The spirit of amour is lasting longer than ever according to research from the Paris Sightseeing Pass. Over 70 percent of international travellers using the attraction smart card in the city stated that in 2010 they spent more than five days in the French capital, compared to the same time last year when visits of up to three nights were the most popular.

However, the shift from being a short-break destination to a longer trip means that travellers are looking for ways to make their holiday budget stretch over an extended period of time. Over 50 percent of travellers stayed in a three-star hotel or below, a bed and breakfast or a hostel.

The good news is that whilst budget options might be popular, they are also meeting and exceeding the expectations of international travellers. 87 percent of Paris Sightseeing Pass users rated their Paris accommodation as good, very good or excellent.

Despite the French reputation for world-leading cuisine, the destination is failing to impart its foodie heaven status on tourists. Only 31 percent of international travellers rate the food on offer in Paris as 'excellent', compared to rave reviews for the city's transport system with the Metro scored as 'excellent' by almost half of Paris Sightseeing Pass holders.

Amanda Truman, director, product marketing, for the Leisure Pass Group, the business that operates the Paris Sightseeing Pass, comments:

"Despite what Paris may want to be renowned for, we're finding that it's the less romantic and the more practical services on offer that are wowing international travellers. Tourists visiting Paris are impressed with the hotels, the transport and money-savers such as the Paris Sightseeing Pass more than French icons such as fine dining.

"Paris will be proud to hear that it is the cultural stars such as the Louvre Museum, the Palace of Versailles and the Orsay Museum that top the bill as the favourite attractions on offer in the city. Classics such as the Bateaux Parisiens river sightseeing tours also remain on the must-do list for international travellers."

Over 90 percent of users of the Paris Sightseeing Pass rate the attraction pass, which offers access to over 55 world-famous museums and monuments, as good value for money, great convenience, and brilliantly time saving. A two-day Paris Sightseeing Pass costs €97 for adults, €54 for teens (between 12 and 17 years) and €29 for a child (between four and 11 years). A four-day Paris Sightseeing Pass costs €139 for adults (€74 for teens and €38 for children), and a six-day option costs €169 for adults, €84 for teens and €48 for children. Check out all the activities on offer with the Paris Sightseeing Pass at www.parispass.com. The website includes a map tool to plan visits, details on all the included attractions and full details of exclusive special offers including restaurant deals. For more information and to buy a Paris Sightseeing Pass visit www.parispass.com, or call +44 (0)1664 485 020.

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Press information and images: Katie Wright or Emily Cuthbert at Siren Phone: 0208 237 1210 Email: firstname.lastname@sirenpr.co.uk

About Leisure Pass Group:

Tourism specialist Leisure Pass Group creates and manages 'smart card' pass systems for cities around the world. The company was founded in 1998 and has established pass products in cities including London, Paris and New York.

Additionally Leisure Pass Group provides the technology (the 'Leisure Pass Operating System' or LPOS) which powers other successful pass programmes, amongst which are the Stockholm Card, the Prague Card and the Yorkshire Pass.