Budgeting advice

T-rev

Heading off on a huge trip Interrailing, India, then SE Asia for about 7/8 months before I land in Oz.

Budgeted about €7,500 until I get to Oz. Now I am freaking out a little thinking this wont be enough.

Would the daily budget rates lonely planet give you be pretty accurate?

Doing up a day to day budget for the whole trip just to make sure that I will have enough money.

Any tips or advice on doing up a budget or a forecast?

dory

It's always very hard to budget for someone else without knowing how basic you're willing to go and how much you drink/smoke.

Inter-railing will definitely put up the price. Forget the lonely planet estimates, go look at accommodation on one of the many internet sites. That will be your biggest expense after transport. Is this 7,500 including rail tickets and flights?
I've been travelling around India for the past while and I'm averaging 23 Euro a day or so, and I'm not going out at night and not eating in very good restaurants (but not street food either). But I'm sure if I had to I could spend less than that.

Look into couchsurfing if you're worried. Especially for Europe as that's very expensive. If I were in this position I would cut out Europe and spend 1000 a month in India and SE Asia. You can have a great time there for that much, but a very tight time in Europe.
But again, depends on how you are with money and what else you will have to spend this money on - insurance, injections, a new backpack?

shuffles03

Dory's estimates for India and S.E. Asia are spot on. That's what I'm looking at too. I'm heading off in October spending a month in India, a month in Thailand, 2 weeks in Bali and then onto NZ and have budgeted €1,000 for India and €1,000 for Thailand. Altogether we'll both have €7,500 - €8,000 each.

I was in Thailand in '08 and spent way less than €1,000 in a month and that was after staying in Phuket, 10 nights in Phi Phi, koh Samui, and a week in Ko Phangan. Although I'm more of a beach hut kind of person instead of hotels.

Europe will definitely hike your price up. Interrailing is something both myself and my g/f want to do as well but we decided that it wasn't feasible to fit it into our itinerary due to the high costs of accommodation and food in Europe.

Have you booked the trip yet? If not I'd suggest leaving interrailing for another trip and then the €7,500 you've budgeted will easily see you through your travels.

T-rev

Well flights are booked to London, and then Italy, so interrailing is a definite. Not sure if the interrail pass will be feasible though as I found much cheaper train tickets and buses also so it works out cheaper that way. Also spending good amount of time in Eastern Europe where its generally cheaper than Western Europe.

Budgeted €3000 for 7 weeks in Europe, and that gives €55 a day. Thinking of cutting it short 1/2 weeks and spending more time in India to be honest to try and save money that way. There are three of us going and we plan to cook our meals each day to save money on eating out in Europe. Not ideal but really want to include Europe on a shoestring. Will check out the couchsurfing thing. Dunno if they would have room for 3 people tho, worth a shot.

That leave €4500 for 4/5 months in Asia. Am I being too ambitious? Have a credit card that I will probably use if my money runs out.

blorg

€4,500 is more than enough for 4-5 months in Asia. I spent six months in India/Nepal on €250-300 a month. Now in China which is much more expensive but I reckon €500/month. Beer is the item that will seriously increase your costs in some of these countries, so if you can forego that a bit you are laughing. Spirits and cannabis (legal in parts of India) are generally a lot cheaper if you still want something. There being three of you should reduce accommodation costs as you can share.

Europe is expensive, but it is more the accommodation than the food, particularly in the East where there is some great street food for very little money. I honestly wouldn't bother cooking for yourself.

Turkey is a great country and Iran even more so; try to include those overland to India. If you want to avoid Pakistan you can get a ferry to Sharjah (Dubai) and plenty of cheap flights from there to India (figure around €120.) Or indeed direct from Tehran.

blorg

€4,500 is more than enough for 4-5 months in Asia. I spent six months in India/Nepal on €250-300 a month. Now in China which is much more expensive but I reckon €500/month. Beer is the item that will seriously increase your costs in some of these countries, so if you can forego that a bit you are laughing. Spirits and cannabis (legal in parts of India) are generally a lot cheaper if you still want something. There being three of you should reduce accommodation costs as you can share.

Europe is expensive, but it is more the accommodation than the food, particularly in the East where there is some great street food for very little money. I honestly wouldn't bother cooking for yourself.

Turkey is a great country and Iran even more so; try to include those overland to India. If you want to avoid Pakistan you can get a ferry to Sharjah (Dubai) and plenty of cheap flights from there to India (figure around €120.) Or indeed direct from Tehran.