NoleNomad

What with the plunge of the dollar, etc., there is no question that European travel is now quite expensive. Yet -- at least when perusing travel brochures from various tour companies -- I find that the cost for a similar length trip to many locations in the US and Canada is nearly the same. Granted, these figures don't usually include airfare.

I am aware of the various things one can do to lessen the expenses of any trip when using an itinerary of one's own design (as done by most posters here). Still, my perception is that -- for similar levels of lodging, meals, etc. -- there is really not much difference in cost to travel in Europe vs. North America. Am I mistaken?

Jean

There have been a few recent threads of this, some detouring into totally different discussions. I think you can plan any trip within a reasonable budget. (The hard part is sticking to the budget.)

ira

HI NN,

It is much cheaper for me to spend a week in Paris than in NYC, including airfare.

In general, you can visit Europe for about the same cost as staying in the US, for similar itineraries.

Where are you planning to visit?

NoleNomad

Thanks, Jean and ira.

Ira, I don't have a definite time frame for traveling at this time, but I would love to get back to Italy this year. I was getting discouraged, though, after reading the thread about the high cost of European travel preventing some people from returning.

It appears, though, that the costs aren't really that much greater than for some closer locales. Definitely pricey but -- with willingness to sacrifice some things -- I might as well plan on going to Italy (my first choice) than elsewhere. How's that for rationalization?

Christina

I don't think anyone talking about those costs was comparing tours or packages, they were talking about doing it on their own. If you see a price that is the same, that's your bottom line (although airfare will cost more, of course, to Europe).

Since I'm American, I wouldn't even consider taking a tour package when I travel in the US, so I actually have never looked at one, but I suspect they would stay at more expensive hotels and charge for food (if it's included) at a much higher rate than people usually would spend on their own. I might be wrong on that, I just think a tour package wouldn't stay at a Red Roof Inn or Comfort Inn that much in the US, or eat at IHOP or cheaper local ethnic restaurants, but you could easily do that on your own when you travel.

bellastarr

OMG, ira. If what you say is true, I will be forced to go Paris soon to save some money, since I'm already in NYC!

scatcat

I don't keep totals of my expenses, but I believe that my Hawaii trips are the most expensive. Partly because I stay at 4*-5* resorts, but that is just part of the vacation. In Europe I stay at 2*-3* hotels and I love every minute of it!

Jean

NoleNomad, you can have a wonderful trip to Italy without breaking the bank if you stay out of the big cities. But by that I don't mean picking Portofino instead of Venice. I mean smaller, less tourist-swamped towns which still have access to good public trans. Finding these towns requires a good map of Italy and research into train and bus service. Keep in mind that apartments are almost always cheaper than hotels and offer the ability to keep dining costs within your budget. The toughest cost to control is the air fare

janisj

A lot depends on where you are talking about in the States.

Some rural areas of the US have very cheap accommodations. But in general - from the west coast I can do London/the UK cheaper than NYC or Wash. DC. I can do Paris cheaper than Atlanta or Hawaii.

I can do SF/Carmel cheaper - but only because I can drive there. If I had to fly in long haul, Italy or England or Scotland would cost less than coastal California.

ira

HI NN,

>I might as well plan on going to Italy (my first choice) than elsewhere. <

I think that that is a very good, well-reasoned, cost-beneficial plan.

For lower budget, consider Umbria, Les Marches, Sicily and the deep South down near the bottom of the boot.

Enjoy your visit.
...............................
Hi BS,

Definitely. Think how much you will save not commuting on the subway each day.

svicious22

I believe Europe has gotten out of hand, cost-wise, to the extent I don't plan on going back anytime soon. For now, there is plenty to see and do in the U.S. with far better deals to be had and that is where my money will be going until and unless the dollar strengthens.

In years past, I've tried to make it to Europe every other year, alternating with cheaper (but invariably more luxurious due to cost savings on airfare) stateside trips. Now, when I think what I can do in the states for the kind of money it takes to travel Europe in a modicum of style these days, I just can't justify it anymore. For example, a recent trip to Amsterdam made Manhattan, which was a previous year's travel destination, seem (relatively) reasonable in comparison.

travelgourmet

I only think that Scandinavia has gotten truly out of hand. And, when I say out of hand, I mean prepare to spend $50+ per person for very ordinary meals, without booze. $15-$20 for ordinary takeout, per person. Any sort of shopping will see at least a 25-50% premium over the US. Fresh-cut flowers are cheap though.

