Sprint Toward Savings this Olympics

My aunty has been to Paris more times than she has been back to her motherland. She’s headed there again with her friends at the end of this month to watch Katie Ledecky swim her way to Olympic gold. I immediately knew that she would have some insider tips on how to save money while enjoying travel in the city of love. 

Currency

It’s always good to have some of the local currency when traveling. Converting USD to Euros at your local bank will get you the best possible exchange rates. My aunty usually converts at her neighborhood Bank of America a week before the trip since the exchange rates at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport or any of the train stations are unfavorable. Having Euro bills has come in handy as she stops at some of the local patisseries during her day.

Getting Around

She usually travels in Paris using the metro and this time around she’s using the Paris 2024 Pass which was released specifically for the Olympics. This pass is available from July 20 to September 8 and it will allow you to travel on almost all public transport for a discounted price.

Event Viewing

There are different prices for the tickets based on what sport you want to watch. If you are not picky on sport, you can save a lot by attending some of the less expensive events like rugby or football. Moreover, you can watch some sports like biking, the triathlon and the marathon for free at various locations throughout the course.

Food

There is so much good food in Paris. This is something even I can attest to - every single restaurant we went to from sit-down establishments to grab-and-go bakeries had wonderful food that I still think about to this day. So feel free to skip some of the fancy stuff and go try a local bakery where you can have a much more affordable meal. If you want to dine at a classic Parisian institution without breaking the bank, I’d recommend Bouillon Chartier (try the duck confit). Finally, gratuity is usually included in the price of the meal so you can save on the tip in your final bill.

I hope these tips and tricks from my aunty are useful for your trip to Paris this summer! If you enjoyed hearing about these lived savings experiences, download the TANDA mobile app where you’ll join a community of folks who love to share their savings stories. As the Olympic motto goes: “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.”