ericjonolsen

Hey all,

So I'm debating quitting my job next year and traveling Europe for a few months. At the end of 2012, I project I will have just a little over $12K saved in the bank. By April, I should have around $15K-$16K saved (assuming I don't take a 2nd job here soon, which I may do, for a nice cash infusion into my savings).

My question is this, assuming I leave for Europe in April (spring), and want to spend April and May in Europe, how much would you folks say I have set aside for travel?

Regarding airfare to and from Europe, a friend of mine works for a major airline, so I am set with travel - I can fly Business or First class for under $1000 round trip.

I'd like to stay at budget/mid-level hotels (e.g. Thon, Scandic) and not have to resort to eating fast food. That said, I'm not looking to stay at the Ritz Carlton Paris, although, I do plan on coughing up for a night or two at a 4-5 star hotel. I also don't want to come home broke!

Itinerary wise - I want to land in London, and just start exploring. Alternatively, I may end up swinging the other way and plan every little detail.

Countries I'd like to visit: England, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Monaco, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, and maybe Montenegro. If I'm gone for two months, I'd probably add Greece and Spain as well - it would be nice to get back to Barcelona.

So basically, that's all of Europe for the most part.

Am I too crazy, or is this feasible?

Michael

I estimated our costs of travel in Germany, France and the U.K., excluding the hop over the pond and possibly pre-paid car rentals, local airfares and accommodations, at about $1100 per week for two. But we were rent free in France. You are including Scandinavia, which is high priced, although in the Norwegian countryside it is possible to reduce cost with self-serve cabins (bring your own sheets--a light sleeping bag liner is the best solution). You might want to take a look at my trip reports for Norway and Stockholm; click on my name to find them.

Oslo has a neighborhood with Indian and Pakistani restaurants which will still be more expensive than in the States but cheaper than standard tourist places.

adrienne

I was going to say that E1400 per week would be fine but then I read on to see that you want to visit 18 countries in 2 months. With that volume of traveling around I'd say that your budget is light.

You have 3 days per country. What do you expect to see in that amount of time? I would focus on a smaller area otherwise you'll return home and everything will be a blur of railway stations and airports.

<< Itinerary wise - I want to land in London, and just start exploring >>

I'm sorry to tell you that you don't have time to just start exploring. To visit 18 countries you need to have a firm plan of what you'll see in each country and a schedule for trains/planes/buses to get to the next place and an idea of where you'll stay otherwise you'll be using up part of your 3 precious days in each country on logistics.

The way I determined 3 days in each country was 60 days minus 9 days for travel to the next location (1/2 day per relocation on average) = 51 divided by 18 = 2.8 or rounded up to 3. You'll have to visit one or two days someplace to make it work out.

michele_d

<Am I too crazy, or is this feasible?>

Prepare for the dogpile...

Crazy..no...unreasonable expectations...YES YES YES.

<So basically, that's all of Europe for the most part.>
Yeah, pretty much unfortunately.

This is 19 countries in 56 days, less than three days in each country. You must allow a minimum of 1/2-3/4 of a day for each move. So...with 19 moves you lose another 12-15 days give or take. So now you are trying to visit 19 countries in approximately 40 days...this equals barely 2 days in each place!

You need to do a a total revision. Pick a total of 10-12 places. This will give you about 4 days in each place. This is much more tolerable, although still at a quick pace.

Your original plan will only let you have memories of the inside of trains stations, trains, airports, planes and not much else. If your object is to cross places off a list then fine, mission accomplished. If you really want to visit Europe then get some guidebooks and start realistically planning.

The good news is that $15,000 should be plenty for this length of time. We did thirteen weeks for $20,000 and visited 20 locations. We intermixed 4 week long stays with 4-5 day stays and a couple 2-3 day stays which worked out great.

janisj

Sorry - but that isn't a plan -- it is a laundry list of countries.

No way, no how. Budget isn't your problem . . . logistics is. Back to the drawing board

ericjonolsen

I'll be honest, I was sort of just "talking out loud" so to speak when I was typing - looking at a map, and then thinking, "Oh, I'd like to visit here, and here, and here, and here" - like a kid in a candy store when asked what candy he wants to take home. (Side note: that is the cruelest thing to do to a small child - take him into a large candy store, and only allow him one choice, but I digress...)

If I were to go with my gut, with what I REALLY want to see, I'd have to say the following city/countries:

London, England
Paris, France
Oslo, Norway (I have a friend here) - 2 days?
Berlin, Germany
Prague, Czech Republic
Luxembourg
Split or Dubrovnik, Croatia
Rome, Italy and Cinque Terre, Italy

Last time I was in Italy was on a cruise, and I spent a day in Cinque Terre (AMAZING), a day in Rome, that was it.

My apologies for seeming disorganized - I'm usually not. But yes, I see how 19 countries in 56 days is pretty much not feasible at all.

adrienne

This is much more reasonable. I would rethink Split or Dubrovnik as they're quite far from other places you're visiting and they are both small so it's a long journey for a day or two. Take those days and add someplace between Prague and Italy. Munich, Vienna, or Budapest perhaps. Or allow yourself some time to see more than cities.

The best approach IMHO is to read about the sights in each city, determine how much time you'll need and then take day trips or two day stops between places. As an example, between Berlin and Prague you might want to stop in Dresden for 2 days. Or see Copenhagen between Oslo and Berlin.

adrienne

Get some Let's Go guide books from your library and start reading them. They're great budget travel guides and will give lots of information on how to travel inexpensively, where to stay and eat, etc.

suze

19 countries in 60 days? After you subtract travel times, that's like 2 days per country.

nytraveler

To get a reasonable budget you really need to settle on 2 things:

Itinerary - Scan and Switz are very expensive (prices twice US plus) while other places may be only 1/3 plus (ie if somethhing is $100 in the US - but figure New York prices - it will be 100 euros there)

And yes, traveling to many different places will run up your costs.

What you are looking for in terms of lodgings and meals:

For meals we figure about $100 per day per person, assuming breakfast is free at the hotel. This includes a sit down lunch in a casual cafe or trattoria, sitting in a cafe for a drink at 5 pm or so and dinner with wine in a pleasant (but not really upscale) restaurant, plus perhaps an ice cream. We also usually do one splurge dinner in each city - which is $300 to $400 for a couple.

Lodging depends on location, amenities, time of year and what deals you can find. We figure 300 euros and up per night - but we want a larger room in a 4* hotel (and look for deals). If you will go for budget hotels in a central location

You may get something for 100 euros in less expensive areas - but not in Scand, Switz or London.

Local transit and sights cost what they do = and you can look them up. But be prepared for major sights to cost $20 to $25 for entry.

So I think your budget is tight for the level of travel you seem to want.

suze

Sorry, didn't see your second post!!

8 places, 2 months, now you're talking. I think 15,000 is OK (figuring $150 for a place to sleep and $100 walking around money per day).

StCirq

Yes, it sounds OK now. First attempt was absolutely no do-able.