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

[LaDolceVitafor200]

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?!

No thats for us to arrange, realised when we got the vouchers through

I'm hoping that buses run that late, if not an uber? will research though

Taxis at Rome airport have a fixed rate tariff iirc.

Please update the thread when you're back.
Hope you have an absolutely awesome time!

Ciampino or Fiumicino?

Flexbus is like a cheap version of National Express and operates all over Italy and lots of countries.

Make sure that you know where the Flexbus stops are in the city. (where I live, the Flexbus picks up and drops off at a motorway service station about 8 km away, but the ticket still says my city to Rome (or wherever)

What's the travel company? I've googled what you said and can only find tours of 8 days for about €1200 each.

Just back from Venice, where - if she stuck to the basics - a full margherita pizza was €8, you could buy a sandwich at lunch for €3-4, and presumably breakfast is included. As you get less carb-based it’s more expensive. Transport on trains is pretty cheap, compared to here. It was €3.45 one-way to somewhere about 40 mins away. Overall, we were spending around €200 a day for four of us (two adults, two teenagers). Though we were self-catering did eat our evening meal or lunch in a few days.

Actually, I was thinking we’ve got used to the UK being relatively expensive so cheaper to be abroad. But what would she spend at home in a week?

Ah, thank you, so glad I asked for advice on here, as I realised last night how badly prepared we were. She saw a great deal and thought what a bargain, when she told me, I thought same, but we hadn't realised how expensive Italy is, so are better prepared now!

Hi Ciampino

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@LaDolceVitafor200

Oh ok ! In that case the Rome to Rio app is really good for getting around and buying tickets! And estimated costs for each option. I used it in Venice to get to the water park which is outside the city!

Just back from Italy, €1- 1.50 for bottle of water, €3.50 on average for a coffee, €6 per night ‘city tax’ soon adds up.

Desenzano is an hour and a half away from Milan on the fast train, as a PP said it’s nearer Verona and on the train route to Venice. From Desenzano though you can visit Sirmione, which is a picturesque spa town on Lake Garda.

Last bus leaves Ciampino at 22.40 every evening because the airport is in a residential area and flights aren't allowed to land after a certain time.

Thank you, thats good to know! Uber it is then

Hi op this would alarm me.

What Maddness why not take more and don't spend it if you don't need too why take such a tiny amount of money!

Ubers are expensive in Italy, avoid. There is a bus from Ciampino and taxis have a fixed rate, although beware, it’s only between fixed points in the city centre, Parioli will not be subject to a fixed fare. You’re lucky in that Ciampino is practically Rome, unlike Fiumicino, so less far to travel, but it is less well connected nowadays as only Ryanair really go there. Do you have the Moovit app? If so it will indicate possible routes and times to get there.

by the way, is your return flight from Bergamo Orio al Serio? It might explain the choice of Desenzano for Milan although there are places nearer. If so Bergamo Alta is very picturesque and nice to visit.

Hi, its ok, we both of use didn't realise how expensive Italy is right now and were sucked in by a cheap headline offer for an italy multi city break

We are doubling budget and taking cc after reading posts on this thread, but will still be a little bit careful!

I know but it's such a small amount of money and the refusal to budge on amount

Oops I see someone else has already flagged the last bus time. Does your flight really arrive after? Usually they wait for the last flight, where it’s before midnight. Failing that can you not contact the B&B and ask if someone can come and pick you up fit a small fee?

Local taxes per night can be from 2 to 7 euros per person. 200 is not enough. You need to be on similar budget to be able to enjoy it so you can do most things together!

We have been there and it worth visiting.

Lake Garda is beautiful
I'd happily sit and take in the scenery with a bottle of water!

Novi hazelnut chocolate in a big bar from the supermarket - so delicious and great for bus journeys!

It means under the seat in front, not overhead!

So a shortage of clothes and personal items too!

Blimey OP, you are a much braver person than me.

Does your friend plan on visiting museums etc? She might be content with wandering around, not eating much nor drinking wine, in which case it would be good to split up during the day, and meet again in the evening,so you can do your own thing, spend what YOU want, and eat well at lunch...and stay friends.

Public transport lets you see a real part of the country, so that's part of the experience.

DO NOT subsidise your friend as she wont pay you back. And dont feel guilty about not doing so.
(On a slightly different tangent, did you read about the fake heiress Anna Delvey... who invited her friend on holiday and left her friends with ALL the debt? )

Any advance OP on €250 from your friend?

I last went to Italy in 1 BC* and couldn't get over how dear even the Carrefour was. How does the average Italian afford to live?

I found the trains sensible though. Fares seemed to be calculated on distance, and a return was twice the single, not like the conplicated system we have here.

*Before Covid

Yes! This thread has been helpful, we are taking 400 each and a credit.card and Will Be careful