I need budgeting assistance for a vacation

Dzien dobry! I will be traveling to Poland this August. I am planning my basic budget for a day's worth of necessities. I'll be visiting Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, Eblag, and Frombork. Lodging will not be an issue because I will be staying with friends.

How much should I budget for food per person per day? Since I get free lodging, I figured I'd pay for my hosts meals when we go out.

For a Polish beer or a not-so fancy mixed drink, what should be the expected price range? For some places, we may go out to the bar or club for drinks.

I'm also interested in figuring out the average cost for these services:
- hair stylist / barber shop
- spa / massage
- dental cleaning / possibly wisdom teeth removal
- pedicure / manicure

I've already read about kantors for currency exchange. I plan on carrying some US dollars with me for exchange, but I suppose I'll have to withdraw the rest at the bank as to avoid carrying too much cash.

Thank you so much in advance!

Also, for other visitors, I found this nifty website:
frommers.com/articles/2599.html "VAT Chance: How to Cut Your Vacation Costs with Tax Refunds"

I think that for eating out something about 70-80/person/day should be enough-if you don't choose expensive places. Haircut goes from about 30, tooth removal about 50/70 - but all depends which place and which city you choose. You should ask your friends about all details because not always the most expensive dentist is the best one. Have a good time in Poland.

Dziekuje!

By the way, do I need to get temporary health insurance while in Poland? I'm not sure what the health coverage is for tourists.

Check with your state's / company's / provider's health care policy, but I would get some, better safe than sorry.

Tooth removal 70 zl?
I am planning on having a root canal done. Since it's $1800 in Canada, anything less than half will be a bargain.

(Tooth removal? Is this a typical holiday expense?)

Of course you need health insurance.

I had my root canal dobe for about 100 zl. Angela, $1800 is enough for a plane ticket to Poland and visit to a dentist :)

Typical fees for dental procedures Krakow.
On average a dentist’s office in Krakow may charge 50 zlotys (an equivalent of about 13 euro) for a temporary filling and 100 zlotys for primary tooth filling. Teeth whitening may cost anything between 100 zlotys 1,100 zlotys depending on the method employed. Standard root canal treatment is 220 zlotys or so. A fee for broken tooth restoration with MOD-class filling ranges from 200 zlotys to 350 zlotys. Extraction of a tooth usually costs 100 zlotys, double the amount for the same with root separation. In most places muscle massage with laser therapy costs 50 zlotys for one visit. Firm implants start at 3,000 zlotys or so. A crown may cost anything from 200 zlotys for acrylic to 500 zlotys for cast gold to 1,000-2,000 zlotys for a telescope crown.

Hope this info helps. It's actually worth going to Poland to get your teeth done, a friend of mine paid about £800 for route canal treatment in the uk...

These prices come from posh, widely advertised places. If you live here you know places with really good dentists who charge less. They usually don't have secretaries wearing mini skirts and you don't watch tv when you wait but quality of services is still very good.

Arrah I know the ones you mean! Do they cater for tourists the cheaper ones, I mean if I wanted my teeth whitening? (my teeth are fine but there is only so much my sonic tooth brush can do :) )

I can ask my dentist :)