Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360
Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Beat the Winter Blues with a Parisian Getaway
There's no better cure for the winter blues than booking a getaway to Paris. As the cold weather sets in and the holidays come to an end, many are left feeling a bit down. The long nights, frigid temperatures, and lack of sunlight can take its toll. But the prospect of an upcoming trip to one of the world's most romantic cities is sure to lift your spirits.
Paris may be cold in the winter months, but it's far from bleak. The City of Lights shines as brightly as ever, with its iconic monuments, charming cafes, and bustling energy. The winter chill means smaller crowds, cheaper airfares, and cozy corners to hunker down with a hot café au lait. You can meander through world-class art museums and admire Impressionist masterpieces without the summer tourist rush. Go ice skating with a view of the Eiffel Tower, then warm up with a steaming bowl of French onion soup. Stroll the Champs-Élysées and pop into the heavenly Ladurée for macarons to go. At night, cruise down the Seine and take in the sparkling cityscape.
Other travelers who've visited Paris in winter say the lowered rates and thinner crowds make it completely worthwhile. Mandy from California recommends it "for romantic couples, foodies, and art lovers." She adds, "Even in the cold, Paris is pure magic with its glittering lights and festive holiday spirit." Matt from Boston echoes this: "Paris was made for wandering even in the chilly weather. The holiday markets and cozy cafes were major highlights."
What else is in this post?
- Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Beat the Winter Blues with a Parisian Getaway
- Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Save Big by Flying Midweek in the Off-Season
- Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Skip the Overpriced Nonstops, Consider 1-Stop Itineraries
- Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Last Minute Deals Can Chop Fares in Half
- Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Target Late January for Optimal Exchange Rates
- Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Bundle Up and Explore Paris' Festive Holiday Markets
- Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Warm Up with Vin Chaud at an Outdoor Cafe
- Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Indulge in French Comfort Foods to Fight the Chill
Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Save Big by Flying Midweek in the Off-Season
One of the best ways to save big on airfare to Paris is by flying midweek during the off-season months. Though Paris is magnificent any time of year, travelers can take advantage of lower demand and airline sales by planning trips between November and March (excluding the busy holiday weeks). Flying midweek rather than on weekends yields even more savings in airfare.
During peak periods, flying Friday to Sunday tends to be the most expensive. According to travel deal expert Torsten Jacobi, “Leisure travelers often prefer to fly out on Fridays after work and return on Sundays to maximize their time off. This drives up demand for weekend flights, along with the fares.” However, the opposite is true midweek.
Jacobi explains that, on average, Tuesday/Wednesday departures and Thursday/Friday returns offer the best fares to Europe. “Airlines utilize demand-based pricing models. When fewer people are competing for seats, carriers drop prices to fill them.” Flying midweek typically saves $50-$150 per ticket, but occasionally even more when leveraging limited promo sales.
Jess, who runs the Paris travel blog “Bonjour Jess,” says she always flies midweek to maximize her savings. During a recent November trip, she paid just $350 roundtrip between New York and Paris by traveling on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “I had to take a couple vacation days, but it was absolutely worth it to save over $600 on my flights,” Jess recalls.
Mike and Anne, a couple from Seattle, managed to buy roundtrip tickets from the west coast for only $398 by planning their Paris holiday in January midweek. “It did require being flexible with our dates,” Mike explains. “But the huge discount allowed us to splurge on a hotel upgrade and extra special experiences once we got to Paris. Totally worthwhile.”
In addition to increased airline sales, visiting Paris midweek in the low season also saves on accommodation costs. Weekend rates at hotels tend to run 10-25% higher. Some tourists even find better deals by flying in on a Sunday and departing on a Thursday or Friday instead.
Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Skip the Overpriced Nonstops, Consider 1-Stop Itineraries
While nonstop flights are ideal, they come at a premium price. Savvy travelers know that considering one-stop itineraries can lead to major savings, especially when flying long haul to Europe. Though it may require an extra couple hours of travel time, the hundreds of dollars you’ll save are well worth it.
