lynn
Senior Travel Member
Posts: 59
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Post by lynn on Apr 9, 2004 15:24:18 GMT -5
Planning to spend 3 mos. in Europe. Is $5,000 enough after airfare & rail passes are purchased? thank you
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Post by Kim on Apr 9, 2004 17:14:52 GMT -5
If you are careful with your money, it will be enough. Stay in large dorms in hostels, pack your lunch etc.
What you have works out to a little over the $50 a day minimum we recommend but not much more.
Like I said though, just watch your money and don't stay in the expensive places like London and Switerland too long.
Kim
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Post by Lynn on Apr 10, 2004 17:38:09 GMT -5
If you are careful with your money, it will be enough. Stay in large dorms in hostels, pack your lunch etc. What you have works out to a little over the $50 a day minimum we recommend but not much more. Like I said though, just watch your money and don't stay in the expensive places like London and Switerland too long. Kim pack your lunch?? Do you mean, buy from the grocery stores and make sandwiches, etc.  |
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Post by Kim on Apr 10, 2004 18:26:13 GMT -5
Yep, buying food at restaurants and on the train will kill your budget. Buying food at the grocery store for lunches as well as using the kitchen at hostels whenever you can will really save you money.
Kim
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Post by LYnn on Apr 11, 2004 7:48:12 GMT -5
COOL! thanks Kim!
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Post by CuriousToronto on Apr 27, 2004 9:56:52 GMT -5
Can I just say that I think the horrors of Switzerland and it's costs are exaggerated a bit! To be honest I didn't find it to be any worse than Paris. And in addition I think the fact that in Switzerland the Swiss Franc was practically 1 to 1 with the Canadian dollar kept the conversion anxiety down to a minimum. If you travel smart in Switzerland I don't see a reason why you couldn't do it on a budget. And if anything it could be done cheaper than in other places. For example, up in the mountains you don't have to take transportation costs into account ditto for entretainment costs. Your feet are your transportation and the mountain views are your entretainment. Eating in Switzerland can be expensive but again I didn't think it much different than Paris. In the mountains the cooking for yourself thing can become a necessity - especially given the lack of restaurants. And even in Geneva we bought at grocery stores. The money we spent at restaurants was budgeted. And as for the one trip up to the top of a mountain on a gondola -- if you want to do that I think you should take it out of your splurge fund. Which I also consider a necessity! You're not going to go all the way to Europe to miss out on that one thing you really wish you could have done. For me, my splurge fund went to a trip to the top of the Schilthorn with a champagne breakfast, and a fantastic meal in a Michelin starred restaurant in Paris. And to be honest those were two fantastic highlights! I just think too many people stay away from Switzerland due to fears of cost and they're totally missing out. I know I haven't gone to a lot of places in Europe but in my experience you can't beat Switzerland for that "God, must have spent extra time on this place!" sort of feeling. I would still say go to Switzerland and if you're really scared leave after you see what you want to see. But just don't skip it due to fear of costs. My two cents!  Addendum: granted accomodation can definitely be expensive but it's still worth it |
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Post by Lynn on Apr 29, 2004 19:33:02 GMT -5
Thanks Curious....I plan on spending a few weeks in Switzerland...I wouldn't miss it for the world! ;D
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Post by MuvverRussia on May 2, 2004 20:02:10 GMT -5
I don't know your itenery, but watch out for Scandinavia as well. I found Norway to be incredibly expensive and I'm used to Central London prices. Personally, 50$ca a day for Norway to be nowhere near enough- you really would need more around 100$ca a day for most of Scandinavia.
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