daily spending

"Janet Burling" <janetb@zipworld.com.au> wrote:
> how much spending money I would need each day . . . all
> accommodation paid and breakfast and dinner included.

So what're y'gonna buy? Lunch? Ten Euros.

"Icono Clast" wrote
| "Janet Burling" <janetb@zipworld.com.au> wrote:
| > how much spending money I would need each day . . . all
| > accommodation paid and breakfast and dinner included.
| So what're y'gonna buy? Lunch? Ten Euros.

The problem is that a tour may not offer many places to choose from - if the
driver takes you to an expensive restaurant for lunch because he gets a
kick-back (bribe) from the proprietor, then that may be where everyone eats,
and it could be awkward or impractical to try to eat elsewhere.

If the nature of the tour is one where you get to walk around towns on your
own for a few hours then the choice will be wider.

Owain

"Janet Burling" <janetb@zipworld.com.au> wrote in message
news:BgqRa.659$sI.31859@nasal.pacific.net.au...
> I'm planning a trip to Europe and would like some idea of how much
spending
> money I would need each day. I'll be going on an escorted tour, all
> accommodation paid and breakfast and dinner included. The Australian
dollar
> is worth about 55 cents $US.

Tour guides are often paid a percentage of sales under the table by vendors
to escort you to specific shopping areas, whether you want to go or not.
You're basically paying someone to take you shopping. So you might as well
take lots of money for shopping, since that is probably the _real_ goal of
your tour guide. These escorted tours also choose the slowest and least
comfortable means of transport possible in Europe - packed motor coaches.
You'll also be getting a poor value for accommodations and meals compared to
independent travel planning. I also have yet to see an escorted tour
package with a reasonable and efficient itinerary that minimizes the amount
of travel in proportion to the time to actually see the destinations.

Sometimes it's fun to see the tourists being herded around like cattle, as I
watch them while I'm enjoying a casual meal in some European cafe. Too bad
they don't put bells around their necks so that independent tourists and
locals can more easily avoid the herds if desired. At least I can avoid
sharing their feeding troughs, uh.. buffets...and tourist-fare menus, and
instead choose nice restaurants that serve local human food.

"J Quick" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:orxRa.119$g76.68@newssvr24.news... .
>
> "Janet Burling" <janetb@zipworld.com.au> wrote in message
> news:BgqRa.659$sI.31859@nasal.pacific.net.au...
> > I'm planning a trip to Europe and would like some idea of how much
> spending
> > money I would need each day. I'll be going on an escorted tour, all
> > accommodation paid and breakfast and dinner included. The Australian
> dollar
> > is worth about 55 cents $US.
>
> Tour guides are often paid a percentage of sales under the table by
vendors
> to escort you to specific shopping areas, whether you want to go or not.

Under the table? It is an openly accepted practice, nothing shady about it.

> You're basically paying someone to take you shopping. So you might as
well
> take lots of money for shopping, since that is probably the _real_ goal of
> your tour guide.

Or, you can just admire the merchandise without buying anything.

> These escorted tours also choose the slowest and least
> comfortable means of transport possible in Europe - packed motor coaches.

How else would you escort 30 people on a 14 day tour of Europe?

> You'll also be getting a poor value for accommodations and meals compared
to
> independent travel planning. I also have yet to see an escorted tour
> package with a reasonable and efficient itinerary that minimizes the
amount
> of travel in proportion to the time to actually see the destinations.
>
> Sometimes it's fun to see the tourists being herded around like cattle, as
I
> watch them while I'm enjoying a casual meal in some European cafe. Too
bad
> they don't put bells around their necks so that independent tourists and
> locals can more easily avoid the herds if desired. At least I can avoid
> sharing their feeding troughs, uh.. buffets...and tourist-fare menus, and
> instead choose nice restaurants that serve local human food.
>
>