Study Abroad - Summer in Paris

[caffingdu]

So I'm a college student, and I'm thinking about going to Paris this summer for one month for a study abroad program. Including airfare, the actual program will cost about $5500 total. The only thing that I am not including in this number is personal expenses and meals. So, my question is, does anybody have an estimate of how much meals and personal expenses would cost in Paris for 1 month? I believe that some meals will be paid for, but the vast majority of meals will be up to us. I am guessing that I will need about $1,000, making the total cost for me $6,500, but I really don't know. I would really appreciate any help on a cost estimate, or any help or advice for a trip to Paris in general. Thanks!

 

[kirbydog48]

Are you staying in a dorm? Will there be a dining hall for students available? Cafes are generally the cheapest for a sit-down meal, but there's tons of great street food. There are crepe stands everywhere, and in the 4th arrondissement, there's some great falafel places. There are street markets set up all over the city where you can buy fresh produce. You can get fruit, wonderful cheeses and bread for a great picnic along the Seine. What part of the city are you staying in? What an exciting adventure! Paris is amazing.

 

[caffingdu]

ya, I'm very excited! And I think we're staying in dorms at La Sorbonne. My professor says they have a cafeteria. I'm not sure if the food is free or not. If not free, I know that it is at least discounted for students. I don't know all of the information yet, but right now I'm just kind of assuming a worst case where very few meals are paid for.

 

[emiliezola]

Bonjour caffingdu! I live in Paris and you need to be certain to include metro costs in your budget. It would be most cost efficient to purchase a monthly all zone city pass. This will also cover your bus travel. We are a family of six and eat out about once per week. It is very possible to spend alot of money on food in restaurants--- but also possible to keep it under 10euros per person per meal. As mentioned above, we often just stop for bread, cheese, tomatoes and fruit with a bottle of Perrier. And you are right--- food offered in the school cafe will be the most affordable.

 

[caffingdu]

Yep, already got Metro costs covered. It's actually included in the program cost. I guess we get access to all the trains and everything too? So we could go to the South of France or London, or wherever, on the weekends if we wanted to. Actually really excited to take some of those bullet trains. Public transportation really sucks in the U.S., or at least in Southern California (though there are currently plans to construct bullet trains in the state of California through a voter proposition that passed).

 

[laurie31]

Your Metro pass includes public transportation IN PARIS. The subway trains, not the "real" trains.

If you have access to a kitchen, you will be able to eat much cheaper by buying groceries and cooking there, especially for breakfast and dinner. Certainly you will want to eat out some to sample the wonders Paris has to offer. And yes, the sidewalk crepe stands are VERY good!

I would take what you spend in a month for food here and double it just to be safe, then multiply if by the exchange rate.

I would also factor in museum admission and things like a cruise on the Seine and a trip up the Eiffel Tower. You can't be in Paris a month and not go to the Tower! Go to the forums at tripadvisor.com and check out the Paris forum. They are a treasure trove of expert advice. We found the Paris museum card to be a good deal for us. We saved money plus skipped the lines. (the lines to buy tickets, not the security lines - no way to skip those for anyone). You might look into that if you want to see several museums. I highly recommend the Musee d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie but I am a huge fan of the impressionists. And of course, you have to see the Louve.

You do have time for a weekend trip to London (presuming you have classes duing the week - if not, weekday travel is cheaper). You will want to book the Eurostar 90 days in advance to get the best price. Second class is very nice and the additional money for 1st is not worth it. It's great to watch the French contryside go by at 200mph.

Book things online to save time. You can book the Eiffel Tower and the London Eye online for example.

Paris is a wonderful city and very safe at all hours. Just use common sense like you would in any big American city; don't flash money, keep a hand on your purse, watch for pickpockets. You will have an amazing time!

ps - try the pastries (especially the Mont Blanc) and hot chocolate L'Africain at Angelina, on the Rue de Rivoli just across from the Tuileries Gardens. They are to DIE for!

 

[caffingdu]

Many museum trips are also included in the program, so I don't have to worry too much about admission prices to certain places. Already going to see Musee d'Orsay and Le Louvre through the program. Also going to the old Opera House to watch a show, included in the program. Also, my French teacher explicitly said that we have some specific pass that allows us to use the trains. Not sure what it is.

Anyway thanks for the advice! I'm now trying to think of this in terms of how many euros I would spend in a day... Would about 25 euros sound right? Or is that too little? I'm trying to be somewhat thrifty, but not to the extent where I'm just surviving on junk food the whole time. Would like to enjoy a nice moderately expensive meal every once in a while.

