Paris.

[Carrot (Mapped)]

SWMBO wants to go, weekend after next. I have found a few deals including Eurostar and a half-decent hotel for about £700 between us.

I am a little concerned having looked at some of the review sites as to the likelihood of everything costing silly money.

Any tips, places to avoid etc?! Is it more expensive than Londinium for beer, dining and the like?

Edited by Carrot (Mapped) on Tuesday 9th September 20:53

[TheEnd]

Avoid District 13

[Baby Huey]

[quote=Carrot (Mapped)]SWMBO wants to go, weekend after next. I have found a few deals including Eurostar and a half-decent hotel for about £700 between us.

I am a little concerned having looked at some of the review sites as to the likelihood of everything costing silly money.

Any tips, places to avoid etc?! Is it more expensive than Londinium for beer, dining and the like?

Edited by Carrot (Mapped) on Tuesday 9th September 20:53

[/quote]

With the current exchange rate I expect the prices are eye watering.

I went to a very average bar out of the centre and was charged £7 for grand bier. Be careful out there!

[V8mate]

Yep - for some reason prices in Paris have gone bananas in the last year. I know the exchange rate has worsened a bit, but it's the Euro prices which have been going up. It was never a cheap city, but I would say that it's now more expensive than London for tourists.

It's such a nice place in the Autumn though. Unless money's a bit tight at the moment, put those thoughts to the back of your mind and just really enjoy the place together.

[sparkythecat]

When you ignore the funicular railway and walk up all the steps to get to get Monmartre and Sacre Cour,
don't go in the first bar on the left for a drink.

Whilst the menu board may look deceptively inviting, and the atmosphere convivial, your 25cl glass of cool refreshing beer eurofizz, actually works out at over £8.00 per pint.

Merde

[spikeyhead]

The trick to Paris is eating off the beaten track.

Quite often strolling 200 yards off a main route will half the price.

[sparkythecat]

If the weather is fine and you've never been to Paris before, DO take one of the open topped bus tours. Can't remember how much it was, but we thought it good value for money. You can hop on and off where you want all day, and it's much better than trying to navigate the metro with the crowds of unwashed

[V8mate]

spikeyhead said:

The trick to Paris is eating off the beaten track.

Though plates are available too. If you ask nicely. In French.

[Carrot (Mapped)]

Many thanks for all the useful replies guys. I've booked a nice hotel in Montmartre and the Eurostar tickets seperately. Bang on £700 for 3 nights. Suspect I may need a second mortgage to eat whilst we're there.

But hey, I've never been to Paris, haven't taken a proper holiday for ages, am doing well at work on the overtime front recently... And she's more than worth it!

Ta,

Sam

Edited by Carrot (Mapped) on Tuesday 9th September 22:49

[MitchT]

Me and the OH had four nights in Paris, also (Monmartre) for £250 PP including Eurostar back in 2001. We had an awesome time and nothing seemed excessively priced. We were told the most expensive way to eat was outside at one of the restaurants on the Champs Elysées, but we did it anyway and it only compared to the price of a half-decent UK restaurant. Remember - What's expensive in European terms probably seems fairly reasonable to anyone from rip-off Britain.

[kenny Chim 4]

Before I went to Paris as a young man on a budget, keen to impress a new girlfriend, I bought an earlier edition of this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paupers-Paris-Miles-Turner...

It contains fantastic advice- including details of good, cheap eateries which provide free wine etc. (don't expect vintage Petreus) and great tips for enjoying Paris on a budget. For example, back then, you could visit the Louvre for free on a Sunday. It also gives a breakdown of the best restaurants in each arrondissement.

Tip: Take the Metro (buy a carnet bundle) and visit the Pere Lachaise cemetary. It contains the the graves of Chopin, Piaf, Proust, Theodore Gericault, Victor Hugo, Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison to name but a few.