European Jet-setter

[hers]

So b/c my dreams are bigger than my wallet, I like to look up vacations I may never take b/c I'm a wuss. But seeing that my twinny-boo (ILMBC) is going to be in England this fall, I'd really like to visit her. So I just spent an hour planning out a 2-week trip to Europe (keep in mind I've never been overseas and don't know how logical all this is).

 

I have 7 cities (ATL to Rome, Rome to Barcelona, Barcelona to Paris, Paris to Dublin, Dublin to Liverpool, Liverpool back to Dublin, Dublin to ATL) planned, and the prices for airfare to each (minus Dublin to Liverpool, since there's a ferry).

 

The total for airfare is right at $1200. The trip is 15 days in October.

 

Given all of this, would you say $1700 woudl be enough for 2 weeks, including airfare/ferry costs, food, hostels, etc?

 

I really really want to do this.

 

I'd prefer to travel with someone but I don't know anyone else who could go b/c of the money and time away and such.

 

Just thinking.

[jengh]

Well, I could meet you in Dublin!!!

And if we're in Dublin, I bet my friend would let us stay there, depending on her living situations, since she's studying abroad the same time I am.

[hers]

I'd be in Dublin for 2 days! And then we could go back to Liverpool together!!

[jengh]

omg, perfect!!!!

I'm seriously so excited I could pee myself.

 

 

fIcant type. Cairo is licking my hand.

[hers]

Here's the break down, to be more exact. I have no idea if the amount of time spent in each place is good--Paris is shorter than the others b/c it's not high on my list. All the other places I want to spend at least 3 days in.

 

ATL to Rome, 10/1, $545

Rome to Barcelona, 10/4, $68

Barcelona to Paris, 10/7, $50

Paris to Dublin, 10/9, $118

Dublin to Liverpool, 10/11, ferry cost

Liverpool to Dublin, 10/14, ferry cost (cheaper to fly out of Dublin)

Dublin to ATL, 10/14, $402

 

Total right about $1200

[jul-els]

It's doable. You should check link removed for cheap deals. I've gotten some really good deals from them before. The farther in advance you book through them the cheaper you can get. Give it a shot. Choose the option called "Name your price". Have fun!

[hers]

It's doable. You should check link removed for cheap deals. I've gotten some really good deals from them before. The farther in advance you book through them the cheaper you can get. Give it a shot. Choose the option called "Name your price". Have fun!

 

what is name your price? i've never heard of that!

 

I was going through link removed (my favorite site!) and finding the cheapest ones and writing them down.

 

i'll have to get my dad to front me the money, since i'm currently saving up (I have only $300 saved, haha, but I'll get there!), but it's still quite possible for me.

[purpleduckie]

i heard you can get the euro pass for the rail way?

[jengh]

i heard you can get the euro pass for the rail way?

 

Oh yeah! I need to look into that more.

 

Once I get my packet, I'll talk to my study abroad adviser and see what she says about it all for cheap rates and whatnot.

[hers]

i'm trying to figure uot where I can go other than Paris. I really dont have much desire to go there. Never really have. So somewhere after Barcelona. I'd like to try Switzerland but don't know anything about it. Or maybe skip Paris all together and go straight to Dublin? I have no clue.

[jengh]

i'm trying to figure uot where I can go other than Paris. I really dont have much desire to go there. Never really have. So somewhere after Barcelona. I'd like to try Switzerland but don't know anything about it. Or maybe skip Paris all together and go straight to Dublin? I have no clue.

 

Ohhh, Paris is amazing!!!! I want to go back SO badly. There's just so much to see!!!!

You could go to the south of France, it's gorgeous and tropical there.. Cannes?

[sophie274]

I would plan to spend more money than just $500. The exchange rate is not super favorable right now (who knows what it will be then), and the cost of living in most of those places in higher than in the US. I think you should plan at least 800 for spending money, and if you are under, that's great, but you don't want to spend your entire trip worrying about running out of money. You can get cheap food pretty much everywhere, but museums can be decently expensive to get into, and you don't want to skimp on those (IMO). If you plan to go experience the nightlife (a MUST in Barcelona), that will definitely add to your costs.

