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THanksgiving trip ideas, first overseas, any suggestions?

THanksgiving trip ideas, first overseas, any suggestions?

Old Aug 26th, 2005, 02:21 PM
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THanksgiving trip ideas, first overseas, any suggestions?

Hey, hubby and I can finally afford the "honeymoon" (AKA excuse to go have fun!) and we would like to go ovverseas, preferably Europe. I was thinking in the 10-12 day range and we alos wouldn't mind a tour or cruise that allows indepedence with a little guidance since we would like to go in November( not much time to prepare). My friend has been talking about Croatia, which sounds neat, and we are interested in Italy, Spain, Greece and a cruise in the MEditteranean. We don't have a lot of $$$ maybe 3000 at the most is in our budget. So where are the best places to go this time of year for a newbie? I don't want it to be real cold either, so NO SNOW!!!
HELP?? Thanks!
OH and we'll be flying from Washington state.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 02:23 PM
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OH yeah, we're in our late twenties, and we are active people so we don't mind a little hoofin it, or hiking, or biking or whatever either, but we want some relaxation on this trip too. AND we love to eat.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 02:25 PM
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oh we LOVE wine and wine tasting as well, so something involving this could be very fun for us as well....
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 02:32 PM
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If you are only going over a week I would keep it to a bigger city you can fly into. If you have never been to europr I would choose Paris but the weather may not be the best although it really isint bad. There is much better wine in Rome though and the weather will be warmer.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 02:33 PM
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Does that $3000 include the airfare?
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 02:33 PM
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..Cruises ar pretty well an impossibility in Europe in Nov. The cruise ships have moved to the carribean,,From your not I would like a little info..Budget 3000..is that per person or or the 2 of you for 2 weeks? From your post I am also concerned that you may think it is warm in November. It will be warmish in Malta, the Algarve ect but not beach weather..except for walking on the beach. ..please a bit of info..cities vs towns..would you rather stay in a very spartan hotel but sight see and splurge on a decent meal each day or will only a 3-4 star do? this is an issue as it does make some places quite expensive.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 02:39 PM
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Gardengypsy -- Considering that Paris is on the same latitude as Seattle, that'll tell you something about how the weather will be in November. Generally cold, rainy, and a chance of snow anywhere near north of there.

I'd suggest getting Rick Steves "Europe Through The Back Door", it's a great book for the first-timer to Europe, and includes sample itineraries based on how many days you have (you can get it at your local bookstore or on amazon.com). Given the time of year you're going, I'd stick to Greece and Southern Italy, where it will be a bit warmer, yet still a bit damp at worst.

I can tell you right now a Mediteranean cruise isn't going to happen that time of year. Most of the island hotels shut down for the season in October (the greek ones anyway) and it's so crappy out there you probably would want to save that for another time. We were there in late October and had some nasty weather and had trouble finding a room.

As a budget traveler, you would be able to travel on $100 per person per day -- so 10 days would be $2,000 not including airfare. You could easily pay $800 or so for a flight out of Seattle to Europe, but I'd start checking Orbitz.com and the others and see what you can get...You can travel cheaper if you don't move around too much and sleep in cheaper quarters like hostels. We mixed cheap hotels with better B&Bs so we had some comfort interspersed with a little more suffering. Again, get Rick Steves book and it'll give you some really great advice, along with what others post here.

Here's a sample itinerary:

Rome - 5 days -- perhaps take a daytrip from there one day.
Fly to Athens (buy voucher for $99 one way on Europebyair.com), spend 3 days
2 days seeing the Pelopenese or other trips
Fly home from Athens

Just an idea. If you wanted to do something different and skip Greece, you could fly into Rome, then fly to Spain and spend time there...

Happy travels,

Jules
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 02:54 PM
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Hi gardengypsy, a friend of mine in Italy told me last week that there is a lot of concern in Italy because so many travellers are going to Spain instead of Italy because Spain is less expensive.

