Actually - many of us are wondering more than just that ;)

I have children the same age as the OP, and I have looked at her blog. While throwing money at a trip to have the time of your life is definitely a philosophy, I still don't understand why 10 private car trips, one for every evening makes sense. Unless you are clubbing, and god knows I have no clue about Paris night life. The Fendi thing I won't even touch.

We just spent two weeks in Italy for not much more than this Paris budget.

I didn't even notice the math, didn't care that much.

There are certainly lots of places open after midnight in Paris, and these people seem to know where they are going. Maybe they like to eat real late. Heck, I've been to them when younger and I'm not a big spender. I remember waiting around forever to try to get one of those night buses one night with some girlfriends after we got out of one of those jazz clubs n the 5th around 1-2 am. And we were approached by some drunk young guys, it wasn't comfortable. You think kids aren't out past midnight in the Latin Quarter? Some cafes around the Opera are open 24/7 (like Le Grand Cafe).

And for someone with Fendis and lots of money, I don't think a private driver for late at night is a bad idea. You don't want to be waiting around for buses and metro and taxis are not always that easy to come by in the middle of the night, depending where you are. I have no problem with that, that's their business and their money if they want to spend it that way. That actually doesn't sound that bad if you had a private driver for all night for only 80 euro a night.

Since she also "did" the US, wondering where she is from. Clubbing.
No mention of what the dear husband might like to do or see.
Blog?

Thanks kimmie, that is a pretty good deal. You will be doing Paris in style.

I must be missing something - I don't see a blog link or name, either.

Click her name, it's on her profile page.

I did. Perhaps she removed it?

It was there last night.

I don't see it -- if it's there, I missed it. Or else it does to come up on my computer. If it's there.

That was supposed to read "doesn't come up on my computer".

IPad autocorrect strikes again.

She took it down, probably afraid some of you would comment on it.

She's the one that mentioned it up thread..

I guess she changed her mind.

I don't "do" blogs, but became intriqued. Nope.

Morning! Yep morning where I am from in the Caribbean.

I work hard as a Property Manager so Paris is my highlight vacation for the year. I had a great time in Jamaica and Turks earlier this year and I plan to do the same in Paris for my Golden Birthday and 10 year wedding anniversary.

The budget figure is actually 5,500€.

Yes I did remove my blog link until after my trip completed. (Security reasons as well)

Check back around June 5 for updates.

Thank you all for your input.

Kimmie, Smart move, wait till your back to blog. Check out the duty free shops at the airport. I am kicking myself for not buying a Longchamp big tote at duty free last trip. I have a large one but would love a carry on tote sized. Good prices even with exchange rates. Drink lots of Champagne.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-fantastic.cfm


I love her trip reports and she always has great pics.

Late night dining? Places like Buddha Bar have late night dining, with dancing and drinking afterwards. I'm sure there are other clubs like that.

I can understand wanting to arrange transport - I find it hard to find a taxi in Paris late at night. The price still sounds steep to me.

Don't miss Colette in Rue St Honore. The original Goyard store is near there as well - a personalised Goyard tote would be a nice reminder of your trip. And not as expensive a a Fendi.

Buy yourself an Hermes Cape Cod watch. Classic good taste. Under 2000euro.

But remember that you may have to pay duty on your purchases if you are returning to the US after your trip.

What is your departure city, and where will you fly from Paris?

I had to google Fendi, I live in a bubble. It is possible that you can get the same pieces less expensively somewhere other than Paris. But if you are going to shop for luxury items, I would make that part of the budget separate from the food and entertainment part. And I would research prices and availability to make sure you are not overspending on something you could buy on line for less.

Make sure you know how to get the refund of the 12% VAT tax you can get if you buy more than 175 euros worth of goods in one store in one day. This involves some paper work from the store, and some from the airport, if I understand it correctly (which I might not, as I have never made a purchase large enough to qualify).

I understand the desire to get a driver to take you home after a late night out, but I have always been able to find taxis. You can have the restaurant call one for you. I would try not to pay for the car service in advance, see if you find you really want it after trying a night out without it. If you do find you want it, then you can always do it on a per-night basis. Or you can just take a taxi to the restaurant and arrange for a driver to pick you up later, I'm thinking it should be much less expensive that way.

I woud recommend not buying branded goods but seek out a small specialist hand made shop and buy a unique piece, of much higher quality and without the "brand". Falling for the marketing nonsense that has been forced on us over the last 20 years is just weird.

Can you imagine buying art the same way? Well you can, but only if you making an investment not buying art.

I had to google Fendi, I live in a bubble.>>

I think i must be in the same bubble, Nikki, as I had to do the same.

