But all those extra bobbles and balls do not mean you can’t still find some affordable cheer around town.

It’s not too late to book one of the best cheap hotels in Paris and head to the City of Light for a holiday getaway as 2019 turns into 2020.

More Paris budget tips

• Paris on the Cheap: The top 25 free things to do
• A guide to finding the best time of year to visit Paris
• 10 ways to prepare for your Paris vacation

How to celebrate the holiday season in Paris

Have you ever dreamed of visiting Paris in the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve? Here are six easy ways to celebrate in Paris à la Cheapo.

1. Bask in the glow

Through early January, the city’s iconic streets are aglow with holiday lights, Christmas window displays and the sounds of the holidays. Of special note are the trees and lights at Place Vendome (through January 2020) the festive decorations hanging across rue Montorgueil, and of course, the ever-campy but always appreciated displays on the historic Champs-Elysées (November 24 to January 8, 2020).

Ladling up a mulled mug at the Christmas market along the Champs-Elysées. Photo: anniemole

2. Stroll with mulled wine

To appreciate the lights, be sure to grab a cup of hot wine (vin chaud) to go while strolling the streets. The Christmas markets, while selling plenty of trinkets, do manage to provide enough of the sweetened, spiced wine to make them worth a trip. Once the holidays are finished, the wine is still available in most cafés, and is often a bit tastier — and it doesn’t get cold as quickly.

Check out the official Paris tourism website for the 2019 list of markets and holiday activities.

A classic and affordable French dining experience awaits at Chartier. Photo: shufgy

3. Feast for less

Holiday eating in Paris can be tricky because many places close on December 24, 25, and January 1, but diners won’t starve, even on a budget. A simple yet exceedingly affordable meal can be had at old favorite Chartier while those looking to drop a bit more can have a four-course Christmas meal (including Champagne!) at the famed Coupole for €75. Though it may seem steep, it’s a lot cheaper than many holiday menus around town!

Ice skate under the spectacular dome of the Grand Palais. Photo: Le Grand Palais des Glaces Facebook Page

4. Hit the rink

Winter is here, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend all of your time in Paris huddled away. Strap on your skates or rent a pair and hit the largest rink in the world at Le Grand Palais from December 13 to January 8, 2020. You can also skate at the Christmas Market at Champs de Mars right under the Eiffel Tower (through January 2020). If it’s a bit too frigid outside, the Patinoire Pailleron by the Parc de Buttes Chaumont is a bit more tolerable with its indoor rink and costs just a few euros to take hit the ice.

Ring in the New Year with a twinkling Eiffel Tower. Photo: tonyjcase

5. Toast the New Year

Although there haven’t been fireworks for several years in Paris on New Year’s, the Eiffel Tower does offer a lively light show, and the Champs-Elysees is the place to be if you want to join the throngs. Otherwise, don’t expect much more than a Champagne toast at midnight and some rabble-rousers in the streets.

A cake fit for a king. Photo: lesteph

6. …and cut the cake

There is more to look forward to in early 2020. On January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, you’ll see bakeries decked out with the galette des rois, the frangipane-based cake that ushers in the New Year. A small figurine of the baby Jesus is hiding inside each cake, and French tradition holds that he or she who finds the token in their slice buys next year’s cake.

Did you find the baby? Congratulations! You can start off the New Year in debt — vive la France!

Your tips

Have you been to Paris during the holiday season? Tell us what you like to do during your visit!

The post Paris: 6 ways to celebrate the holidays (without blowing your budget) appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

From the moment I walked in, I felt like I was stepping back to another era. Everything feels quintessentially old-school Paris, from the tiny elevator and winding staircase, right down to the chunky metal room keys.

However, most importantly, what really takes you back are the super low prices that are almost unheard of in Paris today. Hotel Tiquetonne won me over with prices as low as €65 for a double room with a shared bathroom.

Each room keeps it refreshingly simple when it comes to decor. Photo: EuroCheapo

Simple rooms with charming touches

The room decor blends old-world charm with unintentional shabby-chic. The furniture and wallpaper won’t win any design awards, but the homey vibe was right up my alley and made me feel comfortable during my stay. You also won’t find flat-screen TVs (or any TVs, in fact), and the only modern perk that stands out is the Wi-Fi that worked pretty well, even up on the top floor.

If you’re feeling fancy, you can opt for a room with a private shower for €80 like I did. It’s important to note that you have to pop in a few coins to use the shared shower in the corridor, so I upgraded to avoid running out water right when I was lathering my hair.

If you do choose a room with a shared bathroom, note that the floors are small, so it’s never a long walk to the toilet in the middle of the night!

The winding stairs are fun to walk down, especially after a few glasses of wine. Photo: Craig Nelson

An incredible location for the price

And speaking of walking, Hotel Tiquetonne is just a two-minute walk from the Étienne Marcel Metro station (Line 4) and five minutes to the Châtelet – Les Halles RER station that takes you right to Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) in about 45 minutes. However, with so many great neighborhoods to explore nearby, you don’t really need anything other than your two feet to get around.

The cobblestoned Rue Tiquetonne is as charming as the hotel. Photo: Craig Nelson

Just walk out your door and find yourself wandering down narrow cobblestone streets to make your way to some of the biggest attractions in Paris in no time. The Centre Pompidou, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Louvre are all 15 minutes or less on foot.

You can also easily walk to dozens of bars and restaurants. That’s what I did each morning to find a new cafe to start my day. You can opt for breakfast delivered to your room for €6.50, but if you’re like me, you can’t pass up a chance to spend a morning at a Parisian cafe. There’s nothing like grabbing an outdoor seat at a sidewalk table and watch the city wake up — looking ever so stylish of course.

When I wanted to check out the food scene in Paris, I would make my way down the block to vibrant Rue Montorgueil. Dotted with historic bakeries (check out Stohrer, one of the oldest pastry shops in the city), cafes with plenty of outdoor seating, and small retail shops selling everything from cheese to meat, this is one of the best Paris streets to enjoy a meandering stroll. In fact, Rue Montorgueil is one of the highlights in our “One Day in Paris” guide.

The desk was just big enough to hold my laptop, and even better, a bottle of wine! Photo: Craig Nelson

Brush up on your French

Knowing a little French can come in handy when dealing with the front desk. When I made my reservation by email, I had asked for a room facing the street. But when I checked in, I was told that I was getting a room in the back.

But as it turns out, I was very happy with that change of plans, because I had an amazing view of Sacre Coeur over the rooftops of the city from my window in room 701. When I had to catch up on a little work, I ran out to get a bottle of wine for a few euros (a no brainer) and set up my laptop on the small desk. Freelancing is so much easier with a view like that — and a few extra glasses of wine!

Booking at Hotel Tiquetonne

You can make reservations online, but only through the Hotel Tiquetonne website. I received an email confirmation, and I paid the full price of my three-night stay when I arrived.

Read our full review (with additional photos) of the Hotel Tiquetonne here.

Want to see more budget hotel picks? Check out this list of our recommended budget hotels in Paris.

The evening view of Sacre Couer out my window from Room 701. Photo: Craig Nelson

The post Paris Hotel Crush: Hotel Tiquetonne appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.