Let’s conduct a rapid estimation from the ground up of the expenses an Indian traveler would incur while visiting all European nations. This scenario serves as a prime example of a potential question in a management consulting case interview.
For simplicity’s sake, let’s define Europe as solely comprising the Schengen countries, allowing the Indian traveler to move freely with a Schengen visa.
Europe consists of 26 Schengen countries. Despite Croatia not being part of the Schengen region, we will include it as well since tourists can explore the country with a Schengen visa for up to 90 days. Therefore, we will consider the scope to be 27 countries in Europe.
Assuming the individual spends a minimum of 1.5-2 days in each country to make the effort worthwhile, they would require approximately 40-54 days to visit all the countries. Additional time will be spent traveling between countries, which can be optimized by traveling overnight. A safe estimate would be a travel duration of 2 months to cover all these countries.
- Flight to and from Europe: A round-trip ticket from India to Europe typically costs around INR 45,000–50,000, depending on the booking time. For simplicity, let’s assume the cost to be INR 50,000.
- Travel within Europe: Trains are considered the best and most cost-effective mode of transportation for traveling around Europe in a short period. Let’s assume the traveler purchases a 2-month global Eurail pass for approximately 600 euros, equivalent to around INR 50,000, assuming the traveler is under 27 years old.
- However, it’s important to note that traveling by train to certain countries like Malta or Iceland is not feasible, requiring flights instead. Ryanair is typically the most economical flight option in Europe. If booked in advance, round-trip tickets to and from Malta or Iceland would cost around 50–60 euros each, incurring additional flight expenses.
- Accommodation in Europe: Hostels are the most affordable and enjoyable option for staying in Europe. By booking in advance, one can secure a hostel for an average of 10 euros per night. While countries like Switzerland may be more expensive, countries like Estonia offer cheaper options. Assuming a stay of around 45 nights, with the remaining nights spent traveling by train to optimize time and cost, the total cost would be 450 euros, or approximately INR 40,000.
- Food expenses: Food costs will vary based on individual tastes and preferences. I estimate an average of 15 euros per day for food expenses, considering that cooking may not be feasible due to extensive travel. Over a period of 2 months, this amounts to around 900 euros, or INR 75,000.
- Miscellaneous expenses: There will be various miscellaneous expenses depending on personal interests. For those who enjoy visiting museums, churches, or theaters, there will be additional entry fees ranging from 10 to 20 euros per visit. I estimate an average of 15 euros per visit, totaling 300 euros for 20 visits, or INR 25,000. While this expense can be avoided by skipping such visits, I believe it would be a missed opportunity.When adding up all these expenses, the total comes to around 3,000 euros or INR 2,50,000.
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