How much does a trip to Paris cost?

[lavieenrose]

I'm actually doing this in May. Saved up for a year, and everything is DIY.

My rough budget for a two-week trip (Paris-Bruges-Pisa-Florence-Rome) is around $4000 including everything-- visa fees, insurance, air tickets from one of the better airlines (in my opinion-- Emirates). You can actually spend less if you plan your trip well. Do note that this is without the shopping. mama squeak! is right, I highly recommend airbnb, I found a great room for at 40 euros a night (for 2 people)  including breakfast.

Actually I tried mock bookings during the AirAsia promo fare also and it came up to only P34,000. (MNL-KUL, KUL-CDG) On the downside since it's a budget airline the timing for the flights may not be optimal, also I think the flight is non refundable with other extra charges for checked in luggage, etc.

Some other money-saving tips--
Absolutely no cab rides
Splurge for lunch, scrimp on dinners
Order from the prix fixe menu / daily specials
Picnics at the park, buy baguettes, salades and wine from the supermarket
Maximise the Paris Museum Pass

[mama squeak!]

^Yay! Good for you, sis! I'm sure you will be enjoying the fruits of your labor.     The secret to successful DIYing is the careful preparation one puts into it.

What arrondissement is your apartment located by the way? That's a pretty good deal you got. Don't forget to buy a Paris Visite Pass for your transpo needs.

Do post your experience here as soon as you get back. I'll be needing tips for our Italy trip next year.

 

[mama squeak!]

sis mama squeak, just wanted to ask you what is cheapest mode of transpo to get from Rome to Paris? Plane or Train? If train, is this the Eurail? How much kaya? Driving there is not an option, tamad kasi si hubby.  Thanks so much in advance!

Hi, sis chinita, I agree with you. Driving is an option only if you will be visiting cities and villages along the way. And of course you have the luxury of time.

The Eurail Pass will be the cheapest mode of transpo only if you plan to travel by train a lot. But kung point to point ka lang you're better off buying point to point train tickets or plane fares (budget airline). Always compare the two modes of transportation kasi sometimes plane tickets come out cheaper than train tickets or it can also be the other way around. The fares on both will always depend on what season (month), day and time you will be travelling. But IMO train rides in Europe are much more interesting.   

Check the links below to guide you:

http://www.etn.nl/lcosteur.htm

http://www.eurocheapo.com/flights/

http://www.tgv-europe.com/en/train-ticket

 

[chinita8]

^thanks so much mama squeak! knew i could count on you! oo nga, i compared a train ticket vs a budget airline ticket = pareho lang halos yung price! thanks again for the links, it helped a lot! 

[lavieenrose]

^Yay! Good for you, sis! I'm sure you will be enjoying the fruits of your labor.     The secret to successful DIYing is the careful preparation one puts into it.

What arrondissement is your apartment located by the way? That's a pretty good deal you got. Don't forget to buy a Paris Visite Pass for your transpo needs.

Do post your experience here as soon as you get back. I'll be needing tips for our Italy trip next year.

 

Thanks mama squeak!

It's not smack at the centre of Paris though, it's at Place d'Italie, I believe that's at the 13th arr. Most of the central locations are crazy expensive! (There are also cheaper ones but the hosts look shady..) I don't mind an extra 15-minute metro ride.

Still deciding whether to get the Paris Visite or just get carnets-- whichever is cheaper and more practical haha.

Where do you plan to go in Italy? And for how long? I've been to Milan and Venice for very short periods in the past (for work). Might be able to help a little.

[mama squeak!]

The 13eme arr.'s a good area too. I love rue Mouffetard! I know what you mean about shady landlords that's why I base my selection on good reviews plus response time. We were lucky we got an apartment for EUR80 something a night right at rue St. Denis. Bait pa ng landlord!

Yeah better compare first which is cheaper carnet or visite. I used both. I find the carnets cheaper if one will be staying for shorter periods, 3 days or less. The visite I find advantageous for a 5 day stay.

