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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Italy tour ..we don't have enough cash?

393 replies

LaDolceVitafor200 · 02/09/2023 13:13

Afternoon!

I have been reading alot of holiday threads here recently which has prompted my own dilemma

Me and friend booked a very cheap Italy tour for 9 days 8 nights leaving next week. It's staying in 4 different Italian cities in basic B and B accommodation, local taxes and breakfast not included. B and B are all outside main towns we are visiting so an hour's travel.

We also have to pay for transport from airport each way , tour is self guided and just includes flights, coach transfers between 4 different cities and B and B

My friend is taking 200 euros and says she won't spend more, I'm getting worried this won't be enough, we also have to pay B and B local taxes etc

AIBU to tell her we both will need more cash , or has anyone been to Italy and found it cheap?!

OP posts:
Ridemeginger · 02/09/2023 18:29

The OP is studiously ignoring the posts asking if this friend has form for cheeky fuckery. I think the answer is probably yes, and the OP has been taken for a mug (again) and knows it.

Ginmonkeyagain · 02/09/2023 18:29

I suggest you chat with your friend to see what her hopes for the holiday are.

If she is juat happy walking around looking at the beautiful (free) sights and having supermarket picnics, maybe that is where her budget comes from (still tight TBH).

However for most people Italy is all about eating out and going to museums/sites if she wants to do that, she does not have anywhere near enough money budgeted.

We budget a fair amount for eating out and drinking on holiday as for us this is one of the main things we enjoy about going on holiday, others may have different priorities. But whatever your fancy you need enough money to eat!

I winder if she had misunderstood and thinks the hotel cost includes breakfast and dinner?

Hayliebells · 02/09/2023 18:30

Ask your friend to apply for a credit card before she goes, if she doesn't already have one. If she refuses, she can't afford to go unless you sun her for pretty much all her spending money, and in those circumstances I'd probably cancel the holiday. Would you just lose the deposit if you cancelled, or the whole cost? If you can't cancel, could someone else go with you?

rookiemere · 02/09/2023 18:31

@IcedPurple I wasn't suggesting the £200 for the trip was reasonable, I was just pointing out that a minimum days spend did not need to be £100-200

Vivi0 · 02/09/2023 18:34

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 02/09/2023 18:11

@IcedPurple (and others who have responded to me) yes - I realise she will need more than €200 all in but I would think that she could do it for less than €200 per day, which is what many posters are saying . I thought the point here was to look at the least amount of money possible rather than what posters with a lot more money spent on their lunch .

My post about easily spending €200 on lunch for a family of 4 wasn’t to demonstrate that I had more money, it was to demonstrate how expensive something as simple as lunch in one of these kinds of cities can get once you start adding on deserts, drinks and not ordering the cheapest item on the menu.

Sure, the OP’s friend can easily survive on less than €200 per day, but on the least amount of money possible? What does that look like? The least amount of money possible to just about survive? Or the least amount of money possible to actually enjoy oneself?

Cosyblankets · 02/09/2023 18:37

Ginmonkeyagain · 02/09/2023 18:29

I suggest you chat with your friend to see what her hopes for the holiday are.

If she is juat happy walking around looking at the beautiful (free) sights and having supermarket picnics, maybe that is where her budget comes from (still tight TBH).

However for most people Italy is all about eating out and going to museums/sites if she wants to do that, she does not have anywhere near enough money budgeted.

We budget a fair amount for eating out and drinking on holiday as for us this is one of the main things we enjoy about going on holiday, others may have different priorities. But whatever your fancy you need enough money to eat!

I winder if she had misunderstood and thinks the hotel cost includes breakfast and dinner?

For £399?

Ginmonkeyagain · 02/09/2023 18:38

Well yes. It would be a dumb assumption but you never know!

Missflowers1981 · 02/09/2023 18:39

I lived in Milan and whilst there visited all the places on your list. It’s actually a great city to travel from as loads of popular cities are easily accessible by train. For example you can get to Lake Como in half an hour from Milan Centrale Station if you wanted to add it to your list. 4 years ago it was a 10 euro return to lake como. Train tickets between the cities are cheaper than say London to Manchester. I think I paid 60 euros return from Milan to Rome for a 3 hour journey.

However Milan itself I think as a tourist can be done in a day and when I had visitors for a weekend I always took them to Lake Como as it was so near.

Venice and Rome in my opinion is actually pricier than Milan and like other posters have said it’s worth paying for a guided tour to the Vatican and some of the other sites.

It’s good you’ve spoken to her about it but even £250 is not going to go far. You might need to tell her the places you are planning to go that may require a fee and leave it up to her to say if she wants to join you.

suburbophobe · 02/09/2023 18:39

It's staying in 4 different Italian cities in basic B and B accommodation, local taxes and breakfast not included.

Utterly crazy. I've just come back from Spain and the temperature in the daytime was 40 degrees.

No way would I be able to lug a suitcase etc. during the daytime going from place to place. I'd rather stay at home.

