This isn’t a “in a perfect Amsterdam world” price list. These are, in fact, prices that you can expect to find when purchasing everyday travel items in the Dutch capital. If you pay a bit more than what I’ve listed it’s fine. If you pay double, you’re getting taken for a ride!

The most I’d pay in Amsterdam for a…

1. Coffee: €2

Don’t bother with the classy cafes and specialty coffee stores. Hit the authentic Dutch brown bars for a classic coffee with a cookie on the side. (Here’s my favorite café.)

2. Croissant: Under €1

Head to the grocery store Albert Hein for freshly baked goods, from ham and cheese filled croissants to pain au chocolat and other pastries.

Cheapo OJ squeezed on the streets. Photo: davidstanleytravel

3. Fresh orange juice: €2.50

Again, the grocery stores will usually offer fresh-pressed fruit juices, although outdoor markets like Albert Cuypmarkt and Dappermarkt will juice on the spot.

4. Beer: €2.30

Beer is plentiful here, and if you’re not fussy you can find small glasses for less than €2. Paying more than €3 for a Pilsner is paying too much. (Here’s a list of my favorite bars in Amsterdam for beer.)

5. Wine: €2.30

House wine in an average glass can cost almost the same as a beer; It depends on what’s available and how sophisticated your palate is.

6. Café tosti: €3

A toasted cheese, ham and cheese, or cheese and tomato sandwich is a common snack offered at cafes and bars. Cheap and tasty! (Ask for ketchup.) Also see my list of other favorite cheap snacks.

7. Bicycle: €40

Those looking to buy a bike should venture online, as listing sites like Craigslist and MarktPlaats offer used classic oma fiets bicycles at a low price.

8. Bike rental: €7 a day

Sadly, the most popular rental bike companies usually charge the most. Take a bit of effort and research your options. The mom and pop rentals (like StarBikes) offer great deals.

9. Movies: €7.50

Mainstream theaters are pricey, but catch a matinee at independent cinemas like Kriterion, Studio K or Het Ketelhuis and be rewarded with cheaper ticket prices.

10. Concert: €15

Concerts in Amsterdam can cost nothing at all, but even the popular bands touring sell tickets for half the price you’d pay in the US.

11. Postcard: FREE

Keep an eye out for funky, funny and free postcards ready to grab in shelves near the bathrooms of cafes, bars and museums.

12. Dinner for two (including drinks): €30

Head to up-and-coming neighborhoods like Oost, Oude West and Westerpark for the best deals, and steer clear of the Center, Jordaan and De Pijp. (Read my suggestions for easy ways to save on dining.)

13. Coffeeshop joint: €3

Never buy randomly downtown, and always do your homework to find the best, non-tourist trap coffeeshops that offer the safest deal. (Confused?)

14. Cocktail: €5

Look out for particular “cocktail nights” and happy hours across town for offers, from Café Cuba at Nieuwmarkt to Café Roest in the East.

The Hotel Museumzicht is cheap, charming and has views of the Rijksmuseum.

15. Hotel room: €65

Bottom line is to never settle for something overpriced around Dam Square or the Red Light District. While the oldest part of the city might sound charming, it’s 16th century buildings are riddled with problems (and rooms here cost more). Check out our budget hotel recommendations for Amsterdam.

16. Museum entrance: €8 – €10

The must-sees cost more, but the smaller museums like FOAM, Hortus Botanical Gardens, and the Amsterdam Historic Museum are all great alternatives at €10 or less. (Also see my list of 5 free museums in Amsterdam.)

17. Taxi: €5

Sharing a cab with a group will be cheap. A taxi home alone will always cost more. If you pay more, you’re better off with a tram for €2.80 or the night bus for €4.50.

18. Bottled water: €.30

Again, grocery stores are where it’s at for the cheapest food and drink in Amsterdam. Bottled water especially can be marked up at a kiosk for €2!

19. Transport to airport: €3.90

This is the price for a one-way train ticket from almost any Amsterdam station to Schipol, and the journey is made in less than 20 minutes. (Also read my tips efficiently navigating Schipol.)

