But for those looking for a more inspired scenario that won’t evoke images of Tom Cruise proposing to Katie Holmes (at the Tower), here are a few romantic spots to consider, depending of course on you and your partner’s style.

Geting romantic in Paris:
• The best romantic hotels in Paris for budget travelers
• Save big on a fun shopping spree in Paris
• Enjoy a romantic meal without blowing your bank account

Proposing in Paris

Paris Luxe

Brides in white flowing dresses with husbands in tow can be seen along the Pont Alexandre III (pictured, top) taking their photos after their weddings — but why not start the engagement there? When we think of Paris, we think of the Champs Elysée, gold-domed buildings and splendid views of the river. The Pont Alexandre III offers it all.

A bridge over the Canal St. Martin. Photo: Sylvain Bourdos

The most ornate bridge in Paris with glowing globe lights and gilded statues, it’s one of the perfect places to get romantic at night as the Eiffel Tower glitters in the distance and the lights of the boats reflect off the Seine. It’s a jolt of old world glam that never seems to die in Paris.

Bohemian Paris

If you like the idea of something less glitzy but more gritty and real, head to the Canal St. Martin and choose one of the arching bridges for your special moment. The neighborhood is known for many artists and bohemian-bourgeois locals that dress shabby-chic with carefully de-coiffed hair.

The pedestrian bridges have a rustic, quaint feeling that evokes Amélie skipping stones along the still water. Local picnickers along the banks of the canal will surely applaud if your partner says yes and then you can share a romantic meal at the trendy Hotel du Nord, ending the evening with a candlelit dinner among the other bohemian lovers that fill the neighborhood.

Fairytale romance

For something a little more whimsical, head to the top of the Parc Buttes Chaumont. Crowning this little man-made hill is a gazebo fit for Rapunzel that, despite the graffiti, can be a splendid place for the question. The views overlooking the park and the rooftops of Paris are simply breathtaking, like looking upon some far-off kingdom where the animals dress you in the morning. You even catch glimpses of the gleaming white Sacré Coeur basilica to the north.

The tip of the Ile de la Cite. Photo: Tom Flemming

If all goes well, have the picnic and obligatory bottle of Champagne ready to celebrate a fairytale engagement.

Historical Romance

As featured in the 2009 film An Education, the tip of Ile de la Cité overlooking the famous Pont des Arts and the Louvre, can be a very intimate spot to say, “I do” while being surrounded by the best of Paris. It has been a popular place for romance ever since the 1600s when King Henry IV brought his lovers here, which is why the square is called Galant-Vert, an allusion to his many mistresses at an old age.

This historical spot, in the shadow of the Pont Neuf, Paris’ oldest bridge, boasts magnificent views and could be the perfect place to slip the ring on his or her finger.

Fit for a King or Queen

Just outside of Paris in Versailles, the possibilities are endless. It’s not free to enter, but if you’re going to make a special trip to the chateau and its gardens, stop over at the Trianon, Queen Marie Antoinette’s private getaway. The aptly-named Temple d’Amour is a beautiful Romanesque gazebo tailor-made for royal wedding proposals.

Afterward, a romantic stroll through the vast gardens is the perfect way for lovers to steal a kiss, like the countless royals that have courted lovers in days long gone.

Related: 8 fantastic day trips less than an hour from Paris

Your proposals?

So what do you think? Do you have any other ideas for places to pop the question? Propose some more locations in our comments section!

The post Proposing in Paris: 5 romantic spots to pop the question appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Some of us save up our whole lives to visit the City of Light, so pricey mistakes aren’t something we want to keep as souvenirs.

While a few faux-pas here or there won’t ruin your experience, there are a few common mistakes to look out for that will make your first days a little smoother. Avoid these in order to keep within your budget and to save time to get the most out of your trip.

