First Time in France- is my budget enough?
Oct 6th, 2005, 02:00 PM
#1
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First Time in France- is my budget enough?
I'm 23 years old and I'm heading on my first trip to Paris. Actually, my first trip out of the US since I was 10yrs old. I love culture and shopping. I want my vacation to be nice. Not too upscale (maybe one really nice dinner) but not scraping the barrel. My budget right now is about $250 USD per day. We are taking a girls trip and my friend is my age as well. We want to see the typical sights, a few out of the ordinary places, do some shopping and see the city. Is this enough or should I budget more? I feel completely clueless about this portion of the trip planning. Also, how much should I take in cash and how much on credit (I have a prepaid AMEX card) and how much in travelers check? Any help would be amazing.
ADPi
ADPi
Oct 6th, 2005, 02:14 PM
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That is perfectly adequate, in fact comfortable, and should make for a very enjoyable visit. That is around 200 euro a day and should be fine as long as you don't stay in a super-expensive hotel, which I assume you won't. The only problem is the shopping thing. I can't advise on that as I don't spend hardly anything on shopping as I don't like to do that activity. This will be completely up to you as to what you want to buy rather than what you spend for the trip. YOu can always spend just a little here and there for souvenirs, a scarf, etc., which is what I do -- but some people blow hundreds of dollars on things.
Oct 6th, 2005, 02:30 PM
#4
That's a generous budget, particularly if you share rooms and stay in 3-star hotels.
As for planning, besides having a passport, buying plane tickets, and reserving hotels, you CAN if you want to wait and plan everything else as you go along.
Definitely have a guidebook with you and read it on the long plane ride over, if nothing else. Some people here at Fodors are hyper-planners but my personal opinion is that it is not necessary for a successful trip.
The best way to obtain funds is using your regular ATM card at a bank machine in Paris. Both U.S. cash or travelers checks would require doing an exchange into euro, which may incur fees and be more of a hassle. Except possibly for your hotel bill, don't plan to spend TC's directly but rather cash them at a bank or exchange bureau. Most people will tell you TC's are a thing of the past between ATMs and credit cards.
As for planning, besides having a passport, buying plane tickets, and reserving hotels, you CAN if you want to wait and plan everything else as you go along.
Definitely have a guidebook with you and read it on the long plane ride over, if nothing else. Some people here at Fodors are hyper-planners but my personal opinion is that it is not necessary for a successful trip.
The best way to obtain funds is using your regular ATM card at a bank machine in Paris. Both U.S. cash or travelers checks would require doing an exchange into euro, which may incur fees and be more of a hassle. Except possibly for your hotel bill, don't plan to spend TC's directly but rather cash them at a bank or exchange bureau. Most people will tell you TC's are a thing of the past between ATMs and credit cards.
Oct 6th, 2005, 03:11 PM
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Where does a young lady of 23 get this sort of money?
In my day we managed on the equivalent of around $50 a day, using guidebooks likely Lonely Planet's, or even "Europe on $5 a Day" as its title was back then in the late fifties.
Harzer
In my day we managed on the equivalent of around $50 a day, using guidebooks likely Lonely Planet's, or even "Europe on $5 a Day" as its title was back then in the late fifties.
Harzer
Oct 6th, 2005, 03:38 PM
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suze, I agree, it is always amazing to me how people presume to make assumptions about people's income, their spending habits, their priorities, etc.
This traveler could have been saving since she was 16, she could have just inherited some money, she could have gotten a great job after college, or she could have won the lottery. Any of which are no one else's business.
"In my day we managed on the equivalent of around $50 a day, using guidebooks likely Lonely Planet's, or even "Europe on $5 a Day" as its title was back then in the late fifties."
Did you also walk 5 miles every day to school, barefoot in the snow? Get over it.
sheesh.
This traveler could have been saving since she was 16, she could have just inherited some money, she could have gotten a great job after college, or she could have won the lottery. Any of which are no one else's business.
"In my day we managed on the equivalent of around $50 a day, using guidebooks likely Lonely Planet's, or even "Europe on $5 a Day" as its title was back then in the late fifties."
Did you also walk 5 miles every day to school, barefoot in the snow? Get over it.
sheesh.
Oct 6th, 2005, 03:44 PM
#8
My thoughts exactly Elaine (the walking to school in a blizzard scenario!). I find posts of the implied superiority of "in my day..." absurd.
If rather than the $250USD figure, the OP had said 100 euro a day for a special girls trip with lots of shopping, sightseeing, and some nice meals and separated her hotel expense of 100 euro/day no one would have blinked an eye.
Maybe she was born rich. Maybe she has a trust fund. Maybe a beloved relative died and left her a bundle. Maybe she has a fabulous profession and works very hard at her job.
If rather than the $250USD figure, the OP had said 100 euro a day for a special girls trip with lots of shopping, sightseeing, and some nice meals and separated her hotel expense of 100 euro/day no one would have blinked an eye.
