# Europe 2026 — Expense Report

**Trip:** 22 days · Mar 21 – Apr 12, 2026  
**Route:** Rome → Venice → Ortisei (Dolomites) → Varenna (Lake Como) → St Moritz → Lucerne → Paris  
**Group:** 5 travellers — Siddharth & Meghalee (Melbourne), Molina, Sibnath & Rumna (Delhi)  
**Data:** 212 tagged transactions across all cards

---

## Group Breakdown — AU vs India

The two groups fly different routes and airlines. Everything else (accommodation, trains, on-trip spending) is shared across all 5 travellers.

| | AU Group (Siddharth + Meghalee) | India Group (Molina + Sibnath + Rumna) |
|---|---:|---:|
| Flights | $2,164 | $6,151 |
| Share of shared costs | $12,577 | $18,866 |
| **Group total** | **$14,741** | **$25,017** |
| Per person | $7,371 | $8,339 |

**Shared costs (accommodation + trains + all on-trip):** $31,443  
Apportioned 2:3 by headcount — AU group (2 pax) = 40% · India group (3 pax) = 60%

| Scenario | Amount |
|---|---:|
| Total trip | $39,757 |
| **Excl. all flights** | **$31,443** |
| Excl. AU flights only (what India group is responsible for) | $37,593 |
| Excl. India flights only (what AU group is responsible for) | $33,607 |

> Australia group flights: China Eastern MEL→PVG→FCO × 2 ($1,885) + Qatar cancellation fee ($279) = **$2,164**  
> India group flights: ITA Airways DEL→FCO × 3 (Azwebin, $2,696) + Air India CDG→DEL→GAU × 3 ($3,454) = **$6,151**  
> India group flights are ~3× the AU group total despite flying a similar number of legs — driven by 3 pax vs 2, plus the ITA outbound on top of Air India return.

---

## Overall Summary

| | AUD |
|---|---:|
| Gross charged | $42,696.73 |
| Refunds received | −$2,939.22 |
| **Net total spend** | **$39,757.51** |

| Phase | Net Spend | % of Total |
|---|---:|---:|
| Pre-trip bookings | $23,730.02 | 60% |
| On-trip (22 days) | $16,027.49 | 40% |

**On-trip daily average:** $729/day for the group · $146/person/day

---

## Refunds & Cancellations

| Merchant | Charged | Refunded | Net | Detail |
|---|---:|---:|---:|---|
| Qatar Airways | $2,396.90 | −$2,118.10 | **$278.80** | Cancelled. Replaced with China Eastern MEL→PVG→FCO. |
| Luxury Escapes | $3,283.80 | −$820.95 | **$2,462.85** | Partial refund on Paris Adagio Montmartre. |
| FreeNow | $43.32 | −$0.17 | $43.15 | Hold reversal. |

---

## Pre-Trip Bookings — $23,730 net

### Flights

| Carrier | Passengers | Gross | Refund | Net |
|---|---|---:|---:|---:|
| ITA Airways (via Azwebin) | Delhi group (3) DEL → FCO | $2,696.34 | — | $2,696.34 |
| Air India | Delhi group (3) CDG → DEL → GAU (return) | $3,454.32 | — | $3,454.32 |
| China Eastern | Siddharth MEL → PVG → FCO | $849.05 | — | $849.05 |
| China Eastern | Meghalee MEL → PVG → FCO | $849.05 | — | $849.05 |
| China Eastern (ancillary) | Seat/baggage fees | $187.14 | — | $187.14 |
| Qatar Airways | Siddharth + Meghalee (cancelled) | $2,396.90 | −$2,118.10 | $278.80 |
| **Flights total** | | **$10,432.80** | **−$2,118.10** | **$8,314.70** |

> ITA Airways (billed as Azwebin Fiumicino) — 3 outbound tickets Delhi → Rome plus 3 sets of ancillary fees, all charged Jan 17.  
> Qatar was booked first (Jan 17) and then cancelled; refund of $2,118.10 processed Mar 24 (during Rome stay). Net cancellation penalty: **$278.80**. China Eastern replaced it at $1,885.24 total — slightly cheaper.