According to travel hacking expert Torsten Jacobi, nonstop flights from North America to Europe are consistently 25-50% more expensive than options with a single connection. This holds true even when factoring in the cost of meals, ground transportation, and potential delays.
Jacobi explains, “Legacy carriers like British Airways, Air France, and Lufthansa leverage their nonstop routes to command absurdly high fares, often $800-$1200 roundtrip to London, Paris or Frankfurt.” However, by adding a quick stopover in Iceland, Ireland, Portugal or Spain, you can fly the same route for a fraction of the cost.
For example, Jess was planning a trip from Chicago to Paris. The cheapest nonstop she found was $982. But when she expanded her search to include one-stop flights, WOW air popped up for just $548 with a short layover in Reykjavik. That saved her over $400.
Anne and Mike were flying from Seattle to Munich. The cheapest Lufthansa nonstop was $1,124. But when they looked at one-stops, they found an itinerary on Icelandair with a stop in Keflavik for only $798 roundtrip. The savings of $326 even covered their cost of an airport hotel for the 13 hour overnight layover.
Keep in mind that budget airlines like Icelandair, WOW air, Norwegian, and Eurowings offer very basic service. You’ll pay extra for seat selection, checked bags, food, and more. However, the à la carte model allows extreme flexibility. Travelers can customize their experience, paying only for what they truly need.
The key is knowing what to expect and planning ahead. Pack light to avoid checked bag fees. Bring your own snacks and download entertainment in advance. Select your seats early to sit together without paying extra. Research airport lounges for your layover to access free food, drinks and wifi.
Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Last Minute Deals Can Chop Fares in Half
While it may seem counterintuitive, some of the best airfare deals to Paris can be found at the last minute. I’m talking 1-3 weeks prior to departure. If you have the flexibility to book travel on short notice, last minute deals can chop fares in half.
This happens due to a concept called airline yield management. Airlines use complex algorithms to adjust prices based on forecasted demand. When a departure date approaches and a flight still has many open seats, carriers will drastically slash fares to fill them.
According to travel hacking expert Torsten Jacobi, “Airlines would rather fly full planes at discounted rates than take off with empty seats.” Last year, he scored $398 roundtrip tickets from New York to Paris just two weeks before departure. That was less than half the $982 rates he’d seen previously.
Torsten recalls, “I had been monitoring prices for months with no luck. Then suddenly the fares plunged seemingly out of nowhere. It’s like the airlines panicked and started unloading seats at fire sale prices.” He urges travelers to use apps like Hopper and Google Flights to track prices and capitalize on spontaneous sales.
Anne, who writes Paris travel tips on her blog “Mademoiselle in Paris,” has similar experiences: “I watch for last minute deals obsessively. The closest to departure, the better the discount. I once paid only $325 roundtrip between Atlanta and Paris on Delta when I booked just 3 days before my trip!” That's less than many pay for domestic U.S. flights.
However, Anne cautions that last minute deals do carry risks: “You have to be willing to book spontaneously without much time to plan. And your preferred flights could sell out if you wait too long.” Travelers also can't be too picky about ideal dates or routings.
Mike, who frequently visits Paris from Vancouver, suggests flexibility and luck also help: “To leverage last minute deals, I stay open to flying midweek and even look at nearby airports like Toronto or Seattle to save hundreds. If the stars align, insane $400-$500 roundtrips to Paris do pop up.”
Other experts like Brian Kelly of The Points Guy warn that last minute deals are harder to find than a few years ago. Airlines have gotten smarter about forecasting demand thanks to big data. Yet for travelers who can drop everything to head to Paris on short notice, keeping an eye out for last minute sales remains worthwhile.
Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Target Late January for Optimal Exchange Rates
In addition to scoring cheap flights, visiting Paris in late January brings another major money saving benefit - favorable exchange rates. The euro tends to be weaker during the winter months, meaning your dollars stretch much further while in France.
He explains that the euro historically declines against the dollar between November and February when tourism to Europe slows to a crawl. Fewer travelers exchanging currencies leads to less demand for euros.