More Paris tips:
• Our favorite budget hotels in Paris
• 50 Ways to save on your Paris vacation
• Eating your way through Paris for €20 a day
• How to get the most out of your first day in Paris

8 Mistakes to avoid on your first trip to Paris

Tap water is free at restaurants. Just ask for it with the magic words “Une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plait.” Photo: photokitty07

1. Paying for water

Waiters will prey on innocent tourists who may be wondering if the tap water in Paris is drinkable. The days of the plague are mostly over, so don’t fear — French tap water is just fine. Don’t feel pressured into buying pricey bottled water unless you want sparkling or mineral varieties. Just ask for a “carafe d’eau“, and spend the euros on an extra dessert instead.

2. Booking too many passes

Armed with a Paris Museum Pass and a Metro pass, you can avoid some lines and having to worry about purchasing tickets. But there will always be that pressure to use the passes. What if it’s a nice day and you want to walk, but you haven’t used the pass yet? What if you want to linger more in the gardens but you need to use the museum pass before it expires? If you want the security of the passes, just be sure to plan your route to make sure you don’t lose out in the end.

3. Going to Versailles

Is it a mistake to go to Versailles? No. But with only a few precious days in Paris, is it necessary for a first-time visit? We’ll let you decide. If you’re going in the spring or summer, however, be prepared to surrender several hours of your vacation time to waiting in line at the majestic chateau before fighting crowds inside to catch a glimpse of Marie Antoinette’s bed. If you’re on the fence, don’t feel bad about skipping the trek out there, or even opting for a lesser-visited chateau-like Chantilly.

4. Tipping when you don’t have to

With taxi drivers, hairdressers and tour guides, don’t feel bad about tipping. With anyone else, there is absolutely no need to, unless the service went above and beyond the norm. Just round the bill up and leave the change. Paris tipping rules are as simple as that.

5. Eating breakfast in the hotel

There’s no need to dig deep into your pockets for a bit of breakfast. Head to a café for a coffee and croissant for under €5 or just get an assortment to go from your local bakery and leave the breakfast buffet for when all the bakers are on strike. Yes, it has happened before.

Hotel Henri IV is literally in the bulls-eye center of the city at the tip of the Ile de la Cité. Photo: EuroCheapo

6. Not staying central to save a few euros

That cheap hotel out by Disneyland seems great because it’s just so gosh-darn cheap. But the commute into Paris isn’t much different from those who come from London (I exaggerate…kind of). We love cheap hotels, too, and that’s why we push our favorites in the heart of the city — because you didn’t fly all the way to Paris to spend hours on a train, did you?

7. Being a slave to lines

Queue up in Paris — we all need to at some point. While you’re at the Eiffel Tower, I’m at the grocery store, and the lines are often comparable. But pick your battles. Lines at the Louvre are shorter on Wednesday and Friday nights, and the same goes for the Musée d’Orsay on Thursday evenings, while the Eiffel Tower is always pretty busy. Plan ahead so that if you have no bookings or pre-purchased tickets, you won’t hit all of the lines at all the wrong times.

8. Trying to do it all

You planned and planned, you thought you could do it all, but alas. It’s just impossible. Paris will be here for quite some time, so if you didn’t get to every major sight, there’s always tomorrow. The Mona Lisa isn’t going anywhere (hopefully), and the Eiffel Tower should still be standing, so try to enjoy what you do experience and make the to-do list for round two.

Your tips

Do you remember your first time in Paris? Let us know if you had any stories from your rookie visit.

The post Visiting Paris for the first time: 8 rookie mistakes to avoid appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Like most major cities, Paris can be quite pricey, especially for first-time visitors who don’t know the little “tricks of the Cheapo trade.”  Fortunately, a little bit of planning before you land can help you save some serious euros while still experiencing the best the city has to offer.

