How much spending money should I bring? - Europe
Last Updated: Mar. 11, 2010
More Tour and Travel Advice for Europe
How much spending money to budget for is a difficult question to answer. Everyone has their own style and rate of travel spending. Some will go out and shop ‘til they drop spending 100s of Euros or Pounds every day, others might spend more in bars, or on museum entries and souvenirs, while others get by on the bare essentials.
Unlike many holiday and vacation operators, Contiki includes many extras, sightseeing excursions, meals and highlights as part of the tour. However, we don’t fill every hour of every day and there is ample free time to enjoy the cities and countries you visit at your leisure.
As a rough guide we suggest budgeting a minimum of £30/45€ – but again, this will obviously vary depending on your individual tastes and habits. Many of our past travelers recommend 70-100€ per day for spending money – this is usually more than enough and sometimes those who budget this amount end up having a little left over at the end of the tour.
In order to budget more accurately, you should take into account the optional excursions that you may wish to participate in during your tour.
If possible, it’s always better to over-estimate how much you may spend, that way if you come across an experience or something you really want to do or buy, you will have room in your budget. Plus, all the better if you don’t end up spending the extra money.
Entrance Fees
As with any Contiki Tour you will have a mix of organized and included activities as well as free time to explore. One of the most popular ways people to spend their free time in Europe is visiting museums and major sites. Entry fees vary from place to place from the free museums of London to 14€ for the Vatican Museums in Rome.
Meals
Your meals are included as per your itinerary. Breakfast is always included once you are on tour and a lot of dinners are also included. When dinners are not included you have to opportunity to sample some of Europe’s finest local cuisines or take an optional excursion meal. Lunches are seldom included, and you should budget around £7/10€ for lunches.
Other Expenses
Again, everyone’s spending habits are different! Some people will spend more on shopping, drinking, souvenirs, phone calls home, postage, hiring bikes, recreational activities, public transport in cities, taxis, etc.
Tour Manager Opinions
by – Michael Thomas, Tour Manager, Europe
Money? – bring lots! And spend it – you should go home broke!! You can pay off the credit card when you get home – it is as shame to travel all this way and go home with regrets.
by – David Hackett, Tour Manager, Europe
Work out prior to the trip what sights & excursions you are most keen on and then include some extra cash for a few nice lunches, some quick food stops and all that shopping you can do in Europe. Expect to spend 50 Euro per day on average but always plan to spend more, you may only ever be able to go inside the Colosseum once in your life and this could be it!!!
by – Stella Hritis, Tour Manager, Europe
I’ve have had people not realise that they have to pay an entrance fee into museums.
by – Matt Vernick, Tour Manager, Europe
I’d budget for about £75/100€ a day. Some days you might spend 200, other days 20. At £75/100€ a day you’ll probably go home with some left over to take home or spoil yourself with towards the end of the tour.
Add a Comment Comments (58)
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Exoduspassoea ( hope i spelt it correctly) you sir are a legend. Loved looking at your photos!! Happy journeys!
Symbiote
posted 21 days ago
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Im booked on the 37day European Adventurer in June10 how much would i need to save in Australian dollar for that time . I would be on a big budget whilst im over there.
Aussieangel
posted 25 days ago
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I know everyones in the same boat but i need advice on how much money to save!
im going on the european highlight trip for 14 days. theres alot of sightseeing included so dont think i’ll be doing some of the ‘optional’ things. i do plan on having a good few nights out though.
so basically need info on how much to take for 2 weeks and nights out!
any help is appreciated! thanks
Explorer1167996
posted on Feb. 04, 2010
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Hi,
i am trying to create a spending budget and wondering if anyone knew an average drink price or how much i should put aside for a night out??? any advise would be great..
Explorer1166084
posted on Jan. 27, 2010
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Shoot, i was estimating 1500 USD but it looks like i way underestimated…. I plan on doing the London Paris and Rome extension…..any suggestions
JessJuJubean
posted on Jan. 08, 2010
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Could not be published any better. Reading this post reminds me of my previous roommie! He always kept on discussing this. I will be forwarding this post to him. Pretty certain he will be benefcial. Thank you for sharing!
bbq aprons | funny apronsExplorer1158088
posted on Nov. 23, 2009
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Thanks for sharing this
Explorer1154070
posted on Nov. 02, 2009
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you should definitely bring your whole saving because it is definitely costly. Unsure why things cost so much more.
Bloggando sulla reteExplorer1153531
posted on Oct. 28, 2009
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I think that the bare minimum should be brought along, especially if you are going into any areas you are not familiar with.
Explorer1155209
posted on Oct. 28, 2009
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And keep in mind that with so many hostels having private rooms nowadays, you could get the privacy of your own bedroom (still might have to share a bathroom, but not always) at a nightly rate that’s still cheaper than a dive-y hotel.
Explorer1155166
posted on Oct. 27, 2009
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Now, Europe is EXTREMELY expensive for Americans, making one of your “unexpected costs” the exchange rate. When last I looked the Euro was quickly approaching $1.50! And of course this will affect EVERY thing you do!
Explorer1154745
posted on Oct. 23, 2009
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Europe can be an expensive place, expecially as a tourist. Better take plenty of money
display coffee tableExplorer1154194
posted on Oct. 18, 2009
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there is nothing cheap about going to europe. Europe is such a beautiful place to go but nothing is cheap. I would take about $2000 for just expenses.
