Others may want to try something I am doing. I spend three months a year in Europe, mostly France and the weak dollar is causing me to change the way I do things. I am now renting apartments more and hotels less and staying longer at fewer locations. Two days ago I made a reservation for 7 days at a hotel in the south of France. The cheapest room was 117 euros per night. I sent an e-mail to the hotel manager explaining that I must get better rates to continue visiting Europe due to the weak dollar and I offered him 55 euros per night for his 117 euro room. I thought I might get a counter offer a bit higher but within a couple hours he very graciously acccpeted my offer of 55 euros. That's less than half the normal rate. I know this hotel from past experience and am tickled half to death to get it at this price.

Everywhere I went this past year in France shop, restaurant and hotel managers have told me that the Americans are just not returning in the numbers they did before 9/11 and the weak dollar has now become another serious problem affecting them. Many of these people will accept lower rates to get some people into their hotels.

If you spend a lot of time abroad and not just an occasional two week vacation you like me, may need to do something to support your addiction.

Good luck,
Larry J

another good way to reduce the airfare for your trip is if you can grasp an inexpensive flight to london or paris or a major city in germany, then you can continue (the following day/s) on the cheap internal european charters for next to nothing most of the time.
check out where these charters are and where they fly, etc. at www.whichbudget.com.

i am impressed with larryj's results. good going.

www.bancotel.com also has many rooms at 50 euros/night double, plus tax, in some european cities, and all over spain.

Congrats on your great deal on the hotel. I also believe apartments are the way to go -- centralize and take day trips.

Renting a diesel car is another way to save money.

I wish I could spend 3 months a year in Europe -- I'd find a way to make it happen.

We arerenting an apt in Paris for the first time, I think we will definitely get more for our money.
My daughter is renting an apt for part of her stay in Belgium and will rent a car too.
We already have our air arrangements made. We find that earliest as possible works with airfares.

I also endorse the apartment route. Particularly if you happen to have a cook along w/you. I think it goes miles in making you feel more 'in tune' w/being a Parisian.

Thanks, Larry, for sharing this strategy. Your comments are interesting in the light of reports that bookings for flights from the US to Europe are way up and the (relatively) inexpensive spring flights may not be available.

Something else to consider. If you are going to Paris and spend a lot of time at internet cafes; while there you might want to take your laptop or PDA with you next time. Many of the McDonald's restaurants as well as other restaurants now offer free high speed WI-FI internet access. You can save those 3-6 euro an hour internet cafe fees this way and stay in touch with friends and family at home at no cost. In Europe they use the IEEE 802.11b protocol. You can buy a PCMCIA card for your laptop compatable with 802.11G and backward compatable to 802.11b for $40 at Best Buy. The very popular McDonald's in the Latin Quarter on the corner of rue de la Harpe and Blvd. St.Germain (near St.Michel and Notre Dame) is so equipped.

Larry J

Re apartments in Paris..initially when I checked it seemed they were very costly. Can someone direct me to a site with inexpensive apartments?..right now we plan to stay at the Hotel Bonaparte in the 6
arrondisement but I haven't called yet..am open to ideas.

I realize that home exchange isnt possible for a number of travlers, but I have six such exchanges in the past year and a half. Initally, you save rent either hotel or apartment and on minor expenses such as coffe or corn flakes at breakfast.

I have been in Paris roughly three weeks and I have spent approximately 600 euros.