Geordie

Something Matt hasn't pointed out on this thread, is that they will be traveling in December. He mentioned this on the Australian board.

At that time of year, a trip to an Austrian alpine village/town would be on my to do list

fredandgingermad

Some parts of Germany would be pretty wonderful to visit in December, Spain maybe not so much

PalenQ

But to an Aussie the weather in most of Spain in December will seem much more amenable than the typically IME dark dank gray coolish days endemic at that time of year in Germany.

love_travel_Aus

From an Aussie - I agree with Geordie - a visit to an Austrian or Swiss Alpine region - including a train ride - would be special. I can still remember our first visit to Europe in January 1976 (!!) and our delight as we visited Innsbruck - and then later as rode the train form Lucerne to Interlaken for lunch - oh - and heading out from Munich as well.
I would also suggest considering one Christmas market for a first time December visit.
There is an engaging thread on this forum re Christmas and New Year in Austria - have a read.
To keep warm and have light luggage look at Icebreaker merino wear - fantastic - and this is from an Aussie who does not usually wear wool jumpers.
Happy planning.

kimhe

In December you should be able to go skiing in Sierra Nevada close to Granada in Spain (World championship resort in 1996). In little more than one hour, you can be down at the Mediterranean coast having some fresh seafood on the beach or a cold swim in Almuñécar or Nerja.

About Sierra Nevada:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_(Spain)
http://www.sierranevada.co.uk/

Go down from Granada to the Mediterranean coast along the scenic "Suspiro del Moro"-road (the Moor's Sigh). The name comes from the legenedary sigh of Boabdil, the last emir of Granada, when he at the mountain pass known as Puerto del Suspiro del Moro, for a last time had a look back upon the now lost city (1492). His mother shall then have said: "You cry like a woman over a city you couldn't defend as a man". http://www.holavalencia.net/2010/02/...and-almunecar/

PalenQ

For the average tourist who also likes winter sports you can do no better IMO than the Interlaken-Jungfrau (Berner Oberland) region - not just for skiing but a plethora of other things to see and do, including a myriad of tiny Alp-climbing trains, scintillating aerial cable cars, gondolas, ski lifts, hiking trails groomed in winter, etc.

flpab

GERMANY in December would be great for winter sports and all the Christmas markets. Munich is my favorite German city. Take the train south to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, about a 50 min train trip and you will be in a Winter wonderland. The food, drink, surrounding villages are beautiful. Fly to Brussels out of Munich, I love Belgium and it would be a shame to miss it and then on to France and London. I envy you, enjoy this time while you can!

txtree

I also love Munich (and Bavaria) in December - have great memories of sipping gluhwein while strolling the Christmas market. And if you like to ski . . . .

But I love Spain too and kimhe's recommendations are great ideas as well. Basically, you can't go wrong - you just have to choose and try not to do too much.

Also, LoveTravelAus, you and I are both huge fans of Icebreaker. Pretty soon my whole travel wardrobe will be smart wool.

clg7996

I remember my first trip to Europe. I spent $1,000 including airfare for one month and 4 countries!

This year I'm flying to The Netherlands from the US. I'm taking British Airways Business Class for about $3,400. You get smaller pods than first class, but they do have a lie flat bed to sleep in, and a 10" video screen. I have heard that BA food isn't the greatest, but that doesn't really matter to me. Anyway, that will take up $7000 or so of your budget.

If you plan to stay at 4 star hotels, that will cost about 400 to 500 a night. There's another $15,000. However, if you don't need that hotel right in the middle of things, you will be able find nice hotels for $200 a night.

valtor

There are so lucky people, which can have two honeymoons, each of them of 30000$! Matt was two days ago interested in Europe and yesterday, in Australia: http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...000-budget.cfm

amelie

wow two honeymoons at 30,000 each

Marighita

Probably he will be in honeymoon in Europe, while his wife in Australia!

julia1

Last three posters - a little green-eyed are we?

twoflower

In 2008 the two of us spent 4/5ths of Matt's budget on a trip more than two times longer (70 days). We did England, France and Italy. In 2003, half of Matt's budget did us for 45 days in Germany, France and England. We stayed at good B&Bs or mid-range hotels, flew Emirates economy class from Brisbane Australia, and mainly self-drove when we were there.

What's the problem with Germany? We've been there twice and want to return one day. It's beautiful, fun-loving, and has tons of atmosphere.

Our next trip (soon, we hope) will be about 8-10 weeks and will cover more of England, France and Italy, plus Croatia and Slovenia. It won't cost us anything like $30,000.

Matt_Newton

Thanks for all the comments guys, we have an appointment with a travel agent on wednesday and now we have lots of ideas to put forward.

And in response to the following comments.

There are so lucky people, which can have two honeymoons, each of them of 30000$! Matt was two days ago interested in Europe and yesterday, in Australia: http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...000-budget.cfm

Thanks for being jealous!
I can't wait very excited about this trip.

amelie on Jun 4, 11 at 9:59pm
wow two honeymoons at 30,000 each

Yes two is enough can't afford three!

Marighita on Jun 5, 11 at 4:56am
Probably he will be in honeymoon in Europe, while his wife in Australia!

Please don't post dream holidays I can't afford to do!

julia1 on Jun 5, 11 at 7:21am
Last three posters - a little green-eyed are we?

Thanks again to everyone that took the time and posted great information much appreciation.

Matt

tower

Matt...You're going to have a great honeyoon trip however you choose to do it. But first, I don't know who your financial advisor is (parents, family members, a friend or?)...but fire him/her!

kerouac

I am wondering if conspicuous consumption makes one a better person. It does indeed help the people encountered along the way, but I think that with a budget like that, I would donate half of it to charity and still have a great trip.

tower

kerouac...great thought!!

Hez

I really don't understand all the disparaging comments here. He's planning his honeymoon and has a budget of 30K AUD, you have no idea of his other circumstances. Take into account, for instance, that because he's in Australia he probably doesn't have a mountain of student loan debt, doesn't have to worry about potentially falling ill and going bankrupt because they have socialized medicine, his employer is required by law to contribute 9% of his salary to his retirement fund, and he probably earns more than you think (the average wage in Australia is around 70K AUD which is currently around 75K USD whereas the average American wage is around 40K). So 30K might sound like a lot to you, but perhaps not so much to him.

@kerouac - I imagine some people who spend all of their holidays camping in America think those of us who go to Europe are wasteful too. I doubt that you would take kindly to their suggesting that you forgo your next European vacation and donate the difference to charity.

@Matt - Keep up updated, I can't wait to hear what the travel agent comes up with.

kerouac

Hez, I already live in Paris and have foregone almost every vacation for the last 6 years so that I can look after my mother in her Alzheimer's nursing home, because her happiness is my priority, as much as I love to travel. I went to about 60 different countries and stayed in hotels ranging from 5-star luxury to guesthouses at $1.75 a night in Laos for about 25 years. When I realized that a more important matter deserved my attention, I gave it all up without a second thought.

So your snarky observations just roll off my back.