gabieko

I am going to France and Italy in 5 months and was wondering how much spending money I should bring. We will spend Hotel, transportation, breakfast, dinner and attractions are all paid for. The only thing I will have to pay for out of pocket is lunch, souvenirs, and if we go shopping. I was just wondering how much would be a good amount to bring? And if anyone knows, how much would I typically be spending daily on lunch, as we will probably eat at restaurants/cafes most days?

We'll be visiting places like The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, Les Invalides, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Gates of Paradise, Colosseum, etc. if that helps!

Thanks so much in advance!

gabieko

Wow, typo.

Second sentence: We will spend 5 days in France, 5 days in Italy.

sundriedtopepo

Most people take very little cash, and use credit cards for payments, including entry tickets.

If you need more cash, just use a debit card to get cash from an ATM.

WoinParis

I spend most of my trips without cash. Now I don't buy much souvenirs except in trainstations and airports, where they take the creditcard (and sell overpriced).

Now if your questoin is more about budget, I'd say roughly the same as what you'd spend at home in the same circumstances, + 10%.

aliced

Check online or in guidebooks for admission prices for the above attractions/museums, they are not inexpensive but so worthwhile, plan for these costs ahead of time. The cafes at such sites are very popular and not the best bargain but not outrageous, and offer consistency & convenience. If you look off the beaten paths (e.g., not Laduree on Champs Elysee but rather cafe on Rue St. Dominique a.k.a. Restaurant Row of Paris) you will find better value. Do you want a sandwich to take-away? Croque Monsieur or slice of pizza? Piece of cheese & baguette? Do you want to be served? We found a glass of wine in these countries about the same price if not lower than a Diet Coke or coffee, so therefore always had wine at lunch. Actually, I'd say the prices of lunch are as varied as lunch here in the NYC metro area -- $5 to $20. We usually go light at lunch and have drinks & appys purchased at a small market upon returning back from a long day of sightseeing, then have nice dinner at 7:30. Buying souvenirs on the street would require cash, but all shops take credit cards. You should never carry more than 50-100 euros on you, stop at an ATM as needed. Enjoy your 10 days (presume you do not mean 5 months!)

BigRuss

Why would you BRING money?

Bring an ATM card and a credit card.

Get an account with a bank at home that charges little to no foreign exchange fee (for your ATM card) like Cap One or a credit union.

Get a CC that charges no forex fee and gives you points toward future travel like CapOne, barclayscard, various others.

The credit card issuers want you so they're competing for your business, use that to your advantage. Plus, the exchange rate you pay at an exchange vendor (like at the airport) will suck compared to the rate you get via credit card or ATM.

FuryFluffy

If you want to have a rough idea about the price in Paris, then an average lunch in a casual restaurant/cafe may cost around 15 euros (there are always cheaper or more expensive than that, being eatable), souvenirs range from 1 euros (the cliché Eiffel tower key chain?) to 100 euros. A Paris T-shirt souvenir is from 10 euros up. Shopping, from 2 euros (foods) to 2000 euros (LV?).

But as others said, bring a minimum amount of cash and then use your ATM card. Otherwise you risk being pickpocket.

bvlenci

Unless you're going to be traveling a lot in the future, I wouldn't open a new checking account to save 5% of what you're going to spend on lunches.

I usually get enough foreign currency from my bank to get me to my first lodging. This way, I don't have to use an airport ATM (the most likely to cause problems) while trying to keep an eye on my luggage. After that, I use credit cards when possible, and withdraw money from ATMs as necessary.

fuzzbucket

If you like to drink wine or other beverages with your lunch, you should increase the amount to 25 or 30 EU.
Wine or soda costs about the same - 5 to 8 EU - and depending on the size coffee and if you take milk, 1 to 5 EU.
Tap water is always free - don't let the waiter insist that you order bottled fizzy or flat water. Ask for "un carafe d'eau".
Look for "menus" or "formules" on blackboards outside cafes and restaurants - some will include beverages, most will not - but this is the cheapest option.
You usually have the choice of an "entree + plat" or "plat + dessert + cafe" for around 20 EU, depending on the neighborhood.

WoinParis

unE carafe d'eau.
Non mais...

bilboburgler

If you want to drink wine from a bottle then prices above are about right.

If you are lunching on M-F you'll find wine (jug wine) is free for about E14 or 15 if you eat where the locals do, probably only 3 courses but fizzy water is extra

fuzzb, you must eat in posher areas than I do ;-)

WoinParis

Actually some days I spend more on dinner than in hotel.
This Monday I ate for 54 and slept for 60.
Food was very good hotel was ok.

fuzzbucket

bilbo - I eat at home, where the price is right.