More tips for Paris:

• 50 Ways to save on your vacation in Paris
• The 15 Best cheap hotels in Paris
• 25 Free attractions and things to do in Paris

10 Budget tips for Paris first-time visitors

Here’s a quick “Top 10” list of ways to save for first-timers in Paris:

1. Restaurants: Feast away… at lunch.

Paris and food go hand in hand. While yummy baguette sandwiches and pastries are everywhere – and they’re cheap – you’ll want to sit down at a restaurant eventually. You can do some research on Yelp or ParisbyMouth.com and find a nice restaurant for lunch instead of dinner to save some euros. Fixed lunch menus are usually cheaper, and you won’t usually need a reservation for popular places, plus you’ll get to sit for a while and enjoy your meal. Here are 5 set lunch menus we like under €12.

Related: Read more topics about saving on food in Paris.

2. Affordable lodging: Think central.

Pick a central hotel to avoid constantly taking the Metro. While the Metro is inexpensive and efficient, the costs can add up, in both euros and time. Often it’s better to book a central hotel that’s €20-30 more expensive to avoid buying an extra few “carnets” of Metro tickets. You’ll also save your feet the extra miles of walking.

Check out our cheapo guide to saving on hotels in Paris, and this smaller list of budget hotels with great, central locations and 8 favorites under €80.

3. Metro: “Un carnet, s’il vous plait.”

So when you do take the Metro inside Paris (not to the airport or to Versailles), make sure you buy a “carnet” of tickets (unless you decide to get a Mobilis pass). This set of 10 tickets will save you about 20% per ticket instead of buying them individually. But use up those paper tickets soon because they will expire in 2021. The city is moving to a new system, Navigo Easy, to replace the paper tickets. Good news though, you’ll still be able to get the 10-ride discount!

Related: 10 Tips for riding the Paris Metro like a local

4. Nightlife: Plan ahead.

Do some nightlife research and take advantage of happy hour(s). While Paris may not be a party town like Berlin or New York, there are still plenty of things to do at night. The challenge is to find them. Happy hour specials abound, sometimes until 11 pm, when drinks are significantly cheaper.

But if you want to hear jazz, go dancing, or experience other nightlife, it’s best to know where you’re heading ahead of time; otherwise, you might find yourself on the Champs-Elysées paying a €30 cover charge for a tacky club.

Read more about saving on Paris’s nightlife at bars and clubs and entertainment.

5. Museums: Should you “pass”?

Plan your museum trips ahead of time if you are planning to purchase a museum pass. It’s best to know how many museums you’ll actually be able to see during the few days that your pass will be valid. Otherwise, if you are buying tickets for each museum, visit the Louvre and the Orsay during their night openings (Louvre: Wednesday and Friday, Orsay: Thursday) in order to save on cheaper tickets and deal with smaller crowds.

Don’t forget the litany of free museums that may not hold any Mona Lisa’s but are just as memorable. The Carnavalet, the Pavillon de l’Arsenal, and the Victor Hugo museum are all favorites in the Marais that are worth a visit. (Read more tips for sightseeing in Paris.)

Related: 7 Tips for surviving the Louvre

6. Fixed costs: No getting around ’em.

Plan fixed costs ahead of time. The Eiffel Tower and a tour of the Opera, for example, offer no shortcuts or reduced fees (aside from booking your Eiffel Tower tickets in advance to save time), so you’ll have to pay full price.

And fixed costs don’t stop with sightseeing: Train tickets to the airport on the RER B, a ticket to Versailles, and a day trip to Giverny are all non-negotiable. While none of these will break the bank, they do add up, so it’s best to know which experiences you’ll be paying full-price for.

7. Fast food: Enjoy it, French-style.

Don’t shy away from fast food – falafels and baguette sandwiches, for example – just because you might have heard that Parisians don’t eat fast food. That’s a lie. Getting a falafel (€6) on rue des Rosiers and heading to the Place des Vosges or taking a baguette sandwich (less than €5) and fruit from the market to a picnic in a garden are all perfectly acceptable and encouraged.

