Cost and Money Exchange related queries for travelling to Europe?

Question

Hi, i shall be travelling to the Netherlands for staying there for 1 month. I shall be grateful to anybody who can tell me realistically, the approx money i need to carry and also is it better to convert rupees into dollar and later converting into Euros for the travel? Thanks in advance

Answer 1

I think it is better to change Rupees to Euro, do not change twice, you loose money every time you change.

If possible, try to get a bank card that allows you to get money out of the ATM, the money machines in the wall, that draws from your bank account.
That way you only pay the cheapest exchange rates.
And you do not need to change more than needed. Ask at your bank office for a card that allows you to get money at no or nearly no cost per use. (It may cost a little more to get the card.)

I think that if you take Rupees to the Netherlands, you can change them at the bigger change offices.
I have seen that you can change them at 'Grenswisselkantoor'. You find them at the big railway stations.

The answer above mine gives you a good range of the prices. How much you need depend on how you travel, how you live when here, and what you need to pay.

Answer 2

It may be better to convert the rupees into dollar but then again why not convert rupees to euro in India? The rates here are not very good.

I don't know if you will be sleeping in hostels or if you're going to eat at the supermarket or the restaurant so the amount of money depends on that! A single bed in a dorm at a hostel is 18-25 euro per night . You could get a room at a cheap hotel for 35-85 euro per night.

A coffee is 1.50. Coffee in a tourist area is 2-3 euro.
Indian takeaway : 10 euro
Eating in a chinese restaurant: 40 euro for 2 people
3-course dinner: 20 euro + extra for drinks. There are many restaurants offering 3 course meals for 19.95 --> good deal.
A sandwich: 2-3.50 euro
Loaf of bread from the supermarket : 0.90-2 euro (depending on which bread you want)

Train tickets are quite expensive. Amsterdam-Utrecht = 6.40 euro (return =11.70). If you're planning to travel a lot, buy the train discount card. This costs 55 euro and tickets are about 40% cheaper.

Answer 3

ATM cards will usually hose you with fees for both the withdrawal and exchange so if you do use it make sure its not 20 bucks at a time kinda thing. Also stay away from most exchange booths in train stations and airports as they usually give a pretty crappy rate. What I found best to do is pre-load a credit card and use it and supplement it with a few cash withdrawals to keep some coin in your pocket. Depending on the card you can get very good exchange rate and little to no service fee. If you have an existing card call the company and tell them you want the fees waived and see what they will do for you.