First time in Europe!
 

Hey guys! So I'm going to Italy this upcoming summer. I've never been there , so I wanted to know how much money should I take for the 3 weeks I will be there for. (Housing and flight is already taken care of!)

That is really impossible to answer.

If you buy all food in supermarkets and cook it yourself, never going to any restaurants, you could easily make do with fifteen Euro/day for food. If you go to cheap restaurants for one meal/day you need at least fifty Euro/day. Then there are restaurants where a single dinner can cost over a hundred Euro.

Are you going to stay in one place or move around? Local transportation costs money, even if it's only a few Euros for a city bus.

Most tourist sites will cost money to get into. Decide what you want to see and look them up on the Internet to see if the entry fees are listed.

Are you planning to do any shopping? Souvenirs? Clothes? Gifts for friends and relatives? I usually budget fifty Euro/day for that sort of thing, but I know people who will pay that much for a shirt.

If all you want to do is lie on a beach it will probably be cheaper. But I've heard of people having to pay to rent sunchairs.

No one else can really know how much money you will need.

How are you going to travel around? Makes a difference on how expensive your trip will be - what countries are you visiting - some countries are more expensive than others?

How old are you - what are your interests - museums are neat but can cost a ton many places - night life is great but also can cost a ton, etc.

Trains are a great way for solo travelers and especially for those going largely to main tourist cities where cars are rather useless these days - trains are great and go just about everywhere all the time. For lots of great info on planning a European train trip check out IMO these superb sources: www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - download the latter's free online European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of sampale rail itineraries, maps, etc.

You say housing is taken care of - then you must have a precise itinerary set in stone - where are you going - as said before different countries can cost more than others.

I will be staying with my aunt who lives there (Jesi,Italy). I should have probably specified that. Food for the most part will be at her house unless we go out to eat. I'm more concern about the night life, shopping and beaches. (Transportation will be provided)

There is no way to now what you will spend for shopping.

Figure costs for many things will be about 1/3 more than in the US - unless you go for luxury goods and then the sky is the limit. (Italian designer goods are often cheaper in the US than in Italy unless you go to discount stores that carry outdated designs or off colors.)

If you are staying with relatives presumably you will be taking them out for dinner several times in at least small repayment - so I would allow for that.

Jesi in Le Marche? Food and wine there is much cheaper than major tourist areas. I would ask your aunt what she recommends.

I'm more concern about the night life, shopping and beaches.>

How much money do you have available for three weeks - seems you need not spend much at all but optional things are what you are concerned about - well like someone said above just take similar things in the U.S. and add a third onto it - beaches are free (though some have private paying parts) - nightlife can be very expensive compared to the U.S. - shopping - well most things you can buy there you can perhaps buy even cheaper at home even though they come from Italy.

Wow, I didn't think there were any J's in Italian. How do you pronounce Jesi?

I think it is Iesi Italian (Yesi pronunciation??)

Wow, I didn't think there were any J's in Italian. How do you pronounce Jesi?>

How do Italians spell "Jesus" is there are no Js?

Gesu

Gesu - how would that be pronounced? "Gess-u"? Curious.

>> . . . how much money should I take . . . <<

If you are also asking how much cash to carry w/ you from home . . . Don't 'take' any. Leave your money in your checking account and use your ATM/debit card to get cash as you need it.

Gesu = Jay-zoo

I agree ewith janis but also would advise taking some U S currency - a few hundred bucks just in case your ATM card(s) will not work for some reason - like once in Italy the ATMs were on strike for a day - better to have some hard currency that can always be exchanged at train station or airport banks - I always bring the $200 or so back home but view it as insurance. Or always keep a surplus of a few hundred euros in cash too.

And credit cards are widely accepted in Italy - use these too - check the foreign exchange transaction rates on ATM v credit card - for me it is better to use a credit card sometimes then using my ATM card, which charges a flat fee per ATM transaction. Bring all the credit cards you can but leave your Discover Card at home - useless in Europe except at American Embassies, where I did use mine once.

>>night life, shopping and beaches<<

I would say, count with €20 per day. Depending on your lifestyle, it can be less or more, of course. Beluga caviar is pretty expensive - but you will not find it in Jesi.

Thanks everyone! Your advice helps a lot!

The old agage "Take twice as much money and half as much luggage as you planned" - not cash but means to get some moolah.