Planning a Paris Vacation--need some advice

robindina

My husband and I are planning a trip to Paris/London next June/July for the Tour de France.  I was wanting to get an idea on how much plane tickets will cost and how much we should budget for hotel and food. A friend of ours is stationed in Germany and he was mentioning touring by train. Has anyone done this?   If you have done this trip, How much did it cost and what would you rec on seeing?

operaghost

Hi there - DH and I planned a similar trip in April of 2012.  We did Paris, Normandy and London.  I think overall with flights, hotel, food, etc. the trip ended up costing us around $6,000-$7,000. London is VERY expensive. We used a travel agent, which I would recommend because I think my head would have exploded trying to plan that trip on my own. 

atlcatlover

Summertime plane tix to Europe are likely going to run you around $1500pp.....

dragon_chica

It's been a while since I've visited Europe.  When I backpacked in Europe I visited about 5 countries in 3.5 weeks and did it all by train.  It was with my dance group so I didn't have to plan out the details.  I do remember that we traveled by train at nighttime so we were able to sleep for most of the ride and then be in the next city/country the next morning.  That way we didn't lose out on daylight stuck on a train.  Europe is VERY travel friendly.  I remember the train stations having lockers large enough to fit my hiking backpack while we visited the city for the day.  They also have bathrooms with showers that for a fee you can use.  One time our train in Munich wasn't leaving until super early in the morning so we all slept right in front of the train platform.  People walking by didn't bat an eye and there was easily 60 of us!

When DH and I went to Spain about 5 years ago we rented an apartment.  It was pretty fantastic.  The price was extremely reasonable, the apt was awesome, and it was a lot of fun discovering the markets and putting together meals.  I've also heard that the hostels there have really gotten nicer so that's an option as well.

alithebride

From Texas I have no idea but from JFK the trends to Europe for nonstop start at 1000 and go up from there. 

Prices are out 330 days before the return trip do they'll be out soon.

Traveling by train is easy and fun but not always cheaper or faster. Do your research and look into flying driving and train travel.  

Do you have to go for TDF?! If budget is more important than the race Summer is the most expensive time and its so crowded! Waiting s few months reduces cost and fellow travelers drastically.  

lavet22

We did Paris/London last March.  Like the pp said, London is VERY expensive.  Tickets, at the time, were around $800 per person, thats round trip from Cincinnati to London.  We took the chunnel from London to Paris and it was fine.  About 2.5hrs each way.  London train station easier to navigate than Paris, but not a big deal either way.

In London, we recommend Buckingham Palace (duh), but the walk by, no need to see the change of the guard unless you REALLY need to.  We also loved the parliament, London Eye, tower of London, Thames river cruise, and walking through the parks (especially St. James and Hyde Park).  The British Museum was amazing and the National Gallery was good, but a little stuffy unless you really enjoy art.

Paris was amazing.  We loved the Eiffel Tower, D'Orsay, Seine River cruise, Arc du Triomphe, and eating at any 'off the beaten path' bistro we could find.

Overall, our trip cost about $5-6k (6 nights total).  We can't wait to go back to Paris, but London for us was a "ok, now we have been here, no real need to come back" kind of place.  

Enjoy your trip!!!! 

moroccojade

We paid $850 each for our tickets (from Vancouver) last fall.  I wouldn't pay more than $1000, personally, but flights might be more expensive from where you are?

We didn't bother staying in a hotel.  We got an apartment on airbnb.com -- it was great - and cheap.  We were in an amazing location right on Pont Neuf (left bank).

We didn't find food too expensive.  Although my husband ordered a Coke with lunch once and never did it again.  (6 Euro?)

We spent money on a 4 day Paris Pass and loved it.  I'd definitely do it again.  No admission fees, no lineups, free transportation...  fantastic value.   We did the hop on/hop off bus tour the first day to get a feel for the city.... then we were all set.

kipnus

I haven't spent much time in London--wasn't really a fan of the city, compared to Paris, where I could happily live for years! Definitely take the train between London and Paris. Depending on how long you're staying in Paris, I would recommend getting a metro pass. It's easy to travel around, and plan on plenty of walking, too!

I'm a big art buff, so I spent lots of time at the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, Musee Rodin, and Musee Picasso (unfortunately closed until the end of 2013). Some of these museums have free or discounted admission at certain times, especially for people under the age of 26. You'll want to see Notre Dame and the Eiffle Tower, of course, and you should definitely head up to the Montmartre district to see the Basilique du Sacre Coeur.

You can do day trips by train and bus to Versaille (not my favourite) and Monet's garden at Giverny (love it!) 

I would recommend using Trip Advisor to find a place to stay. Generally, the accommodations around the periphery are cheaper than those that are more central, but if you're near a metro station, it doesn't matter, as you can easily get to where you want to go! 

kipnus

When I spent a month in Paris, studying French, I tried really hard to keep my costs down. Most of my breakfasts and suppers were included with my accommodations, but for lunch, I often just had a crepe with nutella! Not the healthiest, but definitely cost-effective! When I went with my mom, we bought baguettes, cheese, and fruit to eat, and treated ourselves to restaurants occasionally.