“Paris,” wrote author Henry James (1843-1916), “is the greatest temple every built to material joys and the lust of the eyes.” People arrive in Paris from all around the world. They come here for many reasons. The city is not merely a repository of museums. It is more than a pretty postcard city. It offers its visitors more than fine food and world-famous dining.

Paris is historic. There is the Champs-Élysées, the Louvre, the Tour Eiffel, the Sorbonne and the Jardin des Tuileries. There are museums and various architectural remnants of the royal and revolutionary past. The city is a cultural display inside and outside its many buildings and memorial structures.

Paris is a busy city with a vibrant life – day and night. There are the tourist hot spots of the Moulin Rouge and the Folies-Bergère. There are jazz clubs like the celebrated Caveau de la Huchette, dance clubs, bars, pubs and wine bars, busy shopping malls and cultural concerts. The Opéra Comique and the Opéra Garnier provide ballet and opera in historic structures. Churches and street corners alike can provide you with lively entertainment.

The city is elegant, it is lusty and it is a city of great depths. Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) commented:

“Paris is a veritable ocean. Throw in a plumb line and you will never know the depth of it.”

Indeed, it would take months to explore all of Paris - enjoyable months, but a lengthy time none-the-less. Most people do not have this timeframe. They have a couple of days, a week or even 2 weeks.

You probably fall into this category. As a result, you are going to have to resign yourself that you will not be able to explore the entire city during your vacation. You are not going to be able to see everything this marvellous city has to offer. You will have to prioritize all sites and stops. You will also have to decide, well in advance, what you want to see, where you want to go and how long you can spend exploring.

Paris is an expensive city. It can be costly to spend time within its charming hotels, classic opera buildings, venerable museums and charming cafes. You will have to decide when to go. You will need to consider the time you can spend, the money you have at your disposal and how much you can really afford to spend on this trip.

In order for you to truly have an enjoyable time in Paris, without the fall-out from a large credit-card bill, you need to stop. You need to approach the entire trip with logic, skill and reserve. Be excited, but do not allow it to overcome your judgment. Sit down, well in advance and plan the vacation, holiday or even day trip with precision.

You have to do the basic planning of your trip to Paris. You have to be honest to yourself, setting caps on spending and understanding restrictions. You have to consider the sights, sites and scenes you should see as well as what you want, need and, more importantly, have the money and time to see.

You have to get the information on when to go, types of accommodation to consider and the various transportation options. More importantly you have to plan a trip to Paris from its concept through its budget process to its completion.