How much spending money for 9 days in the south of France and Italy?

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I’m off to the south of France and Italy in the summer.

I’m away for nine days in total - but that’s including one travel day between France and Italy, and two days at the racing. So those are automatically cheaper days because I’ll take a picnic.

I’m staying in Airbnbs, and don’t plan on eating every meal out - I’ll try and do at least one a day at the apartment/packed to take with me. Whether that’s breakfast, lunch or dinner.

I think I’ll be taking about £1,000, plus £200 emergency spending money. Accommodation and all travel is paid for.

Is this enough?

YABU - you’ll need way more

YANBU - plenty

Is it just you? Are you hiring a car? Doing any sightseeing which requires paying for etc? £1000 for one person for essentially 7 days worth of food seems like a crazy amount of money to me!

Just me. There’s a couple of days of sightseeing in Italy, but that’ll be done via public transport, maybe some museums?

Why do you think you can’t survive on £1200 for 9 days? 🙄

I just know how fast money seems to evaporate when you’re on holiday

Fixed price menus in France are around 30€ dinner for 3 courses, a 2 course lunch €15-20. Glass of wine c €6. Use the SNCF app for trains if you can pre-book. If you're planning picnics take a reusable plastic box and a sports with you?

£1k is loads.
Also to say in France its a total joy to sit alone for dinner as its really common!

I’m definitely going to take something for a picnic - thinking those little collapsible ones might work?

Do people “take” a specific amount of money now? Surely you just have a card?

That sounds a crazy amount of money to be spending over 9 days when you are on your own. The two big spends on trips is alcohol and food. You seem to have sorted food. If you are on your own you can’t be spending too much on alcohol because you need to stay safe.

Do some research about the places you are going to so that you are not wasting too much on escorted day tours. If you are going in the near future you might need to Google “how can I keep cool in France and Italy?”

oh and take Factor 50 and travel insurance

It’s just how much I’ll have available to me for day to day spends etc

It’s an incredibly expensive area but I think it’s just about enough. Have a great time.

Then surely if it’s all you have it doesn’t matter whether anyone else thinks it is or isn’t enough?

We interrailed as a family of 6 over Easter. Kids aged 7 to 14. We'd paid our travel and accommodation in advance, so paid for food / museums / ice creams / souvenirs out. We spent about £1600 in 8 days. Had a couple of Maccies and a couple of accommodation carpet picnics but yes, £1000 for just you is completely do-able.

I just had a Revolut card on my phone app and paid by tapping everywhere. Only came unstuck with a local bus journey and even that I could have done online in advance if I had spoken better German 😂 As was I just withdrew some Euros from a cashpoint nearby.

It also depends where you are in tne South of France and Italy and what your expectations are

We are currently in Toulouse and it is possibe to eat and drink well here fsirly reasonably, lots of fixed price menus and many bars do a happy hour in early to mid evening.

If you have an apartment the town market hslls are good places to buy food quite reasonably as well.

If you are going to the races, which course? Food and wine should be reasonable, just don't be tempted to blow too much on the betting. Two days racing, 1× races, easily €120.

Have a great time.

Having been to both countries recently food was largely the same price as here (though wine was cheaper!), I'd say 50-60 euro for food per day then museums were anywhere between 5-20 euro, we book popular ones in advance. Public transport is cheap compared to the UK so that would be a couple of euros a day.

I'd say £1k would give you plenty of money with extra left over for some shopping! Everything is card payments now in my experience but I'd take £20 euro in case you need change for a bus or to use a public bathroom.

That's plenty for one person. We've regularly gone to France (all over, including the south) as a family over the years and have done it on £1500 for a family of four for 14 nights. Admittedly this was largely self catering, but you can find some lovely restaurants, lower priced, if you stay away from tourist traps. For example, in Nice, head to the old town back streets for a meal. But honestly, on your budget you could afford some pricier ones if you wanted.

Keep in mind that you have to pay entry for museums in France and Italy. They’re usually a bit cheaper if you pre-book online. Other incidental costs like coffees and even €2 for a public toilet can add up!

I think your budget is spot on. £100 a day for food and trips isn’t excessive. Food in the south of France is expensive. In fact, it can often be cheaper to eat out than to prepare a meal yourself. You could do it cheaper but you’re on holiday and don’t want to just eat toast for breakfast every day!

We spent a fortune on food when we visited a couple of years ago…..last year the same. More expensive each time we travel. Average at least 100 euros a day for the basics…..enjoy your travels.

Presumably you have a credit card so just use that if you run out. Get one that doesn’t charge for transactions abroad.

I suppose you’re talking about car racing in Italy, not horses.
So you’ll be in the Monza area? Not great on public transport or cheap restaurants. You’ll probably need to budget for taxis.
Any sort of restaurant has risen in price in the last few years. Even a pizza is €20+.
I think your budget is doable if you alternate low and high spend days but not particularly generous.

Sounds like plenty, but only you know what your typical spending patterns are, ie fixed price deal vs spendy fine dining with wine from the expensive end of the list.

I'd just make sure I had at least two payment cards where I could access money that didn't charge currency loading/fees, spend as I saw fit but I don't generally buy/eat things that looked overly expensive, I wouldn't think it as having 'spending money' or a budget as such because I'd not expect to get through that amount of money in 9 days.

I remember in Rome a couple of years ago, a pizza/pasta with wine dinner was less than it would have been in the UK - this was a nice local restaurant in a side street, not the touristy ones in the big square.

Definitely no fine dining here!

It’s enough, but you don’t need all that in cash. I would take 200 in cash and spend the rest on card.

We have just done 9 days in Gran Canaria and spent £1200 for both of us, eating out every night, a couple of lunches out but mainly had sandwchiches and crisps at the apartment for lunch. Plenty of drinks both out and in the apartment, so essentially, I think you'll have plenty!

We put a specific amount of money on our revolute card, so yes, we take a specific amount but could always transfer more of we needed to.