20. Umbrella: Nothing

Buying an umbrella in Amsterdam usually means paying yourself to throw something away very soon. Stick to a light rain jacket.

The post The most I’d pay in Amsterdam for a… appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

While I’ve mentioned some great ideas for ultra-cheap meals in other posts, here’s a look at the cost of everyday items you might want to buy at a grocery store. Most of these can easily be kept in your hotel room and all will save you some some serious moolah. (Also be sure to also check out this post on Barcelona’s grocery stores.)

Foods easily stored in a hotel room that don’t require refrigeration: 

• a bunch of bananas from the Canary Islands (5): €2.70
• a bottle of Raimat wine: €4.45
• a bag of 4 peaches: €1.20 (seasonal)
• mandarin orange juice: €1.02
• bar of chocolate: ¢.82
• large “gordal” olives: €2.50

Let’s say you’ve got a mini fridge in your room:

• a six-pack of Moritz beer, made in Barcelona: €5.
• a can of Coke: ¢.56
• a bottle of white Blume wine: €3.50
• five tomatoes on the vine: €2.02
• a tub of hummus: €1.39
• three herbed goat cheese rolls: €3.75
• can of “bonito,” a sort of tuna fish:€1.82
• a baguette of white bread: ¢.60
• a baguette of homemade, cereal bread: €1.20 (or more)
• pack of 4 yogurts, locally produced: €1.47

Let’s say you can use a kitchen, because you’re staying at a hostel with kitchen access (like the Itaca & Hostel One Paralelo):

• brick of tofu: €2.60
• box of brown rice: €1.85
• large box of Barilla pasta: €2.20
• liter of milk from Catalonia: ¢.84
• strong coffee: €2.90
• pasta sauce in a jar: ¢.84

Perk up!

If you have a kitchen at your hostel, you’ll save big having coffee in every morning. A coffee with milk in a cafe would cost you €1.50 -€2, yet, to do it yourself:

• the entire 250 grams of espresso roast coffee: about €2.80
• a liter of milk ¢.84

Clearly, it adds up fast. If you don’t, I also have some suggestions for cheapo places to grab a good breakfast or brunch.

Do-it-yourself lunch

Also, if lunch out in Barcelona costs €10-€15 a person, it makes good budget sense to buy:

• some noodles: €2.20
• pasta sauce: ¢.84
• bottle of Blume wine: €3.50
• some bread: ¢.60

And now, voila!, you’ve got yourself a respectable lunch for four for about €2 each.

You’re welcome!

The post How much does food cost in Barcelona? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

While rates and prices vary, here’s what I would generally expect to pay in Madrid:

A drink at a bar

Depends on the bar! A very swanky spot in Madrid could sell their cocktails at €15 a piece, or more. Generally though, a beer goes for between €1.50-3.50, and it’s about the same for wine. If you end up in a wine bar look carefully at the prices because they will vary depending on the label. A fine glass of wine from one of Spain’s best cellars can easily go for €5-€6, which is still a pretty good deal!

Normally, a mixed drink in an average bar will go for €7, maybe less if there’s happy hour or the place is a bit of a dive. Locals usually drink beer before dinner if they’re just having a drink with a friend. Wine is had with dinner. Cocktails and mixed drinks are had after dinner.

A bottle of wine at the store

At €1.50-3.50 a glass, you might as well go get a bottle at the grocery store! While you will find bottles of Spanish red, white and rose for as low as €1.50 a bottle, please do not buy these, they are for cooking.

As a rule of thumb, spend more than €3.50 for an acceptable bottle of wine. Spend between €8 and €12 for a darn good bottle, and over €20 for something really special.

Of course it’s possible to spend a lot more, but most of us stick to the €5 range. For example, if I am going to a dinner party, I will spend more on the wine I take than if it’s for me. At home I’ll drink €4 bottles, but to a party I’d bring something in the €8 and €12 range.

