Astha

Hi guys,

As evident from my other posts, I am traveling to Paris, Amsterdam,Rome and Amalfi this summer. Wanted to check if 50 euro is enough for food and internal travel in city. Kept a seperate budget for travel,accomodation, sightseeing.

50 euro is only for food and metro. Is this enough ?

Robert2533

It should be as long as breakfast is included in your daily hotel rate, you stick with fixed-price menus at lunch and not go à la carte, and be careful with what you order at dinner time.

And you'll want to stay away from sitting at a table outside because of the two and three-tier pricing system used in many places. A cup of coffee in Paris can set you back nearly 10% of your daily budget, depending on where you decide to have it.

sandralist

In Italy, your hotel will probaby serve you some breakfast, but your budget is a little tight and you will need to do some research to stay within it, especially if you will also want snacks or extra coffee or cocktails. Remember that if you want to stop for coffee, it is MUCH cheaper to drink it standing at the bar than if you sit down at a table. It is cheaper to eat big lunch and a smaller dinner (like pizza).

Also, if you plan to eat gelato, it is better to do some research and only eat at the very good places, rather than getting it from the many tourist places near the sights. Those tourist places often make theirs with cheap chemical flavorings but they overcharge for it. I wouldn't eat gelato in the Amalfi coast at all. Look for granita instead.

Also, try some market foods. Strawberries, peaches, cherries, fresh breads, tomatoes and peppes in the south...

bilboburgler

It depends how much you use shank's pony as well

nytraveler

It is certainly possible to eat and travel around the city that cheaply if you avoid taxis and make budget food choices. But - if you want nice sit down dinners that budget is low. If you have breakfast at hotel, have a picnic or slice for lunch and a modest dinner it will work.

Every restaurant will post prices outside.

Avoid places with menus in 12 languages, pictures of food, or someone trying to lure you in - the food will be both poor and expensive.

bvlenci

In Rome, you can make an inexpensive meal with pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice), panini, or salads. Many bars serve these simple things, and also tramezzini, piadine, and other small meals. It will cost more to sit at a table, but it will be cheaper than a restaurant. However, always verify the prices of everything you order, as well a the cost of sitting at a table.

Most small groceries will make you a sandwich with a roll and sliced prosciutto, salami, or cheese. They usually weigh the ingredients and charge you only by the weight and the cost of the roll.

You can also just pick up some bread, sliced meat, cheese, and fruit, and make a meal in your room. This is a good way to try regional speciality cheeses and salami, which would cost much more on an appetizer plate in a restaurant. The same is true for regional wines. You can pick up a bottle in a grocery or supermarket for less than you could order the same wine in a restaurant. Just do some research on regional specialties before you go, so that you know what to look for.

There are also some self-service restaurants in Rome, where you can get a decent, but inexpensive meal. There are two such cafeteria-style restaurants in Termini station, one alongside track 24 and a larger one on the second level on the Via Giolitti side.

If you alternate these cheaper meals with occasional meals in a restaurant, you should be able to stay within your budget. I've never noticed that lunch costs any less than dinner in Rome, but I haven't made a study of the subject. I would think it might be true in the more expensive restaurants, where you probably won't be eating.

You can refill a water bottle at the many fountains (nasoni) in Rome. The water in Rome comes via acqueduct from distant sources, and is excellent.

I rarely spend more than €3 a day in bus tickets in Rome. The tickets cost €1.50 and are good for 100 minutes, on buses, trams, and one entrance into the metro system. Usually a pass will be more expensive that single tickets, unless you make more than four 100-minute trips a day. I usually buy them all at once, two for each day I'll be there, and if I run low, I get a few more.

dwdvagamundo

We almost always eat breakfast and a late lunch when travelling--no dinner. Lunch is usually less expensive than dinner so we not only save a whole meal, but the cost of dinner.

And Sandra's and bvlenci's idea of buying at food markets, bakeries, etc. is a great one. You can save an awful lot and have a memorable lunch if you picnic on a loaf of bread, a quarter of cheese, and a bottle of wine with a bunch of grapes or some other local in season fruit for dessert.

hetismij2

In Amsterdam if your hotel doesn't provide breakfast head for Hema or La Place for their bargain breakfasts.
La Place is also good for a reasonably priced lunch, or even a simple evening meal. At lunch they always have a soup and sandwich for €5, and a warm meal for the same price. We had a warm chicken sandwich with fries today for €5. Very good, and filling.
There are plenty of other places offering set meals or tourist menus for €25-35 for an evening meal.
Buy a pass for public transport for the number of days you are staying, but you can walk most of Amsterdam very easily.