A practical guide for visiting Paris without spending a fortune. 

On a Dime Destinations

Paris is a great launching point for reasonably priced destinations in France and other European Countries. You can read about some of my favorites here.

San Sebastian, Spain

To reach San Sebastian by train from Paris, you will need to take the TGV from Gare Montparnasse to Hendaye, France. This is about a 5.5 hour ride. From Hendaye you take a short walk across the parking lot to the local commuter train called the Euskotren. This will take you to San Sebastian in about 40 minutes. Continue reading...

Monaco Grand Prix

No, that’s not a typo. It is possible to have a Formula 1 experience in Monaco without spending a fortune. I know, because I've done it. 

As soon as I knew I was moving to Paris I decided to see if there was any way I could see some Formula 1 in Monaco without breaking the bank. By planning in advance I was able to purchase round-trip 1st class train tickets from Paris to Nice for 80.00€ on the iDTGV. The cheapest tickets for this trip are 50€ in 2nd class. Continue reading...

Provence, France

The Provence region of France is easy to reach from Paris by the TGV trains, leaving from Gare de Lyon. In just about 3 hours you will arrive in sunny Provence. Tickets are cheap when purchased in advance. A round trip to Avignon or Aix en Provence can cost as little as 50.00€. Once there I suggest renting a car so that you can stay in a smaller village and have the opportunity to explore areas that are not accessible by train. Continue reading...