The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-24
EUROPE ON $40 A MONTH.
F'rom the Philadelphia Americana

(F'rom the Philadelphia Americana
The following capital letter is from
our correspondent, Albert Chavannes of
Knoxville, Tenn. 1t should be worth a
hundred dollars to every couple who
wish to- make moderate means cover the
maximum of enjoyment and profit. One
sentence embodies a whole volume of
practical philosophy.
ut is not those travellers who spend
the most who have the best time
Perhaps Mr.. ChaVanneS might be
on points of detail if requested. We
shall welcome other communica tons of
equal pith and interest.
A Model of Inexpensive Touring
AS you desire information about cheap
travel in Europe I send you some ex
perienceS of ours, which you can use,
much, little or not at all, as you choose.
In 1SS990 my wife and I spent nine
months in Europe. We were about two
months in Paris, four months in Swift
zerland, six weeks in Italy. and the bal
ance of the time in Belgium, Holland
Germany and the Rhine.
Our whole expenses, aside from the
sea voyage, but including clothing and
souvenirs, amounted to $3.50, or a little
over $40 a month for both.
We visited all the leading cities of
Italy, as far south as Naples, made the
ascent of Vesuvius, took several noun
tain trips in Switzerland, went to al
most all the theaters in Paris, and trav-
eled for pleasure, if in an economical
way.
Our economies were made first in trav-
cling. We went second class for long
trips and third class for short excur-
sions That is the European way
among we'll to do classes. but is not I'M
derstood by the Americans.
Next we economical in hotels. When
ever we stayed long enough to make it
worth while, we rented a furnished
room, and with the help of an oil stove
which occupied one end of our trunk,
wrapped in oil cloth, we did our own
housekeeping. In Paris, where we had
a good, large room, with bed in an al
cove, for which we paid $12 a month,
including service and light; all our
living expenses, including rent, fire
and table,, did not reach $50 month
for both, and we were freer and enjoy
ed the fare better than if we had been
in hotel.
When stopping in city for only a
few days, we went to a good second
class hotel. The price was from $1.O0 to
$1.25 for the room for both, from Is to
rs cents each for the first breakfast at
o'clock, consisting of bread, butter and
coffee; from 40 to 60 cents each for the
second breakfast, consisting of two or
three meats and vegetables and dessert
and we always eschewed the elaborate
and expensive dinner at night, and re-
placed it by a light supper of bread,
cheese and fruit eaten in our room.
That brought our expenses down to
somewhere between SIPS to $1.75 a day,
the price not being according to the fare
but according to the city and the ho-
tel, often the fare being the lowest
where the accommodation was the
best.
We also economized in our amuse-
ments, but we had the advantage of
both speaking French and also some
experience. 1t is not those travellers
who spend the most who have the best
time.
To really enjoy travelling, there must
be a little of the Bohemian in ones
composition and a tendency to- avoid the
sights everyone goes to see. Mix with
the people, go out in the byways and
you will carry back a more pleasant
recollection of the places you visit at
much less expense than if you put up at
a Fashionable hotel, and take a guide to
show you the lions of the city. Out of what
we spent, between $50 and $40, went in
tips, which are n necessary expense in
FylIrOD6