gpastore1994

This is my first Europe trip solo and I wanted to hear from other other perspectives if this was possible, crazy, or not. Everything is still pretty flexible but I've already got my plane ticket for May 21 to June 8th. For transportation between countries I was considering night buses and flights. From my past experiences in big cities I think I can cover a lot in just a few days, but what do you all think? London 4 days, Amsterdam 3 days, Munich 4 or 5 days, Barcelona 3 or 4 days, then fly back to London to catch my flight back to the US? My interests involved primarily the art, architecture, sites, and food. For accommodation I was considering couch surfing as an option. I was trying to go by a budget of $3000. Is that reasonable? This does not include the plane ticket from NYC. Please let me know what you think and if I need to cut someplace out.

janisj

So a wheel isn't totally reinvented -- here is what I posted on your other thread:

>>janisj on Apr 5, 15 at 1:52pm
Welcome to Fodors gpastore.

See the 'Change Forum' pull down menu up top? Click that and go over to the Europe Forum. There you can see/read many many threads about your destinations -- and then you can post a new thread there asking your questions and tagged for the UK/Netherlands/Germany and Spain.

It is too bad you already booked your flights -- for this sort of itinerary, open jaw (in to one city and home from the other) would be a better use of your limited time.

$3000 is approx £2000/€2700 . . . doable for 17 days even w/o couch surfing. Not any splurging - but real beds in B&Bs and Hostels.

Forget about night buses mostly -- trains between some destinations and flights between others. One thing you'll want to address in your new thread . . . You are allowing less time to London than to Munich and the same time for London and Barcelona. London is HUGE w/ many times more things to see/do than in places like Munich and Amsterdam. All four cities are definitely 'worth' visiting -- but you'll be jet lagged at the beginning and in your 4 days (3.5 really) you won't see much of London.

But first of all -- re-post on Europe -- 100X more people will see your thread there.<<

And what thursdaysd posted:

>>thursdaysd on Apr 5, 15 at 1:40pm
Welcome to Fodors. You need to repost this on the Europe board, this board is for general travel trips.

Your budget is fine, no need to couchsurf. Note that the trans-Atlantic flights are likely to run $1000 (and you should fly open-jaw - into one city and back from another)

It is a long way from Munich to Barcelona. These sites should be helpful for pricing transport within Europe: skyscanner.net, seat61.com<<

gpastore1994

Ok thanks! I will definitely take your advice into consideration. Yes, I may extend my London trip there is a lot to see and do. So maybe 4 to 5 days there with a possible day trip to Bath or one of the palaces. Amsterdam is small so I didn't want to spend too much time there but 2 or 3 days. I originally wanted to spend half my trip in London and Munich. In Munich most of the things I wanted to see and do were outside the city such as the dream castle, mountains, and countryside/villages. Barcelona is the most recent addition I was considering because flights between there and London are soo cheap I feel like I'd be missing out on a great opportunity to see this Spanish city. So as of right now I feel completely stumped on what to do. But your feedback is helping me see things more clearly now I completely forgot about jet lag!

Man_in_seat_61

1. You can travel from London to Amsterdam overnight on the unique Dutch Flyer service. You leave Liverpool Street Station in central London at 19:32 by train to Harwich, board the quite luxurious Stena Line ferry around 21:00 and perhaps have a late dinner in the restaurant before settling into your cabin with comfy bed, shower, toilet, satellite TV and free wifi. You arrive Hoek van Holland at 07:45 and a train gets you to Amsterdam by around 10:00.

One ticket from £49 ($75?) covers train, ferry & Dutch train, city centre to city centre, plus the cabin cost (£30 for a single room, £43 per cabin for a 2-berth cabin) Book at www.dutchflyer.co.uk or see more info and photos/video at www.seat61.com/Netherlands.htm

Saves a hotel bill - and it's actually the traditional way to go, since way before the Wright Brothers first flight!

2. From Amsterdam to Munich you can go by comfortable train from 39 euros upwards - just book at www.bahn.de/en

There's a direct Amsterdam to Munich sleeper train leaving 20:31 arriving 07:10, with couchettes from 60 euros - also book at www.bahn.de/en and look for the train marked CNL (City Night Line) with 0 changes. CNL trains look like this: www.seat61.com/citynightline.htm You print your own ticket.

