Originally Posted by
Machka
"Realistic" for me, includes restaurant meals, hotels and B&Bs, alternate methods of transportation, and spending money for things I'd like to see and do. These things might not happen every day, but a couple times a week is good.
And "realistic" for me does not include any bush camping. If I camp, I want to camp in a decent campground. So "realistic" for me also includes the cost of camping.
I also like to eat quite well ... I'm not an oatmeal and brown beans sort of tourist/traveller. So "realistic" for me includes fruit and veg and yogurt and cheese and pastries and ice cream ......
Well put, and I like your style. Personal preferences will affect one's realistic cost.
A couple of years ago, in a similar thread, Valygrl remarked how she won't deny herself some good ice cream or coffee just because it would require her to open her wallet. (Not her exact words, but that was the point.) I am the same way. I am not out to see how much money I can spend. At the same time, I am not out to see how little I can get by on.