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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:
WallaceinAnderland · 02/09/2023 19:23

JaneIntheBox · 02/09/2023 18:40

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.

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Solo travelling is fine. Eating alone whilst watching your friend over the street with a sad sandwich would be pretty miserable imo.

WallaceinAnderland · 02/09/2023 19:27

rookiemere · 02/09/2023 18:14

Yes some posters seem to have ridiculous budgets. I'd bring crackers and peanut butter for breakfast, eat the meal of the day for lunch say 15-20 euros and get a drink at a bar and eat apertivo snacks for dinner at possibly around 15 euros each.

Add in 10 for transport and 5 for taxes and tips, that's 50 per day minimum. A total of 450 without actually doing any sightseeing which surely is the whole point of going.

JaneIntheBox · 02/09/2023 19:32

WallaceinAnderland · 02/09/2023 19:23

Solo travelling is fine. Eating alone whilst watching your friend over the street with a sad sandwich would be pretty miserable imo.

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Why would you watch your friend while eating? That's just odd.
I wouldn't find it miserable at all. They made their choice.I make mine,
I AM starting to think OP is a troll however as PP pointed out there was a very similar thread recently about a friend not bringing enough money on holiday.

Original poster
LaDolceVitafor200 · 02/09/2023 19:46

JaneIntheBox · 02/09/2023 19:32

Why would you watch your friend while eating? That's just odd.
I wouldn't find it miserable at all. They made their choice.I make mine,
I AM starting to think OP is a troll however as PP pointed out there was a very similar thread recently about a friend not bringing enough money on holiday.

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Yes It was reading that thread that made me wonder about my trip, although not quite on the same level.

Not everyone who posts about holidays and spending money is a troll!

And thank you to those who have made some useful suggestions.

OP posts:
JaneIntheBox · 02/09/2023 21:45

LaDolceVitafor200 · 02/09/2023 19:46

Yes It was reading that thread that made me wonder about my trip, although not quite on the same level.

Not everyone who posts about holidays and spending money is a troll!

And thank you to those who have made some useful suggestions.

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Maybe I just can't believe there are so many CF around.... or people who would happily sub them and not leave them to wallow in the misery of their own making.
But then again I'm stingy and don't like deception.

LIZS · 02/09/2023 21:53

You should be able to calculate local taxes and transfers in advance. Either taxi, train, bus assuming the locations are not inaccessible. Agree it could be up to 200e per day, especially if you need to pay any entrance fees. Whereabouts are you visiting?

PrincessFiorimonde · 02/09/2023 23:45

@LaDolceVitafor200 is your friend short of money, or is she just unrealistic about the cost of things? (You say: I think she is used to all inclusive so will be shocked at prices in Italy.)

If it's the first, then I think you're in trouble as I can't see that even 400 euros each will be enough for an enjoyable 8-night holiday in the 4 cities you mention. Once you take out the cost of airport transfers and hotel taxes, that might leave only 300 euros, or less than 40 a day each.

If it's the second, then you need to suggest your friend ups her budget, explaining what people here have pointed out in terms of the price of food (whether in a restaurant/cafe, or as a takeaway), water, bus/train fares, entrance fees, etc.

I hope that you get it sorted, OP, and that you both have a lovely holiday Flowers

Proudgypsy · 03/09/2023 07:56

To be honest I would genuinely cancel the trip in this situation.

I would be absolutely miserable being on holiday with a person who had no money for anything. You can't go for a nice meal (one of the best things about Italy) because she can't afford it. You can't look around the shops because she can't buy anything. And if they refused to bring money of their own but expected me to cover them we would fall out because I'm not a doormat.

Sounds crap and I'd rather not go.

LIZS · 03/09/2023 08:16

You could price up the tickets which include local bus/train for duration of your stay, and sometimes museum admission at a discount if not free. - Roma Pass for example. You can buy these in advance. What have you prepaid if so much is extra, flight b and b and train between? Verona is small, how can you be staying 40 minutes away?

Original poster
LaDolceVitafor200 · 03/09/2023 08:52

LIZS · 03/09/2023 08:16

You could price up the tickets which include local bus/train for duration of your stay, and sometimes museum admission at a discount if not free. - Roma Pass for example. You can buy these in advance. What have you prepaid if so much is extra, flight b and b and train between? Verona is small, how can you be staying 40 minutes away?