### Accommodation

| Property | Destination | Nights | Booked via | Net Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---:|
| Fontana di Trevi area (Vrbo HA-XTP24R) | Rome | 4 | Vrbo | $2,221.66 |
| Apartment Moro 4 — Rialto | Venice | 3 | Direct | $1,410.11 |
| 174A Apartments Murata | Ortisei | 4 | Muse Holiday | $1,815.06 |
| In the heart of Varenna (Vrbo HA7B9C9J) | Varenna | 2 | Vrbo | $2,274.46 |
| Cozy Central Duplex | St Moritz | 2 | Agoda | $2,560.45 |
| Hotel Luzernerhof | Lucerne | 3 | Agoda | $1,930.07 |
| Adagio Paris Montmartre | Paris | 4 | Luxury Escapes | $2,745.24 |
| **Accommodation total** | | **22 nights** | | **$14,957.05** |

> Paris: Luxury Escapes $3,283.80 − $820.95 refund + $282.39 extra charge = $2,745.24 net.  
> **Average cost per night (5 pax):** $680 · **per person per night:** $136

### Pre-booked Transport

| Date | Merchant | Route | Amount |
|---|---|---|---:|
| Jan 26 | Trenitalia (Frecciarossa Business) | Rome → Venice (5 pax) | $468.55 |
| Mar 4 | Rail Europe | Various European routes | $372.40 |
| | **Total** | | **$840.95** |

---

## On-Trip Spending — $16,027 net

### By Destination

| Destination | Dates | Net Spend | Txns | Daily Avg |
|---|---|---:|---:|---:|
| Rome *(inc. transit days Mar 19–20)* | Mar 19–24 | $2,955 | 46 | $493 |
| Venice | Mar 25–27 | $960 | 21 | $320 |
| Ortisei / Dolomites | Mar 28–31 | $3,595 | 19 | $899 |
| Varenna / Lake Como | Apr 1–2 | $863 | 16 | $432 |
| St Moritz | Apr 3–4 | $355 | 10 | $178 |
| Lucerne | Apr 5–7 | $3,422 | 22 | $1,141 |
| Paris | Apr 8–12 | $3,878 | 46 | $970 |
| **Total on-trip** | **22 days** | **$16,027** | **180** | **$729** |

---

### Rome & Transit (Mar 19–24) — $2,955

**Mar 19–20 (transit via Shanghai → Milan → Rome):**
- Glovo Milan × 4 deliveries: $93 — feeding the group across airport transit days
- Shanghai Sunny restaurant: $16 (CNY 78)
- Todis Roma groceries: $55 (manual, likely night of arrival)

**On ground in Rome:**

| Category | Key Items | Total |
|---|---|---:|
| Dining | Lione 21 EUR 90 ($148) · Suresh EUR 52 ($85) · Glovo × 4 ($179) · Faro Café ($40) · Bap Vaschette ($29) · various | ~$780 |
| Transport | FreeNow × 2 ($43) · Uber × 6 ($151) · ATAC bus ($2) · Radiotaxi ($11) | ~$210 |
| Travel | Trenitalia local ($23) · Roma Termini station tickets EUR 300 ($493) · Trenitalia EUR 275 ($452) · Trenitalia EUR 165 ($274) | ~$1,242 |
| Entertainment | St Peter's Basilica tickets: $58 | $58 |
| Groceries | Todis × 2 ($12) · F.Lli Casali ($17) · SumUp ($12) | $41 |
| Shopping | Scudieri International Florence EUR 51: $84 | $84 |
| Cash | Mar 21 cash transactions lump sum | $337 |

> **Florence day trip (Mar 22):** Trenitalia tickets $452 + $274 bought at Roma Termini ($493) and online, plus Scudieri shopping EUR 51. 
> The two large Trenitalia charges on Mar 22–23 suggest additional train legs beyond Rome–Venice (possibly Florence or Naples day trip and ticket changes).

