Mamamia
Junior Travel Member
Posts: 4
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Post by Mamamia on Nov 27, 2002 16:02:31 GMT -5
Hi guys. i'm planning to go to eastern europe this summer on a backpacking trip for 3 months. I was wondering if any of you guys did the same thing? What are the best countries to visit? Also i've heard from people that you can ive there fairly well for 40 bucks a day. Is this true? I just want to hear the opinions from other people.
Any opinion is welcomed!!
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Post by Patrick on Nov 27, 2002 20:53:26 GMT -5
I can't say I've been, but folks will tell you that yes you can live on 40 bucks a day there. One of the favourite cities to check for backpackers is Prague, beautiful and dirt cheap from what I hear!
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Post by nitsansh on Nov 27, 2002 21:41:13 GMT -5
Living on 40$/day in Czech Republic was no problem for me last year. But the value of the Czech Koruna strenghened considerabely in the last year and the same level of spending should now worth 50$. What I mean is... I got 37 Koruna for 1$, but nowadays you get 30 at most... I think other currencies in Eastern Europe also increased, or perhaps you better say the $ has weakened... anyway, you spend more $ this year than last year... perhaps the big cities should now cost over 40$ if you want to live in relative comfort... I mean staying at nice hostels and eating in restaurants here or there, and have the occasional splurge... if you go to the smaller towns you'll find prices much cheaper... and the more easter and souther you go, the cost of living goes down... Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia are expensive in comparison to Romania, Bulgaria, Albania etc... there you would be quite comfortable, in backpacking terms, with 40$ a day... just avoid the tourist traps and everything you'll see is cheap...
To give you some examples... my favorite hostel in Prague cost 350 Koruna for a nice 4-beds mini-dorm... in Cesky Krumlov I paid just 250 Koruna for a hostel bed... my average restaurant meal was about 200 Koruna... 2.5 hours rail journey Prague-Ceske Budjovice cost 120 Koruna... a ticket to the black theatre cost 400 Koruna... most museums and sites cost up to 100-150 Koruna, only the Jewish museum and synagog are pricy at 200-300... alltogether I spent about 1500 Koruna per day...
Can't tell you much about other countries, but I believe it could only be less...
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Post by Kim on Nov 27, 2002 23:40:22 GMT -5
Yes, Prague is gorgeous-wondeful city. The more you avoid the tourist area, the cheaper it is though. Don't expect to find anything imported (shoes, clothes etc.) to be cheap though, it's more the food, lodging and that sort of thing.
I loved Prague-right now I'm currently begging my boyfriend to let our next trip to be to E. Europe, so I'm quite jealous of what you are planning!
Kim
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Mamamia
Junior Travel Member
Posts: 4
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Post by Mamamia on Nov 28, 2002 0:01:10 GMT -5
Maybe i'll see you there Kim, who knows. But the money thing was just a question. Even if it wasn't cheap, i would go cause i have heard so much good things from it.  Also while i'm in eastern Europe, i plan on going to scandinavia and while i'm there maybe st-petersbourg! But i think that it would be too much travel.  |
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Post by Kim on Nov 28, 2002 1:08:15 GMT -5
If money is a problem, then skip Scandinavia. It is UNBELIEVABLY expensive!  As in shockingly so. We went to Norway, Denmark and Sweden and it was a killer financially-our budget was well over double our budget for other countries. Kim |
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Post by nitsansh on Nov 28, 2002 14:51:33 GMT -5
From what I recall, Scandinavian countries, and Norway in particular, were expensive, but not by so much as Kim says. It might be different these days, it's been 14 years ago... but my budget in Scandinavia was 25$ a day vs 20$ in other western European countries... but this was really starvation budget...
The margin vs eastern Europe, though, is surely huge...
From what I heard, accomodation in Russia is pricy, and you must book a place in advance in order to get a visa, which is also expensive...
Don't expect to find many hostels in eastern Europe outside the main cities, but rooms in private homes, especially in off season, are just as cheap, and you'll rarely pay over 10$ PP per night. Food and transportation are cheap everywhere - you can splurge on 1st class for a few $ extra, and it might be worth it. However, what you pay is what you get - standarts are lower than what you encounter in western Europe.
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Post by Kim on Nov 28, 2002 17:00:48 GMT -5
I can tell you you won't get by on $25 a day in Scandinavia-maybe it was different 14 years ago but I was there 2 years ago and trust me, it was pricey.
Kim
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Post by LHR02 on Nov 28, 2002 17:35:07 GMT -5
Have to agree, Nitsansh is way off here. No possible way to do Scandinavia on 25 a day.....that is totally foolish dreams. 14 years ago is a LIFETIME in travel years......14 years ago you could probably do the US on 25 a day. ;D Get some sound advice from folks who have been there 'recently' for a better handle on costs. Just coz you were there once does not mean you have current info of use to potential travelers.
ging
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Post by nitsansh on Nov 28, 2002 17:43:50 GMT -5
I agree that it's pricy... and of course the prices everywhere went up... but I don't think it's 2 times more expensive than western European countries like Germany, Britain, France etc...