I have had a pair of Fendi sunglasses for four years, best glasses ever. I love Fendi bags as they aren't reproduce to death as the faux Louis Vuitton bags. That has turned me off from them altogether. I am a shoe person though. If I had money to blow in Paris I would spend at E Dehillerin on a nice copper pot.

Okay the verdict.

Spent 7 full days and nights in Paris.

Arrived with 5,000€ in cash - it went everywhere I went.

Assigned a daily budget of 700€ with 100€ extra.

Visited the Fendi store and made a purchase of 1,500€ taking 200€ from each day's budget along with the 100€ extra.

3,500€ left…

So we had a new daily budget of 500€. Some days we were under and somedays over.

Day 1 budget paid for 2 sets of car service, cafe lunch and a 2 star Michelin 10 course dinner

Day 2 budget paid for one day metro tickets, Eiffel Tower souvenirs for our families, pictures on the boat cruise and cafe lunch and ate the leftovers for dinner.

Day 3 budget paid for car service, cafe lunch, 3 star Michelin 2 course dinner and midnight snack.

Day 4 budget paid for lunch at Roland Garros, cafe dinner and souvenirs.

Day 5 budget paid for 2 sets of car service, cafe lunch, videoing for the vow renewal and upgrade our cruise dinner menu and pictures.

Day 6 budget paid for cafe lunch and cafe dinner.

Day 7 budget paid for cafe lunch, macaroons and car service.

All activities, 2 dinner nights and metro services were prepaid. The above only shows where actually cash was spent while in Paris.

And we went home with 500€.

Of the 3,000€; 650€ was spent on car service.

So the average daily expenses were about 336€.

So if the big purchase didn't happen and even with it I would say 5,000€ is more enough to enjoy Paris as a royalty.

Have a good weekend.

My total trip to Paris cost US$13,500.

Italy is next on my list for early 2015.

Thanks for the followup, anyway. YOu know it realy doesn't make any sense for you to talk about your Fendi purchases as part of your daily budget.

Advice for the next time -- please stop carrying around 5000 euro cash on you when you go to Europe. Haven't you heard of those incidents about how a lot of Asian travelers get mugged and robbed when traveling to W Europe because they have a tendency to carry all their cash on them? Maybe you are not Asian (the vow renewal sounds American), but originally you told us this was a budget, that you did not intend to carry that around or get it in cash. It's just a very foolish thing to do.

Shame on me, but I'm going to have to google Roland Garros.

Had to. My bank doesn't allow my cards to be used in Europe and doesn't issue the traveller checks.

Thankfully all went well.

<<My bank doesn't allow my cards to be used in Europe>>

Astonishing.

Before you go to Italy next year, change your bank. Or open an account with a travel fund in another bank, a bank that offers both a credit card and an ATM/debit card that you can use abroad. Preferably charging you neither a transaction fee nor a currency conversion fee.

And never buy travelers checks for Europe; they're very difficult to cash.

Thanks for your trip report. It was very interesting to read.

Just out of curiosity, why was car service so important to you?

>>My bank doesn't allow my cards to be used in Europe<<

I don't believe it. Now, some countries only allow citizens VERY small foreign currency allowances and strictly control what can be spent out side of their countries - but unless your profile is completely made up, you live in Florida.

I'm interested in your Michelin meals…care to offer any details for us?

Where did you stay?

<<My bank doesn't allow my cards to be used in Europe>>

Another amazed person here. Strongly advise you to open a travel bank account with a bank that will issue you a card you CAN use in Europe. Carrying cash like that is foolish.

Still, rather amused by the use of of the word budget and a 13K week in Paris. I have yet to see anyone here with a 1K private car service 'budget' either. But nice you had the trip you wanted, and it sounds like it all went well.

My bank doesn't allow my cards to be used in Europe and doesn't issue the traveller checks.>>

like mimar says, get another bank. with a budget like yours for a week, that should be no problem.

I have run out of popcorn.

Seriously.

Does it matter someone asked for an update once my trip was over. And there it is.

I had a wonderful time in Paris. Get over it.

My financial insituation has a lot of fraud with EU countries so they are all blocked.

You have to declare 10k€ and over so my 5 was a drop in the bucket.

Popcorn eater clearly your life is boring that you finish a whole popcorn reading about mines. Yawn. GN

>>My financial insituation has a lot of fraud with EU countries so they are all blocked. <<

Doesn't pass the smell test

Oh, we're over it.

>>My financial insituation has a lot of fraud with EU countries so they are all blocked. <<

The suggestion to seek another one was intended to help you travel with less risk on your next trip. Some people actually do have travel accounts with secondary banks for various reasons. Not that I think the above comment makes a lot of sense.

Your attitude however does make me think you might need another sandbox to play in when you start planning Italy '15.