8. Touring: Take a freebie

Take a free tour — like these — to get introduced to the city. If you’re a first-timer, a tour will be a perfect way to break you in and familiarize yourself with the city’s layout and history. Sure, it’ll be more information than you’ll be able to retain, but you’ll meet new people and your guide, most likely a local, will have insider information to share with you — if they’re good!

If you have a few extra euros to spend, here are 11 specialty tours worth splurging on.

9. Hydrate: Drink the free stuff.

Water is one of the few truly free things in Paris – like, really free. If you go to a café and ask for a glass of water, the waiter must give you one. Never hesitate to ask for a “carafe d’eau” while at a café or restaurant, even if you just have coffee. They’re legally required to give it to you.

Also, the famous Wallace fountains keep fresh drinking water running through Paris all spring and summer long (they’re shut off in the winter to avoid freezing). If you want a bottle of Evian, head to the grocery store to browse the Mecca of water brands available for as little as 15 centimes a bottle – but be warned, cold water can cost up to €2 for a small bottle at any other bodega or snack shop.

10. Timing: What’s your style?

We’ve talked about when is the best time to visit Paris before. But we’ll stress it again: Pick your period wisely – Christmas and summer tend to be expensive, but have their own perks, so weigh your values and pros/cons. Do you want to picnic? Spend time lounging in the gardens? Fight impossible crowds at Notre Dame and the Louvre? Sounds like late spring and summer.

Or do you want to come in April or October with some warmer clothes and an umbrella and relax a bit more with fewer tourists around? If you want to cut down on hotel rates and airfare, look to the low season, just be prepared for all weather conditions.

Your first-time tips?

Have a tip for a first-timer in Paris to add to our list? Share with us in the comments section below!

The post Paris: 10 money-saving tips for Paris first-time visitors appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Tourists today are still struggling to catch a glimpse of, well, anything in the palace. This is especially true during the summer when busloads of people from all over the world dump into the former royal residence, snapping photos of Marie Antoinette’s bed and the historic Hall of Mirrors.

There is no surefire way to streamline your visit, and the biggest tip is to wear comfortable shoes, have a bottle of water, and be prepared to just go for it. You won’t regret it. While the crowds are unavoidable, there are a few tips that can help you maximize your time at Versailles.

1. Get the passport

Buy the Versailles passport ahead of time. It costs €18, or €25 on the days when the fountain shows are on (Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday) but the ticket will get you into every part of Versailles: the chateau, the smaller buildings in the gardens and the gardens themselves.

Each of these sights has its own ticket line, but with the passport, you’ll only have to wait in the security lines. Unless you are eligible for free entry, the passport pays for itself in time and money, especially in the summer when there are lines for the gardens (which aren’t free between April and October).

2. Line up early

If you were wise and got to Versailles early, hop in the seemingly massive line to enter the chateau immediately. If you are armed with tickets already, the security check line won’t take that long, but it only grows longer with each passing hour. The other option is to wait until later in the afternoon, right before closing, but you run the risk of a long line at 6 p.m., the last entry into the palace.

3. Do not neglect the other parts of Versailles.

After taking in the grandeur of the palace, tourists who push on towards the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet fall more and more in love with Versailles. Strolling through the fairytale garden created for Marie Antoinette, complete with farm animals and grain mill, adds another layer of allure to the already bewildering estate.

Many visitors are reluctant to walk all the way out there, which means there are fewer crowds than the tour-bus-laden chateau. It’s impossible to imagine ignoring such a fascinating part of Versailles.

4.  Discover the king’s other garden

For a mere €3 you can visit the Potager du Roi, the king’s personal vegetable garden. It sounds goofy, but it’s another experience that compliments the grandiosity of Versailles. Most of the garden’s layout is similar to how it looked during Louis XIV’s time and it still produces tons of fruits and vegetables sold at the markets in Versailles. Talk about a meal literally fit for a king…

5. Picnic by the Canal

While you can’t technically picnic inside the gated part of the gardens, you can sit along the Grand Canal just outside the gates of the domain – you’ll need your ticket to re-enter the grounds, however. It’s easiest if you pack a sandwich and a bottle of water in your bag as it will save some time and money.

