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Post by LHR02 on Jul 11, 2005 18:56:16 GMT -5
OH! So was I WT! Are you saying you have $1000 for two people for 10 days? If so, even if hotels are paid for, forget the bars, you are going to be hungry and broke. sorry Or maybe not 'hungry'.....but forget a cab or drinking. $50 a day per person will feed you and maybe see a sight or two, but that's about it. Keep in mind that that is in the neighborhood of what....35 euros or so at today's exchange? Even with hotel paid, that is bare bones budget! Also....since you are a smoker, you are doubly in trouble. Cigs run in the neighborhood of 4-5 euros per pack...minimum! If you smoke 2 packs a day, your daily budget is now more like 20-25 euros per day after smokes are bought! And you can try to beat the 'system' and bring enough, but legally you can only take one carton with you. 200 cigs is the max import amount allowed, either way you are going. (But I have regularly taken two cartons with me and never had a problem...not advising that, but just mentioning it)
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Post by surfsidecutie on Jul 11, 2005 19:16:46 GMT -5
No, I'm saying we each have $1000. I can get more. Should I be satisfied with this or will I have to watch my spending? (I'm not so good at that.)
Accomodations are paid. Euro pass is paid for.
All that is left is to arrive and have fun.
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Post by surfsidecutie on Jul 11, 2005 19:33:37 GMT -5
Oh. Also, my friend and I tend to drink a *bit* much. What I mean is we're not alcoholics, but we go out, flirt with boys and next thing you know, we're like 6 cocktails down.
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Post by LHR02 on Jul 11, 2005 19:35:47 GMT -5
Okay then! $1000 per person will not let you live 'large' but should provide ample funds, if you do not squander your money, to do what you want. A suggestion if I may....don't even think about taking a cab anywhere! Take the bus, the metro, or better yet your own two feet and save that money for the pub that evening! Cabs are expensive...there are many much cheaper options...your feet always being the cheapest! Stop in a grocery or bakery for a quick, cheap lunch, spend a bit more on dinner (one can not always eat bread and sandwiches!) and you should be fine with your current funds. Have fun! Be sure to post back when you return and tell us of your adventures! OH! Take a small notebook with you to carry in your pocket to record each and every expense! Will take no more than a day or two to identify where your money is going and to identify areas you can 'save'. As an all too free 'spender' this saved me on several trips....a quick wake up call!
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Post by LHR02 on Jul 11, 2005 19:40:49 GMT -5
Well....I sure enjoy a few glasses of nice wine or fabulous beer myself.....and am not trying to be judgemental at all! But just be aware, please, you will be in a foreign place, not really speaking the language and not really having a good knowledge of where you are vis a vis your hotel. PLEASE.....be very careful when drinking out at night and 'flirting with boys;. It's much much easier to find yourself in a bad situation there than in your local bar/club in your own home neighborhood! And sadly, there are those over there, just as well as here, who are more than willing to take that advantage.
Just be aware, be careful....do not get 'drunk'!!
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Post by WillTravel on Jul 11, 2005 23:34:12 GMT -5
Good advice. And watch your drinks to make sure no one puts anything in them. I don't mean to sound paranoid, but it does happen, both here and in Europe. It's good that you'll be watching out for each other.
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Post by MuvverRussia on Jul 12, 2005 4:51:09 GMT -5
USD1000 for 2 people is definitely on the low side. Also I'd budget more for bars - €10 is about 3 bottles of beer in a normal bar in Rome and Paris and I'd expect to pay more in Venice.
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Post by surfsidecutie on Jul 12, 2005 11:03:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice. We're L.A. girls. We don't set our drinks down, we don't wander in cars with strange boys or back to their homes or hotels, we just go out, have a few cocktails, are the life of the party and go home. That's that. My friend here called a couple of friends in Italy, too, so with any luck, we'll be able to meet up with them and we'll have some escorts that speak English.
I'll bring some more cash with me just to be safe.
As for the notebook, sounds like an excellent idea.
OMG... I'm so excited!!! I leave on Thursday morning!!!!!!
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Post by me on Jul 12, 2005 11:18:44 GMT -5
surfside:
this is the "currency" section, i know, but one of the basics:
at your hotel, get a bus. card, printed matchbook or such, to show to a taxi driver to get you home if you're out at night. it's better not to need this, but better to have it & not need it than the other way!
- d
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Post by LHR02 on Jul 12, 2005 11:21:26 GMT -5
Absolutely! I always grab a card, just in case. It's all to easy to get lost or even to forget......'what was the name of that place?'. I know, I've done it. HA!
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Post by surfsidecutie on Jul 12, 2005 12:48:31 GMT -5
Perfect. Thanks for that advice as well!
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Post by surfsidecutie on Jul 12, 2005 12:52:12 GMT -5
Question... how much is a Euro going for now anyways??? My friend got us a few hundred Euros today at the currency place by her work so that we didn't have to track down a currency converter. Also, should I get my traveller's checks today in Euros or in dollars? I mean, assuming they have that option available.
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Post by me on Jul 12, 2005 13:03:44 GMT -5
xe.com/ converts major currencies. €1 = US$1.225 US$1 = €0.8165
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Post by surfsidecutie on Jul 12, 2005 13:06:41 GMT -5
Damn. So I'm getting ripped off on the conversion. Sigh...
Oh well.
So roughly, that makes like 10 euros = 12.25 or so?
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Post by me on Jul 12, 2005 13:13:22 GMT -5
'fraid so. as i said before, ATMs provide a good exchange. but, make sure your bank doesn't charge extra to take cash out at an overseas ATM. - d Damn. So I'm getting ripped off on the conversion. Sigh... Oh well. So roughly, that makes like 10 euros = 12.25 or so?
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