We're planning to do Italy by spring or fall next year. So far these are the places I'm looking at: Florence, Tuscan hills, Cinque Terre, Lake District, Venice, Rome. If we still have time we might do Naples & the Amalfi coast. There is an existing thread about Venice, maybe you can share your tips there?

 

[silverseer]

thanks again. hope it is ok to ask more questions: may bayad ba sa louvre? whats your tip when going around louvre, arc de triomphe and eiffel as well? is it ok to wear rubber shoes in paris? i was told it will look tooo touristy?

Hi sis, just got back from Paris last sunday. Yap, may fee the Louvre; the standard is 10 euro; free for kids 18 below. IMO, it's okay to wear rubber shoes in Paris, no problem about looking touristy kasi Paris IS a major tourist destination. What's more important is the state of your legs and feet after a 7-km walk (and that's just down Champs Elysees). Or better still, get good comfortable walking shoes. Paris is best explored on foot. you get to see and appreciate a lot while walking. Do dress up a bit, though. it makes a better impression all around (especially the sales staff if you plan on going inside  the major name stores), and syempre, makes you look better for the pics hehe. we were lucky coz our hotel was just a ten minute walk to the eiffel tower, and a 3-5 minute walk to the nearest metro stations (na talagang magkalapit lang) along Beaugrenelle Avenue. 

[lavieenrose]

We're planning to do Italy by spring or fall next year. So far these are the places I'm looking at: Florence, Tuscan hills, Cinque Terre, Lake District, Venice, Rome. If we still have time we might do Naples & the Amalfi coast. There is an existing thread about Venice, maybe you can share your tips there?
 

Oh wow! I wish I can see more of Italy too. if you happen to be in Naples, do try Pizzeria Michele, I read that they have great great pizza.
I'm still thinking if it will be worth to squeeze in Siena as a day trip from Florence. My friends had booked a day-long Tuscany tour (Siena, San Gimigiano, Chianti, Pisa w/ free lunch) for 80 eur and they claim it's a good deal. It's a bit out of my budget though.  Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast sound amazing too.

Got too carried away, posted in the wrong thread

Will check the Venice thread.

[mama squeak!]

^Thanks for the tip, sis! Yes, please do post your Italy tips on this thread:

http://www.femalenetwork.com/girltalk/index.php/topic,239685.0.html

 

[mommyjo]

in paris this year. mahirap ba kumuha ng visa sa french embassy? and is it safe to purchase a ticket already kahit wala pang visa? madami kasing good promos now

hi sis!
saan may  mga airline promos now for paris?

[mama squeak!]

^sis for schengen visa application, check this thread:

http://www.femalenetwork.com/girltalk/index.php/topic,142956.340.html

 

[foxymom]

hi again everyone! nag-go na si hubby -- we will spend the holidays in paris! yipee!!

i know its winter and freezing cold but we really want to spend after xmas and new year's there

i was able to get an apartment around the 6th arr for around 83 euros/day for 11 nights. is that a good deal? we really just want to see paris and maybe take daytrips to nearby areas -- rome, lourdes, etc.

hubby wants to buy our plane tickets already and apply for a visa. is it too early?

actually, we want to purchase our tickets already, then apply for our visas after our trip to the US this april. di naman [textspeak!] kami made-deny, we've been travelling and we've both had our US visas for 25yrs already (since we were 8yrs old)... hehe

comments and suggestions are welcome i'm so excited for this trip di ko na pinapansin US trip namin! hehe

[mama squeak!]

^sis, mukha ngang super excited ka sinagot ko na yung tanong mo about getting a visa on this thread:

http://www.femalenetwork.com/girltalk/index.php/topic,142956.380.html

 

EUR83/nite at the 6eme arr. is a good deal na. You can do Lourdes as a day trip if you take the night train from Paris and arrive Lourdes in the morning. By TGV it's already a 5 hour train ride so mabibitin ka if you plan to leave in the morning pa. Last train out of Lourdes for Paris is around 11PM.

