How much does a trip to Paris cost?

[design21]

Thank you for the itinerary mama squeak! Wow ayan may itinerary nako:) it's hard to plan since it's going to be my 1st time. I will check easyjet. sis question lang kasama pa sa paris pass any bus going to airport? or taxi lang sa airport?

[mama squeak!]

@starlust - so far hindi pa naman ako nara-random check sa customs. Siguro the attitude one projects when one goes thru customs helps a lot. I've been in the airline industry for so long na ordinary na sa akin going thru customs. No kaba, nothing, confident ba yung dating. I think customs people profile passengers looking nervous or antsy, tipong yung may tinatago ang dating. If they spot passengers na di mapakali, I'm sure they'll ask na ma-check yung bags nila.

[mama squeak!]

@design21 -sis, the Paris Visite pass comes in zones 1-3 (city center) and zones 1-5 including CDG, ORY and Disneyland. If you'll be travelling mostly wihtin the city center where the main tourist sites are, get the zone 1-3 pass.

For your airport transport, you can either take the train RER ligne B or the Roissybus to CDG and the RER ligne B (opposite direction) and Orlybus to ORY. The one way fare to CDG on the RER ligne B is EUR8.50/pax. I don't know how much for the ORY transport as I haven't tried using that airport yet.

Don't take the cab! Super expensive. Minimum one way is EUR50. Even if you'll be sharing the fare with 4 more people, it is still expensive compared to taking the train. Trade off lang with the train is you will be carrying your bag/s up/down stairs of the station. Depending on the train/metro station most of them don't have escalators or elevators.

[foxymom]

@mamasqueak, we got our tickets na! But it was a little more expensive (around $1200 each) since wala na sila promo for our travel dates. So happy!

My dilemma now, how do we get from cdg to our apartment located in the 1st arr? We are arriving at 10pm, so might be out of the airport by 11 or close to midnight. Is there a shuttle we can take? I dont think its safe to take the metro that late

[mama squeak!]

^sis, since you'll be staying in an apartment my first concern would be will your landlord wait up for you? If not how do you get the keys to your apartment? If your landlord is willing to wait for you then no problem.

You're right I would be leery taking the train then metro that late at night. Plus the metro stops operating around 1AM so wala na rin kayong maabutan. Though there are still night buses running around those hours. Check the RATP website I always post for the schedules and bus number.

Or another option is for you to stay at an airport hotel for the night. Then next day na kayo byahe to Paris. I've tried the Novotel CDG airport hotel. It's very convenient. It's right by Terminal 3 with the RER train line B running underground. The different terminals are connected by a mini train shuttle by the way so it's easy getting from one terminal to the other.

[lavieenrose]

@mama squeak!, @foxymom
Upon arrival at CDG we had to take the RERB to our stop at Denfert Rocheareau then take the metro. The RER from CDG was almost an hour I think, it was 9pm, the train was empty and a drunk african guy sat next to me and bothered me for a good few minutes, he was asking for my number and he wants us to meet daw sometime. thankfully that was my first and only bad experience on the train. Just wanted to share. I think it's safer if you're traveling with a man also.

[Starlust]

Thanks mama squeak! Kaloka super dami kasing nagpapabili ng bags. Bag mule ang eksena ko.

[thesoloist]

mama squaek is P200,000 enough for a 5 day tour in Paris? All-in including visa, insurance etc?

[mama squeak!]

^That would be more than enough. Estimate computation of expenses:

Php200,000 converted to USD is roughly $4600

Less the ff major expense: USD1000  (RT fare)
                                                200  (visa/insurance/etc)
                                                500  (apartment rental city center, cheaper further out)

You'll be left with USD2900 for your food/transport/entrance fees and a bit of shopping. Backread ka, I posted our expenses during our week in Paris in late 2010 to get an idea.

[foxymom]

thanks so much for the tip mamasqueak! oo nga! pwede kami mag overnight first sa airport hotel what a great idea

[thesoloist]

^^thanks sis! start na ko mag-ipon, siguro after another contract ko huhuhu. 2 years pa. less shopping na muna ko...

[prettybarbie]

mama squeak i saw cara's studio and i noticed na walang aircon or fan.... hindi ba mainit nung nag stay kayo don? plan ko din kasi mag stay don since its cheaper than staying in a hotel

[mama squeak!]

^sis, malamig na the time we stayed at her place so no need for an aircon. Doble-doble pa nga blankets namin at para kaming naka super high na a/c. Siguro if you stay during the summer season baka maging issue yung init. 

[prettybarbie]

thanks sis.... anong month ba kayo nag stay don?

[mama squeak!]

^We were there end Sept to Oct.  The temperature that time was around 15C to 20C 

[thesoloist]

^sis ano weather sa march-april? thanks!

[prettybarbie]

mama squeak na try mo na ba sumakay sa air france? may direct flight kasi sila - no stop over to Paris....

[mama squeak!]

@thesoloist, March is the tail end of winter so malamig pa rin. Expect lowest temp at around 5C and highest 12C. April expect 10C to 20C.

@Prettybarbie, there are no direct flights of AF from Manila now but there used to be before they merged with KLM. I've only tried their BKK sector before. MNL-BKK-CDG before route nila. Now it's KLM who took their route to Europe and it's direct to AMS. But you're coming from HKG right? Lots of choices there. If price is no issue try to get a morning arrival in Paris so you maximize your time. Most CX flights arrive early morning in Europe.

[prettybarbie]

yes im coming from hong kong and the cheapest direct flight here is yung airfrance kaso 5pm ang arrival sa CDG... yung KLM may 1 stopover sila, pati sa CX naisip ko lang na mas okay siguro kung kunin ko na lang yung dirediretso na para less hassle...

[prettybarbie]

mama squeak pano pala kapag may stop over, kailangan ko pa din ba kunin ulit yung baggage ko then check in ko ulit...first time ko kasi to go on a long flight, di ko pa na experience yung mga stoe over na yan hehe, hindi ba hassle yon? ill be travelling kasi with my 2 year old kaya nga iniisip ko na kumuha na lang ng direct flight kahit gabi dating namin