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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2014 12:38:08 GMT
Hi all, My Husband and I are off to villa maria in troulos later on this week for two weeks.Previous holidays have been with our 3 children so I really don't know how much spending money we are likely to need....any advice would be appreciated please??
We like to eat out in the evenings.....my husband will have a beer or two but I don't drink...the main idea is to have a relaxing holiday with no plans to be going on lots of trips etc...just having a quiet relaxing time.We will use the bus service to go into town a few times and do a bit of shopping but nothing particularly extravagant!
obviously,I know this will vary depending on what people like to do on holiday but any approximate advice would be appreciated!!
Many thanks.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2014 15:26:47 GMT
Apologies if I have posted in the wrong section,which I think I may have!
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Post by dennisn on May 27, 2014 20:16:42 GMT
Oh dear, how difficult, a very personal thing. We are a pair of elderlies and we don't do boozey outings. We tend to self cater frugally, but eat out at night (not in order to be cheap, simply not bothered for anything fancy). Niko at Villa Maria does a nice club sandwich for lunch (with a beer) and Vera snacks on something anti diabetic like crackers. Her breakfast is half a grapefruit bought in the nearest supermarket, a yoghurt on a couple of weetabix, whilst I have a couple of digestive biscuits with feta. We eat out at night and the most expensive we had was at the top place, Salt and Pepper, and cost us maybe 40 Euros. So we reckon on up to 50 Euros a day for food, more when we go into town and indulge in a Gyros on the harbour. Then we take spending money each. Total about 850 Euros a week all in for the pair of us. That's always too much and we bring some back, which we've done every Greek visit for many years. We never change it back to £s, because we'll be using it next time. We expect to spend more this year, our second visit to Skiathos, as we'll be doing a trip and maybe hiring a car for a couple of days - we're going for two weeks and again in September. Please remind Angela about our room for the 20th June and Niko for my club sandwich and Amstel at 1pm that day. And if you go to Salt and Pepper, remind them of my order for Bass and Vera's kalamari for 6pm that evening. Can't wait.
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Post by Woody (Admin) on May 28, 2014 6:22:05 GMT
We budget for two at about €30-40 for an evening meal, about €10-15 for daytime drinks and lunch and €8 a day for a sunbed and parasol plus a bit more for any extras, so I would say about €60-70 a day.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2014 9:00:14 GMT
Thank you Dennis and Woody for you replies.........I appreciate money is a personal issue and I hope I didn't offend anyone with the post. I really just wanted an approximate guide from people who go as a couple rather than a family and you have both helped with that,Thankyou. Dennis,I will be sure to pass your requests on!! ? We are very much looking forward to Villa maria after reading so many lovely things about it......only 2 more sleeps till lift off!! ?
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Post by *Di* on May 28, 2014 13:42:25 GMT
Thanks for posting the question Janey, I never know how much to take, don't want to take too much and silly spend.. Can I further this question by asking, how do most people take their money?.. I'm still in the era of taking so much local money for a couple of days and the rest Ive always done euro travellers cheques?.. I know this is old fashioned, I admit Ive never dared to use my card to withdraw money as scared my card may be swallowed up, or if something goes wrong? Pre-paid cards don't fill me with confidence either, so at the moment, Im thinking of taking it all in euro's?? Advice/opinions most welcome for this scaredy-cat Dianne
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Post by exgreekgod on May 28, 2014 16:03:07 GMT
Hi Dianne I went to Post Office today they do a Euro pre-paid debit style card. You can top this up on-line if you internet bank and use it at many tavernas.( Hopefully!) If there is any probs you can still draw cash out for a 2 Euro charge. I think I am going to try this and take cash as well.
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Post by kenbrenda2 on May 28, 2014 17:42:43 GMT
Hi exgreekgod, you may be pushing your luck re: acceptance of pre-paid debit cards in tavernas. I may be wrong but I don't know of any that accept them ! Plain old Euros in cash always works for me.
