5 week Itinerary
#21
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I completely disagree that Paris is incredibly expensive. In fact, for hotels I think it's one of the bargain capitals of the world. And Italy is hardly a bargain. Germany is where you can truly save money. Have you even been to these places, yodababe?
#22
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I also disagree that London is super expensive...most museums are free and there are cafes and food places where you can eat for under £10 if you wanted to. Premier inn, ibis, holiday inns offer affordable housing if you book far enough out...
#23
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You're young. You can do it and, having done it, you will return. I would cut Milan, Monaco, Geneva and Brussels and spend a little time in a small town or two in Italy and/or France. London and Paris are really not incredibly expensive. Switzerlane is. Don't go all the way to Europe and miss London and Paris.
#24
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Seems like all of Europe is not expensive - except Switzerland and Scandinavia - but some places are less expensive - Portugal and Greece and Eastern Europe for starters.
You can drop a whole lot of coin in a London or Paris or if on a starvation budget like I am very little - still though Europe is significantly more expensive across most boards IME than the U.S. though placves like New York City can rival London and Paris.
check out the Mcdonalds comparison chart for a key to how expensive a certain place is.
You can drop a whole lot of coin in a London or Paris or if on a starvation budget like I am very little - still though Europe is significantly more expensive across most boards IME than the U.S. though placves like New York City can rival London and Paris.
check out the Mcdonalds comparison chart for a key to how expensive a certain place is.
#25
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http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index
See which countries are cheaper and more expensive in this very well respected index of I believe The Economist.
See which countries are cheaper and more expensive in this very well respected index of I believe The Economist.
#26
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Who said London is super-expensive? I said it can be done relatively cheaply. Who said Paris is "incredibly expensive"? Good gosh, who's disagreeing with non-statements?
And the Big Mac index is more notorious than "well respected." Whole lot of bloody nonsense.
And the Big Mac index is more notorious than "well respected." Whole lot of bloody nonsense.
#28
yodababe: Some just hear/red the 'conventional wisdom' and assume London and Paris are super expensive. Sure they can be if you throw money around/splurge. I do splurge sometimes - but most of my trips to London and Paris are incredibly budget friendly.
Especially in London: Easy public transport, many free MAJOR sites (one can spend weeks in London and seldom pay to get inside anywhere), great/inexpensive take away and ethnic meals, discounted theatre,
Especially in London: Easy public transport, many free MAJOR sites (one can spend weeks in London and seldom pay to get inside anywhere), great/inexpensive take away and ethnic meals, discounted theatre,
#30
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And the Big Mac index is more notorious than "well respected." Whole lot of bloody nonsense.>
So And the Big Mac index is more notorious than "well respected." Whole lot of bloody nonsense.the Economost has invented a notoriously unreliable index? Well they say it is a light-hearted one but one that does indicate a relative worth of currencies vis-a-vis each cother and what their purchasing power it - BigMac was selected because it is the rare thing that is sold exactly the same everywhere - it is respected in many circles as I have seen it often referred to as a decent yet not perfect gauge.
But you know the Economist - kind of like the Daily Mail to you I guess.
http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index
So And the Big Mac index is more notorious than "well respected." Whole lot of bloody nonsense.the Economost has invented a notoriously unreliable index? Well they say it is a light-hearted one but one that does indicate a relative worth of currencies vis-a-vis each cother and what their purchasing power it - BigMac was selected because it is the rare thing that is sold exactly the same everywhere - it is respected in many circles as I have seen it often referred to as a decent yet not perfect gauge.
But you know the Economist - kind of like the Daily Mail to you I guess.
http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index
#31
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Well they say it is a light-hearted one but one that does indicate a relative worth of currencies vis-a-vis each cother and what their purchasing power it - BigMac was selected because it is the rare thing that is sold exactly the same everywhere
I'll bite, so to speak. According to the graph, the cost differential is minimal between the U.S. and the EU.
I'll bite, so to speak. According to the graph, the cost differential is minimal between the U.S. and the EU.
#32
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Apologies in advance for the length of this post. Currently planning 8th trip to Europe and am waxing nostalgic.