I also take care to look at the label and DO, or where the wine is from. Wine is like art, everyone likes something different; but I tend to go with a Priorat or Rioja for red, a Rueda or Penedès for white, and Navarra for rosé.

A cafe con leche, etc.

Again, it depends on where you are, but a coffee with milk or, cafe con leche, really shouldn’t cost more than €2-€2.50. A cortado will cost between €1.20-€1.50. A normal tea should be around €2, but will be much more if it’s some fancy blend served in a french press. A freshly squeezed OJ usually costs just under €3, and soft drinks and water around €1.50-€2.

Aspirin, toothpaste, etc.

You’ll notice that in Spain the pharmacy works a little differently than in North America. The pharmacy is the place to get a box of Aspirin for your sangria headache, but it’s also the place to buy a toothbrush, floss, Q-tips, lotions and sunscreen. While Aspirin and other drugs can only be found in the pharmacy, other items, like a toothbrush, can be found at your local grocery store for much less.

A box of Aspirin costs about €3 and if you buy it in powder form (works faster if you’re really suffering) it costs €6. Sunscreen can go for as low as €6 to €17 for specialty brands like Avene.

Lunch and dinner

The best deal is always the menú del diá, which is usually served Monday – Friday in most restaurants and bars. If the restaurant you’re in does not offer a menú del diá between 1 pm and 4 pm, then you’re probably in a touristy place or a really pricey establishment.

A menú del diá or set three course lunch, can go for as low as €8 and as much as €20 (or more), while the average is about €12. Outside of menú del diá times, the average for a sit-down meal in a restaurant is between €15-€30. Of course you’ll always pay less if you just grab something quick at a cafe or bar (as low as €5 for a sandwich and a drink).

Your top price?

Would you pay more or less for anything Regina has mentioned here? Share with us in our comments section!

Also in our Madrid Guide: If you’re particular about the top price you’d pay for a place to sleep, check out our reviews of hotels in Madrid, all visited and inspected by our editors and chosen because they’re clean, central and cheap. Read more in our Madrid guide.

The post Madrid: The most we’d pay for everyday items appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

To avoid hearing me groan when you tell me what you paid for your sandwich, here’s a list of suggested “price ceilings” for some Parisian basics. It’s a good list to keep handy to save a few euros or, you know, if you’re ever a contestant on a French version of “The Price is Right”…

1. Glass of wine

While beer and cocktails can dent the wallet pretty quickly, wine should never be too expensive in a standard café or bar. Avoid the more specialized wine shops and wine bars and opt for a glass of red or white at a more low-key joint. Limit: €4

2. Steak frites

Most cafés and bistrots serve traditional yet affordable French fare. From the well-traveled but enjoyable Chartier to the classic Les Philosophes in the Marais, a cut of meat and frites shouldn’t be a splurge. Limit: €18

3. Walking/bike tour

With multiple free walking tour options, some tourists prefer a private tour to explore the city more intimately. With dozens of choices out there, it’s hard to pick. A walking tour with Oui Paris Tours or a bike tour with Fat Tire is a great, affordable way to get to know the city. Limit: €30

4. Electronics adapter

Many a traveler forgets that outlets and plugs are different in Europe. Souvenir and electronic stores sell adapters to make your chargers fit into the wall outlets, but the cheapest ones can be found at BHV, the all-purpose department store in the Marais. Limit: €10

5. Crepe/Sandwich

Street food can be found everywhere, so prices are competitive. At lunchtime, the choice often comes down to a sandwich or a crepe. For a gooey ham and cheese crepe or a chicken and veggie sandwich, I never worry about having enough money. Limit: €5

6. Clothing

With wintertime approaching, having appropriate socks (ones without holes) seems important. Unprepared visitors often wonder where to get the latest Parisian fashion as they shiver in their tee shirts. Do like the Parisians do and head to the closest H&M or, better yet, to Japanese department store Uniqlo by the Opera Garnier for some good shopping and great site-seeing. Limit: €40 pants, €40 sweater, €3 socks

