Paris pour le weekend

Me, looking all parisienne

• Getting there

The Eurostar is by far the easiest and most sophisticated way to travel. It leaves several times throughout the day from London St Pancras International, and from its very own stylish terminal and private platform. The benefit of the Eurostar is that you disembark the train within less than three hours, and in the heart of the city. Booking a few months in advance means you can take advantage of amazing return fares from as little as £49.

• Where to stay

Given that we were a massive group, it made sense to rent an apartment for the weekend rather than having individual rooms in a hotel. Our Parisienne apartment was situated in the heart of Paris behind the Louvre. Lucky us. Although our pad was bijou (small yet elegant) it was nicely placed; set back from the main road and away from all the tourists.

Youth hostels and good value hotels are the best option for a short stay. Just make sure your hostel is central and within a vibrant area such as Montmartre or Quartier Latin so that you can walk to all the sites. Hostels such as Oops are student friendly, modern, and in great locations. Expect to pay on average 20+ Euros per night for a decent hostel.

• What to do

Le Louvre

So big and extensive you need at least three full days to see everything. We thought it criminal not to browse the Louvre considering we could see it from our apartment window. Wander the many wings and corridors of this unique museum and gallery late at night, like we did for a different experience. Thanks to the French government, admission to all museums and galleries is now free for under 25s. Just show some ID and go see the remarkable Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo for free.

Musée National de l’Orangerie

This small, yet sophisticated gallery located in the Jardin des Tuileries just down from the Louvre, is the current home of many impressionist works including Monet's Water Lilies. Monet’s stunning panoramic masterpieces are certainly worth a gander if you are in Paris any time soon. You are allowed to sit for hours and gaze while tranquil music plays in the background. A good option to escape the busy crowds.

Bateau Mouche

A definite must is this boat trip down the river Seine. Go in the evening to appreciate the glorious Parisian bridges across the river and the sparkly lights of the Eifel Tower. For 12 Euros and lasting just over an hour you get a different perspective of Paris from the water and some history under your belt along the way.

Champs-Élysées

A lovely yet tiring stroll down this famous avenue is a great way to see Paris this time of year. Starting from the Louvre, through the Jardin des Tuileries, we continued on one long stretch until we reached the Arc de Triomphe. Set aside a few hours for this as it is a much longer walk than you would think. The road before you reach the Champs was lined with a Christmas fair and little snow covered log cabins selling gifts and treats. Once we reached the Arch, we walked back along the other side of the road, and stopped for an (expensive) coffee on the way.

• Eating and Drinking

I think most would agree that you’d have to try pretty damn hard to spend £100 in York at the weekend. Setting up camp in Betty’s and visiting every museum possible would probably be the best way to do it. Sadly, £100 in Paris only just got me to Sunday morning! Cafes, bars and restaurants in the heart of the city were all fairly expensive. Expect to pay on average 5 Euros for a crepe and 3.50 + for coffee. One of us paid a whopping 5 Euros (basically £5) for a café au lait! Admittedly it was a bloody good coffee.

As long as you go expecting to pay slightly over-the-odds you will remain calm throughout your trip. Having said this, Pomme de Pain cafes, found throughout Paris, do a student take-out deal for the morning which gets you a coffee and a pastry for 2,30 Euros.

As sheer good fortune would have it, the day before we arrived in Paris the French had just celebrated the arrival one of their famous wines, Beaujolais Nouveau 2009. After receiving a free glass each from a local we were hooked. Every café and restaurant we went in, we had Beaujolais. It is divine. In true British style we hit a supermarket and grabbed as many bottles of Beaujolais as we could carry to take home. And they say the British have no taste.

• The Bottom line

Spending an exciting weekend in Paris has never been so easy. Take advantage of the fact that one of the most stunning and refined city’s in Europe is but a short inexpensive train journey away.

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