If your travel buget is $3,000.00 and if that does include your airfare I think you will have to really watch your pennies. Or are you not including your airfare when you say you have $3,000.00?

Is there anyway you can postpone this trip, save some more money and travel next year? That might be something worthwhile to think about. Best wishes to you with your decisions.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 05:59 PM
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Well I guess I was mistaken because all of these vacation packages are under 3000, including lodging, airfare and breakfasts. Maybe we would spend a little more but this is my "ball-park".
Geesh are you all rich? who has more than 5000 to spend on vacation every year? I'm sorry but we work hard for a living and we don't make tons of dough, we should be able to explore the world and have fun too. I thought there were more budget-wise people here.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 06:05 PM
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"we work hard for a living and we don't make tons of dough, we should be able to explore the world and have fun too. I thought there were more budget-wise people here."

That's right, none of us work hard for our money and we all make tons of dough. What's more none of us have a clue about budgets.

Welcome to Fodors.

P.S. I think your other idea of Costa Rica is going to be more in your budget.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 06:09 PM
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Well excuse me, I had noooo idea that you have found package tours that fit within your budget. I would imagine no one else here did either.

Do have a wonderful trip. And your welcome!
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 06:21 PM
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Well said, LoveItaly!! Love your heart! LOL!
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 07:00 PM
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Sorry about being so reactive, but I figured if I could find a good package with something as simple as Budget Travel magazine at the library, and I have no idea what I'm doing, I just assumed that this group of experienced travellers would have similar ideas.
But I wasn't trying to be mean, just a little confused.... and short fused...
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 07:17 PM
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Hi gardengypsy, apology accepted! Dear one, most posters here on Fodor's plan their own individual trips. They buy their airline tickets, reserve their hotel rooms, make reservations for the museums they want to see etc. and research the restaurants they want to go to.

Truly, everyone here was trying to help you as I think you now realize.

If you have found a tour package trip that fits within your budget I think I can speak for most of us. That is wonderful! Have a beautiful time and enjoy every moment. You two, no doubt, will have decades to take a lot of trips. And hopefully every one will be filled with special memories. Best wishes.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 07:51 PM
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I'm a little confused. Your first post made it sound as though you hadn't really done much research - for example, you were thinking you could take a cruise in November. Now you seem to imply you've seen "packages" for $3,000 or less for the amount of time you want to spend in Europe. What type of packages did you find, and what did they include, and where?

Just doing some simple math, I figure these days you'll be lucky to get airfare for less than about $800 traveling from Washington. That's more than half your budget right there. So how will you get by in Europe for $1500 for the two of you for 10-12 days? I dunno!

I just got back from a 17-day trip that cost me more than twice your budget for three people, and we stayed for 10 of those days at my house in France, where obviously our accommodation costs were nil and we ate food from the grocery store at least two meals every day, and for three others at a friend's house in Provence where the only costs were to pitch in for food at the local market. Of course, we spent a lot on train fare and car rental and things you may not be planning to spend money on. But really, $3,000 is not a lot of money if you are including airfare in that.

But I can relate to your predicament as I have an 18-year-old daughter who loves to travel, and I know she has lots of tricks for traveling cheap that I don't have any more - I need a certain comfort level that she doesn't that I can well afford to pay for at this point, and she can't. So I'm sure you can make this work out, but it will take some time to research on your end.

Even though you're planning to go in November, when most of Europe will be cold, I'd suggest you look at Eastern Europe or Spain or Portugal or countries where you can find cheap accommodations and food. I'd actually suggest North Africa, which I love, because it's very inexpensive, exotic, and fascinating. You could probably make your $1500 (after airfare) go a much longer way there than anyplace in Europe.

But bottom line is, I think you need to raise a bit more money for this trip. If the $3000 includes airfare, you're going to have less than $1500 to spend once on the ground. Even a cheap hotel will be 40 euros a night. A picnic lunch from a grocery store will cost the two of you 12 euros. A bottle of mineral water will be 1 euro. Add in any transportation costs, money spent on souvenirs, museum costs, whatever, it all adds up to a whole bunch of euros per day, and for two people.

