Paris-Nice 2013 on $500... Unlikely

The travel website Lonely Planet recently ranked the top destinations in the world.  Asian and Far East countries dominated the list with Nepal, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, India and Bhutan all scoring very high with world travelers.  South America was well-represented with Costa Rica, Argentina, Peru, and Columbia.  The US was a surprising 11^th.  Even Georgia showed up at #18.  Australia and New Zealand continue to be popular tourist destinations.  We mention all of this because only Italy was on the list to represent Europe and today cycling fans will focus their attention to the seven stages of racing this week in the Paris-Nice UCI World Tour event.  As the cyclists ride south from metropolitan Paris to Mediterranean Nice they will pass through a series of picturesque, truly French towns and villages.  The destinations provided by France, and Germany, and Holland, and Denmark and the UK and others on the Continent and off are extraordinary and worth the trip.  The reason these countries did not make the Lonely Planet list is quite simple: money.  Europe is expensive.  The Far East and South America are affordable.

Let’s start with some simple conversions.  For $100 USD you will get 76 Euros.  For $500 USD you will pocket 384 Euros.  To put that a bit more into perspective let’s follow the route of Paris-Nice 2013 with a wallet full of Euros.  In Paris a beer will set you back 15 Euros; that’s about $20 USD.  The next stop on your adventure to Nice is Chatel-Guyon.  The quaint town is known for its recuperative thermal springs.   It is possible to stay at a three star hotel just outside of town for about 75 Euros; that is about $97.  The next morning you are up and on your way to Saint-Vallier, the finish town for Stage 4.  Another picturesque locale, the city is at the confluence of the Rhone and Galaure Rivers.  A bite to eat at lunchtime brings a bill of 40 Euros ($52 USD).  If you are keeping track the $500 brought you €384.  The count now stands at €254 and you have only had one beer, one night’s stay and lunch. 

By the time you make it to Nice your wallet may be on fumes and Nice is expensive.  It’s location between mountains and the sea offers an exceptionally favorable climate.  Nice is the capital of the Côte d'Azur and the population of 350,000 makes it France's 5th largest city.  The weather and proximity to mountains and the sea make Nice the second most popular tourist destination in the country and attracts more than 4.5 million visitors each year.  Because of the annual influx of tourists, Nice has the second biggest airport in France, visited by 11 million passengers last year.  Where you will drop your money is on the famed Promenade des Anglais.  The Promenade (pictured) offers a great stroll or bike ride with the blue sea to one side and the lovely architecture of Nice to the other.  The cafes, shops and hotels are pricey.   

The SBT crew knows that travelling anywhere with US dollars will be expensive so be prepared but Europe does not have to be expensive with some pre-planning.  We offer three tips: Don’t choose a hotel in the downtown section of towns; head to the outskirts.  Prices are better and the atmosphere is much calmer.   Next, pick up a free sightseeing guide (almost all cities provide them at visitor’s centers) and use the guide to enjoy the scenery, the architecture, the centuries of culture, and the ambiance of Europe.  It won’t cost a thing to walk cobblestone streets and window shop.  Last, avoid the tourist traps.  The shops and restaurants closest to any major attraction will be over-priced, stretch your legs and venture a little farther for more realistic prices.   

     The joie de vivre of France and the rest of Europe does not have to leave you broke so happy trails.

Please visit our website for a video of the Promenade des Anglais at www.stickybottleteam.net.  We also have a video of the Paris-Nice 2013 course.  Click on VIDEOS.