livin_the_dream

Hi there we are going to be in Amsterdam for 9 days and Paris for 2 days. I know this is a broad Question, however What would recommend our daily cash allowance be to:

We have Full Accommodation Inc Full Breakfast for the entire trip already paid.

For Example can anyone tell me the average wage in which people live on in Amsterdam, to give us an idea of the cost of living. We are in no way RICH and have saved and worked very hard for this trip. It is our first and Coming from New Zealand Our dollar value automatically halves in exchange rates ie $1 NZD = .50 cents euro.
We would like to have one or 2 fancy meals however stopping in the market for rolls and ham etc etc is definitely not a problem.

Thank you in advance and ooooo the anticipation is killing me. We fly in Feb 2010.

livin_the_dream

Also can anyone please tell me what a pair of Nike/Adidas sneakers run?

Michael

I have not been in Amsterdam in years, but at that time, a value meal was the Indonesian Rijstaffel (sp?).

You can get a decent restaurant meal in Paris for 25€ to 35€ per person (keep in mind that no tipping is required, there is an included service charge in every posted price). You might want to search this forum for restaurant recommendations and then see if the restaurants that interest you have web sites that will list prices. Unfortunately what some called reasonable in pricing might not be for others, so without a stated amount, it is difficult to judge if a restaurant would be within your budget.

hetismij

The average wage in the Netherlands is about €1800 per month after all deductions.
Nike trainers are available from about €40 up.

Fill up at breakfast, have coffee at the museums or in shops like V&D or Hema which will be cheaper than cafés. Buy food at Albert Heijn. Try the Febo. Buy beer/wine to drink at your hotel from Albert Heijn, rather than drinking in a bar very night.
If you are visiting a lot of museums than buy a museumjaarkaart at the first museum you visit. You can then visit most museums for free. The main exception in the Anne Frankhuis.

livin_the_dream

OOOOO Thank you
Wow Hetismij you are brilliant. 1800 per month OK that gives us a rough idea of what to budget. we were aiming for 2000 Euro Each for the Trip i really thin k that will be ample, If people earn around that a month. of course we will have backup monies in the bank for if needed. Also do you think carrying 2k around in money belts is too much. I don't want to use the bank ATMS fees all stack up. Plus people have given us cash as presents and (due) xmas presents. Thank you again

PatrickLondon

Check with your bank about ATM charges on your ordinary cash withdrawals card (as opposed to credit card). Unless NZ banks are very different, it should still be cheaper and far more convenient than carrying around your entire stock of cash, or changing cash as you go.

surfmom

I would not take the risk of carrying around 2k in money belts. I would be happy to pay the small fee for an ATM if it meant security... drink water every meal and use an ATM. Super high risk to carry that much cash around.

ParisAmsterdam

The cost of using ATMs to access money will be a small percentage of the total cost of your holiday.

Do you walk around at home with a month's wages in cash in your pocket? ;^) Not likely...

Cowboy1968

Changing cash NZ$ into cash € will probably eat up the same amount you pay (if so) for using debit card at ATMs.

If your bank (or other banks you could check for same) do charge excessively for ATM withdrawals, you can also check if your CC companies waives foreign ATM charges if you put that money into your CC account (as if it was a savings account). Do NOT use your CC with ATMs when they do not offer that option. That may cost you dearly.

Pay with CC in stores, restaurants, sights, or hotels, and get whatever cash you need in €200 (or less) installments from ATM when needed, and split that between the two of you.

nytraveler

Well you don't bring any euros with you. For best rate of exchange you charge as much as possible on your CCs and pull walking around money from your checking account with your ATM card.

You can live at almost any price point - but if you want "splurge" dinners they won;t be cheap - depending on what you mean by splurge.

You might also consider looking at the Let's Go student gudes for waystosave money.
(We would assume at least $300 US for any special dinner for 2 peoole - a slurge would be more than that - and what wines you choose will make a big difference.) But you can certainly get nice mealas for less than that if you shop around.

amwosu

I don't think anyone on Fodors will recommend walking around with your entire budget for the trip in cash in your money belt for 11 days.

Many people carry a debit card, a credit card and at most a couple hundred euro on them each day. I usually go to an ATM and take out 200-300 euro. I frequently carry 50-200 euro with me while I sightsee and leave my credit card, ATM and additional cash hidden in my rental apartment. If I know I'm going to splurge on a meal I take a credit card with me. I always buy a museum pass to cover admission at museums and I'm not a shopper so I really only need money for food and transportation each day. 300 euros last me several days in Paris.

I would consider it a huge risk to carry all my money with me in cash every day (even in a money belt) and would be a nervous wreck to do so. I wouldn't feel comfortable carrying a couple hundred euro with me and stashing the rest in the hotel safe either. The small amount charged by my bank for ATM cash withdrawls means peace of mind knowing I'm not risking my entire trip budget.

