Approximately how much would a four month trip to Europe cost?
Jul 19th, 2014, 10:11 AM
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Approximately how much would a four month trip to Europe cost?
I live in the US and would like to go on a four month trip from end of April to end of August next year. I am trying to determine how much money I should accumulate for this trip. I plan to travel to England, Ireland, Spain, Germany, France, Romania, Greece, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Italy. I will be staying in hostels. I will stay with family for five days in England and for four days in France. I would like an approximation of the total cost of the trip, taking into consideration airfare, accommodation, transportation, food, and tour guide charges.
Please let me know. Thank you very much.
Please let me know. Thank you very much.
Jul 19th, 2014, 10:16 AM
#3
You might be better to look at the Lonely Travel board. Here's a link to a general post about costs.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntr...before-posting
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntr...before-posting
Jul 19th, 2014, 10:17 AM
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In all seriousness, you could spend anywhere from $50 to $500 per day.
Big factors will be
- what you plan on doing (lots of tours, admission fees, etc.)
- how many places you're going (transport fees between places)
- do you plan on eating out, in the hostel, etc.
I'd actually figure out what you budget is (what can you afford) and then figure out the best way to use that money. I think you'll have better luck and get much more concrete advise.
Big factors will be
- what you plan on doing (lots of tours, admission fees, etc.)
- how many places you're going (transport fees between places)
- do you plan on eating out, in the hostel, etc.
I'd actually figure out what you budget is (what can you afford) and then figure out the best way to use that money. I think you'll have better luck and get much more concrete advise.
Jul 19th, 2014, 10:43 AM
#5
Excluding airfare, which you can research yourself, and transport from country to country, which varies considerably by mode and when you buy the tickets (advance or on or near the date), if you used a hypothetical figure of $100 US a day for hostel, food, local transport and entry fees if any (but not "guides"), I think you could manage fine.
You have a range of countries from some of the most to the least expensive so I think on average that would do it. I don't think, as an inexperienced traveler presumably, you should have less available to you. You should always have a bit of "padding".
You have a range of countries from some of the most to the least expensive so I think on average that would do it. I don't think, as an inexperienced traveler presumably, you should have less available to you. You should always have a bit of "padding".
Jul 19th, 2014, 10:52 AM
#6
I would suspect that you might be better off asking people who usually stay IN hostels.
And airfare <B>from and to where</B> exactly?
Transportation? What mode or modes?
Your request is entirely <B>too vague</B> IMO.
And airfare <B>from and to where</B> exactly?
Transportation? What mode or modes?
Your request is entirely <B>too vague</B> IMO.
Jul 19th, 2014, 11:24 AM
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Romania may not yet be in Schengen officially but they have identical requirements as Schengen countries. If you plan on more than 90 days then the rest should be in the UK, Ireland, Turkey or somewhere not legally required to join the Schengen area.
As for how much it will cost, how long is a piece of string?
You can easily research hostel fees, add a bit to this years prices. For food will you be cooking your own or eating out every day?
How are you planning on getting around? You can research train fares and plane fares to get a feel for costs. If using budget airlines the earlier you book the cheaper but make sure you check all the extras for checked bags, paying in a certain way, etc etc.
As for how much it will cost, how long is a piece of string?
You can easily research hostel fees, add a bit to this years prices. For food will you be cooking your own or eating out every day?
How are you planning on getting around? You can research train fares and plane fares to get a feel for costs. If using budget airlines the earlier you book the cheaper but make sure you check all the extras for checked bags, paying in a certain way, etc etc.
Jul 19th, 2014, 11:34 AM
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I also think you need to research the air fares and other transportation yourself, and that can vary so much depending where you are going to/from, and how much.
But I also agree with MmePerdu mostly, that a rough ballpark for everything else could be US$100 per day. If you are real budget conscious and don't waste money, I think you could do it on US$75 per day in some places, but I wouldn't count on it, and I would have US$100 in my bank account just in case. And that would be not eating much and especially not drinking much except tap water (I don't mean just alcohol, I mean not having any kind of drinks at cafes much, such as coffee or soft drinks or anything). IN some places, sure, you can have that occasionally, but it can really add up.
