[Idyllchat] affording Italy

[Bob Bestor]

Charlotte Sprawls, has identified what I believe 
to be the number one euro-beating strategy: rent 
an apartment and do your own cooking. Small, 
clean apartments in the German countryside, for 
example, can be rented starting at around 200 
euros per week. Bread, eggs, milk, fresh fruit, 
beer, wine, etc. grocery store prices are 
comparable to the U.S. You can rent a 4-door car 
with air for less than US$250 per week for 
day-trips. A carefully-planned, two-week European 
vacation for two person can be done in the 
off-season (low air fares) for $2000 to $2500 per 
person, including food and all other expenses. 
The per person price drops if there are four 
traveling together.

Such numbers show just how great Untours prices 
are. An good example is the off-season 2008 per 
person rate of $2022 (based on four persons 
traveling together) for the Rhine Untour. Of 
course, you must add food and incidentals but 
compare that to a river cruise where low-season 
prices for a 14-day vacation with air are well 
over $4000 per person in the least expensive 
cabin.

Bob Bestor



>Jim & Nancy Ibbott wrote:
>
>>We are Canadians, and we have endured a low 
>>dollar for many years.  If we had stayed home 
>>because of our low dollar, we would have missed 
>>so much!  Take heart. Listen to the Haggarts, 
>>there are lots of ways to enjoy without 
>>breaking the bank. Untours is a good start! 
>>Travelling with another couple has worked well 
>>for us - It's cheaper with 4.
>>
>I heartily agree with your final sentence.  We 
>have traveled not just with 4 but with 6 several 
>times.  Two years ago we all rented apartments 
>from 
><http://www.agriturismo.com>www.agriturismo.com 
>in two locations--one between Lucca and 
>Montecatini-Terme that was a good taking-off 
>point for exploring Pisa and the Cinque Terre 
>area, and that cost us about $35/apiece a day; 
>and another south of Florence in a small village 
>called Gaville, close to Figline val d'Arno, 
>which was convenient for trips both to Florence 
>by train as well as car trips to Siena, 
>San-Gimignano, and Arezzo.  Again a beautiful 
>apartment with two bedrooms, two baths, and a 
>large sofa bed in the living room, which cost us 
>each about $40.  One just has to get online and 
>search out bargains.  It entails a lot of 
>research and reading, but it is the inexpensive 
>way to travel!  And one of these years when we 
>are tired of doing our own research we intend to 
>make use of the Untour expertise!
>
>Charlotte Sprawls
>
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