How much do your European trips usually cost you?
Mar 21st, 2006, 05:17 AM
#1
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How much do your European trips usually cost you?
Currently our 15 day trip is tipping the scales at $5300 per couple (2 couples going). Here are a few items to note:
- we used frequent flyer miles to get there and back so that airfare is NOT included in the price
- we have a round trip flight from Athens to a Greek Island that is included in the price
- we have a one way flight from Athens to Venice that is included in the price
- we have a 6 day BMW car rental included in the price
- we have a first class Elipsos night train from Milan to Barcelona included in the price
All that being said the trip is costing us more than we initially had planned. How much do you usually spend on your travels?
- we used frequent flyer miles to get there and back so that airfare is NOT included in the price
- we have a round trip flight from Athens to a Greek Island that is included in the price
- we have a one way flight from Athens to Venice that is included in the price
- we have a 6 day BMW car rental included in the price
- we have a first class Elipsos night train from Milan to Barcelona included in the price
All that being said the trip is costing us more than we initially had planned. How much do you usually spend on your travels?
Mar 21st, 2006, 05:28 AM
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So you're spending $353 per couple per day? You're running maybe $50 a day over what we usually allow, and we think we travel very nicely. Although I must admit with the dollar dip last summer raised us a bit above the $300 per day figure, and I suppose this summer will be pretty much the same. I suspect we'll actually come out about that same budget. That is if you are also including your hotels -- you didn't mention that.
Mar 21st, 2006, 05:32 AM
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The bad news is that you might have spent more than the paper calculation regardless. (It might be some comfort to know that most of us do so, as well.)
For example, you should be including the pro-rated cost of acquiring the frequent flyer miles. This calculation won't be easy in many cases.
If the miles came from flying due to work, one properly needs to consider such things as: What cost is placed on having to be away from home to work, etc. etc., and how much did the employer pay for the flight that earned the miles? Or: if merchandise in respect of clients was paid for using a FF card, how much merchandise had to be bought to earn the miles? These former two situations furthermore bias results towards people in such occupations. Most of us won't acquire miles (and thus cheap flights that way) unless we pay for a FF card, which leads to the next question: how much in the way of annual fees were paid for the cards, and did having such a card inspire purchases that might otherwise not have been made? (Those cards aren't handed out for no reason: the psychology, I suspect, of 'reward-for-spending' has been thoroughly researched by the card companies.)
Then there's the pro-rated cost of passport use. I was stunned at how much the total cost to renew passports had increased - including gov't fee, photos, cost to acquire reissue of birth certificate for one of us, special delivery charges, etc. etc.
Add to this the pro-rated cost of luggage, gizmos to accessorize luggage, guidebooks, maps, phone calls. Possibly special clothing or even vaccinations in some cases.
Pro-rated cost of running a computer and having Internet service, not to mention printer and paper: so-called 'ticketless' e-tickets are printed out on.....the customer's printer, using the customer's software, computer, and yes, customer time. (Don't get me wrong, I love being freed of a travel agent, I just know it ain't free. This goes for if one uses, say, an employer's computer: the point is, someone had to pay for the pro-rated time thereon.)
Finally, true cost comparisons are meaningless, because there's simply too many variables. The cost of train service doesn't just vary between category (first versus second class) but between countries: Italy, say, is generally waaaay cheaper than Britain for rail costs. I don't know how Greece varies with the rest.
If you are off considerably from your original estimate, don't feel upset: most people spend more than they think, they simply don't calculate precisely enough.
For example, you should be including the pro-rated cost of acquiring the frequent flyer miles. This calculation won't be easy in many cases.
If the miles came from flying due to work, one properly needs to consider such things as: What cost is placed on having to be away from home to work, etc. etc., and how much did the employer pay for the flight that earned the miles? Or: if merchandise in respect of clients was paid for using a FF card, how much merchandise had to be bought to earn the miles? These former two situations furthermore bias results towards people in such occupations. Most of us won't acquire miles (and thus cheap flights that way) unless we pay for a FF card, which leads to the next question: how much in the way of annual fees were paid for the cards, and did having such a card inspire purchases that might otherwise not have been made? (Those cards aren't handed out for no reason: the psychology, I suspect, of 'reward-for-spending' has been thoroughly researched by the card companies.)
