Way back in September, when jauntsetter first launched, we encouraged our very first (and few) subscribers to head to Paris for the perfect fall getaway. 

As one of our initial Trip Picks of the Week, we were eager to recommend The City of Lights - after all, it's one of our most favorite escapes in the whole world. And Paris, for all its dreamy wonder, is actually quite practical for New Yorkers to visit - there are plenty of direct flights from New York daily, and they clock in at just over 7 hours total flight time.

Now that jauntsetter's readership has grown, and spring has sprung, we're revisiting Paris again - literally! 

Airfare was just so cheap this week that we scored a last-minute ticket ($525 roundtrip, nonstop, all fees + taxes included on American Airlines) and rented a flat (an easy, affordable option in Paris) to go research the latest offerings from this delightful destination in person. On that note, airfare and hotel specials abound in the next month, and our team has lots of expert tips on how to do Paris on the cheap.

As jauntsetter will be on site and in action, make sure to check in on our blog this week, with daily updates from your editor Dorothy and the jauntsetter team on the best Paris has to offer: from our favorite wine bars to the most picturesque picnic spots in this beautiful, romantic city. We'll also have tips on how to go it alone - Dorothy will be visiting solo.

So if you've never been to Paris, we say - go now! But first, read all our recommendations below on how to do it right.

the jauntsetter team

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Paris is at its most magnificent during the spring, so as noted, we recommend you go now. That said, we think Paris is always worth a trip, so if you can't make it now, don't fret. Just note that in August, the city gets quite hot and very sleepy, as this is traditionally when the French take their summer vacations. If you don't mind some heat + quiet, it can be easier to score rooms and reservations during this month.

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Flights on American Airlines are as low as $525, all taxes and fees included, for the rest of the month; they cost just a little bit more in June. We recommend checking out Kayak.com for the best airfare to Paris as the most affordable airline will vary by specific date.

In terms of getting around, The Metro will be a breeze for New Yorkers, and taking the train (the RER) to and from Paris and the airport is pretty easy as well. Just see our note in the "Extra Details" section at the bottom of this page for a couple of hints to make your journey as smooth as possible!

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We focused on renting an apartment in our last Parisian issue, and we still stand by that recommendation if you've got 5 or more days to stay in this charming city. Plenty of apartment rental agencies abound. That said, if you'd rather stay in a hotel during your trip to Paris, check out our blog later this week when we post our top hotel picks for every budget.

Our #1 (and Midrange) Pick: Marais Pied a Terre

One of our favorite apartment rental agencies in Cobblestay, owned by our friend Drew who has been kind enough to extend some specials to jauntsetter readers. His first offer is for Apartment #7, which is located in the heart of the Marais, our favorite neighborhood in Paris. It's a one bedroom with a queen size bed, perfect for a couple or two close friends, and is right near an open air market and the Picasso Museum. It's also got a designer kitchen, iPod docking station and Bose speakers, plus free highspeed internet access should you need to get online. (For more details on this apartment, including amenities, click here.) 

Thanks to our connection, our readers can get 10% off when they make a week (or longer) booking and mention "jauntsetter." This means the spacious apartment comes to only 1070 Euro for 7 nights (which equals about $208/night). If you split this deal with a friend, you'll each spend about $100/night for a truly great space! Click here to reserve.

Our Splurge Pick: Spacious Marais 1 Bedroom

If fancier treatment is your thing, choose Cobblestay's Marias Heaven where you can have either 10% off your stay or "conceirge service," which includes: daily delivery of the International Herald Tribune; fresh flowers throughout the apartment on arrival; cleaning service with fresh sheets and towels one time during your stay in addition to departure cleaning; confirmed early check in or late check out; upon arrival, a bottle of fresh juice, sparkling water, milk, eggs, bread, a bottle of French Champagne or wine; and finally, Aperatifs and drinks are provided for an afternoon arrival. 

This 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, and 2 foldout beds can sleep 5 close friends comfortably and costs 1350 euro/week with the jauntsetter discount (or $267 USD/night). For more information on this apartment or to book, click here. 

For cheaper options, renting from Paris Furnished Apartments, which has lots of budget-friendly apartments for rent. Kate, a formerly featured jauntsetter of the week, recently stayed in this choice, a small but adorable apartment in an unbeatable location in the northern Marais for $740 for just week. This one bedroom has a queen sized bed and pull out couch, and is right near one of our favorite food markets of all time, the Enfants-Rouges. 

This apartment's price-tag price means if you rent it with a friend, each night is roughly$ 75. (Minor note: the bathroom, which is in the bedroom, is separated by a divider with large windows. It's a little intimate, but then again, isn't being intimate what Paris is all about?) To book, click here.

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Paris is a walkable city with an amazing subway system, and New Yorkers will feel surprisingly at home in its streets when they start exploring. That said, like Gotham, Paris has an almost overwhelming amount of options for visitors to choose from. Never fret: We've done our homework have plenty of blog entries on what to do in Paris. Keep reading for our favorites, and make sure to check back in the next week for live dispatches from our Editor and Founder, Dorothy, as she explores Paris for its latest and most unmissable offerings!

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It's fastest to buy your RER tickets from vending machines (the line for the ticket agent can be ridiculously long). Unfortunately, the ticket machines don't take American credit cards, so you'll be forced to use Euros. Not so fast: unless you have coins, you're out of luck. 

Considering buying a much needed coffee from one of the nearby snack bars and scoring change that way? Think again - the cashiers won't give you anywhere near the amount of extra coins you need to purchase a ticket. But never fear. If you look, there's actually an exchange booth not far from the vending machines. The agents, working on commission, will be happy to change your money for you as well as give you extra coins for those pesky vending machines. And buying a ticket on the RER is worth a little hassle: after all, if you catch an express to Gare du Nord, you'll be in Paris in less than 25 minutes!

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