 

The other thing is - all of those places have pretty crappy weather in October, especially England and France. It's great for your budget that you're going in the off-season, but just be prepared for rain.

 

Last thing: I don't know why Paris isn't high on your list, but Paris is gorgeous and fantastic, and definitely requires more than 2 days. I'm biased, because I grew up there, but I would really recommend you devote a little more time to it. Barca is definitely crazy fun (I lived there for two years), but be REALLY careful about pick-pockets. Almost every tourist I know has had their purse stolen there, but if you are careful you won't be one of them.

 

Have fun! You should totally do it. It will be money so well spent, and I just know you will have a fantastic time. Hopefully you can live frugally in the months leading up to the trip so that it doesn't hurt your budget too much.

[hers]

Thanks so much!!

 

England is a necessity since Jenny-Boo will be there, and I want to go see her! So I can deal with rain.

 

I don't care much about night life, so is Barcelona maybe not the best choice? I'm not into drinking or clubs. Give me a museum and pretty stuff and some food and I'm good!!

 

I was thinking somewhere more scenic in France, but I just don't know enough about it.

 

Also, do you think staying in hostels will be pretty cheap? What about if I do link removed in leiu of hostels?

[sophie274]

i'm trying to figure uot where I can go other than Paris. I really dont have much desire to go there. Never really have. So somewhere after Barcelona. I'd like to try Switzerland but don't know anything about it. Or maybe skip Paris all together and go straight to Dublin? I have no clue.

 

Noooooo!

 

Mmm, don't go to Switzerland. My father is born and raised Swiss and his entire family lives there, and honestly I just don't think it's a great tourist destination. The mountains are beautiful, of course, but October would not be a good time for that. To me, it's a country that's great to take some time to drive around, spend lots of time in the mountains, hit the different regions and see the sights, sample the food, but there's no magnet city that would be good to visit for a couple of days. (Geneva, in my mind, does not qualify).

 

Berlin is great fun, and has lots of history/arts/culture, but is a little out of your way. I LOVE Madrid.

 

South of France - again, the off-season, and I would not recommend it.

 

You might think about just spending a few more days in each of the cities. Remember that traveling is going to be pretty exhausting, and you might enjoy a more "leisurely" pace - plus 2 days is really not enough to see most of those places!

[hers]

Ok, no Switzerland!

 

I dont really have desire to see Germany or Belgium or anything. I'd LOVE to go to Greece but I read that it's chilly there in Oct and I want to go to the beach there! So that'd be another trip!

[caro33]

Re places to stay, I recommend link removed - but I have no idea how it compares to the other sites mentioned here.

 

Sophie is far better qualified than me but I second her view about the cost of living in Europe. The UK in particular is expensive, as is anywhere touristy. You go somewhere that everyone wants to go, like the Vatican, and the tourist premium is extraordinary. Plan to have some spare living funds beyond what you've mentioned here.

[jengh]

Hers...if you want the culture and museums and food, go to Paris...seriously...it's just..unexplainable. If I could afford it, I'd meet you there.

[hers]

Re places to stay, I recommend link removed - but I have no idea how it compares to the other sites mentioned here.

 

Sophie is far better qualified than me but I second her view about the cost of living in Europe. The UK in particular is expensive, as is anywhere touristy. You go somewhere that everyone wants to go, like the Vatican, and the tourist premium is extraordinary. Plan to have some spare living funds beyond what you've mentioned here.

 

thanks, caro.

 

when you guys mention cost of living, are you talking about hostels and stuff being mroe expensive over there?

 

I know that the Euro is more expensive than the dollar, so I don't know how much to plan for. It'd be great if I could just take a credit card over there and not worry, haha.