Then there's the pro-rated cost of passport use. I was stunned at how much the total cost to renew passports had increased - including gov't fee, photos, cost to acquire reissue of birth certificate for one of us, special delivery charges, etc. etc.
Add to this the pro-rated cost of luggage, gizmos to accessorize luggage, guidebooks, maps, phone calls. Possibly special clothing or even vaccinations in some cases.
Pro-rated cost of running a computer and having Internet service, not to mention printer and paper: so-called 'ticketless' e-tickets are printed out on.....the customer's printer, using the customer's software, computer, and yes, customer time. (Don't get me wrong, I love being freed of a travel agent, I just know it ain't free. This goes for if one uses, say, an employer's computer: the point is, someone had to pay for the pro-rated time thereon.)
Finally, true cost comparisons are meaningless, because there's simply too many variables. The cost of train service doesn't just vary between category (first versus second class) but between countries: Italy, say, is generally waaaay cheaper than Britain for rail costs. I don't know how Greece varies with the rest.
If you are off considerably from your original estimate, don't feel upset: most people spend more than they think, they simply don't calculate precisely enough.
Mar 21st, 2006, 05:32 AM
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I was including everything in the $5300. The only reason I started listing certain things was to help you understand some of the bigger than usual items that made the cost so high. Hotels are in there. We ended up spending a lot more on hotels than we did last time. I'd say our average hotel costs per couple are $100 in the hotel were we are staying 4 in a room and $250 in the hotels we stay 2 in a room. Hotels have come up a LOT from 1999 when we went last.
Mar 21st, 2006, 05:34 AM
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My first European trip was in 2001 on a study abroad trip in Spain for 7 weeks so the cost is a little off for *real* European traveling:
$750 airfare (Dallas to Paris, Madrid to Amsterdam to Dallas)
$50 train ticket (Paris to Madrid)
$1200 Room, board and Spanish classes for 5 weeks.
$1500 spending money -- extra food, travel, hostels, souvenirs, etc. (2 weeks of travel beyond the study abroad)
Total: $3500 for 7 weeks
Fastforward a few years and I'm going back to Europe for the 2nd time this summer, to London to be specific:
$1000 roundtrip airfare (Austin to JFK:coach, JFK to London: biz class)
$700 accomodations (sharing a 2 bedroom flat with 2 other friends)
$1000 food (groceries to cook at the flat), activities, souvenirs
Total: $2700 for 10 days
Your total doesn't really sound outrageous especially if you will be eating out for every meal. That gets very expensive, which is why we are trying to eat in on this trip.
Chandra
$750 airfare (Dallas to Paris, Madrid to Amsterdam to Dallas)
$50 train ticket (Paris to Madrid)
$1200 Room, board and Spanish classes for 5 weeks.
$1500 spending money -- extra food, travel, hostels, souvenirs, etc. (2 weeks of travel beyond the study abroad)
Total: $3500 for 7 weeks
Fastforward a few years and I'm going back to Europe for the 2nd time this summer, to London to be specific:
$1000 roundtrip airfare (Austin to JFK:coach, JFK to London: biz class)
$700 accomodations (sharing a 2 bedroom flat with 2 other friends)
$1000 food (groceries to cook at the flat), activities, souvenirs
Total: $2700 for 10 days
Your total doesn't really sound outrageous especially if you will be eating out for every meal. That gets very expensive, which is why we are trying to eat in on this trip.
Chandra
Mar 21st, 2006, 05:35 AM
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I book a self-catering apartment in a small town in either Germany or Switzerland for a week, then a B&B in another area for 3-4 more days (10-11 nights all).
