Thanks! The advance planning has a purpose--we're trying to make this a major learning experience vs. just a fun vacation. The friend I'm traveling with and I were both foreign exchange students in High School, and later college kids with backpacks. Immersion into other cultures at a young age drastically shaped me as a person and changed the way I viewed the world, plus the way we traveled was so different than now--living like locals and students vs. seeing the world behind the windows of a tour bus with a bunch of other Americans. I want my children to have the same experience I had, so....we're doing this on a tight budget on purpose. They have to help sort out what we do with the money we have to spend, and they're all kicking in part of their allowance/earnings to help pay for certain things. I want them to understand that it's ok to be a little uncomfortable (as long as we're all safe). We're trying to stay in areas where local people really live, buy groceries in their stores, eat at local vs. tourist restaurants, etc. We'll see the major tourist sites, but I hope a chunk of time will hopefully be spent just soaking up local color. They're already starting to read about both countries/cities, plus my oldest son asked me to pick up a Berlitz French program to help (he's studying Spanish in school). London and Paris aren't exactly off the beaten path, but it's the trip the kids picked . None of them have been past Mexico before, so this should be fun. ANY advice on where we should stay or go would be wonderful. If you're local--where do you like to go with YOUR family. I'm just so appreciative for everyone's help. This forum is wonderful!