$2500 would allow me to stay in Paris for 3 weeks (all expenses included). There is nothing wrong with budget travel. I have had 9 great trips to Europe and am getting ready for another trip to include a side trip to Africa.
This is my 4th trip to Europe in 12 months. Enjoy your trip! You will want to come back for more!

Palette,
Where can I find the 3 hour canal ride for 12 euros? leaving for Paris in 2 weeks and would love to do this.

All I can say is...............your budget will leave you much much room for a great time...just shop around for lunch/dinner and you will have no problem.

ReddVelvet - here is the URL - I know there used to be one in English but this a.m. I haven't been able to find it. Just right click and do the "translate into English" function.
http://www.pariscanal.com/
I see that the 12 Euro is for senior citizens (I am)and the regular adult fee is 16E. There is another canal boat company which leaves from the marina on the east end of Paris, but I like this one because it departs from near the Musee d'Orsay and you get the Seine in addition to the canal. It's a slow ride through the canal and the east neighborhoods and then goes underground into a tunnel for about 20 mins. Drops you at the Parc Villette; from the Parc it is an easy metro ride back to the center of Paris. I like sitting below on the front of the boat, popping back inside when the locks begin to fill because otherwise it is a wet ride!

Re: Viaduct des Arts
I didn't check this url before posting it b/c I know our corporate security wont' allow it (tried it before - an excellent site).
www.atkielski.com/PhotoGallery/ Paris/General/ViaducDesArtsLarge.html

http://www.viaduc-des-arts.com/

Reddvelvet - if you go to bonjourparis.com, type Paris Canal in the search box, it will take you to an article I wrote about the canal, with a few photos.

This thread has been so encouraging to a broke college student whose dream is to go to France for her honeymoon. So if night can do 8 days in Paris for $2500, so you think we can do two weeks, one in Paris, one in Provence for $5000 (including airfare)?

From which city would you be flying? How inexpensive are you willing to have your honeymoon room! And would you be using the train to Provence? What time of year; flights are higher in summer months. Once these major expenses are locked in, you are in charge of how much you spend each day. You can eat from street vendors or four star restaurants; you can buy gifts for everyone back home or for no one since it is your trip and not their memories. Hard to say about your budget without the answers to the first questions.

katie_scarlett, for two weeks, two people, extra traveling, I don't know, unless you do your research. My recent two week trip cost well over 5 grand, for one person. although part of that was heading over to Switzerland where the livin' is easy but ain't cheap!

night - I think you'll be ok, you aren't moving around a lot, and after airfare and hotel you still have 200 bucks a day to work with. you won't be able to go hog wild on souvenirs, but I think you will be ok.

You can pretty well figure out exactly how much you will spend just by planning in advance and writing everything down. Post your budget here and someone will be able to tell you if you have missed anything. Of course it's always possible there will be an unforeseen expense (e.g. if you have to buy a new suitcase or something), but that can happen at home also.

Elaine,
Thanks so much for your Paris Notes! They are amazing!
--Night

I just looked up the figures from our 12 days in Paris just last month. Not counting the apt., we averaged $187.00 a day including everything. If you take out our most expensive day (Disneyland Paris) the average for the other 11 days becomes $165.
Those figures include nice but not extravagant meals -- Astier, Le Petite Prince, Reine Blanche, Aux Charpentiers twice, etc. and full lunches generally, not just sandwiches, as well as wines, transportation including taxis to the airport and from the train station, museums, entrances, drinks at cafes, etc. I think with $250 a day to spend not including the hotel, you have a nice budget -- $ 60 to $90 a day more than we spent having a great time!

If you feel you have to buy souvenirs for all your family and friends, something I NEVER do, then you may have trouble. I say since you're short of cash -- just spend it on yourselves.

I'm just bumping this up so I can take notes.

islandmom,
You may want to check out my trip report: "Night's Paris trip report" where I have itemized all my expenses.
--night

Thank you!