Paris mini-breaks

Often known as the city of romance, Paris has almost everything we look for in a city break destination.

History and culture rub shoulders with modern architecture, numerous cafes and fine restaurants provide ample opportunities for people watching (and eating!), while a boat trip along the Seine is a beautiful way to relax. It is hard to imagine anyone who couldn't find something to love about Paris.

But how to plan a visit?

The options are almost endless, but one of the most common ways to visit is by taking a mini-break during the spring or autumn. In winter the weather can be a bit cold or wet, and in summer the city is rather hot and crowded, but visit in April, May or September and everything should be just right. Even better, the prices are lower outside peak season, so you should be able to find a bargain.

Paris is a very compact city, with all the major sites spread along the river Seine between the Eiffel tower and the cathedral of Notre-Dame. This makes it an easy city to explore on foot, which is much the best way to enjoy your visit.

If possible you should find a hotel in the centre of Paris if you are only staying a couple of days. It shouldn't cost much extra, and you don't want to spend all your time travelling in and out from the suburbs. A 2 star hotel in the centre will often be a better choice than a 3 star hotel of the same price further away from the places of interest.

Breakfast in your Paris hotel will likely be little more than a croissant with jam and a cup of coffee, especially if you are in a lower-priced hotel so don't expect a grand international buffet. No problem though, it gives you a great excuse to stop mid-morning for a cake at a street-side cafe.

If you need to get around Paris, or your hotel is a little way out, the Paris Metro is an excellent underground system that is easy to use, efficient, and not too expensive. It is open from 5.30 to 00.30 each day. If possible you might like to avoid rush hour - although most mini-breaks are at the weekend so that shouldn't be a problem.

If your legs start to weary after a day of walking there are a couple of great options available. First is to take a trip in one of the famous bateaux mouche boats, that move slowly along the Seine and pass many of the highlights en-route. The other is to take one of the open-topped buses that travel around the city centre, for yet another way to enjoy the great monuments. Neither costs very much, and either will ensure you see as much as possible during your short stay.

One last practical tip: sometimes it is cheaper to book your hotel and flights as a combined package rather than booking them separately - but this isn't always the case, so you should check both if you want to be sure of paying the best price possible.