Euros needed for tour

We plan on 200 Euros per day. That's for hotel, food, drinks, and incidental shopping. We hardly ever use that amount which allows for the saving up of money for larger expenditures.

Robert, you will get all sorts of advice from other posters who will tell you that you don't have to take ANY euros, that you can get what you want from an ATM,etc. We always start with no less than E300 when we board the plane at home, usually E500. But, that said, wherever and however you get your euros, IF you are paying for the rooms that are not part of the RS tour using either a credit or debit card, then I would suggest "budgeting" E100 per person per day for food, snacks, airport shuttle, etc. Some days you will spend more and some days you will come way under budget. That amount will probably also cover most admissions, but for more expensive ones and/or if you have any private guides or book additional day tours, then you may need more. For days that you are on the RS tour, I would suggest about E50 per person per day for any meals on your own/free time that you have. Eating "economically" means different things to different people....if you mean a decent dinner and a carafe of wine to split, that could run E50-E100+ per couple....but you can also grab some pizza and drink bottled water and come out for about E20-25 for dinner if you sit somewhere nice....for take and go food, much less $s. So, it depends on your particular perspective. An expensive dinner would be E150+ in my opinion. And, of course, if you use your
credit card for more expensive meals, less cash is needed. Most hotels seem to include breakfast, and lunch is usually a decent bargain. We sometimes enjoy a larger, nicer lunch and then have a lighter meal for dinner. Definitely have an ATM card with you. You'll have a blast on your tour. You'll also get some pre-tour material that will give you some advice on spending money allocations.

How many Euros to budget for your trip, or how many Euros to bring with you? Two completely different questions. Bring with you? That one's easy: bring whatever Euros you have on hand, left over from a prior trip, etc. No Euros laying around handy? No problem, don't bring any. They have all the Euros you'll ever need, conveniently loaded into ATMs that you will find everywhere - including someplace impossible-to-miss between your arrival gate and the the sidewalk out in front of the airport. Really, spending money to buy Euros in the US is costly, unnecessary, and (some would say) foolish. You will find ATMs everywhere, and that's the cheapest way to get Euros. Really. Remember: going to Europe is pretty much like going to the mall - at least when it comes to getting money. How much to budget? This varies tremendously, and is really hard for one person to estimate for another. Depends on where you're going, how fast you're moving, how you get around, what your preferences are for lodging and meals. That said, we budget $200/day for a couple and that usually covers it with some to spare (sometimes we're way under that). I recommend bringing more than 1 ATM card, and more than 1 credit card (in case one account or one card has problems). Remember the old axiom: bring more money and less stuff than you think you will need. I wouldn't actually physically bring that mo money in this day and age, but I'd be sure I could access it in my bank account via ATM. Be sure to notify your bank & credit card company of your travels so they don't put a fraud lock on your cards. Have fun!

Especially to David, Margaret and Monte: Thank you so much for your detailled replies! You don't know how much your specifics have helped reduce the stress my wife and I (OK, we're almost wimps!) have undergone trying to book pre and post hotel rooms, and now we're into trying to both take and budget Euros. With your help, I am now off to the banks and check my cards!
Robert

Robert, since this is your first time in Europe I would suggest that you do bring some euro with you, maybe 200-500 euro. It's true that there are a lot of ATMs (also known as bancomat) but just in case you run into some kind of problem, i.e. can't find an ATM or the ATM does not want to give you any money for whatever reason. We just returned from our three-month stay in Venice. I withdrew extra euro (a lot more than 500) to bring home so that we have ready money when we return in October.

Robert, I don't know what budget means to you, but I can easily have nice meal , and wine, for under 30 euros in Paris. Also since you are Canadian ,, the Toronto Dominion bank has a bank account that allows FREE foriegn ATM withdrawals, you just have to keep a 5,000 dollar minimum balance, so if you care to move money around , even temporarily , its an idea to get one of those accounts. the fees are also waived if you keep the min balance.Its what I use when I go. I have only taken one tour, the 14 day family tour( which is about the same as the tour you are taking, minus 50% of tour guests being children!) and I found I didn't need much money for meals or extras at all. Almost all sightseeing is included, very little to no nickel and diming. We ate cheap dinners usually , and lunches were often just sandwich or such.