JaneIntheBox · 02/09/2023 18:40

WallaceinAnderland · 02/09/2023 17:56

Even if she takes 250 that's still not enough. You are going to have a miserable time because you will be eating out whilst she sits on a bench with a sandwich.

Be sensible. Between you it's going to cost about 1000 (roughly 50 a day each minimum).

Are you happy with the 25/75 split your friend is proposing?

Why would OP be miserable? Solo travel is a thing.
That's what I'd do OP. Treat it as a solo trip if she can't afford something she can just walk around by herself. Take yourself out to dinner etc.

Missflowers1981 · 02/09/2023 18:41

PS I didn’t think that was actually much to do in Verona - we pottered about for the afternoon and we were done.

IcedPurple · 02/09/2023 18:41

rookiemere · 02/09/2023 18:31

@IcedPurple I wasn't suggesting the £200 for the trip was reasonable, I was just pointing out that a minimum days spend did not need to be £100-200

You don't need €200 I agree.

However, I don't think you could go much south of €100 if you want to actually enjoy your holiday without worrying about every penny. You may not end up spending that amount, but you should be prepared to budget for it.

Ridemeginger · 02/09/2023 18:42

I see the other thread with the £37 for a week CF tourist been taken down because the OP is a troll.

RadishAndTwiglet · 02/09/2023 18:46

I see the other thread with the £37 for a week CF tourist been taken down because the OP is a troll.

Yes indeedy.

JustKen · 02/09/2023 18:48

We were in Rome for 9 days and took about €1500. But we spent money as well on getting into museums & attractions in advance. We thought €150 a day if we eat pizza/pasta mostly and walked everywhere. (Though the metro and buses were very cheap). €200 is too low. Just like everywhere in the world, Italy is going through a COL crisis. It's EXPENSIVE.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 02/09/2023 18:52

I think you'll need 100 euros per day minimum
Even travel from accommodation an hour away will add up
Plus taxes everywhere
I wouldn't want to go to Italy and watch every euro
Is she a good friend or does she tend to take advantage?

3luckystars · 02/09/2023 18:52

There are loads of wild cats roaming around Rome, you could eat a few of those if you were really stuck but they look a bit mean.

Original poster
LaDolceVitafor200 · 02/09/2023 19:00

I've had a look at the vouchers we got sent, the places we are staying at averaging about 40mins I think to the centre by bus, on TA they look basic but not terrible, can pay extra for breakfast if you want it

I'm quite happy pottering around as been to Roma a few times, although a long time ago, same for Venice and one to Milan, haven't been to Verona before.

But I do like going out for dinner in the evening , nothing too fancy , happy to skip breakfast and get pizza for lunch

Hotel taxes look like they total about 50euros, some places are more than others

Landing at Rome Campino, we need to get to bus station in Rome and our B and B is a 40 min bus ride it appears

I'm going to suggest we take 400 euros each and a credit card

OP posts:
Original poster
LaDolceVitafor200 · 02/09/2023 19:03

uncomfortablydumb53 · 02/09/2023 18:52

I think you'll need 100 euros per day minimum
Even travel from accommodation an hour away will add up
Plus taxes everywhere
I wouldn't want to go to Italy and watch every euro
Is she a good friend or does she tend to take advantage?

I think she is used to all inclusive so will be shocked at prices in Italy

I went to Greece recently with partner and we spent 40 euros between us for lunch and about 60 euros for dinner , but I guess Italy is more expensive

OP posts:
Topseyt123 · 02/09/2023 19:05

OP, just to add to my earlier posts, I have been to all of those Italian cities over the years. Some can be done in a day, but all are pretty expensive if you are hoping to do or see anything worthwhile or to eat more than a slice of toast.

The budget is woefully inadequate and I fear she is relying on you to sub her. There will be some cheeky fuckery in the offing if you go on this trip, not to mention shitty accommodation.

Topseyt123 · 02/09/2023 19:08

€400 each is much better, though will still have to be carefully managed. More doable though, and less miserable.

What's the betting though that she won't go for it?

Original poster
LaDolceVitafor200 · 02/09/2023 19:11

Topseyt123 · 02/09/2023 19:08

€400 each is much better, though will still have to be carefully managed. More doable though, and less miserable.

What's the betting though that she won't go for it?

I will feel a lot better if she is prepared, I don't fancy going out for dinner on my own, and I absolutely refuse to eat peanut butter crackers in the B and B every night !

OP posts:
menopausalbloat · 02/09/2023 19:13

400 would be doable. You'll still have to budget well though.

Original poster
LaDolceVitafor200 · 02/09/2023 19:17

menopausalbloat · 02/09/2023 19:13

400 would be doable. You'll still have to budget well though.

Yes I was thinking a lot of walking and pottering about , get pizza slice for lunch and a reasonable not too expensive dinner every day would be doable ?

OP posts:
menopausalbloat · 02/09/2023 19:19

Jusr make yourself an itinerary. Look up restaurants in the different areas and check their prices. etc.