Two months in Paris, is it feasible?
 

I've been home a month from my first visit to Paris. After two weeks I fell in love and am scheming how to stay longer. I am thinking of renting an apartment in the Marais for April and May 2007. I know it's a ways off but I need to start saving now.

Has anyone done something like this? Taken an extended vacation? I'm interesting in hearing pros and cons.
And I'm trying to justify the expense when I rent and "should" buy. And there are so many other places I have yet to see that I'd like to. Paris just cast this unexpected spell on me...

The only thing better than a week in Paris is a month in Paris. The only thing better than a month in Paris is two months in Paris. Go for it.

Personally while we have done quite a few "extended" vacations of up to 5 months at a time in Europe, I feel more comfortable with more variety. We have never stayed more than 2 weeks in any one place in Europe at one time, because I want to see and experience others. But I see nothing wrong with spending 2 months there if that's what you want to do.

Sure it is. I've a friend who stayed in a Florence apartment (while taking an Italian class) for about 6 weeks and I remember reading a post here (was it one of Elvira's?) about renting an apartment in Paris for a month or so. If this is a good time for you to take a "sabatical" of such a length, without the commitments of a mortgage, family, career, etc. I'd go for it!

As long as you have health insurance and don't rack up debt doing it, why not?

Renting at home ( I assume that's what you mean by saying 'renting and "should" buy') isn't really that bad at certain stages of one's life. Renting can afford you a huge amount of flexibility. The people who have interest-only mortgages are certainly no better off either.

Use your long term planning to your advantage. Plan to change rental digs just before you leave for Paris. Throw your stuff in cheaper-than-apartment-rent storage. When you return move back into an apartment. Without paying rent in both places you might be able to extend your stay. From the US you get 90 tourist days in the Euro-zone with zero paper work.

"Paris just cast this unexpected spell on me..."

Yeah, Paris has a nasty habit of doing that.

Have a great time.

keb, where do you live? Maybe sublet your own rental out for the two months to help pay? One good thing is many apartments in Paris get cheaper the longer you stay.

I can think of absolutely NO cons. You'll go someplace else some other time. Two months in Paris sound like heaven.

Wow, you'd be living my dream. I do hope you post here now & again *while* you're on sabbatical. :)

WOW! thank you all for reassuring what I'm sure my family will think I'm crazy for. I rent in Seattle, actually I'm an apartment manager so I get reduced rent. It may be sticky to rearrange but I will figure something out.

As for my job I'm a nanny and hopefully my boss will be supportive. It's her fault I went to Paris in the first place. :) I accompanied them in Provence this summer and tacked personal vacation on before their vacation.
I originally wanted to stay 3 months then realized in 2007 one of the girls I nanny will "graduate" from elementary so I have to be here in June for that.
It's all a ways off and life may change but planning and saving for it helps keep withdrawls at bay :)

Hi K,

The major problem is that, after 2 mos in Paris, you won't want to leave.

((I))

I au paired in Paris when I was 17 for two months - albeit looking after my cousin. When we were 30, DH & I spent a year in Europe - mainly in France & Morocco. My aunt & uncle were back in Paris and we were fortunate enough to spend about 3 months in Paris over that time.
I've never had to pay for accommodation but had no problem spending that amount of time in such a wonderful time.
Have you looked at getting a short term job as a nanny?

There are websites that match au paires with families. Easy to find on google.

All the best

oops
that should be I've never had to pay for accommodation but had no problem spending that amount of time in such a wonderful CITY.

Welcome to the club & stay as long as you can...

A coworker with his partner did 2 months in Paris last summer. They rented an apartment and had a blast. One got a leave of absense and the other was able to work via internet. They did not express a single regret (that's putting it mildly). suze, seattle

Is it practicable for you to consider a home exchange?

Go to www.slowtrav.com, especially the talk board. There are a number of people there who have done extended trips to Europe, exactly as you're interested in.

Home exchange is a great suggestion. Perhaps there are some Parisians that would love to have an apartment in Seattle for two months as a US/Canada home base. It doesn't hurt to try.

