Here's the holiday abroad you could get with a €500 budget
As well as needing to have a couple of euro saved, you need your annual leave approved, and then hope there's somewhere that suits your budget and time frame — which is a task in itself!
We're still in the throes of the cost of living crisis, so perhaps your summer holiday budget is tight and you're left wondering can you even afford to go anywhere with what you have saved. Going away on holidays is great, but the administration required in the lead-up to a break can be nothing short of overwhelming and daunting, often resulting in holidays not being booked until the last minute! Pic: Getty Images
For those still hoping to hop on a plane this summer, Extra.ie took a look at where one could end up for €500 this summer…
The United Kingdom has the cheapest flights from Ireland, but going slightly further afield, a round trip to Paris for a weekend in August would cost you €123.
We've opted to make a long weekend out of it, flying out with Aer Lingus from Dublin Airport at 9.50am on Friday, August 15th, and arriving in Charles de Gaulle at 12.40pm. Our return flight is 11.20am Monday, August 18.
A room for three nights in Paris is looking to be in and around the €300, with cheaper alternatives for hostels. The United Kingdom has the cheapest flights from Ireland, but going slightly further afield, a round trip to Paris for a weekend in August would cost you €123. Pic: Getty Images
Hôtel Libertel Austerlitz Jardin des Plantes appears to be the best budget-friendly hotel for a solo traveller heading to Paris for the weekend. Reviews say the rooms are small, but realistically, you're going to be exploring so who cares?
A cozy single room for our holiday dates is €284, with breakfast available for €12 at the hotel. So far our total is €407, with €93 left of our €500.
That leaves you with approximately €30 a day for food, which according to Time Out might actually be achievable. There's plenty of sights to see around the French capital also, so it would be perfectly okay not to budget for excursions — because there's plenty to do and see for free!
The travel blog has Best Tofu very highly ranked, promising that all dishes are in and around the €3 mark — ideal for a spot of lunch on the cheap. Another interesting looking lunch spot is Bagel Way which is the top rated on Trip Advisor for cheap eats. The American style bagels look jam-packed with a decent sandwich for less than €10.
Of course, while you're in Paris you have to try the French cuisine and Happy Caffé is highly rated for giving the perfect Parisian experience with reviews rolling in for the 'hidden' gem.
For dinner, La Sociable is said to be 'the perfect place without upsetting your overdraft.' The Mediterranean inspired restaurant serves cocktails and glasses of wine — with a glass of vino a lovely treat at just €5!
Another dinner option is Chez Arnaud, a highly rated French restaurant which sells pizzas for under €15. As is customary worldwide, there are plenty of Irish bars in the French capital with many providing cheap and comforting eats with your couple of pints or glasses of vino.
Whether you are a budget traveler or looking for a more lavish holiday, 'Get Your Guide' is great to see what kind of activities are around, and you can also book tickets for any excursions also.
The top activity to do in Paris for free is take a scenic walk along the River Seine and explore the beautiful neighbourhoods with Montmarte and Le Marais specifically named.
Montmarte is a charming hilltop village which according to Get Your Guide is the best place to get all the stunning views of the French capital. Notre-Dame Cathedral is a well-known attraction, which is free to see and the light display at the Eiffel Tower is another free bucket list thing to tick off. Pic: Shutterstock
Meanwhile Marais is the perfect spot to soak up all the history and culture of Paris with plenty of boutiques to window shop on the medieval streets.
Notre-Dame Cathedral is a well-known attraction, which is free to see and the light display at the Eiffel Tower is another free bucket list thing to tick off.
Most museums in Paris have days each month where they are free entry, but the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is always free entry and features an array of modern and contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Paris is a large city and the likelihood is you might need public transport from places, which has not been budgeted into this itinerary. While I love a walk, many of the recommended cheap eats and budget excursions are considerable distances from each other and the hotel to the airport is by no means a walkable distance.
A travel pass for three days is Paris is currently €62.30 and would permit a tourist to use all modes of public transport.
It's likely you would need to increase your budget to make room for the travel pass. A €600 budget would give you just over a €10 extra day on food, which could go towards breakfast or snacks which also weren't considered previously.
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