I've always loved French culture and the French language and I'll be turning 18 next January, so I figured I would try to make a trip to France. Besides family vacations across a few states, this will be my biggest and longest trip. It will also be the first time I have flown in an airplane. Is this too much for an 18 year old on his own? Also, how much should I try to save up for a good trip? I know a plane ticket is probably close to $2,000 from Detroit to Paris but beyond that, I have no clue what to expect. I don't even know if I want to go to Paris. It's a tossup between Paris, Lyon, or Bordeaux. I know a bit of French, and I'll probably learn more before then. So what I want to know is if this would be too big of a trip for a first timer who is 18, and what should I expect and how much should I save up for a good trip (preferably close to a week long)?
Also, there is a possibility of maybe taking one friend with me but that would mean he (or I) would need to save money for himself.