Explorer1153531
posted on Oct. 18, 2009
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ExodusPessoa23 – I am also doing a Paddywagon tour in April/May 2010, hoping its good, hearing lots of great reviews about it.
I’m budgeting to spend 100pounds per day whilst in Londontown and 150€ per day in Europe.
Dara Bee
posted on Oct. 07, 2009
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oh – just remembered something from Paris which is still haunting my dreams – :) lol!
If going through Paris on your tour & you have the chance to go down the Champs Elysees (main high street in Paris) beware of the prices for the Haagen Daas Restaurant (right hand side of the road, if approaching from Arc De Triomphe direction) :) prices START AT 12.50 euro per sundae/waffle/milkshake – NO JOKES :) – so, if you are in the mood for an ice-cream and have a tight budget rather get something from the restaurants take-away in a tub or cone & wander down the high street or sit down outside & watch Paris wander by! :) Unless you are partial to decadent ice-cream sundaes, and you have the cash to splash, ofcourse…
love2travel
posted on Sep. 14, 2009
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I have just returned from a Tour of Europe with Contiki…
TIP 1: anyone wanting to bring travellers cheques – this is not advised as they are not as widely accepted in Europe as they used to be and will cause a headache. This advise was also given to us by our Tour Manager, so I am not just assuming.
TIP 2: Buy souvenirs that count and avoid the hawkers, especially in Paris, as it looks like you are getting a deal, but in fact, you aren’t & the things are not quality. Beware of the guys in Paris, they are very bad – they ask you to put your hand out, tie a bunch of strings together & make a pretty, but pricy bracelet which they expect 30 – 50 euro for – so, unless you want to ruin your holiday with a bad experience, avoid them whenever possible!
TIP 3: Swiss Knives are very reasonable in Switzerland – I bought my brother a WHITE Victorinox, which is only made in Switzerland, with a leather pouch, and it cost a fraction of the price they do in South Africa, but, if you have one, or can get it cheaper elsewhere, rather get something else that you can’t get back home.
TIP 4: I don’t drink, and neither does my partner, so we didnt have to budget for all of the discos organised by contiki, but if you are a big drinker and party person, budget more.
TIP 5: If you are running short on cash you can always opt out of an optional that you are not very keen on (or are just doing for the sake of doing it), and the tour managers understand as long as you give them notice. I saw the WHOLE of Paris in one day & went out for a romantic meal with my partner on the River Sienne afterward instead of doing the dinner and show – but, again, this is a personal preference. ALOT of people did this on the tour.
TIP 6: You need cash – credit cards are accepted, but you do need to draw money from an ATM where ever possible.
TIP 7: Give yourself a budget & stick to it as best you can – dont get something just for the sake of it, unless you want it – but also, make a decision – you are only in the country once & you may not see it again, so make a quick, informed decision.
TIP 8: At the end of your tour the manger & driver need to be tipped, although this is not compulsory. Our tour manager advised that the easiest way is to budget 2 euro per person, per day. I.E: 10 day tour x 2 euros = 20 euro x 2 people = 40 euros in tips. But that can get quite expensive depending on how long the trip is. If you are a couple – don’t be too generous & budget the two of you paying – this will work out VERY expensive. Trust me, I have been there recently. We gave each 20 euro instead of 40 and we are happier for it :)
TIP 9: Don’t draw all your money on the first day – Europe has it’s pick-pockets and thieves aswel! Your tour manager should give you an indication of how much to budget per day, about 100 euro should be okay, but i budgeted 80 as i dont eat much & knew waht i wanted to get from each place. You T.M should tell you when you can & can’t draw money. I drew 200 euro every 2 days. which worked out perfectly. If you have to pay for extra excursions, the T.M will tell you when these need to be paid for & how much it will cost you so you have enough time to budget or change your mind about what you want to do.
TIP 10: Relax :) you are on holiday! Enjoy the trip! :)
TIP 11: Make Friends!
Hope this helps! There are SO many things to say, but I have waffled on for a while now! :) just ask if there is anything in particular still on your mind.
love2travel
posted on Sep. 10, 2009
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After reading this I’m worried that I might go broke (lol).
ExodusPessoa23
posted on Sep. 02, 2009
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Hi all, Im doing the european discovery departing 18 October from London, its smack bang in the middle of our 7 week trip around europe. We’ve already paid about 6000AUD for all our flights, tours, accommodation etc, and by my count should have bout another 6000AUD saved by the time we head over. Is anyone else doing that tour? Also, Im doing a 6 day paddywagon backpacking tour of ireland a fews days after the contiki, has anyone done a tour with paddywagon before? I can’t wait
Trudes26
posted on Aug. 24, 2009
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It depends on where you are going! Many of the European countries are so different, the culture, the people, as well as the price level. Some places sell beers (in a bar) for 1-2 AUD, while others take 15-17 AUD (e.g. Norway).
Viking
posted on Jun. 30, 2009
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im going to Europe for 5 week, 15 days of that is contiki(Road to Atehens departing 3rd august), im taking $15,000 Australian, its about 8700 euros (1740 euros a week, about 250 euros a day) ive had mates just come back and they said its so expensive…. if i come back with any of that $15,000, i will be happy.
Nick1987
posted on Jun. 28, 2009
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