al godon

Donna, is there any way you can leave your husband at home? He sounds like the kind of traveling companion I would try to lose. Get something to calm his nerves. The world as we know it is not going to come to an end just because he travels to Paris. <BR>On the language question, I speak about as much French as your neighbor's dog and my wife speaks about as much as our cat, probably less. But we have had no trouble getting around. I do carry a French phrase book and a dictionary, but usually by the time I get something figured out, there is no need to worry with it. <BR> <BR>I do have one very strong recommendation to make: give your husband a map of Paris, particularly one that shows the Metro stations and lines, and tell him to memorize it. Also, look up on the web the location of the Paris bus route maps. Then have hubby learn those too! <BR>Then put him to work charting the rise and fall of the French franc versus the dollar. He can then calculate expenses in dollars and francs. <BR>About the money, why sanctified would you even think of carrying so much currency on you? Would you walk down the streets of Chicago with that much folding green in your handbag?? I sure as heck would not dream of carrying that much in my billfold, even in a zipped shut pocket! <BR> <BR>Second question, how do you plan on safeguarding your passport, ticket home, money, credit cards, driver's license, and any other documents of value? <BR> <BR>On the money deal: My standard approach is three fold: (1) carry some currency for small purchases, (2) use a credit card for major purchases, (3) carry an ATM debit/check card for currency withdrawals (better exchange rate that way), and(4) carry a few hundred dollars in travelers checks as an emergency reserve. <BR>(I keep the TCs in US dollars so I can cash them once I get home, or save them for the next trip. I have one check that has now made three round trips to Europe. ) <BR> <BR>Food in Paris can be expensive, but does not have to be. We have eaten well at Bistro de la Gare on Boulevard Montparnasse near Rue des Rennes for less than $25.00 per person for food. <BR>La Brioche Doree has a good tuna sandwich for about $3.50. It was better than most sandwiches over here and cheaper!! Of course I had to eat my way through some pastries. But that is one of the requirements of visiting Paris. Visitors are required to eat at least a pastry a day. (Be sure to get your pastry eating card punched each time you make a purchase.) <BR>So, to make sure I did not get into trouble, I ate three or four pastries a day, plus a sticky raisin bun for breakfast. Life is hard in Paris, but I try to bear up under the strain! <BR>Hey, that is an idea. If your husband gets to complaining, fretting, fixated on the money, or just plain grousing, stick a pastry in his mouth, a good chewy, sticky one. Of course, you should take a bite of it first, then put it where it will do the most good. <BR>My wife does not need to do that to me, because I usually am chewing on one anyhow. (She takes them away from me so she can have a bite.) <BR>Above all, have fun in Paris. It is easy to do. And when you go by a bakery, of which there are many in Paris, go in and have a pastry for me. Try the strawberry one.

Christina

I agree with others that your husband does not want to go, that is the problem; something is fishy, and you'd better find out what it is, but there is some reason he doesn't want to take a major family trip, at least at this time, or does not want to plan that far in advance. You already know what the hotel will cost, a little over US$100 a day. What on earth is he thinking could cost $400 a day? In any case, this is simply factual information, easy to prove--I presume you have a guidebook, if not, get one. It will give prices of transportation and museum fees, etc--museum entry is about $5 a person, for example, but you can get passes as someone suggested. Many guidebooks (like Frommers) will give you a pretty good ideas of restaurant and food prices--but even though food is a little more expensive than in some US towns, you could easily eat on perhaps twice what you'd budget in US (less if you really wanted, but why deprive yourself). For further evidence of meal prices, just go to www.zagats.com and pick out some restaurants in the area you will be; they give price ranges on there and you can see there are many restaurants where you can eat for $20-30 a person for dinner. You can find proof of prices in places such as I suggested to show him, if this is really a legitimate concern. Your friends aren't being that informative IMO, as you do not have to eat "off the beaten path" to spend less than $400 a day, you can eat right in the middle of the path. Frankly, I rarely spend more than $50/day (for one person, me) on everything in Paris when I travel there, excluding hotel, and many days I don't even spend that unless I'm buying expensive gifts (to me, that means over $20) or some clothes or something for myself. I don't eat that much, though, but still, I eat at least twice a day and have some drinks or coffee other times. You shouldn't rent a car at all for a day trip if you've never been there before, there are too many things to do easily near Paris without renting a car; I would cut that item out of my budget.

love2trvl

Hi Donna: <BR>Before my first trip to Paris I read the Frommer's Guide to Paris. This was before I located this forum. I read it cover to cover and felt like I knew what I was doing when I got there. Give it to your husband and daughter to read. Many bistros and brassieres serve very inexpensive and delicious meals. Check the menu outside the restaurant and you can make your decision before you go in. There are so many to choose from. And do not I repeat do not pass up on the wondeful desserts and pastries!!Have a great time

