Some questions about Europe on the Cheap
Jun 17th, 2005, 06:22 PM
#61
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I think SusanP has gotten to the heart of the problem -- his parents have never been out of the US and are probably under the delusion that European travel is cheap (the way it used to be back in the day .... )
Have you tried explaining to them what the per-day amount breaks down to in dollar and euro terms, after you factor in the time for staying with friends? Then at least they could make an informed decision about how much money he will need, and whether he should have some kind of safety cushion.
Have you tried explaining to them what the per-day amount breaks down to in dollar and euro terms, after you factor in the time for staying with friends? Then at least they could make an informed decision about how much money he will need, and whether he should have some kind of safety cushion.
Jun 17th, 2005, 08:48 PM
#62
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I am with Rex on this one. The Eurail pass used to be refundable and I would do just that as the budget here for 2 months does not add up. I have done the 2 months Eurail bit and had a blast but my budget was higher. Now there are inexpensive flights to take you around Europe so the trains may not always be the best option for cheap travel. You can sleep on the trains but having done it several times I would not recommend doing it often as it is really takes alot out of you. I suppose you can budget $10 to $15 a day for food which adds up to about $600 to $900. We found hostels outside of countries like Switzerland or Scandanavia pretty creepy but they were cheap. I do not know however if you can find decent hostels for <$20/night per person on a consistent basis. The Lonely Planet web site tends to suggest not for large cities. When I traveled cheap we found that getting an inexpensive hotel together was much nicer and not that much more in cost. I suspect, depending on country and city that it will cost $20+/night on average for inexpensive hostels which adds another $1200 to the budget. You than have local transportation costs and costs for tourist sights. Might help to limit the traveling to the southern and eastern part of Europe to conserve cash. I agree that the Lonely Planet and Lets go people would be the best resources for your nephew. I suggest your nephew spend alot of time on those web sites to get some ideas as to what to expect traveling cheap in Europe.
Jun 18th, 2005, 07:44 AM
#64
As keeps coming up, your nephew himself learning from Let's Go & Lonely Planet will be more effective than anything we can say here.
Way back up the thread when the money belt idea first came up, petlover assumed oh he'd never wear one if we tell him to. I'm guessing but if he finds this out for himself from experienced traveling peers, he'd more likely see the wisdom and reason to do so.
Way back up the thread when the money belt idea first came up, petlover assumed oh he'd never wear one if we tell him to. I'm guessing but if he finds this out for himself from experienced traveling peers, he'd more likely see the wisdom and reason to do so.
Jun 18th, 2005, 10:39 AM
#65
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A good update....my nephew's budget has now been increased to $3,000 for the 2 month trip (with airline and eurail already paid for). Also, thanks to all your help I bought him books and now that he's out of school he is feverishly reading all of your recommended websites! This is all moving in a positive direction...finally! Thank you all!
Jun 18th, 2005, 11:20 AM
#66
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That is great news Petlover, and know your nephew will always remember all the care and attention you have given him so that he will have a wonderful summer trip in Europe. He is a fortunate young man to have you as his aunt. Hope you can talk him into giving us a trip report when he arrives back home. My best wishes to him.
Jun 18th, 2005, 03:11 PM
#67
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Great news, petlover.
My daughter (age 20) is now backpacking in Europe for 5 weeks. It seems that I was doing all the travel planning - because I love to and because I am bankrolling the trip (high school graduation present that she didn't get to use for the last two years because she couldn't find a traveling companion.)
But finally she went to the bookstore and bought Lonely Planet's "Europe on a Shoestring" and that got her going. She became an expert on what she wanted to see and realized how much stuff costs. She was horrified when I suggested she cut out the countries she is not visiting to make the book lighter in her backpack (she finally did it and I'm sure she will thank me when she returns - that book was huge and weighty!)
By the way, she is expected to live on a $75/day budget (not counting airfare and railpass). All her youth hostels were reserved in advance (after carefully reading the reviews at www.bugeurope.com, www.hostelworld.com and www.hostelz.com, among others.)
She just e-mailed me from Paris! My daughter is on her own...
I think you will see much progress when your nephew starts reading those guide books he bought.
Keep in touch with us. Fodorites care!
My daughter (age 20) is now backpacking in Europe for 5 weeks. It seems that I was doing all the travel planning - because I love to and because I am bankrolling the trip (high school graduation present that she didn't get to use for the last two years because she couldn't find a traveling companion.)
But finally she went to the bookstore and bought Lonely Planet's "Europe on a Shoestring" and that got her going. She became an expert on what she wanted to see and realized how much stuff costs. She was horrified when I suggested she cut out the countries she is not visiting to make the book lighter in her backpack (she finally did it and I'm sure she will thank me when she returns - that book was huge and weighty!)
By the way, she is expected to live on a $75/day budget (not counting airfare and railpass). All her youth hostels were reserved in advance (after carefully reading the reviews at www.bugeurope.com, www.hostelworld.com and www.hostelz.com, among others.)
She just e-mailed me from Paris! My daughter is on her own...
I think you will see much progress when your nephew starts reading those guide books he bought.
Keep in touch with us. Fodorites care!
Jun 20th, 2005, 01:23 PM
#69
petlover, thanks for letting us know how things turned out (so far) sounds like he's on the right track for a grand adventure. you were very kind to get the ball rolling here. hopefully we were all of some help too. again thanks for posting the update.
