Will 350 euros be enough for 9 day Lake Como holiday?

nicetomeetyou

The holiday is a coach holiday. The accommodation is all-inclusive, food and drinks. The 350 euros will be for trips and drinks/lunch in cafes for one person.... Have you been to Italy? Do you think that'll be enough spending money? I will have my debit card for emergencies but would like to stick to a budget. Thank you.

lovesgshp

As you are AI, it would be on the borderline for other activities, but watch out for the taxes etc on trips

maman

Are the trips optional? If so then you'll know as you go through the week what you can afford to sign up for. If they're included then you should be fine for any meals, coffees etc. I've not been to Lake Como but from Lake Garda we were able to go to Verona on public transport so it's worth thinking about what you can do independently rather than organised trips.

jimbo6977

Not unless you fancy chillin by the pool the whole time.

lovesgshp

You can eat out cheaply, watch out for having a coffee outside as that can double the price. Remember that Como is like a tourist resort, so costs are elevated, like in Venice.
Living here for 15 years, you do get to know the tweeks to the system. Verona is a lovely place to visit.

With AI you should be alright with the hotel drinks as outside can get very pricey.

flea72

A couple of euros will get you a cake/coffee standing at the counter. Want to sit for a quick cuppa, then triple that. If you want to sit for a while, then you will need to at least buy a main course. Expect to pay £15-£20 for a pasta dish.

If you are leaving the accommodation for an organised trip, they should provide stuff for you to take away.

However, when are you going? as tourist season starts winding down shortly, so finding cafes open are few and far between

lovesgshp

However, when are you going? as tourist season starts winding down shortly, so finding cafes open are few and far between.
Yes, it would be good to know when the OP is going. Many places have shut down at the end of Sept as they made money in Aug, but now are operating again.
15-20 Euros is high for pasta unless it is with truffles or on the coast for fish.

Grandmama

Take a thermos flask and a travel kettle, coffee, tea etc. I make up the thermos In the morning and take it in my backpack/shopping bag/large handbag. Saved me a fortune, you can always find a bench or wall to sit on. Take a few bikkies too.

peachyprice

As you're all-inclusive, probably, yes.

I have been to Como many times, it's a cheap or expensive as you want it to be, but it depends really where your coach will be taking you and how much free time you will get to do your own thing. Certainly away from the main tourist traps there is no need to be spending €15-20 for a pasta dish! You can get a whole pizza for feed 4 for that. €8-10 is more reasonable.

Obviously the tourist areas of Bellagio, Como and Menaggio can be expensive, but even there, if you wander away from the main squares you can still find decent priced cafes. Gelato is always cheap, €2-3 for a massive tub or cone. Ferries as a foot passenger are probably the biggest expense on the lake.

Is your coach taking you to different places on the lake or are you left to your own devices? If you're doing your own thing visit more off the beat places of Varenna, Lenno, Tremezzina for a more relaxed experience.

Villa del Balbianello is worth every penny, it's a great day out and such a fascinating back-story €20 will get you a full garden and villa ticket with a guided tour https://www.grandigiardini.it/giardini-scheda.php?id=182

Villa Carlotta is another great visit and only €10, the villa itself is quite small but has some interesting exhibits, the gardens are pheomenal and huge!

Whilst Bellagio is worth a morning of your time, it is very pretty and has some lovely little shops and remains quite unspoilt despite the number of tourists, I would avoid Menaggio, it's completely ruined and has nothing of much interest, easily the dirtiest place on the lake.

Como itself is great for shopping and a very nice town to walk around, avoid eating in the main square if you don't want to over-spend but there are plenty of affordable cafes in the side streets.

From Como you can take take a funicular up to Brunate, there's not a lot up there, it's a sleepy little town, but the views are outstanding.

Most of all enjoy! It's one of my favourite places.