Monica

I returned from Paris two weeks ago (fabulous time!). I took $300 in travelers checks for backup, which I never used; my ATM/Visa credit card to withdraw money when needed (every 2-3 days); I used my credit card whenever possible (hotel, restaurants, and at stores that accepted cards). I did take $40 in cash, but that's in case I need something at the airport on this end. My ATM card is from Bank of America and there is no conversion fee. ATM machines are available all over Paris, so you won't have any problems getting out money. <BR> <BR>My friend and I enjoyed many good restaurants at reasonable prices ($30-$60 for the two of us). I posted some restaurant information here on Fodors. You can do a search (I believe the title is "Back from Paris (Monica and Judy)). If you can't find it, email me directly and I can give you the information. We had delicious meals!

Donna

Hi! Contrary to what I may have represented, my husband does, indeed, want to go on this trip. Neither one of us has ever traveled abroad, but we have been to major U.S. cities and quite frankly, I've found Paris to be much more cost effective. I spoke with him about this a little while ago, and apparently some snob at his job told him that it was terribly expensive, "Oh, it's impossible to eat for less than $100 a person," etc., and he was merely concerned about our finances. Once he realized that I had done quite a bit of research on the subject, his concerns were put to rest. The language will be no problem for the most part. My husband and I have been brushing up on our high school French, and our daughter, Jennifer, is completing her fifth year of French. I think he just had "overseas anxiety." He had never been out of Texas until I married him. Thanks again for all of your help and advice. I'll keep you posted.

Richard

Donna, If y'all are still in Texas, and close to Plano, we'd be glad to share our Paris experiences, been there 7 or 8 times.

Art

Hi Donna, we just took a trip to Paris, Portogal and SPain. We took side trips to Africa(Morocco) and Gibralter. We spent a total of $6000 including Air Fare, Train fare and everything else. We ate a very nice meal at Altitude 95 in the Eifle Tower for $65.00 for the two of us. You have more than enough saved, but I recommend that you only get a small amount of travel checks. I have carried $100 on the last 3 trips to Europe and have not used one yet. ATM's are everywhere. You get the best exchange using ATM's and your credit card especially with the Euro exchange rate now. Make copies of your drivers license, passports and other important papers and stash them in various places. Wear a under the clothes and only carry what you need for a day. Like here in the US some people are on the prowal for tourests. We wory fanny packs turned around to the front and had no purses. I carried my camera with the strap around my neck and sholder. I have had no problems in Europe by simply taking these simple precautions. Spain has the worst reputation for pickpockets etc but again we had no problems. Take a half day tour of Paris your first day to get the general layout and then go off on your own. Take a shuttle from the Airport to your hotel. You can reserve it on cometoparis.com. You then simply call the 800 number BEFORE you pick up your luggage and they will tell you which exit to go out and will meet you there and drop you at your hotel door. <BR>Have a great trip. I think after this one you will not be able to wait for the next trip. I as a lot of people on this forum go every year. <BR>Art <BR>

Bob

Some help in planning. The best dinner we had in Paris (fixed price menu) was <BR>145ff each plus the wine which was 100ff to 150ff. Coffee at a street cafe <BR>was 35ff.

Alma

Donna, I will be going to Paris for the first time in June also. I have done lots of research (Libraries, bookstores and of course, this great site). I picked up "Cheap Eats in Paris" and I think it's the best book I read. (that's probably because my mouth was watering over the foods mentioned!) <BR>Get a good street & metro map at the bookstore. Instead of renting a car, I would take day trips out of Paris(Citydaytours or ParisVision). Just learn the basics words: Hello, Thank you, Goodbye, Good morning, Good evening, How much? Where's the toilet? I'm sure you'll do fine. It's going to be an adventure for me in June. I'll be there by myself! Tell your husband to relax and enjoy the trip. You have more money then you probably need.

elaine

Hi I would not recommend using parisvision or cityrama for an easy day trip like Chartres or Versailles. Those bus tours are quite expensive, and <BR>both Chartres and and Versailles are exceptionally easy to get to on your own, and more inexpensive on the train. <BR>With three of you, it would be worth comparing the train fares to the cost of renting a car, however. <BR> <BR>I have a Paris file; if you'd like to see it, email me.

Art

I meant wear a MONEY BELT under your clothes. <BR>

Cindy

Donna, in addition to what has been said, I'll just add that it sounds like some of your husband's concern is the person who said meals are $100 per person. To reassure hubby, just tell him that you'll try to eat cheaply, but if money starts to run short, there is always McDonalds. That oughtta do it. <BR> <BR>Have a great time! Paris is a blast if you relax and go with the flow.

lisa

Donna -- Please post a trip report when you get back, because we will want to know how it went and whether your husband's concerns were alleviated once you got there. Your experiences may help out someone else with similar cost anxieties about Paris.