---

### Venice (Mar 25–27) — $960

| Item | Amount |
|---|---:|
| Water taxi Ferrovia → accommodation | $79 |
| Caffe Rialto Venezia (dinner) | $109 |
| Fresh pasta restaurant (Sum Dal) | $96 |
| Baci Pasta | $70 |
| Dolcemente Salato (pastries/café) | $67 |
| Farini Pizza × 3 visits | $92 |
| Tvm Rialto Diretti 2 — shopping EUR 125 | $209 |
| Muse Holiday extra charge EUR 60 | $100 |
| Uber × 2 | $48 |
| Despar groceries | $19 |
| Gelatoteca Suso + Bar Americano | $17 |
| Pasticceria Ballarin + Bar Filovia × 2 | $28 |

> Grand Canal water taxi arrival ($79) was the planned "wow moment". 
> Tvm Rialto Diretti 2 (EUR 125) — likely Murano glass or quality Venetian craft souvenirs, the largest single on-trip discretionary purchase outside of gear/activities.

---

### Ortisei / Dolomites (Mar 28–31) — $3,595

The most expensive on-trip leg. Five major items account for $2,857 of it:

| Item | Amount | Detail |
|---|---:|---|
| Erich Perathon (gear shop, Val Gardena) | **$1,477** | EUR 880 — outdoor/ski clothing or equipment in Santa Cristina |
| Funivie Seceda cable car | **$441** | EUR 236+27 — the centrepiece cable car to 2,519m above Ortisei |
| Trenitalia Venice → Bolzano (5 pax) | **$528** | EUR 259.50 + EUR 55 split across two bookings |
| Taxi Demez Gregor (into valley) | **$238** | EUR 142 — private taxi from Bolzano to Ortisei (no public option for 5 with bags) |
| Funivia Lagazuoi, Cortina | **$222** | EUR 132.50 — Cortina d'Ampezzo day trip cable car |
| Despar Dolomiti (groceries) | **$201** | EUR 97.59 + EUR 22.30 across two shops |
| Ristorante Meuble Pont, Cortina | **$180** | EUR 107.50 — group dinner on Cortina day trip |
| Turonda Pizza Ortisei | $93 | |
| Istanbul Kebab + Buffet Bolzano × 2 | $111 | Transit + local meals |
| Lago di Braies chocolate stop | $21 | |
| Café Adler + Caffe Corso | $34 | |

---

### Varenna / Lake Como (Apr 1–2) — $863

| Item | Amount |
|---|---:|
| Taxi Demez Gregor (out of valley) | $239 |
| Trenitalia (onward journey) | $101 |
| Pizza e Sfizi × 2 dinners | $113 |
| Mr Panino Bellagio (lunch) | $67 |
| Bernasconi Claudia Varenna | $55 |
| Varenna 1 shop EUR 55 | $92 |
| Valli Mara Bellagio souvenirs | $71 |
| Bistro di Corti × 2 | $50 |
| Lake Bakery × 2 | $30 |
| Ristorante Liberty, Tirano | $44 |
| Groceries (Despar, Macelleria × 2) | $49 |
| Gelato + bakery | $28 |

> Bellagio day trip from Varenna was a highlight — lunch at Mr Panino, ice cream at Gilardoni Stefania, souvenirs.  
> Taxi Demez again for the exit from Val Gardena (charged Apr 1, same driver/company as arrival).

---

### St Moritz (Apr 3–4) — $355

Almost entirely self-catered:

| Item | Amount |
|---|---:|
| Coop supermarket (big shop) | $114 |
| Pizzaway × 2 orders | $89 |
| Bäckerei Bad × 3 visits | $58 |
| Coop (additional) | $14 |
| Bus und Service | $22 |
| Taxi St Moritz CHF 30 | $55 |
| SBB WC | $3 |

> Despite being the highest accommodation cost per night ($1,280/night), almost nothing was spent on-trip. The group self-catered using Coop and relied on the bakery.

