Here are six cheap ways to get into the Christmas mood in Paris this year:

1. Walk the sights for free.

From the lights at Place Vendome to the Champs-Elysées, the giant tree at Place de la Concorde, or the windows of the grands magasins, there is no shortage of sightseeing for the holiday seeker. The best bets are to walk the Grands Boulevards to see the lights and decorated windows at the Galeries Lafayette and the Printemps department stores. And heck, while you’re there stop inside to see their trees and holiday pizzazz.

This year’s Christmas tree inside the Galeries Lafayette. Photo: Jason Whittaker

Afterwards, take a stroll through the regal and festive Place de la Vendome on your way to “holiday central” at Place de la Concorde and the markets along the Champs-Elysées. Holiday cheer guaranteed for 0 euros.

2. Take in the Christmas markets.

Take a walk through the famed Christmas markets, inspired by a centuries-old German tradition, and take in the smells of cheesy tartiflette. Or have a sip of inexpensive spicy mulled vin chaud while browsing the oftentimes expensive merchandise. No holiday experience is complete without one, if not more, cups of this delicious hot wine.

For more on this, including market addresses, read my previous post on the best Christmas markets in Paris.

3. Stop for something sweet in the Marais.

To get some more tastes of the holiday season, you’ll need something sweet. Mazet de Montargis, in the Marais, has a variety of festive seasonal candies in addition to their signature almond-based praslines. Look for spiced chocolates and candied chestnuts among their other confections. (37 rue des Archives, 75004)

Shop for something savory (or sweet) at the Bon Marché’s Grand Epicerie. Photo: Antonia Hayes

4. Food shopping at the Bon Marché.

For something savory, think about picking up some foie gras, since this is the time of year when the French consume the most of it.

Consider taking a trip to the Bon Marché, the elegant department store, whose food section (called the “Grand Epicerie”) is a treat for gastronomes from any corner of the world. If you can imagine a food product for purchase, you’ll find it here, including both expensive and affordable treats. And on top of that, the store will be beautifully decorated, so it’s a two-for-one! (24 rue de Sèvres, 75007)

5. Take a spin on the “Grande Roue.”

This is the time of year to ride the Grande Roue, Paris’s enormous Ferris wheel at Place de la Concorde that overlooks the illuminated Champs-Elysées.  It’s open every day until midnight and it’s only €10 for one of the most unique and ephemeral bird’s-eye views of Paris.

Take in great views from the Grande Roue, Paris’ Ferris wheel. Photo: Raissa B.

6. Go ice skating.

For the active, strap on a pair of skates and prepare your best double axel. The ice skating rink at the Hotel de Ville is a staple, and is free to enter with skate rentals only €5.

But this year, the Grand Palais is hosting France’s largest-ever ice skating rink under the gorgeous glass dome. For €12, you’ll get a pair of skates and the chance to glide around until the early evening. For more information, be sure to check the sporadic hours on the Web site.

Also in our guide: If you’re heading to Paris this holiday season, be sure to check out our reviews of the city’s best budget hotels. Our hotel picks have been inspected and approved by our editors. Read more in our Paris hotel guide.

Looking for suggestions on ways to save in Paris? Be sure to read our article on Paris budget tips.

How do you get into the holiday spirit in Paris?

Do you have a favorite holiday tradition in Paris? Share with us (especially if it’s “Cheapo friendly”) in our comments section below.

The post Paris: 6 cheapo ways to catch the Christmas spirit appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

During the years of the Celtic Tiger boom, it was just about impossible for a Cheapo to do any shopping in Dublin. Sure, it’s fun to marvel at the gorgeous window displays at Brown Thomas department store on Grafton Street, but buying anything? Not in the cards, especially not with the exchange rate.

That is unless you know where to look for vintage stores. These stores have been offering affordable shopping since the boom, and have survived even as many of the glitzier stores have closed in recent years.

Seek out the following shops and you can afford to bring home some gifts for friends and family–and maybe a little something for yourself, too.

The Harlequin
13 Castle Market, Dublin 2
Web site (Facebook)

Besides being located smack in the middle of one of my favorite areas of Dublin, this shop has everything you could want in a vintage store: racks and racks of well-organized, interesting clothes, bags, and jewelry–without even a trace of that musty vintage smell. Some parts of the store are organized by decade, other parts by item.

If you love handbags–beware–this store has an incredible selection of gently-used bags. And belts. And even hats, too.

The Loft at Powerscourt Townhouse
59 South William Street, Dublin 2
Web site

Cheapos walking into the indoor shopping center that is the Powerscourt Townhouse might think at first that they’ll never find anything affordable. Yet if you’re visiting on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday–climb the stairs to the very top floor where you’ll find a space called “the Loft.”