I've not spent time in Amsterdam but in Paris I usually spend 8-20 euro for lunch on a take-away sandwich or crepe and a soda or a prix fixe menu at an inexpensive cafe. For dinner I usually spend less than 40 euros including a glass of wine. My infrequent splurge meals are always at lunch when I can enjoy the ambiance, service and food at a nice restaurant without paying dinner prices.

livin_the_dream

I appreciate the sentiments in safety. We do not own nor will we ever give our hard earned to credit card companies. I'm a firm believer in the fact that if you can't afford it on your own YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT. Ummm in regards to carrying a months wages, that doesn't bother me. I'm an intelligent, Able and Martial Arts trained Woman, my partner also, I'm not saying i would be a hero or anything - however i fancy our chances. Of course if a gun is involved no hesitation. We will also have funds on our visa debit cards. Its just we have been given the Euros already. well $2700 anyway. What should i do with it? can i re-bank it? oooooo I feel a little disappointed. I really thought we were going well. Ok i guess that is what this forum is for to learn. Any suggestions to our current dilemma would be grateful.

livin_the_dream

ooo and in regards to splurging, We both do not drink alcohol so there is one expense gone We are very very keen to go to the Indonesian rice table. I am a chef by trade and to see this explosion of food in person excites the hell out of me

Cowboy1968

It may come as a surprise, but no one forces you to use the "credit" option of a credit card. You can pay your monthly invoice at once, and thus pay no interest.
When you pay with CC you get a better exchange rate than by exchanging cash money, you safe ATM fees (if there are any), and you almost need it to rent a car (which is not applicable here, I know).
Don't take it as an insult, but waltzing through Amsterdam or Paris with €2K in your money belt is not an intelligent option in comparison.

hetismij

If you really are intent on bringing cash with you, in spite of all the excellent advice here then make sure you put it in your hotel safe as soon as you arrive and only take what you think you will need for the day. Be extremely alert. You are not likely to be mugged, certainly not at gunpoint, but pickpockets are extremely skilled and have been known to access money belts too. Even with two of you, and your martial arts experience (which you should be careful using - you may end up being the one charged with an offence) you cannot defeat a skilled pickpocket I'm afraid.

Rijsttafels are quite affordable but you need to choose the restaurant carefully. Try to choose one which offers only Indonesian, not Indonesian/Chinese food, if you can.
Have a look at www.purimas.nl/ , www.tempodoeloerestaurant.nl/ and www.restaurant-longpura.com/ to get an idea. There are plenty of others though. Your hotel may be able to advise of a good one nearby.

livin_the_dream

Hi everyone i would like to point out we didn't intend on carrying such large sums of cash, Both sets of parents have gifted us money and it was already exchanged into Euros. We didn't want to complain as money is money right?

Is carrying 1400 on our bodies and day cash in our wallet of $100 euro excessive? Also i was just pointing out in a mugging situation i would try to defend myself and in no way would ever cause harm intentionally. As for the Pickpockets I am a little nervous. We don't have them here in New Zealand. We have both purchased Body Safe Travel Money Belts with interwoven titanium strip so it cannot be cut. It also has a secondary safety feature and can be attached with a small, however extremely durable clip to the inside of your Undergarments, Jeans, trousers. We have asked all that intend on euro xmas present for the money to be in NZD to avoid having to carry any more.
Also with Credit cards i don't know about other countries, here in NZ you are charged an arm and a leg just to hold a CC account open i refuse to pay fees for nothing. Plain stealing your money in front of your eyes. i do however have a visa/debit card in which can be used as a credit card from my personal banking account. less the fees of a CC card. Thank you all again. Really we are not stupid people, circumstances have fortunately gifted us with spending money!!!! Just in an irritating way.

hetismij

I'd still leave the money in the hotel safe if you can rather than having it on you. Don't fret too much about pickpockets, but do be alert around train stations, getting on and off trams, buses etc. And by the Febo if you choose to try that culinary delight.
Any extra money which isn't already in Euros I would put on your account and use your ATM card to withdraw it when you need it. The small amount that costs is nothing to losing all your cash!
Make sure you have good insurance which also covers cash money to a large amount.

Cholmondley_Warner

i fancy our chances.>>>>

I don't.

I could take it off you and so could any vaguely able male. That jap-slap-crap doesn't work in real life. (we're all trained in it and none of us uses it)

Don't carry large amounts of cash, ceertainly not more than you could lose with more grief than a shrug and a stiff drink. Maybe look at the prepaid credit cards?

As for prices in paris; breakfast is basically toast/croissants and coffee so not filling. For lunch you can get a "sandwich" (the frogs can't make sarnies to save their lives) for about E4 lunch a kebab (see sarnies) for about E5 or a sit down meal for E10-15 at the cheapest (there's no upper limit)

TRavel is cheap, but remember that as a third world country, the French charge an entry fee for everywhere and this can really hurt after a few days.

I think Paris is 50% more expensive than London for everything apart from hotels.

Paul1950

Too bad about the way credit card companies rip you off in New Zealand. Credit cards are really great if you have some self-discipline. Here in the USA (at least so far) it's easy to find credit cards with no annual fees, and we pay ours off every month so we pay no interest. In addition, depending on the card and what we are buying, the credit card company gives us a cash rebate of 1% to 3% on everything we buy.

As to meal costs, I guess everyone's definition of a "decent" restaurant meal differs, but we've never had to spend as much as 25 euros per person for a decent meal away from the prime tourist sights. Sometimes we opt to spend that much or more for a special occasion, but we've never HAD to do so.

thursdaysd

Certainly if your hotel has a safe you should use it, but I'm surprised to read about pickpockets accessing money belts. If you use one properly - wear it under your clothes and don't access it in public - it's highly unlikely that you'll lose money from it. I just finished a two month trip to the Caucasus and the Middle East, and traveled with considerably more cash than usual in my money belt (I usually go the ATM and CC route) and didn't worry about it.