Petalstogo

Hi everyone,

I am getting married on the last Saturday in May and my fiance and I are planning on going to Europe for about 6-8 weeks. We would like to leave immediately after our wedding for our honeymoon. We start our PhD program in the fall, so this will most likely be the last time we really get to travel (outside of short trips) so we want to make the most of it. We have both previously traveled, are VERY comfortable getting around on bike, train, bus, etc. and have no interest in staying in fancy places or resorts.

We have family that we can stay with in the following locations
1) Turin, Italy
2) Hamburg
3) Wetzlar - near Gissen German
4) London
5) Essex
6) New Castle

Housing would be FREE in all the places mentioned above. In some of those locations we would also have a car to use. So ideally, we could use some of those locations as hubs.

We are very open to the places we want to see, we do know that we want to travel a lil bit throughout Italy, and a little in France. My fiance wants to spend at least a week or so visiting his family throughout Scotland/England and I want to visit some of my family in Germany.

Where do you think guys thing that we should start and end - taking the weather into consideration? should we start in the south and travel north or vice versa? What cities should we definitely see?? Should we bother w/ Eurorail or travel more local? I found a one way flight from LAX to Lisbon for only $400! Help us plan out our awesome honeymoon!! I would really not prefer to stay in hotels unless they are relatively cheap - I have used Air BNB before and always had a great experience. We would LIKE to our bikes with us, although I am not sure how realistic that is. We both have Bike Friday fold up bikes (http://mybikeshopsg.files.wordpress....t-combo-12.jpg) and once folded up our bikes can effectively fit into a carry on bag... so it would be great if we take them with us, but I am just not sure if we will.

Budget
Currently have: 2,000 Euros
Don't mind spending another $7,000 = 5161.48 Euros

Any help, feedback, guidance on what to purchase ahead of time, what savings are worth it and what isn't would be greatly appreciated. Any maps, etc. would also be great.. Should we bother w/ Eurorail or travel more local?

I love this site, so I truly appreciate your response.

Petalstogo

Also, the budget listed above is NOT including our flights. That's going to be a wedding gift.

nytraveler

It's hard to be specific since you seem to be able to get free lodging some nights - otherwise I would say your budget is minute (only 85 euros per day for everything, including trains between cities).

I would have a loot at some student resources, since your budget is really quite modest - and you can probably get a lot of specific tips/hints there that may not be apparent to people traveling on larger budgets.

IMDonehere

Most families get insulted if you do not spend some significant time with them, especially when one of them is new to the family.

We have traveled extensively in Europe and we have stayed with family and friends in Europe and they are both satisfying in there own way. We have become closer to our friends and family and are in regular communication with most of them while we still think of places and times we went on our own. Start in the warmest areas and travel north.

And I assure you no matter how burdensome for doctoral debt will be, you will return.

bobthenavigator

Save the UK for the end of the trip---weather wise.

Also, look at the Peuguot buy-back car plan from Kemwel for driving on the Continent. I would start in Rome and fly home from London. The options between are endless---a nice problem to have.

Petalstogo

oh I forgot to mention that as wedding presents, we have had friend offer to buy us whatever Euro Rail passes, others are buying us our we choose up to $2,000. So the budget above does NOT need to include the cost of airfare or EuroRail transportation.

IMDonehere - yes I agree, also thankfully our PhD program is pretty much paid for and they are providing us with free student housing and a small stipend, although we have some debt from out masters program. In this economy neither one of us would consider a PhD unless it was paid for I hope others don't either. Have you seen this article on the subject: http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/...hool_debt.html

Petalstogo

bobthenavigator - thanks for that info! will certainly look into it!

amer_can

LAX to LIS for $400 I'd grab it. Can you find a similar fare back home? From anywhere and work from there. Trains are reasonable, buses more reasonable and comfortable. Congrats and good luck on your PHDs.

Hans

Beside your destinations, what do you want to see?

A nice itinerary seems to me: go to Rome, maybe Florence, Turin. Then via Vienna to Prague and Berlin (and maybe other Eastern European places. They tend to be less expensive than many Western European cities). From Berlin to Hamburg, then Wetzlar, then maybe via the Rhine valley and Amsterdam to Paris (alternatively go via Strasbourg and the Alsace). From there to your destinations in England.

From Turin you could also take a more direct route via Munich to Wetzlar and then Hamburg, Amsterdam and Paris.

StCirq

Wait just a minute! For one thing, the last thing you probably need is a Eurrail Pass. STOP! Learn about point-to-point tickets and the deals you can get buy buying in advance on the national railroads.

And do not ever go to Europe with just a one-way ticket! Sure way to get turned back at the border by immigration and sent right back home. You need round-trip tickets, or at least two one-ways (or an open-jaw).

