Budget for European holiday

[Blinky]

My wife and I will be travelling to Europe next March for about 8 weeks, with about a week in London, 3 days in Paris, a 10 day NCL Mediterranian cruise, a week in Rome before a 12 day Insight Tour of Italy and finishing with a 14 day Globus Tour through Germany, Austria and Switzerland. All accommodation is booked. Meals are included on the cruise, and on the tours all breakfasts and about a third of dinners are included.

We don't plan to just sit in our hotel at night, and like visiting pubs and starting conversations with locals, and we won't be having dinner at KFC.

So what would be a realistic weekly budget for eating out at decent cafes, visiting the usual tourist attractions, having the occasional ale and simply getting around the places we'll be going? Any assistance would be appreciated. The only other time we were in Europe was 6 years ago when the dollar was $US0.70, so that's not a guide.

 

[Fantic125]

In south of Germany (Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt) for mains only dinner (and sometimes entree) and a couple of beers or wines at reasonable cafes/bars/restaurants I usually average around 30 euro. Not sure what costs are like in the north (Hamburg, Berlin) as it's been a while since I've been there. Lunch I usually spend around 5~10 euro. A lot depends if you're buying at a 'touristy' destination; the prices of course are a bit higher there.

I haven't been to London (apart from the airport) or Paris for a while so others can provide more up to date costing.

For Italy, I was in Milan in March and prices seemed comparable to Germany.

Metro tickets seem to be around 2 euro for a single trip, 5 euro or so for a day ticket. Attractions usually seem to charge 10 ~ 15 euro each for entrance fee.

I hope this helps!

 

[Blinky]

Thanks Fantic, it does help.

 

[smit0847]

I just got back from Paris and London and thought they were cheap cheap cheap.

Paris - public transport is around the same cost as Melbourne or Sydney. Some food extremely cheap, some not so. Espresso and a croissant for 2 euro (everywhere) I thought was incredible value. Latte at a cafe was 3 - 4 euro which is more expensive than Oz. You will get a 3 course meal at a good restaurant with a bottle of wine for under 50 Euro pp. Dessert and entrées under 10E, mains under 20, bottle of wine under 25.

London - Accom and transport is more expensive than Australia, everything else is cheaper. Food and drinks were particularly cheap - pub mains all under 10 pounds, pint of beer under 4 pounds. Cant remember the price of a coffee - 2 pounds?

Shopping in both places was much cheaper than back home. Overall we spent far less than we thought we would. Head to Stockholm if you want to see some truly outrageous prices!

 

[casanovawa]

You can spend as much as you want in these countries, or operate quite reasonably... Just depends on your tastes and whether you are willing to head one street or two away from the tourist traps... To look for tours which can be free or cost 5 euros or so or the ones that cost 50 euros etc... Spending heaps more doesn't necessarily mean your going to get a better experience either...

Switzerland can also be pretty pricey...

 

[Mal]

Yeah i agree. Cost depends on expectations and willingness to move away from tourist areas.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[Simo]

IMHO what every you think you will need double it and you should be fine.

 

[Pushka]

We returned from a four week trip to Europe including a cruise about 8 weeks ago and were delighted with the price of food and entertainment. Sometime over the last few years, Australia's prices have flipped from being great value, to expensive. Eg in Barcelona in a restaurant of La Ramblas, wine by the bottle was 8 euros. We thought we were buying it by the glass but the bottle showed up. Stay away from the real tourist places, and go a little wider, and you will be surprised at the great value in Europe. We were on RCL Liberty of the Seas cruise, and she was a beautiful ship. We saw NCL's Epic berthed with us in Rome. The Med is stunning and we are now hooked.

Get the 3 day tube pass in Paris. We used the tube all the time. It is fast, efficient and easy. Also gives you discount to places like Arc De Triomphe. Climb that around 7.30 pm to see the Eiffel Tower at night.

 

[Blinky]

We returned from a four week trip to Europe including a cruise about 8 weeks ago and were delighted with the price of food and entertainment. Sometime over the last few years, Australia's prices have flipped from being great value, to expensive. Eg in Barcelona in a restaurant of La Ramblas, wine by the bottle was 8 euros. We thought we were buying it by the glass but the bottle showed up. Stay away from the real tourist places, and go a little wider, and you will be surprised at the great value in Europe. We were on RCL Liberty of the Seas cruise, and she was a beautiful ship. We saw NCL's Epic berthed with us in Rome. The Med is stunning and we are now hooked.

Get the 3 day tube pass in Paris. We used the tube all the time. It is fast, efficient and easy. Also gives you discount to places like Arc De Triomphe. Climb that around 7.30 pm to see the Eiffel Tower at night.

Thanks for that. We are hoping that we can get by on $200 - $300 a day. Doable?

 

[turtlemichael]

As for Paris it is very easy to get a very decent meal for 20 euros a head plus wine. Wine tends to be significantly cheaper than Australia. Many restaurants have set price menus which offer good quality. Just avoid the places that look too touristy. KitKat did an excellent thread recently on some of the extremeley good places to eat in Paris. http://www.australianfrequentflyer....tion-guide/paris-hit-list-any-more-39191.html

My thread also covers more. http://www.australianfrequentflyer....photos/here-there-but-mainly-there-43579.html

If you want to have the very good splurge meal in Paris at some of the suggestions in those threads you might need to book before you get there. A splurge meal in Pais can become a great memory. Have fun.

