I hope it will appear to be just ridiculous to everyone here.
I've just heard from my friend's co-worker who just returned from Paris that they had a dinner at mid-range reataurant for $300 for two and they had another dinner or lunch in McDonald type restaurant for $50 per person.

I do not believe it, but why would they say it. Could this be true in some areas ?

Thanks

BS

HI
I'm not sure what your question or concern is.
Can a dinner for two at a mid-range place cost $300? Absolutely, we don't know what they ate and especially, drank.
Can fast food chains be very expensive?
Absolutely.
I note that you are converting the price in euro into dollars, and the dollar is increasingly weak against the pound and the euro. The price in euro may be the same today as it was 6 months ago, it's the dollar that's giving us American travelers headaches.

If you are worried about planning your own trip expenses, there are many budget-minded choices that people can suggest that can help you plan.

Hi Tat,

Restaurants in Europe have their menus with prices posted outside the restaurant so you can choose your meal according to your taste and finances. It is not difficult to eat inexpensively and well in Europe - I've done it many times.

Restaurants in Europe (except in certain Eastern European areas) never were cheaper than in the US. Just like here there are cheaper restaurants and more expensive restaurants. And naturally meals cost more in big cities and less in small towns - also just like here. (New York restaurant prices aren't like those in Iowa are they?) And since the dollar is low versus the Euro prices seem even higher. Can a dinner cost $300 - absolutely. I can't imagine McDonalds at $50 for 2 unless they were really hungry - but fast food in Europe is distinctly more than here. Bottom line - just spend as much as you want - no one is forcing you to go to expensive places.

There are plenty of tourists who don't do any planning, and who just don't bother to pay attention, who get ripped off in foreign countries and then squawk about it afterwards and make it seem as though it's the "norm," when in fact it was just their own lack of awareness.

Your friend's co-worker would appear to fit into this category. No one with his wits about him would pay $300 for two in a "mid-range" restaurant in Paris, or $50 at MacDonalds, without trying really, really hard.

Maybe he was just trying to brag....

I just got my statements. My most expensive dinner was my thanksgiving night dinner. I got to $100 for myself. I ate prix fixe BUT I did have a VERY nice bottle of wine. THe rest of my week, my posh dinners were the plats du jour at whereever I "landed" at dinnertime. Averaged between 20 and 30 dollars, You'll be fine. I think your friends may have just been a wee-tad "expansive for entertainment value" on the McDo's pricing story. Unless, of course, they actually found "McFoieGras" (on a lightly toasted brioche...)

The McDonalds in Paris are no more pricy than the ones in the airports in the US.

Keith

It's BS, I agree. Sure, you can spend $300 for dinner for two in a very nice and expensive restaurant, but by definition, that is not a "mid-range" restaurant.

$50 per person for lunch in McDonald's is ridiculous and I would say that is impossible unless they are really pigs and hate about five to eight meals by themself.


I think they are lying or don't understand math and conversion, which is a possibility.

I've had people who went to Paris for a few days once in their life tell me all kinds of ridiculous things about what things cost there but since I know the city well I know they aren't accurate. Usually it's because they don't really remember well or understand foreign currency rather than stretching the truth to impress people (which is also a possibility).

Thanks to all.
I will take "brag to impress" answer.
I imagined being "hit" by the $300 bill and decided to ask someone who knows.
I was under impression there were taxes and tips and service charger added to a bill that way off of what we use to in US.
I am glad I asked.
Thanks

... and if you're on a budget, drink beer instead of colas. Much cheaper

Bill

Whatever they ate and drank, fact is that for European Paris is known for their ridiculous high prices for food and drinks.

In a city like Paris, it would not be bogus but it would be more than mid range; everything is a la carte in fancy restaurants; your main meal might be 26 euros but it includes nothing else, salad and appetizer are extra.

We are canadian and when we were in Paris in november we had to multiply all euro prices by 1.57- we like nice restaurants and although I did not get any $300 bills, I had a few that were over $200 once I got my converted visa bill.....

Lunch in a brasserie, a baguette each and a glass of wine, could easily convert to almost
$50-

Eating in Paris can be done in a moderate way but very difficult to do it cheaply.

The $300 meal w/wine for two doesn't seem unreasonable, but that did include the taxes and service charge - not bad at all.

But $50 at MickeyDs - puleeese! They must have stuff themselves with a dozen orders of pomme frittes. Give us a break!

The most expensive MDs I've experienced so far has been in Hawaii (it's an island), but for the difference, each order has pineapple - a refreshing change.

Sounds to me like a little embellishing to make the story more interesting.
Dinner at a really nice Indian restaurant on Blvd. St. Germain (that would have been considered the higher end of midrange) cost us 40 euro per person, including aperitifs and dessert.
You can eat very well for a whole lot chepaer than that. Just look for the Plat du Jour on the menu.

Tat, I'm curious. If the bill had been for a restaurant in your own town or any major US city, would you have been equally surprised or shocked at the $ 300 charge? It's not at all unusual. Are you asking if they could have eaten more cheaply? Absolutely! Are you asking if $300 is outrageous? Not at all, particularly with good wines -- not in Paris or anywhere else where there are decent restaurants.

Depending on the wine , $300.00 isn't that unlikely ..if one orders multiple al a carte courses. We've eaten in plenty of mid-range places , with a modest bottle of wine, usually, the menu and it's hard to go over $125.00.

A great salad or a baguette or omelet for 2 people with a demi of wine has never been over 25 E, tops!

And other than McD's , I've never seen any "mcDonald like places" ...what is that?

Here is a "McDonald-like place":

http://www.quick.fr/Home/Home_GBGB.a...GB&lang=GB

There are more than 300 Quick restaurants in France. You'd have a hard time spending $50 with two people at one (in fact, I would venture to say you couldn't do it).

Flyboy, you are my hero! Cheap prices, large cokes, extra ice and no snotty waiters!

Flyboy!

You are right..I saw one of those in Brugges! But I was amazed, at 7 AM ,I couldn't get a coffee..I'm an early wanderer..they had the lights on but didn't open till 8 AM!