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Budgeting/Planning honeymoon to Paris and Switzerland

Hello!

I was hoping to get some advice as my fiancée and I go about planning our honeymoon trip to Paris and Switzerland for April/May 2020. It would, of course, be only my wife and I. We’ve been to Paris about 10 years ago as college students, and were there for about 3 weeks. This is our first time trying to plan a major international trip on our own, though, so any advice would be much appreciated.

The general blueprint is this: 12 days total

  • 1 travel day to get to Paris
  • 6 days in Paris
  • 1/2 travel day to Switzerland (not sure where exactly yet)
  • 3 1/2 days in Switzerland
  • 1 travel day back to the US

We have a budget of roughly $5000, although we can likely expand that a little bit. We’re pretty easy going and flexible with most things, but the two parts of the trip we don’t want to compromise on the quality are (1) the flight to Paris and (2) lodging. We would like the flight to have one stop or less without a significant layover. We also want to stay in comfortable, relatively nice hotels—3 or 4 stars.

In Paris, we plan on a fairly relaxed schedule—walking around, sitting in the parks and gardens, visiting just a few museums and churches. If we’re feeling up to it, we might also take a day trip somewhere, like Versailles. As I said, we’ve spent a good amount of time in Paris before, and in this trip we really just want to hit those places that we loved in our first visit.

After Paris, we would like to go to Switzerland although we’re not sure exactly where we would like to go. Ideally, we would stay in a city (Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne, or Lucerne) and take a couple of day trips out into the Alps. We’ve heard mixed things about the weather in May. We’re not planning on doing any intense hiking, although the main thing we’d want to do is walk around the base of the Alps and sightsee. Is this feasible in May? What cities would you recommend? Or would it be better for us to stay in a smaller town than a big city?

We’ve also made a budget based off a general itinerary that looks like this:

Flight x 2 to Paris/from Switzerland: $2600 (Does this price seem right? We were hoping for cheaper flights. We have some flexibility on where we fly out of: Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, or New Orleans).

Lodging in Paris: $150/night, 7 nights: $1050

Taxis from airport to hotel/hotel to Gare de Lyon: $100

Paris metro pass x 2: $50

Paris museum pass x 2: $125

Train tickets: Paris to Switzerland: ~$150-$200

Lodging in Switzerland: $150-$200/night, 4 nights: $600-$800

Food: $600

At this budget, we figured the trip would cost about $5500. Are we misjudging the costs for any of the above? Any suggestions for where we might be able to cut some costs? I know that there might be a few small costs that are missing from the budget above, but are there any big items missing? Again, any advice is greatly appreciated.

Posted by
4526 posts

If you are looking at a metro pass in Paris, then why get taxis to your hotel? For your time frame, some effort to also learn to pack light will save some dollars for the ability to take luggage on public transport or walk. 10 days on the ground could be done in smaller luggage if you are willing to do a bit of sink wash (I know, it is your honeymoon....but that $100 could be a nice dinner out or romantic drinks at the top of the Eiffel tower - you decide the priorities).
You have time to asses what level of museum pass you need (or whether you need one at all) depending on your interests. If you have only a few museums on the list, then look when they have their free entries. Paris also has a number of free museums that you could consider.
Same with metro pass. You might find you walk more than you think and could get away with a 10 ticket card (carnet) or whatever they have as options these days.
These only shave away a bit, but you seem to have a reasonable first draft for the budget.

Posted by
4616 posts

I'd double your food budget, as especially Switzerland, is very expensive, even if buying groceries/eating at the Coop grocery stores, which usually have cafeterias.

Lodging in Switzerland is also expensive, so up that budget, but the country is SO worth it, and I'd skip Geneva and Zurich, which are more modern cities, and focus on Luzern [fabulous], Lausanne, or Bern, as examples, [and day trip from these areas.]

The gondolas/funiculars to the Swiss mountain peaks are expensive. It helps buying some type of discount card, as the Swiss Half Price card, which also helps on rail prices.

I can't speak for Paris, but there's a lot of expertise here on this site.

You're planning so far ahead, so you have lots of time to research costs and establish priorities. Have a great time, and safe travels!

Posted by
26840 posts

Apologies if I missed it, but did you tell us what airport you'll be flying out of? It's really impossible to comment on anticipated flight costs without that information.

I suspect your cost estimates for hotels are a bit low for the caliber of place you are seeking (and understandably so, for a honeymoon). As already noted, Switzerland is extremely expensive. In Paris, as a solo traveler choosing the most basic single room I can find with a private bath, I would expect to pay over $100/night. You're looking for something definitely one step up, and for two people.

