How To Plan an Epic Trip to Paris on a Budget

Updated: April 30, 2025, 8:30am CDT

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Table of Contents

Look for Flight Deals With Points and Miles
How To Find the Best Hotel Deals in Paris
Budgeting for a Paris Vacation
Final Thoughts

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Paris was the first international city I ever traveled to solo nearly a decade ago — and it’s held a special place in my heart ever since. I learned to live there on a shoestring budget as an international exchange student that summer, but when I returned to Paris most recently last winter, I had a bit more financial wiggle room and could experience the city with added comfort.

While Paris is known as one of the most expensive cities in Europe, you don’t need to spend a fortune to soak up the magic of the City of Light. Here’s my detailed guide to exploring Paris on a budget — all without sacrificing the best parts.

Look for Flight Deals With Points and Miles

Thanks to a wide range of nonstop flights from major U.S. cities, there is an abundance of routes to Paris that you can book with points and miles. You can fly to either Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) or Paris Orly Airport (ORY) from the following U.S. cities, though some routes are seasonal: Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Cincinnati (CVG), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), Detroit (DTW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis (MSP), Newark (EWR), New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Salt Lake City (SLC), Seattle (SEA), and San Francisco (SFO).

Air France 777 300 JFK August 2024 — Air France operates more than a dozen routes to the U.S. Image Credit: Alberto Riva

If you can’t snag a good deal from your desired airport, it might be worth booking a separate flight to another city with better award availability — a strategy known as taking a positioning flight.

All 3 major U.S. legacy carriers — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines — as well as JetBlue, offer flights to Paris. Several international airlines also serve these routes, including Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, French Bee, Norse Atlantic Airways, and La Compagnie.

How To Book a Flight to Paris With Points and Miles

By far, the SkyTeam Alliance airlines (Air France and Delta) offer the most flights to Paris. By leveraging the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club program, you can find the best points and miles deals on SkyTeam flights. Round-trip flights to Paris can be booked for as little as 24,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points and approximately $440 in taxes and fees:

CDG IAD Virgin — Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has some of the best rates to Paris. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

Best of all, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is a 1:1 transfer partner of every major transferable points program: American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards.

The Air France-KLM Flying Blue program does charge a bit more miles for those same economy tickets — typically starting at 15,000 miles — but the upside is slightly lower taxes and fees. Where Flying Blue really shines, though, is with one-way business class redemptions. You can often snag these for as low as 60,000 miles plus roughly $230 in taxes and fees. Plus, since Flying Blue partners with all major transferable points programs, it’s incredibly easy to top off your balance.

The Oneworld alliance features both American Airlines and Air Tahiti Nui, each offering nonstop service to Paris. American’s AAdvantage program frequently has the most competitive economy award rates, with one-way flights starting at just 27,000 miles plus $5.60 in taxes and fees. If you’re eyeing premium economy seats, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is a great option, with one-way awards beginning at 35,000 miles and $18.10 in taxes and fees.

For United flights to Paris, it’s often better to book through Star Alliance partner Air Canada Aeroplan. Economy awards typically go for about 30,000 miles and around $60 in taxes and fees, while business class redemptions average 80,000 miles and $95 one-way.

JetBlue TrueBlue also offers solid value, with round-trip tickets to Paris available from just 34,000 points and $127 in taxes and fees. That said, JetBlue’s service to Paris is limited to its Northeast hubs in New York and Boston.

JetBlue Paris Flight — Affordable rates to Paris via JetBlue. Image Credit: JetBlue

Hot Tip:

Using an award search tool like Seats.aero can make finding the best deals with points and miles for your desired travel dates a whole lot easier!

Low-cost carriers such as French Bee and Norse Atlantic Airways typically aren’t available through points and miles programs, but they can offer attractive cash fares. For a more upscale experience, La Compagnie — an all-business-class airline — sometimes runs flash sales, with round-trip tickets starting as low as $2,200.

How To Find the Best Hotel Deals in Paris

When visiting Paris, seasons matter. Summer is by far the most expensive season, with both flight and hotel prices soaring whether you’re paying in cash or miles. For more budget-friendly rates, aim for the fall or spring, when the weather is still pleasant and crowds are thinner. Even winter can offer excellent deals if you’re up for layering and a cozier Parisian experience.