Robert, It sounds like you're getting your questions sorted out. As the others have mentioned, there are two parts to your question - how many Euros to take for "travelling money" and how many you'll need overall. I normally travel with at least €100 for expenses during the trip. This varies at times, depending on how much have left over from the previous trip. It's difficult to say how much you'll need when on the tour. Although you eat "economically", restaurants tend to be somewhat expensive at times, especially in Italy where you may have to deal with a Coperta and meals for two. Dining in Italy typically involves Antipasti, Primi, Secondi, Dolci and Bevandi and if you order the "full meal deal", it will be expensive. During the tour, you likely won't have time to see many sites "outside the tour", as except for the free day and occasional free afternoon, you'll be with the group. All the local tours and fees for Guides are covered, so that won't cost you anything. What are you planning to see in Paris (pre-tour) and Rome (post tour)? That will also have a bearing on the cost. Rather than carry a huge amount of cash with you, ATM's are absolutely the best choice. Note that your funds must usually be in a chequing account with a four-number PIN. I'd suggest carrying TWO ATM CARDS, in case one malfunctions (that's happened to me), along with at least one credit card. Be sure to notify your financial institutions that you'll be travelling, so they don't "freeze" your cards. Also, you might review your daily withdrawal limits and have them increased for the duration of your trip When is the tour taking place? I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time, and will probably want to book another as soon as you get home! Happy travels!

Hi, everybody: I was embarrassed at my question since it was my first posting on this page, and I'm a rookie overseas traveller. You have each "made my day" with your generous sharing. I wish you were on my tour. Thank you
Robert

Robert, As you're a "rookie traveller", you might find it helpful to check your local Library to find a copy of Europe Through The Back Door. That's an excellent book for "rookie travellers" to read prior to their first trip to Europe, and will answer a lot of questions, including the money issue. One great aspect of RS tours, is that they "teach" the necessary skills, so that travellers will be comfortable getting around Europe on their own. By the time you're at the end of your tour, I'm confident that you won't have any problem travelling independently. The Guides provide lots of good tips, but you'll probably also learn a few things from your fellow tour members. You'll probably find this is one of the most memorable travel experiences you've ever had! BTW, do you know yet who your Guide will be? Cheers!

Robert, when your pre-tour mailings start rolling in from Rick's company, you should received either a comprehensive guidebook or individual guidebooks re: touring Europe, translation guides, etc. They used to send one per person, but they started just mailing one per couple (but a couple could request a second included set). You and your wife will LOVE reading thru all the materials, dog-earring various pages, and putting sticky notes for each other. There are two schools of thought re: actually using the books once you are on your trip. Some people suggest ripping out the pages you will need each day, so you won't have to lug the entire book. Others, like me, want to keep the book intact for future reference. Good reason to request two books....one to rip apart, and the other for your at-home library. Another fun thing is to enter a city/place, etc. in TripAdvisor, then click on the photos others have posted to help decide whether or not to visit towns/places. YouTube videos can be good for technical things (such as catching the train from the airport in Rome) or seeing lovely coastal or hilltown views. Anticipation is so much of the fun. Most likely you will get hooked on RS tours, and you'll want to take more. But, you are wise to do the Best of Europe trip first, as it will give you a good feel for several countries, and then you can choose to go back and see more on future group or individual trips. Safe & happy travels.

I am most comfortable if I have enough local cash to get from my arrival (airport or train station) to my hotel. Using public transportation, 50-100 Euros or Pounds. I count on using an ATM somewhere near my hotel. For a couple, I would estimate Eu200-500 each on the entire tour. Your spending habits dictate the amount. Most of the expense will be for meals "on your own." Before and after the tour, Eu100-200 per day per person would be a fair budget amount IMHO. I eat lightly, so don't spend lots on food. Your tour breakfasts should be ample. Tour lunches and dinners are usually generous. You will have a dozen or so lunches/dinners to pay for separately during the tour. BTW, 14 Days is really 13 nights. It's the way tours are marketed. That last day that counts as day 14 is just breakfast, then the tour is over. The first day of the tour is a late day meeting, maybe a meal, and maybe an orientation walk.

Many travelers to the eurozone prefer to have at least some euros in hand to cover transport from the airport and a meal, etc. before locating an ATM machine and are found everywhere. This might be around 100€. I have always found functioning ATM machines (associated with banks) with more than enough euros if I lack same from a prior trip. I do take some US currency and could buy a few euros at the destination airport to get by until I locate a functioning ATM, but I have never resorted to this back-up plan.

Robert, Not a bit of need for embarrassment all here have been "rookie travelers" You'll be in great hands during the tour, and don't be surprised if it's one of the best three weeks of your life. I've lived for a time in Milan, Munich and Madrid and will be taking my fifth RS tour this fall. When you get your guidebooks (or before since many libraries carry them and others), check for attractions or sites that interest you but may not be on the tour and do those before or after. I think extra days in Rome and Paris is a fantastic idea! A few ideas for extra days: Paris Versailles, Reims Champagne country, Chartres and it's cathedral, Rome the Borghese Gallery, perhaps my favorite museum in Europe. Oh, Euros yeah, you can bring some, but ATMs are plentiful throughout Europe now. There is no longer any need to visit the currency exchange kiosks they charge either high fees or often a lousy rate. ATMS are the way to go. Wear your neck wallet or money belt Have a fantastic trip. Ross in Denver
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