Although prices for this month and next are not at their lowest, and the best-priced/best-value options for this year were no doubt snapped up a long time ago, you might spend some time on a website like booking.com to see the price range of places that appeal to you. Obviously, you can save a bit by choosing a non-optimum location (farther from the center). But for a honeymoon, that might be a difficult to decision to make. You should soon be able to see actual hotel rates fo April of next year.

Posted by
3039 posts

You should be able to get flights much cheaper than that. We use the Chase Sapphire card for most purchases. Using the card, we were able to accumulate enough points to pay for our flight to Athens from Chicago round trip for 2. That was 1 year of using the card.

Posted by
5 posts

These responses are very helpful!

@acraven: We can easily fly out of several cities: Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, or New Orleans.

Posted by
1025 posts

I am going to suggest you give serious thought to an AirB&B or VRBO property in the Right Bank area. There is an almost frantic desire to book in the 5th, 6th, or 7th Arrondissements because that's where people view things as being in the typically "Parisian" areas.

The 10th and 11th are great areas to use as bases, and are more "lived in" neighborhoods than other areas. There are many apartments in the 80 to 125 Euro range, giving you options of becoming a temporary Parisian rather than a tourist.

Falafel stands, Chinese take outs, and a delightfully French system of complete meal take out places will satisfy the pickiest eaters. Breakfast can be enjoyed en suite in your apartment, with numerous cups of coffee paired with yogurt, fruit, croissants, jam, and cheese to really start your day in the right way. There are many restaurants across the city with memorable cooking and a truly French dining experience.

You are on the right track. Some dining guides:
https://parisbymouth.com/
http://hipstersinparis.com/

Posted by
8377 posts

RER from airport to hotel would save some money. Not that difficult. When you're in Switzerland, you'll want to do some day trips or sightseeing that may have high costs for transportation. Plus cost to get to the airport. Entry to museums and some sights might add up to a significant unaccounted for cost.

Posted by
4616 posts

So- you have 9 1/2 days on the ground?
It would optimal if you could add the expenses for at least one more day to your trip; when investing so much money and energy in an adventure, it's really nice to have as much time as possible.
And as one poster noted, do you have credit cards miles to use, especially with upcoming wedding expenses? Getting a new credit card with a big sign-up bonus could really cut the costs of air/hotels, and you have the advance time to do so, and to satisfy the bonus requirements.
Again, best wishes on your future.
PS - Do you have the RS Guidebooks?

Posted by
19653 posts

Yes, for getting around in Switzerland. If you go to Luzern, you can get a 3-day Tell Pass for 210 CHF pp. add 30 CHF pp to get from Luzern to Zurich airport. If you don't want to compromise in lodging, maybe $200-$250. Food budget for the whole trip should be upped as well, maybe doubled.

Posted by
4526 posts

I was also going to suggest an Airbnb type option to save some money.
I was recently looking at taking the train through the Bernina Pass from Chur to Italy. Videos of April was definitely still snow soon after Chur. That train ride isn't as expensive as some, regular train, not the Bernina Express, or you would have to be satisfied at lower altitudes and not the gondola rides up the slopes. YOu can definitely get accommodation in the smaller towns along that line for less that your budget, but there will be limited things to do. As well as weather to consider, there is being 'between seasons' so less might be open.
If the budget is not very flexible, then perhaps only one country (possibly not Switzerland), or fewer days. Decide what is the most important thing for you, then go down the list.
'humble' lodgings or 'honeymoon worthy'?
DIY and walking sight seeing, or paid activities
restaurant vs grocery store/kiosk/apartment cooked meals
Some people are satisfied with a honeymoon in a national park in a tent, but if you need to nickel and dime this trip to keep to the budget, maybe there are alternative locations to give you a comfortable and honeymoon worthy trip without the hassles of counting pennies.
Given that it is a year from now, you can do some pretty solid pricing homework that reflects prices for 'now' to project to your honeymoon.

Posted by
11033 posts

The flights are not listed for Apr/May 2020 yet. Looking as far ahead as possible your $1300 per person r/t looks iffy, especially if you want premium economy. AA has non stop from DFW// UA has one stop from IAH I suspect Delta would go through ATL or JFK and BA to LHR. Your wish for 'less than one stop' is a challenge.

"Better" hotels in Paris for 130 euro per night will be the needle in a haystack kind of search to find.

Have you looked at hotels in you amenity range to price them in Switz. I have not, but suspect you may need to up your budget to get what you want.

At $30 per person per day for food, no one will be gaining weight

Not sure where to cut costs to any significant extent on the trip. You need to cut your current costs to have more saved to afford the trip you desire.

