Getting Around France Without Going Broke
Q. You recently wrote about budget accommodations in London. We anticipate going to France this year. Do you know any agency we might call for a copy of a similar brochure for senior citizens on a budget there? A.C., Boca Raton, Fla.
A. I kept your letter in mind when I was in Paris last month, and spotted many one- to three-star hotels at around $80-$100 a night, as I rode around the city on boats, buses and subways, always at money-saving rates. Paris this year has more bargains than usual.
First, there’s the carnet, a strip of 10 tickets good for the Metro (subway) and buses, for 44 francs (about 80 cents a ride; a one-ride ticket is $1.50).
Paris Visite is good on the suburban trains, buses, Metro and includes some admission discounts for two days for $14.
The Batobus is a waterbus that runs up and down the Seine River; one ride is $2.50, a pass good all day for multiple rides is $12.
Balabus is a city-sponsored tourist bus that runs past famous monuments and museums; one ride costs a Metro ticket; all day on-off is $10.
La Carte provides unlimited entry to 67 museums and monuments; LeMenu is a meal plan; and Le Telecarte a French phone card.
Phone France on Call, 1-900-990-0040 (50 cents a minute) and ask for a “France Discovery Guide,” a free publication of the French Government Tourist Office. Also ask for a list of U.S. reservation numbers (most are toll-free) for French hotels and a Logis de France directory. The Logis are family-owned places that emphasize comfort, tradition, quality of food and service. Prices are modest. Some bookstores have guides to Logis.
Jet Vacations, a tour operator that works with Air France, sells vouchers to be used at Logis, handles many standard tours, and offers Paris a la Carte that arranges hotels, an optional meal plan, Metro (subway/ bus) passes, museum passes, day trips and car rentals for independent travelers.
It’s also possible to book a room when you arrive at hotel desks found at Paris airports and railway stations.
Some other reservationists with hotels in various price ranges and toll-free numbers are: Concorde Hotels 1-800-888-4747, Forte 1-800-225-5843; Utell International 1-800-44-UTELL; ACCOR properties (Ibis, Novotel, Sofitel hotels) call RESINTER at 1-800-221-4542.
As for senior discounts, these change often so ask the appropriate U.S.-based European tourist offices for details. Most nations have rail discounts. For example, France’s Carte Vermeil allows reductions of up to 50 percent on domestic rail and air travel for persons 60 and over, and can be bought at railroad stations or travel agencies (take proof of age).
Also, American-based chains with properties in Europe usually grant the same senior discounts as their U.S. properties. For catalogs: Holiday Inn 1-800-331-3831; Choice Hotels 1-800-4-CHOICE (Quality Inn, Comfort Inn etc.); Best Western 1-800-528-1234, or Rail Europe 1-800-4-EURAIL, which handles Best Western and other hotel bookings for train pass buyers.
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