Month: January 2016

Airfare purchased… Check! Now… Where to stay becomes new lead concern. What an adventure!

Janie and I both worked hard in early January trying to land beds for our gang in March. On the heels of March Break 2015 in Madrid/Portugal we had a new appreciation in how accommodations can really be an attraction during time on the road so we chose to invest some time in our selection. Discussions started with a few key elements… Ample beds, location near transit, and getting online! Seemed easy enough… Standard with most hotel offerings, right?

However, after running a potential budget spreadsheet the Euros quickly began to ring up! We weren’t planning on the “low budget” excursion, but aren’t interested in a new mortgage either. At this point Janie went to work on VRBO and encountered an amazing number of options for apartment rentals in Paris. We spent several days surfing and studying maps… All reminiscent of an episode of HGTV. The site was easy to navigate offering hundreds of accommodation options while providing a great budget solution allowing “eat at home” potential.

This was new for us. Our first Paris stay was at a low budget, no frills (location/location/location) room near D’Orsay.  We loved it… But definitely not family friendly! Janie and I set to work on a budgeted amount (as the sky is the limit in Paris) and pulled together a short list of potential locations. We searched by Arrondisement and selected parameters such as non-smoking, internet included, and fully equipped kitchen while dog earring sites near outdoor markets, metro/RER, and walking distance to attractions.

We selected, after reaching out with several e-mails to renters, in the 6th Arrondisement. The cost, amenities and location fit our needs and we think it’ll work out excellently. Unlike a hotel stay, we’ve had multiple emails with the rental agency and have pre-arranged things like arrival time and payment. We recommend reading through the options carefully, as well as requesting a “total cost” via email to ensure all fees are included in the price you are viewing. Charges went on “the card” upfront and a damage deposit is also necessary. If you’ve got a gut feeling the trip could fall through, I’m guessing trying to get refunded would be difficult.  However, I do like upfront payment and having the expenses covered by the time you actually land!  The whole process felt a lot more like a lease than a stay at the Hampton!

So, over Christmas vacation I had time on my hands and was pondering some new year travel dreams. I could feel the footsteps of March Break running up from behind so I decided on a little trip research.  I had designs on warmth, comfort and learning… As by mid-March old man winter begins to tire on the soul. However, concerns about the exchange on the Canadian Dollar were pressing against the entire idea. March Break is fixed, so I knew the dates we had to play with and the lack of “wiggle room”.

Noodling through the all inclusives, I checked out the packages for Mexico, Cuba, DR and Jamaica. Nothing grabbed my attention to the point of purchase, although I did ponder a Hard Rock in the Maya Riviera that I thought the kids might really enjoy. However, I really wanted a pick with an “educational” component that challenged our little family a bit more!

Soooo… Attention turned to airfares. With a group of 4 adults, this would mostly likely formulate 1/2 the cost of any trip. While running a few combinations out of Moncton International (I often do this as NB has a different break than NS and choice and cost are sometimes impacted positively) I stumbled into some very reasonable tix to Paris. If we chucked in some points we had the makings of a solid airfare deal across the pond.

Paris had been in the media since a terrorist attack in November of 2015. The images, politics, and voices of the city and France reverberated with us in our daily news and in online content. Rick Steeves says a great way to combat that type of terrorism is to visit… Hard not to agree. Janie and I had been to Paris for three days in 2008 and have always held the city as one of our most memorable. Beyond that… What a perfect opportunity for our kids to use the French Immersion instruction they had participated in throughout their years in school.

Thus … the stars seemed to align and we purchased return tickets. With the wheels in motion, I’m going to try and chronicle our planning through to the actual trip as an exercise in process! Want to keep track of all my mistakes I guess… Stay tuned!