Wow! 30+ days in Europe! I'm jealous. Most of what has been posted is correct. I'll share the experience of my first European vacation and perhaps it will be of some use. For the record, I am 44 and my husband will be 49 in a few days. Our first jaunt to Europe was in 2001: Paris for 3 days, the French Riviera for 3 days(Cagnes sur Mer to visit family, then Nice and the surrounging small towns on a bus tour (we really got "small town France" in Grasse, Gorges du Loup and Gourdon!), Monaco to tour the castle and visit one nondescript museum, then train to Rome (3 days)and Florence (1 day). Future hubby was a straight commission recruiter and 10 days was all he could spare at the time.
Was it an ideal trip? It was for us. We had been dating nearly a year and I had spent months planning our itinerary, (future hubby planned all transport, leaving the sightseeing to me) knowing with such little time we would have to plan a "best of the best" tour so we could see a bit of everything. I was 32 at the time and a seasoned traveler, so believe me, I planned our tour to the Nth degree and the two of us saw more of Paris in 3 days than any FOUR people had a right to! Get to know the Metro system, invest in a Paris Visite card and don't miss the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Musee d'Orsay (Louvre is okay, too, but we saved most of it for a future trip, only viewing the Mona Lisa and exhibits on the way to/from it this time), stolled along the Champs Elysees, saw Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, dinner and a show at Moulin Rouge, the Ferris Wheel at night (beautiful) Luxembourg Gardens, L'Eglise de Madelaine (beautiful stained glass)a Paris nightclub (we weren't all that impressed)and Le Caveau de la Huchette, where we listened to fantastic live "French" Jazz music and I danced with a smelly Frenchman! I can say that because we are both of French descent, and trust me, I'm not exaggerating! There is more, but let's move on...
We took the overnight train from Paris to Nice, then spent 3 days with my future husband's aunt and cousin. They have a beautiful (but modest) villa in Cagnes sur Mer, a small town between Nice and Cannes. I improved my French, ate marvelous pastries and met many of the family's friends. We even walked a mile to the local market and prepared a gourmet meal for the family as a thank you for their hospitality. The Riviera was our "down time," quite leisurely indeed.
Same deal in Rome: Overnight train from Nice. Bought a tourist card to jump the line and saved money and time, so we got to see the Colosseum, the Roman and Imperial Forums St. Peter's Basilica, The Vatican, Trevi Fountain, The Spanish Steps, Crypta Balbi, Thermae di Caracalla, etc., etc.
I had no idea that first trip wouldn't be our last, by a long shot. But I planned carefully and that ensured I would have no regrets should I never return. Bottom line is you and your man need to each make a wish list of sights to see, then narrow it down to your musts. You CAN do this tight itinerary if you really want to!
Pack light: you can buy most of what you need at your destination(s) and should you take a budget airline flight rather than the train, you'll be better served by a tiny rolling case and NO CHECKED BAGGAGE! This is easy to say and perhaps difficult to do when you're gone for 30+ days, but if you don't mind washing your clothes and/or buying what you need along the way, it's one less thing to worry about. And lug through the many airports, train stations, Metro stations, over ancient cobblestone streets, etc. Get a massage upon your return from Europe because you WANT to, not because you have to.
I would skip Brussels, Geneva and possibly Milan. The only thing I'm glad I saw there was the Last Supper. It wasn't until our 4th trip to Europe we were finally able to see it because we couldn't get a reservation. Best bet: Buy a city tour with a guaranteed viewing of The Last Supper: it must otherwise be reserved in advance and you cannot do it more than 10 days in advance, I think.
Bon Voyage, and please share your experience with us Fodorites upon your return. Many places on your itinerary are on my wish list and I could use the tips!
Wow! 30+ days in Europe! I'm jealous. Most of what has been posted is correct. I'll share the experience of my first European vacation and perhaps it will be of some use. For the record, I am 44 and my husband will be 49 in a few days. Our first jaunt to Europe was in 2001: Paris for 3 days, the French Riviera for 3 days(Cagnes sur Mer to visit family, then Nice and the surrounging small towns on a bus tour (we really got "small town France" in Grasse, Gorges du Loup and Gourdon!), Monaco to tour the castle and visit one nondescript museum, then train to Rome (3 days)and Florence (1 day). Future hubby was a straight commission recruiter and 10 days was all he could spare at the time.
