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We Went to Paris for $20

We Went to Paris for $20We flew to Paris and spent nine days for a mere $20. Wait. What? Yes, we really flew from Missouri to Paris, France and had a vacation of a life time on a $20 dollar bill. Now before you call me a liar, you should know it took 5 years of me putting a $20 dollar bill into our Paris account each week to get the $5,000 it took to cover all of our expenses.

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I know you are disappointed now, but stop and think about it for a moment. All you have to do is put a single $20 bill away each week and you, too, can have a vacation of a lifetime. It really is that simple and easy. You do not need to sell a kidney, get a second job, or stop giving to charity. Just deposit $20 a week into a savings account.

We flew to Paris, France and spent a glorious nine days in the city of romance. The balcony from our room gave us a perfect view of the Eiffel tower. The people, food, art, history, and atmosphere were intoxicating. Notre Dame, Louvre, Champs Elysee, and the world famous Cordon Bleu were just a few of the places we adventured to. A train ride through the country side to visit Versailles was breath taking. Eating at the world famous Le Train restaurant will forever be a highlight on our journey. Dining at cafes while people watching from the street was relaxing and addicting.Listening to the talented musicians in the subway was inspiring, but the strolls in the moonlight on the city streets made me feel that anything was possible.

Because I put $20 away each week, I didn't read about the Mona Lisa in an art book, I saw it in person. I stood in Napoleon's apartment. My husband kissed me on a bridge over the river as snow slowly fell from the European sky. I stood at Bob Marlee's grave, as well as, Chopin and countless other historical figures. I cooked food where Julie Child created feasts. I touched, tasted, smelled, saw, and heard the brilliance of a culture that touched my soul.

We still go to the beach each year and we have taken the kids to Disney World, because we budget for a family vacation each year. But, my $20 trip is our private time away from work, kids, and responsibilities. Going to McDonalds once a week, buying Starbucks before work, or a dream vacation? How do you want to spend $20 each week?

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Silver Post Medal for All Time! 254 Posts
July 8, 20140 found this helpful

Great article! I am going to start doing this.

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July 9, 20140 found this helpful

Congratulations; however, you are assuming that $20 per week is easy. For some people, it would definitely mean getting a second job. Do the math - $20 per week is $100 dollars per month, and that is a lot of money for many people.

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September 4, 20160 found this helpful

Especially if you are on a limited income and can't even get enough groceries for the month and pay all your utilities, etc. . .

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July 12, 20140 found this helpful

Wish I'd seen this earlier-my church group is going to Rome next spring, and I won't be able to go. But if I start saving now, maybe I can go on the next one...

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July 12, 20140 found this helpful

I noticed where you live, one of my favorite vacation places in America Anne

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July 14, 20140 found this helpful

While for some, $20 a week is a stretch, it highlights the importance of budgeting and goal-setting! Anything is possible that you set your mind to.

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August 25, 20140 found this helpful

Great idea, just goes to show that persistence pays off and good things come to those who wait. You earned every bit of that vacation, good job!

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September 14, 20191 found this helpful

There is a very simple way to visit Paris for a lower price. Paris is one of the smallest capital in the world (from north to south Paris is less than 5 miles and a bit more than 7 miles from east to west). The town and its region have a good network of, metro, trains, fast RER trains, trams and bus, that takes you in 10 to 15' minutes, away from the very expensives Paris hotels to very good and less expensive hotels in Paris immediate suburbs. This will lower your Bed & Breakfast budget. To lower your travelling budget : you only have to come over to France with a picture of yourself (picture only no copy or scan) and to stuck it on a travel card called NAVIGO DECOUVERTE. You buy the actual card (5 Euro only) as soon as you land at the main Paris airport. Once you have bought that card and written your name and address on it, you will have to put only a credit of 22,80 Euro on the card to travel free for a whole week using any metro, buss, train, fast train of the regional network inside or outside Paris (as far as the Chateau de Versailles :17km from Paris center) or as far as Paris CDG airport : 22 km from Paris center).

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To give you just one example of how much money you will save : without this card the ticket you would buy on your arrival to go from Paris CDG airport, to the center of Paris would already cost you for one way and one person only : 10,30 Euro. The card is the tourist version of the official travel card called NAVIGO the french or non french workers use for their travels in and around Paris. The only difference with the tourist version of the card called NAVIGO DECOUVERTE is that the NAVIGO is registrated and can be replaced if lost.The NAVIGO DECOUVERTE tourist travelling card can not be replaced if lost but is valid for 10 years in case you want to come back to Paris some others times. I also want to point out that whatever the media are trying to convince you of, the suburb of Paris has nothing to do with the jungle and suburbians are as well educated and sometimes more helpful than the population you will meet when visiting Paris especially as when visiting the actual town of Paris and its most famous monuments you will mainly be surrounded by tourists.

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