An American Dollar in Paris

My wife and I saved money in Paris by going there in the shoulder season, March, by staying there for a full week and by asking the hotel, one we'd enjoyed once before, to guarantee us a rate in dollars. We started planning last fall, and the hotel, in competition with another hotel, did guarantee us such a rate. It also threw in breakfast -- much more than a croissant and coffee -- and it provided a car to meet us at the airport and take us back. Moreover, the drinks in the minibar were free, and the hotel provided free Champagne and other wines, beers and soft drinks in its "living room." We estimate that we saved about $150 a day by taking advantage of the freebies. We also ate fast food at lunch a couple of days and ate those ham and cheese baguettes at lunch. Paris, even with the high costs, is still Paris. WBK

I took the family to Rome over Thanksgiving and Paris over Easter. It's nice to be able to see such great cultural icons without too many rude tourists blocking the view. I definitely recommend going if you can swing it. If you are adventurous with accomodations, there are plenty of affordable 2 and 3 star hotels in either city that give you a better feel for local life than the swanky ultra modern posh palaces. And a tourist can eat very well without dumping dollars at fancy ristorantes. Most cafes and bars carry full meals for a few euros. Use Expedia or other discout site to book flights and rooms in advance for the main parts and leave some time open for serendipity. Use public transport, it's very cheap and far more abundant than most Americans could imagine. Forget rentals, insurance doubles your cost in France. While in Paris the news readers said 15% fewer American were there and they spent 30% less than normal, which means they are spending the same amount in dollars, just getting less for it. Do the math, that's almost half the euro traffic. So for the first time, I felt truely appreciated in Paris. But go now, before the secret gets out.

My family and I were in Europe a year ago, (my wife, 5 year old daughter and both my parents). We spend 21 days in 3 cities (London, Paris and Rome). I though It was expensive then but I just can't beleive how it's gotten. We spent roughly $11,000 and that's taking into account that we stayed with my father in law in Rome so we didn't have to pay for a hotel and our plane tickets round trip were $56 each (due to frequent flyer miles. I'm glad we chose to go when we did otherwise we would not have been able to go this year. I never imagined the euro getting so far ahead of the US dollar. I don't recommend anyone vacationing in Europe at least for 2 years.

Ouch. I can't say that I blame people for not wanting to travel to Europe. $12.00 for water is crazy!