We are leaving for Italy in early September. Hotels are confirmed and some tours are reserved. We are trying to determine how much would be needed for an average per day for food/wine and trains. Most hotels have a continental B'fast which will be fine. We will be visiting Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre and Sorrento and Rome.
Posted by
Meridian MS
248 posts
Jon,
For train costs, Rick has a whole section - you just need to do the math (you didn't tell us how many folks are "we") http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/comparetickets.htm. As to the food/wine, that's totally discretionary. We ate mid-day meals costing 2-3 euros (great tuna/olive sandwiches or slices of pizza) and also some that were 30E each. Same for dinner.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, USA
320 posts
Jon:
On our last trip to Italy in 2007 I wanted a workable budget for planning purposes. On our previous trips I tracked most of our spending in my travel journal and used that (and the current conversion rate) to make our budget.
We were overseas for 13 nights. We were a party of three couples.
The budget did not include the airfare and the rental car since those were both fully paid before we left.
What the budget covered was hotels, dining, museum admissions, wine, wine tours and tastings, coffee, fuel, tolls and parking for the rental car, a few souvenirs, newspapers, groceries, etc.
We do not stay in fancy hotels. But we do like fine wine and fine dining. Our budget was $350 per couple per day - and we spent just a tad less than that.
The exchange rate is a little better now than in October '07.
If I had to do it over again - I'd save a little money by doing more picnics at lunch - but that is about it.
I hope that this info is helpful. Have fun.
Posted by
OP
Mooresville
9 posts
Jon,
That sounds good. The hotels we booked will average $175 per night. With factoring in the trains and some 'must see' attractions, we will still have about 190 per day for additional tours, food/wine and extras. I think we will be fine.
Susan, thanks for the train info. I had seen it a while ago and did not keep it on my radar.
jon