racruz

Hello, I will be traveling to Paris next week and just wanted to know how much euros i should take for a trip of 5 nights 6 days. I have budgeted 165€/day for two, total of about 825€ for the whole trip for both of us. We do not plan to buy any souvenirs, nor do we plan on going to fancy restaurants, and breakfast is already included in our hotel, which has been paid for already. Our plan is to go to the Eiffel tower, Norte dame and the louvre, and maybe the seine boat tour, but mostly sightseeing. We will be taking our debit and credit cards, but really would like to leave them as a last resort...


Please help...


Thank you

Robert2533

If you're smart, you won't be carrying any Euros with you, but taking them out of the ATM (with your debit card) as needed.

Sassafrass

Since your hotel is paid for, and you can have great bread, cheese, etc for lunch, I think you will be fine. Drink plain water, not mineral water. If you have not already purchased euros, wait intil you are there and use your atm card right at the airport. Get what you think you will need for two or three days. Then you can decided how much more to get.

andrewsmith03

Okay..that is a good idea. When you are taking your debit and credit cards.. Let them rest for the big deals.
otherwise 825 euros in cash are enough for local accommodation of transport, shopping and other small purchases.

justineparis

I wouldn't travel with that much money.. plus buying it at home is rip off ususally. I just use my ATM debit card( banks in france have no fees.. so only fees are from your bank)

I like to arrive with about 100 euros just so don't have to look for a machine right away and can pay for taxi or RER( train)into city.

I think your budget is fine.. we don't spend a lot by choice either.. usually splurge for one fancy meal but most of the time eat in cafes or cheap places.. and for lunches we pop into bakeries for sandwiches.. or get a nice crepe from a street vendor.. that's usually between 5-7 euros for say a ham and cheese crepe and a drink.

Whatever you do .. be careful ordering Cokes (soda) in restaurants or café.. often more expensive then a glass of wine.. If you order food you are entitled to ask for FREE tap water ( which is good) .. "une carafe d'eau si vous plait" .. and then if you still want soda buy one from the grocery stores around.. and as I said.. house wine is good and usually cheap. Beers can be pricey. Cocktails are very expensive.

If you choose to eat at a café with a view of a major site you will pay a higher price.. better to walk a few blocks off the beaten path.
Also. by law all places must display menus outside.. so you can easily see the choices and prices before sitting down.

racruz

I already ordered the euros, I usually don't travel with much cash, but since it was overseas and I have heard that cards do not always work I was afraid that I would be without money.


Thank you everyone, very helpful...

Any thoughts on cafes or bakeries, my hotel is in trocadero, I think...

zoecat

If you find that you need additional cash, just use your debit card at a bank ATM. A few days prior to leaving home, be sure to call the 800 number on the back of your debit and your credit card to notify them of your travel dates and places. Otherwise, the cards may not work.

Christina

You heard wrong about cards, at least for Paris. The only place they routinely don't work is automated machines, which you probably wont' be using. Restaurants and stores should take them without problem. But, in short, your amount of money seems okay for spending money and meals.

IN fact, I was just in Paris and only once did a small local restaurant claim they couldn't read my card. I think they didn't know what they were doing, which happens. Because I had no problem using the exact same card the day before or the days following in other stores and restaurants. I travel a little off the beaten path, though, but even where I was in Paris, I can't believe they didn't regularly get credit cards from non-European countries. But the server didn't run it through the machine right, I bet, I think she inserted it like a card with a chip instead of using the mag card reader on the side of the machine. AS I said, that was only one time in my entire trip in France (and Spain, actually, never had a problem there).

DebitNM

PLEASE do NOT carry all that cash around with you. Leave the majority of it in safe in your hotel room and only carry a small amount with you. Carry it in a safe spot, not a pocket or other easily reached means.

If you are a woman, use a cross body purse that zips closed. If you are a man, consider a money belt or wallet that clips to belt loop. Don't have one person carry the entire days cash; split between the 2 of you.

DebitNM

Also, perhaps best not to carry your cards with you, leave them in safe too.

racruz

Thank you everyone... I plan on leaving the money in the hotel safe and just carrying the day's worth, since I have set a budget.


Any suggestions on inexpensive restaurants on or near avenue de tourville, and is this a good area? This is where my hotel is located