London is expensive, but there are enough deals on flights and hotels (use priceline) that at least the basics are affordable. Nice restaurants get expensive very quickly. Shopping is expensive, even if the selection is spectacular.

The rest is affordable enough if you follow basic saving strategies and don't shop too much.

adeben

The USA has at last become affordable! For many years Europe was a much cheaper destination for Australians, but the USA is now in the picture. Now, if OUR dollar keeps appreciating against the US$ till it reaches parity or better, then the US will be dramatically cheaper. Because of the currency situation, I haven't been to the USA for about ten years, but another trip is on the cards.

Barblab

I think part of peoples perception that Europe is so expensive now is that they are comparing it to travel there when "Europe on $5.00 a Day" was a popular travel guide it was actually possible to do it for that.

NeoPatrick

For the past few years, we've traveled for a couple months in Europe and a couple months in the US. Our style of travel is similar in both. There is no doubt that our stays in LA, Chicago,San Francisco, and particularly New York are considerably MORE expensive than our stays in Rome, Madrid, Venice, Paris, etc. London is the only city that seems to equal in cost New York for us.

Kellye

I'm not well travelled to Europe (only been there once), but have travelled in many areas of the U.S. Even allowing for "budget" hotels in the U.S., we found our stay in Europe to be no more than those in the U.S. and in some instances an even better bargain. It was just the "getting there" which was prohibitively expensive. That stated, my daughter and I are planning to go back again this summer. We're just hoping for a miracle in the airfare costs!

Clifton

It kind of depends on how you expect to travel, where and when and what you're comparing it to.

Everyone seems to throw out NYC as their example for the US, although that's really only a good comparison, I think, if the Euro alternative is London, Paris, Rome and similarly expensive. (in which case, Paris wins, the rest seem to be neck-and-neck)

Otherwise, you can't compare small town Spain to a NYC visit. Tastes matter, of course, but remote Andalusia comes a lot closer in speed to the Ozarks than it does to New York City. And prices reflect that on both sides of the Atlantic. For instance, a traditional hotel in Ronda in April - about 90€ a night for a very nice, traditional, big but not flashy room in a historic building. Right in the old center. Perfect for us, but not the 4 Seasons. Meals were reasonable around there, but you could certainly spend more than the bistro type eating we prefer. No, I am not saying that Andalusia and the Ozarks are similar, before anyone comes back with that. I'm saying they're both rural, picturesque and cheap.

It comes down to what you like really and what is most important to sacrifice - style or destination type. The Ozarks are not Andalusia. NYC is not Rome. And vice versa. Personally, we're also hitting some places right now that are neither Europe or the US, as we have a list that already went beyond those two areas and now seems a good time to look for values. So for us, it doesn't have to be either/or.

Cowboy1968

Many people are not willing or able to adjust the way they travel to the local customs.

When I was traveling in the States for the first couple times, I felt very weird when I showed up at a Best Western motel or similar with a coupon for a discounted stay, or asked for a AAA discount. Or if I used a coupon at a retail store. My friends told me over and over again that almost everybody is clipping coupons and hunting bargains, but I needed a while to adjust.

Having said that, there is a multitude of options to cut down on costs (excluding airfare, where just have to get lucky).
In Southern European countries, you can rent a great vacation homes, often restored country houses sitting in a vineyard in Tuscany, or a bit off the coast in Southern Spain. Depending on season, you can rent for as little as €200 a week (not per day), if you go off-season to Southern Spain. Add another €100-150 for a rental car per week to explore the towns you'd usually stay in. Get some groceries from the markets, or fresh fish from the harbour, and prepare every 2nd dinner at home, and so on.

But if your heart is set on a trip that will take you from city hotel to city hotel, and from restaurant to restaurant (all of them in a central, historical city centers, of course), you will have to dig deeper and harder for less expensive options.

NeoPatrick

"But if your heart is set on a trip that will take you from city hotel to city hotel, and from restaurant to restaurant (all of them in a central, historical city centers, of course), you will have to dig deeper and harder for less expensive options."

This is where I lost you. Do you mean in the US or in Europe? Oh -- never mind. Of course, you mean BOTH.
Yes, the answer to the original question could be there are ways to save either place, but basically comparing similar types or style of travel in Europe to similar types or style of travel in US will end up costing very little if any difference.

NoleNomad

Thanks to all. You have pretty much confirmed my suspicions. Time to start planning for Italy!