Hello,
Me and a close girlfriend are planning on traveling to Europe from 12-28-11 and be back home for Christmas for 2012. In this time we plan on going to: UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and a pass through Austria.
We're hoping to do it for $5000 apiece (not including airfare), and i am getting very anxious about our proposed budget. First off though i have to say, we have a free place to stay in England, Sweden and Germany. We also plan on doing a Workaway in Spain, which is where we want to spend a lot of time at. Am also considering SERVA's, couchsurfers.com, as well as renting a dorm room out in the summer in a country and using it as a home base for a couple months might be cheaper than a hostel.
Is it possible on $5000??? and still see museums, buy souvenirs, etc.
I'm thinking we should up the budget to $7000 but am not sure my friend could afford that, or else shorten our trip to 6 months... Though i don't want to do that either. lol.
Reply to this Hi and welcome to travelblog!
Well it is possible you will really need to strethch your money! But it depends on what your going to be doing whilst travelling.. drinking and parties is going to be out of the option pretty much but looking at the countries you are going to.. One beer in Sweden can cost 90 Sek which is around 9 Euro each. Maybe head to some cheaper countries in Eastern Europe if you wish to save money.
$5000 each for a year is only around $14 a day each and in some countries just a hostel will cost more than that. How long is your workstay in Spain? You’re going to be earning for you next travels?
I noticed you have seen couchsurfing. Are you a member? This can give you chance to have free accommodation all through Europe and I just wrote a blog on it explaining all about it
Free accommodation anyone!? Give Couchsurfing a go
I recommended to check it out and see what you think.. We have had free accommodation for over a year throughout the world because of this (but free accommodation is not what it is all about just a bonus)
I really think that it is not enough if you wish to go to museums, have a decent meal once in a while plus transport around will add up.
You may be always worrying about your finances and watching every dollar which may be a little to much after a year.
Reply to this Well like Christoper say...i think it will be hard to stick to this budget. In fact I don't think it is possible. On this budget I think you can do 6 months if you are careful.
Somepeople did it in the past.
But I think that you should do the most of your vacation and not say Iwould have loveto visit this but it was too expensive...
Maybe wait a bit before going.
Nick
Reply to this Hi there,
I agree with the others, this is more or less impossible. None of the countries you mention are cheap, except maybe Morocco. Only the cost of food will cover your whole budget, don't think you can do it well below 10 Euros a day, which is only possible if you self cater (or eat the cheapest fast food, and then only maybe). I am not clear whether you have covered all your travel within Europe, because otherwise that will take a big chunk out of your budget. But you also need local transport, which can be costly in big cities. I think a reasonable sum would be more like 1000 Euros/month (that is 30 Euros/day), and still there will be no money for luxuries or shopping. With luxuries I am talking cafes/bars/clubs or eating in restuarants. Museums will set you back 5-10 Euros at least, maybe even more, but you may get a reduction if you are a student or young (below say, 26), same may be true for transport in some cases at least.
Check out on the internet more information of the places you are planning to visit, how to get there, hostels, musuems etc to make a realistic budget. Don't forget that you will need insurance too, which is quite costly when traveling for such a long time - health care is not free in Europe and it can be very expensive if you need hospital care).
But, a shorter trip going to fewer countries, maybe choosing those where you have friends, and doing a long workstay may be a great experience within your limits.
Best
Inga
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