Because hostels may be around 20-30 euro per day in a dorm room, and then that gives you another 25 euro for food and everything else. That isn't much at all but if you don't eat much, it's possible, and if you don't go to expensive attractions. For example, in Paris the big museums are expensive (Louvre, etc) but there are quite a few that are free, actually. And even the Louvre has reduced rates late in the day on the day it is open late. So you'd have to plan and know these things. Museums are a lot cheaper in the Czech Republic and many are free in London.
But I also agree with MmePerdu mostly, that a rough ballpark for everything else could be US$100 per day. If you are real budget conscious and don't waste money, I think you could do it on US$75 per day in some places, but I wouldn't count on it, and I would have US$100 in my bank account just in case. And that would be not eating much and especially not drinking much except tap water (I don't mean just alcohol, I mean not having any kind of drinks at cafes much, such as coffee or soft drinks or anything). IN some places, sure, you can have that occasionally, but it can really add up.
Because hostels may be around 20-30 euro per day in a dorm room, and then that gives you another 25 euro for food and everything else. That isn't much at all but if you don't eat much, it's possible, and if you don't go to expensive attractions. For example, in Paris the big museums are expensive (Louvre, etc) but there are quite a few that are free, actually. And even the Louvre has reduced rates late in the day on the day it is open late. So you'd have to plan and know these things. Museums are a lot cheaper in the Czech Republic and many are free in London.
Jul 19th, 2014, 05:39 PM
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$100 US plus airfare and intercity train fares is a tight budget number. My DD and 2 friend went for about 5.5 weeks 2 summers ago and she spent $8k PLUS transatlantic airfare - and this was modest lodging, only student cafe nightlife and NO shopping.
And she had access to more if she needed - but wanted this to be a modest trip since one of her friends was on a very tight budget.
And she had access to more if she needed - but wanted this to be a modest trip since one of her friends was on a very tight budget.
Jul 19th, 2014, 10:04 PM
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<i> Approximately how much would a four month trip to Europe cost? Posted by: LotusCharm5 on Jul 19, 14 at 2:11pm</i>
Here is an example http://tinyurl.com/n2tzrsb of budget travel costs. If you want to go for less get a copy of "Vagabonding in Europe and North Africa" by Ed Buryn. It is a travel classic.
Here is an example http://tinyurl.com/n2tzrsb of budget travel costs. If you want to go for less get a copy of "Vagabonding in Europe and North Africa" by Ed Buryn. It is a travel classic.
Jul 20th, 2014, 03:37 AM
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$100 US plus airfare and intercity train fares is a tight budget number.>>
It isn't that tight that it isn't feasible. I'm not on any strict budget at all and I often do not spend more US$50 a day on food and attractions and local transportation. Some days I don't spend anything on transportation if I'm in a place I can walk around to what I want to see, and may not spend much of anything on attractions if I go to free things (and museums in smaller cities or towns can be very cheap).
I have seen the price of hostels in Europe and I think 25-30 euro a day is realistic, on average, for those. That's what they cost in Paris, anyway, and I know they aren't considered cheap there. MIJE hostels are some of the best there and they charge 34 euro per person. I don't do any shopping usually, either, but I don't consider that a budget item at all on a trip, that is a luxury and unnecessary.
$8K for 5.5 weeks is not remotely a modest budget being about US$200 per day! You'd have to be spending a lot on expensive trains between cities or something. I often do not spend that much and I am not on a tight budget. I may stay in a 2* hotel, though, for only around 80 euro outside the most expensive cities. But that's more than a hostel would cost, for sure.