7. Café

Instead of 7-11 and Dunkin’ Donuts, the French head to the café for a pick-me-up that won’t break the bank. A café (an espresso) may leave some tourists longing for a cup of Joe, but for mere euros you can squat a seat for as long as you’d like. (Tip: Stand at the cafe’s bar for cheaper prices.) Limit: €2

8. Theatre/Opera tickets

If you packed a top hat or a ball gown anticipating a night at the theatre, there is hope. Last minute “rush” tickets for the Opera Garnier and Bastille are extremely affordable if you are patient enough to line up 2-3 hours before the show. Théâtre du Châtelet, which often hosts musicals like Les Misérables and Sweeney Todd, offers rush tickets up until the minute before curtain. Limit: €30

9. Pastry

Unless you’re going to try the trendiest macaron or a French-style cupcake, pastries are a steal in Paris. Bakeries all over the city will serve up the best flaky croissants, lemon tarts, or apple pastries for mere coins. Limit: €3

10. Entrance to a bar/club

If you choose to go to a bar or club on the Champs-Elysées, good luck to you. Personally, I’d never enter a place that made me pay a cover. There are plenty of nightspots on rue de Lappe by the Bastille or in the winding streets of Montmartre that will keep the budget-conscious partier happy.  Limit: €0

What do you think, Cheapos?  What other price limits can you imagine in Paris? Share your own “price ceilings” in our comments section.

Also in our guide: Planning a trip to Paris? Our editors have inspected, reviewed and photographed Paris’ best inexpensive accommodations. We’ve got picks all over town, in the Latin Quarter, near the Louvre, in the Marais and more central neighborhoods.

The post Paris Prices: The maximum we’d pay for everyday items appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here’s our handy cheat sheet for what you can expect to pay for some basic items in Paris, as well as tips for finding a cheaper alternative.

Cup of coffee: €2.50+

While a simple espresso generally will cost around €2.50-€3 when sipped seated at a café, anything fancier (latte, café crème, etc.) is going to tack on an extra euro or more in price. Cafés in central Paris also increase their prices for other basic items because they know tourists will pay.

When grabbing a coffee at a touristed café (or any café, for that matter), stand at the bar with the locals and pay half the price. For a leisurely café experience, why not venture to a spot along the Canal St. Martin in the 11th arrondissement where prices should be more reasonable?

Ticket to the Louvre: €15 (at museum) or €17 (online

That full-price admission ticket for the Louvre’s permanent collections doesn’t even include the €6 audio guide.

For a cheaper alternative, visit the museum on Wednesday or Friday evening from 6 PM to 9:45 PM for €6 and download the free Louvre app from the Apple store before you go. Better yet, aim for the first Sunday of the month when museum admission is free (although crowds can be a problem later in the day).

Many other museums also offer reduced rates for evening admission and most participate in the free first Sundays.

Lunch at a restaurant: €15+

Even at lunchtime, a main course at a moderately-priced restaurant in a touristy neighborhood will probably run upwards of €15 — and that doesn’t account for wine or other beverages.

Instead, pick up a prepared sandwich at a boulangerie for about €5 or go for the “formule” that includes a sandwich, dessert, and drink for €5-€7. For a really cheap alternative, pick up a €1 baguette, a €3 bottle of supermarket wine (still tasty even though it’s so cheap!), and some cheese and find a spot for a picnic.

Pint of beer in a bar: €6

Even when compared to New York or London, I find alcohol to be pretty expensive in Paris at even the diviest of bars.

However, in supermarkets, it’s fairly cheap. Since drinking in public is legal in most places in Paris (and even in places where it isn’t, most cops will turn a blind eye if you’re discreet about it), you can opt for a less expensive night out by picking up a bottle of wine or a couple of beers at the nearest Franprix and finding a place to sit along the Seine.

If you do want to order a beer at a bar, try a pint of French-made 1664. But to really feel like a local, ask for “un seize” (meaning “16” – the first part of the beer’s name in French).

Add your tips

How have you kept your expenses low in Paris? Have some tips to share? Please add them in our comments section below!

The post Paris Prices: What you can expect to pay—and how to pay less appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.