Hi guys! If you are planning a trip on a budget to Europe in the near future, more specifically London and Paris, you need to visit these hot spots mentioned below.
Let me share with you how I planned it from start to finish. There are several travel sites that I’ve looked at to compare prices and at the end of the day, my travel buddy and I found the best prices by using google.com/flights at the time. We stayed for 2 nights in London and 5 nights in Paris.
My travel buddy and I first arrived at Buckingham Palace where we took a quick free self-tour outside. Half the day was over since our flight was 11 hours and 10 minutes. It cost $300 per person one way from Los Angeles to London. Why was it so cheap? Because we went during the cold cold winter. Anyway, we made sure to check-in to our hostel which we booked for 2 nights. That was under $30 a night per person. We shared a room with another couple, therefore it was cheaper, and we all had our own separate bunk beds.
The next day, we went on a full $155 (per person) 12.5 hour tour to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Lacock (the place where they filmed Harry Potter), and the city of Bath. Since traveling was by charter bus, we didn’t have to worry about getting our own transportation. The tour guide was very knowledgeable too. It ended late at night and we got to see the Christmas market.
The next day, we flew to Paris which was about $100 per person and most of our transportation was through the underground subway station or on foot. Be wary of your surroundings. I was almost pick-pocketed in the crowded subway. There were 3 guys working together located in different parts of the subway, so be careful. Whenever I entered the subway, it would be jam packed and there was no space to move. Hide your valuables in secure areas. Other than that, subway transportation is a very convenient, fast, and affordable way to get from one city to the next in minutes.
As we got off and reached our Airbnb, which was located south of the center of Paris, we got to see how the real locals live. We went to a nearby restaurant and ordered some drinks which were labeled in French. That’s when the real culture shock began. The beautiful city was hustling and bustling. We visited The Louvre and saw beautiful classic architecture that still amazes me today. Tourists from all over came to see the Mona Lisa, including me. It was such a small portrait of the famous lady, but her unique eyes followed us wherever we went. Not only was it magnificent inside, but the outside exterior of the museum was fascinating to look at as well. There is so much rich history and art in there that one can stay there for almost the entire day learning and looking at these pieces.
When I went, the weather was gloomy, but it didn’t stop me from appreciating what was around me. I bundled up and was prepared for the winter. If you plan on going during this time, make sure to bring some chapstick also! I passed by some pretty notable buildings and looked for delicious restaurants through Yelp, which helped a lot. I didn’t realize that this app would be so helpful in my journey to finding the best food around. It made navigation easier especially as we wandered around by foot. The burgers and sandwiches were just as good as here in Los Angeles and I wish I had taken pictures of the McDonald’s that we stopped by at. The menu was somewhat different and had some dishes that catered to French cuisine.
Anyway, the next stop after getting food was the Eiffel Tower. We admired the outside, which was free.. A must-see during the late afternoon towards the evening. Why? Because that’s when the lights turned on and there was a little sparkly show that lasted for a few minutes.
For dinner, my travel buddy and I went to Chinatown. Yup. Even Paris has a part of Chinatown which brought me home to some familiar foods. If you’re looking to save some money on food, I’d suggest going to the grocery stores to stock up instead of spending it on expensive restaurants and take out, especially if you’re mainly there for sightseeing and not really concentrating on being an expert foodie.
I recommend going to Pho14 if you’re craving Vietnamese food. The broth is savory and the noodles are thicker than the ones I’ve tried at home. It’s just as tasty, just different. Try for yourself and let me know how it goes!
Back at the Airbnb that we stayed at, the host was very accommodating and gave us space that we needed as we shared the place with him and another traveler. It was a nice experience and most of the time, we were out and about anyway, so it was nice to wind down to a quiet place after a long day. However, there was a fake child dummy as a doorstop to the restroom that was a little unusual, but other than that, the place was clean and comfy.
Right below our apartment was a convenience store and a pizzeria. As my French was a little rough, I struggled communicating with my strong American accent, so I relied on my hand gestures to point at my preferred pizza dish. As you can see, the appearance looks a bit different from a Domino’s pizza, nevertheless, it was so good! I got ham, salami, and cheese.
Next stop, the Love Lock Bridge which was free. This is a great spot for couples to attach their own personal locks and scribble initials and romantic messages on there. I definitely felt love in the air as I wandered down the old historic bridge and it was magical, especially with the view of a never-ending river intersecting it.
Just a short walk and a couple of blocks down is Notre Dame. There was a gigantic Christmas tree right in front of it at the time and it was the perfect photo op. Tickets were under $15. The architecture was amazing inside and out. And if you’re not too religious, it is still a unique experience to walk inside and respect the cultural practices that used to take place there. As I quietly walked down the hallway, I felt a peaceful calming effect all around me that I never experienced before.
Afterwards, we went out to get some tissues since my travel buddy was getting the sniffles. Convenience stores were within walking distance and everything that we needed was close by.
Next, we journeyed on and found ourselves at the Luxembourg Gardens, a free spacious outdoor area with a small palace. Lots of films were shot there and it is one of my favorite places to go. The birds were quite brave as one landed right on my knee and chilled there for a long time. I was just sitting and eating my french pastry with no qualms whatsoever. The greens were well maintained and this is definitely the place to go on a long romantic stroll with your loved one.
Onward! Nearby we approached the Pantheon, a famous building that stands to honor great men in history. Buried in the crypt are legendary figures like Victor Hugo, Voltaire, and others just to name a few. The interior of the Pantheon feels church-like, but it isn’t one.
On the day before our last, we decided to move and stay at another Airbnb in Choisy-le-Roi, which was in the southeastern suburbs of Paris. We chose that particular place because it was closer to the Roissy airport going home. It proved to be more convenient and we didn’t need to rush and take several modes of transportation when it was time to depart. We simply used the local bus which brought us straight to the airport saving us time and money. We also got to explore how the locals live. The food and French bakeries were more affordable and honestly just as good or better compared to the touristy spots. I got to stock up on goodies to bring home from the local market. It was a nice contrast to the busy touristy areas in central Paris. I highly recommend staying in safe cities that are less populated so you can get the ultimate experience of what it really is like living there.
Thank you for following me on my journey. Watch my YouTube video to see more!
Interested in glamping? Check out this travel adventure to Santa Barbara, Solvang and more by clicking here.
Nice 👍