Here are some tips for you that I found invaluable when backpacking through Paris, and really all of Europe:

1. You have to figure out everything you'll need while on your trip and then you'll want to reduce that amount by at least half! A common mistake is travelers taking too much stuff with them. You'll want to enjoy your vacation instead of carrying around heavy luggage in areas you don't know with your back aching. After three days aches from slinging his heavy laptop back over his shoulder, my brother ended up just shipping it home. One key thing to remember is as you travel you will find memorabilia that you will want to purchase, and this takes up precious cargo space.

2. Use the special deals on websites. If you are the type of personality that can travel around and book your accommodations with short notice (I know some people like to know far in advance they have a place to stay every night), you can really save a lot of money on hotels. The later you book generally the better deal you receive. You don't want to be stuck at the last minute and suddenly find that you can't find any cheap hotels in Paris.

3. Go and get yourself a camping towel! May seem like a small thing, but believe me, the first time I traveled through Europe I took an ordinary beach towel and by the end of the trip I couldn't stand the sight of it! It didn't matter how many times it was washed it just never seemed the same. But luckily you can buy camping towels (that are very similar to a sham wow) that are anti-bacterial, dry very fast and absorb lots of water. The second time I traveled Europe, this was easily the best improvement in packing I made!

4. Getting the EU rail pass is a great way to travel through Europe. Once you've got it you'll save quite a bit of money. To top it off, using the trains throughout Europe is a great way to travel. Be sure to make sure you purchase your tickets before you leave your country in order to save even more money. Though it takes some research to figure out what pass best suits your needs, it's a great idea to get.

5. A secondary way to travel is to look into discount airliners over in Europe such as Ryan Air or Easy Jet. Because these airlines (and there are others) don't serve all places in Europe I find that they are a great way to supplement an EU rail Pass for transportation. Often you can find flights for as low as $50 and depending how you plan your trip there a great way to get from one remote location to another and save valuable time those other forms of transportation take.