Jun 20th, 2005, 02:22 PM
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One thought that crosses my mind is to remind your nephew that some countries are more expensive than others. Portugal, for example, is cheaper than Italy (well, lots of places may be cheaper than Italy). My daughter went to Eastern Europe last year, and lived very cheaply. Other kids I know have happily stayed in the Netherlands, Spain, and the British Isles. Kids don't eat fancy foods- they have the equivalent to pizza. If he deosn't have enough money, he'll come home early- not the first person to do so.
Hotels can be a haven for theft, though. I'd make suer that his luggage has locks and remnind him to lock up or take stuff with him when he's in the showere- a prime theft time.
About health insurance. Hve his parents check if he's covered by their policy, and if he isn't, buy short term travel health insurance. It's cheap, and would save peace of mind.
Good luck.
Hotels can be a haven for theft, though. I'd make suer that his luggage has locks and remnind him to lock up or take stuff with him when he's in the showere- a prime theft time.
About health insurance. Hve his parents check if he's covered by their policy, and if he isn't, buy short term travel health insurance. It's cheap, and would save peace of mind.
Good luck.
Jun 20th, 2005, 03:09 PM
#71
1. He should be aware that, other than the largest cities, Central/Eastern European places (hotels, stores, restaurants) rarely take Visa/Mastercard. So having a charge card would not be a backstop.
2. Health insurance coverage under Dad is all well and good, if it even exists, but it would only provide for reimbursement of paid receipts. How would he pay a Czech hospital in the first place? They wouldn't know Blue Cross or Aetna from a hole in the ground.
3. The largest favor you could do him would be to give him assignments to research (cost of hotels in Olomouc, for example, or price of a beer in a restaurant in Munich) and ask for his report the next day. Repeat daily. If he declines, then he's on his own.
4. I suggest if he pooh-poohs the idea of a moneybelt, you ask him to search Lonely Planet or Fodors for "moneybelt" and tell you what he found (having done so yourself so you could refine the search terms).
2. Health insurance coverage under Dad is all well and good, if it even exists, but it would only provide for reimbursement of paid receipts. How would he pay a Czech hospital in the first place? They wouldn't know Blue Cross or Aetna from a hole in the ground.
3. The largest favor you could do him would be to give him assignments to research (cost of hotels in Olomouc, for example, or price of a beer in a restaurant in Munich) and ask for his report the next day. Repeat daily. If he declines, then he's on his own.
4. I suggest if he pooh-poohs the idea of a moneybelt, you ask him to search Lonely Planet or Fodors for "moneybelt" and tell you what he found (having done so yourself so you could refine the search terms).
Jun 20th, 2005, 03:58 PM
#72
tomboy, I know this is a long thread but at least report...
<now that he's out of school he is feverishly reading all of your recommended websites!>
so he's on track with your suggestions already.
<now that he's out of school he is feverishly reading all of your recommended websites!>
so he's on track with your suggestions already.
Jun 20th, 2005, 04:17 PM
#74
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Rick Steve's 18 yr old son is backpacking Europe this summer and blogging about it, here's the link:
http://spaces.msn.com/members/theeurotrip/
Believe his budget is $50 a day.
http://spaces.msn.com/members/theeurotrip/
Believe his budget is $50 a day.
Jun 20th, 2005, 04:48 PM
#75
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I just wanted to add that you should be sure that your nephew gets an international student ID card.
Although I have not used one for many years, it used to be good for reduced rates of admissions to many tourist attractions. I have also used it get into University dinning halls which are often subsidized for cheap eats. University dorms are also available for rent during the summer in many places and are often quite nice but probably out of budget.
The budget at $3000 for 2 months with Eurail and two weeks free lodgings is probably possible depending on where he is going. I would budget however as if he were not getting a free place to stay for 2 weeks as I have often seen such plans go up in smoke as teenagers are notorious about not including adults in their plans or promises.
I would also still recommend a slightly higher budget to $3500 to $4000 if possible as this would give one more options about traveling in expensive countries such as Switzerland or Denmark or England... A great plus of the Eurail pass is that it allows you to go almost anywhere in Europe but if your budget does not allow it you will not get the full benefit of the pass. This slightly higher budget also allows one to consider University dorms and cheap hotels which in my opinion are much nicer than most hostels. Networking with other young people will guide much of what your nephew will probably decide to do on this trip and it would be nice if some opportunities were not wasted because the cost was just out of reach. In any case I envy your nephew as he is to about to embark on what probably will be one of the best adventures of his life.
Although I have not used one for many years, it used to be good for reduced rates of admissions to many tourist attractions. I have also used it get into University dinning halls which are often subsidized for cheap eats. University dorms are also available for rent during the summer in many places and are often quite nice but probably out of budget.
The budget at $3000 for 2 months with Eurail and two weeks free lodgings is probably possible depending on where he is going. I would budget however as if he were not getting a free place to stay for 2 weeks as I have often seen such plans go up in smoke as teenagers are notorious about not including adults in their plans or promises.
I would also still recommend a slightly higher budget to $3500 to $4000 if possible as this would give one more options about traveling in expensive countries such as Switzerland or Denmark or England... A great plus of the Eurail pass is that it allows you to go almost anywhere in Europe but if your budget does not allow it you will not get the full benefit of the pass. This slightly higher budget also allows one to consider University dorms and cheap hotels which in my opinion are much nicer than most hostels. Networking with other young people will guide much of what your nephew will probably decide to do on this trip and it would be nice if some opportunities were not wasted because the cost was just out of reach. In any case I envy your nephew as he is to about to embark on what probably will be one of the best adventures of his life.