---

### Lucerne (Apr 5–7) — $3,422

Three large purchases dominate:

| Item | Amount | Detail |
|---|---:|---|
| Rail Europe (last-minute) | **$1,526** | EUR 911.95 — Swiss Travel Pass or multi-city rail tickets; bought while already in Lucerne |
| Daytrip.com private tour | **$1,078** | EUR 642 — private guided day tour (description: "Prague" but likely Rhine Falls or day excursion from Lucerne) |
| Rigi Bahnen (cog railway) | **$844** | CHF 461.60 — historic Rigi mountain railway, 5 pax round trip (charged Apr 10 but relates to Lucerne stay) |
| Hotel Rigi Kaltbad dining | $47 | Lunch at mountain hotel summit |
| Rigi Dorfladen shop | $37 | CHF 20 at Rigi summit village |
| Uber Eats | $94 | CHF 51.23 |
| WAL*TENZ GMBH Zurich | $82 | CHF 45.10 — dining/café in Zurich |
| QUZGYXOO-2 | $150 | CHF 82.50 — unidentified Lucerne charge |
| GO4T Luzern | $114 | CHF 62.40 — likely a guided activity or boat tour |
| Amorino Gelato + Alpineum Café | $51 | |
| Juice Paradise bubble tea | $29 | |
| SBB toilets × 4 | $11 | CHF 1.50 each — Swiss public toilets |

> The Rail Europe purchase last-minute cost $1,526 vs booking pre-trip where Swiss Travel Passes are generally cheaper. Worth pre-purchasing on future Swiss trips.

---

### Paris (Apr 8–12) — $3,878

The return leg via Basel with 4 nights in Paris:

**Transit Basel (Apr 8):**
Bahn Mi Pho CHF 69 ($126) + McDonald's CHF 51 ($93) + Weber1s bagels ($66) + Kaffeemacher coffee ($17) + Confiseur Bachmann ($22) + Acento Argentino ($26) = **$350 in Basel** for the group during travel day

**Paris spending:**

| Item | Amount | Detail |
|---|---:|---|
| Viator/TripAdvisor guided tour | $296 | USD 203.70 — skip-the-line or guided Versailles/Paris tour |
| Palace of Versailles tickets | $292 | Full group |
| Louvre Museum tickets | $277 | Full group |
| Adagio Paris hotel extra charge | $282 | EUR 169 — extra night or room upgrade |
| FC Soleil restaurant | $207 | EUR 125 — group dinner |
| Uber airport transfer (Apr 12) | $126 | EUR 75.98 — departure to CDG |
| Deliveroo × 2 | $123 | EUR 52.49 + EUR 21.90 |
| Yak and Yeti restaurant | $83 | EUR 49.90 |
| Uber Eats | $65 | |
| Wild Deer restaurant | $64 | EUR 38.20 |
| Uber trips × 5 | $192 | Multiple rides across Paris |
| Fric Frac Montmartre | $55 | EUR 33 |
| Mitao | $56 | |
| Navigo transit pass | $61 | Group metro/bus |
| Little Versailles coffeeshop | $36 | |
| Pain Pain bakery × 2 | $29 | |
| Sarl by Orsel (groceries) × 2 | $35 | |
| Various small | $49 | |

> Museums + guided tour = **$865 on Paris attractions** (Versailles, Louvre, Viator).  
> Uber was heavily used in Paris — 5+ trips totalling $254 including the CDG airport transfer.

