Frugal Foibles

A recent New York Times article documents a thrifty weekend in Paris on $74 total, excluding lodging (the author stayed with a friend). As the Readership knows, Experienced Travelers are always on the lookout for cost savings. How else would we accumulate “Found Money” for frivolous spending later on? But we feel obliged to comment on this $74 experiment and recommend against it!

According to the print edition article, the author economized by foregoing a glass of wine with his duck confit. Consuming duck confit without a robust Burgundian red is an affront to la gloire. Under French law, this is grounds for immediate deportation. The ETs are firmly behind the French on this. Duck confit with a good wine is a profound experience that shouldn’t be trifled with.

Next, he chose a beer over admission to the Louvre. Brew vs. Louvre is crazy. The ETs recommend batting eyelashes at an affluent fellow patron so he buys the beer in exchange for pleasant conversation. Problem solved!

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4 Responses to “Frugal Foibles” »»

  1. Comment by Beth Anderson | 03/12/11 at 1:15 am

    He should have stayed home. What a waste of a perfect weekend in Paris (defined as any weekend in Paris)

  2. Comment by JuliesParis | 03/12/11 at 3:07 am

    Hear, Hear! Beth, the Experienced Travelers are in complete agreement. It was the duck confit that compelled me to write this post. No wine! Come, now… Thanks for your comment.

  3. Comment by Rachel E. | 03/12/11 at 11:01 am

    Thank you! I was just talking with a friend last night about that ridiculous NY times article. Those are the choices 19 year-old backpackers make, not actual travelers! And Beth is absolutely correct…what a waste of Paris, Crazy thing is there are so many amazing things to do in Paris (even in the winter) that are free. The author did not take advantage of any of them. And beer over the Louvre? Seriously?

  4. Comment by JuliesParis | 03/12/11 at 7:51 pm

    Hi Rachel–
    It seems to be the “beer over the Louvre” that gets to people. When I wrote this post, I had no idea it would resonate with so many lovers of Paris. You’re right – there are so many free or inexpensive delights that were overlooked. Maybe if the author had more time and another $25 he would have gotten to them!

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