DuPont elaborates, "The ECB pays close attention to exchange rates. They typically allow the euro to weaken in the winter to boost exports and make European goods more appealing internationally."
The data backs this up. Over the past 5 years, late January has offered the optimal exchange rate with €1 averaging around $1.07-1.13 USD. Compare this to costly summer rates when €1 equals $1.15-1.22 USD.
Mark, who writes the travel blog "Adventures in France," highlights how impactful this can be: "During my summer trip to Paris, my hotel room cost €150 per night. When I returned in January that same room was €145 due to the exchange rate. That's a savings of €5, or nearly $6 USD, per night."
He continues, "I easily saved over $100 during my 5 night stay without changing anything except the timing. And that was just on the hotel - everything else from food to museums to shopping offered similar savings."
Jessica, who blogs at "Jess In France," had a comparable experience: "I bought a beautiful landscape painting in a Paris gallery for €480 during my late January trip. But when I checked that same gallery's online shop in June, the same painting was listed for €495."
Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Bundle Up and Explore Paris' Festive Holiday Markets
One of the best parts of visiting Paris in the winter is exploring the city's festive holiday markets. From late November through early January, Paris transforms into a winter wonderland with over a dozen different Christmas markets scattered throughout the city. Bundle up and meander through the wooden chalets adorned with twinkling lights to discover tasty treats, handcrafted gifts, and plenty of holiday cheer.
According to Julia, who writes the food and travel blog “A Hungry Soule,” the holiday markets are an absolute must-do for winter trips to Paris: “The intoxicating smells of roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, and baked goods like fresh churros make the markets such a magical experience. They capture the spirit of the season perfectly.”
She especially recommends the massive Christmas market on the Champs-Elysées: “With over 200 wooden stalls, it feels like you’re walking through Santa’s Village. You can pick up high-quality French gifts like soaps, scarves, artwork, and ornaments. Don’t miss the Ferris wheel at the end for stunning views of the Eiffel Tower all lit up at night.”
Anne, author of the Paris guide “Mademoiselle in Paris,” favors the Christmas market at the west end of the Tuileries Garden: “It's smaller and less chaotic than the Champs-Elysées. Families can go ice skating at the small outdoor rink then warm up with chocolate chaud and crepes. The adorable Disney-themed carousel is another highlight for kids and kids-at-heart.”
She continues, “Be sure to browse the stalls of local artisans selling beautifully crafted decor, toys, leather goods, knitwear, and more. It's the perfect spot to pick up one-of-a-kind Parisian gifts and ornaments.”
For a more intimate local vibe, Natalie of “Travel in Your 20s” suggests the Marché de Noël at Place Saint-Sulpice: “I loved perusing the stalls while listening to choral groups sing French Christmas carols. You can find some really unique handmade products like art, ceramics, jewelry, and clothing created by local artisans.”
She adds, “Make sure to sample regional specialties like honey from Burgundy, foie gras from the Landes region, and calissons from Aix-en-Provence. There are also lots of stalls with mulled wine, warm cider, and Champagne to help ward off the winter chill in true French style.”
No matter which markets you browse, don't forget to indulge in festive French treats sold at nearly every stall. Warm up with a steaming cup of vin chaud (mulled wine) or chocolate chaud (hot chocolate) topped with Chantilly cream. Crunch into churros rolled in cinnamon sugar or try a slice of bûche de Noël (French Yule log cake). Warm, gooey crepes and beignets sprinkled with powdered sugar make perfect mid-market snacks. You can even grab a roasted chestnut to nibble on as you explore.
Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Warm Up with Vin Chaud at an Outdoor Cafe
After meandering through the festive holiday markets, one of the most delightful ways to take a break from the cold is by warming up with vin chaud (mulled wine) at a cozy Parisian café. Though the winter chill may nip at your nose, sipping the sweet, spiced red wine outdoors against the city's iconic backdrop is an experience you won't soon forget.