It isn't that tight that it isn't feasible. I'm not on any strict budget at all and I often do not spend more US$50 a day on food and attractions and local transportation. Some days I don't spend anything on transportation if I'm in a place I can walk around to what I want to see, and may not spend much of anything on attractions if I go to free things (and museums in smaller cities or towns can be very cheap).
I have seen the price of hostels in Europe and I think 25-30 euro a day is realistic, on average, for those. That's what they cost in Paris, anyway, and I know they aren't considered cheap there. MIJE hostels are some of the best there and they charge 34 euro per person. I don't do any shopping usually, either, but I don't consider that a budget item at all on a trip, that is a luxury and unnecessary.
$8K for 5.5 weeks is not remotely a modest budget being about US$200 per day! You'd have to be spending a lot on expensive trains between cities or something. I often do not spend that much and I am not on a tight budget. I may stay in a 2* hotel, though, for only around 80 euro outside the most expensive cities. But that's more than a hostel would cost, for sure.
Jul 20th, 2014, 10:39 AM
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My husband and I recently returned from a twelve-day trip to England and Scotland. The UK is one of the more expensive areas in Europe; we spent about €3000 (for both of us) in total including hotels, meals, car rental, trains, taxis, ferries, and entrances. We were not pinching pennies, and didn't stay in budget hotels, except for one night.
We could have saved a good deal on train fare if we had bought our tickets further in advance, and in every place we stayed there were much cheaper hotels that were still highly rated on www.booking.com , which is my preferred hotel booking web site. One person traveling alone almost always saves money by staying in hostels, and most hostels have a shared kitchen, so that you can prepare meals there and save money on restaurants.
I think that if you're careful you can get by on $75-$100 a day for rooms and meals. I would do a little research on hostel prices in the various countries and try to limit your time in the more expensive places. Airfare is something you could easily check. Prices for next year will be on the high side right now, but if they go down, you'll find something else to absorb the extra money.
We could have saved a good deal on train fare if we had bought our tickets further in advance, and in every place we stayed there were much cheaper hotels that were still highly rated on www.booking.com , which is my preferred hotel booking web site. One person traveling alone almost always saves money by staying in hostels, and most hostels have a shared kitchen, so that you can prepare meals there and save money on restaurants.
I think that if you're careful you can get by on $75-$100 a day for rooms and meals. I would do a little research on hostel prices in the various countries and try to limit your time in the more expensive places. Airfare is something you could easily check. Prices for next year will be on the high side right now, but if they go down, you'll find something else to absorb the extra money.
Jul 20th, 2014, 10:42 AM
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They stayed in modest hotels - not hostels - to be sure they had AC (since the trip was in summer), paid for intercity trains (yes fastest trains but second class), paid for local transit, a LOT of sightseeing (this is not cheap in many places), modest meals, student cafe type nightlife (beer or cheap wine - not foofly mixed drinks such as one gets in the Carib) and no shopping.
Is is possible to travel more cheaply - of course. If one wants to couchsurf or stay in hostel dorms rooms (without AC?) and take slow local trains and pick and choose among major - often expensive - sights - and eat sandwiches from supermarkets rather than actual local cuisine (one of the major reasons to visit europe IMHO).
Her trip was far cheaper than we would ever do it. And in fact cheaper (comparatively) than I did my first trip to europe when I was 19 (and we did a road trip in a tiny VW beetle and stayed in pensions, but also some upscale hotels in the cheaper areas like Spain and an occasional splurge dinner in a less simple restaurant).
Is is possible to travel more cheaply - of course. If one wants to couchsurf or stay in hostel dorms rooms (without AC?) and take slow local trains and pick and choose among major - often expensive - sights - and eat sandwiches from supermarkets rather than actual local cuisine (one of the major reasons to visit europe IMHO).
Her trip was far cheaper than we would ever do it. And in fact cheaper (comparatively) than I did my first trip to europe when I was 19 (and we did a road trip in a tiny VW beetle and stayed in pensions, but also some upscale hotels in the cheaper areas like Spain and an occasional splurge dinner in a less simple restaurant).
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