Paris, Versailles, and the beaches of Normandy in 4 days and on a budget
 

We are going during mid November. On a Wednesday night we would like to leave and go to Paris. We would like to see the Eiffel Tower at night and then head to our place to stay. Right now we are looking for super cheap hotels or even a hostel we would be comfortable in. That Thursday and Friday we would like to spend all day in Paris exploring the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Seine River. I am in love with Paris due to having an amazing French teacher for four years in high school tell me amazing stories. On the Saturday we would take a day trip to Versailles and experience the amazing history from Marie Antoinette. Then on Sunday we would like to visit the beaches of Normandy to see the history of WWII and then back to Grantham, England. This is our plan but honestly we have no idea on what website we should be looking for to plan all of this or even if this would work. If anyone has advice to help us out that would be great! Thanks!

>>>>><i> I am in love with Paris due to having an amazing French teacher for four years in high school tell me amazing stories.</i>

If you only have 4 days, stay in Paris the whole time. You are <i>relatively close</i>, and can always go back for Versailles and Normandy another time. Paris is magical, and I think once there, you may regret spending two days on Versailles and Normandy, wishing you would have spent that time in Paris.

Also, since you are on a budget, it's better to stay in one spot as opposed to all the transportation costs to other cities, IMO.


How many people are traveling?

I agree. And I think it would be impossible to get from Paris to the D-Day beaches/museums/sites and back to England in a single day.

Wait, I just saw your other thread. You are also going to Ireland, London, Berlin to Deseau, Prague, Rome, and Spain.
And you are not *from* Grantham, England, but the US?

How does this trip fit in with all of the other cities? We need more info :)

Yes we are going to those other trips. The three of us are from Illinois and have the opportunity to study abroad at Harlaxton Manor which is located at Grantham, England. Each weekend we are taking a new trip but none of us have ever been out of the country so we really don't know the first thing to oversea traveling. We basically all picked places we would want to go assuming we would never be able to come back. That is why we are going to all those countries. We are trying to make everyone happy even though we know some of us must give up in order to make the trip amazing. We are hoping to stay at a budget of $350 for each country since we do have to pay for this all on our own.

Does the $350 cover ALL costs (transportation, lodging, food, sightseeing, etc.)? That's $87.50 a day, assuming these are going to be 4-day trips. That'll be tough.

First off the assumption you will never get back is typical of the young, relax, unless you die young you likely can make it back for another visit, lol We aren't all millionaires here and many of have managed to return again and again.

Secondly, your budget makes some of your plans unrealistic..you can visit Paris for 4 days and MAYBE see Versailles on the budget, but forget a rush trip to Normandy, and frankly worst time ever to go there, its dark out by 4.30 and cold and likely rainy! Since I am guessing you are interested in D Day beaches etc, I suggest you time that trip for later in spring or earlier in fall. Make it a separate trip from England, visit Mont St Michel, Bayeaux and D Day beaches.

In Paris you need a cheap place to stay, a hostel with a kitchen you could use would be ideal, you can save money by eating at least breakfast in and maybe making a few picnics. MIJE is considered a decent hostel, and the Marignan Hotel offers triples for 98 euros and it includes breakfast and its in a GREAT area, for about the same price as a hostel as in hostels you will pay 25-30 anyways for a shared room with a shared bathroom.
www.hotel-marignan.com/

Sorry meant in hostels you pay 25-35 per head, whereas hotels you pay per room .

Is the $350 per person for each trip? Or is that for the whole group for each trip? So is $350 the total budget for three of you to go from England to Paris for 2 days, Versailles for a third, D-Day beaches for a fourth and then cover your transport back to England? You should also try to use euros and not dollars when mentioning your budget since that is the currency in use for most places you want to visit (per your other thread). Not really a big deal but it's easier for responders to not have to convert your budget.

well it turns out that Harlaxton manor is the UK outpost of the University of Evansville, indiana - who'd have thought it?

I'd never heard of either place before I spotted this thread!

An expense/time waster you are probably forgetting about is the cost/time to get to and from the airports - which one do you plan to use? Look up those costs for both sides of the trip and you may be suprised at how little $350 is after you factor in the flight costs as well. None of this is feasible if you are looking at $350 total. I think you will find it hard even on $350 each...

I would definitely encourage you to not forget about the great locations closer to 'home' and explore some of the UK!