One of the most frequent questions asked by travelers, is how much to bring on an escorted tour of Europe.
This is obviously a difficult question, since the amount will vary from person to person and from vacation to vacation. A lot of that depends on whether you are traveling with a budget, first class, deluxe or luxury tour company.
Many clients take first class tours. These itineraries include many features which will save you money on your trip. If you study your individual itineraries, you will see how many highlight visits and other sightseeing is included, as well as meals and entertainment. In many cases you will save money when booking a first class or deluxe trip vs. budget as so much more is pre-paid in advance.
Listed below is a guide to extra expenses for which you should budget per person.
Meals
Lunches are usually not included and peoples’ requirements vary. We suggest $10 per day. Where evening meals are not included, the cost will depend on the type and locations of restaurants used. As a guide, in Europe allow $25 – 30 per person, per day. While in Britain and Ireland we suggest $22 – 30 per day. You should budget for drinks with meals and refreshment stops during the day. Non-alcoholic drinks cost approximately $3 -$4 each.
Optional Excursions
Experience has shown us that most passengers participate in these excursions and you should therefore budget for them in advance. Please ask you travel agent for a list of optional excursions once you have booked your trip.
Personal Expenditures
Souvenirs, stamps, postcards, telephone calls, taxi fares, laundry. Allow yourself $15 per day while in Europe, and $20 per day in Britain and Ireland, plus extra shopping. You are advised, whatever your personal requirements may be, to bring more money rather than less. Once overseas, it can be complicated and time consuming to transfer additional funds from home, especially when you are on the move. You cannot always draw extra money on credit cards and they are still not accepted everywhere. Personal cheques are not accepted unless you hold a bank account in the host country. Remember, excess travelers cheques can always be refunded at the end of your trip. As far as shopping, major credit cards are accepted in major department stores and restaurants, but street vendors typically negotiate and take only cash.
