Ireland, London, Paris 2-3 weeks in June
Apr 24th, 2011, 05:14 PM
#1
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Ireland, London, Paris 2-3 weeks in June
My husband and I are taking our 11 year old twins to visit family in Ireland in mid-June. We will be in Ireland for at least 7 days. Since I got 3 weeks off for my vacation, we were thinking about travelling to London, Paris, and maybe other parts of the UK. (Possibly Scotland larger cities and coastal areas) I don't want to spend more than $1200-1500 for travel between the countries, in the countries and accomodations. We will be near Dublin for our starting point. Things we definately want to see are Westminster Abbey, London Tower, London Bridge, the London Eye, the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Versailles, and maybe reward the kids by going to Disney for a day. Any tips on where to stay, other things we might be interested in seeing, any ways to get all this done on the cheap would be greatly appreciated. We may not get back to Europe for many years and want to get the most out of our trip.
Apr 24th, 2011, 10:04 PM
#2
$1500 max for two weeks for 4 people in three countries to include accommodations and all travel?????
That is barely £60 a day. You won't get most accommodations for that let alone travel for a family of four. Your budget is just not realistic.
If you have a free place to stay in Ireland -- then you'll do better to stretch your time there and then spend just 1 week in either London or Paris. That will save you a LOT of transport costs and you <i>might</i> just make your budget. It would still be <u>very</u> tight.
$1200-$1500 = £725 - £900/€800 - €1000
That is barely £60 a day. You won't get most accommodations for that let alone travel for a family of four. Your budget is just not realistic.
If you have a free place to stay in Ireland -- then you'll do better to stretch your time there and then spend just 1 week in either London or Paris. That will save you a LOT of transport costs and you <i>might</i> just make your budget. It would still be <u>very</u> tight.
$1200-$1500 = £725 - £900/€800 - €1000
Apr 25th, 2011, 12:50 AM
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"Things we definately want to see are Westminster Abbey, London Tower, London Bridge,"
I doubt very much that it's London bridge you want to see:
http://www.yourlocalweb.co.uk/images...e-ec-29469.jpg
A rather unattractive concrete structure built in the 1970's.
Tower Bridge is more likely what you want to see:
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/ima...177.117.97.jpg
I doubt very much that it's London bridge you want to see:
http://www.yourlocalweb.co.uk/images...e-ec-29469.jpg
A rather unattractive concrete structure built in the 1970's.
Tower Bridge is more likely what you want to see:
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/ima...177.117.97.jpg
Apr 25th, 2011, 07:27 PM
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We are staying in Ireland for about 10 days, hoping to do 3 or 4 each in London and Paris. Sorry to waste people's time, I am the queen of cheap vacations, so if it can be done I'll find a way. Thanks anyway
Apr 25th, 2011, 08:44 PM
#5
"<i>Sorry to waste people's time, I am the queen of cheap vacations, so if it can be done I'll find a way. Thanks anyway</i>"
Don't shoot the messenger. We do want to help you -- but you have to start out w/ realistic expectations. Most of us know how to do cheap vacations too. But you are talking about London and Paris. Just getting from one to the other will cost a family of 4 about $300-$400 -- unless you do it by bus/ferry. By bus it takes all day and will cost you about $200.
But then you have to get back to Dublin or wherever you fly home from -- that will be another $300-$400+.
So just travel from London to Paris and back to Dublin will cost more than half of your TOTAL budget. And that doesn't include your travel from Ireland to the UK. Plus there are travel costs IN each city.
Accommodations in London, even in the most down market youth hostels, will cost $100-$150 a day for 4. Paris -just a tiny bit cheaper.
$1200-$1500 can get you a very nice week somewhere -- but not w/ three $400-ish journeys.
Don't shoot the messenger. We do want to help you -- but you have to start out w/ realistic expectations. Most of us know how to do cheap vacations too. But you are talking about London and Paris. Just getting from one to the other will cost a family of 4 about $300-$400 -- unless you do it by bus/ferry. By bus it takes all day and will cost you about $200.
But then you have to get back to Dublin or wherever you fly home from -- that will be another $300-$400+.
So just travel from London to Paris and back to Dublin will cost more than half of your TOTAL budget. And that doesn't include your travel from Ireland to the UK. Plus there are travel costs IN each city.
