Starting in Paris then what?!
 

So excited because I have just purchased my ticket to Paris! I will be arriving at the Charles de Gaulle Airport. I have 12-14 days to spend there and I need some advice! Most practical form of transportation, how much money should I budget? Must see places other than the obvious Eiffel Tower? Places to go out at night (clubs, bars ect..) I'm going to be turning 21 while abroad so I want to party! ;) Also I am wondering how much I should pack.
If possible I would like to visit Amsterdam or Italy? Any recommendations on how I could get to either place (fly, train, bus?)
Any general tips or advice is also appreciated.

Thanks!

PS. I am traveling at the end of July.

Well, first of all turning 21 is a non event in Europe as the drinking ages are substantially lower there.

Transportation - where to? Paris? somewhere else?
Budget - what can you afford? do you want budget/mid-range/luxury?
What to see - get a guide book
Places to go out - Thorntree might be a better forum for that.
Packing - carry on size.
for 12-14 days (why don't you know if you've booked your flights?) pick 3 places max.

Transportation: within Paris.. how could I get to the Eiffel Tower to say... the Loouve. Would it be best to take a taxi? Train? Bus?

Also out of Paris.. to Italy perhaps Lake Como. Or Amsterdam. Depending on what is easiest Ill make a decision.

Budget: id like to bring about $2000 USD and I am not looking for luxury. But I'd like to be comfortable.

I haven't booked a trip home. Are there any countries that are cheaper to fly back to the US from?

Well - first of all I'd say if you can still refund your one way ticket you should do that as one way tickets to/from Europe are crazy expensive.

One way tickets are substantially more money than round trip tickets (unless you booked using frequent flyer miles).

You need to do some research on where you want to go and then decide on which city to fly home from. Don't show up in Europe without a return ticket home.

<< how could I get to the Eiffel Tower to say... the Loouve >>

It's Louvre.

No one can tell you how to get places unless you know where you're starting from. Use the metro or buses. Depending on where you're staying you could walk.

It will be easy to take a train to Amsterdam. Lake Como is farther and a bit more complex. Train or plane to Milan and then train to Varenna-Esino. Lake Como for a 21 year old is not really the best place to go.

You might consider Prague for a third location.

Do not bring any money with you. Use ATM/cash machines for local currency and do not draw out a lot at one time. If you exchange dollars for local currency you will not get a favorable exchange rate.

Please get a couple of guide books - libraries are great sources for guides - and read them. Decide on how much time in each location based on your interests.

<<<Please get a couple of guide books - libraries are great sources for guides - and read them. Decide on how much time in each location based on your interests.>>>

That's v.sound advice! Why do people book a flight, and then expect other people to do all their planning for them?!

You can start right here: http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/france/paris/
And then search the forums -- look at this page's top right corner -- for answers to specific questions.

"I'd like to bring about $2,000 USD."

Terrible idea. First, if you bring that much cash, that's a big risk. Second, where will you exchange it? Banks won't do it, and exchange booths will charge you an arm and a leg and you'll stand to lose up to 10% of your money. All you need is a debit card, preferably from a bank or credit union that doesn't charge excessive exchange fees or withdrawal fees.

You need to start reading and formulating your own plan. People here will be happy to tweak it, but we're not your travel agent.

Use the bus to get around. You will see the city and learn your way around. In Paris, consider Oberkampf or Bastille areas for partying. I would use ATMs to withdraw money but don't show up with a wad of cash.

The must see stuff is too individual to list....depends on your interests ( art, churches, shopping, food, parks, etc.... ).

If you had not already bought a plane ticket, it would be best to buy an open jaw ticket. This means you would fly to Paris and then fly home from the last city you visit. You would search for such flights at a site such as www.kayak.com under the option "multi-city".

But since you have already bought a one-way ticket to Paris, you should find a city to return from. Check prices on www.kayak.com and compare the different options by city, airline, and date. You should definitely secure a ticket home before you leave for Paris.

For budget flights within Europe, check out www.whichbudget.com

Paris is very walkable, but for longer distances you will want to take the metro. You can check out the map of the lines and information in general about the metro at http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/visiting-paris/

Taxis can become useful if you are totally confused, and you need to get back to your hotel. For this purpose, you can carry a card with the hotel's address and show it to the driver. Otherwise, at your age, I would think you can stick to the metro (or the bus, if you happen to be near a bus stop that is on a line that is useful for you).

I am guessing it was expensive to buy a one way ticket, but if you already have it, it is a done deal. Next time plan ahead and get multi-city tickt, into one city and out of another.

A few suggestions to start.
1. Get a copy of Rick Steve's book, Europe Through the Back Door. It has lots of travel tips, like how to use trains, buses, etc. in Europe.
2. Once you decide what cities you will see, get Top 10 guide books for each city. Fodors, Fromers, etc.
3. Forget taking cash with you. Get an ATM card with a pin and chip. Use ATM machines to get money. Get what you need every couple of days. Use it in the airport when you arrive to have money for metro, taxi, etc.
4. In most European cities, use the metro (subway system) or city buses or walk. Forget HOHO bus. They get stuck to often in traffic. Get a good map for each city, showing metro stops.
5. Decide where you want to go, then get advice on how to do it. Example: to go to Amsterdam, probably take the train. To go to someplace in Italy, probably fly.
6. Buy a good guide book for Paris. There is far too much to see for anyone to give you an itinerary at this point.
7. Decide. Do you have 12 days or 14. Are those actual days on the ground or does that include your travel days? That is important and dictates what you can do. Example: If you have 12 days and two are for travel, that leaves only 8. Then I would say do Paris and Amsterdam. If you have 14 and none are travel, then I would say do Paris and Italy.
8. Look at Lonely Planet books.

H, my daughter travelled with another girl at 19. They pre-booked at a backpackers for their first 3 nights, this was the ONLY place they booked from home. They didn't have trouble booking anywhere else (around Europe) but booked all other places at least 24 hours before they were due there. Usually the hostel staff will fill you in on places to go. My daughter found the catacombs in Paris intriguing (if a bit gruesome). When my family did it, we took a tour bus around Paris to point out the main 'sights' and it helped us to get our bearings. Then we walked to the places we wanted to have a good look at. Lonely planet and the other guides mentioned on this forum will suggest nightlife places etc, and there is plenty of info on this forum and under the 'destinations' tab and other sites. Just read read read! have great fun planning.