Maybe she was born rich. Maybe she has a trust fund. Maybe a beloved relative died and left her a bundle. Maybe she has a fabulous profession and works very hard at her job.
Oct 6th, 2005, 03:53 PM
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When a person is misunderstood, it can be that the receiver didn't understand, or it can be that the sender expressed it badly.
suze and I had the same reaction to
"Spoiled yound women <sic>, spending THIS much money on a single day..."
The disclaimer that followed, which ended with 'go for it', was nice, but
the 'spoiled young woman' was quite clear I think, in its presumption and nastiness.
suze and I had the same reaction to
"Spoiled yound women <sic>, spending THIS much money on a single day..."
The disclaimer that followed, which ended with 'go for it', was nice, but
the 'spoiled young woman' was quite clear I think, in its presumption and nastiness.
Oct 6th, 2005, 05:10 PM
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Why should someone 23 have to be poor? When I was that age I was in my third year of working and making a reasonable salary - not enough for the Crillion - but certainly enough for a 3-star hotel. Why shouldn't I spend my money on travel vs more shoes and clothes.
And for the OP - $250 per day should be fine if you stay at a moderate hotel - but won;t really leave money for a lot of shopping - given how low the dollar is.
And don;t use TC at all. Use your CC whenever possible and pull cash from with your ATM card (checking account only - it won;t work from savings).
And for the OP - $250 per day should be fine if you stay at a moderate hotel - but won;t really leave money for a lot of shopping - given how low the dollar is.
And don;t use TC at all. Use your CC whenever possible and pull cash from with your ATM card (checking account only - it won;t work from savings).
Oct 6th, 2005, 05:45 PM
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>Why should someone 23 have to be poor?
I believe there's a huge cultural difference between people in the US and us folks in Europe. Yes a 23 year old is usually poor and you expect nothing other than this. Either you have started working at an early age and make a living but don't get wealthy or you study for many more years and live on your parents money until you finish your studies. I do believe it is not culturally acepted to display your wealth in this way. If you do nevertheless, people expect you're spoiled and arrogant have no idea of solidarity! You have to accept those diffenences in mentality. They exist and you're the foreigner. Europe has a history of over 150 years of socialism, with all the bad and all the good things.
It's different and it's good that way!
I believe there's a huge cultural difference between people in the US and us folks in Europe. Yes a 23 year old is usually poor and you expect nothing other than this. Either you have started working at an early age and make a living but don't get wealthy or you study for many more years and live on your parents money until you finish your studies. I do believe it is not culturally acepted to display your wealth in this way. If you do nevertheless, people expect you're spoiled and arrogant have no idea of solidarity! You have to accept those diffenences in mentality. They exist and you're the foreigner. Europe has a history of over 150 years of socialism, with all the bad and all the good things.
It's different and it's good that way!
Oct 6th, 2005, 06:18 PM
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Huh? It would not be unusual for a typical 23 year old professional in any major US city to spend far more than that in a week at home -- one trendy dinner and hitting a couple top clubs in a week will get you there in no time. An average young professional will likely drop $75 a week just at Starbucks for a morning latte and snack. So spending that amount for a week in Paris sure doesn't sound like much to me.
Why is anyone concerned with how much money someone else has or can and want to spend?
But I'm sure confused. Are you saying the $250 per day is for the two of you, or per person?
Why is anyone concerned with how much money someone else has or can and want to spend?
But I'm sure confused. Are you saying the $250 per day is for the two of you, or per person?
Oct 6th, 2005, 06:40 PM
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I find it hard to believe that anyone here would be so rude as to comment at all upon her age in reference to the money she has available to spend. She is asking valid questions, and by some it was taken up as an opportunity to be judgmental and critical.
Oct 6th, 2005, 07:20 PM
#19
I thought that adpil question was an ok travel question. Her budget is her own and how she got it. Should I have to explain, I got a part time job to pay for my trip in February and sold a ton of books?
Oct 6th, 2005, 07:36 PM
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$250 a day for one person is plenty for a rather extravagant vacation (in my view), and $250 for two people is do-able. My husband and I spend about $250-$300 a day, including hotel ($100), food (another $100) and another $100 for museum admissions and a little shopping.
We alternate simple days with more extravagant meals, but we're not the types to drop $100 on dinner unless it's our anniversary, even here in the States.
Leave your money in your checking account, and get cash as needed at one of the bazillion ATMs. Credit cards, prepaid or not, are a waste of money and time. Unless you're paying your hotel bill. Then they're downright handy, but few take AMEX, so I wouldn't bother with anything but VISA/MC.
Happy travels.
Jules
We alternate simple days with more extravagant meals, but we're not the types to drop $100 on dinner unless it's our anniversary, even here in the States.
Leave your money in your checking account, and get cash as needed at one of the bazillion ATMs. Credit cards, prepaid or not, are a waste of money and time. Unless you're paying your hotel bill. Then they're downright handy, but few take AMEX, so I wouldn't bother with anything but VISA/MC.
Happy travels.
Jules
