How I spent $4,700 on my first trip abroad to Paris and London — and what I'd try next time to save money and avoid bed bugs

• I spent $4,700 on a trip to Paris for one week and a few days in London.
• I thought I had mastered public transit, but I needed more time to space events out properly.
• I learned on-the-fly travel decisions don't always work out and reading reviews can pay off.

The 2024 Olympics seemed like a great time to explore Paris, so my friends and I began booking our trip over a year in advance.

Then, in late July to early August, I embarked on a 10-night trip to Europe, including seven nights in Paris and three nights in London.