IMDonehere

I did not pursue a doctorate because it seemed like a lot of work. (Insert ironic academic smiley face, if such a creature exists.)

Petalstogo

StCirq - I was actually thinking the same thing about point-to-point tickets, the only thing is I've only traveled w/ family before and usually they did all the legwork, so I am not sure how to go about doing the point-to-point tickets... should I get the reservations ahead of time? PLEASE give me advice on this part, because a 2 mon global Eurrail Pass will end up costing us nearly $4,000!

In regards to the airline, yes it's an open-jaw ticket. LAX portion = $427 after taxes
London to LAX = $599
tickets are behind held for 48 hours, have not made a purchase.

Petalstogo

Is this a good tool for me to use to add up the costs for the point-to-point tickets? http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/timecostmap.htm

anything similar that's good?

StCirq

No, Petalstogo, don't use Rick Steves.

If you give me your final itinerary, I will try to help. You want to use capitainegrain.com or www,bahn.de and www.trenitalia.com.

Don't fret. We'll figure this out for you.

Petalstogo

Awwww you're soooo sweet!! should I send you a private message or email you?? I'm using google maps to plan things out. Seriously considering the car rental thing but I don't want us to get exhausted from driving a lot, would prefer trains and buses. We both actually heard back from work today and we are instead of 6-8 weeks we are actually going to take 10 weeks! and we decided to use our Christmas bonus too - so we have a total of $9K plus 2,000 Euros to play with.

Petalstogo

Here's the preliminary list that we have come up with

We can either fly into Lisbon or Rome.
Pros of Lisbon: We could travel to Porto and make our way to Madrid & Barcelona on our way to Rome.
Cons: Adding Portugal & Spain might force us to cut the trip short to other places that we REALLY want to see.

Soooo, I am leaning towards flying into Rome instead. So based on that here's the list that we came up with

Rome - at least one week
Sorrento
Florence (I've been so 2-3 days is enough)
Cinque Terre (minimum of 2 days)
Venice
Turin --- FREE housing, I think we'll stay here for a week or so and possibly go to some places nearby on day trips
Zurich
Munich
Salzburg
Prague
Berlin
Copenhagen -- I know it's out of the way but he "MUST" go
Stockholm - I know it's out of the way but he "MUST" go
Frankfurt/Wetzlar - FREE housing - probably stay 4-6 days
Paris
Brussels - maybe
Amsterdam - maybe
London - FREE housing, empty flat that his parent own
Essex - FREE housing
Edinburgh - FREE housing
He wants to spend around 8-11 days just in the UK

cathies

Can I make a suggestion? As you are leaving for Europe straight after the wedding choose for your first destination somewhere the two of you can be on your own for a few nights (3 preferably) and unwind. You'll both be tired from the wedding and probably sleep deprived. If it was me I'd like to do that before the onslaught of relatives started.

I like the idea of a week in Rome at the beginning of the trip. You can easily do a day trip to Florence if you've already been there. 90 mins on a fast train.

Petalstogo

Of course you can make a suggestion Cathies! make more! seriously I need them!! We are getting married on a Saturday and are most likely leaving on a Tuesday. Our wedding is going to be super small (20-25 people) at a little winery in Malibu, followed by a very rustic farm to table intimate dinner. Afterwards we're going to hang out at our little apartment in Huntington Beach for 2-3 days before we leave for the Honeymoon. We have been living together for nearly 4 years, so we're pretty used to each other and while the honeymoon/vacation is going to be romantic, we're also pretty low key and more into traveling without any frills. Still, I knew that we had to spend at least a week in Rome, just to relax. I agree w/ you on the day trips to Florence and Sorrento. I am most looking forward to Cinque Terre - I think we should stretch that out to 4 days.

IMDonehere

Guide Books
Frommer's and Fodor's-good on major cities, restaurants, and hotels, midline on history and culture, some smaller cities, towns non-existent

Rough Guide, Lonely Planet-better on history, sights, and culture, terrible on hotels and restaurants, includes many smaller cities and towns

Michelin Green-best for sights. Does not include restaurants and hotels.

Eyewitness Guide-Like a stereotypical model, fun to look at, otherwise not much there.

Rick Steves-he is to travel writing, as Carrot Top is to political commentary.

laurie_ann

Rick Steves is a good rail resource (he has rough maps at http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/pdfs/map_timecost.pdf with approximate time and costs for point to point).

So is www.seat61.com to get background on how to best use the trains. For example he has this page. http://www.seat61.com/Railpass-and-E...ide.htm#Should you buy a railpass or pay-as-you-go.