It is significantly cheaper to fly into Dublin or Shannon than to Italy, usually, and far less than $1000.

Hi,
If you are going to consider another, less expensive country, I'd suggest Germany (Bavaria) and Austria. We stay at nice B&B's (Pensions) for under 60 Euros a night per room with buffet breakfast included. We never feel the need for having lunch afterwards and buy our snacks and drinks at a grocery store or bakery. Car rentals are reasonable in Germany (IMO) and renting a diesel helps. We have flown to Munich (from N.J.) many times and never paid more than $650 per person using www.travelocity.com. (our actual cost this past Oct. was $550 per person). We also rented our car through Travelocity (Budget) this past Oct. from Munich airport and paid $388 incl. taxes, etc. for 11 days.

Paul

You can definitely do it, with good planning and the great advice posted already. I, too, think the UK in particular would be too expensive. However you try to save money, you're still exchanging dollars for pounds and that's painful at today's rate.

We are a family of four, and we've shared a quad room many, many times. Sure it's nicer to have two baths, but it's do-able with one. Especially with breakfast offered, so family members can eat in shifts and free up space in the room. It can work, especially if your teens are happy you're taking them on an all-expense-paid trip to Europe.

Don't you have frequent flier miles? If not, you and your husband could sign up for credit cards, like Capital One, which offers enough free miles on sign-up to get you each a ticket within the states, then buy the ticket 'over the water' to Europe. (Be sure you know what foreign exchange fee the card will tack on before you actually use it in Europe.)

Start with airfare since it's such a big chunk of your budget. See what deals you can find, and go from there.

Don't despair. You can do it. It's well worth it, too.
>-

Debbl, don't give up on the UK.

As has been mentioned by other members, a self catering holiday cottage can work out cheaper in the long run and give you more flexability in respect of meals.

A cottage for four people in the Cotswolds will cost anywhere from £300 - £600 per week dependent upon season and location - well within your $150-200 per night estimate even allowign for hte fact you have to buy/make your own breakfast.

Ther are many agencies you could try to give you an idea of what's available and at what price. One is www.discoverthecotwsolds.net but others are also available - check on google etc.

Best of luck.

Brian

Here are a couple of terrific agancies:

• Cottage in the Country www.cottageinthecountry.co.uk Good agency with cottages in the Cotswolds, Berkshire, Warwickshire and others areas. # C292 is an example of a 3bdrm cottage sleeping 6, for less than £350 a week.

• Manor Cottages & Cotswold Retreats www.manorcottages.co.uk Cotswold-based with properties of all sizes.

There are other good agencies that specialize in Scotland, Wales, Kent, the SW, etc.