Alright, fellow budget-conscious Olympics enthusiasts, gather ’round! It’s time to talk about the elephant in the room – or should I say, the overpriced jumbo jet in the sky. We all know that getting to the 2024 Paris Olympics is going to be a wallet-draining experience if we’re not careful. But fear not! Your friendly neighborhood travel hacker (that’s me) is here to spill the beans on how to get to Lyon and beyond without selling a kidney.
Why Lyon, you ask? Well, my sports-loving friends, Lyon isn’t just a gastronomic paradise (although, spoiler alert: it totally is). It’s also a smart alternative entry point for the Olympics. It’s well-connected to Paris, less crowded, and often cheaper to fly into. Plus, some Olympic events are actually taking place in Lyon! Two birds, one budgetary stone, folks.
So, buckle up, put your tray tables in the upright position, and let’s dive into the world of thrifty flights to Olympic glory!
- Embrace the Art of Flexibility
First things first: flexibility is your new best friend. I learned this the hard way when I insisted on flying on a specific date for a music festival in Barcelona. Let’s just say my bank account is still recovering from that financial faux pas.
Use flight search engines that allow you to view prices for a whole month. Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Momondo are my go-to’s. You might find that flying on a Tuesday instead of a Saturday could save you enough for a week’s worth of baguettes and cheese. And let’s be real, that’s what we’re all really going to France for, right?
- The Magic of Nearby Airports
Here’s a pro tip that’s saved my bacon more times than I can count: don’t just search for flights to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport. Look at nearby airports too. Geneva, Switzerland is just a 2-hour train ride away and often has cheaper flights. Grenoble and Chambéry are even closer.
I once saved a small fortune by flying into Milan and taking a scenic train ride to my final destination in France. Not only did I save money, but I also got to pretend I was in a fancy perfume commercial as I gazed out the train window at the Alps. Win-win!
- Low-Cost Carriers: Friend or Foe?
Ah, budget airlines. The hover between being a traveler’s best friend and worst nightmare. Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling – they’re like that one friend who’s always up for a good time but might accidentally set your kitchen on fire.
Yes, their base fares can be criminally cheap. But beware the add-ons! They’ll charge you for everything short of breathing their recycled cabin air. My advice? If you go this route, pack light (wear all your clothes at once if you have to), bring your own snacks, and for the love of all that is holy, print your boarding pass at home.
I once thought I’d outsmarted the system by finding a €20 flight, only to end up paying €60 in baggage fees. The lesson? Sometimes, the cheapest flight isn’t actually the cheapest flight. Do your math, people!
- Embrace Layovers (or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Airport)
Direct flights are like that designer handbag you’ve been eyeing – nice to have, but not always necessary. Flights with layovers can often be significantly cheaper. Plus, if you play your cards right, you might even score a mini-adventure in another city.
I once had an 8-hour layover in Istanbul on my way to a sporting event. Instead of grumbling about it, I turned it into an impromptu food tour of the city. Best. Layover. Ever.
Just make sure you leave enough time between flights. Missing your connection because you were busy stuffing your face with Turkish delight is not a good look.
- Sign Up for Alerts (and Prepare for Notification Overload)
Every airline and their mother has a mailing list these days. Sign up for them all. Yes, your inbox will hate you, but your wallet will thank you when you snag that flash sale deal.
Scott’s Cheap Flights and Secret Flying are also great resources for flight deals. Fair warning though: once you start getting alerts about €200 round-trip flights to Lyon, it becomes very hard to focus on anything else. I may or may not have almost walked into a lamppost while excitedly reading about a flight deal. Safety first, savings second!
- The Art of Point Hacking
If you’re not using a rewards credit card, you’re leaving money on the table. Airlines have their own credit cards, but flexible points cards like Chase Sapphire or American Express Gold can often give you more bang for your buck.
Just remember: the points game is only worth playing if you can pay off your balance in full each month. No Olympic experience is worth spiraling into credit card debt. Trust me, I learned that lesson the hard way after a particularly enthusiastic points-earning spree before the Rio Olympics.
- Consider Alternative Routes
Sometimes, the best way to get to Lyon isn’t a direct flight. You might find it cheaper to fly to a major hub like London, Paris, or Frankfurt, and then take a budget flight or train to Lyon.
I once flew to London, took the Eurostar to Paris, and then a high-speed TGV train to Lyon. Was it more hassle than a direct flight? Sure. But I saved enough money to afford front-row seats at the handball finals. Worth it? Absolutely.
- Time Your Booking Right
There’s a lot of debate about when exactly is the best time to book flights. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, generally booking 2-3 months in advance for international flights is a good rule of thumb.
However, for a major event like the Olympics, you might want to book even earlier. Set up those price alerts and pounce when you see a good deal. Just maybe don’t do what I did and book flights at 3 am after a few too many glasses of wine. Drunk-booking is rarely a good financial decision.
- Mix and Match Airlines
Don’t be afraid to buy two one-way tickets on different airlines instead of a round-trip on the same airline. Sometimes this can lead to significant savings.
Just be careful with this strategy if you’re checking bags, as you’ll need to collect and re-check them if you’re changing airlines. I learned this the hard way when I had to make a mad dash through Charles de Gaulle airport to collect my bag and check it again for my connecting flight. Let’s just say I got my cardio in for the day.
- Consider Package Deals
Sometimes, booking your flight and accommodation together can lead to savings. Sites like Expedia and Travelocity often have package deals that can be cheaper than booking separately.
But here’s the catch – always double-check the prices. I once thought I’d scored an amazing deal on a flight-hotel package, only to realize I could have saved €100 by booking them separately. Lesson learned: always do your homework!
- Be Open to Unusual Routes
Sometimes, the cheapest route to Lyon might involve a stopover in a place you never considered visiting. I once found an incredibly cheap flight to Lyon that involved a 10-hour layover in Reykjavik. Instead of groaning about the long layover, I turned it into a mini-adventure, complete with a dip in the Blue Lagoon.
Who knows? Your thrifty flight choices might lead you to unexpected discoveries. Just make sure you’re not cutting it too close to your Olympic events. Explaining that you missed the 100m final because you were soaking in a geothermal pool in Iceland might not go down well with your fellow sports fans.
- Don’t Forget About Trains
Once you’re in Europe, trains can often be cheaper (and more comfortable) than flights for shorter distances. The French TGV can get you from Paris to Lyon in about two hours. Plus, you get to pretend you’re in a fancy French movie as you speed through the countryside.
I once took an overnight train to save on a night’s accommodation. Was it the most restful sleep of my life? No. Did I save enough money to splurge on a fancy French dinner? Absolutely. It’s all about priorities, people!
So there you have it, my fellow Olympic enthusiasts and budget travelers. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to Lyon (and Olympic glory) without breaking the bank. Remember, the thrill of finding a great flight deal is second only to the thrill of watching world-class athletes compete.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go check my flight alerts. I just got a notification about a suspiciously cheap flight to Lyon with only three layovers and a 5-hour train ride. Hey, no one said being a thrifty traveler was easy, but it sure is an adventure!
Bonne chance and happy travels!