How much do you spend on travel in Europe?
Oct 26th, 2014, 10:34 AM
#21
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My recent one month trip to the Balkans cost me as a solo traveler approx $3000 including air travel within Europe. The majority of time I had my own bathroom, even in budget accommodations. I ate and drank well and never felt I skimped on anything including private guides or taxis. I am retired and like budget traveling which is how I have managed 80+ countries and still counting.
It seems to me that we all travel in a way that suits our own personal style. I enjoy reading about how others do it, even if it is not my way.
Am not sure why NYCFoodSnob feels a negative comment or two are warranted. If this thread is of no interest skip it.
It seems to me that we all travel in a way that suits our own personal style. I enjoy reading about how others do it, even if it is not my way.
Am not sure why NYCFoodSnob feels a negative comment or two are warranted. If this thread is of no interest skip it.
Oct 26th, 2014, 11:02 AM
#22
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I don't think there is anything tacky or manipulative about wanting to know what the cost of travel to Europe might be. This thread might actually help someone planning their first trip not to over- or under-budget.
Our last trip is a little deceptive because we were such a large group; 8 people, 3 generations. We were also celebrating a high school graduation, 40th and 60th birthdays so we splurged on our accommodations and a few meals.
15 nights in France: 1 hotel night, 7 nights in a house in the Dordogne and 7 nights in 2 apartments in Paris, 1 van rental for a week.
We spent approximately $30,000.00 USD
Over a third of that was just the airfare for everyone.
If we subtract the airfare we spent approximately $163 per person/per day.
Our last trip is a little deceptive because we were such a large group; 8 people, 3 generations. We were also celebrating a high school graduation, 40th and 60th birthdays so we splurged on our accommodations and a few meals.
15 nights in France: 1 hotel night, 7 nights in a house in the Dordogne and 7 nights in 2 apartments in Paris, 1 van rental for a week.
We spent approximately $30,000.00 USD
Over a third of that was just the airfare for everyone.
If we subtract the airfare we spent approximately $163 per person/per day.
Oct 26th, 2014, 01:53 PM
#24
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Hi LL220,
Interesting question. I never count every penny but consider myself conservative because I am not into fine dining and hardly ever "shop."
Looking back, here are my expenses in USD (not including air fare) for a ten day solo jaunt to London last June.
$2740 for a comfortable, not fancy, thee star in central London with FULL breakfast
$75 insurance "in case" or medical emergency "med-flight"
$ 524 pre-paid items included car service to and from Heathrow , Matisse tickets, talk at Queen's Gallery, 2 pricey (but worth it) day tours from London
$800 (est.) Oyster card, dinners, wine, one theater ticket, Regent Canal Ride, Courtauld Gallery, Johnson House entry, a few cab rides, gratuities and the like- maybe it was more?
Total $4139 - let's round it out to $4,200 so $420 per day
Granted, London is expensive, but worth every penny in my view.
Interesting question. I never count every penny but consider myself conservative because I am not into fine dining and hardly ever "shop."
Looking back, here are my expenses in USD (not including air fare) for a ten day solo jaunt to London last June.
$2740 for a comfortable, not fancy, thee star in central London with FULL breakfast
$75 insurance "in case" or medical emergency "med-flight"
$ 524 pre-paid items included car service to and from Heathrow , Matisse tickets, talk at Queen's Gallery, 2 pricey (but worth it) day tours from London
$800 (est.) Oyster card, dinners, wine, one theater ticket, Regent Canal Ride, Courtauld Gallery, Johnson House entry, a few cab rides, gratuities and the like- maybe it was more?
Total $4139 - let's round it out to $4,200 so $420 per day
Granted, London is expensive, but worth every penny in my view.
Nov 28th, 2014, 02:15 PM
#26
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I've been reviewing my journals from a couple of trips from '78 & '81. I looked up the hotels I stayed at to see what they cost now. I thought I was going on the cheap back then. Many of the rooms now cost much more than I usually pay now, although some now have a bathroom rather than down the hall.
