BOE 21 days

On our tour of Italy, I usually carried about $150 Euros between my money belt and my pockets. When it got low, I just stopped at an ATM. Twenty Euro bills were what I got from the ATM. Be sure to keep some change in your pockets for restroom stops.

Small bills are definitely better in Italy, where they're more reluctant to make change, and rely on cash more often. All of your trip will be using euros, except for the stop in Switzerland, so I would take out as many euros at the start as your bank allows. It might be only about €250/$300, unless you ask the bank to increase it. In your wallet for the day, you would carry one plastic card and about as much cash as you expect to need (e.g., based on guidebook listings), with back-up supplies staying in your money belt.

Hunter - I looked back at my bank statement from last fall. While on the tour itself I withdrew $ 500 three times - Amsterdam, Venice, and Florence. Withdrew $60 in Switzerland. We didn't charge anything on credit card. That money paid for our own meals, own museum expenses, gifts, 2 rides up to Schilthorn (which was expensive but so totally worth it!), taxi to the airport in Paris, and I came home with a little over 100E left to take back on our next trip. Small bills are always better and that was what I chose when asked how I wanted my money from the atm - always a mix of bills. The bulk of our funds stayed with passports in money wallet/hidden pocket and we each carried about 50E in our purses. Yes - hubby carried a man purse and still uses it occasionally here in the states.

Wanted to add - we always kept our debit/credit cards in the money belt/hidden pocket except when we needed to withdraw funds.

On the 14 day tour I took I averaged using $50 to $60 per day per person which included all extra meals, snacks, side trips, etc. Switzerland is expensive, and I did not go to Italy, which is also higher. Still think an average of $70 per day would more than cover all your extra expenses. I bought several gifts in the $50 range and was still able to stay on that budget. Some days, you don't need much at all and some days it might take more than the $70. If you plan on using debit and credit cards for the most part, I still would always have at least 200 euros per person, in smaller bills and coins at all times. Just easier with cash.

We took out close to the maximum allowed by our bank at various ATMs in Europe. If I remember correctly, that was in Amsterdam, at a stop right over the Italy border, Venice, Cinque Terra, Switzerland, and Paris. We paid cash everywhere......kept very little in our pockets/purse. We split the bulk of the cash in our money belts where we also kept our passports and debit/credit cards. We also kept a snack sized baggie in our money belts to keep our passport and money dry. I think the common thinking is "only keep the amount of money in your pocket/purse that you are willing to lose".

Hubby had some great travel pants that had velcro pocket closures along with various hidden pockets.

Thanks for this helpful post. What did the optional Gondola tour cost? Did you pay that with cash? We are going on the BOE14 day. Thanks

LA - The price was 74 swiss francs per person round trip from Stechelberg up to Schilthorn and VERY much worth the expense. We did the sunrise ride and I believe that our tour guide got a little group rate discount (or maybe he just charmed the lady at the window) for which he paid the total himself and then let each of us pay him back. He accepted a combination of swiss francs and euros to repay the loan. It's probably a one time view for most people so don't pass it up if you don't have to. We had clear sunny weather that morning and we were stunned at the scenery. One your way up and down you change gondolas at different villages. We stopped at Murren coming back down and wandered around. The guide led a group who wanted to go elsewhere but hubby and I decided to do our own thing. After wandering we came back down and took the hike down to Trummelbach Falls. Try to do that too if weather allows. It is a lovely sidewalk along the stream and fields of bell ringing cows.

Thank you Nance. I am also trying to figure out how much to have on hand. Nice to know you could pay that in Euros.