Planning Your Dream Trip to Paris and Rome: A Comprehensive Budget Guide

Are you dreaming of a vacation to the enchanting cities of Paris and Rome? Planning a one-month trip for two people, with two weeks in each city, can be both exciting and challenging. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you plan your dream trip while keeping your budget in check.

Acommodation Costs

Accommodation is a crucial component of your travel budget, especially when you’re budgeting for a longer stay in two different cities. According to my sister’s experience, staying at a Bed and Breakfast in Rome for four days cost approximately 225 euros. To account for price variations, let's round that up to around 1700 euros per person for a week in each city. For two people, the total accommodation cost would be approximately 3400 euros.

The Cost of Food

When it comes to food, Rome offers a variety of budget-friendly options. On my budget during my stay in Rome, I managed to eat very cheaply for breakfast and lunch, often with the hotel's breakfast included. For dinner, I spent around 30 euros per night. Adding up the cost for food over two weeks in each city, you can expect to spend about 3000 euros for each person, totalling 6000 euros for two people.

Transportation Costs

Getting around these vibrant cities is essential, but also one of the main expenses. Rome and Paris are cities where public transport can greatly reduce your costs. In Rome, the cost of a one-way taxi fare from the airport to your accommodation is fixed at 48 euros per trip. For public transportation, you have several ticket options to choose from:

B.I.T. Standard Ticket: Valid for one Metro ride or 100 minutes on all buses, with transfers. Cost: 1.50 euros. 24 Hour Ticket: Valid for unlimited travel on metro, bus, and train within Rome for 24 hours. Cost: 7.00 euros. 48 Hour Ticket: Valid for unlimited travel on metro, bus, and train within Rome for 48 hours. Cost: 12.50 euros. 72 Hour Ticket: Valid for unlimited travel on metro, bus, and train within Rome for 72 hours. Cost: 18.00 euros. C.I.S. Weekly Ticket: Valid for 7 calendar days, with a cost of 24.00 euros.

For Paris, it’s crucial to use public transportation effectively, as using a rental car can be both expensive and risky due to strict zone restrictions.

Activities and Experiences

Exploring the landmarks and experiencing the culture is a significant part of your trip. In Rome, you can purchase the Omni ticket for the Colosseum, Forum Romanum, and Palatine Hill for 1350 euros per person, and the Vatican ticket for 36 euros per person. For a unique experience, a cooking class in Trastevere costs around 65 euros per person. For Paris, similar guidance is provided based on the available attractions and activities.

For your enhanced versatility and flexibility, setting aside an additional 1000 euros for things to do would be prudent. This covers everything from attractions to shopping and personal expenses.

Final Calculation

To sum up the costs, here’s a detailed breakdown:

Accommodation: 3400 euros (1700 euros per person) Food: 6000 euros (3000 euros per person) Deposit and Airport Transfer (2 trips, each way): 200 euros Transportation: 240 euros (24 euros per day for 10 days in Rome and 24 euros per day for 14 days in Paris) Things to Do: 1000 euros (for flexible options)

Grand total: 6400 euros

To ensure you’re prepared for unexpected expenses or if you have a bit of a more luxurious taste, budgeting 7500 euros might be more prudent.