I find that people always have money for the things they want.

My husband and I have been to Paris numerous times. Like the other posts, we know where to find the bargains!

We picnic in the park after shopping at Casino, we walk everywhere we please (that way, we CAN eat as much as we want!), and we stay in a two star hotel near Place de la Nation metro stop. Not central, but a quiet and clean neighborhood. We are so tired at day's end that we could probably sleep on concrete, even with my back problems. Everyone at Hotel du Printemps is coridal, and the last time I checked, a double room with private shower was around 50 euros. Not luxury, by any means, but that means more money for what WE want: high end meals and wine. The address for the hotel is http://www.hotelduprintempssarl.fr/. Good luck and happy anniversary!

Our family of 5 spent a lot less on our trip to Paris than on our trip to Disneyworld.

Missypie, I'm constantly telling friends and family who've taken trips to Disney in Orlando that they probably would have spent less on a trip to Europe. None of them believe me.

If you rent an apartment or an apartment-hotel and avoid fancy meals, you can spend time in Paris quite reasonably. Eating out costs a fortune; if you make your own meals, you can save a lot. And renting an apartment is often more economical than a hotel room (plus the fact that it lets you cook). If you hate to cook, you can eat at McDonald's for only a few euro a day.

Most of the major sights in Paris are very inexpensive. The Eiffel Tower is at the expensive end, at €11 per person (it rises by about 5-10% per year). Museums are either free or cost a few euro, if they are government-owned. Outdoor sights are free. Walking around (a very interesting activity in Paris) is free.

Agree with those who suspect your friends are looking for bragging rights rather than fond travel memories. It is not difficult to conspicuously consume in almost any large city in the world. I've had everything from street food to Michelin meals in Paris (many more of the former!) and enjoyed all of them. Of course if budget allowed I would take all meals at five star venues, but unfortunately years ago some incompetent hospital staffer in the newborn nursery handed me over to the parents who raised me rather than to the royal family to which I so obviously truly belong.
One other thing - rates are often increased during the couple weeks around Christmas /New Year, often topping those during the summer high season.

Seamus, I laughed out loud at your post! Yes, I think many of us think we were handed over to the wrong family at birth.

We are just beginning to plan a trip to Paris - a week or so in October. I was last there in 1978, so I think I qualify as a first time visitor. We want to keep our expenses down, so we're looking at renting an apartment. That seems like a wonderful solution.

Susan, perhaps we are distant cousins? ;-)
The apartment is a great idea, not only for managing costs. We were really pleased with the one we let from the owner in the US, as have been a couple other Fodorites who used it. Not posh, neither is it frumpy, with great light and views, and the location is terrific. www.paris-vacation-rental.com/neighbor2.html Tell the owner (Bob) Jim from Texas sent you!

St. Cirq
I often read your answers and reportings-- where do you stay- if you do not mind saying? AND - what are some of your favorite bistros and rest.- that are not 'an arm and a leg'?
we are staying in an apt. in the Marias this april for 2 weeks- can't wait to be back there thank you

omg -- I think AnthonyGA was joking about eating at Mcdonalds. I loved staying in an apartment in Paris although if you're good on the net you can find great 3 and 4 star hotel deals on venere.com and travelocity. Promo code for Venere.com -- A8FBZEH --only 4% off but it helps.

Loved, loved the apartment although if you don't do research you'll be at a loss without a concierge for assistance. You might want to stick with a hotel if you don't speak French well or if you don't have the inclination to spend considerable time planning ahead.

No, I'm absolutely serious about eating at McDonald's. McDonald's is quick, fast, and cheap, and if you eat to live rather than live to eat, it's an excellent choice. Not everyone wants to spend four hours and four hundred euro eating each and every day of his trip. Eating in any sit-down restaurant in France tends to be a time-consuming affair, blowing at least one hour and often several hours. Some restaurants are very expensive, too.

If you have a religious antipathy towards McDonald's, you can eat at a place like the food court at the Louvre, which is also very reasonably priced (although not as cheap as the Golden Arches), with a good selection and fast eating (cafeteria style). You can be in and out in 20 minutes for less than ten euro.

There are a lot of people who come to Paris and do NOT want to spend a lot of time and/or money eating, and McDonald's is often a good solution for them, just as it is in every other city in the world.