Accommodations in London, even in the most down market youth hostels, will cost $100-$150 a day for 4. Paris -just a tiny bit cheaper.
$1200-$1500 can get you a very nice week somewhere -- but not w/ three $400-ish journeys.
Apr 25th, 2011, 08:52 PM
#6
Oh -- also meant to say -- your original post made it sound like you wanted to spend 1 week in Ireland, and the rest of your 3 weeks total seeing London/Paris/Scotland plus other cities and some coastal area. That would be totally impossible on your budget.
But now you are only mentioning 3 or 4 days in London and 3 or 4 days in Paris so it is getting a little more realistic. It is the travel costs that will kill you.
But now you are only mentioning 3 or 4 days in London and 3 or 4 days in Paris so it is getting a little more realistic. It is the travel costs that will kill you.
Apr 26th, 2011, 12:36 AM
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OK so you are based in Ireland so you can use the budget airlines to get to London return and Paris return. Ryanair will fly you Dublin to London Gatwick (also from Shannon) or Paris(Beauniais)for as little as €20 return each. Provided you have only One 10kg piece of hand luggage which is smaller than their maximum dimensions and that you purchase your tickets with a Prepay Mastercard. You will have to start looking for these flights about 6 weeks before your travel dates.
http://www.ryanair.com/ie
It is apparently no more to take the kids to Disney Florida than it is to Disney Paris from Dublin according to a neighbour who is doing that next year. There are plenty of things to treat them with without Disney.
I would consider renting self catering for a week at a time in Ireland as this will be cheaper than B&B or hotel accommodation plus you could leave the bulk of your luggage if you took the Ryanair, Airlingus option of flying with hand baggage.
I week within reach of Dublin for Paris and one week in reach of Shannon for Gatwick would be my choice 4 days Ireland 3 days Paris and the same again for Gatwick.
http://www.ryanair.com/ie
It is apparently no more to take the kids to Disney Florida than it is to Disney Paris from Dublin according to a neighbour who is doing that next year. There are plenty of things to treat them with without Disney.
I would consider renting self catering for a week at a time in Ireland as this will be cheaper than B&B or hotel accommodation plus you could leave the bulk of your luggage if you took the Ryanair, Airlingus option of flying with hand baggage.
I week within reach of Dublin for Paris and one week in reach of Shannon for Gatwick would be my choice 4 days Ireland 3 days Paris and the same again for Gatwick.
Apr 26th, 2011, 08:01 AM
#8
Tony2phones: "<i>I would consider renting self catering for a week at a time in Ireland as this will be cheaper than B&B or hotel accommodation plus you could leave the bulk of your luggage if you took the Ryanair, Airlingus option of flying with hand baggage.</i>"
They already have their plans for Ireland -- they are visiting w/ relatives.
They already have their plans for Ireland -- they are visiting w/ relatives.
Apr 26th, 2011, 08:27 AM
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janisj
Thank you so much for your help. I wasn't trying to be snotty, I just felt stupid! And I really have planned some supercheap trips, but only here in the U.S. We are planning on flying into Dublin and out of either Paris or London(wherever we will be ending up). The prices are very similar. We are probably going to do a ferry/train combo from Dublin to London for about 120 euros ($175) unless we rent a car or take a train to travel a little more in Engand, Scotland, or Wales (where the ferry will leave us.) My husband hates public transportaion, which is a factor in that possibility, to give him a break and some freedom after being at the will of his grandparents for over a week! Some people from work, along with travel books I have read, tell me that both London ad Paris have wonderful underground systems, and I know London has that surcharge for driving , so we will definately not be driving while we are there. Eurostar from London to Paris for $216.
"Accommodations in London, even in the most down market youth hostels, will cost $100-$150 a day for 4. Paris -just a tiny bit cheaper. "
This is the best, huh? That is where I am running into problems. Here in the U.S. I can always find a RedRoof Inn or comparable. I don't mind if hotels are out of the way a little, as long as there is public transport. For example, I saved a lot of money when we went to New York a few years ago by staying in New Jersey, where there was a bus a few minutes away that took us right into Manhattan. Also, I have noticed the fact that we have 4 people instead of 3 seems to eliminate a lot of places for us.
