Budget Travel – Page 11 – The Wknd Travel

Hostel of the Day: THE ROMEHELLO – Affordable, Hospitable & High-Rated Accommodation That Felt Like Home

After few months ago, my friends and I flew to Europe for a 3.5-week vacation. We visited 3 countries – France, Italy and Spain. Accommodation in Europe is expensive compared to here in Asia so we decided to stay in hostels throughout the trip. We explored Rome for 6 days and 5 nights and stayed with The RomeHello. Join me in today’s hostel of the day feature as I show you this affordable, hospitable and high-rated hostel in the heart of Rome, Italy.

The Romehello

The RomeHello is an affordable and high-rated hostel found in the center of Rome in Italy. The large hostel is located within a 6-storey building a few minutes away from Roma Termini. It has spacious communal areas in the ground floor and private and dormitory rooms found from the ground floor up to 5^th floor.

As of writing, the hostel has ratings ranging from 9.3 to 9.6 from over 17,000 reviews in Agoda, Booking.com, Hostelworld and Expedia. The hostel staff and management deserve all the praises and good reviews they received from these sites. Let us know more about the hostel, its facilities and amenities below in the write up below.

Location & Access

The RomeHello is located at Via Torino 45 in Rome, Italy. It is 150 meters by foot from Repubblica-Teatro dell’Opera Station in the Metro Line A. It is 750 meters away or 7-10 minutes by foot from Roma Termini Station.

The hostel has a central location and is near famous Roman landmarks. It is 10 minutes away by foot to the Trevi Fountain, 15 minutes by foot to The Spanish Steps, Colosseum and Piazza Venezia and 20 to 25 minute-walk to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. It is also near cafés, restaurants, shops and even supermarkets.

Rome–Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) is 30 kilometers away and can be reached either by bus, taxi or the 35-minute Leonardo Express from Roma Termini. Rome’s other airport, Rome–Ciampino International Airport (CIA), is 15 kilometers away and can be reached either by taxi or shuttle buses from Roma Termini.

Room Options

The RomeHello is a hostel for all; it has both private and dormitory rooms. Guests who want privacy throughout their visit can stay in the private rooms while those traveling on a tight budget can choose to stay in the dormitory rooms.

The hostel’s private room configurations are as follows: double room, quadruple room, twin room, twin bunk bed room and triple room. All these private rooms feature ensuite bathrooms, mini fridge with water bottles, televisions, towels and toiletries, small tables and chairs, USB sockets in the bedside tables and cabinets.

The dormitory rooms are arranged in the following configurations: 3-bed mixed dormitory room, 4-bed mixed dormitory room, 8-bed mixed dormitory room, 10-bed mixed dormitory room and 3-bed female-only dormitory room. All dormitory beds feature bed covers, duvet, pillows, individual lamps, electrical and USB sockets, lockers under the beds and personal shelves. All dormitory rooms have in-room showers and toilets. Towels and toiletries are not included in these shared rooms.

My friend and I booked our stay with Agoda and got a bed in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. We paid €89.26 each for 5 nights – €17.85 per night. My bank charged me ₱5,468.12 (including 1.85% foreign currency conversion fee) for this 5-night stay – roughly ₱1,094 per night.

We were assigned 1 single bed each in one of the ground floor 4-bed mixed dormitory rooms. The room had a bunk bed and 2 single beds. The room was spacious, clean and near the communal lounge and laundry room.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

The RomeHello has one of the longest lists of guest facilities and amenities in all my hostel of the day features. Check out the long list below:

Free Wi-Fi Access – All hostel guests have access to a free wi-fi connection available throughout the property.

Free Drink Coupon Upon Check-In – The hostel gives their guests a free drink coupon upon check-in. This coupon can be redeemed at The Barrel Bar & Grill by Tyler anytime during the stay.

Buffet Breakfast at The Barrel Bar & Grill by Tyler – Hostel guests can avail of a buffet breakfast at The Barrel Bar & Grill by Tyler from 8:00am to 10:30am for only €7 per person. Guests enjoy a selection of eggs, bacon, sausages, fresh fruits, cold cuts, cheese and cereals. They also enjoy a variety of drinks – coffee, tea, fruit juices and water – included in the buffet rate.

In-House Bar & Restaurant – The Barrel Bar & Grill by Tyler is the hostel’s in-house bar and restaurant. It is open from lunch until late night to cater to both guests and non-guests. Hostel guests get 10% off when they dine at The Barrel by showing their hostel access card.

In-Room Shower & Toilet – Dormitory and private rooms at The RomeHello feature in-room shower and toilet facilities. The showers are equipped with heating systems.

Air Conditioning & Heating Systems – All rooms are have air conditioning and heating systems which can be used depending on season.

Communal Lounge Area – The hostel has a spacious communal lounge area where guests can spend their idle time watching the television or talking to co-travelers. It is also the perfect place to meet and make friends with the other guests.

Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – The RomeHello has a shared kitchen for those who want to cook their own meals during their stay. They also have a dining area where people can have their meals.

Communal Shower & Toilet – The hostel has a communal shower and toilet that is open to all guests. Even guests who already checked out can still take a shower before they leave for their next destination.

Spacious Inner Courtyard – The property has a spacious inner courtyard where events are held. It is also a place where people can relax for some fresh air.

Games Area – The hostel has a ping pong table in the inner courtyard and a table football in the lounge area which guests can play with. They also have boardgames which can be borrowed and played with other people.

Snack & Drink Vending Machines – Fancy a snack or drink? You can get some in the vending machines located inside the shared kitchen or near the lockers.

Daily Hostel Activities – The hostel hosts daily activities which guests can join. It ranges from movie nights, community dinners to game nights, karaoke nights and drinking games. Do not forget to check-out the weekly activity calendar near the elevator during your stay.

Hostel Tours & Experiences – Aside from the daily activities, the hostel also hosts tours and experiences which guests can enjoy. Pasta and pizza cooking classes are held every Monday and Tuesday for €8 per person per class. They also conduct tip-based walking tours on specific days of the week. Make sure to check with reception if you are keen on joining these activities.

Luggage Storage – Guests who arrive before the check-in hours and guests who need to leave their bags after check-out can have their stuff stored at the luggage room at no extra cost. Please approach reception if you want to use the luggage room before check-in or after check-out.

Locker Rentals – Guests who cannot leave their valuables in the luggage room can rent the lockers in the communal lounge area for safe storage.

Luggage Weighing Scale – The hostel has a luggage weighing scale which guests can use for only €1.

Self-service Coin Laundry – The RomeHello has a self-service coin laundry at the ground floor. The laundry service is easy to use. These machines are mostly used during night time and are best used in the morning.

Hair Dryer & Ironing Facilities – All rooms are equipped with hair dryers. Guests who need to iron clothes can use the ironing facilities found inside the laundry room.

Computer Access – There are 2 computers in the communal lounge area which guests can use to plan their itineraries, book their next flights and accommodations.

Printing Access – Guests who need to print documents can have them printed by reception. Please reach out to them for the updated printing rates.

24-Hour Reception – The RomeHello’s reception is open 24 hours every day of the week. Check-in starts at 2:00pm while check-out is until 11:00am.

Multi-Lingual Staff – The hostel’s staff speak many languages – Italian, English, Filipino and a few more. Guests who do not speak Italian or English can still communicate with and ask questions to the staff at any time.

Daily Housekeeping – The hostel housekeeping checks and cleans the rooms and toilets daily. They make sure that the hostel facilities and rooms are kept clean and tidy.

Secured Room Access – The rooms can be accessed using a randomly-generated lock code that is assigned individually per guest.

Secured Hostel Premises – The hostel is equipped with 24/7 video surveillance system that makes sure that no outsiders go inside the guest-only premises. Also, all guests need to go past reception when they want to enter the hostel.

Lift Access – Guests who have large luggage do not need to worry about bringing them up to the higher floors. They can use the lift to go up to and down from their rooms.

Hostel Experience

I had an awesome stay at The RomeHello. I enjoyed every bit from check-in to check-out; I could have extended if my itinerary allowed me to do so.

The hostel ticked all the boxes for me but has specifically excelled in the following. First, their rates were affordable. The hostel provided more than what guests pay for per night. They had one of the best value rates within the city. Second, the hostel’s location was perfect for my itinerary. It was near Repubblica Station of Metro Line A; it was also near Roma Termini. The popular Rome spots were all 10-25 minutes away by foot. The hostel was also located in a small quiet laneway, excluded from all the city noise.

Third, the €7 breakfast buffet at The Barrel was exceptional. The buffet had a good spread of eggs, bread, cold cuts, sausages, bacon, cheese, fresh fruits and drinks. Fourth, the property had a long list of activities, tours and experiences that enhanced the guest’s hostel experience. I joined the pasta cooking class for €8; I knew how to cook the ‘real’ carbonara at the same time also met people from all over the world.

Fifth, the hostel managed to keep its cleanliness throughout the day despite all the activities and guests coming in and out every day. Lastly, The RomeHello’s staff were the friendliest and most hospitable ones I have dealt with during this trip. I met a few Filipino hostel staff and was instantly treated like their close friends. At some point, it felt home. The stay felt like I am in the Philippines because of them. Shoutout to the ate’s and kuya’s of The RomeHello – thank you for making my stay a memorable one!

On the other side of the line, I cannot think of anything which the hostel can or needs to improve on. If there is one thing I can comment on, it is the long list of activities they have. I did not have enough time to join all of them during my stay. I need to go back to The RomeHello to just join all the activities.