Anthony, your point is well made, though IMHO a large part of the Paris experience is eating local food. I used to duck into McD's off Republique when I craved a cup of American style coffee, but several months ago they installed a horrid awful vending type machine for coffee.
For those who require fast / cheap food, Hippo offers a Parisian take on it. And what's faster than a crepe from a street vendor?

Just got back from Paris - see my trip report if interested. We spent about 130 US dollars a nice on our lovely 3 star hotel (In summer it would be more expensive, maybe around 170 or so). Each night's dinner, including wine, cost us around 90 US dollars. Breakfast was only 8 Euros or so for 2 cafe cremes and pain au chocolats. Lunch was often a sandwich or street food, like crepes, and was cheap. Maybe 10-15 euros for the two of us.

In short, Paris is not cheap. But it certainly doesn't have to be very expensive either.

We spent about $3500 for a week's trip to Paris. This figure includes airfare, hotel, all transportation, all museums and attractions, and food.

Overton:

The 2* I stay at is the Hôtel de France Invalides, on the Boulevard de la Tour Maubourg. The 3* is the Hôtel Duquesne-Eiffel, on the avenue Duquesne. I've been staying at both for many years. They're both in the 7th, which is my favorite arrondissement.

Some of my favorite restaurants include:

Le Florimond
La Fontaine de Mars
Bofinger
Les Editeurs
Brasserie de l'Isle Saint-Louis
La Guirlande de Julie
Macéo
Café Madeleine
Bistro Mazarin
Bistro dÇhez Eux
Auberge de Bressane
Chez Cathérine
Chez Paul
Etchegorry

I'm just writing these off the top of my head - don't have my full list with me today. Will post more if I think of any. There are lots and lots of good lists of restaurants in Paris on this site, though, if you want to search and sift through them.

AnthonyGA: Count me as one who has an almost "religious" aversion to McD's in Paris, but your point is well made. To each his own.

However, I will say that the cafeteria at the Louvre (and at D'Orsay) had some packaged bacon and chicken sandwiches that were quite tasty and relatively cheap!

Heavens, one thing to remember is that France regulates the **** system so that ** and *** are pretty good indicaters of quality. Do some research as to what are the criteria for receiving the star ranking and determine what your personal needs are and what your comfort level is. Compare that with recommendations from Fodorites. You will undoubtedly be surprised at how reasonable Paris can be.

As for meals, if you are a wine drinker, a pitcher of the house wine is very reasonable and remarkably delicious! And many restaurants offer a "menu" which gives a selection of three or four courses for a fixed price, which is often much less expensive than "a la carte".

Above all, go and enjoy! You will not regret it!

>...if you eat to live rather than live to eat...<

What an arrogant phrase.

Why should you learn to read?
Who needs Art?
Why bother about philosophy?
Why does anyone need to learn anything beyond what is necessary to live like an Afghan peasant?

>You can be in and out in 20 minutes for less than ten euro.<

You can also have 6 KFC chicken wings, standing at the sink, in 5 min.

((I))

I don't think there was any judgment in the phrase. It is a fact that some people enjoy dining for the experience, and others eat merely to stoke the fires every few hours. The latter group tend to be lacking in sensitivity to flavor, texture, presentation - and would be perfectly happy with the wings at the sink. I think all AnthonyGA meant was that Paris has something for both.

Anthony, my BF and I literally just finished our dinner that consisted of the "2 Big Macs for $3" deal so I'm a McD enthusiast for convenience/cost at home -- no offense intended, I just thought you were kidding.

But if I could just grab an excellent baguette and a hunk of cheese and a pastry as easily as I did while walking around Paris, this is what I'd be eating in Chicago... and for the same price as a number 1 meal with a coke. :}

I thought inexpensive, wonderful food for breakfast and lunch was very easy to do in Paris -- and then you have plenty of money for dinner... or shoes... or drinks and the cover at a jazz club...

"Eat to live, and not live to eat."
- Benjamin Franklin, <i>Poor Richard's Almanack, 1733</i>

St. Cirq
thanks so much for your suggestions-- it is always helpful to get the names of rest./ bistros- we have not stayed in the 7th- , shall check it out on this trip for the next one! Everyone here raves about the 7th-

Mostly I'm just bookmarking for my someday trip to Paris (thank you St. Circ for all the ideas. I would just add, Heavens, that your budget is probably much larger than many college students who backpack Paris. You can do it.

Ira, it may be a generational thing. A number of people I know in their 20s and 30s see food merely as fuel. I don't necessarily agree but there it is.