meal costs in Europe

I have walked all over Paris, London, Barcelona, Florence, Venice, Oslo, and a few villages in Switzerland in my Dansko Lolitas. Unfortunately they have discontinued them, but the new "Dani" looks very similar: http://www.dansko.com/Womens/Footwear/Styles/Sandals/Dani/Blue%20Burnished%20Full%20Grain/ These are fine on cobblestones and dressy enough to go out in the evening. One thing I have noticed is that the new Danskos are made with stiffer leather, so it would be well worth softening up the straps a bit before wearing them all day. Rub them with leather conditioner. For countryside/light hiking try a cross-trainer. I take my Merrells for running and light hiking, but all the Merrell currrent models look pretty geeky. Maybe something like this "Rift" by Vasque: http://www.amazon.com/Vasque-Womens-Rift-Hiking-Shoe/dp/B005EQ6CES. Meal costs depend a lot on you and your style. We tend to eat a substantial breakfast and a light lunch, maybe a picnic from a grocery store or sandwiches/panini from a bakery rether than a sit-down meal. Then we go someplace nice for dinner. In 2010 we traveled through Italy with two teen/young adult daughters, and our dinners averaged around 100-120 euros for the 4 of us, including bottled water and a bottle of wine.

Tammy, Regarding the meals question. As you've noted, on the RS tours all breakfasts are provided as well as about half the dinners. The breakfasts are usually quite substantial, so it shouldn't be difficult for teenage boys to fill up. In my experience, on occasion the Guides will include at least one lunch as well. Lunches can often be done inexpensively by picking up a few items at the local Deli. The Guide will be able to offer good suggestions. Dinners will be the biggest cost, but it's difficult to offer cost estimates as I'd have to check my notes. Having "sit down meals" at restaurants will be the most expensive. You won't be far from a McDonald's if necessary. Happy travels!

Thank you!

Look on the Keen website for your shoe choices. Pricey but worth every penny. I swear by my four pairs of them!

I have taken RS tours and tend to follow the advice mentioned about eating....a big breakfast with a light lunch. Dinner can vary considerably in price depending on how much and where you eat. Sometimes inexpensive meals are great.... I loved the sausage carts in Vienna and Prague for instance. Regarding shoes, this advice is regarding men's shoes. I tend to only take one pair, so I use a good New Balance walking shoe in all black. They can look dressy enough with dark socks and are comfy for a full day of walking.

I agree regarding keens.. we just came back yesterday from a three and a half trek through 7 cities and four countries and I brought two pair of shoes and stuck with my keens the whole time my feet were so happy for it. I have bad feet and I never had a moment's discomfort and we walked and hiked and did it all. I also had a pair of black chicos travel pants for somewhat dressier wear and even though I had a pair of mary jane type shoes for that purpose I still wore the keens and since they are black they worked fine.. It all depends on how you feel about their look. I worried so much before I went about what to wear and looking like a tourist but so what in the end whipping out my camera and snapping dozens of photos gave me away far more than my shoes did.. just wear a scarf with everything and you will fit right in---seems like scarves are the thing --in paris and in italy.. all over scarves are worn around your neck all ways.. I became a scarf addict and wanted to buy them every city we went to. I came back with 14 scarves! I am giving most of them a way though as gifts --they are reasonable and don'

Tammy, I swear by Adidas for athletic shoes. I have been wearing them since 1997 and they have the cutest styles. I LOATHE white sneakers (I have NEVER understood why Americans love them so much) and Adidas has a good ion of sleek but supportive styles. My latest choice was royal blue, and the previous one was silver with hot pink trim. I have never found them bulky, and they've always felt comfortable.
As far as food goes, it really depends on where you are. On my travels, I splurge for one (or two) nice dinners, and eat the rest of my meals from inexpensive places, like grocery store picnics, sandwich counters, or ethnic restaurants. Don't feel like you have to have the "native" food wherever you go. In certain places, immigrant groups have been there for so long, their cuisine is considered its adopted country's own. And in places like the UK, even better!

Re shoes, virtually anything labeled by Americans as a "comfortable walking shoe" will indeed look both touristy and geeky. The Dansko Dani that Lola mentioned would be an example of an exception. I always feel great in my Donald Pliner slip-on sandals, which are essentially the same as this current model: http://www.donaldjpliner.com/product/FIFI10,2287,6.htm (Yes, they're expensive. Any truly well-made shoe that's not churned out by a factory in Asia will cost you a pretty penny. I've had two pair of Donald Pliner shoes for 10 years now and they're still going strong.) For actual hiking & countryside walking, I'd go with any sort of light hiking shoe that you prefer. I usually just wear my Brooks running shoes, since I have those along. As far as food costs go, I find eating in Europe to be very expensive, no two ways about it. You'll get all kinds of advice about how to cut corners ~ eating a big breakfast so lunch can be lighter; buying at grocery stores and deli counters ~ but in the end, it adds up. Granted, the fact that we have five boys ages 7 to 17 doesn't help. GRIN I'm most familiar with prices in Switzerland. I'd count on at least 80 CH francs for a sit down dinner for two adults and two teen guys ~ wine would be extra. When we traveled four years ago in Rome with our three oldest guys (just one of whom was a teen at that time), we spent around 150 euro per day on food and we would've gladly eaten more. ;-D

Tammy, if your boys are between 13-17 I would seriously consider choosing the 14 day RS Family tour, the boys will have a blast, and so will you . PM if you want any specific info on the tour.. its the same itinerary as the regular tour, but more kid/teen friendly.