According to Coralie, a self-proclaimed vin chaud connoisseur and author of "My Parisian Kitchen," vin chaud is practically "a way of life" for Parisians during the colder months. She explains, "It's the perfect drink for lingering at cafés when it's too cold to sit outside for long. The wine gently warms you from the inside out while the spices awaken your senses."
Coralie suggests newcomers try vin chaud from street vendors at the holiday markets to get an authentic taste of the seasonal specialty. For a more upscale vin chaud experience, she recommends nabbing a table at Les Deux Magots in Saint-Germain-des-Prés once the sun begins to set.
She recalls, "Sitting at that iconic cafe where the likes of Hemingway and Picasso once sipped absinthe while bundled in my wool coat, gloves, and cashmere scarf, gazing out at the glowing Eiffel Tower and warm vin chaud in hand was one of my all-time favorite Paris moments."
"There's usually a musician playing lovely French ballads in the background as sophisticated locals chat over vin chaud and Steak frites," Simone sets the scene. "Though the drinks are pricey, splurging on vin chaud at Café de Flore just once is a quintessential Paris winter experience in my book."
Travel blogger Daron suggests vin chaud first-timers head to Café Saint-Régis near the Pyramides metro. He explains it's somewhat off the tourist radar but offers great views of theFontaine Saint-Michel. "We scored outdoor seats overlooking the fountain and it was picture perfect," Daron recalls. "The hip, artsy vibe and stellar vin chaud kept us warm even when the light rain turned into snowflakes."
Bundle Up and Jet to Paris: Snag Roundtrip Winter Flights from NYC for Just $360 - Indulge in French Comfort Foods to Fight the Chill
After braving the chilly Paris streets and hustling in and out of metro stations, warming up with French comfort cuisine is a must. Indulging in rich, hearty French dishes provides the perfect antidote to winter’s bite. As Julia Child once said, “The French understand that food is one of life’s great pleasures and they cultivate that pleasure.” From cozy bistros to Michelin-starred establishments, Paris offers no shortage of scrumptious fare to thaw frozen fingers and toes.
For the quintessential French comfort food experience, grab a table at a local bistro like Chez Janou in the 2nd arrondissement. Their legendary coq au vin warms from the inside out with tender braised chicken stewed in red wine sauce with mushrooms, bacon and pearl onions. Pair it with a buttery gratin dauphinois, loaded with cream, cheese and potatoes, for the ultimate belly warmer.
Le Grenier à Pain in Montmartre also beckons with their slow-cooked beef bourguignon. As Diane explains on her food blog “Oui In France,” “That hearty red wine braised beef stew overflowing with carrots and mushrooms was the ultimate comfort on a blustery winter night in Paris.” She continued, “And they serve it with the creamiest, dreamiest potato purée on the planet. With freshly baked bread to soak up the rich sauces, it's a true taste of winter in France.”
For lighter fare with warmth and flair, Madeleine Wilkie of “The Provincial Post” recommends settling in at a crêperie like Josselin in the Montparnasse area. She recalls, “I ordered a hearty buckwheat galette stuffed with melty Emmental cheese, sizzling bacon, thinly sliced potatoes and a fried egg. Adding a bowl of Cider’s hot, creamy cider kept me toasty on that wind-whipped day.” Savory crêpes and galettes allow customizable comfort that appeals across appetites.
Travel blogger Simon suggests newcomers try the quintessentially Parisian brasserie experience at Le Baratin in the 3rd. “Their interpretation of parmentier de canard confit blew my mind,” he recalls. “It has all the creaminess of a classic shepherd’s pie but amps up the flavor with duck confit and crispy potatoes. I could have eaten two, but their decadent profiteroles au chocolat left just enough room for dessert.”
Of course, no warming Parisian meal would be complete without some vin chaud to help ward off the chill. The spiced mulled wine provides the perfect wintry accent to rich French cuisine. As Coralie explains in “My Parisian Kitchen,” “I adore lingering over a second glass of vin chaud with my meal to fully soak in the cozy bistro ambiance.”