Budgeting 2 weeks in Italy
 

I am hoping to escape to Italy with my husband for 10 days-2 weeks in mid-October.

I would like to visit Rome, the Amalfi Coast and possibly Florence and Tuscany, time permitting.

I am pregnant and we are both exhausted from work, so we are not looking to do a whole of running around the country.

Is $2000 a realistic budget for two weeks, two people, excluding int'l airfare? Can I include a car rental (automatic transmission) in that budget?

Thanks.

Mona - everyone will have a different answer for you I imagine but I would say most likely not. You are including your lodging correct? Transportation as well (excluding airfare?)

I had 100 - 150 Euros a day budgeted for my dd and myself outside of lodging and transportation - now that is higher then some and lower then others ...but it I figured it would balance itself out.

My budget would include accomodations, meals and transportation. We're not huge shoppers, but I guess we'd spend a few hundred dollars on souvenirs and gifts.

Not even close! I would double that figure for the destinations you want. Plan to spend $400/day for hotel, food, and tourism.

Here is more detail at 3 levels of travel:
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/planning/budget.htm

Mona - unless you are planning on staying in hostels and they were hard to come by imo that I felt was safe for dd and I in Italy (jmo obviously and I am sure someone can give you better advice!).

Perhaps you would be better off taking the 2,000 and heading to Mexico or maybe Florida?

I found Oct to be very busy when I was booking my trip in Italy.

How many months pregnant are you and what is your departure city?

good information Bob.

I'd say no, that's not enough. Two of us spent just about double that excluding airfare for 2 weeks in April, 5 days in Rome and the rest in Umbria.

Thanks for the info, all.

I have been looking at B&Bs on the coast at around 70 Euros/day. I guess $2000 is a little low, but I don't think I have to double it to have a proper and comfortable trip.

And MomDDTravel, I'm trying to avoid travelling into hurricane zones, so Florida is out. Plus, I don't want to go to Mexico while pregnant.

Mona - it should be fine by Oct.? I was wondering if you would want to avoid Mexico while pregnant.

You could do it, but you'd have to modify your trip.

Forget the car rental. Most rental cars are manuals and even a manual will cost too much for your budget. You don't want a car in Rome or Florence anyways. And let's just say that driving in Italy is an, ahem, interesting experience.

I don't see how you could afford to stay in hotels and routinely eat out at restaurants and stay within your budget, but you could rent an apartment. I've been checking out Rome apartments for a possible trip next year - and I am definitely a budget traveler - and there are plenty of small apartments or studios that would fit your budget. So you could just stay in Rome and rent an apartment for the trip, or you could probably travel to one other location and also rent an apartment there.

I visited Greece for several weeks when I was six months pregnant. I had a great time, but mostly I just wanted to relax at the beach, and only occasionally visited tourist sites. If you just want to hang out at one or two locations in Italy, I think you can do it within your budget if you don't have to stay in hotels or rent a car.

Whatever you do, have a great vacation.

Rome, the Amalfi coast, Florence and Tuscany in 10-two weeks would be a pretty busy trip even for those of us who are NOT pregnant and exhausted and need a break from work.

For a more relaxing trip, choose Rome and the Amalfi coast OR Florence and rural Tuscany.

I suppose you could meet your budget, probably without the car rental (though very difficult to get around rural Tuscany without a car). But you need to factor in that October is still a popular time of year in Italy, and you may find that B&Bs are already booked up; you may be forced into a higher price range to find something available.

Thanks so much! Tuscany and Florence was an afterthought. I am really just looking to combine Rome with some relaxing spot. I remember Rome as being a great destination but extremely chaotic and the opposite of relaxing.

Maybe I will post my $2000 budget question in another European room, like Spain.... Would really like *some* culture on this trip and not just a brain-frying beach holiday!

Mona all Europe comes up here... my cousin went to Prague and loved it and found it to be less expensive. Also what about Swizterland?

Just briefly: I agree that the figure is far too low if you are contemplating a car rental. Contrary to several comments above, it is very easy to rent an automatic in any large Italian city. I have made many trips to Italy and have rented an automatic many times with no trouble. BUT it will cost quite a bit more than a manual and you would not need a car in Rome, the A/C, or Florence. You do need one for rural Tuscany, however.

You have too little time to include all of the places you mentioned. I would limit myself to Rome and one other place: Rome/Florence, with perhaps a few days in southern Tuscany. OR, Rome/Amalfi coast. On the A/C, transportation costs might be less since you will get around largely by local bus. But you might find hotel costs to be a bit high...

Frankly, you could have a wonderful trip if you spend the entire time in Rome but then, Rome is one of my favorite cities in the world. And 10 days on the Amalfi coast would not be too bad a choice, either!

It all depdns on what you're looking for.

It would cost us way more than that for hotels alone - and that's not talking luxury.

You budget would be super bare bones (hostels, picnics, VERY much doubt if it woud cover any car rental).

And haveyou looked at the entrance prices for major sights? I really think you need to sit down and alculate each item (looking at web sites for current price info).

I would not advise renting a car in Italy. Trains will take you wherever you want, and be more comfortable, with a bathroom and snacks accessible.

If you limit the number of places you're visiting, you will save on transportation costs, too.

I think you can spend your $2000 wisely if you plan carefully. Maybe 10 days, instead of 2 weeks, for starters. Just do your research.

See Katie's post today:


Author: Katie_H
Date: 09/15/2008, 11:28 am
I don't know if this has already been posted but I read in our news section today that the Leading Hotels of the World hotel group is selling hotel rooms at $19.28 a night as a part of a special promotion on October 1st. Not sure how stiff the competition will be to snag one of these rooms but I thought I'd mention it anyway. They have several hotels in Europe, including many in Italy, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland.

See: http://www.fodors.com/news/story_3178.html

PeaceOut, the offer date is for Nov. 1 through Dec. 15th, FYI.

MonaManuel, I think your budget is quite frankly impossible and you have waited until very late to book. A good B&B will run 120E a night or so and that alone will eat up your budget. Perhaps the suggestion of an apartment is one you should consider if preparing some of your meals and not having housekeeping is not a big deal to you.

And, no, for that amount, a car rental would be pretty much impossible, as well as unnecessary.

Katie's post says the offer date is Oct 1.