USA holiday - how much money to take
Discussion
Off to the USA in July (2 adults & 2 16 yr olds), for previous trips to Florida and NY we budgeted $200 per day(Revolute card, cash and CC as a back up) obviously things have got more expensive so interested to know if this is still a decent budget or do we need to think about boosting the pot?
Itinerary looks something like this:
5 days in NY
Drive from Charlotte to Savannah for 1 night then onto Clearwater
5 days in Clearwater
3 days in Orlando
1.5 days in Chicago
We've been to NY in 2019 so won't be doing a lot of the usual stuff (Empire state, top of the Rock, etc), apart from the highline, MOMA, The Edge or Summit One it we won't be doing any of the usual big touristy things, we like to 'mooch' and people watch so apart from food (might do a doughnut based walking tour), drink and a little bit of shopping that about it, Clearwater will be a beach holiday, Orlando we are visiting Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure so tickets are pre purchased. No idea about Chicago, won't be there for long, just want to get a feel for the place before we head home.
Itinerary looks something like this:
5 days in NY
Drive from Charlotte to Savannah for 1 night then onto Clearwater
5 days in Clearwater
3 days in Orlando
1.5 days in Chicago
We've been to NY in 2019 so won't be doing a lot of the usual stuff (Empire state, top of the Rock, etc), apart from the highline, MOMA, The Edge or Summit One it we won't be doing any of the usual big touristy things, we like to 'mooch' and people watch so apart from food (might do a doughnut based walking tour), drink and a little bit of shopping that about it, Clearwater will be a beach holiday, Orlando we are visiting Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure so tickets are pre purchased. No idea about Chicago, won't be there for long, just want to get a feel for the place before we head home.
Ezra said:
Assume the budget doesn't need to cover hotels, car rental, fuel, etc, ie its just food/spends?
If so, I'd say thats way too low. I was in NYC 18 mths ago and it was super expensive for a Brit...that was when FX rate was $1.15 to the £. I think the £ has strengthened a bit since (I used to live there 2003/07 and was way cheaper). A Starbucks coffee was $7/8, a very average Steak diner with my eldest was almost $200 with tips, a beer in a mid-town bar was about $10. Maybe the other locations are cheaper, but I'd be looking at closer to $500 pd in NYC
Yes, just food, drink, etc, everything is already paid for, $500 per day! Yeesh!If so, I'd say thats way too low. I was in NYC 18 mths ago and it was super expensive for a Brit...that was when FX rate was $1.15 to the £. I think the £ has strengthened a bit since (I used to live there 2003/07 and was way cheaper). A Starbucks coffee was $7/8, a very average Steak diner with my eldest was almost $200 with tips, a beer in a mid-town bar was about $10. Maybe the other locations are cheaper, but I'd be looking at closer to $500 pd in NYC
ecsrobin said:
Martyn76 said:
Yes, just food, drink, etc, everything is already paid for, $500 per day! Yeesh!
Are you looking at breakfast, lunch, dinner plus snacks or is breakfast included in your accommodation? 
ecsrobin said:
We were averaging $30 per person around Orlando for an evening meal including gratuity. From speaking to locals apparently Florida is cheaper than most places for eating out. As others have mentioned NY is eye watering.
Yeah Clearwater should be similar I'd hope to Orlando mattyn1 said:
We are budgeting £100 per day per person for food, drinks, incidentals - most of our hotels have breakfast included but no idea on standard and whether there is enough to last the day. But we are doing Chicago to LA.
So when are you in Chicago? We arrive 23 Jul and were looking only last night at where to get deep dish pizza near the Willis Tower. The couple we looked at did not seem too badly priced.
22nd July, just for 36 hours but it's how the return flights worked out, haven't looked into Chicago yet but pizza pie is on the list!So when are you in Chicago? We arrive 23 Jul and were looking only last night at where to get deep dish pizza near the Willis Tower. The couple we looked at did not seem too badly priced.
belleair302 said:
$450 a day should cover you for everything. Where are you staying in Clearwater as I have a home there.
We're staying at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater for 5 days, we did a day in Clearwater a few years back when we were staying in Orlando and loved the beach there.It's my wife's birthday while we're there so if you can suggest any places to eat that would be amazing, nothing too grand but good food and ambience would be great.
satans worm said:
200 a day in Ny for 4, so at 50 a day each...to give an idea...