When you head back into town after your visit you can sit down to a nice glass of wine or pint of beer before boarding the train back to Paris.

Your Versailles tips?

Aside from claiming divine right and declaring yourself the Sun King, what other ways have Cheapos found to take advantage of Versailles? Share with us in the comments section.

The post Palace of Versailles: 5 tips for making the most of your visit appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

However, something about going to a real train station and hopping aboard just oozes excitement. Fortunately for Cheapos there are some great options.

Cheapo day trip options

While the TGV, the high speed train, does tend to get pricey (especially if you don’t book cheapo fares in advance), the slower regional and inter-city trains can get you out of the city on a delightful day trip without worrying about how to pay for your next meal.

Check the SNCF Web site for fares and times for your dates. If you have a French train pass or if you are under 26 years old or over 60, you will also benefit from reduced fares.

Related: 8 Day trips from Paris under an hour by train

1. Giverny

You don’t have to go far, either, to feel like you’ve escaped to the countryside. Especially in the springtime, visitors love heading to Giverny, a quaint little town just west of Paris that was the home and inspiration of the great impressionist painter Claude Monet.

He constructed his own little Japanese garden here that wows crowds with its blossoms in April. Why only admire the water lilies in the Musée d’Orsay when you can see the real thing? Visits of the iconic gardens start April 1 and cost between €4-8 (depending on your age). The town itself, sleepy as it may be, will make you feel like you’ve headed to some provincial getaway far from the urban bustle of Paris.

Paris-Giverny, 45 minutes, normal round-trip adult fare €25, Gare Saint-Lazare. Note that the station is the town of “Vernon,” not in Giverny. To reach the gardens, you will take a short bus ride from the station, or you can walk (about an hour) to the town and gardens.

2. Rouen

Keeping with the Monet theme, the town of Rouen features a glimpse into Medieval France with its stunning Gothic cathedral rendered several times by the painter. The town is the historic capital of Normandy, just to the northwest of Paris.

A stroll around the city will reveal many half-timbered houses and even a 16th-century astrological clock, so history buffs take note. Paris certainly isn’t lacking in any history, but Rouen will transport you back to the middle ages to get a taste of daily life. Poor Joan of Arc’s life was cut short when she was burnt at the stake here.

Paris-Rouen, 1 hour 15 minutes, normal adult round-trip fare €42, Gare Saint-Lazare.

3. Chartres

Southwest of Paris, the Medieval town of Chartres is known for its Gothic cathedral which, curiously, has one Romanesque spire and one Gothic spire. The town is a fantastic respite from the crowds, lines, and scam artists surrounding Notre Dame in Paris.

The famed cathedral’s spires dominate the town, set in the middle of a large stretch of grain fields, so the train ride should be a welcome change of scene. Wander the streets around the cathedral but don’t hesitate to get lost in the town’s charming neighborhoods–you can always find your way back to the church with ease.

Paris-Chartres, 1 hour, normal adult round-trip fare €28, Gare Montparnasse.

4. Reims

Many tourists visiting Reims in the Champagne region head straight for the cathedral, the coronation site of all of the kings of France.

But wait, there’s more! You should also visit one of the town’s many Champagne cellars, usually followed by a sampling of their wares. A visit to the Mumm Champagne cellar, for example, will cost €10 for an hour-long visit (call ahead to reserve, when possible). Between churches and Champagne visits, Reims is the perfect breath of fresh air after a long Parisian sojourn.

Paris-Reims, 45 minutes, adult round-trip fare from €30, Gare de l’Est.

Your favorite Paris escapes?

Do you have any other suggestions for good day trips from Paris? Tell us about  it in the comments section.