Any other tips, possible itineraries, or anything else really is appreciated. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for your help. I wasn't trying to be snotty, I just felt stupid! And I really have planned some supercheap trips, but only here in the U.S. We are planning on flying into Dublin and out of either Paris or London(wherever we will be ending up). The prices are very similar. We are probably going to do a ferry/train combo from Dublin to London for about 120 euros ($175) unless we rent a car or take a train to travel a little more in Engand, Scotland, or Wales (where the ferry will leave us.) My husband hates public transportaion, which is a factor in that possibility, to give him a break and some freedom after being at the will of his grandparents for over a week! Some people from work, along with travel books I have read, tell me that both London ad Paris have wonderful underground systems, and I know London has that surcharge for driving , so we will definately not be driving while we are there. Eurostar from London to Paris for $216.
"Accommodations in London, even in the most down market youth hostels, will cost $100-$150 a day for 4. Paris -just a tiny bit cheaper. "
This is the best, huh? That is where I am running into problems. Here in the U.S. I can always find a RedRoof Inn or comparable. I don't mind if hotels are out of the way a little, as long as there is public transport. For example, I saved a lot of money when we went to New York a few years ago by staying in New Jersey, where there was a bus a few minutes away that took us right into Manhattan. Also, I have noticed the fact that we have 4 people instead of 3 seems to eliminate a lot of places for us.
Any other tips, possible itineraries, or anything else really is appreciated. Thanks again!
Apr 26th, 2011, 10:42 AM
#10
OK -- good start -- open Jaw flights into Ireland and home from Paris will help a lot.
These new details also help a LOT.
The closest to a red roof type place in the UK is Premier Inn. They do have family rooms so all of you can stay in the same room. Also check out Travelodge. they have specials all the time. The typical two-queen sized bed motel rooms really don't exist in Europe.
Renting a car in Wales when you get off the ferry is a great idea IF you want to tour the countryside. And the advantage to that is accommodations in rural parts of England/Wales cost MUCH less than in London.
But if you just want to mainly see London - then a car makes no sense. Rentals are expensive, petrol is VERY expensive - much higher than in the States, and you don't want a car anywhere near London.
You do not want to stay out in the 'suburbs' to visit London. It will use up literally hours of your time each day and cost extra for transport.
So one option would be to rent a car and spend a few days wandering through Wales and a bit of England-- a typical budget B&B family room w/ full English Breakfast will cost about £70-£85 a night ($115-$140), a hostel a bit less - maybe £50-£60. Or if you don't mind staying in a basic motel-ish type place -- travelodges can have some amazing specials (these won't be in small towns/villages like the B&Bs but are serviceable)
Then drop the car off at Heathrow and take the tube into central London for a few days. Eurostar to Paris -- hotels of the same quality will run a bit cheaper in Paris than in London. Fly home from Paris.
These new details also help a LOT.
The closest to a red roof type place in the UK is Premier Inn. They do have family rooms so all of you can stay in the same room. Also check out Travelodge. they have specials all the time. The typical two-queen sized bed motel rooms really don't exist in Europe.
Renting a car in Wales when you get off the ferry is a great idea IF you want to tour the countryside. And the advantage to that is accommodations in rural parts of England/Wales cost MUCH less than in London.
But if you just want to mainly see London - then a car makes no sense. Rentals are expensive, petrol is VERY expensive - much higher than in the States, and you don't want a car anywhere near London.
You do not want to stay out in the 'suburbs' to visit London. It will use up literally hours of your time each day and cost extra for transport.
So one option would be to rent a car and spend a few days wandering through Wales and a bit of England-- a typical budget B&B family room w/ full English Breakfast will cost about £70-£85 a night ($115-$140), a hostel a bit less - maybe £50-£60. Or if you don't mind staying in a basic motel-ish type place -- travelodges can have some amazing specials (these won't be in small towns/villages like the B&Bs but are serviceable)
Then drop the car off at Heathrow and take the tube into central London for a few days. Eurostar to Paris -- hotels of the same quality will run a bit cheaper in Paris than in London. Fly home from Paris.
Apr 27th, 2011, 05:14 PM
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Love travelodge! Thanks for that tip, that's exactly what I was looking for! As for car rentals, any tips there? Anything special we have to do to be able to drive in the UK? And I see that manual is much cheaper.
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