3. I hate flying, so would hop on the morning train from Munich to Paris from 39 euros - www.bahn.de/en - then I'd take the afternoon TGV Duplex 200mph double-deck train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Barcelona, taking around 6h20 with fares from 59 euros at www.capitainetrain.com - book an upstairs seat for the best views down the Rhone Valley and along the mediterranean, past flocks of flamingos on the lakes in the south of france, and round the southern end of the Pyrenees.

But why not spend a night or two in Paris?

Travelforbeer

Hi gpastore- I agree with man_in_seat_61- I would personally delete Barcelona and replace it with Paris. And I would suggest taking a few days from Munich and spend them in Garmisch in order to see the "dream castle, mountains, and countryside/villages" around Munich. This would make your day trips to see these sights much shorter.

Have a great trip!!!

gpastore1994

Thanks to everyone for their wonderful advice! I really appreciate the feedback it has been greatly helpful so far!

So should I go with Paris or Barcelona? Yes Paris will be easier, however the thing is I've already BEEN to Paris. Of course there's still plenty of things to see/do worth a second visit, but I was kinda leaning toward someplace I haven't ventured into yet. I'm still not sure though. Paris has day trips ranging from Versailles, the Monet gardens, Fontainebleau. Then intercity there's the Rodin Museum and Louvre (still lots to see from there!) Not to mention I actually speak a bit of French! it's a lot better than my spanish haha. Finally, I could take the famous Eurostar back to London to catch my flight (for youths, there's some great discounts).

I tried changing my flights, but it ended up working cheaper to buy a flight ticket back to London instead of open jaw So needless to say it will be a lot of traveling if I do go with Barcelona. The city just has so much to offer, and I think I would really love time spent there. The only other thing is I don't know if 4-5 days worth will do the city justice. After doing some research, I think I can easily spend 1-2 in the city alone!

So should I go with Paris even though I've already been there? With possible day trips? Or stick to Barcelona? Please help me narrow this down!

PalenQ

Yes trains are infinitely more comfy at night than buses which do run overnight routes all over Europe but perhaps not between Munich and Barcelona - that leg you may want to fly - Man in Seat 61's trajectory is so so long that even a rail buff like myself would find it tortuosuly tediously tiringly long.

Anyway for lots of good stuff on European trains and night trains - check Man in Seat 61's commercial site - www.seat61.com - which he lists above for particular places on his site; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. Note that those 'from xx euro' fares often sell out weeks or months before and are non-changeable non-refundable often - keep that in mind.

gpastore1994

Thanks! Yes, I booked a train ticket from Amsterdam to Munich already for the early morning so that I can check out all the scenery. As for Spain, I would just fly yes. But if I went for Paris, train. That's my biggest concern at this moment, and it's just over a month away.

PalenQ

those Munich to Paris tickets can be a fraction of what'd you pay next week or even tomorrow - www.bahn.de/en - German Railways site has lowest available fares - could save a lot of money but those tickets are non-refundable non-changeable I think - and there are always long-distance buses available on short notice at dirt-cheap prices - look up Eurolines web site for details.

carolyn

I vote for Barcelona since you say you think you would love it and have been to Paris already. Five days are a lot better than no days.

mjs

I just have a few suggestions. First, I do not think you have enough time in London even if you skip day trips to Bath, Stratford, Oxbridge, Stonehenge, etc....I would add days to London at the end of your trip just to make sure you do not miss your flight home if something goes awry with your fight back from Barcelona. Three nights or two full days in Amsterdam is probably fine for you. Interesting museums and great beer but there is not much to explore in Dutch cuisine. Might considering stopping in Brugge on your way from London to Amsterdam for a day. I do not think you need to spend much time in Munich unless you want to do a few day trips to Salzberg, Neuschwanstein etc. You could probably see the Munich and do day trips to Salzburg and the Castles with a five night ( 4 day) stay in Munich. Two full days in Barcelona should be fine. It is difficult to give specific time advice as I find it more useful in planning to talk about nights instead of days in each destination and I do not know if your days include the day of arrival and departure. In any case a very doable trip.