So you’re planning a trip to Paris! Now comes the fun part…putting all the details together to make it happen. Some people like the idea of travelling until they think of having to plan for it: it can be a bit overwhelming. Since I love details, this is where I can help. This To Do List is what I used to plan my recent trip to Paris, including my spending plan (my more prosperous term over “budget”), which I develop in 3 parts. I refer to Rick Steves’ Paris 2014 guide book because I used it to plan my trip and while I was in Paris to help me navigate. In some instances I have referred to his 2015 Paris guide book.
1. Determine your bottom line total for your trip. This will likely inform all of your other choices.
My bottom line total for 30 days in Paris was $6,000. I had received a windfall at the end of 2014 and I needed a break, so I decided to visit my favorite place on Earth. Paris is said to be a place of inspiration and where people “find themselves.” I couldn’t agree more. As a result of this trip, I decided to follow my heart and go back to my first love, the first thing I ever wanted to do: be involved with France in any way possible. Something got in the way of me continuing with French many years ago, and I have always regretted it. So now I am writing about Paris, and I love it. I have a sense of purpose that I haven’t had in quite some time. While I hope others like the design of my blog – after all, I want to serve others by imparting information – it is important that I like it. And I do. In many ways, this trip saved my life. I am facing very difficult circumstances now, yes, but I have my writing about Paris to keep me going.
2. Determine when you want to go. Busy season (higher prices, warmer weather, longer lines) is generally considered to be May, June, September, October; slow season (more deals to be had, cooler weather, shorter lines) is November through March/April. Generally, airfare to Paris is supposed to go down in winter, though I paid $100 more from the time I first investigated prices in October 2014 to the time I booked my reservation, about two weeks later.
You will pay more for airfare and lodging during the busy season, and while many may not think of going to Paris in the colder season, in my opinion, a bad-weather day in Paris beats a good-weather day…anywhere else. There is always something to discover in Paris no matter the season (such as Christmas decorations during the holidays, for I believe no one does them as elegantly as the French). If you travel to Paris during August, don’t be surprised if you see few Parisians on the streets. Like lawmakers and many locals in Washington, D.C., many Parisians historically vacate Paris in August. When I was there 20 years ago I definitely noticed how uncongested the streets and cafes were; perhaps that has changed somewhat.
In his 2015 Paris guide book, Rick Steves says you should be able to travel to Paris for $195 per day, per person (based on double occupancy). Keep in mind that at the time I’m publishing this post, the exchange rate is better than it was for my trip last year (now, 0.89 euros = $1.00 vs. last year, 1.24 to 1.00). Since the dollar is stronger now you should be able to plan a trip for less than the $195 recommended.
3. Get a passport photo taken and apply for your passport as soon as possible. In the U.S., it usually takes 4-6 weeks to get a passport. See the U.S. State Department’s web site for information on getting a passport. To find post offices that offer and accept passport applications, look at USPS’s web site. For information on where to get your passport picture taken, see USA Today’s travel tips.
My passport picture cost $12.00 at CVS/Pharmacy. (It is a perfunctory picture. For my first passport I had a photographer take my picture.) Since my previous personal passport had been stolen (and the last one I used as a contractor for the U.S. State Dept. I had to turn in), I picked up my passport application at a local post office and called to schedule my interview a week later. (The person I needed wasn’t there when I picked up my application.) At the time of the interview, I not only paid the passport application fee, but also for expedited, overnight service for processing my passport. I had to move by a certain date because the house I had been living in had been sold, so I wanted to have my passport in hand as soon as possible. This way, if my application was lost or mangled, I gave myself a time cushion to receive it in time. My passport came in 2 ½ weeks from the time I turned in my application, but only because I paid for such expedited service:
Passport $110.00
Expedited Processing 60.00
Overnight Delivery 14.85
Execution Fee to Acceptance Facility 25.00
Sub total $209.85
Picture 12.00
Total Cost $221.85
4. Determine whether you want to live like royalty or more like a commoner while travelling. Many people prefer to travel for a short amount of time so as to afford to stay in the best hotels. I understand this, but for me, since I would be travelling alone, I would feel isolated staying by myself. I also wanted to stay in Paris as long as possible, live a bit like a Parisian (grocery shop and use a kitchen), and meet other travelers. I chose to live more like a commoner and stay for an extended period in Paris. This meant I would likely be staying in a hostel or an inexpensive hotel.
5. Investigate airfare prices for one or two airlines and read the fine print on each airline’s website regarding luggage allowance and their rules of carriage (your rights as a traveler).