Will I recommend The RomeHello? YES! It is an easy 15 over 10 for me. In my opinion, The RomeHello is an epitome of a perfect hostel. The hostel has affordable rates, clean rooms and communal areas, friendly and hospitable staff, a central location, fun activities, tours and experiences to join and a traveler-friendly atmosphere. What more can you ask for? No need to think twice, book with The Romehello for your trip to Rome.

Do you have questions about The RomeHello? Feel free to reach out to them on the following platforms:

The RomeHello
Address: Via Torino 45 00184, Rome, Italy
Phone Number: +39 06 9686 0070
E-mail address: ciao@theromehello.com
Website: www.theromehello.com
Faceook: www.facebook.com/theromehello
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theromehello

Have you stayed with The RomeHello in the past? Care to share your hostel experience in the comments section below? Do you have any questions about the hostel or my experience? Feel free comment down below. You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You’ll find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur & Z Hostel here in the Philippines. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

PARIS MUSEUM PASS Review – Is It Worth It?

Paris Museum Pass – I have repeatedly mentioned this pass in my Paris (Days 1-2 and Days 3-5) and Versailles blog posts. My friend and I availed of and used this pass to enter different museums and monuments during our trip to Paris and Versailles last November 2022. Today, I will share with you my thoughts about this pass and whether it is worth it.

Paris Museum Pass

Paris Museum Pass is a tourist pass that gives access to over 50 museums, chateaux and monuments located in Paris and in the Paris Region. It allows access to famous sites such as Arc de Triomphe, Musée d’Orsay, Musée du Louvre, Panthéon, Sainte-Chapelle and Château de Versailles et de Trianon.

This pass allows the pass holder to visit as many museums, chateaux and monuments as possible (found in this list: Paris, Paris Region) for a specific cost and under a specific timeframe. The pass only allows single entry per site during its validity.

Cost & Validity

My friend and I bought our 48-hour pass for €52 each last November 2022. Prices have changed since then. As of April 2023, the Paris Museum Pass now costs €55 for the 2-day / 48-hour pass, €70 for the 4-day / 96-hour pass and €85 for the 6-day / 144-hour pass.

As per the website, museum pass savings / value is unlocked from the 4^th visit for the 48-hour pass, from the 5^th visit for the 96-hour pass and from the 6^th visit for the 144-hour pass. Please also take note that the count / validity starts from the time of the 1^st visit.

Please note that most museums and sites are free of charge for non-EU national visitors up to 18 years old and up to 26 years old for nationals of the European Union.

Where To Buy

Interested visitors can avail of the Paris Museum Pass in 2 ways – online and on site. Those who want to save time and paper can buy their Paris Museum Pass from the website. Those interested can choose from French, English, Spanish, Italian and German and will receive the pass in the chosen language. The museum pass will be sent via e-mail; it can be presented via mobile phone in the checkpoints.

Panthéon can be accessed using this pass.

Those who want to have a physical copy of the museum pass can buy the paper ticket from the Tourist Information Points found in major airports (CDG and ORY), train stations and even in major museums / sites. We bought our pass at CDG Airport Terminal 2F’s Tourist Information Point.

The Paris Museum Pass, once purchased, cannot be returned, exchanged, or refunded.

Advantages

Now that we know more about the Paris Museum Pass, let us look at the advantages of having this pass during your visit to Paris.

Fixed cost for all major museums and sites – The Paris Museum Pass already includes all the entry fees of the sites and museums listed in the website. Pass holders do not need to shell out additional euros to enter these sites.

Two must-see in Musée du Louvre. You can see both using your Paris Museum Pass.

Perfect for visitors with limited time in Paris – The pass provides visitors the chance to cover as many museums, sites and chateaux as possible during their limited time in the city.

Hassle-free and separate entry in selected sites – Pass holders need not to worry about long queues. Most of the sites have a special line for Paris Museum Pass holders. These special lines are often not crowded and provide immediate entry to the museum.

Special Line for Paris Museum Pass Holders

Great value for money – The Paris Museum Pass provides a great value for money for those who are visiting Paris in a well-planned itinerary. You can visit up to 5 sites in a day provided you have allotted ample time for all these places.

Disadvantages

The Paris Museum Pass also has some disadvantages. Let us discuss some of them below.

Some sites require reservations / timed-entry – Major museums and sites require timed-entry reservations which is almost like buying entry tickets for these sites.

Not ideal for long visits – The Paris Museum Pass is not for those who plan to stay longer in every museum / site or in Paris in general. This pass is not for you if you are the type of traveler who wants to explore in a calm and relaxing pace.

It does not cover all Paris landmarks – The pass does not cover other Paris Landmarks such as The Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier and The Paris Catacombs. You need to pay extra to enter these landmarks.

Pass is not for everyone – The Paris Museum Pass is not valid for those visiting below 18 years old for non-EU nationals and below 26 years old for EU nationals. It may also be not for backpackers or those who are travelling on a budget because it comes with a hefty price. There could also be other passes like the Paris Pass which suits your travelling style.

