Vacationing in Paris?

Question

I'm going to Paris this November and I'm wondering about a few things. If I bring $1,200.00 American money, will that be enough for spending? The hotel is paid for, so it will be for food, sightseeing, and souvineers.

And my other question is dress. Are jeans going to be okay to wear in November? What other clothes should I bring? Skirts, pants, and jeans? I'm just not sure. Any help or advice on any of this would be appreciated.

Oh yes, I'm NOT bringing T shirts or sneakers, but what about jeans if I dress them up?

And I'll be there for 9 days, one of which will be taken up by a wedding.

I love all the tips. Please keep them coming!! I'm going to print them all and send them to my mom so she knows what to expect, as well.

Answer 1

$1200 for 9 days expenses exclusive of a hotel room should be quite sufficient.

You can spend huge amounts of money if you want to in Paris but it is also a city in which you can have a very good time for quite reasonable prices.

Food will be your biggest expense item but it is easy to keep this under control. Your hotel may include breakfast in the price of the room but if it does not then do not eat at the hotel. Find the closest Cafe that doesn't look like it caters primarily to tourists and eat breakfast as the French do, a cup of cafe au lait or hot chocolate with bread, croissant or pastry.

If there are coffeee making facilities in your room you can go and pick up a pastry at a neighborhood shop (they won't mind selling you just one). Take it back to your room and eat breakfast there.

Consider eating your main meal of the day at noon when you'll get the best deal on price. You'll usually see a chalk board with the day's lunch special posted in a prominent place. Just point if you can't pronounce it. It's probably going to be something good and it will be the best value. Even if you don't speak French, give it a try. The worst that will happen is that you'll get to tell your friends a story about the time you got served something in Paris you found horrifying.

Street food is often a good choice for either a snack or a full meal. What are usually called "gyros" in the States are all over the Paris, especially in the Latin Quarter. Crepe stands sell both sweet and savory crepes. A crepe with ham and cheese ("avec jambon et fromage") is delicious and filling. Cheap too.

You'll also see plenty of shops selling sandwichs and pastries to carry out. Supermarkets have lots of prepared food suitiable for eating while walking about or relaxing on a park bench. Things are always on view and prices are usually clearly marked. Just point at what looks good.

But don't deprive yourself of a proper dinner in a nice sit down restaurant. While places like the Tour D'Argent are world famous and ghastly expensive (the name means Tower of Money) there are a vast number of excellant restaurants which serve unbelievably good food for perfectly reasonable prices. Stroll around the area by your hotel and check the menus which will be posted in the windows of whatever restaurants are nearby. Its a good idea to make reservations for even a neighborhood restaurant and remember that the French eat dinner much later than Americans do. You won't find many places (other than one's that cater to tourists) serving dinner before 7:30.

As for what to wear, don't worry about it. Despite what some people say there are no Fashion Police and people in Paris certainly do wear jeans.

You might, however, dress a bit more formally in the evenings than you would in the USA especially if you're going out clubbing.

P.S. There is nothing at all wrong with the tap water in Paris. It is perfectly safe to drink.

P.P.S. Don't worry about "standing out" because there is nothing you can do that will convince anyone you are French unless you speak the language fluently. And, given that there are tens of thousands of tourists in Paris at any one given moment, you won't be alone.

Answer 2

T shirts, jeans and sneakers tag you immediately as an American tourist. I would dress a little more formally - khakis and loafers for a guy - so you don't stand out.

I was in Paris several times, but not for several years. But I do remember it being more expensive than, say, New York City. If a beer is $3 in the suburbs and $5 in NYC, it would be $7 in Paris. $1200 might be ok for a week - I can't say it's only half of what you need, or less - but try to bring more. Why scrimp - you may never get back there again. And I'm not sure what the exchange rates are, or will be. Then again, I may just have expensive tastes! When I went as a student I spent much less.

Just a few thoughts, for what it's worth. Try Frommer's, Fodor's, or other guides. For ten or 15 bucks they give you so much valuable info. I tried to plan in advance what I was going to see.

It's a beautiful city. Enjoy long walks and see a lot! I envy you.

Answer 3

Unless you're planning on buying out a shop, I'd say $1,200 is more than enough for nine days, especially if your hotel room is already taken care of.

You can keep track of the exchange rate by logging onto oanda.com for the latest.

I've traveled to Paris for the past 6 years for 10 days each March...I see many people wearing jeans. Although in Paris, they're a bit tighter than what we wear them over here. And it's mostly the "younger" crowd. Most women do dress up.

