Budget travel for single mom travelling with daughters 18 and 14

Stay in apartments rather than hotels. It will be cheaper and can live in a neighborhood with the local people rather than with the other tourists in a big hotel.

Apartments are indeed the way to go, especially in Paris (assuming you wish to spend some time there). The agency www.VacationIn Paris.com is very reliable and has apartments all over paris, available by the day rather than by the week. It is an American company so you pay in US dollars with a credit card---no worries about wiring euros into an owner's bank account, and no huge up-front security deposit.

We took our teenage daughters to Paris a few years ago and spent 5 nights in one the apartments near Rue Cler, shopping and cooking dinner rather than dining out. They loved the whole experience.

For travel beyond Paris, maybe pick 2 locations at most, and consider staying in gites. I hope others can help you with that as we have no experience in that area. I am sure some areas are more affordable than others, so that is something I hope people will address for you.

Apartments, definitely apartments. You can get ones in the countryside for around 400-500 euro/week. Check the fine print, some include linens and electricity, others charge separately for that. You'll have your own kitchen, so you can eat in if you want. You'll find better deals if you go to the tourism websites for the town vs. going through an agency.

Being somewhere for a week gives you a chance to feel like a local. You'll get to know the town a bit, be recognized by the guy at the corner store and the lady at the bakery, and learn enough about the funky cheeses in the area.

Laura, it is doable. I have traveled several times in Europe with my kids and teenagers, as many as four teenagers and/or youngsters at a time with me, the only adult. We stayed in cheaper accomodations - do your research and you can find them. Look for triple or family rooms, not always easy to find but there are some. It's not necessary to have a bathroom ensuite. I always do lots of research before a trip and ask questions on travel forums to get expert input. Try to find places with breakfast included. We never ate at expensive restaurants. Often we'd eat two meals a day and some snacks in between. We traveled by bus or train and did a lot of walking. The bus service is good and cheap. I'd suggest picking a small town or city that isn't a popular tourist hub and stay there for a couple of days. I love to see the traditional tourist sites but then also find places that are different. Encourage your daughter to practice her French whenever possible. Look for the obvious free activities: the markets and flea markets, the beach, the plazas, the parks, the monuments. Some museums have free admittance on given days. I think the idea of renting an apartment is a good one if the price is right and you will be in a given place for several days. Also look into B&Bs and gites in France. I have not done much traveling in France so I cannot offer any specific suggestions for places that might be good bases.

Since you do want to avoid tourists as much as possible, can you go in June as soon as your girls get out of school? I've found there is a big difference between June and July travel, whether in Europe or on the California coast. July and August are when everyone in Europe takes vacations, too, so there will be a lot of competition for apartments and hotels in popular destinations. Mid-July to Mid-August is when most of France hits the beach or countryside, and the cities are left to the tourists (and overwhelemd tourist service providers). Kind of a lose-lose situation for you. June really will be better.

Getting an apartment is a great idea. The longer you stay in one place, the more you'll have the type of experience you want. When you start to go to the same bakery, cafe or store day after day, you start to get to know people a little bit, and it can make the trip more meaningful. You absolutely could base yourself in one place the whole time, and given the kind of trip you want, this makes sense. But you could also easily do 2 or 3 destinations, and still immerse yourself in a place the way you want to. To choose destinations, rent the Rick Steves France dvds from your library. See what really appeals to you. You almost can't go wrong, there are so many wonderful regions of France.

Unfortunately Steve's long-awaited "sale fares" don't work for summer travel. At least not from Seattle. The advert says $852 RT Seattle to London, but if you put in July dates the lowest fare is $1106. And that's just to London, not to Paris.

Laura, do you already have your flight tickets?

Apartments are a great way to save money if you are planning for a week's stay in any one spot, especially an expensive city like Paris. We've had good luck with homelidays.co.uk, a broker, so you'll deal with the actual apartment owners.
An alternative, especially for shorter days, are two hotel brands in the Accor chain of hotels....the Etap, and Formule 1 hotels. The first has ensuite bathrooms, the second has them down the hall. These are modern, clean, basic accommodations, popular with European families on holiday. Their hotels are rarely in the very center of the city, but usually have good transportation connections to the center. The Etap in Paris Porte de Montmartre, for example is along the northern part of the Peripherique, the ring road that circles Paris, a short walk from the St. Ouen neighbourhood with lots of cafes, shops, and stores.....and a Metro stop. You won't find many North American tourists there....and the cost is about $60/night for the three of you, as of mid-July. Check www.etaphotel.com and www.hotelformule1.com . In the bigger cities, they are usually built on the same block of land, so you will find a Formule 1 right next to the Etap at the Porte de Montmartre location. Book soon though...July is a busy month for vacationers in France.

Laura, I noticed that you live in the beautiful state of Washington, on Puget Sound, no less. Have you ever thought of listing your home or apartment on a home exchange website? Staying FREE, often with a FREE car, too, is an amazing way to stretch your travel dollars to infinity. Homeexchange.com has countless French homes and Paris apartments listed. By staying in a real home, you get to see how real people live, shop in the stores where they buy their food (and prepare meals at home to save money), and meet their friends and neighbors. I am surprised that more people don't use this system of trading to save a fortune, meet locals, and have an authentic and meaningful travel experience.

I'd also check out dormitory stays. Many universities in London and other UK locations rent rooms (often small suites with bathroom and kitchenett) to tourists in the summer. Do a search on this site and tripadvisor- I've seen recommendations on both for good university accomidations. I assume something similar could be found in Paris- if not then definitely go for an apartment.

Laura - I agree with the others who recommend renting apartments or houses. Since you're going in July, I'd spend a week in Provence and see the lavender fields. Going to markets and cooking some of your own meals will save money and make you feel more like a local.

Thank you all so much for the responses. The information is invaluable. I have done a lot of research, but it looks like I need to do a lot more.

A quick thought---the Tour de France will be going on most of July, from the 3rd to the 24th. It actuall starts outside France (in Rotterdam) and works its way east of Paris and down to the Alps, then westward through southern Frnace, and back up to finish in Paris.

This will drive up prices considerably in the towns that the Tour passes through, at least for a few days. You might want to check the route map and avoid those areas:

http://www.letour.fr/2010/TDF/COURSE/us/le_parcours.html

And especially avoid Paris around July 23-26 at least.

It may drive up airfares to France during part of the month as well.