I travel by train/bus. Shop for breakfast (made in the apartment), eat cheaply for lunch and well for dinner. With optional excursions/admissions, etc I have averaged $1500-1700 every time!
I travel by train/bus. Shop for breakfast (made in the apartment), eat cheaply for lunch and well for dinner. With optional excursions/admissions, etc I have averaged $1500-1700 every time!
Mar 21st, 2006, 05:37 AM
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Keep in mind my first trip was very spartan, student-style traveling. I don't think most people on this board (including myself now) would step foot in some of the places that we stayed. But, sigh, what a great trip!
Mar 21st, 2006, 05:39 AM
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I assumed you were including hotels, and yes you are right. Just a few years ago we rarely spent over $100 a night in nice European hotels (except for really major cities or splurges), but I'd guestimate our hotel costs for the same time hotels have risen at least 50% in the past 6 years! This year we're doing mainly apartments and one week stays, which have gotten our accomodations budget back in line.
It's clear you like to travel in style, and you are certainly aware you could find cheaper car rental or travel cheaper than the airfare to the Greek island or the Elipsos to Barcelona. But hey, if you can find the funds, why not enjoy it? And just be glad you don't have to add in the cost of the transAtlantic airfare as well!
It's clear you like to travel in style, and you are certainly aware you could find cheaper car rental or travel cheaper than the airfare to the Greek island or the Elipsos to Barcelona. But hey, if you can find the funds, why not enjoy it? And just be glad you don't have to add in the cost of the transAtlantic airfare as well!
Mar 21st, 2006, 05:40 AM
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Not counting airfare over to the UK (I'm here for study abroad anyway), or the eurail pass (Christmas present), I'm planning on about $60-$70 a day (average, of course; Prague will be much cheaper than Rome or Paris, of course, especially since I'm sleeping in my friend's room) for the trip I'm taking starting Friday. In the past, trips have varied considerably; last summer to Sardinia was almost free, for various reasons (just had to pay for food and a little transport, less than $20 a day), others have been considerably more.
Mar 21st, 2006, 05:45 AM
#13
Austria/Hungary/CR/SR/PO-3 weeks 2005-$3,600
France (all over)-3 weeks 2004-$2,800 +air
each with car rental throughout
and so forth
I sense the money aspect is troubling you...else you wouldn't be asking.
I don't think we would have enjoyed our trips as much, or been able to immerse ourselves in the local culture as much, if we had stayed in $250/nite hotels instead of $70 pensions. We've travelled to get into another culture, rather than taking our own culture with us
France (all over)-3 weeks 2004-$2,800 +air
each with car rental throughout
and so forth
I sense the money aspect is troubling you...else you wouldn't be asking.
I don't think we would have enjoyed our trips as much, or been able to immerse ourselves in the local culture as much, if we had stayed in $250/nite hotels instead of $70 pensions. We've travelled to get into another culture, rather than taking our own culture with us
Mar 21st, 2006, 06:07 AM
#15
I spend less but I have never flown within Europe or rented a car and stay at cheaper hotels.
I think when you say it "is costing us more than we initially had planned" only means you've upped or added to what you are doing or your estimates were not accurate when you first made them.
I think when you say it "is costing us more than we initially had planned" only means you've upped or added to what you are doing or your estimates were not accurate when you first made them.
Mar 21st, 2006, 06:30 AM
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I've budgeted considerably more for my May trip than you have, but you really can't compare because it's apple to oranges. I've budgeted $4,925 for a 28-day trip. This is a more expensive trip than we've taken in the past, partly because it's longer and partly because we're hopscotching across Europe to a number of big cities. It's a "mop-up" trip to hit a number of placles flung far afield.
We'll be visiting: Munich, Copenhagen, Arhus (Denmark), Berlin, Krakow, Budapest, Prague, and Vienna.