Another YES vote. Go now before your life is no longer you own - ie; husband, kids, mortgage, etc.. This is your time to enjoy life. Even if your parents think that you are nuts, give them a big hug, send them lots of postcards, and off you go. If they are typical parents, they will brag to everyone that their daughter has 'moved' to Paris.

We've had several extended stays in Paris, longest being five weeks .... and even that wasn't enough.

If you don't follow your dream, it will become nothing but a dim memory.

Nina

Only if you take me with you.

Hi keb0503,

I've been to Paris twice, total of 6 days combined and I can’t wait to go back. This fall I'll be renting an apt (by myself) for 8 weeks near Notre Dame. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. It’s an incredible opportunity and but I worry about the financial impact. I’m fortunate to have my husband agree to hold down the fort and take care of the dog while I am gone. Last winter I worked on a budget, determined how much an 8 week trip would cost, and decide what I would pay cash for and what would go on the credit card. It’s not cheap but it’s finding a balance in order to make this dream a reality.

I’m paying cash for the apt ($4000 for 8 weeks), for each week I gave my self $300 in spending money, entry fees, metro, lunch out and groceries to eat breakfast and dinner in. I’d figured treating myself to a nice lunch everyday would be a less of an expense than treating myself to dinner out every night. I’ll be charging my air fare and train tickets, I’ll be coming to Paris via Frankfurt and departing via Amsterdam. The credit card I’m saving for emergencies and one or two large splurges, cooper pots and a Hermes scarf for my mom.

My apt parameters was to find a location I would feel comfortable living by myself, so I choose the 5th since its one of the few places in Paris I knew the most about and spent time in. I was tempted by other areas but simply did not know what I would be walking into. The only apt amenity I insisted on is having a washer and dryer. Internet access would be a bonus.

I contacted over 40 apt owners through VRBO and Craig’s List, plus a few agencies. Did side by side comparisons (spreadsheet) and choose my apt based on location, price (I was quoted in dollars), amenities, look of apt through pictures and the responsiveness of the owner. I choose VRBO #20017. The owner was extremely responsive, pleasant and patient in answering all of my questions. Plus I had seen positive feedback about him in different posts.

The kicker about renting an apt for 8 weeks is how many family members and friends come out the wood work and want to come visit you. And they want to bring their friends along as well. I’ve actually refrained from telling a lot of people to avoid being put in a difficult spot. I’m being careful about extending invites as I want to avoid playing tour guide every week and visiting the same hot spots over and over with a new group of visitors.

I’ve live on the eastside and this summer we’ve had a lot of friends and family come to visit us. Every week I was at the Space Needle, Pike Street and taking an Argosy cruise through the locks.

I have a few people coming to visit Paris and most can easily entertain themselves and navigate the city on their own. Not to say I don’t want the company or that I don’t want to spend time with them, but I did not want to put myself in the position of playing hostess and tour guide. But it might be a good way to supplement the cost of the apt rental. If friends want to come and visit, ask for a contribution.

I don’t think there is a remedy for the Paris bug, once your bit it’s all over. I know after 8 weeks I’ll want to go back again and again. My plan is to visit each and every district; I walk all over the city and just absorb every moment of it. And while I’m there I’ll probably look at few other apts for return visits.

If you make it happen with in your comfort level, go for it, and in the end you’ll always have Paris.

Alicia

Depending on where you live you can try a home exchange. It saves money and gives you a lot of conviences.

I don't see anything wrong with it if you aren't going into debt to do it and want to.

I think it's a little unrealistic for many people to think repeat and longterm visits are going to be like the glow of a first-time vacation in a spot, though. You are going to have to arrange health insurance, which will be another expense. Some of those travelers' policies may not cover that long a time, and I think they often have surcharges, if they do (the usual is around 30 days coverage, I think). You don't say what kind of insurance you have in the US--hopefully it will remain intact, because if you don't have any, or drop US coverage, that can affect your future rates and ability to get insurance in the US--at least without pre-existing conditions clauses. I believe there is a grace period of 63 days (under HIPAA law) for you to be without health insurance before a company can then consider your pre-existing conditions in coverage. Maybe you don't have any condition that you would worry about that, though.

