nitishraj

Thanks Janisj for a detailed advice....We have 99% freezed on this route...although as suggested by you, still a bit hectic, but we will manage..

Paris - 3 Nights , Lucerne - 3 Nights (we have accomodation in Tuttlingen (3 hrs from Lucerne), Venice - 2 Nights, Munich - 3 Nights (Have accommodation here)and Maybe Berlin.

Can you give me suggestions for hotels and accomodations? Also can you pls give me suggestions of what to see and not miss in these places...we are interested in History, Culture, food, beer and experiencing the European lifestyle etc..

Thanks in advance for the suggestions...!!!

PalenQ

Well if you go to Berlain do not miss the S-Bahn ride out to Potsdam, the Prussian Versailles.

denisea

You may want to consider staying away from the city center in Paris, but close to the Metro, to save money on your hotel room. I don't know the hotels away from the city center.

The arrondissements that are very central (1, 8, 4, 5, 6, 7, for example) can be quite pricey! But if you stay out a bit and close to a Metro stop, you can get into see what you like pretty easily and inexpensively. A carnet of Metro tickets will get you where you want to go (it's a book of ten tickets and you can both use them).

You buy an expensive crepe on the street or something from a bakery and enjoy lunch at Luxembourg Gardens or the park behind Notre Dame. To save money, pick up fruit at street markets to snack on, never order bottled water in cafes (ask for carafe d'eau), pick up a pastry at a patisserie for breakfast, and if you are at a cafe where you can stand at the counter instead of eating at a table, do it...it's less expensive. Many cafes charge even more for the terrace table than an indoor table, so be aware of that.

Take advantage of Le Menu in cafes as it is usually a good value and will usually include a starter, main course and dessert. Avoid eating in the areas right around the attractions...food is not too good and costs more!

PalenQ

You may want to consider staying away from the city center in Paris, but close to the Metro, to save money on your hotel room. I don't know the hotels away from the city center>

Great idea that could save tons of money and still provide cheap and frequent metro transporation in a few minutes into Paris - there are zillions of inexpensive modern motel-like hotels ringing Paris, out there for access by motorists not wishing to drive into Paris - check out www.accorhotels.com for several different brands, from dirt-cheap Formule 1 to more pricey and comfy ETAP and Ibis hotels of this chain.

janisj

I don't think denisa meant staying THAT far out of the center. That would be quite a hassle and you'd have no feeling of staying IN Paris. Just in the next ring of arrondissements beyond the 'big 8' (1-8) will generally be cheaper and still be IN Paris, And even some parts of the 'inner arrondissements' are less expensive than the prime neighborhoods.

spaarne

See if you can get into the Sorbonne and eat with the students in the 5th. I did that once. Lunch is dirt cheap and tastes really bad.The cafeteria at the Alliance Francaise is pretty good. I think you can eat there even if you are not a student.

spaarne

For a cheap high protein lunch in Germany stop in a Metzgerei, butcher shop. You can get a sandwich and a beverage, and maybe eat in the shop.

PalenQ

for dcheap and filling lunches in Paris stop by the many FLUNCH cafeterais serving down-home French food - you get a meat plat of choice and unlimited helpings of salads and veggies, bread, etc. A favorite with Parisians and families.

hazel1

I still say you've blown all thoughts about this being a "shoestring budget trip" by keeping Switzerland in the mix. It's gonna eat up a lot of your limited budget, even if you have free lodging.