12 Ways Tourists Keep WASTING MONEY in Paris

People dream of coming to Paris and when they get here, they splurge a lot of money for that vacation. And since we've been living here over the past four years, we watch tourist after tourist wasting money on things that don't add anything extra to the quality of their vacation. So in this video, we'll share 12 ways that tourists keep wasting money so you don't have to. Allez, on y va! The first thing that people waste money on in Paris, and we hear it all the time on our Facebook group, is tipping in restaurants, especially people from the U.S. In France, service is always included in the price. It's the law. And when it comes to leaving a tip, a Parisian will typically leave between 3 to 5 euros for dinner. Now, even if the waiter asks you if you want to leave a tip when it's time for the credit card payment, and they will if they suspect that you're American, then just say that you will leave it in cash and leave whatever you think is appropriate. And again, a Parisian will leave about 3 to 5 euros for dinner. Another way people waste money in Paris is by going to tourist-trapped restaurants, especially near major attractions. Three of the most overpriced restaurants in Paris are near the Eiffel Tower. That big red awning with the views of the Eiffel Tower is very inviting, but you'll likely get below average food and service at outrageous prices. So make sure that you read the reviews before you go and check them out, because there's lots of other places nearby where you won't waste money and you can definitely save a few. I don't know why people are still lining up for this really old recommendation when King Falafel is right over there. Now, the water in Paris is very good, and it's available throughout the city in fountains like this, or the famous Wallace Fountains, and it's free. And the same goes for restaurants. You do not need to buy water. All you need to ask for is a carafe or a water carafe, and it's free. That's the law in France. Unless you want sparkling water, you do not need to buy a water bottle in the restaurants in Paris. And best of all, you don't have to waste money on buying a water bottle. Or at least buy one and then reuse the bottle over and over again. Cheers! Another way people waste money in Paris is by using Ubers and other ride shares, especially during peak hours. Paris is a nightmare during peak hours, and it's getting worse because of the commitment to making Paris bike and walker friendly. So you may be sitting in traffic for a really long time with the clock running. Instead, rent a bike or use public transportation. You'll save a lot more money, and you'll have a better experience. Another way people waste money in Paris is with taxis, and they are notorious for scamming people, so be prepared. The rates to and from the airports is a set price, and there are no exception to that. Any taxis claiming a special rate is lying to you, and they should always use the meter for any run at any time during the day or the night. It's always the meter, unless it's a flat rate, which is to and from the airport. All the time, they should always have the meter running. So watch our video on the taxi scams in Paris, so you can be prepared and not waste money on taxi scams. The next way that people waste money is by oversleeping on day one or overestimating their level of fitness when they arrive in Paris. We hear from many people that miss their 10 a.m. food tour because they overslept on day one. It's 9 a.m. in Paris, but for your body, it's 3 a.m., and it's Next thing you know, you wake up, it's 10.30, 11 a.m., and you've blown your reservation and wasted your money on an activity that you can no longer attend. And in Paris, you'll walk 20,000 to 25,000 steps per day, and your scheduled walking tour of the Latin Quarter sounds like torture to your feet. Do not overbook yourself and miss your attractions bookings because you overslept or overtired. By the way, choosing a hotel in Paris is one of the biggest decisions you're going to make about your trip, and I get it. There's over 1,500 to choose from, so we put together a list of our top favorites, recommended, curated lists from affordable to luxury places, and they're arranged by a rendezvous, so you can find the right place for you in the right area. Take a look at the link in the description and see if it's for you. Another way people waste money in Paris is by ordering a la carte during lunchtime. Most restaurants in Paris will offer what we call a formule déjeuner or a lunch formula, which is a combination of an appetizer and a meal or a meal and a dessert at a reduced price. You could easily cut the cost of your lunch by half if you take advantage of the formule. So in any restaurant, just ask for the formule déjeuner. They'll show it to you, and if it works for you, take that. It's oftentimes much better than ordering a la carte. Check this out. For 25 euros, you have a starter, a main dish, and a dessert, or for 21, you have a starter and a main or a main and a dessert, and it's excellent food. Your mobile service provider may tell you that your phone will work just fine in Europe and in France until you find out that it's $10 per day per phone, and this can add up very quickly. And some mobile plans simply don't work in France. It's really best to pay for an eSIM like Aerolo and have peace of mind. I'm gonna put a link in the description so you can find out for yourself if it's a good fit for you. And in France, everybody uses WhatsApp, which is free. So as long as you have Wi-Fi, you can communicate with hotels, tour guides, and anyone you need to stay in touch with. Next is about breakfast in Paris. Now, most hotels will offer you a breakfast for about 15 to 20 euros depending on the place, but you shouldn't expect to have eggs and bacon on the buffet. What you're going to get is a continental, which is a boiled egg and some sliced deli meat. Now, personally, what I recommend in Paris is to skip the hotel breakfast and go and find yourself a little boulangerie where you're going to get yourself an out-of-this-world breakfast pastry and a cup of coffee for less than five euros. That's an amazing way of not wasting money on an average breakfast where you have places all over Paris that'll give you something so much better. We keep hearing from people who didn't realize they booked their Paris trip right by the Olympics. But the same is true with Fashion Week, which happens several times per year, or a major sporting event like a rugby cup or Tour de France. If you booked your stay during one of those major annual events, you should expect to pay more for your hotels and your food. So before you book your Paris trip, check your calendar and make sure there aren't major events happening at that time because it will affect your budget. The next one is about getting a hotel room with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Now, I totally get the appeal of opening your windows to a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower, but truth be told, there's nothing to do around the Eiffel Tower. You're about 20 to 30 minutes walk to anything fun to do. What you should really be looking for is a hotel next to a metro station in a vibrant Parisian neighborhood so you can get the feel of the city. That way you'll get the experience of being in a Parisian neighborhood and you won't waste your money on an overpriced hotel. And the last way that tourists keep wasting money is on banking fees and currency exchange. Paris is completely connected with online banking like Wise or Revolut, and you can save a ton of money by just being ready. Standard banking fees can really add up and give you a nasty surprise once you get home. And with an online banking system like Revolut, you can pay with your phone and avoid many pesky charges for currency and conversions. And they do the conversion in real time with the whole amount from the currency rate. They don't charge on top of that. So be sure to check with your bank and your credit card company to make sure that you're not overpaying for banking and currency charges. In this video, we shared with you ways that tourists keep wasting money. Next, I would watch this video on how long things take so you don't waste time in your itinerary.