For added savings, I’d encourage travelers to look beyond the heart of the city. As a quick geography tip for first-timers, Paris is shaped like a spiral (locals like to say it resembles an escargot) and divided into 20 numbered arrondissements, beginning in the center and moving outward in a clockwise pattern.

In my opinion, the 14th arrondissement is highly underrated — it’s my go-to neighborhood for affordable, charming stays. It offers a truly local vibe that’s well-connected to the rest of the city via the Metro.

With these tips in mind, let’s take a look at a few hotels you can book, whether with cash or points.

Best Western Montparnasse

During a recent trip to Paris, I stumbled upon my new favorite budget-friendly hotel in the 14th arrondissement: the Best Western Bretagne Montparnasse. For a standard guest room, the starting rate of $200 is really hard to beat.

From the outside, you might not even realize it’s a hotel — its unassuming facade blends right in with the charming street lined with fromageries, boulangeries, and neighborhood cafés.

14th Arrondissement Paris — My favorite corner of Paris. Image Credit: Stella Shon

With just 44 guest rooms, the hotel offers a warm, personalized experience. There’s a cozy lounge area on the first floor with unlimited coffee and tea from a local company just down the street, plus a convenient water bottle refill station. For a recent family trip (4 adults), we booked the larger top-floor room, which featured a loft layout with a king-size bed, 1 twin bed on the main level, and 2 twin beds upstairs for just $400 per night.

Since we spent most of our time exploring the city, the Best Western Montparnasse made for the perfect home base. Pro tip: The Vietnamese restaurant across the street is both delicious and affordable. Also, keep an eye out for Armel at the front desk — he bakes fresh croissants for breakfast! I can’t wait to come stay here every time I visit Paris.

Some travel credit cards come with hotel statement credits that can help make your next trip more affordable. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card offers a $50 annual hotel statement credit when booking through Chase Travel, among other incredible travel benefits (rates & fees). While that’s not a huge amount of savings, it can help lower the cost at a budget hotel like the Best Western Bretagne Montparnasse, especially if you’re only spending a few days in Paris.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

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A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome OfferEarn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$2,000

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

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Pros & Cons

Pros

5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
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Cons

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No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile

The Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile features nearly 1,000 guest rooms. Situated near the edge of the city in the 17th arrondissement, it’s still within walking distance of the iconic Champs-Élysées — often referred to as the most beautiful avenue in the world.

As a World of Hyatt Category 5 property, standard room redemptions start at 17,000 points on off-peak dates, 20,000 points on standard dates, and 23,000 points during peak periods. An important note about this particular hotel: Award availability can be quite limited, as rooms booked with points tend to go quickly.

This hotel is a smart choice if you’re planning your Paris getaway well in advance — especially if you have World of Hyatt Globalist status, which grants complimentary breakfast access in the Regency Club. (Alternatively, you could enjoy the same perks if a Globalist member gifts you a Guest of Honor award.)

You can earn World of Hyatt points in a pinch by transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points or Bilt Rewards Points to the hotel program instantly at a 1:1 rate. The Bilt World Elite Mastercard^® has a $0 annual fee (rates & fees) and should be on your radar if you want to earn points on your rent, up to 100,000 points per calendar year, with no transaction fees. Just remember to use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points (rewards & benefits).

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Bilt World Elite Mastercard^® Credit Card

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Bilt World Elite Mastercard^® Credit Card

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Why We Like This Card

Never before has there been a credit card built specifically with renters in mind. Enter the Bilt World Elite Mastercard^® Credit Card, designed specifically to help renters earn rewards on their rent payments with no transaction fees.

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Pros & Cons

Pros

3x points per $1 at restaurants
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Cons

Does not offer a welcome bonus
Must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points

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Card Highlights

$0 Annual Fee
Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year
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Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
Earn up to 5x Bilt points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card
Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent payments, statement credits, toward a down payment on a home, etc.
Select “Learn More” to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions

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Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Hilton Garden Inn Paris La Villette

The Hilton Garden Inn Paris La Villette is one of the most wallet-friendly Hilton properties you can book using Hilton Honors points. In the 19th arrondissement, this hotel offers a simple, clean, and comfortable stay and is well-connected by public transportation, making it easy to reach major attractions. An added bonus: the rooms are more spacious than you typically find in Paris at this price point.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is one of the most iconic travel cards that offers a strong welcome bonus offer. In addition to earning Membership Rewards points, the Amex Platinum card comes with a long list of travel and everyday benefits that can make the $695 annual fee feel a bit more down to earth (rates & fees).

