Paris to Milan

Today is a guest post about a convenient European bus service.

If you are the sort of person who loves to snag a bargain and who loves nothing more than feeling as though they have got a good deal, then have you thought about some creative ways to save money when organising your next holiday?

If you are a frugal type or are simply living on a limited budget, you have probably already worked out that travelling by bus or coach is perhaps the cheapest way to cover any significant distance.  There are budget airlines, yes, but the airport taxes and parking charges can add up – plus, of course, airports are not exactly central to any city in the UK so you do rather need to be able to pay to get to the airport, too. 

But even with low coach fares, your accommodation costs can be considerable, especially if you want a city break.  Youth hostels and run-down bed and breakfasts have their place, but if you want a nice holiday without breaking the bank there is a better way to spend your money (and time).

Let’s say you want to see France and Italy. Coach travel, unlike air travel, can offer considerable flexibility in terms of allowing you to spend time in as many different cities as you choose: all you have to do is book the next leg of your journey when you’re ready to move on.  Start at London Victoria with iDBUS and travel overnight to reach Paris Bercy (in central Paris), leaving at 11.30 at night and arriving at 9.30am local time.  Enjoy the day in Paris or stay a few days if you like.  When you’re ready to move on, travel from Paris to Milan (again with iDBUS) overnight departing at 11.15pm and arriving at 2.30pm the following afternoon.  Do the same on the return journey.

This way you get four nights on the coach instead of paying for accommodation, and the coach journeys themselves will cost around £50 for each leg of the journey.  The seats on board recline and offer plenty of leg- and elbow room so all you need to do is pack some earphones (if traffic noise bothers you), a lightweight blanket and a travel pillow in your rucksack and you’re all set for a good night’s sleep. 

There are cheaper fares available at different times of the day and it doesn’t matter how late you book – the prices remain the same regardless of when you buy your tickets.  That way, if you would prefer to sleep in hotel or similar accommodation then you can at least sleep well knowing that the price of your journey has cost very little (from around £35 from London to Paris and £39 from Paris to Milan). 

Journeys by coach take longer than journeys by train or plane but if you view them as integral to your holiday and enjoy the journey then you have an extended trip.  Take your laptop or other electronic gadgets and relax knowing that you’re on your way to a new city and plenty of sightseeing – and bargain-hunting, no doubt.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

 

Comments

[Anne]

Thanks for this post , I never knew about this . I think I would give it a go at those prices. In May I went on a coach tour all the way to Monaco (for Formula 1 racing) and it was brilliant . Took us two days as we had an overnight stop , but heck it was brilliant , actually amazing, Thanks once again,