Budget
 

How much money would be a safe amount to spend on a month to month basis while touring different countries in Europe? The minimum amount for a frugal budget to the highest for a lavish tour. Would it be cheaper to rent or buy a car or take the rails? Would Spring be a good time to go? We would like to be gone for 6 months. We want the flexibility of a flowing interinary since we have plenty of time.

I think you need to do some homework. If you do not hold a passport from a Schengen country you will need a visa for anything over 3 months. Rent or buy a car? Really?

Are you really going or is this a hypothetical question?

You may have plenty of time, but you'll be an illegal immigrant if you're American and stay in the Schengen zone for more than 90 days.

As for the main question, impossible to say without knowing where you plan to go. The budget for Albania would be considerably different from that for Denmark.

I'm sorry - but your questions are ridiculous.

Surely you know if you have $5000 to spend or $25000. And if you have a month to travel or several months.

People on this board are taking time to respond to sensible questions - not playing guessing games.

Assuming you are not a citizen of a Schengen country your first step is to understand the very strict rules under which you can visit as a tourist. Anything more than 90 days requires another type of visa - which is difficult and time-consuming to get - even if you do qualify.

It should be EEA or Swiss citizen, not just Schengen.

Yes, these are serious questions. We are leaving the USA the middle of December 2011 for Australia for three weeks and then from that location we wanted to fly into another country to start our six month stay. We would not be interested in staying in one location for more than three weeks and we do have current passports now.

You will only able to spend 180 days in the Schengen countries, the other 180 days will need to be outside of that zone (UK for example). Unless you qualify for some sort of longterm visa. Here is some information
http://www.schengenvisa.cc/

Eurocheapo.com good for budget planning

Coming from Oz airasia.com best prices on flights

Will save you a ton

As you do your research be sure to check Schengen zone info

You only have 90 days max in those countries

So plan accordingly.

Regional trail like a local in spring my fav time to go.

Being careful 35-50 euro per da works well for me usually.

Sorry thats the wrong link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Agreement

Oh man - sorry, my mind is faster than my fingers

Its 90 days out of a rolling 180 days that you are allowed, not 180 days! SORRY!

jamikins/Thank you for the link!

I'd like to budget about $10,000 per week.

Went spent a month in 2009 and spent $9,000 in Italy and Germany. I wouldn't go much below that unless you plan on cooking all your meals in an apartment and limiting transportation.

Renting a car and averaging $140 a night for hotels on a lake plus meals aand airfare has been costing about $5000 USD for the past few years in the summer.