DUBLIN, LONDON, PARIS

Old Aug 27th, 2013, 08:08 PM
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DUBLIN, LONDON, PARIS

My best friend and I (both 19) will be taking a trip overseas to Dublin, London, and Paris. We want to stay in Dublin for 2 nights, stay in London for approx. 7 nights, and Paris for 2 nights. We plan on flying to Dublin, then taking a separate flight to London, then take the Chunnel to Paris. Then from Paris, take Chunnel back, fly to Dublin, and back home.

I was curious to see how much a this trip will cost total. I've looked up plane tickets and they seem to be about $1200 each roundtrip. As for lodging, we don't want to stay in hostels, but we definitely can't afford nice hotels. We were thinking about renting an apartment in London, but staying in relatively cheap hotels in Dublin and Paris. As for food, if we have the apartment in London, we most likely won't be eating out. But for Paris and Dublin (and London as well I guess), how much will food cost? I've never been abroad by myself and this is all on my dime, so I'm not sure how this is going to pan out for me.

I set myself a budget of $3500 for transportation, lodging, food, activities, etc. Do you think this will be enough?? If you have any advice to give, ANY, it would be appreciated.
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Old Aug 27th, 2013, 08:29 PM
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Just a quick comment right now. Taking the train back to London to get to Dublin makes no sense - that will waste almost 2 full days day.

Fly in to Dublin - then fly to London - then Eurostar train to Paris - then fly home from Paris
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Old Aug 27th, 2013, 10:01 PM
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Or at worst - fly Paris to Dublin.
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 06:11 AM
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Oh yes - if by any chance you've already purchased your tix to Dublin (i assumed not because you mentioned fares you are finding) . . . Then alanR is right - fly directly from Paris to Dublin. But if you haven't yet booked your flights - do open jaw/multi city. In to Dublin - home from Paris
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 06:30 AM
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Hi id,

I suggest that only 2 nights in Paris isn't worth the hassle of getting there.

Add the time to Dublin and save Paris for your next visit.

Enjoy your trip.

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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 06:31 AM
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Janis is absolutely right.

If you do a round-trip "open jaw" ticket from Dublin-London and from Paris-Dublin, all on Aer Lingus, I think you'll find that the plane tickets will cost MUCH LESS.
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 06:44 AM
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Usually open jaw tickets are no more and they avoid wasting days backtracking. Look at "multi-destination" flights on kayak, etc - into Dublin and out of Paris.

I think you may be better off in decent hostels (check out Let's Go student guides) than really cheap hotels - which are often in dicey neighborhoods.

And much as I love London you are really giving Paris short shrift - I would add at least 1 or 2 days there.

As for costs assume that they will be about 1/3 more than in similar big cities in the US (that is, if something costs $25 in the US assume it will be 25 euros in Paris). Not only is eating out more expensive, but food in markets is as well (food in US supermarkets is just about the cheapest in the the world considering average salaries).
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 07:22 AM
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$3500 apiece for two weeks sounds about right.

I concur with Ira and NY Traveler--either allocate more time to Paris or save it for next trip. With two nites, you only have one full day. That's not enough for either Dublin or Paris.
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 07:31 AM
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Hi, idaho!

RE: London Hotels

Book as quick as you can. London is pricey! On this post, look at the posting from Jamikins on June 6th for her list of hotels. I'd trust this list as she works in London, and I've met her-a kind, sane, person.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ndon-hotel.cfm

If those are unavailable or cost prohibitive, I can recommend the Nadler Kensington. I'm going back for my 3rd visit next month (yay!), and I love this hotel. All rooms have a great kitchenette, so you can keep a groceries in the mini fridge and microwave a meal here or there. There's a Marks and Spencer grocery store a block away, on a street packed with coffee shops and restaurants. And the Earls Court Tube. Not the most "central" location, but I love walking all over the city, and I never felt it a burden to get to/from.
http://www.thenadler.com/kensington.shtml

Sounds like a GREAT trip. Have fun planning!
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Old Aug 29th, 2013, 06:21 AM
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I would skip Paris altogether because two nights are not enough to warrant all the hassle and expense.
another idea is to take the high speed train for a day trip there. It would be less trouble and may not
Be much more expensive than the method you described.
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Old Aug 30th, 2013, 12:36 PM
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I agree with the other posters that open jaw is the only way to go with a trip like this. And yes, if you're planning on only 2 nights (ie. 1 full day) in Paris then it's just not worth it on this trip. Lots of hassle, expense and travel time for an "I was there and took a picture" kind of experience. Concentrate on Dublin and London.

It's always good to keep in mind that any major relocation will pretty much take up a full day by the time you've arrived at your next room. Do you want to lose 2 of your limited vacation days to travel time?

My recommendation is to either 1)reduce your plans to 2 cities or, (2) change your time allocation to 3 nights in Dublin and then divide the balance evenly between London and Paris. That'll provide time for a few highlights in each and for getting a very minor sense of the culture.

Your budget looks more than adequate to me. Have you looked into airbnb.com?
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Old Aug 30th, 2013, 01:52 PM
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I agree with the chorus here, try to get an open jaw flight. Dublin is one of the cheapest destinations for flights into Europe from the US. Not sure why (partly it's the tax but it will be cheaper to fly into Dublin than into Heathrow. Buy your Chunnel tickets in advance, they are a lot cheaper that way. Can you tell us any of your particular interests, why 7 nights in London 2 in Dublin and 2 in Paris, what's your thinking? I agree with everyone else it's a rather strange pacing, I'm suggest at least three nights in Paris. In terms of cost it's the running around that becomes expensive. If cost is an issue think about renting an apartment, see vrbo, home away or air bnb.

make sure to bring a student id with you as there are good student discounts in the UK.
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Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 12:08 AM
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Do add belfast in your trip!
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Old Sep 2nd, 2013, 08:45 AM
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I don't think the OP is coming back??
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