Yes prepaid is flights, flexi bus vouchers for travel between places and 8 nights accommodation

Verona , hotel says near Goito, I don't know the area at all, but looks like 40min on a bus to centre

OP posts:
Original poster
LaDolceVitafor200 · 03/09/2023 08:54

I think 400 sterling each, and a cc for back up will be ok, eat out once a day and potter about, looking at reasonable places to eat away from the touristy areas

OP posts:
Cosyblankets · 03/09/2023 08:57

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

Rome buses are excellent. Frequent and on time. 40 min will be fine. Maybe eat in your local area in the eve it will be much cheaper and probably better.
Where are you in Venice?

LIZS · 03/09/2023 09:04

Who organised the locations? Gioto looks pretty awkward, can you not find somewhere else in Verona itself or at least on the train line to lake Garda. If you want to see the cities stay in them! Are the other b and bs also distant from the cities. Logistically it looks hard work if so, as well as the extra cost to get to and fro.

Original poster
LaDolceVitafor200 · 03/09/2023 09:10

Cosyblankets · 03/09/2023 08:57

Rome buses are excellent. Frequent and on time. 40 min will be fine. Maybe eat in your local area in the eve it will be much cheaper and probably better.
Where are you in Venice?

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Thats good to know!, Venice hotel is in a suburb called Mestre, it doesn't look that far away

OP posts:
Original poster
LaDolceVitafor200 · 03/09/2023 09:12

LIZS · 03/09/2023 09:04

Who organised the locations? Gioto looks pretty awkward, can you not find somewhere else in Verona itself or at least on the train line to lake Garda. If you want to see the cities stay in them! Are the other b and bs also distant from the cities. Logistically it looks hard work if so, as well as the extra cost to get to and fro.

I don't think we can change the locations now, came as part of the package, once you bought the holiday vouchers, you rang up and got the flights and accommodation, at the time, very stupidly we just assumed Venice was Venice etc

OP posts:
SoIinvictus · 03/09/2023 09:14

Most Venetians live in Mestre as they can't afford to live in Venice so transport links are fine.

Where exactly are you staying in Rome?

Original poster
LaDolceVitafor200 · 03/09/2023 09:18

SoIinvictus · 03/09/2023 09:14

Most Venetians live in Mestre as they can't afford to live in Venice so transport links are fine.

Where exactly are you staying in Rome?

Hi, 10 minutes walk to Parioli, if I have spelt that right?

OP posts:
marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 03/09/2023 09:20

I think your friend must know that £200/250 is ridiculous. She's expecting you to pay. It's not reasonable, really.

SoIinvictus · 03/09/2023 09:21

Parioli is one of the wealthiest and most chic areas of Rome. Lots of slebs live there.

(I was thinking in terms of your safety tbh- Italy is different to the UK in that the suburbs of big cities are often no-go areas, as opposed to the nicer residential areas you'd often find in the UK- but Parioli you'll be fine)

Cosyblankets · 03/09/2023 09:22

Mestre is on the mainland it's not on the islands. Again, maybe eat there in the eve it will be cheaper.
You'll need to get the bus to the bus station and then walk over the bridge. Or if it's near mestre train station the train takes you to santa lucia Station. Right on the grand canal

Original poster
LaDolceVitafor200 · 03/09/2023 09:23

Thanks everyone, it doesn't sound like we are too far from the centre of the places we are going to which is a relief!

OP posts:
ScribblingPixie · 03/09/2023 09:33

Is it only me who thinks this holiday is starting to sound quite tempting?

Melassa · 03/09/2023 09:34

Parioli is nice and residential, I used to stay nearby when I had clients in the area. I don’t think it has a metro though so you’ll need to catch buses as it’s not really walkable to the centre. Where are you in Milan?

OhamIreally · 03/09/2023 09:59

ScribblingPixie · 03/09/2023 09:33

Is it only me who thinks this holiday is starting to sound quite tempting?

Absolutely!

Oceanrudeness · 03/09/2023 10:55

Hi OP, I have been to Rome and also travelled across Italy as part of a longer holiday. What we did to keep costs down was to have the 'menu del dia' for lunch (normally set lunch like 2 course for 9 euros, 3 courses for 15 euros or something). Normally really good, traditional food. And we saw them in loads of places. Then we would share something or get a pizza slice for dinner. And snacks, drinks and ice creams from supermarkets rather than cafes. That could save you a few euros. Also public transport is pretty cheap so I wouldn't worry too much about that.