I'm not even going to address the issue of whether I work hard for my money - honey, you haven't a clue! But then, I didn't in my twenties, either. Let's just say yes, I have more than $5,000 a year to spend on a vacation, but I sure didn't when I was your age, and I sure as heck deserve it now - and am enjoying it, and hope you do too when you're my age!

You'll find a way to make this trip work, but you're going to have to do a bunch of research and a lot of careful budgeting. Good luck!
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 09:03 PM
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I am in complete agreement with StCirq and others on this notion of a inexpensive trip to Europe. I think the numbers given to you are quite accurate.
While you may very well get a good budget air/hotel package to someplace in Italy or Spain for 10 days in November from Seattle for a great price, I suspect that when you add up all the fees and taxes your cost for your package will be around $2300-$2500.
This does not leave much money for 2 people to tour on for 10 days, even if you only eat in grocery stores if your budget is at most $3000. This trip may be possible on your budget but you will be scrimping all the way.
You might wish to consider Southeast Asia as an alternative destination. Air fare might be pretty close to your airfare costs to Europe and your destination costs will be much lower.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 09:43 PM
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gardengypsy -- we're not rich, in fact we make a very middle class living -- nowhere near "upper middle class". Nonetheless, we are managing a second trip to Europe -- it IS about priorities, and I choose to live with older carpet and a couch I don't like, and drive a 10-year-old Subaru so I can take trips.

Travel is not cheap...It costs money to get there, and Europe is not inexpensive, particularly the popular spots like Italy, France and England and all places North.

A "package" might have air and hotel, but then you must eat, get into museums and hopefully get a few baubles, like a pair of earrings or a t-shirt, or in my case, tragically, a Starbucks mug from London that I lugged all the way across Europe (but I'm very happy to sip out of it every morning).

In all, $100/day per person for hotel and eating is quite reasonable. There are some people on this board who can afford The Four Seasons...Some of us bunk it in a hostel, and there are MANY more of us in between.

Don't be discouraged...a trip to Europe for 10 days for 2 is easily $4,000 with airfare and everything. Otherwise you're eating a lot of picnic lunches, and not affording the decent meals, museums and day trips that you came so far to see. Many of us don't do it every year -- some every other year, and some less than that. But I guarantee you -- once you've been there, you'll want to go back.

I hope you get that Rick Steves Europe Through The Back Door book and take a look at it. For $20, it's a great investment in a very expensive, but well worth it vacation.

Happy Travels,

Jules
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 10:22 PM
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...another thought triggered by St. Cirq's post (and I agree with her comments). Tunisia is developping as a tourist destination. It is interesting and relatively inexpensive..you might look for some packages if this interests you. Best of luck!
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Old Aug 27th, 2005, 08:27 AM
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Finding one city with lots to do that will hold your interest for 10 days will save you money. Many hotels will give you deals on longer stays.
Paris or Prague are good choices. If you go to Prague check out the Penzion U Sv. Jana, it's a bit out of the way. We stayed there about 18 months ago and it was very comfortable, breakfast was included and it was on the grounds of an historical church (St. John, I believe.)
Priceline often offers good deals on hotels. Before you bid at Priceline go to www.biddingfortravel.com and see what others are paying. Then check out www.tripadvisor.com
Also good hotel deals can be had at the web sites for big hotel chains like Best Western offers early internet specials. We found a nice bargin on a Paris hotel that was cheaper then any others I'd found and quite comfortable.

Since you like hiking try: www.peaktopeak.com for some places that might interest you.

For airfare go to Orbitz and see who flys to your chosen destination. After that go to the airline site and see if they're offering a better deal.

With some research you can do this and have a grand time.
Sure you'll eat a lot of market foods and walk a lot but that's half the fun.
I don't know about the snow thing but check out some sites for world weather averages.
Have a wonderful time- happy honeymoon!
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