bargains for paris anniversary weekend break – c’est magnifique!
09 Sep 2009 2 Comments
in travel Tags: france, manchester, paris, travelzoo
Being a travel industry expert, Chris was quick to spot a bargain last week when Air France had some cheap flights available. We swiftly booked return tickets from Manchester to Paris for £79 pp (including taxes) so we can spend one night in Paris to celebrate our fourth year together.
This will be our first return to Paris since we had our very first mini-break as a couple there back in the early days of our relationship. That trip was my first visit to the city of lights and I instantaneously fell in love with all things French. We’ve since visited other parts of France as well, such as Provence and the Cote d’Azur, and I’m pleased to say we’ve come a long way in terms of travelling in style.
Chris and I at the Arc de Triomphe during our first visit to Paris
Back in 2006, it was all about being on a budget. Chris and I took a Eurolines coach from London to Paris which took about 7 hours. It was cheap as chips but surprisingly comfortable too, especially because we could disembark and walk around on the ferry when we crossed the Channel.
Our accommodation was also picked based on its proximity to Montmartre and – you guessed it – price. TripAdvisor’s reviewers will give you a good idea of what Friends Hostel was like. We were in a private room during our stay, with its own tiny shower room, so we enjoyed enough privacy and comfort. Besides, we were there to explore and enjoy Paris, so spent as little time as possible in our room.
But this time round, we will only be in Paris for one night and because we have now ticked off all the major sights from our to-see list, our priorities are slightly different. Enter the fantastic Travelzoo Top 20 (I’m biased because Chris works for them, but still). Thanks to this newsletter, we have now booked a great hotel for more than 50% cheaper than its usual rate. And wait for it… our room will have a view of either the Eiffel Tower or my beloved Sacre Coeur! A free Seine river cruise is also thrown into the deal – something we’ve not done before – so I’m even more excited now than before.
Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, Paris
This also means I’ve dusted off my teach-yourself-French kit and I’m newly inspired to impress on my next trip. J’adore Paris!
