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Old 04-20-2009, 02:00 PM   #1
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Default Quick question about cost per day...

My girlfriend and I are traveling for three months in Western Europe this summer. Starting around may 23rd in Amsterdam and working our way down France to go to Sonar music festival in Barcelona.

Then up through Austria to Berlin, fly to Rome and work our way through Italy and Greece.

I am wondering how much I should budget per day? Assuming we are trying to stay at the cheapest hostels/couch surf, buy our food & drink in groceries and generally try to make friends and go cheaply.

Is 60$ each a day going to be doable?

Also I am assuming that it is good to bring lightweight sleeping bags for camping possiblities but I am thinking my laptop should be left at home..
Any advice is very appreciated.

Thank you,
sasha
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Old 04-20-2009, 03:49 PM   #2
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I think $60 a day not including transport is do-able. I survived on a bit less last summer and I didn't do any couch surfing. You will go over budget in places like Rome but you should be able to average out over the course of your trip. Plus if you start to run out of money, head east.

Have fun!
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Old 04-20-2009, 04:37 PM   #3
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$60 bucks a day is about 46 Euros.

Assuming a hostel will cost you about 20 Euros a night for a dorm, 20 for attractions and such, you are not left with much to drink with - although beer is cheap. It's doable if you eat out of the supermarkets.
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Old 04-20-2009, 04:40 PM   #4
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N. EU is more expensive, and will get slightly cheaper as you go South... Atleast $75 a day perperson in my opinion. Depends on how much beer you consume. The wife and I can do it for about $50 a day each, but we have to eat really cheap from street vendors or grocers. And try to buy beer elsewhere than at bars. One 4 hour session at a cool little roadside cafe can hit 50 euros just like that! But fucking worth it!!!
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Old 04-20-2009, 04:50 PM   #5
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in my opinion, nothing less than 75 dollars

oh yeah and east is emphatically not cheap...my wallet is seriously hurting here in BP!!!!!
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Old 04-20-2009, 06:36 PM   #6
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Thanks for all the response. Seems to be about what I expected, I was a bit hopeful when I said 60$, 70-75$ seems more realistic.
Well we will be there late may-august if anyone wants to meet up in w. Europe. It's my GF first time out of the country so I am pretty excited to take her to Sonar.
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Old 04-20-2009, 08:19 PM   #7
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Don't bother with your laptop. Internet cafes will be easier to find than power outlets most of the time.

Have fun!
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Old 04-21-2009, 06:13 AM   #8
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^ Word. The less valuable/electronic crap you bring, the better.
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Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

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Old 04-21-2009, 08:32 AM   #9
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I've never brought my lap top abroad and while sometimes when I am in a hostel with free wifi I kinda wished I had, in the long run its probably better not to simply because a lap top can be stolen or break on the road
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Old 04-21-2009, 10:17 AM   #10
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a word about laptops from someone who brought theirs and got it stolen...you can bring it but it must be in only these two places

(1) in use
(2) on your body

I will end up getting a new laptop and I will bring it again, but I will sleep with my laptop from now on...in fact I'm probably going to get one of those tiny laptops that can fit in a purse so its not a hassle to carry around
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Old 04-21-2009, 03:40 PM   #11
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^ Its called an iPhone :D

After a lot of serious thought about bringing our laptop I have decided not to bring the darn thing. I base this on simple peace of mind. I think I could guard it well, but if I'm on vacation that is one less BIG thing to think about. The internet is always close in Europe (at least in my adventures).
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Old 04-22-2009, 11:21 AM   #12
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Iphone really? I have ATT already, I just hate that keyboard. Do they have tri band already? I was thinking of buying a mini computer or something but I think I would rather spend that money on seeing rather then blogging...
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Old 04-22-2009, 11:52 AM   #13
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no i wasnt talking about an iphone...im talking about those comps that have screens smaller than 14 inches i think
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Old 04-24-2009, 09:45 PM   #14
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I think I averaged about $70 a day on the trip I took last summer. While it's nice to stay under budget, don't let it prevent you from having an extra drink or going to see a cool attraction. You definitely want to keep a good balance between having a ton of fun while also not spending a ton of money. If you and your girlfriend are interested in trying out couchsurfing, it can save you a lot of money, plus you can see what the locals do and meet some really awesome people. I agree with everyone on the food and drink aspect. Buying beer to drink in the hostel before going out and cooking all your own food allows you more money for attractions and helps keep the costs down. Hope this helped!
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Old 04-25-2009, 11:27 AM   #15
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yeah this helped greatly, thank you to everyone that responded
I am now budgeting 75$ a day and cut out two weeks out of hong kong later on (this is an around the world ticket) to make up for the increase.

I am really excited to go, now I just need to make friends with people that are going to be in the same countries at the same times
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Old 04-27-2009, 06:57 AM   #16
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if you take a laptop,no matter the size, and you have a list of free wifi spots, as well finding them on your own,surely this is cheaper than paying for internet,ive taken my laptop on both short trips ive done, 3/4 week and 9 week, first time was hostels only,2nd time hostels and couchsurfing, i had no problems with either, the fact of being able to leave your laptop in the safe hands of a CS host helps (if you dont trust them,you wouldnt be CS), and lockers at hostels are a benefit,sometimes ive left my lappy in my sheets,and its been there when ive got back.

My laptop is 2nd/3rd hand,its old, its out of date,it has cracks,the disc drive doesnt quite work, a usb socket doesnt work,right shift key doesnt work,rmb can sometimes be difficult to get to use,but i still lumber the shit with me, because i find it more useful,idea is to travel as cheap as possible,free if possible,surely payin to use an internet place might be more convenient, but when you need that extra few quid for a bus, or a train, is it worth it, if you spend €40 the night before on a night out, and realise you cant pay for your hostel the next night,where is the cheapness

you can use the internet for free if you have your already owned laptop,or iphone,and having great night outs don't have to involve lots of alcohol.


xiao,
teh lemming
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