First European Vacation :)))

Old Oct 6th, 2015, 03:17 PM
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First European Vacation :)))

Hello!

I'm planning my first European vacation. I'm a 24 year old female and I will be traveling by myself. My budget will be about ~8,000.

I'm going to be there from May 27th to June 21st.

This is what I have so far:

May 27th-May 31st= London (Day Trip to Bath and/or Stonehenge)
June 1st-June 5th= Paris (Day Trip to Versailles/Giverny)
June 6th= Travel to Venice
June 7th-8th= Venice
June 9th-June 13th= Rome (Day Trip to Pompeii/Amfali Coast)
June 14th= Travel to Madrid
June 15th-June 20th= Madrid (Day Trip to Toledo)
June 21st= Leaving Europe for now (

Appreciate any and all help.

Thank you!
LadySif is offline  
Old Oct 6th, 2015, 03:23 PM
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I think you have paced yourself pretty well.

Is your budget US$8000 or 8000 Euro or some other currency? Does this budget need to cover your flights to/from Europe as well as transport within Europe?
Kathie is offline  
Old Oct 6th, 2015, 04:09 PM
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Nice itinerary. Any specific questions?
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Old Oct 6th, 2015, 04:17 PM
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What specific help would you like?
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Old Oct 6th, 2015, 04:32 PM
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Sorry!

I just released that I did not post my questions.

1. Is my budget enough for the amount of days/cities that I would like to see?
2. Will I have enough time to do everything on my itinerary? Are there too many days in certain cities?
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Old Oct 6th, 2015, 04:57 PM
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Budget depends on several things:

Is transatlantic airfare addition or part of the budget? If so, how much is that from your city?

How do you want to live? Hostels? Hotels that are cheap and cheerful (shared bath, no AC, etc) Or modest/pleasant? Or more upscale? (Hotel rooms can range from $150 to $1000 or more a night.)

Same is true of dining. You can eat very frugally or you can spend a small fortune.

Shopping is another major issue. If you may pick up a few souvenirs it's completely different than if you are shopping for high budget items.

My19 year old DD went 2 summers ago with 2 friend and she spent about $8k in 6 weeks. Than was modest hotels (but with elevator and AC in central locations), limited nightlife (hard liquor and mixed drinks are often very expensive) and did very minimal shopping. But they did see all the major sights that they wanted and paid for a couple of tours to get early access to very busy places. For meals they did simple to modest, but did not stick with supermarket sandwiches or picnics.

In terms of itinerary you really can;t do Pompeii and Amalfi cost in one day from Rome. Pompeii is huge and IMHO it requires at least 4 hours - and you need to get there when it opens since later in the day there is no shade and the heat can be shattering. And when done at Pompeii you are still well more than an hour to any of the towns on the AC.

Frankly I would drop Madrid (which is NOT one of my favorite places) and add those days to London which you are really giving short shrift.
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Old Oct 6th, 2015, 05:12 PM
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Thank you nytraveler!

I have a seperate budget for my airline. The $8,000 budget is for me to spend while I am in Europe.

The major point for hostels for me is that they are in a safe location as I will be traveling by myself. I know that might cost me a little more but I safety is important to me.

I'm not a big shopper and I try to live by the motto that the best souvenir is a beautiful picture. I also do not drink so I know that will hopefully save me some money.

Can I ask why you were not a big fan of Madrid? I am told that Madrid is really beautiful but I have alsoe heard that it is not worth it. Madrid is kind of iffy for me.

Would you suggest adding more days to London/Paris/Rome or even adding Amsterdam?

Thank you!
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Old Oct 6th, 2015, 05:18 PM
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Take a look at some guide books and decide what you want to see in each place, in order to get an idea as to whether you are giving yourself enough time in each place.

you budget should include a place to stay, food/drink transportation, admission fees,
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Old Oct 6th, 2015, 07:01 PM
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I'm not sure what you mean by this statement" The major point for hostels for me is that they are in a safe location"

Your budget is adequate, but you do spend more by going so many places.

"Will I have enough time to do everything on my itinerary? Are there too many days in certain cities?" i don't see any city where you have too many days. But I wouldn't add anything else to this itinerary, Indeed, were I to make a recommendation, I'd recommend dropping Madrid and add those days to other cities - London, Paris, Venice and Rome would be a fine trip for the time you have. Have no illusions that you will see "everything" in any city in the amount of time you have.
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Old Oct 6th, 2015, 10:08 PM
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I am a big fan of Madrid, but two days is fine for me and one more day for a day in Toledo or perhaps Segovia as well. Consider spending a night in Toledo.


My personal choice, however, would be to cut Madrid and take that extra time and actually spend three or four nights on the Amalfi Coast and also add Florence. I would do that because it is so easy to stop in Florence between Venice and Rome, and getting to Pompeii and the AC is a bit of a trek, not an easy day trip. If you are going anyway, then spend more time there when you go, and see more.

If you are not interested in Florence, I would still cut Madrid to four days, and add it to the AC.
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Old Oct 6th, 2015, 10:49 PM
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"(Day Trip to Pompeii/Amfali Coast)"

I know many people make this day trip. I would hate it. A day trip from Rome is not, IMO, sufficient to do anything other than exhaust oneself -- you won't see much of Pompeii, you won't see much (if anything) of the Amalfi Coast (unless you pay a small fortune for a private driver), and you will give up a full day in Rome, which offers SO much! JMO.