Tips to Maximize Paris Museum Pass

I want to share with you some tips on how you can maximize your Paris Museum Pass.

Check museum / site opening hours – Some museums and sites have extended operating hours a day every week. For example, Musée du Louvre is open until 9:45pm every Friday compared to the usual 6:00pm closing time on a normal day. On the other hand, Musée d’Orsay extends its opening hours to 9:45pm every Thursday, from the usual 6:00pm on other days. If you have the 48-hour pass and you started it on a Thursday morning, you can visit Musée d’Orsay on Thursday night, Musée du Louvre on Friday night and make time for other museums and sites during the day.

Be aware of museum / site closures – The museums and sites usually have 1 day in a week when they are closed. Musée du Louvre is closed every Tuesday, Musée d’Orsay and Château de Versailles et de Trianon are closed every Monday. Some of them are also closed during Christmas, New Year and other special holidays.

Château de Versailles is can also be accessed using the Paris Museum Pass.

Know which museums and sites require timed-entry reservations – Some museums and sites require Paris Museum Pass holders to book and reserve their visits. These schedules make the pass holder’s visit faster and secured. Sites that require reservations include Château de Versailles et de Trianon, Saint-Chapelle and Musée du Louvre. Please note that pass holders do not need to pay in reserving their slots / schedules.

Saint-Chapelle is included in the Paris Museum Pass

Plan your itinerary well – Maximize the cost of the Paris Museum Pass by planning your itinerary well. Avoid redeeming the pass during days when some museums are closed; also take advantage of longer museum hours.

Verdict: Is It Worth It?

It is time to answer the most important question. Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it? For the sake of this post, I will make a stand and answer it with a Conditional Yes. It is not an easy ‘yes’ but a conditional one where you will be only be in Paris for a limited time / period and you have a well-planned itinerary to maximize it.

My friend and I planned our itinerary well and used the 48-hour Paris Museum Pass in the following attractions: Saint-Chappelle (€11,50), Musée du Louvre (€17), Musée d’Orsay (€16), Château de Versailles and Trianon Estate (€21,50) and Panthéon (€11,50). We had plans of going up the Arc de Triomphe but we opted to skip it last-minute and met with our friends instead. We only paid €52 each (that time) for the pass and used it in 6 museums and sites that cost €77,50 in total if availed individually. On top of it, we saved tons of time by not queuing in all these attractions.

The Paris Museum Pass is not a cheap investment when visiting Paris but it is something that can be maximized during the availed timeframe. The key to maximizing the pass is knowing which places you want to visit and planning your itinerary well.

What do you think of the Paris Museum Pass? Is it something that caters to you as a traveler? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the pass? Apart from posting it below, you may also send it via e-mail contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Don’t forget to check out my previous posts about Paris – N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 1 & 2], N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 3, 4 & 5], N9 Friends in Europe: CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES Day Trip Photoblog & Hostel of the Day: LE VILLAGE MONTMARTRE BY HIPHOPHOSTELS – Authentic & Affordable Parisian Property in the Artist District.

Thank you for joining me in today’s review. Please watch out for more Europe posts in the coming weeks. Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? It means a lot, cheers. See you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES Day Trip Photoblog

Previously, I shared with you what my friends and I did in Paris for 5 days. I posted 2 blogs (Days 1 and 2, Days 3-5) giving details about our trips to the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Saint-Chapelle, Basilica of Sacré Coeur and all other Parisian landmarks. I also mentioned in my Days 3-5 blog that we took a day trip to Versailles to check out Château de Versailles. Allow me to share with you photos and some details about this day trip.

In case you missed it, my friends and I went to Europe late last year for 3.5 weeks and visited France, Italy and Spain. I have just started sharing bits and pieces about this trip. This Paris blog is the 7^th after posting about my Schengen Visa application with VIA Italy, my Emirates flight from Manila to Dubai, my Emirates flight from Dubai to Paris CDG, our hostel in Paris – Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels and our itinerary during our 5 days around Paris – Days 1-2 and Days 3-5.

Château de Versailles

Château de Versailles or The Palace of Versailles is a former royal residence located about 20 kilometers away from Paris. It started out as a hunting lodge by King Louis XIII and was then expanded by King Louis XIV into a grand palace and estate. With the hopes of controlling his power and reign over Paris, King Louis XIV transferred the seat of his government and court to Versailles. That time, the Palace was the capital of France. The French Revolution prompted the royal family to return to Paris in 1789 bringing the country’s capital back to Paris.

The Palace of Versailles now sits as a popular museum visited by millions of tourists per year. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its contributions to French history. The 800-hectare estate is divided into sections: The Palace, The Gardens, The Estate of Trianon, The Park, The Royal Tennis Court, The Great and The Small Stables.