Nov 28th, 2014, 11:58 PM
#27
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bigtyke,
I know! I'm so old that my budget hotels from the 70s are often out of my price range--the St. Ermin's in London for sure, Hotel de Seine in Paris (can still afford that one but remember the days when double rooms were around 150-200 FF), hotels in Geneva and Lausanne, Hotel am Stephensplatz in Vienna....
I know! I'm so old that my budget hotels from the 70s are often out of my price range--the St. Ermin's in London for sure, Hotel de Seine in Paris (can still afford that one but remember the days when double rooms were around 150-200 FF), hotels in Geneva and Lausanne, Hotel am Stephensplatz in Vienna....
Nov 29th, 2014, 01:45 AM
#28
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I wasn't going to answer, until I noticed that Foodsnob hoped it died quickly.
As noted above, what used to be cheap, can be expensive. The time of the year and not only the country, but where in a country makes a difference.
We usually eat our big meal for lunch, because it is cheaper and stay in clean comfortable hotels. But we set aside money for one splurge meal and if there is a unique hotel in a town where we are only staying a few days, we might splurge as well.
We use FF and other discounts, whenever possible. We have never gone a tour of more than a day and rarely take taxis.
There are just too many variables.
As noted above, what used to be cheap, can be expensive. The time of the year and not only the country, but where in a country makes a difference.
We usually eat our big meal for lunch, because it is cheaper and stay in clean comfortable hotels. But we set aside money for one splurge meal and if there is a unique hotel in a town where we are only staying a few days, we might splurge as well.
We use FF and other discounts, whenever possible. We have never gone a tour of more than a day and rarely take taxis.
There are just too many variables.
Nov 29th, 2014, 02:08 AM
#29
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Since I am in Europe my European holidays tend to be renting a house somewhere and staying for a week or two. We tend not to visit cities, so that reduces the price too.
Travelling to the UK makes for a more expensive trip for us if we can't stay with family. We try to find either a house to rent or stay in pubs with rooms then.
We tend to eat only two meals a day, either a good breakfast and dinner, or a good lunch and a light evening meal, even when self catering.
Our recent five week trip to California cost about €10,000 ($12,500 or 14,200 CAD) all in for the two us.
Travelling to the UK makes for a more expensive trip for us if we can't stay with family. We try to find either a house to rent or stay in pubs with rooms then.
We tend to eat only two meals a day, either a good breakfast and dinner, or a good lunch and a light evening meal, even when self catering.
Our recent five week trip to California cost about €10,000 ($12,500 or 14,200 CAD) all in for the two us.
Nov 29th, 2014, 03:39 AM
#30
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I like to support IMDH when he is opposing someone.
Our trips to Europe - parents plus 3 - have usually cost about $17k US for just under three weeks. Asia was $26k for a month. Jordan less than $10k. Peru about $14k. We stay in hostel/small hotel type places when we can.
Scandinavia I stopped counting when my bank card started whimpering. Switzerland I stopped at $78 after one McDonalds meal.
Our trips to Europe - parents plus 3 - have usually cost about $17k US for just under three weeks. Asia was $26k for a month. Jordan less than $10k. Peru about $14k. We stay in hostel/small hotel type places when we can.
Scandinavia I stopped counting when my bank card started whimpering. Switzerland I stopped at $78 after one McDonalds meal.
Nov 29th, 2014, 09:31 AM
#33
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We live in Switzerland, so trips in/around Europe usually involve picking someplace we can get to easily on a train. In December, we're spending two weeks in Germany -- Baden-Baden, Leipzig, Dresden and Berlin. All in, I guess we'll spend about 4k in Swiss francs. We like nice hotels, especially spa hotels, and traveling first class on trains, but we tend to scout for specials and book far enough ahead to get the best deals we can. That way, we can usually find rooms in 5-star spa hotels for about 200 euros per night.
We're planning a week in Vienna next year and we had planned to stay at the Ritz or Park Hyatt, but then decided to pick a cheaper hotel. So the cost of our whole trip (transportation, hotels, meals) will cost about the same as the hotel alone would have if we'd stuck with the Ritz or Park Hyatt.