I travelled on Turkish Airlines for my latest trip and I loved it. They allowed two free checked pieces, each 23 kg (50 lbs.), and a “personal” item, such as a handbag, laptop case, or umbrella, and my baggage arrived in the same condition as when I left. I was shocked at how much space was available in the overhead compartments. The food and service were divine: We were served dinner soon after takeoff and breakfast before we landed, and the food was exceptional, one might say airline-gourmet. I made a special request for a nail file (mine was in checked baggage because it was sharp) and the flight attendant remembered my request, even with everything else she had to do. The flight had to travel in and out of Istanbul because Turkish Airlines isn’t part of the EU, and therefore doesn’t have hubs in Europe. Not a problem for this traveler: I watched several movies to pass the time and I was very comfortable. I felt chillier than I usually do on flights but I was prepared: I had worn an Ann Taylor wool blazer along with my cashmere sweater and T-shirt that I normally wear on flights due to the sweater’s breathability. There were also plenty of blankets to go around.
Travelers tend to consider only the price of the ticket before booking a reservation. Is a non-refundable ticket worth the low price? If you decide to purchase such airfare consider also purchasing travel insurance with cancellation coverage. True, the combination would mitigate part of your savings, but sometimes last-minute deals might be worth it. (See #6 below.)
When I flew to Paris 20 years ago I used a so-called “cheap” airline. The flight left from Boston so I had to connect via Washington, D.C. I don’t remember how crowded the airline’s ticket counter was for the trip over, but I will never forget the scene I saw when I arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport to check-in for my flight back to the U.S. 4 hours in advance: It was like I was at a rock concert and everyone was vying to get to the front of the stage. To say that the flight was overbooked is an understatement: it looked like they had triple-booked it. Was $500 airfare roundtrip to Paris worth it? Only because it is my favorite place on Earth. I had to listen to a male Bostonian mouth off about how the French “are so disorganized” when it was the (U.S.-owned) airline’s fault for overbooking. I hope I don’t ever have to do that again.
6. Determine whether you need travel insurance. Travel insurance is most often purchased to insure against trip cancellation: for example, if a member of your family became ill and you decided you would have to cancel your trip. Trip Cancellation insurance can provide you with lost expenses. Other coverage is available for emergency medical expenses, not only in-country but transporting a patient home; trip interruption; baggage loss; flight accident; and accidental death. Travel health coverage also covers domestic travel, according to Travelinsurance.com.
Your travel insurance rate will vary depending on total trip cost, primary destination, departure and return dates, traveler ages, country of residence, state (U.S.), citizenship, and trip deposit date.
I used my spending plan total ($5,597.00), June 1 (Monday) and July 1 (Wednesday) of this year as my departure and return dates, respectively, with myself as the sole traveler (age 54), and plugged in the information to Travelinsurance.com to see the rates available. (Note: The form would not allow me to input a deposit amount date.) Here is a sampling:
$ 22.00 – “Flight Insure Plus (Single Trip – Flight Only)” by Travel Ex. This offered me:
$300,000 for Flight Accident Protection.
$ 44.00 – “Flight Insure Plus (Single Trip – Package)” by Travel Ex. This offered me:
$ 0 Trip Cancellation Coverage
$ 0 Trip Interruption Coverage
$ 2,500 Sickness Protection per person, $0 deductible
$ 2,500 Accident Protection per person, $0 deductible
$ 2,000 Baggage Loss per person
$300,000 Flight Accident per person
$ 10,000 Accidental Death per person
$ 190.50 – “Custom” by CSA. This offered me:
$ 5,597 Trip Cancellation
$ 8,396 Trip Interruption
$ 250,000 Medical Evacuation $0 deductible
$ 50,000 Medical Protection, per claim
$ 1,000 Baggage Loss per person
$ 50,000 Flight Accident per person
$ 0 Accidental Death Coverage per person
$ 630.00 – “Travel Max” by Travel Ex. This offered me extensive coverage in all categories.
I have never had travel insurance, but I am single and have always travelled alone, and I have no major health problems. However, after my research for this post, I am now a believer in travel insurance, even if the sole reason I would buy it would be for baggage loss (what I believe is most likely to happen). When I travel again, I will likely purchase a policy like “Custom” by CSA, above. If you purchase insurance, be sure to understand what type of coverage you’re getting and read reviews of the travel plan/insurance company, if possible. All of the plans I’ve quoted here offered superior ratings from buyers on Travelinsurance.com.