The post Paris: Cheapo day trips to Giverny, Rouen, Chartres and Reims appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Tourist Pass vs. Passe Découverte

Vendors will often push you to buy a tourist pass, which is a convenient way to enjoy the metro, RER (regional trains that head to the suburbs), buses, and the funicular up Montmartre. But a 5-day tourist pass (excluding transport to outer zones like Versailles or Charles de Gaulle airport) will set you back €28.90. To extend the pass into the outer zones will cost you nearly twice as much.

If you want to save money, buy a “Passe Découverte.” You’ll only pay €23.85 for a full week of metro and bus transport inside zones 1-2. To travel further to airports or to Versailles will cost a few euros more.

Don’t let the French ticket salesperson dissuade you – anyone can buy the pass even though it is intended for “locals.” The card itself costs €5 and then a weekly charge-up costs €18.35 (think Oyster Card in London or Metro Card in New York). Certainly a better deal. And once the card is purchased you can continue to use the “Passe Découverte” over and over again – just make sure you print an ID photo at home to paste onto it! You will get fined for having a pass sans photo.

Related: Is the Navigo pass a good deal for your trip to Paris?

Individual Tickets?

Otherwise, if you are just here a few days, a “carnet” for €14.90 will get you ten tickets at a discounted rate. So two passengers can each enjoy five rides for a bargain price instead of buying tickets individually (at €1.90 each).

Just note that they are phasing out paper tickets and switching to a new card, Navigo Easy. Paper tickets will expire in 2021, so don’t hold onto them too long.

For more details check the city transportation site (in English).

Airport Travel and Beyond

Unfortunately, tickets outside of central Paris (beyond zones 1 and 2) for the airports remain an annoying expense. But tickets on the regional railines, called the RER, to Charles de Gaulle airport (€9.40) and Orly (€10.2) are still much cheaper than a €50-60 taxi ride.

There are buses that will take you to the airport if you feel like lugging your baggage to them. One for Orly (€6.60) leaves from Denfert Rochereau, not quite centrally located. The Roissy Bus to Charles de Gaulle leaves from the more central metro station Opéra (€9.40).

A special Air France bus is a convenient mode of transportation (€15-19 one way) if you live near one of the departure sites. Check their website for details. Or go here for more info.

Cheapo tip: One other destination outside of central Paris worth mentioning is Versailles, and a roundtrip bus ticket here costs a mere €6.10.

Words of Wisdom

The Paris metro closes a little after midnight on weekdays and around 1 AM on the weekends depending on the line. Don’t tempt fate if you are depending on it to get you home.

Also, American credit cards will usually not work in ticket machines for trains, so bring cash and queue up at the ticket booth. And no matter where you use your tickets, keep them for the duration of your voyage. Fines are common for those who try to get a free ride or who throw away their tickets after putting them through the machine!

The post How to save money on Paris transportation appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Bewitching with its seductive cave, mystic temples, a miniature village (surrounded by pens of farm animals and vegetable plots) and romantic lake (complete with island and lighthouse), it’s no surprise that the countryside in miniature was Marie Antoinette’s favorite retreat from the very public and frenetic life she led back up at the main Château.

Trianon, take me away!

Related: 8 Fantastic day trips from Paris by train

Trekking to Versailles

Get on the RER C line to “Versailles-Rive Gauche.” The scenic train ride takes 30 to 45 minutes.

Tip: Buy a round trip ticket while you’re still in Paris, because by the end of the afternoon ticket lines at the Versailles-Rive Gauche station can be horrifically long, while the self-serve ticket machines are often broken (and the customer is never right). Also, guard your ticket with your life because, unlike the Métro, you also need it to exit the RER. Lose your ticket on either system? Prepare to pay a fine. Cheapos, I have been there.

