Gina

Onetravel.com is a great place to find cheap airfares. Look for the white ticket airfares - I've found some amazing deals for round trip flights. That would take one problem out of the equation. Good luck!

aaron

why don't you check out go-today or francevacations.com and book one of those week stays for around 600 each... incluyding airfare and hotel and then you would have all that extra money for sights and souvenirs.

Huh?

How on earth did [email protected] come up with a cost of $2000 for airfares!?! How ridiculous! <BR>Yes, Nicole its definitely doable but as others have suggested I would pick a less expensive hotel (try www.balcons.com - a nice place in the 6th). Also invest in a good guide book so you know where you can eat well AND cheaply! Have fun!

xxx

I think that the airfare will determine if $3k will be allright. If you can get a really good airfare which is very hard nowadays, then the rest you can work around.

xxx

I came up with $2000 air fair, as a total for both people, assuming they do not live in a major city like NY, LA or Chicago. If you have to take a small flight to get to a major city then it adds up quickly, it is costing us $1000/ea to fly to Munich and back during Oktoberfest. <BR><BR>It is better to be safe than sorry when planning finances for a trip, but like everyone else said; Get your airfare prices first, since thet will be the biggest expense, then see what you have left over to work with.

herself

So many think you need big bucks to travel. Not so. You can do it with as much or as little as you please. I usually budget $1,000 per person for a weeks stay. That includes airfare from the east coast. Your hotel can be cheeper. Balcon is a great choice for less bucks. Have lunch instead of dinner of Jules Verne. Do lunch in all the great places. Researve ahead. Have lunch at 1:00 or 1:30 and snack for dinner. Get a metro carnet. Museum pass and good walking shoes. Have Fun.

s.fowler

$3,000 is fine if you are willing to stay at one of the many nice two star hotels. The one I use is $80. per night for the best room.. 7x80=$640. If you take the RER or the Roissybus -- that cuts out $75-100. in cabs. Etc...

s.fowler

Ooopps -- just saw your preferences -- that DOES make it more difficult. <BR><BR>I didn't mean to give advice that didn't answer your question

Janda

For $3000.00 dollars last year, we were in Northern Italy for 5 days, then on a rent your own boat in the South of France for 7 days, then in Paris for 6 days and then to Amsterdam for 3 days. I like my budgeting alot more than yours !!!

nicole

I got our plane tickets for $1070 for both of us and the hotel for $790 for 5 nights total.<BR>that leaves me with $1200 to spend

Howard

I agree with a lot of the previous posters who recommend a less expensive hotel. Unlike most other major cities of the worth, Paris offers the wonderful opportunity to easily find an inexpensive place to stay.<BR>As a start, I recommend you find a copy of the March, 2001 issue National Geographic Traveler in your library. It contained a marvelous article in which the magazine recommended a host hotels, all under $100 a night. We used as a primary resource and it paid off.

phisy

didn't cost me anything near that amount<BR>Hubby and I stayed at an accord hotel-thats a french hotel chain; and we traveled by metro, mostly.<BR>We went everywhere, saw lots, and excluding gifts, of course, it cost us half of that amount for 7days and6 nites plus food and sightseeing

nina

Huh? I'm missing something too. How is $ 200 per day not enough just for food and sightseeing? Breakfast is usually included otherwise there's the bakery, lunch can be done very cheaply, and even dinner should cost no more than $70/night, except for one splurge, which could blow half your budget.<BR><BR>I think it's very realistic. Take the bus or metro, don't order expensive wines and have jamon on a baguette for lunch. No problem.

Paula

I'd suggest checking out www.francevacations.net (or a similar company) and get a package air/hotel deal. I've used them and you should be able to do air/hotel in April for about $1500 total - maybe less. Plus, when you do the package deals, breakfast is included, which at the two not fancy, three-star hotels we stayed at kept us going until a big fat French dinner. Then you'll have more $$$ for food and sightseeing, etc.

poor

I'm having a heart attack just reading the pricy needs that some of you seem to have. $200 a day for food and entertainment for 2 people. We could go for 3 or 4 days on that. You do not need to go to fancy restaurant, order expensive wines and live the high life to enjoy Paris. We've taken 3 week trips to Europe (including airfare from the midwest) for $3500. And that covered everything--hotels, food, admissions, rental car and gas etc.

clairobscur

There are a lot of posters on fodors who are rather wealthy (or at least like to spend a lot on vacations). That's probably why you get so much responses stating that it will be difficult or impossible.<BR><BR> These people are obviously not used to travel on the cheap (and I don't consider your plan is "travelling on the cheap", anyway), so they assume everything cost much more than it actually does. Some estimates for food, for instance, are clearly over the board.<BR><BR>Your 1200 $ for two persons for 5 days is plenty....I would like to have so much money (120 $/day/person, without transportation and accomodations) when I travel...