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Europe Trip: 20 years old, need answers please :D

Europe Trip: 20 years old, need answers please :D

Old Feb 26th, 2013, 04:45 PM
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Europe Trip: 20 years old, need answers please :D

Hello, I am new to this forum thing, in terms of asking for advice, but I would like to lead off with i appreciate any help whatsoever. This summer (2013) my 2 friends and I are planning to go to Eastern Europe (mostly). we are going for two weeks and our tentative schedule is 3 nights in each place, Berlin, Amsterdam, Prague, (Sweden somewhere), Budapest and maybe switzerland. I realize prices may vary everywhere but a rough estimate is all i seek. We are college kids so eating McDonalds everyday is not an issue, and hostels are priority . I was wondering what you all recommend to budget per day? We plan to drink about 7 drinks a day, including ones a a night club (1 per city). Any help on a rough budget is appreciated. Thank you!
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 04:58 PM
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If you look online you will find the McDonalds calculator - which shows the price for meals in different countries. This is not that you should be eating Mickey D's - there are many local places that will have better food at similar prices. But the key is the price.

In the US a Big Mac Meal costs about $8. It will be significantly higher in much of europe. In Switz the big Mac meal will cost about $17 and in Scandinavia it will cost about $20. Other foods are similar prices.

As for drinks - not sure what you mean. You should know that local beer or wine are usually less expensive than soft drinks and what is typically drunk by students - and at student pubs and cafes. Hard liquor or mixed drinks are VERY expensive due to very high taxes.

As for soda - in euope they are very small and very expensive - about 3 euros for an 8 oz can. And ice is rare - if you ask fir glass with ice you are likely to get one cube. (You can get tall soft drinks only at american chains - at very high cost).

Much better to drink wine or beer (in moderation) or water. (You can get large bottles of water and carry around during the day - and refill at your hostel at night.)

Strongly suggest you check out prices for everything before heading out - esp for Scandinavia and Switz - so you don;t run out of money before the end of the trip.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 05:03 PM
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As for nightclubs - unless you have unlimited funds I would stay away from them (often huge entry fees as well as high drink cost - $25 per if they're honest and $100 a bottle for rotgut champagne if they're pulling a scam with very pretty and cooperative young ladies) - stick to student pubs and cafes.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 05:08 PM
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I suggest you head for your nearest bookstore (or possibly library) and take a look at the Lonely Planet guides. They have suggested budgets near the front, and one will be for people staying in hostels and eating as cheaply as possible. You might also check out the forums on their website.

What kind of drinks are you talking about? Tap water is safe to drink in Europe and free. If you mean alcohol or Coca Cola you can forget your budget.

Btw, your itinerary does not include Eastern Europe, it's Western and Central.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 05:10 PM
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I've found that in Europe, the cheapest food can be crepe stands, Gyro stands, basically anything that qualifies as "Street Food." It's often cheaper (like 5 Euro) and much tastier than McD's, which in Europe is NOT cheap.

You can also go cheaper if you go into a supermarket and buy picnic items like bread & ham. I've done that (back in my college days), sat down by a river and had a nice lunch.

Oh and drinks are not a problem. Table wine is usually cheaper than bottled water at a restaurant.

In terms of hostels---what is your budget per person for sleeping? You might find "better" deals just pricelining a room. This depends on the City & the hotel of course--some places simply don't allow 3 ppl per room.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 05:47 PM
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I apologize for my uncertain questions, thank you for all the help though! In terms of beverages, i meant alcohol, we may just buy a bottle and drink rather than buy individual drinks. We plan on budgeting 115 dollars per day, strictly on food (water too), alcohol, sleeping, and light recreation. We can walk around the city ( we are very fit) all day so transportation isnt bad, and we just want to relax in pubs and hangout all day, see the city by word of mouth, and do it with a buzz! Sorry for fulfilling the college stereotype but alcohol does infact interest us alot. Sorry maybe i should have just said Europe not "eastern" ;P. So do you think budgeting 115 dollars a day is good for those things? I am sorry if this lacks continuity but i just want to make sure i ask the right questions.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 05:54 PM
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115 dollars per day total for 3 of you, or per person?

If 115 dollar total, that makes it only like $38/per person for sleeping, food & drinks? That sounds not doable to me.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 05:56 PM
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Per person my apologies
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 06:05 PM
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$115/per person per day is good actually.

I would start by looking up hostels to get an idea of how much it is per bed/night and how much you're willing to spend.

If you avoid sit-down restaurants and stick with counter "take away" places, etc., I think you can easily get by with say $55-$60/per person per day for 3 "meals". Breakfast is probably bread & coffee, which is cheap

If you drink at a pub, then well that will come out of your food budget won't it

Random note---in Paris (this was 10 years ago), they had a hard time understanding when we wanted "shots" at a club. As in, they serve mixed drinks but not so much shots. It was too expensive anyway, but just as an FYI. They thought we were crazy.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 06:05 PM
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Also, is a Euro Rail pass our best bet? The only time we need a train is traveling from city to city, and the pass is 450 dollars for 5 day unlimited travel. And to clearify, our total budget is 2700 dollars for 14 days, 700 airfare ( already bought) 450 train and 115 per day per person spending.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 06:06 PM
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BTW...you might want to also ask your questions on Lonely Planet. Quite alot of backpackers & hostellers over there too.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 06:08 PM
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MaddieEms i appreciate your insight, it is very helpful, on an honest note, do you think it is plausible to buy a bottle (1.75 ml) and drink it between 3 of us? In order to save money, and then just drink lightly at a pub?
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 06:16 PM
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Stann -- I never "pre partied" before going to a pub/club. I honestly don't remember where there was hard alcohol, if any. I've never bought bottles in Europe.

You might do well to buy hard alcohol Duty Free as you're flying out of the States since alot of the Duty Free stores are not open when you land.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 06:53 PM
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If you're planning on seven alcoholic drinks a day per person, why are you even bothering to go anywhere? My interest in your trip just vanished.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 07:02 PM
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No need for attitude, were college kids, 7 drinks gets us buzzed, which is what we want when looking around the cities. I wouldnt judge anyone based on their event planne, nor do i think i should be. We are looking to over budget so we have room for le-way. I say 7 drinks because its a reasonable thing throughout 15 hours of day (saying we sleep for over 8 hours). Thank you for your concern, but please i urge you to help me on the importance of verifying my budget.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 08:08 PM
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I'm curious, is English your first language?
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 08:34 PM
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Yes it is. Obviously speaking in correct punctuational terms is mandated with this internet forum. I forgot we cant assist people without them capitalizing correctly, placing semi colones where need be, and double checking "readable" spelling. I honestly thought people would take time to help me review my itinerary, not bash me for posing questions. Thank you though for showing the ignorance of people, and the inherent nature that responding with ill will is inevitable.
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 08:39 PM
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Stann, try this site. I think you will find what you are looking for:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...spa?forumID=53
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 08:40 PM
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Here is the Europe forum:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...spa?forumID=27
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Old Feb 26th, 2013, 08:40 PM
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In Italy you can buy drinkable wine in supermarkets for about 5 euro - or US$7.50. A bottle of wine is about 5 standard drinks, so your booze budget looks OK.

I must say I fing it strange that the most carefully budgetted items are a rail pass and seven drinks ...

Something to really be aware of - there is NO tolerance for public drunkenness in many places in Europe, and little tolerance for public drinking.
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