I will be visiting Europe (The Netherlands, Germany, Italy and France) in August and uncertain as how far my rand will go in euro. All expenses are paid except 5 dinners and some extra itinnery which i budged aproximately 350 euros. I plan to take R30 000.00. will that be enough for basic 5 meals as well as itenneries and will it be enough to bring home some gifts (not planning expensive ones) The main reason is to get to see as much as I can not going on a shopping spree.

All feedback will be appreciated.

Thanx

Note R30 000 = approx 2468 Euros

a rand this am gets you 0.08 Euro, so your 30,000 is Euro2400 if my maths is good. So if you are just paying for yourself at meals (which range form say Euro 13 to Euro 35) then more than enough.

Gifts, well a small scarf in something nice would be Euro 40 to 120, is that the sort of thing you were thinking of?

thank you so much for the info,,, it was very useful.

what would be an advisable amount of euro to carry around in cash as I tend to use my debit card for most transactions but off course one needs to have some small amount of cash at hand. Please give some suggestions.

thanx to you all.

Hey nici,
It would be better if you used a charge card instead of a debit card - they are more widely accepted.

However, you shouldn't need more than 100E on your person.

Enjoy your visit.

Use a credit card for most purchases and use your debit card to get any €€ you may need from cash machines.

An opposite view: Don't take any rand. Use a bank debit card to withdraw a substantial amount of euros at the airport ATM where you land. Use that cash for everyday purchases. Your credit card very likely will incur a fee for every single transaction in foreign currency, i.e. euros (most, though not all, North American cards do.) Your debit card is less likely to be accepted for retail purchases and it will probably incur a similar fee if it is. Those fees are charged by your home bank. Better to limit the fee to that single bank withdrawal.
Security? Lock some of the cash in your hotel safe. Losing cards is as dangerous and more awkward than losing cash.

Oh for sure, don't take 30,000 rand with you on the plane. Use electronic money as Southam says.

What does it cost to draw cash off your bank card?

I was in Europe in 2011 and I spent an average of 30 euro per day, but I budgeted 100 euro. The price of food will differ with each city. The average mean in Madrid was 12 euro, in Barcelona I could get a meal for 5 euro. The same with Italy, Venice was expensive at 18 euro, Florence 8 euro for a starter pasta and then Rome I could pick up something for 3 euro close to Trevi.

I went for a month on R1000 per day and I got quite a bit out of that, only some of my hotels were paid before I left. I also got some nice gifts, partly due to the fact that I was there in July when it was sale time.

If your debit card (chip and pin) sports the Maestro or V-Pay logo it will be widely accepted in Germany.
Even more than credit cards as many smaller establishments like pubs or restaurants can accept debit cards while they do not take credit cards.
But check your debit card issuer/ bank if you get charged to purchases abroad with your debit card.