Even though the Norwegian Krone is stronger than any other currency this year... IT IS at least twice as expensive as countries like Czech Republic or Hungary, and this is what I mean a huge difference...
Hey... 14 years ago the price of a ticket for Oslo's urban transportation was 2$... in Prague it now costs 40 cents...
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Post by nitsansh on Nov 28, 2002 17:57:51 GMT -5
OK... my experience is out of date... but it doesn't mean it's so wrong... I gave the figures just for comparison, I know they are from another era...
If Norway would be twice as expensive as western Europe, than for what cost 50$ a day in Paris or Amsterdam you would pay 100$ in Oslo... is it THAT expensive these days?
Anyway, this topic is about eastern Europe...
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Post by LHR02 on Nov 28, 2002 17:58:59 GMT -5
>>>>>I agree that it's pricy... and of course the prices everywhere went up... but I don't think it's 2 times more expensive than western European countries like Germany, Britain, France etc...<<<<< Sorry, yes it is....pick up any guidebook you choose and check prices there. Even western European countries are a 'bargain' compared to Scandanavia.....it's there, in any book, black and white for all to see. 14 years ago my sister paid $1.80 for one orange in Sweden.....don't think the prices have changed downward, they haven't! The ultimate budget buster......Scandanavia. Not really fair to offer any other opinion to uninformed travelers......IMHO. If you want to go, great, but be well aware of what it will cost. That's my point. Don't paint unrealistic pictures for novice travelers. They are here looking for truthful advice and to paint a rosy picture is irresponsible. ging BTW Mamamia, I am the exception of these boards....I did not like eastern Europe at all.......therefor I keep my very personal opinions to myself on this topic. The fact that I did not enjoy my time there is 'personal' so I keep it to myself. To each their own, but it is not my place to try and dissuade you from visiting someplace you long to see.  |
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Post by Kim on Nov 28, 2002 19:10:49 GMT -5
These being my boards Nitsansh, I will post what I want-regardless of the topic and anyone else is also free to do so.
Kim
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Post by nitsansh on Nov 28, 2002 19:34:11 GMT -5
Sorry, yes it is....pick up any guidebook you choose and check prices there. Even western European countries are a 'bargain' compared to Scandanavia.....it's there, in any book, black and white for all to see. I don't give up easily... I did just what you suggested, and at the LP guide to Scandinavia (1999 edition... is that too old for you?), I find this: "If you stay in hostels, eat breakfast at a bakery, lunch in a cheap restaurant and buy food for dinner at a supermarket - you can spend just 300 Kroner a day". 300 Kroner at the current exchange rate of 7.3NOK/US$ is just over 40$. Does LP paint unrealistic picture for novice travellers? For comparison, in LP's western Europe 1997 edition (note: this is 2 years older!) I find the budget suggested for France at 35$ a day (and 45$ in Paris!), in Britain (outside London) 15-20 pounds, and in Netherlands 50 Guilders (about 25$). If anyone has a newer edition... could you check what are LP's latest budget suggestions, please? You may be surprised, but some things were relatively cheap in Norway... I recall that a 3-bed sleeper on Oslo-Andalsnes train was no more than I used to pay for a 6-beds couchette in other countries... |
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Post by LHR02 on Nov 28, 2002 20:08:51 GMT -5
>>>>>>>I don't give up easily... I did just what you suggested, and at the LP guide to Scandinavia (1999 edition... is that too old for you?),<<<<<
Wouldn't expect you to, but, well, that is going on 4 years old now, so you decide. Still 2 years older than Kim's trip, nearly 2 older than mine. Gosh....look what finances have done in 6 months, so 4 years ago???
Honestly not trying to argue with you, just trying to say that things can be very different with the passage of time and experience......folks sign on here for good sound help.....quoting facts 14 years old serves no purpose at all. You may be right, it might not be so expensive nowadays.....but let's present it as CURRENT information, not memories of a long ago trip, okay?
I can find your information so brilliant, you are a true whiz with any train/transportation issue. Really. Your posts can be filled with such good advice and help.....and then, you have a real habit of contradicting anyone else's opinion on anything at all. Why? If we value your posts why can't you do the same to another view?
In my own humble opinion, and purely mine, you are/can be such an asset to this board and such a help to new travelers......many have availed themselves of your expertise. Including me, thanks. But you tend to be most argumentative and know it all-ish most often and that is not to your credit. This board is set up to HELP new travelers along the way, not to put forth an individuals sole opinion on what/where/when/how. The advantage to be gained here is a variety of outlooks and having members cat fight over this point or that serves no one.
And yes...to return to your original question.....4 years is way too old for dependable/current information these days.
ging
apologies to MommaMia for corrupting your thread thusly....a personal differnce of opinion seems to interrupted your thread. Sorry.
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As in shockingly so. 