It isn't that easy to get a "nanny" job in France--I know someone who tried and there is too much competition; some of the families want someone fluent in French, also (which my friend was, but still couldn't get a job). You know your current situation, but I wouldn't think your current employer would be supportive of you taking off 2 months because if they need a nanny, they can't usually be without one for several months, and it is hard to make casual shortterm arrangments for that kind of thing.

Alicia, we live in a tourist destination and it took me several years to get up the nerve to put an end to the tour guide business.

If it's not a really, really good friend, I say something like, "Oh that's great you're coming to town. If you don't already have a hotel reservation, let me suggest.....". Then I say "We've got something going on Friday night but let's meet for drinks or dinner on Saturday" or lunch Sunday or whatever. And "You really should take the walking tour, that number is>>..."

This sounds terrible but my own mother does not know we own a beach rental. We would never get her out of there. Very few of our friends know about it and still we get asked all the time if our condo is "free" such & such a weekend. I say I really don't know because we have a management company on site that takes care of all that but here's the number. Be sure and tell them you're a friend of ours.

It literally took years for me to be able to pull that off but we really had no choice. It was getting totally out of hand.

I considered a home exchange. Being the building manager though it may not work well. I might have to ask a friend to fill in for me while away.

Alicia- when is your trip? I haven't even started seriously investigating apts. And I'm being quiet about the idea since that's all it is for now.

I thought about the au pair gig but having had a bad situation here at home I'm more cautious about who I work for. I think pure holiday would be great!

As for health insurance I have individual coverage that is paid in full every year. I guess I would have to check with them about coverage in Paris. Is there supplemental travel health insurance that is nessasary? I've never taken out any and even have traveled when I had no "home" coverage.

Again thanks for all the support!
Keely

Re. health insurance: Just check w/ your plan - it's most likely you will not need to do anything additional.

As for the length of your trip: Paris is one of the few places (like NY, London or Rome) that will keep you enthralled for that length of time. Remember there are also other places easily reached by train from Paris as well.

Traveled with no "home" coverage keely?

Wow! That's stunning to me. I've never, ever been without health insurance. It's not optional. It's absolutely mandatory. You'll never know how much you need insurance in the US until you don't have it and have an "incident."

Please, please be careful. If you've gambled without insurance in the past, you need to realize how important it is. If my choice were a trip to Europe or health insurance, I'd choose health insurance every single time.

I think living in Paris and getting an apartment is the easiest part of this.

Trickier I believe is all the stuff on the home front. Either leave of absense or quitting your nanny job, having to give up your cheap apartment deal or finding someone to sublease plus cover what you do there for two months if this is even allowable with your apartment owner, saving up enough cash, etc.

Once you have the time off and have the money saved "renting an apartment in the Marais" will be a piece of cake.

Ya, I thought the preparations would be the tricky part. I think when it comes down to it I'll figure out how to make it work.

Indy: I understand your concerns w/insurance. I know how lucky I was nothing happened when I was uncovered and that luck runs out. I'm more careful now :)

Now to just pinch my pennies...

Hi Keely,

The apt rental term is Oct 9 - Dec 4. I started looking at rentals in February to get an idea of what I wanted and where. Through March and April I started contacting landlords on availability.

A few of my selections were already booked for random weeks duirng my stay and I thought I better get on this or I may have a hard time securing a place for 8 straight weeks.

Since I was doing this sight unseen it was suggested to stay at hotel in Paris than look around for an apt but people book they're rental time anywhere from 8-16 months in advance. Forget about peak season...

I still have most of the print outs, if you're interested I'd be happy to share them with you, I'm in Bellevue. [email protected]

Linda,
I laughed out loud about your beach rental arrangement. My husband and I have discussed purchasing one and how to avoid telling the family about it!