these posts indicate it's pretty expensive to eat in France-even outside Paris. Any suggestions other than picnics and cooking in the hotel room. Any real and practical costs. I think 500 US is too rich for my blood even with good wine

Selltile, what do you mean by $500 US? Are you asking what an average meal in Paris costs? Eating expenses for a week? Just like anywhere, Paris has expensive places and reasonable places to eat. What exactly are you looking for and where will you be staying?

selltile: I just came back from two weeks in France. I ate phenomenally well in bistros and restaurants and cafés in Paris and the Dordogne and Provence. I think my most expensive meal, with wine, was about 36 euros. Many were half that. I don't know where the figure of 500 US comes from, but unless you are planning to visit the culinary meccas of France you won't even approach that number - even if you ate at the finest restaurants in Paris you could do it for less than that.

okay, you're making me feel better. I have beem reading scary posts here. Actually I was hoping to have lunch at the Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower and then do bistros. We will be travelling in Burgundy and Provence and will try regional food and will try some of the restaurants associated with the slow cooking movement. Perhaps the 500 post are from a couple of folks who have loftier tastes than we do.

I'm guessing that selltile has heard stories of 400 euro for two, and I'm sure that it wouldn't be that hard to do. You could do it in Louisville, Kentucky. You could do it in dozens of places in New York or Chicago and thirty other American cities, I suspect.

No one will put any American traveler in a situation that requires you to spend even one-fourth that amount, if you don't want to - - and you will still be able to enjoy gourmet dining. You'll have to look harder in Paris (for really nice dinners for two for 100 euro a couple) - - than you will in various classy <i>auberges</i> out in the country. One thing you <i>will</i> find in France that is very rare in the US - - is a country inn where a very nice room is available for less than the price of dinner for ONE person (even before the wine!) - - and you are likely to still think that BOTH the dinner and the room are great bargains.

(though it was a whole lot more true at 87 cents to the euro!)

Best wishes,

Rex

Rex-you are, I hope bang on. This is exactlly the accomodation and dinner item we are looking for. We do want to drink the wine and not drive and we do want to enjoy French country restaurants. Any suggestions for Burgundy?

Ma Cuisine in Beaune is highly recommended. They were closed when we were there, and we were disappointed. The owners of our hotel also agreed that their food is quite good.

They're everywhere, sell...

Where do you want to go? Search Yahoo for &quot;Logis de France&quot; - - I don't know why the &quot;parent&quot; site doesn't seem to be working - - but you will find many regional &quot;sub&quot; sites (for example, Alsace).

Here's the Logis de France web site (in English) that Rex mentioned. http://www.logis-de-france.fr/uk/

Logis are great. They have a wide range of prices available and they specialize in regional cuisine. Outside of Paris, we nearly always use them.

Believe me, in France you can eat very well for less than you would spend in the US. When we're out driving, we look for a crowded parking lot. That means a good restaurant. It's never failed us. Also, ask at your hotel. They will never send you to a poor restaurant. It wouldn't be food for their business.

Rex, I had no trouble logging into the Logis de France web site. Perhaps they were updating when you tried them.

Great suggestion!

Paid $400. Cnd for lunch at Jules Verne with a not expensive bottle of wine--also had sandwiches in small towns for about 5. Cnd-- best deal was in Amboise where we had an over the top dinner for 28 Euros each --5 courses and fabulous

You can do 400 Euro for two in Louisville, New York, Chicago and 30 other cities.

Rex, I didn't know euros are now our currency. Since it is stronger than the dollar this is good news for us!

We stayed in the Moulin des Ruats near Avallon and found it charrning - and the food fantastic. Most of the guests seemed to come from Paris - either for dinner or for the weekend. The hotel rooms are modest and somewhat eccentric - but we loved it. Prices are distinctly modest.

http://www.hostellerie-moulin-ruats....ct/index.shtml

Where did you have the good meal in Amboise?

I'm not an expert on France but I do know restaurants. If you wouldn't spend $100's at home on meals, you probably won't when you are in Europe.

There are aLOT of choices in between grocery store picnics and going to restaurants that have &quot;stars&quot; &amp; the chef's name is famous.

You can eat quite nicely in Paris for dinner for around 30&euro; per person, including wine. Check out the Bistro de Breteuil: Kir Royale, 3 courses of your choice, a bottle of wine for 2, and coffee, all for 31&euro; per person. There are many other spots like that, such as L'Ardoise, in the 1st. A lunch of soup and sandwich at Le Pain Quotidien, for instance, will cost you about 15&euro; for two.

Outside of Paris the prices are generally less. Wherever you are, just avoid the starred restaurants and you'll eat well for moderate prices.