Here, independent designers and vintage enthusiasts set up a little rack of their items. Handmade jewelry, bath products, affordable little dresses and vintage belts are all on offer here. You can shop happily knowing your purchase will support small businesses.

A Store is Born
34 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2

Only open on Saturday from 11 a.m.–6 p.m., you could walk by this space any other time of the week and barely notice it. It is the size of a garage, and is packed with interesting sweaters, scarves and jackets. If the Dublin weather has you wishing you packed something heavier, stop into this store on a Saturday to stock up on warm items.

If possible, arrive early as the small space gets crowded by mid-afternoon. The earlier you arrive, the better the selection.

All three of these vintage stores are located within a 5-minute walk of each other, making a manageable day of shopping. There are other vintage shops in Dublin that specialize in gowns or silk blouses–but Cheapos will be best served by sticking to this list.

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Oh, the weather in Paris has been frightful, but the city is still delightful. So crank up Tino Rossi’s classic “Petit Papa Nöel” on the gramophone, or pull on your boots and bravely hot step it outside. For your wandering pleasure, I’ve created a personal list of my favorite holiday rituals and fancy rites!

Lights

Inside Galeries Lafayette

I typically kick off my holiday season with a jaunt to the lights and “vitrines de Noël” (holiday windows) on Boulevard Haussmann. This year, Galeries Lafayette’s windows were outfitted by Italian artist (and master of the spectacle) Valerio Festi to celebrate the resonating, magical beauty of musicals like Hairspray, Le Soldat Rose, Les Rockettes and Mamma Mia.

Meanwhile at nearby Printemps (102 Rue de Provence), royals and marionettes romp and frolic in fantastical and giddy “Nöel au Chateau” tableaux by Lanvin’s artistic director, Alber Elbaz. A “B.F.F. of the Cheapos,” we have Monsieur Elbaz to thank for introducing an affordable Lanvin line to H&M this year. Ooh-Ra-Ra!

Also, let’s not forget the smaller shops! Often restaurants, pâtisseries, boutiques, and even pharmacies hire artists to create holiday murals. Shopping districts in every arrondissement are also gussied up with streetlights.

Cookies

During the holidays I carry at least one meringue cookie in my trench coat pocket or bag at all times. Sweet and crunchy, it’s the ultimate instant sugar rush, making the perfect portable snack. Yes, Goldilocks, size does matter, so go with a medium-sized cookie because the smaller ones are sometimes on the dry side, and the larger ones are occasionally too soft.

Clémentines à feuilles at Lafayette Gourmet

Also, while in nibble-mode, sample other types of cookies like jelly-filled powdered lunettes, rich and crispy florentines, and fleshy iconic macarons. Looking for a big cookie? Ask for a sandy and oh-so-buttery “sablé”!

Fruit

During the colder months, clémentines à feuilles (i.e., with green leaves still attached to show how fresh they are) reign at the produce stands in Paris. You’ll also be tempted by big, bright pyramids of citrons (lemons), cédrats (citrons), and pamplemousses (grapefruit), not to mention tangerines, limes, mandarines, and oranges.

Keep your eyes peeled for les figues violette (purple figs), poires (pears), pommes (apples), raisins (grapes) and caramboliers (star fish). Remember, the produce merchant is your friend and advisor, so don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations!

Chopin at the Musée de la Vie Romantique

Museum Houses

Musée de la Vie Romantique
16 Rue Chaptal (Métro Blanche)

In the quiet and quaint “Nouvelle Athènes” area around Métro Saint-George, you’ll find the Musée de la Vie Romantique. Formerly the home of painter Ary Scheffer, it now showcases works from the Romantic Movement in art and literature. Back in the day, this is where George Sand, Chopin, Delaxroix, Lizt, and Rossini would gather! Scheffer’s paintings are displayed the second floor, while his spunky neighbor George Sand’s art, personal artifacts (and her bling, too!) occupy the first floor. Pack a hankie because electric candlelight and piped-in Chopin gently lends it a truly romantic ambiance.

Hooked on houses? Check out still more amazing digs:

Musée du Gustave Moreau on 14 rue de La Rochefoucauld (Métro Trinité)

Jacquemart-Andre Museum on 158 Boulevard Haussmann (Métro Miromesnil)

Maison de Victor Hugo at 6 place des Vosges (Metro: Chemin-Vert or Saint-Paul)

Le Musée de la Poupée at Impasse Berthaud (Métro Rambuteau) The Doll Museum’s exhibition “Le Retour du Père Nöel” closes January 9.

