PatrickLondon

Another option might be to see if you can do a home exchange? You don't say where you live, but you might find people who want to go there or near there. Exchangers are often people in a similar situation to you, or retired people. There are plenty of websites all about it, mostly subscription-based but some free. There have been several threads about it on Fodors.

rs899

bertrand took the words right out of my mouth. We have stayed in etaps ( I think it's etaphotels.com, part of accor) , b&bhotel.com, premier classe, also villages-hotels ( most of which were absorbed by the B&B chain). You can find most of these in France, a few in Germany and can get them for as little as 40 Euro/night. I would stay away from Formule1, though- that one does not have a bathroom ensuite and is a little too budget for my taste.

Rick

bertrand

HI rs899, you are right about formule 1 , I agree with you.
For me the best deal is Hotel b&b Paris Malakoff, easy accessible by subway (station is within 500 ft), clean and nice surroundings. I always stay there. All you can eat breakfast buffet (as in the other hotel chains I mentioned)
1 or 2 "n" in mentionned ? Help me, I try to improve my english.

bertrand

How to visit Paris, Rome, Venice, Monte Carlo, NYC, Egypt and many more during the same trip ? And all these spots within walking distance ? Go to Vegas !!!

natlove

Thanks all. I've already started looking into the apt. and B&B breakfast. I also started making suggestions for birthday and Christmas gifts and also vacation gifts. Think I will be ready when the time comes. Vacation fund started with our first gift of 100 bucks.

wmarks

When I budget for a trip I exclude those items I would be paying for at home anyway. If you are going to be eating most of your meals in your apartment, I would only budget the amount above what you would spend for food at home. My wife and I eat at least half of our lunches and dinners in restaurants so I only include the added cost of eating in Paris restaurants, etc. Also, if we subtract the cost of gas (both of us have significant commutes), the cost of dry cleaning and other costs we would incur at home, it makes the trip seem less expensive. Now sticking to the budget.... that's a discussion for another day.

tcreath

If you really want to watch your budget you may want to consider staying outside of a city (although you would have to spend some money for transportation). Germany, as a rule of thumb, is usually cheaper than some of the other western European countries. We've stayed in beautiful ferienwohnungs (vacation apartments) in the Mosel area and southern Bavaraia for under $50.00 per night. Then, as mentioned above, you could save money but eating a lot of your meals in. It's fun to shop at the local grocery stores or markets. I also agree that you may have to cut down your time to just one week since your budget will go fast after you factor in the exchange rates.

Good luck!
Tracy

Cries_Van_Notebook

Easy Jet doesn't fly from the US.

Air Berlin is not that cheap. I plugged in two round-trip tickets from JFK to Tegel for next week (one adult, one child) and the fare is $1800.

It is more if you fly from LA.

I would like to know why the OP is being evasive and not tell us how he plans to pay for two plane tickets to Europe from the US.

Thin

bertrand

I meant easyjet and airberlin to fly inter-cities in Europe.

StCirq

<<So far I've saved up 1000 us dollars. I really want to go to France with my daughter for about 10 or 12 days. What can I do with that and where can I really go. Airfare is Not included in the 800.>>

I don't understand this. What 800?

And FWIW, the only Formule1 I've ever stayed in, in the Loire, had a bathroom ensuite.

HappyTrvlr

Our least expensive trips to Europe, and where we got the best value for our money, were in Greece and Portugal.

lincasanova

My Formula 1 in Alicante had no ensuite, either.
Never again. Someone had told me they were "OK" for a night..

rs899

We crashed a Formule1 in Dreaux. It was baaad. Very dodgey neighborhood. I felt like I needed to wipe down everything with rubbing alcohol.

BigRuss

Do you live somewhere that a European family or couple would want to visit? If so, get information on home exchanges and see if anyone wants to swap dwellings with you. My parents do this about 2-3 times each year and it saves a TON of money on lodging costs.

If you can stay with family in the Heathrow area, you should strongly consider London -- most major museums are free, and there are dozens of places to eat good quality inexpensive meals throughout the tourist areas (EAT, Pret-a-Manger, M&S Simply Food). Plus it has excellent parks and a good transportation system.

The worst thing for you is really the exchange rate. The dollar is in the tank. When we went to London in April/May, the dollar was 1.44-1.48 to the pound and in the high 1.20s to low 1.30s against the Euro. Now the exchange rate has added 15% or more to the price of whatever you want to buy.

tcreath

I read the original thread as saying that the airfare is not included in her budget (perhaps she put 800 instead of 1000 by mistake)? Otherwise, obviously, the airfare to any city in Europe in August would cost more than the OPs entire budget.

Tracy

suze

The airfare is separate from the 800-1000USD budget according to the original post.

You need to shorten your time &/or up your budget.

$800 will simply not cover 2 people for a 12 day trip. That's only 45 euro per day! No way can that pay for even the cheapest apartment & food even if you only eat bread & cheese and don't spend a cent on anything else.

I would suggest one week, all in Paris, and try to save so you have at least $1200 (or maybe fly thru London if you can spend a few days with the relative for free).

Cries_Van_Notebook

Another thing to consider, OP, is that you bringing along your 8-year-old daughter. You just can't take her into some dodgy boarding house or hostel in a bad neighbourhood.

I certainly wouldn't want to stay in a place that did not have an en suite toilet with an 8-year-old.

Also, a little girl, described as a "princess" on another thread is going to want Amorino gelato and hot chocolate from Angelina if in Paris. She is going to want something from the gift shop at the Orsay or Louvre. Add this to the budget.

I can't see going to Paris and eating sandwiches and soup all the time. You aren't going to want to go to a cafe and eat some of the food that France is famous for? You aren't going to want to stop at a cafe and have a coffee or a coke when you are tired? These things add up.

Add in museum entrance fees. Fees to get into palaces and some churches (like Ste Chapelle). Metro tickets. Bus tickets. Transportation fare from CDG to Paris and return.

Now, you don't have to take a taxi from CDG to Paris, you can take the RER, but taxi fare is about 60 euros one way (that is $88).

I was in Paris in November and my hotel bill was 800 euros, which exceeds your budget, for a two-star single in the Latin Quarter.

I am just trying to give you an idea of what a trip to Europe really costs.

Thin

Dayenu

One more thing that can eat up some of your budget. We don't know if you've traveled before, if you have passports. Now you must have a passport to go to Europe. You will need 2: for you and for your daughter.

Dayenu

This is from another thread:

natlove on Sep 24, 09 at 10:52 PM
Never really traveled outside of the US.

If you will be applying for the first passport, it will be $100 for adult, $85 for a child.

Maybe you want to look into going to French Canada instead, you can get cheaper Passport Cards, and the trip may be affordable?

natlove

As of yesterday the budget was 1000 dollars. The 800 was a mistake. I've contacted my family in London so we will be staying with them. The budget now is $1000 saved and still saving until August 2010. By then we will be ok as family and friends will give money instead of gifts.
Thanks all for your advice.