Transportation

Most people visit Château de Versailles on a guided tour. My friend and I decided to visit it on our own. From Anvers Station, we took the Metro Line 2 (Blue Line) to Place de Clichy Station, changed to Metro Line 13 (Light Blue Line) to Invalides Station. From there, we transferred to the RER C (Yellow) Service to Versailles Château Rive Gauche Station.

The train journey including transfers took about an hour but the train ride from Invalides Station to Versailles Château Rive Gauche Station only took half an hour. From the station, we walked for less than a kilometer (about 10 minutes) to the Palace Gate. We took the same way back to Paris after the visit to the estate.

I am very sorry I don’t have the exact cost as to how much the train rides cost. The trains, including the RER C (Yellow) service is included in the Navigo Découverte Weekly Pass we availed. Please note that there are other options to the palace from the Versailles Chantiers and Versailles Rive Droite Stations.

Opening Times

The Palace opens every day except Mondays at 9:00am and closes 5:30pm during low season and 6:30pm during high season. The Estate of Trianon opens every day except Mondays at 12:00 pm and closes 5:30pm during low season and 6:30pm during high season. The Palace Gardens and The Park open daily from 8:00am to 6:00pm except during extreme weather conditions like strong winds and snow.

Ticket PRICES

The Palace of Versailles offers a variety of tickets depending on what the visitor wants to experience. The Palace-only ticket costs €19,50 per person; it guarantees access to the Palace on a timed entry, to the temporary exhibitions, the Palace Gardens, and the Park. The Estate of Trianon-only ticket costs €12 per person. This ticket guarantees access to the Trianon Estate from 12:30pm, to the temporary exhibitions within the estate, the Palace Gardens, and the Park. The Palace also offers a combination ticket for both the Palace and The Trianon Estate. This combination ticket called Passport costs €21,50 per person. There are still other ticket options; feel free to check these in the Palace website.

I mentioned in the Paris Days 1-2 and 3-5 blog posts that my friend and I availed of the Paris Museum Pass. This museum pass includes Château de Versailles in the list of museums and sites that can be visited with the pass. My friend and I used our Paris Museum Pass to enter both the Palace and the Trianon Estate. We did not pay anything to enter these sites.

Note: Château de Versailles requires timed entry bookings even for Paris Museum Pass holders. We booked our schedules through the Palace website a few weeks before our intended visit. We got the 9:00 morning schedule for the Palace and the 12:00 noon schedule for the Trianon Estate. The staff only scanned our Paris Museum Pass at the entrance.

Château de Versailles Photos

THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES

The Grand Commun

The Royal Chapel

The Hall of Mirrors

The Royal Apartments

THE GARDENS

THE ESTATE OF TRIANON

The Grand Trianon

The Petit Trianon

The French Gardens of The Petit Trianon

The English Gardens

Beautiful place, right? No wonder millions of people visit the estate yearly. Château de Versailles is a day trip worth taking outside Paris!

The Hall of Mirrors was charming without other tourists / visitors. It felt surreal seeing it in person. I also liked The Petit Trianon and The English Gardens. Which area of Château de Versailles is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Château de Versailles? You may post them in the comments below or you may send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you enjoyed browsing through today’s photoblog. Thank you for checking up to this part. In case you missed it, my friends and I also went around Paris, France for 5 days. Feel free to check my posts about this postcard-perfect city – Days 1 and 2 + Days 3 to 5. Everything about our 3.5-week trip to Euro can be found under the N9 in Europe category. Stay tuned for more posts about this trip!

Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? It means a lot, cheers. Catch you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 3, 4 & 5]

Last time, I shared with you what kept us busy on our first 2 days in the beautiful city of Paris. We started our trip with a dinner meal at Carette, a visit to Place du Trocadéro, Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe. We spent our second day knowing more about Paris, France and its history. We took the walking tour with SANDEMANs New Europe; we also visited Saint-Chapelle, Musée du Louvre and Musée d’Orsay.

In case you missed it, my friends and I went to Europe late last year for 3.5 weeks and visited France, Italy and Spain. I have just started sharing bits and pieces about this trip. This Paris blog is the 6^th after posting about my Schengen Visa application with VIA Italy, my Emirates flight from Manila to Dubai, my Emirates flight from Dubai to Paris CDG, our hostel in Paris – Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels and our itinerary during our first 2 days around Paris.

Today, I will share with you what my friend and I did for 3 more days in the postcard-perfect city of Paris, France. Allow me to share again the details about our accommodation, public transportation pass and museum pass.

Accommodation

Given the high accommodation rates around the city, my friend and I decided to stay in Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels. We booked 2 beds in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room for 4 nights and paid €132 each including city tax. I wrote about the hostel, its amenities and our experience in the latest hostel of the day feature. Check it out here.

Going Around Paris

We opted for the Navigo Découverte Travel Card in our 5-day trip around Paris. We bought the week-long unlimited travel ticket for around €35 (including the card itself) and we had access to all RER trains, bus lines and city metro lines (in all of Paris’ 5 fare zones) until Sunday 23:59 that week. The ticket also included train lines to Paris Disneyland, Château de Versailles and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Tip: Please take note that the train card requires a photo of the card holder. You may bring your own photo or you can use the photo booths located near the train offices in CDG Airport and major train stations.

