Yes, Paris can be Enjoyed on a Budget

If you plan on travelling to Paris with a group, there are a number of excellent hostels offering group accommodation in the heart of the French capital. These hostels make for excellent, safe, convenient accommodation that won't break the budget. However, when you get there, how else can you make the most of the city on a budget? Here are some dos and don’ts when budgeting for a holiday in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Do…

Book your group accommodation in advance so you can get a good rate for your stay.

Use public transport. The Metro is superb and the city's network of buses is easy to navigate and cheap too.

Visit the great free attractions of the city. These include the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the artistic square of Montmartre, the serene banks of the Seine and the grand avenue of the Champs Elysées. The staff at your group accommodation hostel can provide you with information about any number of free museums (insider tips are invaluable when it comes to freebies) and there are some that have free entry on the first Sunday of each month.

Eat your main meal at midday. Many restaurants offer a wallet-friendly and delicious ‘Plat du Jour’ to fill your belly and keep you fuelled for your excursions. For around 12 euros, you can have a three course lunch and, if you’re lucky, a bottle of wine to go with it!

Look out for free concerts and performances in parks and churches, particularly in the summer.

Drink at the bar. Many Parisian cafés charge less for customers who stand at the bar rather than sit at a table. Some even have three levels of pricing, depending on where you sit.

Finally, use the Velib bike hire system. Read the instructions carefully to ensure you use the bikes correctly and it can work out incredibly cheap to get across the city to do your sightseeing.

Don't...

Don't have a coffee or a beer at a pavement café on the Champs Elysées (or any other tourist trap). There are usually a number of lovely cafés around the corner from major attractions that charge half the price for the same refreshments.

Don't eat in expensive restaurants in the evening. Some of the hostels that offer group accommodation in Paris are situated in areas with some excellent budget friendly cafes.

Don't use taxis. Use public transport to get you around, and when it comes to your journey home, airport transfer buses are usually very cheap in comparison to a taxi fare.

Don't exchange small sums of foreign cash or travellers cheques as the commission is often a flat rate. Travel Cards and debit cards, which do not charge for use abroad, can be a great way to manage your money abroad.

Don’t always follow the crowd. Unless you really do have the desire to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, for example, the views are pretty spectacular from the second level and the tickets are much cheaper!

While you may well get caught up in the moment and treat yourself to a coffee on the Champs Elysées or go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, these dos and don’ts should make you more aware of how you actually can save money in this most expensive of cities.

Ben Spencer works for Hostelling International. Offering more than 4000 hostels worldwide, their website dedicated to groups features 250 hostels specifically suitable for school trips, corporate team building trips and families. For the best group accommodation, join our community and say hi to the world. HI is the only global network of Youth Hostel Associations and a non-profit membership organisation with over 100 years of experience.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.