We are not foodies, in the sense of extravagant meals at Michelin starred restaurants. On occasion, fine, but mostly we're happy with bistro/brasserie type restaurants. We do love a great cocktail bar. Earlier this year, in Brussels, we had planned to go for a nice dinner at an upscale restaurant. But we ended up blowing the meal money on a bunch of cocktails at the Steigenberger Hotel and then ate cheaply at Hector's Chicken. We were happy with that choice.
We're planning a week in Vienna next year and we had planned to stay at the Ritz or Park Hyatt, but then decided to pick a cheaper hotel. So the cost of our whole trip (transportation, hotels, meals) will cost about the same as the hotel alone would have if we'd stuck with the Ritz or Park Hyatt.
We are not foodies, in the sense of extravagant meals at Michelin starred restaurants. On occasion, fine, but mostly we're happy with bistro/brasserie type restaurants. We do love a great cocktail bar. Earlier this year, in Brussels, we had planned to go for a nice dinner at an upscale restaurant. But we ended up blowing the meal money on a bunch of cocktails at the Steigenberger Hotel and then ate cheaply at Hector's Chicken. We were happy with that choice.
Nov 29th, 2014, 09:58 AM
#34
Travel within Europe (I'm a Brit) I look at £80 one way per person as a good average (ferry/flights); rooms under E100 every night for 2 though breakfast included can be a pain.
Travel inside the country well, I normally drag a bike or car with me so we are talking fuel or £40 per flight (never travel swissair as they hit you with the price of a bike to transport a bike) and if not I use trams/buses local trains at peanuts.
Meals, you should be able to get a good breakfast for E8 most places (not swiss/norway) and I tend towards lunch-of-the-day at $13 (three course, wine) 5 days a week with supper stretching to E25. I generally don't drink bottled wine (jug local wine for me) as I spend far too much time tasting wine and few normal restaurants have great bottled wine, but when they do I just splurge up to E40 a bottle.
Travel inside the country well, I normally drag a bike or car with me so we are talking fuel or £40 per flight (never travel swissair as they hit you with the price of a bike to transport a bike) and if not I use trams/buses local trains at peanuts.
Meals, you should be able to get a good breakfast for E8 most places (not swiss/norway) and I tend towards lunch-of-the-day at $13 (three course, wine) 5 days a week with supper stretching to E25. I generally don't drink bottled wine (jug local wine for me) as I spend far too much time tasting wine and few normal restaurants have great bottled wine, but when they do I just splurge up to E40 a bottle.
Nov 29th, 2014, 10:35 AM
#35
Interesting, not because of the figures, but that people keep track. Even on a budget (but not a particular figure), I spend where it's important to me and don't on what isn't, get good deals where I can but I have utterly no idea what it all comes to or even a clue what I might spend in a day. I pay the bills as they come in, extract the cash I need when I need it and never add or divide. I have faith and don't look back.
I wouldn't have thought it unusual but maybe it comes with practice, of which at this point I have a lot, although I don't ever remember counting, even when I had less. Credit cards can be a great help in this regard, not spending more than I can afford, but spreading the expense and making it manageable.
I wouldn't have thought it unusual but maybe it comes with practice, of which at this point I have a lot, although I don't ever remember counting, even when I had less. Credit cards can be a great help in this regard, not spending more than I can afford, but spreading the expense and making it manageable.
Nov 29th, 2014, 10:40 AM
#36
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IMDH if you oppose me at least I feel confident that almost everyone else is on my side. If you oppose me after I support you then you would be opposing yourself. I believe that qualifies you for automatic reinstatement to the Lounge, where your knowledge of art and hockey is missed daily.
Pegontheroad I have to keep reminding myself those numbers are for five people too. Otherwise I cry. Ideally one day I'll be doing travel your way.
Pegontheroad I have to keep reminding myself those numbers are for five people too. Otherwise I cry. Ideally one day I'll be doing travel your way.
