I am SOOOO excited. Yes, all capitalized and many o's don't really convey just how exciting this is to me. I have dreamed of this for years and years. I actually had a trip booked once a few years ago but it didn't work out - long story, but the exciting this is this year I am going!
And I am going on a budget. A serious budget. Since I make very little money, I have no choice. But that is okay - because I am going! I totally know how to make a budget work and have a fabulous time. I am not big into souvenirs, even if I had all the money in the world I wouldn't buy much. I'm not there to "shop". I can do that from the comfort of my own home, in my pj's with it -15 outside. What I can't do is sit and eat a gelato watching the water from a fountain that Bernini sculpted in the 1600's listening to people speak Italian.
Can you tell I am excited? If not, then let me use a few more exclamation marks, lol.
I though I would blog about it for my own memoires in the years to come. I blog a little, a very little, but actually love going through and reading things later. I will write as to someone reading it, like I am giving information, but in reality it is just for myself.
So I got my trip on expedia under "bundled deals". It was an unbelievable price. 752.00 for 10 day trip. That included airfare and hote. Seriously. And it doesn't appear to be a flea bag hotel. 3.9 stars out of 5 (so call it a 4 star hotel) in a good area.
How did I get this deal. Luck and patience. Mom and I looked at the deal of the day which was a the Welcome Piram hotel in Rome and the price was about 1150 per person for 10 day trip including airfare. We though that was a great deal. It really is considering we were just about to take a trip to Mexico at an all inclusive resort for about that same cost for five days. But, since we were just about to leave on a that trip to Mexico we did not book. We waited and I continued to monitor the hotel. The price floated 100.00 up and down ever few days I looked. I didn't check every day, but maybe every 2-3 days. About 3-4 weeks after first seeing the trip I walked into Mom's house on my lunch hour and though I would check it again. 752.00! Mom couldn't grab the credit card quick enough (thank God I have a Mom who will do this for me and I can pay her back in the following weeks or months) and we booked it. The whole time I was booking I kept thinking they are going to send me a notice that says "no longer available". But we booked, got confirmation for the hotel and within a couple hours confirmation on air flight.
Flight is on American Airlines. If booked separately, it is 1200.00 pp. That is price just for flight. I still can't figure it out.
What helped is that we saw hotel, and I had researched it and decided it was a decent hotel to stay at (actually seems like a nice hotel). I had read many reviews so when the deal came up I didn't hesitate to start my research - which may have ended up losing this great deal.
We did add insurance on for like an extra 59.00 pp so in case we need to cancel. We booked five months out (which allows me plenty of time to pay it off before going, and time to do my extensive research is which saves tons of money) so insurance made sense to us but I am not usually a bit fan of such things.
So in reality I spent just a tad over 800 for flight/airfare/insurance. Rome - 10 days.
Now, when I get there I need to finish out my budgeting.
Transfers to and from hotel
Other transportation
Souvenirs
Hotel extra charges (there is a small fee I know)
Food
Tours
Extras
Am I missing anything? I have already begun my research. We are not Michelin level diners and prefer much less fussy meals. I've searched cheap Rome eats and someone acts like 30.00 for a dinner is a "great value". Seriously people? Not in my book. If I paid that for 10 days that is 300.00 on just dinners - not including lunch and breakfast or snacks. I would like a goal of 300.00 for ALL food for entire trip. Not sure if that is possible yet as I am still researching and I am not going to starve or eat at McDonalds for 10 days. We will eat 1-3 "nicer" meals reaching this 30.00 level while there I am sure. But not every day. I will nail down my food budget as things get closer.
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