Fall for the Temple of Love

Going to the Temple of Love

Once you reach the Château du Versailles, start looking for pink and white “Petit Trianon” signs, pennants mentioning the “Hameau,” or green “Le Domaine de Marie-Antoinette” banners. After paying the entrance fee at the gate, you’ll either hoof it down through the gardens and fountains, or take a tram directly there. Personally, I’d walk the walk.

During the warmer months, amazing displays of aquatic artistry bring the palace fountains to life while piped in Lully and other Baroque favorites spray on to everyone’s delight. The weather and your entourage will most likely determine your mode of transportation. Take heed, because along the way you’ll encounter beaucoup steps and uneven ground, especially treacherous after a downpour. Pack your Keds, kids!

The tour  (I did it my way)

There’s no set order to touring the grounds. At the Petit Trianon entrance, you’ll find a café with benches and the best chicken salad sandwiches I’ve ever stuck a tooth in. Here you’ll also find a welcome center, a WC, and a gift shop. Pick up a map and plan your route over lunch.

Marlborough Tower and Lake (taken from Queen’s cottage)

I get my stroll going at the nearby Temple of Love, first paying homage to Cupid with crossed fingers and toes. Then, after putting in a cameo appearance at Marie Antoinette’s delightful little theater, I follow the winding brook down to the hamlet. Do stay on the path! Legend has it that back in 1903 two English women brazenly took a short cut and ended up time-tripping back to the 18th century. So for the love of your pocket-sized technology, stay with your group!

Keeping it real

Marie Antoinette was just 19 years old when hubby Louis XVI gifted the Petit Trianon to her. Initially built for his dad’s mistress, Madame de Pompadour, the royal haven gave Marie Antoinette what she craved most—personal privacy and room to blossom.

Visits were by invitation only, and costumes were kept unusually simple and informal for the time. Banned were big hats, long dress trains, and the wide panniers that put the hustle in the bustle. Soon, intimate co-ed suppers with the King and a handful of friends, and private theater spectacles featuring the Queen, became the norm at her private domain.

Approaching the Petit Trianon

On the boards in her very own theater, Marie Antoinette fearlessly took on her alter egos like an 18th-century Lady Gaga or Beyoncé, performing as milkmaids, shepherdesses, and village maidens. Studying theater, opera, and ballet (with celebrity tutors snagged from Paris), she managed to fine-tune her craft while crafting her own idyllic world. Despite her unfortunate fate, in this tiny theater, with its seats for only forty, its walls and ceilings of rich blue velvet and paper-mâché ornaments mimicking shiny gold and sleek, cool marble, her spirited dreams live on. More than anywhere else, you can still feel her presence here, so trust me, Cheapos, don’t miss it.

Oscar Wilde said it best:  “Illusion is the first of all pleasures.”

Need a lil’ hameau fix now? Sophia Coppola’s movie “Marie Antoinette” was shot on location.

More information

For more tips on visiting Versailles, check out our article “Day Trip from Paris: The Palace of Versailles.”

The post Paris Day Trip: Marie Antoinette’s “Petit Trianon” at Versailles appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

So start lacing up Cheapos. Among the city’s runners, you’ll feel like a fiery insider while gaining a sense of participation in a real aspect of French life (and maybe even bring home a medal to prove it!).

Here are four of my favorite Paris races to get you on your mark, set, and ready to go!

1. La Parisienne

La Parisienne racers make their way through town.

Sister! Hold on to those compression short-shorts because the start of this all-female race is a crazy mêlée of 15,000 gazelles vying for a spot out in front while charging through the narrow streets surrounding la Tour Eiffel. Go solo or race as an ensemble for fun. Wearing gold lamé, my équipe, Les Furies du Monde, recently snagged the costume award, presented by the Mairie de Paris.

Date: September 13, 2009
Distance: 6.5 km
Starts: In front of the Trocadéro
Finishes: In front of the École Militaire
Booty: Roses, medals (1.6 oz.), and black fitted-racing shirts
Terrain: Gentle hills (See map)
Sights: La Tour Eiffel, the “Princess Di tunnel” at Pont de l’Alma, and Champ de Mars
Post-race: Get your Zen on at the Guimet Musée National des Arts Asiatiques.

