Travel budget planner for europe

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Planning a reasonable budget for your travels in Europe will keep your expenses in check, but perhaps more importantly, it will save you from money worries that can ruin your trip. Needless to say, costs vary widely depending on which countries you choose to visit and what you plan to do there. That said, to cover food, accommodations, and travel costs, you will probably need at least $40 a day. Here are some other factors to consider when planning your European travel budget.

Take an honest look at your expectations

Some people are content to camp out and eat picnic lunches, while others are uncomfortable with so much as sharing a bathroom. When planning your budget, be honest with yourself about the level of comfort you need to enjoy your trip. For instance, are you willing to put up with the cramped conditions of an international bus just because its cheaper or would you rather travel by train? Likewise, dont budget so tightly that you have to plan every site you visit and every bite you eat. Guidebooks cant cover everything and youre bound to discover something extra to indulge in. Continually having to pass up sampling local culinary specialties or skip interesting cultural programs just because you didnt plan for them can put a damper on your trip. To avoid missing out, add a cushion to your budget to cover any unexpected finds and give yourself a daily limit to control expenses.

Budgeting for the essentials

If youll be traveling to more than two or three countries, buying a train or bus pass such as the Eurail pass or the Euroline pass will almost certainly be more economical than buying individual tickets and the fixed price also simplifies budgeting. Dont forget about transportation in cities, either. Here again, be realistic. After a long flight or train ride, will you really have the energy to decipher the bus routes in order to get downtown or would you rather just spend a little extra for a taxi? Also, be sure to budget for side trips that might require taking a suburban train or an intercity bus.

For accommodation, expenses can vary as widely as the types of accommodation themselves. Start by deciding what type of accommodation youre looking for -- a hotel, bed and breakfast, tourist apartment, or hostel. In the urban areas of Western Europe, the tourist industry is so well developed that everything from luxury hotels to youth hostels is available in abundance. Be aware that Eastern Europe is no longer cheaper than the west in regard to accommodation; hotels in Prague or Budapest can cost as much as in Paris or Rome. In some areas, such as Ukraine or the Caucasus, the tourist industry isnt particularly well developed, which both limits selection and increases the prices. To really save money, the adventurous might consider the Global Freeloader network or the Hospitality Club for a free place to stay.

As with accommodations, expenses for food depend on your eating habits. Its tempting to budget tightly here, but dont plan to eat less than you normally would. Next to transportation, activities and sightseeing take up the biggest part of most travel budgets. Guidebooks and online travel guides can give you a general idea of what to do with your time, but try to be generous with yourself. Every trip is unique and unrepeatable, so dont risk missing a great opportunity because your budget cant accommodate an extra $10 or so.

Research to plan an accurate budget

With the amount of information available today its possible to make a fairly accurate estimate of the prices of just about everything youll need before you leave home. Guidebooks are useful for general planning, but their price information is often out of date by the time the books hit the shelves. To find up-to-date prices, searching online is a better option. Most hotels, transportation companies, restaurants, and even European grocery shop chains like Spar and Auchan have Web sites with price listings. If youre not able to find price information in print or online, try posting your questions at an online travel forum where experienced travelers or residents of your destination can give you up-to-date information. While youre researching prices, stay alert for discounts. Booking early can often get you a lower price for train or bus tickets and hotel rooms. Likewise, students, young people, and seniors can often receive discount admission to cultural attraction or on public transport. If you plan to take advantage of this, youll usually need an International Student Identity Card, AARP card or other card and will need to figure the cost of the card into your travel budget.

Budget in a safety net

Dont skip this part. Nothing will ruin a budget and a vacation faster than an illness that requires hospitalization. If you have health insurance, ask your provider exactly whats covered when youre out of the country. If you dont have health insurance or if your plan won't cover treatment abroad, then look into medical or hospital coverage for travelers. Check whether the policy will pay for medical care immediately or whether youll have to pay out of pocket and be reimbursed, as this will affect how much you budget in for emergencies. If you choose to buy travel insurance, you can expect it to cost between 5 and 7 percent of the price of the trip. Naturally, if you sprain your wrist or develop a toothache, you can pay cash for treatment at a private clinic, but to cover this cost youll want to budget in at least what a visit to a doctor would cost in your home country. Even if it doesnt require medical treatment, an illness can still bring extra expenses. If you were planning on staying in a hostel, but end up with food poisoning, youll need money for a comfortable hotel room to recover in.

Managing your money

How you plan to pay for purchases will also affect your budget. Carrying $5,000 in cash or even in traveler's checks is not only unsafe, in some countries its illegal to bring in any amount over a set limit. Instead, for safety and convenience, take a bankcard with a Visa or Mastercard logo, which will allow withdrawals from ATMs throughout Europe. Check how much youll be charged for each ATM transaction overseas so that you can budget for these fees. To keep track of your finances, arrange for online banking. Because wire transfer and Western Union fees can be quite high, be sure that anyone who has agreed to loan you cash for emergencies can transfer it directly into your bank account.

Taking a realistic look at the level of comfort you want, then gathering price information from guidebooks and the Internet will let you calculate a reasonable budget for your tour of Europe. Add in a cushion for unplanned expenses and emergencies and youll have a budget thats both accurate and flexible.