Hello everyone,

I've been dreaming to go to Europe for a number of years now, but I'm just 23 year old and newly out of college. I have a fairly good job now, but I have a lot of expenses related to getting a new car, a new appartement and everything and I struggle saving for travel. Having that said, I was able to get two consecutive weeks of vacations (which in Canada is really an achievement in itself) in February 2019.

To start, I want to go to Paris for a week. Unfortunately, like I said, money is tight and I plan on having about 1000$ CAD (about 662 euros with the current exchange rate), NOT including plane tickets. I travel solo and I don't mind going into hostels or rent on Airbnb to save money. Also, if possible, I'd like to pass a day or two in an other city. I was thinking Berlin.

What do you think ?

Thank you in advance for your help !

- Charles C., from Quebec City, Canada

Unfortunately most airbnb's in Paris are illegal. But there are hostels and other inexpensive places to stay.

€600+ isn't very much for a week but is doable for basic accommodations and casual cafes and make-your-own meals (which can be done in most hostels). But it would not give you enough wiggle room to travel to Berlin.

It might work, given that in February you aren’t competing with a lot of other tourists. A quick google of youth hostels seem to show dorm style accommodations for $25-40 a night. And, in Europe, there are cheap places to find food. I don’t know what your budget is for airfare, but since that is over and above your $1,000 CDN, you may try to find a better deal. Competition on transatlantic routes is increasing, and, again, February should have some of the best rates of the year. Air Canada might cost $500-600 from Quebec City; WOW Air probably the same from Montreal. But you might find better deals in late summer or early Fall for your winter period.

There are plenty of Airbnb's in Paris, some illegal, but as far as I know, they are legal if the owner goes through a registration process. The last time I looked, there were several hundred Airbnb's available in Paris for time we plan to be there in October; we have a booking outside of the city, closer to CDG. A quick review shows a number of rooms in private homes available in Paris in February for prices similar to hostels. That kind of competition and your potential lengthy stay should put you in a position to make an offer.

>>but as far as I know, they are legal if the owner goes through a registration process. The last time I looked, there were several hundred Airbnb's available in Paris for time we plan to be there in October; <<

The problem is there used to be thousands and thousands. Now there is a small fraction that have received the registration number. There is much more competition for the fewer legal properties, making them harder to book and relatively pricier.

If you head to one of the outer arr. you can get much better deals. Just make sure you are near convenient transport.

My seasoned advice is: don't go.
7 days in Paris, and maybe Berlin, on 662€?

At best, you'll lead a beggar's life, glimpsing the sights, but unable to afford them, and hence not "experiencing" Paris in the best sense of that word.

I suggest you live modestly this year, save up for next year, and experience the BEST of Paris, etc. in 2019

>>I suggest you live modestly this year, save up for next year, and experience the BEST of Paris, etc. in 2019<<

Guess you missed the bit where he IS talking about 2019 . . .

When people speak of Airbnb in Paris being illegal, I suspect they are thinking only of apartments. Most on this forum have a bigger budget than you, Oleonius, and bigger than mine for that matter. I suggest you look on Airbnb for a room in an apartment occupied by the owner and I suspect you'll find legal accommodation at a very affordable price. As tomboy says above, you may very well see Paris in a no frills sort of way but then at about your age I spent some time in Paris on a small stipend and loved it. Don't let anyone convince that you can't enjoy Paris on very little money. The biggest joy for me was free, walking around the city on a diet of sandwiches (which I love to this day).

I completely agree with MmePerdu. And there are legal apartments available on AirBnB. I just pulled this one up: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1877114...nce&s=iC1AWtGI It's $66 a night and has a registration number. Of course there are no guarantees that it will be available on your dates but you're looking early... start asking and see what's available. If you are flexible as to when your trip is, you'll have more success.

Good luck and enjoy Paris.

>>It's $66 a night and has a registration number.<<

That is $US 66 per night -- which is $CAN 86 -- so no, that isn't really in the OP's budget. It would mean only €260 for everything else for the week. After accounting for transport it leaves about €30 per day. Doable - yes- barely. But not if visiting any paid sites, and definitely no money to go to Berlin.

One thing to seriously consider - maybe shorten the trip to 5 days on the ground giving you a little more money per day.

Check out the Thorn Tree forum on Lonely Planet - the demographic there is closer to your age and budget than most of the Fodorites (old blighters, many with multiple boxloads of cash) and you should get a lot of specifics about what you're seeking.

Another great word from the UK -- "blighters", a good one and an apt one for some posters on Fodor's but not all. Thanks for the "English" lesson.

-I suggest you look on Airbnb for a room in an apartment occupied by the owner -

This is a really good suggestion. Make sure you can use the kitchen. Eating (and drinking) out in Paris is expensive. But walking around, and many of the sights, are free. There are some museums that are free too. You can do this in your budget but for sure it would help to have a kitchen. You might make a new friend or two as well.

>>-I suggest you look on Airbnb for a room in an apartment occupied by the owner -

This is a really good suggestion<<

Renting out a room is covered by the same laws/regulations/and building rules as renting out an entire apartment.

Oleonius, you should look into couchsurfing! There are a ton of hosts in Paris, and they often will allow you to stay with them for free (although it is nice to bring them a small gift or take them to dinner as a thank you for their hospitality). Can also be a really fun way to get to know the city, as many couchsurfer hosts love to show their guests around, act as unofficial tour guides, and take them to off the beaten path spots that only the locals know about.

Otherwise, just do your research on hostels. They can also be fun, as you'll have the opportunity to meet many other young folks your age and can often find a built-in social network.

Remember - the best part of Paris is just wandering around and exploring the city and its many gardens...for free! If you don't mind doing this in February, you'll be fine! You can live very cheaply off delicious cheese and baguettes

Renting a room in an airbnb is a good idea especially if you have access to a kitchen for breakfast or even lunch (but do try to plan some meals out to experience great food). Look in the outer arrondisments but make sure it's located near a metro.
Honestly though, 667 euro for a week is under 95 euro a day for accommodations, meals, transportation, and sightseeing. I think it's a super-stretch and probably not enough to be able to enjoy a first time trip to Paris. There will be so many things you won't be able to afford to do.

-Renting out a room is covered by the same laws/regulations/and building rules as renting out an entire apartment. -

For sure. But it is cheaper, and more likely to be in the OPs budget to rent a room in someone's flat rather than an apartment.

Oleonus, I think you should go. A long time ago... I also was in Paris on very little money. A baguette, apples and cheese got me through more than one day. Hostels typically feed you a breakfast of sorts even if it's light. So that helped.

If you haven't already made these adjustments, start eating rice and beans a little sooner, or give up Netflix etc., to save up to $1200-1400 budget. If that isn't possible, I'd still go but maybe for 6 days instead of 7.

Do a lot of searching for hostels for the best price in lodgings..One advantage of hostels is that there are a lot of other broke young adults who are in the same situation as you. I wouldn't try to go clear to Berlin. But remember an hour train ride would get you to a smaller French town like Chartres, which is very different than the big city.

I would try very hard to amp up the budget by at least 50%. I understand the pull of Wanderlust in Europe at a young age, but you don't wantt o be sleeping on park benches. I disagree that it's hard to eat cheaply in Paris - in Montélimant you can get a kebab plate with rice and salad and a drink for 8 euros - it's enough to share with someone else, so 4 euros for enough food for a day/ G oto the outdoor markets.

I doubt it's going to be easy in 2019 to find a legal room in an Airbnb place. I would look at hostels and couchsurfing.