<<this was very interesting reading.>>

And several years old.

"I don't understand certain people's fascination with money, especially their nosy and inappropriate curiosity about what other people have and how much they spend."



I'm interested in what ppl spend. It's not that there expecting a full accountability but I'm frugal by nature and I like money.

My husband isn't as conservative with the green stuff as I but he doesn't mind staying at a decent hotel with a good bed. I like comfortable and clean with breakfast. $100/ night is my limit unless we're in a great city, then I'll spend a bit more. Our interests can take us off the beaten path so I can find a bargain.

Fine dining is on our list now and then but I'd rather find a great little place recommended by someone locally.

I won't cheap out on the car. It doesn't need to be large, it's Europe after all but it has to have a good engine and space.

Whatever the fee for the museum or site is, fine. We like to do our own research but will take a tour.

A nice piece of art by a local artist will bring me the more pleasure than the aforementioned expensive handbag. (Although I consider a great handbag at a fraction of the cost, an investment (if I don't have to replace it for years )

Happy travels all.

All that and I didn't say how much we spend! About $5,000 to 6,000 including air. We fly economy.

(just a couple of years old, Stcirq

Oh, did the thread have an expiration date??

>>Oh, did the thread have an expiration date??<<

No -- but apparently the OP did . . .

(either nuked or she aufed herself)

3 years ago I went 3 others inter railing. It is a very convenient way to get around Europe and on most train rides had a pretty nice view. We stayed at hostels and picked a hostel where you can cook for yourself. This way you can save a lot of money by not having to go to a restaurant every day. I spent on average still around 25 euro's per day (We went out a lot which is pretty expensive).

I figure on $9,000 for six weeks including air fare and car rental. It does not always come to that because we always stay with friends or relatives in Paris, and other locations. For years we had a "rent free" house in the Dordogne but we had to pay taxes and utilities on it year round, which I did not include in my trip reports; it's cheaper to rent a gîte. I usually try to give an idea of how much we spent at least for airfare, ground transportation, and hotels, with some restaurants costs where I did save the bills and remember to retrieve them when I write the report. I figure that the value of a trip report is not just what is to be seen and consumed, but also how much one can expect to spend while doing a similar trip.

Folks, this thread is a couple years old...

But my costs are as of 2018. But you're right. I should have paid attention to the date, which I would not have to if threads more than a year old were automatically frozen to deny further comments.

No worries, I was coming to give my answer too which would be the about the same in 2014 or 2017 as it is in 2019.

Couldn't agree more. If I state that I'll spend £300 a night on hotel rooms (either a suite or interconnecting rooms because of the kids) what does it mean? Whether I spend £200 on a meal for four or £50 what relevance is it? I don't like to scrimp, others do, so what! It's all rather pointless.

It means that I can probably disregard your recommendations even when stated in terms such as "inexpensive". I live in San Francisco, and have gotten used to its prices when it comes to eating out. Others might disagree when I state that something is inexpensive, but can make a more accurate judgement if the actual price is given.

I don't like to scrimp, others do, so what! It's all rather pointless.

Did you ever consider that it's not that some people "like to scrimp" rather than they don't have as much money to spend as you do?

Does it matter? We're talking about what people decide to spend on their travels and whether there's any relevance in comparison. Honestly, what's the point in comparing what people choose to spend their money on? If you knew my background you probably wouldn't be so judgemental.

Judgemental? Huh?

And you're arguing on a thread that was started in 2014 btw.

I'm pretty sure the "point" is that the OP wanted some guidelines for a trip budget.

This thread is so old it's now enrolled in school.

The point is for many first time travelers it gives them a baseline. If you've never traveled you have no idea what to expect cost wise. Most North Americans aren't traveling to Europe every weekend and the only idea of costs they have is the ads they might see.

Of course if you don't feel like being helpful you could skip the thread.

The age of the thread is irrelevant, it's been resurrected and people are still commenting on it, the subject is relevant because it keeps cropping up in various guises. The point is that there are so many variables. A first timer might have plenty to spend or might not, they might prioritise comfort over price or quality of food, there's absolutely no way you can base your planning or gudance on a bunch of comments from complete strangers. What is also relevant is Europe is not one place, this is a mistake that is frequently made and what one would spend on average in Bucharest would be vastly different to what would be spent in London.

So you don't consider my comments helpful? I think providing irrelevant or misleading information is the epitome of being unhelpful.

I think providing irrelevant or misleading information is the epitome of being unhelpful.


Which is why I try to give actual costs whenever possible.

Yes because you assumed that I didn't consider that people who scrimp do so because they can't afford it when actually I've read many comments where people scrimp because they choose to do not because they can't afford to, I'm fully aware that people would like to be have more money to do the things they want, don't we all?

I'm also not sure of the relevance of the age of the thread. People are still commenting, including you and I don't consider this arguing!

I'm sure the OP did want some guidelines for a trip budget, I see many posts of a similar nature, the point being that it's impossible to gain a rough guide for a budget because there are so many variables not least the fact that the OP is asking a question that covers an entire continent. What would be the point in listing an average spend of my trip to Albania if the OP is planning on a trip to Paris? That would be completely misleading and of no worth to the OP, that is my point and it's as relevant now as it was in 2014.

But the question wasn't about how much to spend in London, Barcelona or Krakow, it was simply "Europe". Also, if the OP is a first timer, the costs provided by others can be misleading. I'm a foodie so I'll spend a lot more on food than others will but if the OP was to consider that to be an average cost of food in X then they may consider it to be too much and potentially alter their plans.