Tip 2: The Navigo travel card is valid for 10 years. You can use it again in your next trips to Paris. Also, the weekly pass validity starts 00:01 every Monday and ends 23:59 every Sunday. It is not advisable to get the weekly pass if you are arriving Paris on a Thursday or Friday.

Paris Museum Pass

We bought the 48-hour Paris Museum Pass for €52 (now €55). This pass allowed us fast-track entry to known museums and sites within Paris and the nearby region. Some museums and sites like Musée d’Orsay and Pantheon do not require reservations. The more famous ones like Musée du Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle and Château de Versailles require reservations prior entry.

Tip: Plan your itinerary well. The pass period count starts when the museum pass is scanned in the first museum or site.

Places Visited in Paris – Days 3, 4 & 5

We went around Paris for 5 days (or 96 full hours) and went to a lot of famous spots. We did not aim to see all places and decided to take our time in every spot. The only planned itinerary we had was when we used the Paris Museum Pass for 48 hours. Allow me to share with you days 3, 4 and 5 of our 5-day chill itinerary around Paris.

Day 3 – Versailles Day Trip, Pantheon & Jardin de la Tour Eiffel

Day 3 started very early with a day trip to Versailles. We visited the Château de Versailles; walked around The Palace of Versailles and The Estate of Trianon. I will walk about this day trip in a separate blog post – please look forward to it.

We dropped by KFC Versailles for late lunch and then headed back to Paris. We were supposed to go up the Arc de Triomphe but decided to change plans while we were on the RER C train – our Navigo pass allowed it. We got off at Javel Station on RER C and transferred to Javel – André Citroën Station. We took the Metro Line 10 (Dark Orange Line) and got off at Cardinal Lemoine Station. We walked for a few minutes and made it to The Panthéon. We got in using our Paris Museum Pass.

Note: The Panthéon does not require booking for Paris Museum Pass Holders. Visitors using the pass can use the fast-track line. Regular tickets cost Є11,50 per person.

The Panthéon was initially built as a church in honor of St. Genevieve. It was commissioned by King Louis XV. After the French Revolution, the government decided to make a place of honor for those who fought during the revolution. Nowadays, it is also a burial place of prominent French writers like Victor Hugo, Jean Jacques Rousseau and Alexandre Dumas. It is also where the famous scientists Marie and Pierre Curie are buried.

After The Panthéon, we walked to Place de l’Estrapade to check out the Emily in Paris shooting locations. We saw Emily’s apartment, the small park in front of it, Gabriel’s restaurant and the boulangerie where Emily got her first French pastry. We, then, walked towards Jardin du Luxembourg only to find out that the park was already closed. We had no choice but to leave and head to the Eiffel Tower. We took RER B Luxembourg Station to Denfert-Rochereau Station then changed to the Metro Line 6 (Green Line) to Bir-Hakeim Station.

Note: Unfortunately, I cannot post a photo of the Eiffel Tower at night due to copyright laws.

We met with our friends again at Jardin De La Tour Eiffel before heading to Gusto Italia 218 for dinner. We had pasta and wine to celebrate our friend’s memorable trip to Europe. After dinner, we walked back to Jardin De La Tour Eiffel for more photos with the iconic landmark. We bid our goodbyes to our friend and her family and took a FreeNow ride back to our hostel.

Day 4 – Sacré Coeur, Paris Highlights & More Eiffel Tower

Our 4^th day in Paris started with a decent breakfast meal from Le Village Montmartre. After breakfast, we walked up to La Basilique du Sacré Cœur de Montmartre or the Sacré Cour Basilica. We also inside the church and saw the beautiful art painted in the basilica’s dome. This basilica is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It sits on top of a Montmartre Hill and has a panoramic view of Paris and its suburbs.

Note: Entry to Sacré Cour is free of charge. Just fall in-line near the steps for a quick security check.

After Sacré Cour, we walked down the hill and went to Barbès – Rochechouart Station. We took the Metro Line 2 (Magenta Line) to Les Halles Station and walked to Palais-Royal. We checked out Domaine National du Palais-Royal and took photos in this cultural landmark. We also strolled around the nearby Jardin du Palais-Royal.

Note: Entry to Domaine National du Palais-Royal and Jardin du Palais-Royal premises is free of charge.

We had our late lunch at Burger King and continued our walk to one of the most beautiful Starbucks branches in the world – along Boulevard des Capucines. We then walked towards Academie National de Musique / Palais Garnier before heading to Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. We checked out the department store’s iconic dome and Christmas tree as well as its crowded roof deck.