Unfortunately, we do not have the benefit of frequent flyer miles this time, so our budget includes:
Airfare From Spokane to Munich and back at $904
Hotels, at an average of $54 per night for my 1/2 share
Food budget, at $35 per day (I estimate $50 but deduct $15 for the average amount I'd spend if I were at home)
Tours, site visits and taxis, at $25 per day for my share
Car rental 3 days, my share: 91
Railpass, 2nd class, Budapest to Prague, Prague to Vienna, Vienna to Munich: $263
Airfares within Europe, Munich to Copenhagen, Copenhagen to Berlin, Berlin to Krakow, and Krakow to Budapest: $436
Medical health insurance for travel outside the US: $91
This is the first year I've purchased health insurance, but I should have done it in the past and just didn't think of it. My concern is with the possibility of a major medical emergency. I'm "only" 64 but had emergency open heart surgery a year ago, which taught me I'm not invulnerable. The hospital alone billed $56,000 for my open heart surgery. I checked with my insurance and found they would pay 60% of the cost for medical expenses outside their preferred provider network, so $91, with a $2,500 deductible, seemed a reasonable additional outlay for the peace of mind.
We'll be visiting: Munich, Copenhagen, Arhus (Denmark), Berlin, Krakow, Budapest, Prague, and Vienna.
Unfortunately, we do not have the benefit of frequent flyer miles this time, so our budget includes:
Airfare From Spokane to Munich and back at $904
Hotels, at an average of $54 per night for my 1/2 share
Food budget, at $35 per day (I estimate $50 but deduct $15 for the average amount I'd spend if I were at home)
Tours, site visits and taxis, at $25 per day for my share
Car rental 3 days, my share: 91
Railpass, 2nd class, Budapest to Prague, Prague to Vienna, Vienna to Munich: $263
Airfares within Europe, Munich to Copenhagen, Copenhagen to Berlin, Berlin to Krakow, and Krakow to Budapest: $436
Medical health insurance for travel outside the US: $91
This is the first year I've purchased health insurance, but I should have done it in the past and just didn't think of it. My concern is with the possibility of a major medical emergency. I'm "only" 64 but had emergency open heart surgery a year ago, which taught me I'm not invulnerable. The hospital alone billed $56,000 for my open heart surgery. I checked with my insurance and found they would pay 60% of the cost for medical expenses outside their preferred provider network, so $91, with a $2,500 deductible, seemed a reasonable additional outlay for the peace of mind.
Mar 21st, 2006, 06:54 AM
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Hi W,
That's about what we would spend for Paris or other large city, but we have a large bar bill.
> the trip is costing us more than we initially had planned.
>we have a 6 day BMW car rental included in the price..
You could save a few pennies by renting a Peugeot.
That's about what we would spend for Paris or other large city, but we have a large bar bill.
> the trip is costing us more than we initially had planned.
>we have a 6 day BMW car rental included in the price..
You could save a few pennies by renting a Peugeot.
Mar 21st, 2006, 07:03 AM
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It totally depends on where and when you are going. I went to Porto for a long weekend two weeks ago and managed to only spend 150 euros over the course of 4 days!!!!Including round trip airfare (from Paris) the whole trip cost me 250 euros! After living in Paris and traveling exclusively in expensive countries such as the UK and Italy, I was FLOORED by how cheap everything was. I had planned to spend A LOT more, so now I have more money for my next vacation.
Mar 21st, 2006, 07:26 AM
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A typical trip for us is around $8,000-$10,000, which includes air, hotels, sites and transportation in country, except for a trip we took to Le Marches for 5 weeks to study Italian. That was a very inexpensive trip as we stayed at the school.
We have a trip coming up in June to Italy, which is costing just under $10,000 for air (that is $3,000 by itself! good heavens!), hotel and some extras. When all is said and done, we'll have spent probably around $12,000.00 for the two of us.
We have a trip coming up in June to Italy, which is costing just under $10,000 for air (that is $3,000 by itself! good heavens!), hotel and some extras. When all is said and done, we'll have spent probably around $12,000.00 for the two of us.
