Money?
 

Hey. I have gotten so much GREAT advise from here so I figured I'd keep asking my questions! My hubby and I are traveling to Europe this summer (London 5/25-5/30, Paris 5/31-6/2, Rome 6/3-6/7). We are starting to estimate how much we will spend while in Europe. We know what attractions we will visit and the costs associated with that but we are not sure how much we will spend on food. We have never been to Europe so we have no idea how much to estimate. We will try to be cheap but do want to enjoy some wonderful food over there. Any ideas on how much per day? I know that it is tough to estimate but we would just like an idea as to how expensive food will be. Thanks!

Some questins come to mind scosner, is breakfast included in the cost of all of your lodgings? Will you two be eating two rather multicourse meals a day or will you eat say just picnic fare for lack of a better description such as a sandwich and maybe a piece of fruit for lunch? Do you want multicourse dinners at dinner time and will you be looking for well known restaurants or will you wander away from the touristy areas and would a cafe or bistro be more to your liking? Or do you plan on going to ethnic restaurants which usually do not cost as much?

Will you be ordering wine and if so the table wine (a glass each or a bottle?) or a more expensive wine or no wine at all? Will you be buying gelato daily, espresso or cold drinks at cafes to take a break from sightseeing?

I for example just have espresso (but two or three cups) for breakfast and perhaps just a small snack of "something" around 10:30 or 11:00am. I only want one complete meal a day..usually for dinner so a light lunch is my preferance. But I want good Italian food and don't worry to much what it cost as long as it is very good. I do drink wine and always have some for lunch as well as dinner. But I don't order real expensive wine, it is not necessary to in Italy although some people would disagree. I always stop at least once a day for an afternoon espresso or a campari etc. I can't eat dairy food so I save money not buying gelato, sigh.

Hey. My hubby and I are hoping to just do cereal bars (that we bring) for breakfast, an easy lunch (sandwich or fast food) and a sit-down dinner at a restaurant. We are not looking for multi-course meals (I can not eat much) but a regular meal you'd get at a reasonable priced restaurant (we usually spend $40 per dinner in the US). My hubby will probably get a beer or 2 with dinner and I do not drink. We are just wondering if it is as easy to eat for $40-50 in London, Paris and Rome as it is in the US. Or are things really expensive there or is it really hard to find moderately priced restaurants without having to hunt them down... Thanks!

Do you mean $40 or $50 for a couple or per person. (Here in NYC finding a pleasant dinner for 2 for $40 is extremely difficult - and with the fall of the dollar I would expect even more so in europe).

We have found we can generally eat in western europe for what we can in NYC (a casuale ethnic dinner for 2 may be as little as $50, an average dinner in a neighborhood place with 1 glass of wine each is about $80-$90, a splurge dinner with a bottle of wine is about $250).

And you're in major world capitols. Can you eat for less - sure - it depends on how careful you want to be. But don't expect prices in London and Paris to be anything like they are in casuale places in a small town in the US.

You need to compare Paris and Rome to San Francisco or New York... which yes I think prices are similar.

Not really fair to compare Paris and Rome to Smalltown USA.

You might find a better deal having a "prix fixe" main meal at lunch and a lighter dinner.
If you pay with a credit card, don't let them charge it in dollars..let it be in the money of the country where you are, and let the credit card company do the exchange rate.

I agree - make lunch your main meal of the day and you can save a LOT. A set lunch will cost less than dinner at the same restaurant - and often for nearly the same menu. Then a light supper if you are hungry in the evening.

But yes, please clarify about that $40-$50 -- do you mean for 1 or 2?

Thanks for all of the great advise. I meant $40-50 per couple. I will keep in mind NY and San Fran when planning my food budget. Thanks!!!

$40-$50 is only €25-€30 or £20-£25 - for 2 per day. That is a pretty tall order. Even eating picnics and fast food.

Hi S,

Figure what you would spend in dollars on a similar trip in the US, change that number to Euros, add 10% and you won't be disappointed.

Remember the Euro is now $1.56.

((I))

>$1.56.
Nope, $1.57 right now :D

Oh, sorry, one hour has passed, now, of course it's $1.58.
Will we see $1.60 today? :D
The house is on fire, folks... :(

logos999, you know you are quite boring with your diatribe.

Yeah, you don't need to read this.
Just suffer the consequences...

We just paid $20.00 in London for 2 croissants and 2 coffees for breakfast.Hope your breakfast is included!

Lunches ...just sandwiches and a drink were usually at least $30.00 for 2..this was not a fullmeal and at someplace like Pret a manger.

The cheapest dinner we had was $70.00 at Oriel, nr Sloane Sq. 1 glass of wine each, 1 fish, 1 steak hache...hamburger. No starter ,no dessert.It was very good and we enjoyed it .

Even at a quick lunch at a Spaghetti House with 1 pasta each and 1 glass of wine each the bill was $70.00

Paris and Rome will be better!

ignore logos999 - he doesn't offer helpful suggestions/advice, he simply gloats. ( really ugly trait BTW)

$1.59 now, If YOU think that is gloating... Whatever you need to do to be able to go on holiday in the future, do it soon!

as I said - you don't ever offer useful advice - just silly gloating and baiting. If that is how you get your jollies - fine. But a one trick pony gets pretty boring.

I kept track of what we spent for food, drinks, gifts, and various activities here...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...e.html#7065791

Pjk

janisj, be a good sport, I know you've lost quite some money recently. But hey, I told you so.