We're still in the trip plan mode, but high food costs in Europe are causing us to look for some value. Will a hundred dollars a day buy us a light lunch and a good dinner with a few cocktails?

Thanks.

I think it depends on your definition of a good dinner; you may want to provide an example.

Personally, $100 per day would have been just about right for me. That's close to 80 euro the way my math deficient mind works.

Capp and croissant for breakfast will set you back around 5 to 6 is memory serves.

Lunch for me and the wife was almost always cheese pizza, same for dinner. We're not into seafood so that limited us quite a bit.

For drinks, a suggestion would be to buy your own bottle of wine or beers and enjoy them in a setting like the Pantheon or Trevi. Is it legal? I really don't know but the experience is great. Or hang out on one of the bridges and sip a glass (plastic cups work better) of wine. If you pick up the wine in a grocery store (like the one underground by the Via Venetto subway station) you can save a bunch of money. Same for sodas and bottled waters.

I take it by "us" you mean $100 (80 euro or less) for two of you?
Can be done and many do it. I couldn't. I enjoy sitting down to a nice dinner with a bottle of wine and that would deplete the full day's budget in all but the very cheapest of places. "good dinner with a few cocktails" suggests this isn't possible for you. Also, you really may want to rethink the cocktail thing and go for a bottle of wine to sip and share throughout a leisure meal. Four cocktails will set you back a whole lot more than a decent bottle of wine in most Roman restaurants. (and the cocktails aren't likely to be that good either). I enjoy wine in Italy, but then enjoy my dry Robroy's when I get back home so much more.

Now on the off chance you meant $100 a person for the two of you, yes you could do very nicely with that -- very.

It should be enough especially if breakfast is included in your hotel room rate.It won't be enough, however, if by a "good dinner" you mean three courses at an upscale restaurant. Even at moderate places, several courses add up quickly. American style "cocktails" are very expensive; it would be better to order a full or half liter of house wine. As an example of cocktail prices, a couple of years ago I was charged $15 for a Bellini (a bad one at that) and my husband $10 for a vodka tonic at one of the places on Piazza Navona.

Usually breakfast is pretty light and provided at hotels. If you plan it right and just have a good panini and light meals, you shouldn't have to spend more than 10 - 15 euros for lunch.

I went with four other folks and being wine lovers, spent around 25-30 for a really nice bottle of wine. I think the quality was in par with bottles you spend at least 40-50 for at a regular restaurant here. If you're going to Rome, I highly recommend going to Edy's (Vicolo del Babuino, 4) it's right by the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo. They have great food at reasonable prices.

Hi ms,

$100 is about 75E.

Pizza, pasta or salad for lunch will be with a glass of wine will be about 10E pp at a sit-down cafe.

A nice dinner for two (primo and secondo) with wine can be as low as 25E pp.

I recommend gelato from a stand for dessert - about 2E pp.

You will be clobbered on the cocktails. I suggest you buy your own bottle and have cocktails in your room.

Cocktails will kill you. You can buy a really great bottle of wine for 4e in a small market or grocery store. Drink it in your room. A decent bottle of chianti classico is about 6-8e in a restaurant. Lunch should be at a walk up deli and breakfast is maybe included in your hotel. 75e per day is plenty.

I agree with Ira's math all the way around. I've been to Italy for the past three springs, and almost always pay about 20-30 euro for a nice dinner with wine (usually at a trattoria.)Lunch for 10-12 euro is just about right. Always,always gelato for dessert!

I realize people are trying to be helpful about saving money, but I get depressed just thinking about buying a bottle of wine and drinking it in your room. If I had to do that to save money, I'd stay home!!!! My house would be more comfortable to sit and drink wine than some little hotel room in Italy.

Patrick, I can't believe you think it's depressing to have a bottle of wine in your hotel room on vacation?! It does save money and is fun to do. Of course I also order wine when I'm out in cafes and restaurants as well.

> I get depressed just thinking about buying a bottle of wine and drinking it in your room. <

Well, a lot depends on the company.

My goodness. A bottle of wine is the FIRST thing I unload when in a hotel room! Priorities you know. And Ira's right about the company.

Well, Ira, if you're adding other things into the mix, that's different. But give me a choice of sitting in a wonderful piazza in Rome sipping wine, or sipping it in my tiny dark hotel room, and I'll take the former any day, regardless of the company.

If you stick to wine you should be fine. If you want cocktails (as in green apple martinis etc) - this type of thing is VERY expensive in europe and could blow your budget right away. Esp in some of the more casuale restaurants I'm not sure cocktails would be available - dependng on what you're looking for - although naturally you would be able to get them - but perhaps not so well made -in any bar.

That's true. Skip the idea of cocktails in Europe (they are expensive and not that common) and have the "house wine" by the carafe, pitcher, or glass in restaurants for good <value>.