After the quick visit to Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, we took the Metro Line 9 (Yellow Green Line) from Chaussée d’Antin — La Fayette Station to Alma-Marceau Station. We headed to Flamme de la Liberte (Liberty Flame). We also enjoyed the magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower from the banks of River Seine.

We continued our walk to Rue de Monttessuy where we found Chez Ming – a Chinese restaurant. We have been craving for rice so we decided to have Asian food for dinner. We ordered their set meal which included fried rice, fried spring rolls, sweet and sour pork, beef sauteed with garlic, dumplings and ice cream.

After dinner, we walked along Rue de l’Université to check out a famous photography spot with the Eiffel Tower. We went to Bateaux Parisiens by the River Seine and took the night river cruise. We got our ticket from Le Village Montmartre for only Є9 per person. We enjoyed the beautiful view of Paris from the upper open deck area of the boat while cruising along River Seine.

After the hour-long boat cruise, we walked back to Alma-Marceau Station and took the Metro Line 9 (Yellow Green Line), changed at Miromesnil Station and took the Metro Line 13 (Light Blue Line) to Place de Clichy Station. We walked towards the famous Le Moulin Rouge and checked out the place from the outside. We finished the day by taking the Metro Line 2 (Blue Line) from Blanche Station to Anvers Station and walking back to our hostel.

Note: I am still doing research about copyright if I can post photos of Moulin Rouge.

Day 5 – Montmartre & Goodbye Paris

Our 5^th day in Paris was not that eventful. We started our day by packing our stuff and getting breakfast in the nearby French bakery – Les Fournils de France. We enjoyed their croissant, pain au chocolat and other local pastries. We also took some time to walk around the Montmartre neighborhood.

After check-out, we took an Uber ride to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Merci at au revoir, Paris!

This ends our 5 days around the postcard-perfect city of Paris. My friend and I have been to and have seen a lot but we still have not seen everything. My personal favorite is Saint-Chapelle from Day 2 – what is yours?

Which is your favorite Paris landmark or museum and why? Are you looking to visit Paris in the future? What are you most excited to see? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. Do you have questions about those mentioned above or about Paris in general? Feel free to post them as well below. You may also send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I will help you in any way I can.

Thank you so much for checking out today’s post about Paris, France. Please look forward to the upcoming posts about this trip. In case you missed the other posts about this trip, you can check them out under the N9 in Europe category.

Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? It means a lot, cheers. Catch you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 1 & 2]

Paris, France – a city which many people dream of visiting! I am lucky I had the chance to go around this beautiful city for a few days last November 2022. In case you missed it, my friends and I went to Europe late last year for 3.5 weeks and visited France, Italy and Spain. I have just started sharing bits and pieces about this trip. This Paris blog is the 5^th after posting about my Schengen Visa application with VIA Italy, my Emirates flight from Manila to Dubai, my Emirates flight from Dubai to Paris CDG and my hostel in Paris – Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels.

I will share with you today what my friends and I did on the first 2 days of our 5-day trip around the postcard-perfect city of Paris. To be honest, 5 days were not enough to see everything the city has to offer. We did not aim to see and visit everything; instead, we had a well-planned and relaxed itinerary. I will share into details our day-to-day happenings around Paris.

Accommodation

Going Around Paris

Paris Museum Pass

Tip: Plan your itinerary well. The pass period count starts when the museum pass is scanned in the first museum or site.

Places Visited in Paris – Days 1 & 2

We went around Paris for 5 days (or 96 full hours) and went to a lot of famous spots. We did not aim to see all places and decided to take our time in every spot. The only planned itinerary we had was when we used the Paris Museum Pass for 48 hours. Allow me to share with you the first 2 days of our 5-day chill itinerary around Paris.

Day 1 – Hello Paris & Hello Eiffel Tower

After arriving at Paris CDG Airport, I met up with my friend, Leng, who arrived at the airport a few hours before. She bought our Paris Museum Pass for €52 each in one of the tourist information centers while I was waiting for my luggage. We met at Terminal 2C and headed to Billets Paris et Ile de France or the train ticket office. We purchased our Navigo Découverte Travel Cards, went to the station and waited for the next RER B service to the city.

We took the 30-minute RER B train to Gare du Nord and changed to Metro Line 2 (Blue Line) and took the 5-minute ride to Anvers Station. We checked-in at Le Village Montmartre, took a rest for a while and freshened up. After a little over an hour, we took the Metro Line 2 (Blue Line) and the Metro Line 6 (Green Line) to Trocadéro Station and went up to meet our friends at Carette. I got Quiche Lorraine, greens salad and their signature hot chocolate for dinner.

After the meal, we braved the rain and strong winds and walked to Place du Trocadéro to take photos and videos with Tour Eiffel or the Eiffel Tower. We then took the Metro Line 9 (Yellow Green Line) to Saint-Philippe-du-Roule Station. We went to our friend’s hotel and waited for the weather to improve. Unfortunately, it kept raining. We then braved the rain (again) and the strong winds and walked around Champs-Élysées then to the iconic Arc de Triomphe. We took our photos from the center islands of Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

After that, we took the Metro Line 2 (Blue Line) from Charles de Gaulle – Étoile Station back to Anvers Station and walked up to the hostel.

