What is your daily budget?

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Posted by Casa del Cipresso (Calitri, Avellino, Italy (& US - where I live the majority of the time)) on 01/22/10 11:07 AM

could I please pick your brains?? What is your daily budget for accommodation and sightseeing per person for everything but food and flights? I'm organizing a group trip (20 people)and curious as to expectations. I'm a frugal traveler myself...but I also know the prices in Italy very well and know what to expect - looking for a more general view. Thanks so much for the input!!! -Nicole

p.s. we will be staying in vacation rentals with kitchen facilities...in a small town. Budget needs to include the rental accommodations, some local workshops we will be taking (cooking, ceramics, etc.), as well as daytrips to major sites by bus with a guide.

Posted by Jim

Oklahoma City, OK, USA

01/22/10 11:29 AM

430 posts

I normally say that for everything less flights a budget between 70 Euro (absolute bare bones) and 160 Euro per day per adult is a typical range. That depends on 1) how close to the ground you are willing to travel and 2) where you are going.

Of that number, 20E to 40E is for food.... so... a budget for "everything but food and flights" to me is between 50 Euro and 120 Euro -- a pretty wide range.

At current exchange rates that is $70 USD to $170 USD.

Knowing myself, in Italy, I'd stay near the top of that range -- -- I go food crazy over there and deny myself no gastronomic pleasure....

Posted by Casa del Cipresso OP

Calitri, Avellino, Italy (& US - where I live the majority of the time)

01/22/10 11:43 AM

223 posts

Thanks Jim!
I'm working my bottom off trying to keep everything under $100USD/person/night...and I think that is very budget-friendly when it includes guided tours, etc. but, I wanted another opinion before I threw it out there to this group of of friends and friends-of-friends (adults and children.)

I'm not including food for the very reasons you stated! Honestly, I don't want someone splitting a pasta to be paying for someones steak! Better everyone fend for themselves. Food is fairly inexpensive, so it's not a huge factor (i.e. 4 euros for a pizza. We usually spend about 30 for a sit down dinner with wine for my family of 3) and each family will have a kitchen in case they want to go to the market and cook for themselves. (small town...way off the beaten path in the South)
Thanks again!

Posted by Elaine

Orlando, Florida

01/22/10 08:59 PM

676 posts

I would check prices of the workshops before presenting this to your friends. I've looked at some and they can be pretty pricey.

Posted by Casa del Cipresso OP

Calitri, Avellino, Italy (& US - where I live the majority of the time)

01/23/10 07:06 AM

223 posts

thanks - yes, they are...that's one reason why I'm struggling to keep costs down - I'm working with locals I already have relationships with in town. Luckily, we are saving on accommodations, so that helps a bit with the costs.

Posted by Gardenia

01/23/10 08:00 AM

157 posts

Train tickets to and from another city vary...from $10 to $80+ depending on you plan to take your day trips. Regional trains don't go to Bologna so you are forced to pay for the high speed train. Someone correct me if I am wrong. It has been 4 months since I was there.

Posted by Casa del Cipresso OP

Calitri, Avellino, Italy (& US - where I live the majority of the time)

01/23/10 08:06 AM

223 posts

Bologna? maybe you posted in the wrong thread?
We're going South and not near Bologna...but there are not trains in this area that would be useful anyway...most locals take buses as the trains are nonexistent or slow and unreliable. I will be hiring a private charter bus and driver :-) from the local bus company for us to visit Pompeii, Paestum, etc. but good point to all to check transport costs when planning!! Train prices and times are listed at trenitalia.com