Good luck

Posted by
5835 posts

Norwegian Air flies out of Austin. If they are still in business, their fares are low and drive down fares of the competition.

Posted by
3039 posts

Everyone has preferences and has an idea of where to spend money. My wife and I prefer to spend more on food, less on lodging.

So, if you wish to economize, cut your lodging costs. I think you can with this much lead time, and the length of time you plan on staying.

Posted by
26840 posts

My recommendation for airline-ticket-shopping is this: Explore now (for dates next March, I guess) to try to figure out what will be the cheapest origin airport to use and the best Swiss airport from which to return. For me, Zurich is always a lot cheaper than Geneva, but it could be different for you; also check Basel. Although the situation for Apil/May tickets may be different (you should check), I think there's a good chance it will not, so you will be one step ahead when ticket prices are available for your travel dates.

You'll be looking for a "Multi-city" flight, not two one-way tickets.

Figure out the range of acceptable travel dates. Flexibility may save you money, but obviously it takes more time to monitor prices for multiple dates (not to mention multiple airports). Traveling later may well mean better weather, but probably also slightly higher airfares.

Figure out which flights are acceptable to you, which depends on what you value most: not too many changes? no super-long layovers? no super-early depatures? Avoid tight connections that will cause worry on a trip this short. Once you've narrowed down the possibilities, note the fare for each one, along with the current date. Check as frequently as you think about it and update your fare-tracking list. You'll get a sense of the typical price for the flights you're interested in. What you're looking for is an occasion on which there is a substantial price drop. I have no idea whether that might happen in the summertime, because I never start looking at fares until the fall. Some non-competitive origins don't seem to have much fare variation (until things start inching upward as the travel date approaches).

I have been rather lucky catching good fares in October and November--but that's from Washington DC, which is a fairly competitive market. There are no guarantees, but you improve your chances if you know what is typical and can recognize a bargain if one floats by.

Be sure you are comparing apples to apples. Most of the fares currently displayed are likely to be Basic Economy (no checked luggage, no seat selection--meaning you're likely not to be seated together), etc. Know what you are getting.

Feel free to come back here when you've identified a few possible flights to see whether folks have an opinion about which would be best. Some airports are easier places to make connections, for example.

A warning, since you want to avoid multiple connections: One pattern I've observed is that early on, there may not be a huge difference between fares for non-stop vs. one-stop flights, or between one stop and two stops. As the travel date approaches, I've seen that gap tend to widen. Sometimes it appears you can pay an extra $150 (I'm pulling that number out of the air) early on, or you can wait 6-8 months and pay an extra $500 (another made-up number). So waiting around forever, hoping to catch a fare drop, does entail some risk, even aside from the tendency of fares to creep up over time.

Posted by
739 posts

Flights: I have to second the idea of looking at the cost of tickets you can guess the cost buy looking at other months that are similar to when you are going. So off season in your case.
It is hard for anyone that is not from your area to guess your flight costs so you will get less advice on those. For example I am from Michigan and my costs to fly are a LOT higher then many, 1400-1500 basic economy and 1600-1800 comfort economy in shoulder/off season. For example. But some folks pay as little as 800 for basic economy. So this will be your biggest variable
(+200 to be safe)

Food: I think you need to up you food budget a noticeable amount. I did two people in Switzerland, Germany an Paris last year and I was probably half again your budget number and we don’t eat fancy at all and even use fast food or very cheap places when convenient.
Remember you are not just buying three meals a day (or two if breakfast is included) but you are buying any drinks you have between meals. And wine/beer/alcohol you may have and any snakes you eat. Such as gelato as you walk along. (It is a bit cold maybe for gelato and a walk in the park, but hot chocolate for two an a pastery in Paris is not cheep. Trust me on this one.
(+200-400)

Hotel/Lodging: you seam to be a bit on the lower end for Paris but your off season may be why. But. I know in Sept that is a bit low. Doable but in out of the way locations. I would add another 15 per night to be safe. (For Paris)
(+105)

Activities: you don’t seam to have included anything other the museums in you to do list. Are you just staying in your hotel in Switzerland? What about a River Cruise in Paris (a bit cold but stay inside the boat) or a trip up the Eiffel Tower? Your going to Paris and not going up the tower? And don’t forget souvenirs. So you proble need to add about $500 for activities and a couple hundred for souvenirs
(+700)
.

So if I had to guess I would say you are about 1200 to 1400 low.
I know budgets are always tight and around weddings they are worse but you don’t want to under budget and have this implode. If the budget gets to tight consider dropping off Switzerland and coming home three days early, Unless there is something about Switzerland you have not said.