Bob Brown

Al was a little flip in his comments, but some of it is very good advice. <BR>Studying the map before arriving is a good idea. I spent quite a bit of time looking at the Metro routes on a map. I never took a wrong train - at least not yet. <BR>Then, I learned I preferred the bus to the Metro, mainly because we could see where we were going. (I thought the Metro was clautrophobic! Long tunnels, steps, crowds, and a peculiar smell.) <BR>We bought carnets of 10 tickets in the Metro stations for 58 francs and used up several of them. <BR> <BR>The other thing true is that you do need to keep your valuables safe. There are several arguments in earlier posts of the merits of money belts versus neck types. As long as you have the valuables under your clothes, you should defeat most pickpockets and other varieties of light fingered artists. <BR>I carry a little money in my billfold so I can get to it easily. It is a calculated risk, of couse. <BR> <BR>And the sweet treats in Paris are good. <BR> <BR>If you decide to go to Versailles, I think you can do it on your own. And on your own timetable. You can take RER train C5 from Invalides, Austerlitz, and some other stops. Just make sure that you are headed for Versailles Rive Gauche. (I think the trains have names that start with V.)You will need a new ticket for the RER. <BR>The strategy for Versailles is one that is open to debate. We went in the morning, in fact, we got there before the ticket window opened. We started off as a thin trickle, but then the tour buses started pouring in and the Parisian mob was in full march. I have heard that if you go about 2 hours before closing the tour groups have moved on and you have an easier time of it. The other way is to pick a cold day in January!! (We were there in late September.)

Shanna

Hmmmm. . . lots of interesting - and telling - remarks about the Husband! Let me tell you my story: back in the early '80s I suggested to Gary, my new husband, that we go to England for a belated honeymoon. He was cool to the idea, wanted "to see the good ol' USA first." Well, I, too, saved and planned and he made no input whatsoever - grrrr. But I made certain the vacation involved things he would be interested in - old buildings, King Arthur, history. He was amazed - and told me so repeatedly on the trip - at how much fun he was having. When I later tried for France, however, he balked and I went alone. I believe he was afraid of the language barrier and my speaking some French probably didn't do much for his ego. And men like to be in control - a strange city, strange customs, are intimidating. All the advice you're getting to familiarize your husband is good. Increase his comfort level. But with all that scads of money you're taking, you might also want to consider a single room for your daughter. It may be awkward for a man to sleep in the same room with an 18-year old female, even if related. Besides, Paris is the most romantic place. He may want to be alone with wife. Try to find time to be alone together. Gary died of cancer six years after our trip to England. He thanked me for making him go on that trip, and apologized that we hadn't seen Paris together. Put your arms around your hubby's neck and give him a long kiss; promise him he won't regret it.

Donna

Shanna, I don't know what to say. What a beautiful story. I think hubby does have some of the concerns you mentioned in your post. I'm working on him, though. Really, after he vented his concerns, he has eased up a lot and he's getting enthusiastic again. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me.

Art

Donna, I forgot to mention. I took my sister on my last trip. At first she didn't want to go (she's never been out of the States and barely out of New England). I sent her my photo albium of my previous trip and that changed her mind. She was very nervious the first few days but really started to enjoy it the 2nd week and now is excited about going again some time and really is glad that she did. It is really an amazing experiance and your husband will be glad that he went. Be carefull though, you may awaken a tiger. <BR>

Lyn

Donna <BR>I must tell you that Australians reading these postings from the U.S. are just green with envy. The average traveller from here can only dream of having that much to spend. On our last trip we allowed $A300 a day for 2 star hotel accommodation (in the heart of the 5th arrondisement) food, metro and museum tickets. We stayed in Paris for 3 weeks, went on daytrips to Versailles, Chartres, Giverny etc and ate well but never at expensive restaurants. We loved every minute of it. You have heaps of money. <BR>And for any of you Americans who want a great travel deal - come to Australia and boost our currency for us. Please. <BR>Lyn

kitkat

This past summer, our family fo 4 spent about $6,500 for 21 days in Italy and France with 31/2 days in Paris. That included 1 1/2 plane tickets (the rst were on frequnet flyer miles, all hotels (no hostels), three nights at hotel Muget, car lease, food, entertainment and most of our souvenirs. I think you should have no trouble for 8 days unless you choose fancy restaurants. Get the Carte de Musee for much of your entertainment. Travel by subway is easy, but watch your purse. Have a great time.