2. Paris – Versailles: La Grande Classique

The French Revolution really got going when the Paris market women marched off to Versailles to raise hell with the royals. It took them over six hours to get there, but it shouldn’t take you so long—not with shoe innovations and fit pompiers (firemen) on your side, encouraging you with words of charm. Take heed, though. Halfway there, you’ll meet with a mile-long hill with a hefty incline. But what goes up must come down, so prepare for a fast descent!

Date: September 27, 2009
Distance: 16 km
Starts: At la Tour Eiffel
Finishes: At the Sun King’s palace (Versailles)
Bling: Medals (2.1 oz.) worthy of an aristocrat
Terrain: Think Supreme(s). As in,’ ain’t no mountain high enough!’  (See map)
Tip: The pompiers usually run at the back of the pack
Post-race: Go Baroque; cool off at the palace fountain shows to the sounds of Lully and Handel.

The line-up at the 20 Kilometres

3. 20 Kilomètres de Paris

Attention to detail is this race organization’s forte. Though 20,000 runners may be chomping at the bit on the Pont d’Iéna, it’s not an issue since the race start is staggered, easing up on the stampede mentality. Line-up is first-come, first-served. A confession: I weep every time the Armée de l’Air fighter jets buzz the crowd trailing tri-colored smoke in their pre-race fly-by salute.

Date: October 11, 2009
Distance: 20 km
Starts and finishes: At la Tour Eiffel
Awards: Striking medals (2.2 oz.), shirts, and souvenir chips with the race logo
Terrain: At times bumpy (cobblestones) and woodsy (Bois de Boulogne). See map.
Perks: Every 5 km you’ll find nuts, figs, sugar cubes, dark chocolate and live music
Post-race: Swing by the Tarzan exposition at the Musée du quai Branly.

4. La Corrida de Noël d’Issy-Les-Moulineaux

Imagine running, not with the bulls, but with thousands of Santa Clauses! This could very well be your worst nightmare or a dream come true, but I wouldn’t miss it. It’s a frenetic case of “Christmas Meets Mardi Gras”—so come in costume. The ride out to Issy via metro or bus will give you a chance to scope out your fellow competitors, and touch up your pointy elf ears!

Date: December 13, 2009
Distance: 10 km
Starts and Finishes: Palais des Sports Robert Charpentier, in Issy-les-Moulineaux
Gifts: Shirts, medals (1.5 oz.), and mulled wine
Terrain: Lively (See map.)
Sights: Look for elves, angels, ornaments, Elvis’s, and at least one running Christmas tree, complete with tinsel garlands and presents
Post-race: Stay for the cool-down disco session. Yule love it!

If you want to run en masse…

Before your trip, be sure to get a note from your doctor. A handwritten sentence on letterhead, saying there are “no contraindications for [your name] participating in running competitions” will do. This rule can’t be bent. No medical certificate means no dossard (that fun little bib with a racer’s number on it). Deadlines are approaching so first pre-register on-line, and then see your doctor.

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Yes, this fantasy-park (and the mistress who inspired it) became a lot more famous after Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film, but seriously. It was worth a visit even before that. In addition to an entirely charming make-believe peasant village, her estate also includes the two palaces of the Grand and the Petit Trianon, get-aways of Queens and royal mistresses since the 1690s.

To get to the estate, walk through the gardens of Versailles, turn right half way down the giant reflecting pool. From there the walk takes about 15 minutes. Entrance to the Domaine de la Reine is €9. Entrance to the chateau is free for students of art, art history, architecture, and the like. The fantastic gardens of the chateau are open every day, and totally free except for special festival dates.

Looking for other day trips? Check out these 8 excellent options from Paris by train.

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