ira

My Mother has gone off with some girls her age (85-95) to NYC to see a couple of shows and shop a bit.

They are staying in a hotel that she describes as, &quot;<i>You</i> would love this place&quot;.

Built 1904, art deco touches, etc.

Very much like the Hotel Bonaparte, where we stay in Paris, only bigger.

Conveniently located to restos, transportation and the local sights.

The differences:
The Paris hotel serves bkfst in your room.

The Paris hotel has hot hot water

The Paris hotel has friendly, courteous and helpful staff.

The Paris hotel is $70/nite less.

With RT airfare for 2 from ATL, airport transfers, etc, 3 wks in Paris is cheaper than 3 wks in NYC.

absolutkz

The last time I went to Disney World, I dropped $800 in 2 days. The last time I went to Europe I spent $800 for 17 nights of hotels.

rbnwdlr

If your 85 year old mother is a 'girl' I must be a fetus! Hahaha But I like your point. Unfortunately, most people don't think this way. We are planning 'another!' trip to Europe for this summer and I haven't told anyone except those who are going because I know it will cause comment relating to &quot;she must have family money to take all those trips to Europe.&quot; Hahaha, nothing could be further from the truth. We are ordinary people with ordinary jobs who spend our money on trips, not new cars or big TV's, or Tivo, or golf, etc. Thanks, Ira!

Poconolady

You are absolutely correct--Europe can be an economical vacation-when compared to many locations in the US, especially New York. NYC has become just too expensive. We used to go there for long weekends, not anymore. Now we go to Brussels, Frankfurt, etc. and have a much better time.

travelme

Well I am planning a trip to Spain and Portugal for next summer and I am finding hotel rooms pricing in under $100. I am talking dollars not euros.

bobthenavigator

Interesting observation and likely true.
The lesson to me is to avoid NYC.

stormbird

Hi absolutkz,

Did you stay in Paris and Rome - if so, could you let me know where please?

I am thinking of visiting my son in March - he is overseas for a year - but I will have to do it on a budget if I go.

If that's all you spent for 17 nights - you've done well!
Thanks
Stormer

scatcat

I have tried to tell my friends for years that Europe is not as expensive as most people think. They think we must have lots of money because I go to Europe three times per year. But the facts are simple...I either use FF miles or check every website for cheap airfare. I do not stay in luxury hotels. I do not eat at expensive restaurants, except when my sons are with me. Then I waste money on my meals because I am picky. I would rather have junk food any day. I've said all along that Hawaii is the most expensive place I visit. And I prefer Europe since there is so much to see there.

jkbritt

I looked into traveling over the US last summer vs going to Paris and Dublin for the same 4 weeks. Paris and Dublin were cheaper than doing a US tour. I went to Paris and Dublin.

John b.

ekscrunchy

You did not mention the costs of meals in Paris vs New York but I certainly can believe that it is often easier to find good value hotels in Paris than in NYC.

But it is also possible to find good deals in NYC during certain weeks of the year. My cousin was paying $140 a night last week at an excellent midtown hotel that he booked via Hotwire.

Where is your mother staying?

NanBug

I hear ya.

This is a subject that comes up constantly amongst my family, friends and co-workers who think I'm loaded because we go to Europe each year.

(These are the same people who think nothing of dropping giant wads of cash to go to Disney World, or rent a gargantuan luxury beach house at the shore...there's nothing wrong with their choices, but the contradictions are obvious.)

We are budget travelers who stay in small bed &amp; breakfast type places, eat in simple family style restaurant or grab take away food.

We just spent 2 weeks in Colorado. We used FF miles for our tickets, stayed with friends a few nights,rented a car, and spent the rest of the time in a budget hotel (actually the cheapest one in town, and it was $125 per night, plus tourism and sales tax).

Even with the FF airline tix, the trip was MORE expensive than spending the EXACT same amount of time in Europe, where we usually rent an apartment, eat rather well, and use public transportation.

Folks can even do NYC cheaply, if they're willing to wander away from the tourist Meccas of Times Square, Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center etc and discover some of the local, less fancy places that mortals like me had to rely on for years. It can be done.