Was it an ideal trip? It was for us. We had been dating nearly a year and I had spent months planning our itinerary, (future hubby planned all transport, leaving the sightseeing to me) knowing with such little time we would have to plan a "best of the best" tour so we could see a bit of everything. I was 32 at the time and a seasoned traveler, so believe me, I planned our tour to the Nth degree and the two of us saw more of Paris in 3 days than any FOUR people had a right to! Get to know the Metro system, invest in a Paris Visite card and don't miss the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Musee d'Orsay (Louvre is okay, too, but we saved most of it for a future trip, only viewing the Mona Lisa and exhibits on the way to/from it this time), stolled along the Champs Elysees, saw Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, dinner and a show at Moulin Rouge, the Ferris Wheel at night (beautiful) Luxembourg Gardens, L'Eglise de Madelaine (beautiful stained glass)a Paris nightclub (we weren't all that impressed)and Le Caveau de la Huchette, where we listened to fantastic live "French" Jazz music and I danced with a smelly Frenchman! I can say that because we are both of French descent, and trust me, I'm not exaggerating! There is more, but let's move on...
We took the overnight train from Paris to Nice, then spent 3 days with my future husband's aunt and cousin. They have a beautiful (but modest) villa in Cagnes sur Mer, a small town between Nice and Cannes. I improved my French, ate marvelous pastries and met many of the family's friends. We even walked a mile to the local market and prepared a gourmet meal for the family as a thank you for their hospitality. The Riviera was our "down time," quite leisurely indeed.
Same deal in Rome: Overnight train from Nice. Bought a tourist card to jump the line and saved money and time, so we got to see the Colosseum, the Roman and Imperial Forums St. Peter's Basilica, The Vatican, Trevi Fountain, The Spanish Steps, Crypta Balbi, Thermae di Caracalla, etc., etc.
I had no idea that first trip wouldn't be our last, by a long shot. But I planned carefully and that ensured I would have no regrets should I never return. Bottom line is you and your man need to each make a wish list of sights to see, then narrow it down to your musts. You CAN do this tight itinerary if you really want to!
Pack light: you can buy most of what you need at your destination(s) and should you take a budget airline flight rather than the train, you'll be better served by a tiny rolling case and NO CHECKED BAGGAGE! This is easy to say and perhaps difficult to do when you're gone for 30+ days, but if you don't mind washing your clothes and/or buying what you need along the way, it's one less thing to worry about. And lug through the many airports, train stations, Metro stations, over ancient cobblestone streets, etc. Get a massage upon your return from Europe because you WANT to, not because you have to.
I would skip Brussels, Geneva and possibly Milan. The only thing I'm glad I saw there was the Last Supper. It wasn't until our 4th trip to Europe we were finally able to see it because we couldn't get a reservation. Best bet: Buy a city tour with a guaranteed viewing of The Last Supper: it must otherwise be reserved in advance and you cannot do it more than 10 days in advance, I think.
Bon Voyage, and please share your experience with us Fodorites upon your return. Many places on your itinerary are on my wish list and I could use the tips!
#35
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How appropriate.
It was because of this association of St. Mary Magdalene having been a prostitute that she became the patroness of "wayward women", and Magdalene asylums became established to help "save" women from prostitution.[23]
It was because of this association of St. Mary Magdalene having been a prostitute that she became the patroness of "wayward women", and Magdalene asylums became established to help "save" women from prostitution.[23]
#36
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@ St.. Cirq: I recommended Paris Visite as a way to avoid the lines. I found skipping the wait to be invaluable during my whirlwind tour. I'm sure hyln23 can research and decide for herself.
As for Sainte Chapelle, you are correct.Apologies, hyln23...
As for Sainte Chapelle, you are correct.Apologies, hyln23...
#38
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5 week Itinerary
Posted by: hlyn23 on Sep 5, 13 at 11:40am
My husband and I are planning a five week trip to Europe and while we recogonize we are cramming alot into one trip, we are doing this in case we never get another opportunity to return. We hope to one day return, but realistically may never happen. Anyways I could use some assistance with determining best modes of transport
You can drive, take the train, or fly around. For Europe I wouldn't waste time and good temper trying to fly. For an illustrated introduction to using the trains see http://tinyurl.com/eym5b. For driving see http://tinyurl.com/pdpdk26.
You can do a lot in 39 days but you will be limited with that $6k budget. That is barely €120 per day.
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