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Post by *Di* on May 28, 2014 18:32:47 GMT
Yes I have heard of these type of cards but knowing my luck I will run into some kind of trouble even if no one else ever has/will lol. Kenbrenda I probably will do same as you and if in last few days the money is fast disappearing pay for a couple of things with credit card. Thanks for answers both of you... Any more opinions anyone?? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Post by derbyshirelass on May 28, 2014 20:00:53 GMT
It's very difficult to advise anyone about how much money to take. I think the advise folks have already given is pretty accurate. We love Villa Maria and will be back late August for 2 weeks, this will be our 5th visit. Hope you have a great holiday.
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Post by dennisn on May 28, 2014 21:35:30 GMT
We used to use debit cards for expensive purchases, and one year had a card refused by the system - two theories were either the system was having a wobbly, or the UK Bank decided we were trying to use a stolen card.
Be aware that with debit/credit cards you have to consider what the exchange rate will be when the bank changes it and whether the bank charges extra for foreign use. And whether they charge an extra fee for withdrawing cash at an ATM (if you can find one). My experience with Greek banks has been to go in and take a ticket from a dispenser -just like the ones we used to get at delicatessen counters, then sit down and wait for your number to come up. Unfortunately, the locals all play the system by taking a ticket then going off to do their shopping and come back just in time for their turn. Takes practice and I didn't have the nerve, so I sat and waited ages. Only twice - after that I stayed away!
Nowadays we take Euros from here. We have found a local place which looks like a pawnshop, but also does foreign exchange and we seem to get a better rate there than in all the travel agents. In any event, when you do this, ALWAYS refuse the first offer and tell them you were offered at least two cents more at another place - sure, I'm naughty, but I get a more Euros for it. Also, they ask how many you want, so say 500, get an offer, then say How much for 1,000? Two cents is 20 Euros when you change £1,000 - half an evening meal. I always look up the exchange rate beforehand - the business rate is not what you get, but it works as a target. Notice the big difference between them selling and buying Euros, so there's room for manoeuvre. We always refuse the daft offer to guarantee a commission free exchange when we come home - as I said, we never exchange them because we'll be using them next visit and why would I pay £1 for 1.20 Euros, only to have to pay 1.40 Euros to get £1 back?
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Post by *Di* on May 28, 2014 21:42:21 GMT
Do they ask for proof you have been offered more dennism? I darent try that lol. Going to just hope for best with how much I think we will need and take euros I reckon... Credit card for emergency spend or if we decide on vehicle hire longer than intended? Hubby fancies hiring a quad...
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Post by dennisn on May 28, 2014 21:51:16 GMT
No, they don't ask for proof. The way I do it is to go in and say "I want Euros, so I am going round all the travel agents to see who has the best rate, so what's theirs". I don't give them chance to ask where I've been, but simply say I'm doing the rounds. If you're worried about the "prove it" thing, say they're first on the list and you'll be back if they're any good, BUT in the meantime, you believe the exchange rate is XX (look it up on Google before you set off - I walk in with my iPhone switched on and displaying the rate).
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Post by dennisn on May 28, 2014 21:56:12 GMT
Is hubby already experienced with quads? If not tell him to go carefully - they don't lean over when cornering and will turn over at the blink of an eye.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2014 22:56:57 GMT
Interesting comments from everyone- and something else I have also debated over,how to actually take my money!
Scottydi,I am also a little bit old fashioned and have previously taken a combination of euros and travellers cheques....are travellers cheques still available or not??!! This time,I am taking the majority of our spends as euros and will also take debit card just in case I don't quite have enough!! I have previously used my debit card to withdraw cash in skiathos......my bank did make a small charge and the trick is to withdraw a larger amount if possible rather than only a few euros at a time as you then end up paying much more in charges if you make several small withdrawals instead of a larger one.
I guess at the end of the day,it's whatever is personal preference but it's difficult sometimes with so many options available! I haven't checked my lottery ticket from yesterday....so maybe I won't need to worry about any of this at all!!
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