Is 10K enough for Europe?

With 10,000 USD, you could easily travel around Europe for a few weeks. You could stay in budget hostels and eat at local restaurants or cook your own meals. If you plan carefully and look for deals, it's possible to stretch that amount even further.



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With 10,000 USD, you could easily travel around Europe for a few weeks. You could stay in budget hostels and eat at local restaurants or cook your own meals. If you plan carefully and look for deals, it's possible to stretch that amount even further.

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Backpackers should expect to spend between $40 – $70 USD/day in Eastern Europe, $70 – $100/day in Western Europe, and $150 – $200/day in the Nordic countries.

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I Spent 7 Months In Europe On Just $5,000—Here's How I Made My Money Stretch. Europe doesn't have to be expensive. Europe isn't exactly a budget destination—you can easily splash thousands on three days in a villa with that view of Santorini, or in the perfect Parisian apartment in the Montmartre.

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So, you might be wondering - how much cash should I bring on a three-week vacation to Europe? You can use the costs in our table above, and the $100-per-day rule of thumb, to calculate how much money you'll need for your trip. So for a three-week trip, you'll be needing over $2,000.

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US dollars: I carry $100–200 as a backup. While you won't use it for day-to-day purchases, American cash in your money belt comes in handy for emergencies, such as when banks go on strike or your ATM card stops working. I've been in Greece and Ireland when every bank went on strike, shutting down without warning.

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You're required to file a form with U.S. Customs and Border Protection when entering or departing the United States with more than $10,000. Failure to report this could lead to legal penalties, including seizure of your money.

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Restaurant tips are more modest in Europe than in America. At restaurants, check the menu to see if service is included; if it isn't, a tip of 5–10 percent is normal. In most places, 10 percent is a big tip. If your bucks talk at home, muzzle them on your travels.

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From December 1 to January 22, 2017, I made my way through Europe with only a backpack and a $5,000 budget. As great of a trip as it was, I learned a lot about living out of a backpack. There are many things I would do differently if I were to go back to save money and have other experiences.

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But, if you're willing to plan in advance (we started planning all of these things about a year in advance to build up the points necessary and such) and willing to do your research and make an effort, it's very possible to spend 10 days in Europe for under $3,000, staying at great hotels and not skimping on expenses.

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The late fall and winter months—from mid to late October through mid-to-late March—are often the cheapest time to fly to Europe (though fares can spike in December).

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You will need to have euros on hand if you are travelling to one of the many countries in Europe which use the euro as legal tender. In total, there are 19 EU member countries who have adopted the Euro as their official currency. The most commonly used notes in euros are the €5, €10, €20, €50, and €100 bills.

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