Paris is an expensive city. Meals are costly and hotels are pricey. However, there are some free attractions that are well worth the time to visit. So, whether you travel alone to Paris or you are on one of The Traveling Professor's small group tours to Paris, check out some free things to do.
Whenever I mention a tour to Norway, Denmark, Iceland or any other Nordic countries, people tell me right off the bat, "too expensive, I'm not going there". While it is true, food can be expensive in these Nordic countries, in the end, it can be cheaper than you think for a GOOD Nordic vacation without cutting corners. See my blog post and get in on a real travel bargain.
People talk to me about travel and the high cost of airline tickets all the time. Just this week someone complained about the $1,100 ticket from New York to London. Tickets to Italy are in the $1,500 range. With the cost of fuel reaching record lows, you would think airlines would cut their prices. However, supply and demand dictates prices, not fuel costs. However, if you are smart, you can get to Europe on major airlines like American Airlines for $635 round trip. How about a $300 ticket to Oslo? Read my blog post and find out how to save money on your next flight to Europe.
3-star Paris hotels are good choices for mid-ranged priced lodging. Most 3-star hotels will have air conditioning and offer breakfast and some will even offer expanded dining services. 3-star hotels are usually comfortable and I find that most of them are smaller hotels, some of them even family-owned. Check out my blog post to find out more about the best 3-star hotel picks in Paris.
On our Traveling Professor tours, we prefer restaurants that reflect the local culture and we like fresh, well-prepared food at a reasonable price. In today's blog post I list my favorite Florence dining spots that I often visit when I am traveling to Florence on my own, or with one of my small group tours.
I received a FB PM from my good friend, Patricia R., early this morning asking some advice on my favorite Paris restaurants. Anyone who has purchased the new edition of "The Traveling Professor's Guide to Paris" know it is chock full of great Paris restaurants, in fact, over 30 of them, along with hotel recommendations, It has money saving tips, itinerary recommendations, and the best transportation advice of any guide book available. By the way, my book is available FREE for on the Amazon Kindle lending library. But for now, in today's blog post, just for Patricia, are my favorite Paris restaurants in the outer arrondissements.
The Traveling Professor has covered travel insurance in previous blog posts. It is one of my most widely read posts and I have been asked to write on travel insurance for other websites too. Travel insurance is one of those topics that I continue to learn about and in this blog post, I explain some tips and uncover some myths about travel insurance.
For years I would go to Paris, armed with a guide book, and experienced the most wonderful city in the world. Today, in addition to using guide books, phone apps, and audio guides, people tour Paris on their own. However, in order to get the most out of a trip to Paris, hire a professional, licensed tour guides. In order to be a licensed tour guide (and they do need to be licensed), a guide goes through a rigorous process of being certified. See the blog post for recommendations on Paris tour guides.
Florence is probably The Traveling Professor's favorite Italian city. We love it because it is compact, chock-full of culture and good food, and it works well as a base for exploring other cities like Siena, Lucca, and Chianti. One question that is always posed to me is, "where should I stay in Florence?". Look at my blog post for The Professor's places to stay in the Renaissance City.
When travelers converge on one of my small group tours, the first order of business is to usually compare suitcases. Which is the lightest? Which rolls better? Which one is the most convenient? What is the cost of the suitcase. In this blog post The Traveling Professor tries to optimize packing skills by helping you select the best luggage options for your next small group tour with The Professor.
The Rome Problem
The Traveling Professor has been running small group tours to Italy, including Rome, for about 5 years now. Although Rome is one of the most fascinating cities in the world, it has its issues. There was even a recent article in The New York Times (see it on my FB page) describing the problems Rome is facing. For my take on the issues, see my Rome blog post.
Value Priced Hotels in Paris for the Summer
It has been a summer to forget in Paris with temperatures skyrocketing. Believe it or not, a good percentage of hotels in Paris do not have air conditioning. Finding a budget hotel in Paris with air conditioning is another matter. But if you look at The Traveling Professor's blog post, I will turn you on to a couple of budget-priced hotels in Paris to enjoy even in the hot summer.
Two Carry On Bags to Consider
Where to Stay in Florence
Private Tour Guides in Paris
Travel Insurance Tips