---

## Spend by Category (Net)

| Category | Net Spend | Txns | Notes |
|---|---:|---:|---|
| Travel | $31,290 | 51 | Flights, accommodation, trains, cable cars |
| Dining | $4,241 | 95 | 95 restaurant/café/delivery transactions |
| Transport | $2,636 | 35 | Uber, taxis, buses, metro passes |
| Shopping | $2,053 | 6 | Erich Perathon $1,477 + Venice/Varenna/Florence |
| Entertainment | $698 | 4 | Versailles, Louvre, Basilica, Bellagio souvenirs |
| Groceries | $589 | 15 | Despar, Coop, Todis, Macelleria |
| Other (net) | −$1,751 | 4 | Qatar refund exceeds "other" debits |
| Uncategorised | $42 | 2 | Residual |
| **Total** | **$39,757** | **212** | |

> The negative "Other" figure reflects the Qatar Airways refund ($2,118) offsetting the ITA/Azwebin ancillary fees charged in the same category.

---

## Top 15 On-Trip Transactions

| Date | Merchant | AUD | Category |
|---|---|---:|---|
| Mar 28 | Erich Perathon, Val Gardena | $1,477 | Shopping — EUR 880 gear |
| Apr 6 | Rail Europe | $1,526 | Travel — EUR 912 rail passes |
| Apr 7 | Daytrip.com | $1,078 | Transport — EUR 642 private tour |
| Apr 10 | Rigi Bahnen | $844 | Travel — CHF 462 mountain railway |
| Mar 22 | Roma Termini (train tickets) | $493 | Travel — EUR 300 |
| Mar 22 | Trenitalia | $452 | Travel — EUR 275 |
| Mar 28 | Trenitalia | $435 | Travel — EUR 260 |
| Mar 30 | Funivie Seceda | $396 | Travel — EUR 236 cable car |
| Apr 9 | Viator/TripAdvisor | $296 | Travel — USD 204 Paris tour |
| Apr 8 | Palace of Versailles | $292 | Entertainment |
| Apr 10 | Adagio Paris extra | $282 | Travel |
| Apr 8 | Louvre Museum | $277 | Entertainment |
| Mar 23 | Trenitalia | $274 | Travel — EUR 165 |
| Mar 21 | Cash transactions (Rome) | $337 | Various |
| Apr 1 | Taxi Demez Gregor | $239 | Transport — EUR 142 |

---

## Key Observations

**Flight changes cost $278.80.** Qatar was booked first (Jan 17, $2,396.90) and later cancelled; the refund of $2,118.10 came through during the Rome stay on Mar 24. China Eastern (MEL→PVG→FCO) replaced it at $1,885.24 — marginally cheaper but via Shanghai with a longer travel time.

**60% of spend was locked in before leaving Australia.** Pre-trip bookings (flights for all 5, accommodation across 7 cities, and pre-purchased trains) totalled $23,730 vs $16,027 spent on the ground.

**Dolomites was the most expensive on-trip leg** despite only 4 days — Erich Perathon EUR 880 gear purchase in Val Gardena accounts for $1,477 alone. Without it, Dolomites would be the cheapest destination per day.

**Rail spend ballooned in Lucerne.** Rail Europe EUR 912 ($1,526) bought last-minute in Lucerne was the single largest on-trip travel cost. Swiss Travel Passes are considerably cheaper when purchased outside Switzerland before travel.

**Dining: 95 transactions, $4,241 net.** The group averaged $193/day on food across 22 days ($39/person/day). Glovo delivery was the primary dining mode during transit days and in Rome (10+ orders). Paris had the most sit-down restaurant spending — FC Soleil EUR 125, Yak and Yeti EUR 50, plus multiple delivery orders.

**St Moritz: highest accommodation cost, lowest on-trip spend.** Agoda charged $2,560 for 2 nights but the group spent only $355 on-trip — almost entirely groceries and the local bakery.

**Paris Uber spend: $254 across 6+ trips** including a $126 CDG airport transfer (EUR 76). Combined with 2 Deliveroo orders and Uber Eats, rideshare/delivery accounted for ~$380 of Paris on-trip costs.