No, you can't do Rome as a day trip. It's too far.   

[foxymom]

^hahaha thanks mama squeak! oo excited talga ako!

thanks for the tip re the visa --- argghhh 3mos before only! ang worry ko baka wala na plane ticket na mura nun! i think we will just gamble -- and if denied talaga we will just take in the cancellation penalties... watcha think? crazzzzyyy??

if we include rome -- how many days do we need? overnight? i dont want to give up our apartment since we might not get the same rates... hhmmm

[mama squeak!]

^Yeah crazy and excited  . Seriously, there will be a lot of promo fares coming out mid-Sep for the winter season. So there really is no need for you to get now. But it's all up to you if you want to buy na then go ahead.

I think Rome is worth 3 full days (2 nights). Probably you can get an open jaw ticket, arrive in Paris and leave from Rome or vise versa. That's something to consider too. The downside there is sometimes the tickets are more expensive that way since it's considered as two one way tickets (round trip fares are cheaper kasi). But check mo rin saan ka makakatipid if you include the train fare to Rome and back to Paris.

For ex. MNL to CDG (Paris) + round trip train or air fare to Rome + CDG to Mnl (RT MNL/CDG)
           MNL to CDG + one way train or air fare to Rome + FCO (Rome) to MNL (open jaw ticket)

 

[foxymom]

^thanks so much mama squeak!

how good are the promo fares coming out in sept? we want to leave dec 26 so im a bit worried that day will be fully booked already (excuses! LOL)

i found another apartment very near the louvre for around 85euros per night for 11 nights! at the 1st arr -- is this a better deal? its so near rue st.honore! i will be in shopping heaven! i just hope i will a have the funds to shop! pero kahit window shop pwede na din!

[raven03]

Subscribing, hoping to be in Paris early 2012. I just changed jobs kaya hindi makaalis. I should have seen this thread much earlier.

[mama squeak!]

^^sis, promo fares can go low as USD800 RT. Check KLM, CX, EK (Emirates) or Etihad. Though I prefer KLM and CX. KLM because one stop ka lang in AMS while CX morning ang arrival naman. With EK and Etihad kasi ang haba ng transit time sa ME.

Anything below EUR100 in the inner arrondissements is a good deal na for me. Do you know whereabouts in rue St. Honore is the apartment? Mahaba kasi yun kadugtong nya is rue Fauborg St. Honore, also a shopping area. Generally though that area is okay if not a bit busy.

[foxymom]

^oh wow -- 800 rt na? and i thought the deals now (1000) were great! shux!

the louvre apartment is on rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, i think just 3-5min walk to the louvre. and just a few steps away from the Tuileries Gardens. ideal place na ba yun?

hubby just wants to stay in france/ paris. he doesn't want to get hurried enjoying the place. the most he is willing to go is on day trips. hehe. mama squeak -- tips naman on good day trips from paris during winter? hehe

[mama squeak!]

^sis, okay that area. Maraming pedestrian only streets in that area. You don't actually have to cook na kasi maraming restaurants, delis and bakeries around.

Kung di kayo tatamarin mag-ikot (winter kasi masarap mag stay-in)    these are some of the daytrips you can go to. These places are between 30 minutes to an hour's train ride from Paris.

1.) Chateau Versailles (pronounced as sha-toh ver-sigh)   - covered by the Paris Museum Pass. A visit here can take the whole day. Check their website for details. www.chateauversailles.fr

2.)  Chartres (pronounced shartr) - the cathedral holds the veil of Mama Mary. They have Gregorian masses every Sundays at 0900H. A visit to the cathedral and a walk around the old town can be done in 4 hours. 

3.) Reims (pronounced "rahnce") - a 45 minute TGV train ride. Famous for its Gothic cathedral and Champagne caves.

4.) Chateau Fontainebleau - an hour's train ride. Check their website  for details. www.musee-chateau-fontainebleau.fr