BootsnAll Travel Community

RE: http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/08-03/11-tips-to-stre...ope-this-summer.html
Interesting article, however you forgot to mention the easiest way to save (or eliminate) two thirds or more of your budgeted travel costs: home exchange! Since I started exchanging seven years ago, I’ve been to NYC (5 times), Paris (5), London(3), Rome, Florence (4), Venice (2), Berlin, San Sebastian, Miami, Hawaii(4), Bangkok(2), and a dozen or more local trades like the Napa Valley, Monterey, Tahoe, LA, and more. I figure I’ve saved well over $100,000 in hotel and restaurant expenditures over the yeasr, not to mention living like a local and making so many friends and contacts I can’t count them all.
Listing my tiny studio loft was easy with 10 free home exchange clubs I found at homeexchangehub.com and if you’re worried about security, there’s a site (chectravel?) that deals with those issues. I haven’t joined yet, but I think I will.
So if you have money to burn or you don’t have a residence to swap, forget about trading. Otherwise, it’s insane not to give home exchange a try. Cheers!

RE: http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/08-03/11-tips-to-stre...ope-this-summer.html

These are excellent tips and definitely applicable to Paris. Especially when it comes to checking out the free entrance days to many of Paris's museums including the Louvre (free on Friday nights if you're under 26 yrs old). More free museums listed under Free Paris Free Paris

Also, sharing a bottle of champagne, or buying a bottle of your favorite apero before going to a club makes good sense. Even beer is very expensive in Paris (4 to 5 Euros) for a pint.