 

[laurie31]

Well, at first I thought €25 sounded low, but I just pulled my credit card statement and divided it up per person and we spent about €30 a day, and we were NOT trying to be overly frugal. On the one hand, we rented a studio apartment, bought groceries and ate breakfast in, and also some snacks, but we bought crepes from sidewalk vendors several times and had afternoon tea (or rather hot chocolate) at Angelina four times. We also rented a golf cart when we went to Versailles, which was around €70. We did eat out in decent restaurants several times as well. We bought museum passes, plus did the Eiffel Tower.

Find out what kind of transportation pass you have. I was presuming you had some version of the Carte Orange pass, since you'll be there a month, but perhaps you also have French Rail passes? Such a pass would be about €140 for 4 days of travel in a 30 day period. Rail passes, whatever they are, are not good on the metro and vice versa. Maybe you have both?

You will not need to eat junk food in Paris! You can survive quite well buying fresh fruit and cheese from a grocery.


(My €30/day figure does not include the apartment rental, btw, just food, souvenirs, transportation, and museums.)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Sounds wonderful!!! I wish I could go.

 

[kirbydog48]

Oh great, now I'm craving a chocolat chaud! It's probably the most delicious thing I've ever had. Also walk to a patisserie in the morning for a fresh warm croissant...OMG! You will remember this experience for the rest of your life!

 

[onelilspark]

That sounds a lot like the program my brother did...unfortunately he's working now at a camp for troubled youth and doesn't have regular internet access. I can ask my Mom (since she'd probably know more information anyway) about costs and stuff tonight if you'd like. Sorbonne sounds really familiar to me.

 

[caffingdu]

If it's not too much trouble, of course I would welcome any advice about costs that you can get from your mom.

and yes, Sorbonne, from what I understand, is kind of a university/research district in a way. And the University of Paris can be referred to as La Sorbonne, from what I undesrtand.

 

[caffingdu]

Well, at first I thought €25 sounded low, but I just pulled my credit card statement and divided it up per person and we spent about €30 a day, and we were NOT trying to be overly frugal. On the one hand, we rented a studio apartment, bought groceries and ate breakfast in, and also some snacks, but we bought crepes from sidewalk vendors several times and had afternoon tea (or rather hot chocolate) at Angelina four times. We also rented a golf cart when we went to Versailles, which was around €70. We did eat out in decent restaurants several times as well. We bought museum passes, plus did the Eiffel Tower.

Find out what kind of transportation pass you have. I was presuming you had some version of the Carte Orange pass, since you'll be there a month, but perhaps you also have French Rail passes? Such a pass would be about €140 for 4 days of travel in a 30 day period. Rail passes, whatever they are, are not good on the metro and vice versa. Maybe you have both?

You will not need to eat junk food in Paris! You can survive quite well buying fresh fruit and cheese from a grocery.


(My €30/day figure does not include the apartment rental, btw, just food, souvenirs, transportation, and museums.)

It's possible that I misunderstood my professor. But as far as I know I am able to take both the Metro and the trains without having to pay extra. Not sure though.

And it's good to hear that you only spent about 30 euros a day on your trip. That's encouraging. I was panicking a little bit haha. But, I think that 30 euros a day would be enough for me for a month. Most days I won't spend on anything but food. And I can always combine meals to only have two a day anyway. I'm used to not having breakfast.

 

[skuttle]

I don't really have any advice to add. I did summer abroad in Paris back in 1998 so I can't really help with current costs.

Enjoy your time there, take tons of pictures and do/see as much as you can! You'll never be able to go to Paris for a month for that price ever again!! I even managed to convince a couple of people to go to Disneyland Paris with me while we were there.

 

[onelilspark]

I asked my Mom and she said that my brother's meals were included, 15 per week...so I'm not much help. But it sounds pretty similar to the same program that he did. He did love it! So have fun

 

[RachaelA]

I did 8 weeks in London in 07. Breakfast and dinner were provided Monday-Friday. We were on our own for lunch (since we were all working) and weekend meals.

Will you have access to a kitchen? Eating out really adds up even just for a certain number of meals a week.

 

[caffingdu]

Yes, our accommodations will have shared kitchen facilities. So I could save by going out to buy stuff that I can bring back and cook.

 

[laurie31]

Yes, our accommodations will have shared kitchen facilities. So I could save by going out to buy stuff that I can bring back and cook.

Yes! The best (most economical) thing to eat in is breakfast. You can buy milk or juice and have some wonderful pastries, cheeses, or whatever you like for breakfast. You will be pleased with the selection of fresh delicious produce, breads, and cheeses available. You can also make yummy sandwiches for lunches that won't feel like cheap budget food at all. Bon appetit!

 

[caffingdu]

Ya, I'm kind of looking forward to trying out some french cuisine. I hear French food is good.

The only thing I'm worried about is Mexican food withdrawal! haha. I hear the French don't have very many options when it comes to Mexican. And as a Southern Californian, I might be craving a really good burrito by the end of this trip!