Nov 29th, 2014, 11:38 AM
#37
I cannot agree that this thread is manipulative or tacky - I find it interesting and informative.
People's budgets and travel styles differ, and there is no right or wrong way to travel.
I normally look for week/fortnight rentals and would budget around €500 to €750 for the week dependent on time of year and location. Obviously Rome or Venice are going to be more expensive than Sicily or Cilento.
Lodging aside, I tend not to have a set budget - but on average we tend to spend between €80-€120 a day between us , and that will include one meal , plus snack, drinks and entrance fees.
People's budgets and travel styles differ, and there is no right or wrong way to travel.
I normally look for week/fortnight rentals and would budget around €500 to €750 for the week dependent on time of year and location. Obviously Rome or Venice are going to be more expensive than Sicily or Cilento.
Lodging aside, I tend not to have a set budget - but on average we tend to spend between €80-€120 a day between us , and that will include one meal , plus snack, drinks and entrance fees.
Nov 29th, 2014, 01:20 PM
#39
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IMDH if you oppose me at least I feel confident that almost everyone else is on my side.
True dat.
__________
If you oppose me after I support you then you would be opposing yourself.
I haven't done that since I was a teen.
True dat.
__________
If you oppose me after I support you then you would be opposing yourself.
I haven't done that since I was a teen.
Jun 18th, 2017, 08:09 AM
#40
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We all do travel differently but it is interesting to read all the input from others.
I am retired and single and do have to watch my budget (so I can travel!)
In 2014 I spent three weeks in the south of France (and rented a car... rented two beautiful apts and one old stone house in Bonnieux. I ate most of my meals in as I often do... although lunch I tend to eat out. That trip with air cost me just under $4k usd.
In 2015 I spent 5 weeks traveling around Spain and stayed in one big splurge of a house in Girona and the other 4 AirBnbs were nice and one great hotel in Ronda. I did several day trips from each of my six locations. Again I ate out daily for lunch and a few dinners. Museums and concerts were so inexpensive in Spain.t. This trip cost me around $6k.
In Nov of 2016 I rented an apt in Montmartre for one month which I loved at a fantastic price of $1200 usd. I took one week out to visit Annecy for two nights and met a friend in Lyon for 3, staying in two beautiful apts for a total of $550 combined on AirBnB. I don't think I spent more than $3500 total that trip.
This coming Fall I am going to Krakow where I have a great apartment (I think!) for $980. I am planning on Berlin for a few days (5?). My airfare with great connections is $800. It's going to be a much cheaper trip than previous years.
So it matters greatly where you go and what you choose to do. I save so much on food but I could also spend much less on accommodations too. I can't though because comfortable surroundings are very high on my priority list when I travel.
Thanks to everyone for sharing this was very interesting reading.
I am retired and single and do have to watch my budget (so I can travel!)
In 2014 I spent three weeks in the south of France (and rented a car... rented two beautiful apts and one old stone house in Bonnieux. I ate most of my meals in as I often do... although lunch I tend to eat out. That trip with air cost me just under $4k usd.
In 2015 I spent 5 weeks traveling around Spain and stayed in one big splurge of a house in Girona and the other 4 AirBnbs were nice and one great hotel in Ronda. I did several day trips from each of my six locations. Again I ate out daily for lunch and a few dinners. Museums and concerts were so inexpensive in Spain.t. This trip cost me around $6k.
In Nov of 2016 I rented an apt in Montmartre for one month which I loved at a fantastic price of $1200 usd. I took one week out to visit Annecy for two nights and met a friend in Lyon for 3, staying in two beautiful apts for a total of $550 combined on AirBnB. I don't think I spent more than $3500 total that trip.
This coming Fall I am going to Krakow where I have a great apartment (I think!) for $980. I am planning on Berlin for a few days (5?). My airfare with great connections is $800. It's going to be a much cheaper trip than previous years.
So it matters greatly where you go and what you choose to do. I save so much on food but I could also spend much less on accommodations too. I can't though because comfortable surroundings are very high on my priority list when I travel.
Thanks to everyone for sharing this was very interesting reading.