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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Up to $1,760

Annual Fee

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APR

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Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

$695 annual fee (rates and fees)
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
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Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
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$695 annual fee.
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Terms Apply.

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American Express Membership Rewards

What’s great about Amex Membership Rewards points is that you can transfer them to Hilton Honors at a unique 1:2 ratio. That means for every 1 Amex point you get 2 Hilton points. With the Hilton Garden Inn Paris La Villette often pricing at 50,000 Hilton points per night, you could potentially book a room for just 25,000 Amex points — an excellent deal for a solid Paris stay.

Here’s where it gets even better, though. By enrolling in complimentary Hilton Honors Gold elite status through the Amex Platinum card, you get your fifth consecutive award night free. That means you can stay 5 nights at a Hilton property while only paying for 4. For example, a 5-night stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Paris La Villette would cost 200,000 Hilton Honors points — or just 100,000 Amex Membership Rewards points when transferred.

Budgeting for a Paris Vacation

You’ve got your flights and hotels booked, but now what? Here’s a guide to filling your days in Paris on a budget, and we’ll add up the total cost.

Use Public Transportation

The Paris metro allows locals and tourists to reach all parts of the city with relative ease. A single ride costs €2.15 (about $2.30) on the Paris Metro, but you can also pay for a book of 10 tickets for €17.35 (about $18.75) for even greater savings.

You can even take public transportation to get from the airport to your accommodation in Paris. In all, taking public transportation and Paris’ walkable nature will allow you to cut costs when exploring.

Take Advantage of Free or Low-Cost Activities

Paris often conjures images of luxury and elegance, but there’s also a more grounded side, too. On a nice day, you could easily spend hours enjoying a picnic along the Seine or relaxing in the Champs de Mars near the Eiffel Tower.

La Seine Paris — Summer in Paris. Image Credit: Stella Shon

A walk through the Jardin du Luxembourg is equally charming. For a free and invigorating workout, climbing to the Sacré-Cœur is a must-do, with incredible views as your reward.

Hot Tip:

Leave room in your itinerary to wander — Paris is best experienced on foot, so resist the urge to overschedule and let the city guide you.

Buy a Museum Pass

Paris is home to some of the best museums in the world, and understandably, you’d want to visit most of them. Purchasing a Paris Museum Pass can be a smart way to save money on your visits, giving you access to the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Musée de l’Orangerie (my personal favorite), and so much more. There are 3 types of passes available:

2 days: €70 (about $75)
4 days: €90 (about $100)
6 days: €90 (about $120)

Find Affordable Eats

Paris may be known for its high-end dining, but it’s equally rich in casual spots and charming cafés that won’t strain your wallet. For just a few euros, you can grab a warm baguette, a flaky quiche, or a simple yet satisfying sandwich. Alternatively, you can even build your own picnic — pick up fresh produce at a local grocery store and pair it with slices of flavorful cheese from a nearby fromagerie.

Paris Boulangerie — Boulangerie delights. Image Credit: Stella Shon

When eating out, look for restaurants with prix-fixe menus — these fixed-price meals usually include 2 to 4 courses and can be a great way to enjoy a full dining experience without overspending, particularly during lunchtime. And while French cuisine takes center stage, Paris is incredibly diverse, offering fantastic food from all over the world. You’ll find delicious and affordable options from West African, Lebanese, and Vietnamese kitchens, just to name a few.

At the end of the day, steer clear of eateries in tourist areas. Instead, explore the quieter arrondissements, where you’ll find authentic French cuisine at more affordable prices.

Total Cost

There are many factors that can affect the cost of a 5-day trip to Paris, but we’ll break it down for a sample trip. For this estimate, we’ll assume you book a round-trip flight to Paris using points—conservatively valuing it at 50,000 points — and that a 5-night hotel stay costs around 100,000 points.

Fortunately, by applying for just 1 card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you can earn most of those points by scoring the welcome bonus offer: Earn 100,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Additionally, you should set aside at least $100 per day for food, activities, and transportation, or $500 total. By redeeming points for the flight and hotel, you would only have to budget for day-to-day costs!

Final Thoughts

Paris will always be one of my favorite cities, and each time I visit, I leverage the tips in this guide to make my trip a little bit more affordable. Points and miles can help you book expensive flights for a fraction of the cost, and the same principle goes for accommodations.