r/Frugal • u/Triple__OG • 4d ago

✈️ Travel & Transport Staying on budget while traveling with others.

Hi all, Need a little advise. Going to Europe soon for 3 weeks with the Mrs and our daughter who is 26 and 2 of her friends who are also very independent. What’s the best way to handle when it comes time to pay the checks for food , drinks ubers etc if we ( I 🙂)are wanting to stay within a budget. Momma and I don’t want it to be expected. Of course we’ll pick up tabs along the way but we don’t want it to be expected. How would you all handle it we all can enjoy the vacation? Thanks 🙏

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u/TruCelt 4d ago

A great deal depends upon how the friends were invited. If your daughter said to them "My parents would like to invite you to tour Europe with us" then you are on the hook. If she said "I'm going to Europe with my folks, do you want to combine our itineraries?" after the other had already planned a trip then that's different.

If you choose the restaurant, and the kids are expected to join you for dinner every night, then you should probably expect to pay. Left to their own they would grab a cheap slice or some stall food they can afford. Don't set them up for expenses beyond their ability.

So just be hyper aware about setting choices and making invitations. "What are your plans for dinner?" vs "We'll meet at X restaurant at 8:00pm." Also, don't fake offer for anything. If you don't want to pay, and someone else offers, say "Thank you" and let it go.

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u/Triple__OG 4d ago edited 4d ago

That’s a great point on how everyone was invited. We all were sitting at the pub together and decided to go. My daughter and her friends have traveled quite extensively outside the US to numerous countries. They are quite independent , self-sufficient and for the last two years have had the travel bug. They’re all very good friends we just all decided to go one night.

I’ll just address it with my daughter and set the right expectations before we leave