Travel: 5 Cheap Things to do in Paris

Orangina on the boat

1. Drink an Orangina on a boat ride down the Seine

Nothing sums up the taste of France more than a pithy cold Orangina to me. I prefer it in a glass bottle. It tastes better and you can buy it from a supermarché for a tenth of what this overpriced can was in the boat shop. If your feet get tired of flaneur, (the French noun to wonder), then chug slowly down the Seine, a brilliant viewpoint to see the famous landmarks. Book online with Vedettes du Pont-Neuf and save €5 per adult ticket. Departs from Pont-Neuf every hour, and lasts an hour.

Le petit chien

2. Pat a small dog outside a Boulangerie

These fluffy woofs are everywhere and provide a bit of light entertainment while queuing for a baguette/croissant/tart. For this trip, our bakery of choice was Eric Kayser on Rue Reaumur, mainly because it was around the corner from our Air B 'n' B apartment. Their sour dough mix, which makes for a slightly chewier stick, made our mornings.

Nuxe's Reve de Miel

3. Pop into a Pharmacie

Apparently, when the French come to England, they stock up on Herbal Essences. When the Brits go to Paris, anyone who wants moisturised lips, should pop into a Phamacie and buy Nuxe's Reve de Miel. The milky coloured stick is carved like a lipstick and tastes of honeyed orange. Not at all greasy, it goes on quite thinly, allowing for a slap of lippy to go on on top - how very chic.

My Hema purchases including neon washi tape and letter stickers

4. Stock up on Stationery at Hema

Hema hasn't graced England with one of it's shops yet, which makes a trip to this multi-coloured household goods shop essential when going to a city where there is one. A bit like the market place in Ikea, the stationery department is a cheap dream for anyone with a craft box.

Ham and Cheese Cassoulette

5. Try a Cassolettes

Dunk a hunk of bread into this cheesy, potatoey, hammy hot pot and an audible mmmm will almost definitey ooze out of your lips. Our favourite lunch spot for this is Cave la Bourgogne, in the Latin Quarter (134 Rue Mouffetard).

Me and Ollie outside the Musee D'Orsay

And one last tip, if you are planning on travelling by Eurostar (by far the easiest, cheapest and most relaxed way if you live in/near London), book early for £69 returns and keep your ticket because it will get you half price entry into some major cultural attractions including The Mussee D'Orsay which had a Van Gogh exhibition on when we went.