Note: Unfortunately, I cannot post a photo of the Eiffel Tower at night due to copyright laws.

Day 2 – Paris Walking Tour & Museum Day

Our 2^nd day in Paris started with a metro trip on Line 2 (Magenta Line) from Barbès – Rochechouart Station to Saint-Michel Station. We dropped by Soc Parisienne Restauration Rapide SP2 to have some croissant breakfast before going to Saint-Chapelle.

We got inside Saint-Chapelle at 9:00am with our Paris Museum Pass and explored the royal Gothic chapel. This chapel was commissioned by King Louis IX to house important Christian relics including the Jesus Christ’s Crown of Thorns. The said relic was transferred to the Notre-Dame Cathedral. The chapel has been converted to a museum. It is honestly one of the must-see places in Paris!

Note: Saint-Chapelle requires timeslot bookings for Paris Museum Pass holders. Visitors can reserve their slots via the museum’s website. Regular tickets to Saint-Chapelle cost Є11,50 per person.

After an hour at Saint-Chapelle, my friend and I prepared for a 2.5-hour walking tour by getting a quick bite at Brasserie Les Deux Palais. We got Croque-Monsieur, frites maison, salade to share – it is toasted ham and cheese with homemade salad and French fries. We walked to Place Saint-Michel to join our walking tour group.

We joined SANDEMANs New Europe’s Free Walking Tour of Paris. We met Harry, our guide, in front of Fontaine Saint-Michel. We walked around Latin Quarter, an area that was spared from the transformation led by Baron Haussmann. We, then, crossed the River Seine and walked to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris or more known as the Notre Dame Cathedral. The cathedral is currently closed and undergoing renovations after it caught fire back in 2019. We passed by Palais de Justice de Paris, Tour de l’Horloge du Palais de la Cité (Clock Tower) and Conciergerie (14^th Century Royal Palace and Prison). We walked to Musée du Louvre (Louvre Museum) and finished the walking tour at Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Gardens).

We learned about the history of Paris and of France during our tour with Harry. We also knew more about the stories of King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and the French Revolution from our guide. I highly-recommend this tip-based tour under SANDEMANs New Europe. I took a few tours under them in the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic and Denmark and I have to say this Paris Walking Tour with Harry was one of, if not the best I have had with the company.

After the tour, we had our lunch at the nearby McDonalds store. Minutes before 3:00pm, we walked back to Musée du Louvre (Louvre Museum) and entered using our Paris Museum Pass. Musée du Louvre (Louvre Museum) is the world’s most famous and most-visited museum. It houses hundreds of thousands of objects and tens of thousands of artworks. It houses famous works such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Alexandros of Antioch’s Venus de Milo, Liberty Leading the People of Eugène Delacroix, The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault and a lot more. We roamed around the museum for 2.5 hours and we still did not see everything.

The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault

Liberty Leading the People of Eugène Delacroix

Note: Musée du Louvre requires a timeslot reservation for Paris Museum Pass holders. We booked our slots 2 weeks before the intended day of visit via the museum’s website. Guests can still book slots even if you do not have your Paris Museum Pass yet – in our case, we bought it upon arrival at Paris CDG. Regular tickets to the Louvre Museum cost Є17 per person.

Note: Unfortunately, I cannot post a photo of the Louvre’s Pyramid due to copyright laws.

We walked to the other side of River Seine and entered Musée d’Orsay using our Paris Museum Pass. This museum is located in the old Gare d’Orsay train station. It houses impressionist paintings and artwork by famous artists like Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Berthe Morisot.

Note: Musée d’Orsay does not require timeslot bookings for Paris Museum Pass holders. Visitors can directly go inside the museum using the special lane for pass holders. Regular tickets to the museum cost Є16 per person.

After Musée d’Orsay, we walked to Assemblée Nationale Station, took the Metro Line 12 (Dark Green Line) to Pigalle Station, then changed to the Line 2 (Blue Line) and got off at Anvers Station. We dropped by the supermarket to get food for dinner before heading back to the hostel.

This wraps up our first 2 days in Paris. We visited a lot of places but we made sure that we learned something about the city, its history and culture.

Have you been to Paris? If yes, may I know which landmark or museum mentioned above is your favorite and why? If not, which is the first place you would want to visit when you fly to Paris in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have questions about Paris or the itinerary above? Feel free to post them below or send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Paris itinerary. We are just starting on this 3.5-week trip around France, Italy and Spain. Make sure to check out the previous posts about this trip; it’s all compiled under the N9 in Europe category. Stay tuned for Days 3 to 5 and the other adventures we had in this memorable trip!

Before you go, can you please visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Means a lot, thank you. See you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.