mikeb88

After an initial plan to go to thailand, i have resorted back to going to eastern europe as my initial friend who was coming has backed out. I plan to go for roughly 3 weeks, maybe a month. Starting in Prague, Buda, Belgrade, Sofia, the black sea coast and then ending in Istanbul! Im gonna be living on a budget however i do want to go out drinkin quite alot especially within the big cities. My flights cost under a £100, i want to spend approx £500-600 when im out there on everything. Is this easily possible. Im goin to use hostels to save money. Istanbul is the one city that excites me most, however i've heard its the least safe of the ones im visiting, can anyone tell me how Istanbul is, im planning on spending 4-5 days there!!!

cheers
Mike

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mbo108

Just some quick math says that even if you stick to 21 days and go up to £600 its going to be about £30/day. That could be tight in my opinion. Does that money need to pay for all your travels to and from the different cities? Also, on my trips I've always noticed that its the drinking that breaks the budget. Just some things to consider. You might wanna try getting estimates on hostels, but you're probably looking at spending at least £10-15 a night right there.

Elizabeth

I think you're gonna be fine. Thats 60 dollars a day. More than enough unless you're blowing a crapload on alcohol. Prague and Buda will be the most expensive places. I can't see a beer costing more than £1 or £1.5. In Prague you can get a bed for like 9£ at Clown and Bard I think is the one. I assume? you'll be going from Prague to Buda. I recommend you check out the Student Agency bus company. I know they do a Prague - Budapest route and they're pretty cheap with excellent quality. In Buda I recommend Goat Hostel. Its like 10E a night but don't pay the bill until you checkout and pay it in forints because they will round down some. For Belgrade I recommend Star Hostel, but have also heard good things about Black Cats hostel I think it is...too lazy to open up hostelworld right now.

SGRHewitt

I will add my thoughs... Although I have never been to Eastern Europe, I will add in that. If you're wanting to get trashed every night. Stick to buying your alcohol at liquor stores. Get yourself a big flask and carry it around with you to the bars if thats the route you want to go. Predrink at the hostel with your bought liquor, I'm not sure what would be the cheapest around those parts. Of course with the GBPound, most of the things would be cheaper than if I came with my USDollars. I feel like 600 would be plenty, just make sure to price your trip ahead of time(ie looking up the prices for all the bus/train routes, and hostel costs). You don't have to book now, but I don't know how many times a budget sheet has come in handy for things like this.

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US Soccer and Toronto FC Fanatic.

July 23 - Sept 13: Back in Europe! Off to Brest, France for a French language course. Schedule is open before August 7 and after August 28, suggestions?

mikeb88

hey thanks for the advise. the hostels u mentioned i've looked at, the clown place in prague n then the three black catz in belgrade, they seem cheap and seem to have good reviews. Im interested in the bus u mention, do u have a website or anything, i know pra-buda along distance but i dont mind having to get a bus, i checked out train prices and they seemed to cost around £40ish.

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Elizabeth

http://www.studentagency.cz/index.en.html