Share your experience with us in the comments section.

The post Paris River Cruises: Which bateaux mouches is the best deal? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here’s what’s new with the Vélib’ program since our last update.

Join Vélib’ online

You don’t have a microchip credit card? No worries. Before heading to take the bike, subscribe online and get a reference number and password that will let you take out a bike from any station. You can do this up to 15 days before activating your short-term subscription of 1 or 3 days (€5 or €20, respectively), so if you’ll be out of range of the internet, you can plan ahead.

The free Vélib’ app shows how many bikes and parking spots are available at bike stations throughout the city.

As before, the first half hour of riding is free with a subscription. Afterwards, the first half hour costs €1, the next half an hour €2, then €4 per 30 minutes beyond that. It’s probably the cheapest bike in town!

Buy from a cell phone (and use Wi-Fi hot spots)

If you forgot to sign up and you’re stuck at a station trying to take out a bike, all hope is not lost. If you have your smartphone or tablet, just head to the nearest McDonald’s, Starbucks, public park, or café with Wi-Fi and sign up via your mobile device. (See our previous post on where to find free Wi-Fi in Paris.)

The Vélib app (for iPhone and Android) will have you signed up in a few easy steps.  Like signing up online, you’ll get a reference number and a code that can be used at any station to retrieve a bike.

Use the app to find bikes and parking

The official Vélib’ app also has a feature that’s useful if you’re not street-savvy in Paris beyond the Champs-Elysées and rue de Rivoli. It will tell you where the nearest bike station is by your destination and how many spots are left (or how many bikes, if you’re looking for one). This can help avoid that awkward delay when you have to tell your friends/tour guide/dining partner that you were late because you couldn’t find a Vélib’ parking spot.

Etiquette and rules

Once you secure your Vélib’, make sure you know the rules of the road. Some have changed over the years, including the legal turning on red and legal riding against one-way traffic on most small streets. (Though caution is highly suggested while trying either.)

Otherwise, the normal rules still apply:

• Stay off the sidewalks.

• Stop at a red light.

• Stick to a bike lane even if it’s shared with a bus, and get out of it if it’s clearly marked “NO BICYCLES.”

• Ringing the bell is usually effective for moving pedestrians out of your way, but be prepared for sudden breaks.

• And if you have a helmet, feel free to wear it, but it’s not legally required.

With all of these changes, there’s no excuse not to enjoy Paris by bike.  The only other thing you need is some sun to complete the perfect Parisian experience.

Your Vélib’ tips

Have some helpful suggestions to add to our list of Vélib’ tips? Share with us in the comments section.

Also in our guide: Planning a trip to Paris? Be sure to check out our Paris travel guide, which includes more ways to save on your trip, including reviews of the city’s best budget hotels (all centrally located, inspected and approved).

The post Paris Velib’ Update: New ways to get a bike, find parking and stay safe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

At just €10 (ten, dix, diez, X – just to be clear, it’s not a typo!) for a ticket that would cost €60, €70, or even €80 on a normal TGV, well, yes, “oui” will go indeed!

How Ouigo works

The SNCF said there will be 62 different TGV (“train à grande vitesse,” or high speed trains) each week serving various destinations. Trains are the same as the standard TGVs and the stops are mostly familiar, running between the Paris region, Lyon, Montpellier, and Marseille, among other cities.

Ouigo’s routes are initially limited to the southeast and Paris region.

Ouigo will launch with service only to the southeast of France, which accounts for 35% of all TGV traffic in the nation. A successful run, however, could mean spin-offs to Bordeaux, Rennes, or Strasbourg in the future, if we’re lucky!

Oui-know that you’re ready to book a ticket now, but first be aware of some of the differences between Ouigo and standard TGV service. Here’s a quick overview:

1. Ouigo doesn’t stop in Paris.

The train actually departs and arrives from Marne-la-Vallée, right by Disneyland Paris. This is also a stop on the Eurostar line from London, in case any Brits were looking for a cheaper shot down to the south of France.

For Parisians, however, sure, it’s only a 30-40 minute RER ride from Paris, not to mention the Metro to get to the RER to get to the Ouigo train. Sounds like a hoot, right?

Center-city Parisians aren’t the main audience, however, and the SNCF is targeting suburbanites who would usually travel by car, offering the low-cost train as an alternative. But no one is writing off a direct train from Paris one day in the future…

€15 for Marne-la-Vallée to Aix-en-Provence. Pas mal!

2. Keep an eye out for extra charges.

Anyone who has ever taken Ryanair will understand the hidden costs of budget travel. While the Ouigo extra charges aren’t as extreme as the Irish airline, there are supplementary charges possible, like €2 for an electrical plug if you want to charge something. And if you’re not traveling light, extra baggage beyond the one suitcase and one handbag allowance will cost you €5 when reserving a ticket or €10 afterwards, so plan accordingly.

So far, trips to the bathrooms are free…

3. Act fast to book a €10 tickets.

Prices will go up after the first 400,000 seats are sold at €10. Then the next million or so tickets skyrocket, relatively, to €25. The prices continue to rise with demand.

Tickets can only be bought online, so don’t bother heading to a train station expecting inexpensive tickets. A color-coded calendar on the website will indicate when the most low-cost tickets are available (think pink!) and when cheap tickets are dwindling (white or, worse, blue).

4. Choose your tickets wisely.

Tickets are not reimbursable, but you can change the name on it or switch it for another date. If you are going to change a cheaper ticket for a more expensive one, you’ll have to pay the difference. If you’re getting a cheaper ticket, you won’t be reimbursed the extra that you paid. Such is low-cost.

5. Say goodbye to the café car.

If you’re interested in low-cost travel, you’re not expecting the Four Seasons. Ouigo is no exception. There’s no First Class aboard this train. Gone are the days of the dining car, so bring your own pastry and coffee if you’re an obsessive traveling eater. (Although, really, the ride is only 3 hours and 15 minutes from Ile-de-France to Marseille, so you’ll survive!)

No onboard café means more seats though, with each train holding about 20% more seating than standard high-speed TGV trains. Otherwise, the trains are perfectly comfortable.

The post Introducing Ouigo, France’s new budget TGV appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.