Sometimes you feel like a tourist, sometimes you don't. If you want to wear jeans, go right on ahead. It may be a bit chilly in November, so if they keep you warm...

What other activities do you have planned (besides the wedding)? Are you going to a show at the Moulin Rouge or a ballet at the Opera? You may be able to get by with the same clothes you wore to the wedding (unless you're a bridesmaid, then you may want to bring something less...taffetta-ish).

Comfortable shoes are a must. Try exploring the Louvre on blisters. Not fun. Bring a scarf, gloves and umbrella...or buy them once you arrive...that's half the fun. Stroll up and down Rue de Rivoli, looking at the variety of scarves at the souvenir shops.

Bring whatever you feel comfortable wearing. Obviously you'll want to dress up a bit at certain times (dinner, opera, etc)...sometimes warmth is the most important thing...and if that means wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, so be it.

I would recommend getting a Carte Orange...it's an unlimited-use Metro pass good from Monday to Sunday. It's about 15 Euros and you'll need to bring a photo with you for the pass. Get a passport-size photo at Walgreens, for example, and you'll just need to trim the photo to fit once you get there.

Also, in addition to the metro pass, you should get a museum pass, if you plan on visiting several museums. They come in 2-, 4- and 6-day passes and are available at a ticket booth window in the Metro (get it when you get your carte orange) or at any participating museum. Allows you to bypass most lines at the major museums.

Answer 4

Yes $1200 for 9 days should definately be sufficient to be in Paris including hotels and food etc. One thing i'll tell you is that, one of the first things you should get is a subway pass (i think it cost me 9 Euros last week, about $11.50) with this pass you can go from anywhere in Paris to anywhere all day long as many times as you want, don't take taxis it'll be costly for no reason because their subway system is so well organized that you can literally go 2-3 block by subway if you wish. Get a map once you're there, it'll have all the routes color coded.
Jeans are perfectly acceptable but make sure you take few sweaters, a couple od coats, thick socks, even thermal underwear to keep you warm. The reason is, you're going to be spending most of the time outside and unlike here in the US wherever you go is air conditioned and heated over there you'll be outside so it's going to be freazing! I got cold sores last december.
And if you have any questions on where to go or what to visit you can ask me, i'll be happy to give you some ideas :)
Bonne chance et bon voyage :)

Answer 5

I was over there in April and May. It was very hot. You had to wear something comfortable. We spent $US 5300 for 2 people
and travel 9 countries incluind food, hotel,tour bus,round trip ticket from American Airlines - 2 months ahead - from LA to Paris for 30 days. A lot of hotel has no air conditioning but it is acceptable.

well plan and I check a lot of information from the internet and the map in the hotel (FREE)

Paris is beautiful. subway is very convenient - do not forget to bring a 2" x 1" photo - you can buy a week pass = it is much cheaper. Do not miss the 10 p.m. show for the Effie Tower - it is so romantic,

watch for pit pocket - they use razor blade and cut your backpack or purses

Cann is soso - you can take a little tram to tour for an hour

Nice and Leon is no big deal

there is a travel agency in Europe - I join the tour for $ euro 48 /day including hotel, tour guide and tour bus. tip for the driver and tour guide is $eur 4 the tour guide speak Chinese , English and Dutch

www.amttravel.com
www.GOEUGO.COM

or you can call The Netherlands phone number 31 10 213 02 08
it is very cheap and the hotel is very nice - it included morning breakfast buffet

do not forget to bring the water bottle w/ you - you cannot drink the tap water

summer is very hot in Paris - but it is so much to see - do not forget to pick up a free map in the hotel lobby - if you want to buy
expensive stuff, eg LV purses. - you need to bring your passport to the stores
and get the tax refund in the airport

Answer 6

Hi !

I'm French and I live in Paris.
I think $1,200 is enough, except if you want to buy a lot a expensive things !

Usually November is not so cold in Paris ; the temperature may be between at least 5°C and... maybe 20 (it's sometimes possible in November) And... I wear jeans all year long !

Have a nice trip in Paris !

If you need further information : [e-mail]

Answer 7

Yes it will be enough:
* with 50 to 70 dollars you can eat in a very good restaurant two meals a day (http://www.lefooding.com/)
* musee are about 10 dollars for the most expensive
* jean is ok, take a wood jumper, wood socks and just don't forget your raincoat ;)

Happy trip in Paris!

Answer 8

Hello, I'm french. Don't forget to take an umbrella because november could be very rainy and pretty cold and grey...And don't worry about fashion. I wear jeans very often .
Enjoy your stay in Paris et bon voyage.