Cinema 28

Movies

The sun sets early in winter, so why not cozy up with an old flick at the cinema? After seeing “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,” followed by Audrey Hepburn’s “Love in the Afternoon” one cold and wet New Year’s Day, this became my personal holiday tradition.

My favorite cinema is Studio 28 in Abbesses. Founded in 1928, it became world’s first avant-garde art theater after Salvador Dali and Luis Buñuel premiered one of the first surrealist films there: “L’Age d’Or.” Do look up. Jean Cocteau designed the theater chandeliers!

Also showing oldie-but-goodie American classics (which, by the way, the locals love) are the Action Ecoles at 23 rue des Ecoles (Métro Maubert-Mutualité or Jussieu), the Action Christine on 4 rue Christine (Métro Odéon or Saint-Michel), and the Grand Action at 5 rue des Ecoles (Métro Cardinal-Lemoine or Jussieu)—just to name a few.

Happy Holidays, Cheapos!

The post Paris Holiday Rituals: Lights, cookies, action! appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are several ways you can catch the Christmas spirit in Paris:

1. Department store window displays

The windows at the department stores are not quite as extravagant as those on Fifth Avenue in New York, but the Galeries Lafayette and Bon Marché stores do their best to compete. And the best part is that you don’t even have to worry about expensive price tags to enjoy the holiday decoration.

Galeries Lafayette: This year a Broadway theme dominates at the Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann. Children especially love watching the puppets dancing to the “Mamma Mia!” soundtrack. (38 Rue de la Chaussée d’Antin, 75009, Metro: Chaussée d’Antin-Lafayette)

BHV: Meanwhile, over at the iconic BHV department store on rue de Rivoli, Santa tackles the circus in a series of colorful windows. (52 Rue de Rivoli, 75004, Metro: Hotel de Ville)

Also check out Printemps, next to the Galeries Lafayette (102 Rue de Provence, 75009. Metro: Saint-Lazare) and Le Bon Marché (24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007, Metro: Sèvres-Babylone).

Make sure to take a look inside each store for their elaborate Christmas trees, as well.

2. Christmas markets in Paris

If you are looking to do a little holiday shopping like the Europeans do, check out the holiday markets around town.

A tradition hailing from neighboring Germany, the bustling marchés de Noel can be found throughout Paris. While the merchandise may be kitschy and overpriced, the hot mulled wine is always yummy at just €3 for a cup of cheer.

Here are a few marchés to consider:

Champs Elysées: Tourists flock to the famed Champs Elysées market, a holiday wonderland once the lights twinkle to life at night. If you feel like splurging €8 on a breathtaking view of the city, take a spin on the Ferris Wheel at the end on Place de la Concorde. (Metro: Concorde or Champs Elysées-Clemenceau)

Saint Sulpice: Other markets are much more intimate. At the market outside Saint Sulpice church in the Saint Germain neighborhood you can browse scarves and various cheeses. (Metro: Saint Sulpice)

Montmartre: A stroll (or Metro ride) up Montmartre and you’ll find yourself in the middle of a market at Places des Abbesses in the picturesque neighborhood-with-a-view. (Metro: Abbesses)

La Defense: For a more modern take on the holiday, browse the 350 vendors at the La Défense market, located in the city’s business district. (Metro: La Défense)

Real Parisians know that the best Christmas markets in France are located in Strasbourg, about two hours to the east of Paris. However, any competition fades after a few glasses of hot wine.

For more Christmas market listings, check out About.com’s list.

3. Christmas at Notre Dame

Sure, it may be “on the beaten tourist path,” but the city’s medieval cathedral has an extra magical glow during the holidays. A Christmas tree shimmers with blue lights outside under the massive Gothic bell towers. Inside, the famous nativity scene is on display and visitors are encouraged to leave messages of peace.

On December 20, the church will host its annual Christmas concert–and of course it’s all free! (Metro: Saint-Michel).

4. Holiday feasting

Eating is, of course, essential in France during the holiday season (and most seasons, for that matter). Parisian supermarkets are rife with chocolates and cakes, most importantly the bûche de Noel, a scrumptious chocolate and chestnut cake. Hot wine flows in most cafés as well throughout the holiday season as the temperatures drop and spirits need a little lifting.

Of course all of this holiday cheer doesn’t stop on Christmas day. Look in any bakery or pastry shop for the galette de Rois, or King Cake, that is popular around the time of the Epiphany in the two weeks after Christmas day. A word of caution: Be careful not to swallow the figurine hidden inside. Whoever chomps down upon the the prize is crowned King or Queen–and buys the cake the next year!

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