How bad is the exchange rate?
 

Hello! We are planning to go to Italy and Croatia for our honeymoon in July. It seems Croatia will be affordable, but I'm wondering if we are going to get stuck with a $50 breakfast in Italy. How can I find this out? Thanks! We're going to Umbria and staying in reasonably priced hotels (under $200).

A $50 breakfast in Italy? Wow. I do not think I have ever spent over $10 for breakfast in Italy. And if you stay in an agriturismo or B&B it can be a lot less than $200. So far we have not spent over $100 on accommodation in Italy and we have had some very nice spots. But then again we always avoid travel in July and August so that may change things a bit for you.

Croatia is relatively inexpensive (especially in Istria) but Dubrovnik can be about the same price as other European cities.

Have a wonderful honeymoon!

Does your Umbria hotel rate not include breakfast? Most hotels in Italy offer a continental breakfast at a minimum. You may feel "underfed" compared to your usual breakfast habits, but you won't be "stuck" with a $50 breakfast unless you order one. You can always buy a few things at a food market to snack on.

There have been some recent comments here that people found Croatia to be no less expensive than countries like Italy and France.

For exchange rate simply do a google search "1 euro in usd". You'll see that each euro will cost you $1.47. So if your breakfast cost 34 Euro that'll be $50.

This past summer I never spent more than 3-4Euro for a breakfast, but that was staying in apartments, buying groceries at the local market.

I stayed in several hotels. Some had breakfast included in the room rate, and others did not. Check with your hotels if they include breakfast. For those that did not I went to local bakery & fruit market in the morning.

Thanks so much for your help! Good to know that people haven't found croatia much less expensive as well-we might end up doing half italy and half croatia. Bed and Breakfasts might be a good way to go as well.

We have definitely found Croatia to be cheaper than most countries but it depends where you go. Our favourite villa of all time (and we travel a lot) was in Istria for 30 euros per night. We had the entire building, out in the country, at the end of a road, in the mountains, with access to the owner's fresh fruit and veg every morning for breakfast.

On our last trip to Dubrovnik we paid 50 euros for an apartment with a little bedroom loft.

The key to saving money in europe is to go with the program. If you eat the continental breakfast free with the room - or go to a nearby cafe it will be very reasonable.

If you go with the idea of eating a huge cooked breakfast every day you'll find that things get very expensive.

Also - be aware that Coke and other soft drinks are VERY expensive - and come in tiny cans. You'll get much more for your money drinking local beer or wine. (Liquor and mixed drinks are also very expensive due to high local taxation.) If you want bottled water buy it in large bottles or small multis in the local market to save money.

Every restaurant has a menu outside with prices listed - just pick places with prices you're comfortable with - and look like it has locals eating in it.

Dear Travel2live2

what is the place you liked so much in IStria? we plan to be there for 4 days in July and want an interesting, nice, non beach commercial place.
Thanks!

Iajolla: travel2live2 <i>might</i> see your question. But you have tacked it on to an old thread about exchange rates/costs.

If it was me - I'd post a new thread w/ a title something like &quot;travel2live2 and anyone else - looking for a place to stay in Istria&quot;.

That way even if travel2live2 doesn't see it, others w/ good info might . . . .