Euro-Lite travel in France's City of Light is certainly possible if you take the advice of locals who know to navigate the system and succeed.

"Let's Fall in Love Again" was an initiative inaugurated by the French Government Tourist Office a few years back after scuffles between the French prime minister and the Bush administration over foreign policy. With the US Senate calling for everyone to rename fried sliced potatoes "Freedom Fries," rather than allow our longtime friends and Revolutionary-era allies to be honored by a tasty food snack, the FGTO realized it had to fight back to keep tourism from the US alive.

They publicized insider tips for making a visit more affordable and more authentic, and after trying them, I know they're still valid.  Mon dieu! The reality is that a trip to Paris is still considered too expensive by many potential visitors, especially those traveling with kids.

Take heart, for here, like the Pont Neuf and the other beautiful Seine River crossings, are many ways to walk the line between authentic Paris and the Paris that might not break your piggy bank. Grab a handful of petit monnaie and follow me!

1. When planning your trip, a package tour may be cheapest. Work with a travel agent or check out websites such as www.europeexpress.com, a division of the large wholesaler TUI and managers of the Air France Holidays tours, for great winter supersaver rates.
2. Visit www.logisdefrance.com for a listing of mid-priced Paris hotels, if you're not on a package tour. Or, look into www.homeexchange.com and Interhome if you want to consider a home swap or short-term apartment rental.
3. Visit www.intermusees.com to read about the Paris Museum Pass. For €30 for a two-day pass, €45 for a four-day pass and €60 for a six-day pass, you will gain unlimited access to 60 museums and monuments, without having to wait on long admissions lines. You can purchase passes at the participating museums, major Metro stations and the Paris Tourist Bureau.
4. Visit www.ratp.fr and click on "Titres & Tarifs" to get information about a Carte Orange pass for public transportation, providing for unlimited usage on the Metro, bus, tram, Montmartre funicular, the RER (regional trains), and suburban service, including such locations as Disneyland Paris. In addition, you can find discounted prices and special rates at certain venues. Passes are available for different lengths of time and are available for purchase wherever you can buy regular tickets, plus at the RATP sales desks at the airports and at the Paris Tourist office. Reduced rates are available for children 4-11 (children under 4 ride for free.)
5. Visit www.cometoparis.com for information about "Paris City First" tours, if you are interested in guided tours. This 3 ½ hour excursion in an air-conditioned minibus, offered twice a day, tours the following major landmarks: Madeleine, Opéra, Place Vendome, Concorde and les Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Invalides, Louvre, Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower allowing for a few stops. The reasonable €58 fee includes hotel pick up and drop off. Other itineraries are available as well.
6. When you get hungry (and who doesn't in Paris?), check out restaurants serving a prix fixe or price-fixed meal. These menus include two or three courses plus cheese and/or dessert and sometimes include wine, for a moderate fee. Try to eat your main meal mid-day, when prices are lower, and have a light bite in the evening. Also, as in most highly touristy cities, steer clear of the very popular tourist areas when selecting a restaurant. If the kids aren't too tired, remember that cafés will charge less if you're standing at the counter rather than sitting at a table.

4 Tips for Touring France -- and Beyond -- on a Budget

If you've come this far with the family, and you've stretched your budget by following some of my suggestions, you can amortize the international airfare by staying a bit longer. Why not consider a hop across the English Channel to visit London, or a more thorough exploration of the beautiful country of France?