Paris France Assistance please…?

Question

Graduation gift

Plans:

Leave 07/28/08, return 08/09/08

Travelers:

Grandfather, age 66, and Granddaughter, age 18

(Both have current US passports)

Budget is limited:

Realistic guess of trip cost

Best method for currency conversion

Lest Cost Credit Card for currency conversion

Needs:

Visa Required? If so, how to obtain

Recommend reasonable Flight arrangements

Recommend reasonable lodging

Recommend ground transportation

Sights – Sounds – Must Do’s

Recommendations please!

Answer 1

In 98 two grandmothers stayed at a lower costing bed and

breakfast inn in pig alley!! Pigol french I think!! We used the

subway to get around the city!! Be sure and take in the Lourve, Arc of Triumph,Napeoleon's Tomb, Notre Dame

Catherdral, Tuileries where Marie Antonette met with death,

Versailles King castle out of the city, Eiffel Tower, of course.

Across the river from the tower is a memorial for Diana and

the underpass where she was killed. We walked our legs off

but made sure we were in before dark!! The night life comes

out then!! We hit the bakeries for sandwiches to keep the

cost down during the day!! Oh, be sure and see the other

gallery where there Rodin's work. Get a brochure on that

gallery when you go to the Lourve.  We only used taxis with

emergencies since they are so expensive. The Visa is

given when you check through customs. They will ask you

how long a stay and touring is your main motive.

Keep cash on your body, try not to carry purses, they can be

stolen, and watch your person on the subway!! Flight arrangements are personal, because they run about the

same, but I would try Air France, or TWA. It is the most

expensive cost of the vacation. Buy very little because you

will have to carry your goods on your own, and there is a

monetary limit what you can bring back!!!

ENJOY BON VOYAGE and GOD BLESS!!! You won't

forget those wonderful memories!!!

Answer 2

Great idea for a graduation gift!

Budget:

A no-frills (no ameninities such as hair dryers or cable TV in the room) but decent hotel or B&B can be as low as 50 euros a night in Central Paris for a double room. In July and August most hotels apply a 15% discount. You should have a good choice of hotels within the 70-100 euro/night price range if you don't want to go too cheap either.

A cheaper solution is to rent a flat since you are staying two full weeks and from Saturday to Saturday, which is when weekly rentals run in France. You would also be saving on food and grocery shopping at the local markets is fun.

Your food budget would be 80 euros/week if you rent, more if you sometmes go to the restaurant. If you stay at a hotel and have to eat out every day, here is what meals cost on a budget:

- breakfast: 6 to 10 euros

- lunch: 8 to 15 euros (snack or lunch 2-course prix fixe menu)

- dinner: 15 to 25 euros (2 to 3-course menu)

Remember that service is incuded so you don't need to add tip.

In other words, you can eat for 30 euros/day per person if your budget is tight, but you'd be more comfortable with 40-45 euros.

For ground transportation, walk as much as you can and use the métro for longer distances. A carnet of 10 tickets costs 11.1 euros. A weekly pass (Navigo Découverte) for Paris is around 16 euros (+ 5 euros for the initial actual card = one time purchase). It is valid from Monday morning to Sunday evening.

I don't know which credit cards are better.

The exchange rate right now is $1.57 so I multiply the price by 1.5 (or add half of the price) and round it up. For instance, 8 euros would be a little more than $12.

Your total daily expenses (for hotel + restaurants + transportation + admission tickets) would be approx. 200 euros/day for the two of you for a comfortable stay but you could still enjoy Paris on a 100 euro/day budget.

If you like bustling city and night life, I would suggest staying in the 4th to 6th arrondissements of Paris. They're also close to most attractions.

For flights, check www.kayak.com.

I don't have time right now but I could recommend more specific lodging addresses later (let us know what your tastes and needs are in terms of accomodation) although I am sure in the meantime others will have come up with good ideas. In two weeks you'll have time to take a couple of day trips to other parts of France too.

Needs:

You don't need anything other than a valid passport. Ask your health insurance if they cover expenses abroad, if not you can get a cheap trip insurance if you wanted to but I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Answer 3

About a month  ago, it was 1 euro per 1.67 dollars... you will NOT find anything cheap there. At the souvenir shops, you can haggle down the prices sometimes... haha. Go on a night tour of the Seine, it's a good activity, and be sure to visit the Musee l'Orangerie (Monet's lily paintings) and the Musee Rodin (next to Napoleon's tomb- very impressive). The metro (subway) is very efficient but expect to walk a lot. Have tons of fun!!!