Youth hostels are not only cheap but a lot of fun. try to find youth hostels around your town, if in the US, they can be very resourceful. have not been to the UK but been to paris. Its very easy to get around paris if you figure out how their subway systems works. DO NOT RENT A CAR! City is great. you can take tour busses that are very reasonable that will take around the city. You can start from the louvre... City is great but if you can get outside of the city, you can appreciate the country much more. Chatres is must see; Versailles is a lot of fun..Champs-Elysýes in night i a sight to see g'luk