Im going on a 2 week holiday to paris..how much should i allow for food n just spending money???

Question

im a poor backpacker so just the minimal is what i mean...i have absolute no clue how much i should allow especially for how much i will need just for general spending money i may have to use...i have already sorted out flights,paris travelling and accomdation costs is there anything else im missing besidesfood n spending???

thnx people

Answer 1

If it is at all possible, get yourself an international student identification card.

If you can prove you are a student (it doesn't have to be at a school in Paris) you can eat at one of the 16 student cafeterias run by Centres Régionaux des Œuvres Universitaires et Scolaires (CROUS) in Paris. They serve full meals for 2.75 euros. Wine (in pop top cans) is extra.

Failing that there are lots of little places selling food to be eaten off premises and, of course, the super markets are always a good place to pick up a ready made meal or to assemble things like bread and cold cuts for a sandwich.

For a sit down meal, local, unpretentious, non-touristy cafes are what to look for. Eat your biggest meal at mid day and check the chalk board you'll find in most such places for the special of the day.

Evening entertainment can be expensive in Paris because drinks tend to be more expensive than in the US. On the other hand, its considered okay to nurse one drink for an entire evening.

Bottom line is that $50 a day or less for food and fun is well within reason.

Answer 2

Well it depends on how disciplined you are!!

Food will be a big chunk of what you need...I am not sure where you are staying but lots of 2star places and up have breakfasts so that saves you $$$ (or euros).

You can eat c**p food (ie takeaways) and it can be cheaper...I am not sure of costs now, but maybe you could say you will spend around 10euros per main meal (saving on some meals and splashing out on the odd one).

What do you want to see??? You can get a week museum pass ticket that gets you into a whole range of places.  If you go to enough places you get a really good deal (see the link below).

You can walk up part of the eiffel tower and save money

buy postcards...they are cheap

Transport: the metro is great.  I was there a week and used a carte orange (link below may help you chose the right card)

The metro is great for getting around.

walking is also cheap and many of the buildings are beautiful on the outside as well as on the inside.  Some churches are free to enter, so again saves you money.