You spend HOW MUCH for lunch???
 

I must be the cheapest guy here, but I’ve been reading these posts about Americans in Europe who say that they eat on the cheap, $20-30 or so for lunch, each.<BR><BR>Do you spend that much at home? If so, where do you live? I’m from the Midwest and here if you spent $10 on lunch of any kind (Italian, good sit-down caf&eacute;, steaks, whatever) you’d have to carry your belly home in a wheelbarrow. Are you guzzling martini’s, eating whale tongue dipped in caviar, or what?<BR><BR>I’ve been to London, Paris, Toronto, (yeah, not Europe, I know), Edinburgh, I’ve never spent anywhere near that for lunch.<BR>

I usually spend almost nothing for lunch and have my lavish meal for dinner. Unless I have my lavish meal at dinner (ie Jules Vern) and then spend nothing for dinner.

No, I don't spend that much money on lunch when I'm home. When on vacation, I do like to treat myself and, what the heck, get crazy and buy a $25 lunch (not ALL the time).<BR><BR>

Lots of people on this board are traveling on a budget. We spent about $10.00 each on lunch, and $15.00 each on dinner in England. We had lots of good pub grub, Thai, Indian, etc. and really enjoyed those meals.<BR><BR>It might just be that the people who are planning to splurge on meals are the ones asking questions about where to go, so they can get their money's worth.

I find it more and more difficult to eat lunch at a sit down restaurant in the US for less than $7, including a soft drink. On vacation, I am much more likely to have a beer or glass of wine, which pushes it considerably higher.

Also, in England, the exchange rate and expensive nature of, say, London, make lunch more expensive.

Well, at home, I usually have to go back to work after lunch, so if I go to a sitdown restaurant at all, I'm nearly always keeping it quick, cheap, and non-alcoholic. (Still, in the big city in which I live, one course and an iced tea can easily cost $15-20/head with tip at a place that's considered "moderate" which is why I usually eat at my desk!)<BR><BR>On vacation, I often have wine or a beer with a midday meal, which definitely increases the bill. If my feet are tired, or the weather's bad, or I just want to enjoy some more of that fabulous, authentic French/Italian/or whatever other type of food, I will enjoy a leisurely 2-3 course lunch. Other days, I might just grab a quick sandwich, salad or soup. Regardless, I try to find something tasty and authentic - for me, experiencing the local food is a huge part of every trip.

Flint... it depends... if we are hungry or in a fun place, it's possible to spend $20 or so including wine... we're on vacation! I'm from the midwest too, and bring my lunch into the office, but when I'm traveling, I don't want to have to think about "how much". Once every few days dinner is wine, cheese, tomatoes and bread so it all evens out.

Easy to spend that much in Washington, D.C. where I live. Generally, we spend about $30-$50 for lunch without drinks and $60+ including drinks. However, that is a weekend lunch...not the usual weekday lunch. I think most people spend around $7-10 for lunch in DC for standard take out food.

I try to travel to England/France for at least 2 weeks, 3 if I can, so I definitely do have to budget and consider costs. I love doner kabobs and fish’n’chips so I can eat relatively inexpensively in London. In Paris I go for a baguette, cheese, ham, etc.<BR><BR>Even at the “inflated” prices of these capitol cities I can manage a good, filling lunch for about $10…or less if I go to a corner store and buy a “picnic” lunch.<BR><BR>Conversely I’m always amazed at how cheaply one can do lunch in New York City. Obviously I’m not talking about the Ritz but we’ve had great Indian and Chinese meals in NYC for less money than in Kansas City, easily under $10. (Go to Gray's Papiya for a couple of dawgs for under $5!)<BR><BR>Last spring we went to the Battery area and had 5 courses of Indian (and very good it was) for about $10 each and that was for dinner!<BR><BR>Some folks like to feel like they are pampering themselves on vacation, and that’s fine, but yes, some of us do have to consider the cost of each meal.<BR>

Flint,<BR>In many cases,the menu is the same for lunch and dinner in Europe since Europeans eat later than we do. In many cases $20-30 meal is a better deal than finding a cheap restaurant and spending $15. You don't get much for cheap? lunches in Europe unless you spend all your time in Chinese restaurants.

Fred is right. You don't get much for cheap lunches in Europe if you want more than a baguette or panini. E.g. salads are popular here in Belgium but will cost between 12-16 euro. With two glasses of wine and a cup of coffee you will have easily spent 24 euro!

Phoenix: A sandwich - TAKEOUT - is $6 with tax. If I eat in the restaurant, same sandwich plus soft drink and a tip for the waiter, $9. A burger, fries and a soft drink at McDonald's is $4.50, eat in or take out. Any wonder we eat fast food? I don't want sandwiches or burgers every day; if I want a plate of spaghetti, something to drink and some bread, we're talking $13 with tax and tip. No dessert, just plain spaghetti w/meat sauce. I bring lunch from home.<BR><BR>I'm on vacation, I have NO food from home for lunch, I do NOT want sandwiches or fast food every day, so I have to spend $15 on lunch most days. If I want dessert, or a glass of wine, or something more than a plate of spaghetti, it's $20.<BR><BR> <BR><BR>

Flint........i`m cheap too. I always head for the local supermarket or outdoor market. A container of milk, hunk of cheese and a bun keeps one going until the evening meal.

What the hell do you care! You spend what you can afford and I'll spend what I can afford..you do your thing and I'll do mine.<BR><BR>I worked for it and I'll spend it as I like!

I am a MOM. I cook & I clean. Sometimes we go out for dinner (usually fast food because of the kids). When I go on vacation, I want a vacation, a change. I chance to break away from the norm. I want to be catered to.<BR><BR>If I choose to spend $15 or $20 for EVERY LUNCH for an entire week I will do so; I deserve to do what I want 1/52 out of the year.

ha,ha,ha too funny. in Spain they sometimes charge higher prices or add something called 'bread and service' to the bill to English-Speaking tourists. I was told this by a friend who works as waiter who worked at local Spanish resturant off the famous Plaza del Sol. He claimed that his boss TOLD him to do that. So I always ask beforehand what is included AND then also order only what has a price next to it --- no more menu of the day crap or market price food. But this is not new since everyone seems to think Americans are rich and they can justify ripping us off because we are so wealthy. &lt;ahh I am NOT one of those people being that I work in Spain and get paid a Spanish salary&gt;. Of course, there are many really nice Spaniards who don't do that so please don't think all Spaniards are bad. I really believe that 99.9% are the best peoople in the world, it is just the evil, anti-foriegners hating group that is so bad at times...

ddd,<BR><BR>Just to clear this up - the evil ones are those who hate anti-foreigners?

sorry you could read that either way and after I have now lived/worked near Sol in the month of August...I have felt anti-touristy myself (but wait...i am technically like a tourist but i work!). so I am just all about being wrong.

oh wait I really have forgotten how to write English. Too much Spanish.. <BR>'the group of people who are anti-foriegn' or 'the evil people who hate foriegners'. <BR><BR>:-( <BR>