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Hello everyone, I have already booked a flight to study abroad in Spain for 4 weeks in June 2015. I haven't done a lot of traveling at all in my lifetime and I'm trying to anticipate what all I will need. I know it's still a long way off, but can anyone give me any advice about how much spending money I will need to bring? I will be in Cadiz, Spain. The program includes the weekend trips, homestay with 3 meals a day plus laundry every week, class materials, etc. I want a ballpark figure so that I can start saving up my money from work. Also, since this will be my first time flying and traveling internationally, feel free to throw in any other tips that I may need to know .
Whenever I have budgeted in the past I have noticed I tend to spend around 50% more than I originally budget, on average. I see a lot of people on this forum talk about budgeting extremely low amounts on study abroad trips. My advice? Don't shoot yourself in the foot by limiting your budget. Try to have some fun
I don't know what the ATM situation is like, figure that one out.
4 Weeks. Lodging is taken care of and so is food, but it would be a crime not to try some of the local restaurants in Spain.
Maybe $4000? $1000 a week. That might be a little high but it leaves room for emergencies, and you don't have to spend every penny you bring.
Thank you Madalorian for the ballpark figure as that was my main concern. I will look into the ATM situation thanks for mentioning that also. I'm a girl by the way sorry I should've mentioned that.
ATM in 100-200 euro amounts is generally the way to go- that amount generally puts you at enough but not too much cash in your pocket. Let your bank & credit card issuer know beforehand you're going overseas so they don't freeze your account for irregularities. Also if a bank or merchant offers you something called' dynamic currency conversion' as an option, tell them you don't want it- it usually gives you a slightly worse exchange rate that way.
At the least, your handbag should have a zipper top & zip pocket for money and important documents storage and a strap long enough to carry it cross-body. (I don't bother with money belts and the like but know others prefer them in a country like Spain that does have a pickpocket problem in some areas.)
I second (or third, or fourth, whatever) the ATM idea. Make sure your ATM card has the kind of 4-digit PIN that European ATM's require. And as mentioned above, let your bank and credit card issuer(s) know before you go that you will be traveling overseas.
I DO use a money belt. In my purse (cross-body is best, if you carry a purse at all) I'll have only enough cash for one day's needs. The rest of my cash, plus my credit cards and ATM card, plus a photocopy of the signature page of my passport, go into the money belt. The money belt should never be accessed in a public place -- the idea is that no one should know you're wearing it. If you need to access it, go into a rest room stall.
The passport itself stays in a safe or a locked suitcase in my room.
I've traveled many times using these precautions with no difficulties. My husband always refused to use a money belt, and he was the victim of a pickpocket, but that was in Chicago.
LOL my parents told me I could either go study in my room or at the library for free.
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