"(Day Trip to Toledo)"

I thought Toledo worth 2 full days -- but that's just me! While many people -- perhaps most? -- visit Toledo as a day trip from Madrid, I thought Toledo much more evocative after daytrippers had left. BTW, I think a day trip from Madrid to Toledo MUCH more manageable than a day trip from Rome to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast -- JMO. Also, if you are willing to relocate with some frequency (not everyone likes that), you might find lower cost accommodations in Toledo than in Madrid -- I honestly don't know; you'll have to check if that idea has an appeal to you.

I love Madrid -- but then, I love art, and OMG, Madrid has some magnificent art museums! If that appeals to you, then keep your plan for Madrid as is -- or shift a night or two to Toledo.

While I generally agree with Sassafrass, I'm not sure I agree about your options.... If you are willing to skip Madrid and Toledo on this trip -- and I think skipping them for THIS trip actually makes a LOT of sense -- then I think the idea of making time for Florence is excellent! You could easily add all your "Spain" days to Florence and/or a day trip or two from elsewhere. Unlike Sassafrass, I wouldn't try to use that time for the Amalfi Coast, which I think merits more time than you could give it even if you skipped Spain. Again, JMO.

Hope that helps!

BTW, I'm one of MANY other solo female Fodorites -- welcome!
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Old Oct 7th, 2015, 12:43 AM
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nyt does not like Madrid, I find the old centre pretty good and even some of the Victorian areas pleasant. The 'burbs are not so great but don't stay there. Given that it is a capital and the hours that Spaniards are awake in total are very long, it can be a draining city for those used to and staying on American/Northern European time. Plus Toledo is a short train ride away.

I think your itin makes sense to me and for a first timer with loads of energy makes a lot of sense

Good idea to start with London first as it is the most US type city, hence a sort of Euro lite, however the place is far bigger than any of the other cities you have mentioned, given the chances of jet lag I think you are short changing the largest, most vibrant city in Europe by only giving it such a short time.

I suggest take the train, London to Paris and fly Paris to Venice, then train onto Rome.

If I (not you mut me) had to drop anything I'd drop the ACoast, I've seen a coast before and trust me, I'd not fly half way around the world to see this one, especially when your other sites are so fantastic.
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Old Oct 10th, 2015, 08:32 PM
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I like Madrid okay and love Toledo, especially for an overnight, but I think the advice people are giving you to skip it is good. Better to add Florence or the Amalfi Coast.

When traveling from Venice to Florence or Rome, stop in Padua and see the Scrovegni Chapel. Purchase tickets in advance. You can check your suitcase at the train station. There are some pretty amazing murals here.

Under no circumstances whatsoever should you take a "day trip" from Rome to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. Either go and spend at least one night at some place like Sorrento, or just don't go.
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Old Oct 11th, 2015, 05:25 AM
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I think you have a nice itinerary and a decent amount of time in each place ( with the exception as everyone else said that you can't do the Amalfi Coast as a day trip from Rome).

I think dropping Spain and adding the time to Italy (so you could actually go to the Amalfi Coast and/or somewhere else like a few days in Tuscany, etc) is a good idea and would eliminate one flight (to Spain). On the other hand, the way you currently have it you get a taste of four different countries and it's really not all that rushed. If you do go to Madrid I would definitely include Toledo and/or Segovia, and both are really nice at night, so if you don't mind moving hotels I would overnight there and cut down on time in Madrid. Madrid is not my favorite European city but it's certainly nice, and Toledo and Segovia are really wonderful.

Your budget is almost €300 a day. Way more than enough. I rarely spend more than €100 a night and I stay in nice, centrally located hotels, always with AC (in hot climates), always with wi-fi, usually with lifts. People who spend more than that do so because a) they want to, or b) because they think they have to because they don't know any better. You are going to some expensive cities so it might average a bit more than €100 a night, but there are plenty of options. booking.com is a great place to look. Use the map feature to find hotels in the location you want to be in (and then don't even bother looking at hotels in the other locations).

For transportation between locations you can find out exactly what that is going to cost ahead of time by looking at easyjet or other airline and the train sites for the places you are going.

Food can be any price you want it to be. Depends on if you 'need' sit down, linen table cloth type meals or if you just want good local food.

You can also check entrance fees on line for just about everywhere. Although they usually have gone up a euro or two from what's on their website.

Shopping is optional. I love to shop in Europe, but I don't consider it part of the cost of the trip.
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Old Oct 11th, 2015, 12:04 PM
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While I love Andalusia and enjoy Barcelona and the other parts of SpainI have been to (San Sebastian, Merida) I am no a fan of Madrid. Part of this was my first trip there - 99 degrees the first of May and a hotel we did not like.

But also that to me it appears to be a very large modern city with quite a few skyscrapers - and reminds me more of Chicago than anything else. (Nothing wrong with Chicago but I am not going to Spain to see it.) I expect Spain to be more Spanish.

We did the major museums, Royal Palace and day trip to Toledo and were done. Have been back only on business and enjoyed it no more.
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