Europe in 2 Weeks, starting in Frankfurt
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for all of your feedback, sorry I am not being very clear!
Hostels sound like a great idea, I think we will do that.
I researched and budgeted a little bit more carefully, and this is what I came up with for BOTH of us:
Travel budget: $3200 (including air fare, trains, etc)
Hostels budget: $500 (for 3 nights, we are staying at my friend's apartment in Frankfurt)
Spending money/food budget: $300-400
The total budget for both of us would be about $4000, so $2000. Does this sound reasonable?
Hostels sound like a great idea, I think we will do that.
I researched and budgeted a little bit more carefully, and this is what I came up with for BOTH of us:
Travel budget: $3200 (including air fare, trains, etc)
Hostels budget: $500 (for 3 nights, we are staying at my friend's apartment in Frankfurt)
Spending money/food budget: $300-400
The total budget for both of us would be about $4000, so $2000. Does this sound reasonable?
#22
Thats's $1000 a week - even w/ three nights free is a pretty low budget. Say you can get hostels for $40-$50 a night (and that is about average) that will leave you about $90 a day for food, entertainment, entrance fees and I assume local non-train transport.
London is expensive -- but most of the museums and galleries are free which helps. But just a the Tower for instance costs a bit over $30 to get in. (you can get 1/2 price entry to the Tower and some other sites - but we won't complicate things explaining the process til you firm up your plans a bit. Plenty of time to talk about travel cards/half price discounts etc)
Paris has slightly cheaper accommodations/food but most museums and sites cost. The Louvre costs about $20 for a combined ticket and a little less for just the main bldg.
I think you need to save just a little more over your $2000 -- $3000 would be more doable.
London is expensive -- but most of the museums and galleries are free which helps. But just a the Tower for instance costs a bit over $30 to get in. (you can get 1/2 price entry to the Tower and some other sites - but we won't complicate things explaining the process til you firm up your plans a bit. Plenty of time to talk about travel cards/half price discounts etc)
Paris has slightly cheaper accommodations/food but most museums and sites cost. The Louvre costs about $20 for a combined ticket and a little less for just the main bldg.
I think you need to save just a little more over your $2000 -- $3000 would be more doable.
#23
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
$400 for 2 weeks for 2 people for food? Did I read that correctly? That's $28 per day for 2 people? $14 each? I hope my math is off. That's starvation rations. You can never eat in a restaurant, never have an ice cream or a glass of wine in a cafe, or buy a bottle of water if you're thirsty.
You didn't account for any sightseeing admission fees. They can be a lot of money.
You need to have more money for this trip.
You didn't account for any sightseeing admission fees. They can be a lot of money.
You need to have more money for this trip.
#24
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How do you recommend we travel from city to city>
no doubt you want to go to the famous cities you've dreamt about seeing for years and that's great but cars are useless in places like Rome, Florence, Paris, London, etc - trains are fantastic and go at high-speed night and day everywhere - if you are under 26 you can get the bargain Eurail Youthpasses and join an international brigade of folks your age hopping trains around Europe.
For lots of great info on European trains I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sources - www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com (download the latter's free and superb IMO European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of rail-oriented itineraries in various countries (http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id2.html).
Overnight trains link zillions of far-removed cities so you can go from one part of Europe to another overnight and also save on the cost of a hotel or hostel.
no doubt you want to go to the famous cities you've dreamt about seeing for years and that's great but cars are useless in places like Rome, Florence, Paris, London, etc - trains are fantastic and go at high-speed night and day everywhere - if you are under 26 you can get the bargain Eurail Youthpasses and join an international brigade of folks your age hopping trains around Europe.
For lots of great info on European trains I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sources - www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com (download the latter's free and superb IMO European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of rail-oriented itineraries in various countries (http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id2.html).
Overnight trains link zillions of far-removed cities so you can go from one part of Europe to another overnight and also save on the cost of a hotel or hostel.
#25
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 26,390
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You said you were going to a travel agent for air fare. Why not go to an online source for airfare like Kayak.com and see if you can get your tickets a little cheaper.
Where are you coming from?
Where are you coming from?
#27
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 26,390
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was coming back to this to suggest cutting the trip to 10 days.
Why not go for 3 days in Frankfurt and stay at your friends and be generous house guests who buy food and make their beds. Then stay in Germany, go to Berlin for 5 or 6 days. Go back to Frankfurt or book a flight out of Berlin.
Again, why are you buying your airfare from a TA? Shop for a fare.
It's a wonderful vibrant city with plenty to do. Particularly so if you are young. It's only a train ride away.
Why not go for 3 days in Frankfurt and stay at your friends and be generous house guests who buy food and make their beds. Then stay in Germany, go to Berlin for 5 or 6 days. Go back to Frankfurt or book a flight out of Berlin.
Again, why are you buying your airfare from a TA? Shop for a fare.
It's a wonderful vibrant city with plenty to do. Particularly so if you are young. It's only a train ride away.