 

I don't care to go to the Vatican. I'd love to go to Tuscany and Sicily and Rome and Florence in Italy, so i'd like to spend more than just a cuople of days in Italy. Maybe I'll do that. I'm just trying to hit as many places as possible in 2 weeks!

[jengh]

I say we go to Greece NEXT summer, '10?

[hers]

I say we go to Greece NEXT summer, '10?

 

I'm sure a Costas will be there waiting.

[sophie274]

Thanks so much!!

 

England is a necessity since Jenny-Boo will be there, and I want to go see her! So I can deal with rain.

 

I don't care much about night life, so is Barcelona maybe not the best choice? I'm not into drinking or clubs. Give me a museum and pretty stuff and some food and I'm good!!

 

I was thinking somewhere more scenic in France, but I just don't know enough about it.

 

Also, do you think staying in hostels will be pretty cheap? What about if I do link removed in leiu of hostels?

 

Barcelona has a lot of beautiful things to see, and interesting museums, plus the beach. It also has great food. Everyone I know who has been there has loved it. I think you should go.

 

I would be scared to do couchsurfing, honestly, and hostels are used A LOT in all of the places you mentioned. I'm not sure about prices, but I bet there is a ton of info on the net. If I were you (and granted I am VERY cautious) I would choose a more "upscale" hostel, not dirt cheap, just for the added safety. It will still probably not cost much at all.

 

Paris is beautiful, really. If you're looking for beautiful and museums and good food there really is no better place to go. (Is it obvious I love Paris?) But scenic in France: Brittany, Normandy, Alsace, Burgundy ... but I just think it will be a big hassle to rent a car in Paris, drive to wherever you want to go (while trying not to get killed by the crazy French drivers), and organize a good itinerary if you don't know much about France.

 

If you're going to Rome, you could try Florence or Venice (might be the bad rain season, not sure, you should check). Amsterdam would probably also be quite nice, but I've never been so I can't say much about it.

[jengh]

I'm sure a Costas will be there waiting.

 

Noooo, not just one!!! We need Costases? Costi?

[hers]

Sophie, I wish I could rep you for all of these posts instead of just the one!!!

 

I'll try Paris, haha. Everyone has told me so much about it and it seems fantastic, really, but I have so many places I awnt to try first--Italy, Greece, Spain, Ireland. So that's why I'm not super excited about it, ya know? But I still want to go there one day. I will try it, just for you!

[sophie274]

Re places to stay, I recommend link removed - but I have no idea how it compares to the other sites mentioned here.

 

Sophie is far better qualified than me but I second her view about the cost of living in Europe. The UK in particular is expensive, as is anywhere touristy. You go somewhere that everyone wants to go, like the Vatican, and the tourist premium is extraordinary. Plan to have some spare living funds beyond what you've mentioned here.

 

England is ridiculous (as is Switzerland actually). The food is very expensive, transportation, just everything... plus you've already lost quite a bit due to the exchange rate.

 

There are some people who are great at sniffing out deals - and the more you plan ahead, the more you can find those "best kept secret" kinds of places (hostels and restaurants) that are fabulous and cheap. I personally think buying guide books is worth the money, because they will tell you about deals and getting a good bang for your buck. (Ex: if museums are free a certain day of the week, special discounts you can ask for, whatever) But I think you just really don't want to be counting your pennies every step of the way. If you're not planning on doing any shopping, that will help - and if you are, be prepared to spend a lot!

[sophie274]

Sophie, I wish I could rep you for all of these posts instead of just the one!!!

 

I'll try Paris, haha. Everyone has told me so much about it and it seems fantastic, really, but I have so many places I awnt to try first--Italy, Greece, Spain, Ireland. So that's why I'm not super excited about it, ya know? But I still want to go there one day. I will try it, just for you!

 

Yay! (And you're welcome, I would be glad to help with any questions, in thread or via PM).

 

I would totally be inviting myself on this trip if I didn't have to be in school! And on the Greece '10 trip (definitely save that one for the summer, when all the men are shirtless and the weather is gorgeous)! I think you're going to have a great time planning it!