FainaAgain

Ira, I love your math And absolutely agree with you.

ira

Hi ek,

&gt;...You did not mention the costs of meals in Paris vs New York ....&lt;

It depends, of course, on what your level of dining is, but from what I have read and observed Paris is no more expensive than NYC - and often less.

The markup on wine is a major difference - Paris is cheaper.

I reviewed my trip report from May, 2008.
..................................
Hi FA,

&gt;Ira, I love your math....&lt;

&quot;And you ought to see the rest of me&quot;, he said with a leer, as he flicked the ash from his cigar.



We ate nicely for 45E w/wine for 2.

We ate very nicely for about 90E w/wine for 2.

We dined like royalty for 200E (Lunch at Taillevent)

ekscrunchy

Ira just curious..when was the last time you spent any time in NYC?

Where is your Mom staying?

rbnwdlr

Nanbug - I have to disagree with you on your idea that one can do NYC cheaply by getting away from Times Square. I've been going to NYC for 40 years for vacations and in the last 2 or 3 years the costs of lodging in the city and the cost of activities has sky-rocketed. I suppose if you stay in New Jersey and eat at McDonalds, you could do ok. With Broadway shows over $100 per ticket and every hotel on the island of Manhattan asking well over $200 per night, I don't see how a vaca there could be cheap. If anyone knows of a hotel that is less than that and is above a one star, let us know! (Real prices, not something your cousin's dentist heard about!!) This summer my sister-in-law paid almost $200 for a room in Queens.

sassy_cat

I think it boils down to your style of travel.
If money's no object then the discussion is irrelevant. If you're a budget traveler then you can go to NYC or Paris for exactly the same amount of money give or take a dollar or euro. You just have to budget accordingly (and hope the exchange rate is favorable! )

For NYC it might mean spending more on hotels or using Priceline or traveling in January or when you find an hotel deal and eating cheaply.
In Paris you might save by staying in an apartment, keeping a close eye on airfares and going off season.

I know ira was trying to compare like with like regarding the hotels, etc but for me the two vacations would differ. I'd buy pastries and wine everyday in Paris and probably not touch either in NYC. I'd go to the theatre and shop in NYC but probably not in Paris.

Bitter

We have long argued we could vacation more cost effectively in Europe than in NYC. However, I'm not sure this comparison works for London, where I have had trouble finding reasonable priced lodging close in. For Paris and Rome I'd agree, though the full analysis would depend on the cost of airfare. (Though sometimes it has been cheaper or as cheap to fly to Europe than NYC.)

RufusTFirefly

Of course, with the NYC subway system, there's no overwhelming reason to stay in Manhattan.

We stayed at the La Quinta in Queens (Long Island City) and were only a 15-minute subway ride from Times Square. Paid $88 a night (plus tax) with breakfast included--and the room was huge with sofa, tables, easy chairs, etc.

And the neighborhood was great for excellent ethnic and American-style dining choices within easy walking distance (1-5 blocks)--at very reasonable prices.

heartofthesouth

last year when I was planning my &quot;divorce get a way&quot; with a girlfriend we were trying to decide between NYC and Rome. I originally was going to go to NYC because I assumed Rome was just way too expensive. I start planning my trip to NYC and about had a heart attack due to the prices. We were planning a 5 night trip to NYC. Just for kicks and giggles I started researching the costs of going to Rome. Not only was the airfare cheaper but so was the apartment. I ended up going to Rome for 8 days and had a WONDERFUL time not to mention saving a lot of money...well not really saving, the money went for shopping in instead lol.

ekscrunchy

RBNWDLR: Did you read my post above? My cousin paid $140 a night at a very good midtown hotel booked through Hotwire. This is not a third-hand report! I was in the hotel two weeks ago.. Again, hoel prices vary tremendously from week to week and season to season..

It is NOT necessary to pay $100 a ticket for a Broadway show!

And I think there are better eating options at the low end here in NYC than in Paris. Wine does increase the bill substantially, however, at most places, although there are a few good BYOBs and a few places with very low markups..