 

[mella2007]

We spent 3 weeks in Europe during July and was in London, Paris, different parts of Italy.

Some days we spent 100 euro between us on food, other days 200 euro.

Depending on where you're staying also, try and get breakfast included as part of your deal. (and do have it!)

Coffee and pastry in Italy (and other the pastries are complimentary) can be anywhere from 1 euro to 3 euro depending on city.
Many attractions in the parts of Italy I'm assuming you're going to are free, or around 10 euro to get in (Vatican Tour is 13 euro pp) Eiffel Tower is about the same.
In Rome itself, even in the tourist areas like near Pantheon, a 3 course meal with a glass of wine you can get for 10 or 12 euros per person...all the restaurants around here have similar deals (go the ones in the side alleys, not in the main part directly in front of the Pantheon).
In Rome also, I found that a complimentary biscuit or small pastry was included in every cup of coffee I got when sitting down. Or standing at the counter the coffee is even cheaper.
I found Paris very expensive. A club sandwich and a drink from an average cafe around 30 euro...much more expensive than even the pricier places in Europe.

Hope that's helpful

 

[Pollywaffle]

I've been to London and Paris virtually every year for the last 5 years.

Over time, they seem cheaper and cheaper to me - mostly because I think Australia is so over-priced.

London:
- you should invest in a weekly pass. Given there are 2 of you, I would get a travelcard from a National Rail station because...
- with 2 of you, you can take advantage of the many 2 for 1 entry deals as outlined on Days Out Guide - London attractions with train tickets | London trains | trains to London . It's important to have the correct travelcard and one issued by a tube station is not the right one.
- many museums are free (National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, V&A, Natural History Museum, the Tates, the Wallace Collection (my fave), Museum of London and many others. You could easily see many tourist.
- You can eat well at many price points. Supermarkets like M&S have great selections of take-away foods for little money. Pubs offer great value meals. If you want to splurge on a budget, you can always eat at lunch when set menu prices tend to be lower at high-end restaurants

Paris:
- Street markets offer great food at great prices. Some food is fresh, other food is already prepared and cooked - it's just like a take-away outlet but outdoors.
- Avoid cafes and restaurants within view of any tourist attraction. Even walking a street behind, you will find cheaper prices
- Once you hit an arrondisement in the double digits, the price of food will also decrease
- There are many city museums and galleries free and the best part about Paris that's free is the city itself. Just walking around is more than enough

 

[Pushka]

- Avoid cafes and restaurants within view of any tourist attraction. Even walking a street behind, you will find cheaper prices
- Once you hit an arrondisement in the double digits, the price of food will also decrease
- There are many city museums and galleries free and the best part about Paris that's free is the city itself. Just walking around is more than enough

Totally agree with walking just a block away from the Tourist attractions, especially the Eiffel Tower. Much of our time, we simply walked. Enjoyed the Gypsy antics of the Gold ring and the Survey! Absorbed it all. We also booked the Eiffel tower through Viator beforehand - and saved hours not having to queue up but simply met at the time allocated, and get straight on to the elevator. We then paid to go right to the very top! Breathtaking. Walking along the Seine. Montmartre, Champs Elysees. Not having to spend a euro.

 

[Blinky]

Totally agree with walking just a block away from the Tourist attractions, especially the Eiffel Tower. Much of our time, we simply walked. Enjoyed the Gypsy antics of the Gold ring and the Survey! Absorbed it all. We also booked the Eiffel tower through Viator beforehand - and saved hours not having to queue up but simply met at the time allocated, and get straight on to the elevator. We then paid to go right to the very top! Breathtaking. Walking along the Seine. Montmartre, Champs Elysees. Not having to spend a euro.

In one of our splurges, I've booked lunch at the Michelin-hatted la Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower, partly because it has its own private lift. And we'll certainly be doing a lot of walking.

Thanks for the tips about location of cafes. Last time I learnt, at great expense, about sitting at an outside table.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for that. We are hoping that we can get by on $200 - $300 a day. Doable?

I think that is more than adequate! Some days you will spend less some days you will spend more.

 

[Blinky]

I think that is more than adequate! Some days you will spend less some days you will spend more.

Thanks. I just hope the $A stays where it is for the next four or five months.

 

[Simo]

Thanks. I just hope the $A stays where it is for the next four or five months.

Hedge your bets and buy some currency now.

 

[Blinky]

Hedge your bets and buy some currency now.

That's what I told my boys a month ago. They are going to the US in February and I made the statement that the dollar would go below parity soon. It went from $1.03 to $1.04. So I think I will let things ride and keep my fingers crossed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That's what I told my boys a month ago. They are going to the US in February and I made the statement that the dollar would go below parity soon. It went from $1.03 to $1.04. So I think I will let things ride and keep my fingers crossed.

Do you have a 28 degrees card? With no transaction fees it kind of absorbs about 3-4% of any currency fluctuation (well, that's my creative accounting at work anyway )

 

[Blinky]

Do you have a 28 degrees card? With no transaction fees it kind of absorbs about 3-4% of any currency fluctuation (well, that's my creative accounting at work anyway )

One of the first things I learnt from this forum was the benefit of the 28 degree card.

Yes, I have one and will use it on our holiday.