Leaving soon for Tuscany. We'll put accommodations, what meals we can, gas, and major purchases on our credit card. I now need to transfer funds into checking account for ATM cash withdrawals for the 2 weeks we're there. Any recommendations on how much should go into the account for meals at restaurants without credit cards, tolls, incidentals etc.??

Per person, $20 a day should do it, as long as you've determined that your hotels will take credit cards, and you plan on eating in towns (roadside cafes may or may not take a credit card, and a cup of coffee and a nosh you'll probably pay for in cash). That should give you enough for little souvenirs you see, postcards, etc. <BR> <BR>And that's $20 for every day you're on the road, including departure dates. Then round up to the next $100 mark (i.e. 17 days x $20 = $340; put in $400).

here's what I found from some previous posts: <BR> <BR>Author: Rex ([email protected]) <BR> Date: 3/11/2000, 6:22 pm ET <BR> <BR> Message: Hotels: $100/night/person (dbl occ) <BR> Meals: $30-60/day <BR> Transportation: $700/7days/4 person car <BR> ( = $25/person/day) <BR> <BR> And I think that most adults (who like 4 star hotels and come from households with income <BR> $50-150k) will generally want $300-1000 for discretionary spending on a two week trip - - <BR> beverages, gelatos, postcards/postage, souvenirs, shopping. <BR> <BR> All of the numbers here could probably be halved or doubled. <BR> <BR> Best wishes, <BR> <BR> Rex <BR> <BR> <BR> Author: Paulo ([email protected]) <BR> Date: 3/12/2000, 2:29 pm ET <BR> <BR> Message: IMO it doesn't make much sense to go for 4 star hotels and then to the cheapest <BR> bars in town for dinner ... There should always be a relation between what you spend for <BR> lodging and dining (don't forget that one of the joys in Italy is precisely dining out <BR> <BR> Once you add local transportation, site entry fees, extras like gelattos, SMALL souvenirs and <BR> the like, if you pick WELL LOCATED 4-stars (double occupancy) in the 3 big art cities, I doubt <BR> that you'll be able to keep your budget under $200/person. In other cities this may go down to <BR> about $130/person. <BR> My numbers would therefore be: <BR> $200 x # nights in the big 3 + <BR> $130 x # nights elsewhere + <BR> intercity transportation (which obviously will depend on your itinerary) <BR> <BR> A ballpark figure should be something around $3,000/person total + flight. <BR> <BR> Paulo <BR> <BR> PS. Last time in Italy (summer of 97) we spent a daily average of $120/person (2 star hotels <BR> with a/c in the big 3 and 3-star elswhere) not including car rental/gas/parking/toll expenses. (4n <BR> in Rome, 3n in Venice, 3n in Florence, 1n in Verona, 1n in Pisa, 2n in Siena). <BR> <BR>

We always transfer the funds to handle most the trip. That way we can always get the cash we need and not worry about it. For example one place we stayed it in France had failed to tell us they take cash only. No problem we went to the ATM and got the cash. One more thing to think about. It will cost you less to use cash when ever you can. <BR>This is due to new fees the credit card companies are doing on international charges.

Good question...Bob, when you say you put in enough for most of your trip, how much would that be? For say, two weeks in Tuscany? And Paulo..your $120 per day...I assume that is for your hotel..but what tuscany is asking is how much are those incidentals after paying for hotel and car rental?? Elvira's $20 a day per person seems kind of low?? I'm curious too...

On our recent two-week trip to Italy, I started with $3000 in our checking account (for our family of 4), paid for all but one hotel night with the credit card, and for most big meals, but not quick lunches on the road or at the beach, etc., took taxis whenever we wanted, tipped in cash even when paying with VISA, and did a little bit of shopping for souvenirs in cash. I still had almost $1500 in the account when we got back. I prefer not to think about the VISA bill!

I BUDGET $100 for food [we like our meals] and $50 per day for incidentals. I may spend nowhere near that, but I want to have that much money THERE if needed. So I guess I'm saying $150 a day beyond your hotel -- this of course could go down if you buy a museum pass before you go, for example. <BR> <BR>We haven't seen a 4 star in a long time -- 2-3 is our usual level. We'd rather put the $$ in eating or special purchases. <BR> <BR>Elvira's budget is low -- but with careful planning it can be done. I think she must be the budget_queen from what I've read on this forum

I would figure how much you need (based on whatever formula you decide) and then double it for emergencies and "just-in-case" situations! Why take a chance? And what are you losing but a few days' interest on the money you've taken out of your savings account!

Thanks all..S.Fowler..your $150 - is that per person or for two of you?

I must be in my Noah's ark mode -- that's for two

Lyv: what we do is like Fowler. We will figure what our out of pocket expense will be. Food and wine $75 to $100, misc expense $50, gas $20. So $150 to $200 a day for both of us. Add to that any Inn or B&B that wants cash not credit. So before a two week trip I will move $2500 to $3000 from savings to checking. We use credit cards for accommodations and rental car and cash for everything else.

Per entire day, my estimate is low. tuscany, however, had said s/he was planning on paying for most everything with credit cards and was looking for an idea on incidentals, which is what I was estimating. I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking $20 pays for everything.

Really depends, doesn't it, on your overall spending? 5-star hotels and a rental Mercedes budget would probably burn more cash than a B&B and motorcycle budget. <BR> <BR>Overall, we budget right around 30% of our European land cost in cash. Actual runs as low as 25%, never higher than a third. (Excludes airfare and US airport parking or to/from airport). That typically plans out at $60/day total for the two of us. <BR> <BR>Actual cash expenditures are usually lower than plan due planning cash only for lunch, but often charging. <BR> <BR>Again, though, it depends. We virtually always are able to charge the hotel, included breakfast, and dinner, as well as often charging lunch. If you start spending cash for those the ratio will change rapidly. <BR> <BR> <BR>You'll find a helpful trip budgeting spreadsheet you can work online at <BR>http://twenj.com/tipsspreadsheet.htm If you have Excel on your computer you can download and work it offline. <BR>

I agree with Howard and Bob--have as much money possible in your checking account available for cash. When we were in Sicily, I found the most beautiful hand-made gold ring even though I had no previous plans to purchase any jewelry. The shop owner offered to cut the price by over 20% if I paid in US $. Luckily, all I needed to do was walk down the block and get cash from the ATM. So, I guess it just depends on your spending habits. And like it was mentioned, you could always transfer back what you don't use.

Is there a reason no one uses traveller's checks?

I'd put in at least twice as much as you expect. Personally, I transfer as much as I'd need if my credit cards completely failed me. So I transfer enough for hotel/meals/everything else. <BR> <BR>But I'd also sign up for overdraft protection, so if you exceed your available balance, at least you won't be completely hung out to dry.