eeakin1

I have $2500 to spend on a vacation and have decided I will go to Europe. Hopefully leaving on March 9th and arriving on the 10th and returning on the 18th. I figure I have 8 days and 9 nights after travel time. I may be going with friends but am considering going alone, I am a 31 year old single woman. I would love Ireland or Italy but am saving those vacations for a later date with my daughter and best friend. I'm thinking London, Amsterdam, Paris, Prague, Barcelona.... While I realize that I could run around to a few places for a day or two each, I think I would like to limit it to two or three places so I have time to explore. Because of my budget, I plan on staying in hostels. I figure a plane ticket will run me about $850 so i will have $1600 left which is about $200 per day. I think I can stay in hostels for about $50 per night. Ideas, advice, suggestions? Thanks and blessings!

dfourh

Cheap flights: www.skyscanner.net

There are, of course, multiple hostel sites like http://www.hostelseurope.com/

As your budget goes, the first thing to think about is getting from place to place - - maybe check out cheap flights between cities and make your decision based on that (Skyscanner is ultra flexible in that it lets you search from everywhere to anywhere for the entire month of March).

Another factor is that London is particularly expensive; Prague generally cheapest.

annhig

Hi eakin,

conventional wisdom [with which I tend to agree] is that the more you move around the more expensive it gets. if you stay in a place for a few days, you get to know where the cheaper shops and cafes are, plus you don't spend money on planes and trains. some hotels even have discounts if you stay more than 3 or 4 nights.

so with 8 days/9 nights on a budget, I would restrict myself to a max of 2 places. Paris and Barcelona would be nice. both very interesting, and quite different.

annhig

PS - alternatively just rent a studio apartment in Paris, and live there for your 8 nights. you'll never run out of things to see, and you'll have the chance to get to know one of the great cities of the world without breaking the bank.

FrenchMystiqueTours

And there are loads of day trips you can make from Paris (Chartres, Versailles, Giverny etc.). Much cheaper to see those places from Paris then traveling to a new destination to see another place.

justineparis

Well, as noted, staying put is cheapest option, and this being a France forum,, of course I vote for Paris. But, also, I have visited Paris as a solo female, and love it. You don't feel strange alone there at all, eating out by yourself etc. Plus its really a very safe city,, keeping in mind to watch your stuff from pickpockets, but that goes for pretty much everywhere else you have mentioned too.
My shortest trip to Paris was 9 days, took a friend who had never been. We both agreed,, TOO SHORT,, lol so much to see and do in city, and so many choice daytrips you can do yourself fairly cheaply from Paris.
As for hostels, a girl at work stayed at the St Christophers near Canal St Martin and liked it, its not as central as some, but still in a nice enough area. A very well reviewed hostel is the MIJE one,, its more central, but I don't personally know anyone who has stayed there.
Paris is easy to do cheap too, some bread and cheese picked up and a pastry and you have a great picnic lunch and many people do that ! Or a cheese and ham crepe made fresh in front of you from a street kiosk or cart, delish and lunch comes in under 5-6 euros.

greg

And you want to leave in less than 2 weeks?

StCirq

You'll start running out of money in a few days if you flit about like that. You have a VERY limited budget and a VERY limited number of days. I don't see how you could possibly, even staying in hostels, get to London, Amsterdam, Paris, Prague, Barcelona in eight days even with a lot of money, never mind on that budget.

Cut back. Way back.

janisj

Have you looked for flights yet? That is a very short lead time. First find out where you can get to for a decent fare. That will likely determine where you can go. (where are you flying from?) And I agree, the more moving about -- the more $$$/£££/€€€

Check sites like Virgin Vacations, BA's packages, etc. There may be a bargain fare lumped w/ a hotel stay.

ribeirasacra

what dollars are you talking about????US, HK; AUS; NZ or one of the many others?????
I would pick one country and "put my feet up"it will be cheaper. It is cheaper and to travel less you see more.
www.booking.com is also a good place to search for hotels.