Grab egg cheese and bacon roll from a cart at 5USD plus a coffee (not sue what they charge for that, but say 10USD total
mid morning drink another 5USD from a bodega
Lunch, pizza at johns on Bleecker (one of the best and most famous) 25 for 2 to share, so 12.50 plus a coke at 3 plus tip so each would be USD18
Alternatives: at about the same price +- USD5, shake shack (Madison Sq park and sit out side), 'Chick filla', 'street meat' (ie food truck) , 'just salad', bodega (or equiv) for hot sandwich , cheap Chinese (might look crap on the outside but as long as you see a 'A' rating and its busy.... also look at supermarket food and take to a park they normally all sell sushi, salads, sandwiches, and also pay by weight hot food buffet.
add another 5USD for a drink in the afternoon
Dinner, Ramen is about 17USD, Korean fried wings for 2 USD25, 3XTacos for 18 or a burrito for 17, of course all plus a drink and tip
a bit right field, couple of pubs give free pizza or hot dog for every drink you buy
So around USD50 could be done, if you plan where you eat (seek out the best of the above online ) and happy with more casual /outside dining, infact all the stuff above is probably tastier and more memorable than most the restaurants that charge 25-40USD (plus tip) for 1 entree and would be more my go to recommendation
But you do need to plan or your find yourself hungry in an expensive area
Lower East Side is a good cheap place to eat, Tribeca not so much, that said, everywhere has its own 'secret' cheap amazing food hole in the wall, even in Midtown !
Good luck and enjoy the moments, nice to hear someone actually understand what going to NYC is about, people watching whilst eating locally known good cheap eats is the fabric of NY to most NYers, not the Empire state building or Central Park....
Thanks for the reply, some good ideas re places and areas to eat , we're all quite partial to Ramen, etc and of course pizza, Johns on Blecker St is on our list for sure.Grab egg cheese and bacon roll from a cart at 5USD plus a coffee (not sue what they charge for that, but say 10USD total
mid morning drink another 5USD from a bodega
Lunch, pizza at johns on Bleecker (one of the best and most famous) 25 for 2 to share, so 12.50 plus a coke at 3 plus tip so each would be USD18
Alternatives: at about the same price +- USD5, shake shack (Madison Sq park and sit out side), 'Chick filla', 'street meat' (ie food truck) , 'just salad', bodega (or equiv) for hot sandwich , cheap Chinese (might look crap on the outside but as long as you see a 'A' rating and its busy.... also look at supermarket food and take to a park they normally all sell sushi, salads, sandwiches, and also pay by weight hot food buffet.
add another 5USD for a drink in the afternoon
Dinner, Ramen is about 17USD, Korean fried wings for 2 USD25, 3XTacos for 18 or a burrito for 17, of course all plus a drink and tip
a bit right field, couple of pubs give free pizza or hot dog for every drink you buy
So around USD50 could be done, if you plan where you eat (seek out the best of the above online ) and happy with more casual /outside dining, infact all the stuff above is probably tastier and more memorable than most the restaurants that charge 25-40USD (plus tip) for 1 entree and would be more my go to recommendation
But you do need to plan or your find yourself hungry in an expensive area
Lower East Side is a good cheap place to eat, Tribeca not so much, that said, everywhere has its own 'secret' cheap amazing food hole in the wall, even in Midtown !
Good luck and enjoy the moments, nice to hear someone actually understand what going to NYC is about, people watching whilst eating locally known good cheap eats is the fabric of NY to most NYers, not the Empire state building or Central Park....
The whole point of this thread to get info and ideas which it has! Keep it coming PH!
belleair302 said:
Martyn76 said:
We're staying at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater for 5 days, we did a day in Clearwater a few years back when we were staying in Orlando and loved the beach there.
It's my wife's birthday while we're there so if you can suggest any places to eat that would be amazing, nothing too grand but good food and ambience would be great.
Pop over to Dunedin in the car or Uber it, dine outside at Bon Appetit on the marina or explore the myriad of places along the main st. The Living Room on Main St is lively. Lucky Lobster too is worth a lunchtime stop. Likewise head south over the Sand Key Bridge and into Belleair Bluffs and enjoy a meal at Sea Weed or E&E Steakout Grill. Odd location but epic food. Otherwise keep going south, maybe 15 mins for Guppy’s or Salt Rock Grill. St Petersburg has a great food scene but you may not want a 35/min drive for a meal. It's my wife's birthday while we're there so if you can suggest any places to eat that would be amazing, nothing too grand but good food and ambience would be great.
belleair302 said:
Martyn76 said:
We're staying at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater for 5 days, we did a day in Clearwater a few years back when we were staying in Orlando and loved the beach there.
It's my wife's birthday while we're there so if you can suggest any places to eat that would be amazing, nothing too grand but good food and ambience would be great.
Pop over to Dunedin in the car or Uber it, dine outside at Bon Appetit on the marina or explore the myriad of places along the main st. The Living Room on Main St is lively. Lucky Lobster too is worth a lunchtime stop. Likewise head south over the Sand Key Bridge and into Belleair Bluffs and enjoy a meal at Sea Weed or E&E Steakout Grill. Odd location but epic food. Otherwise keep going south, maybe 15 mins for Guppy’s or Salt Rock Grill. St Petersburg has a great food scene but you may not want a 35/min drive for a meal. It's my wife's birthday while we're there so if you can suggest any places to eat that would be amazing, nothing too grand but good food and ambience would be great.
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