Banning AirBnB and limiting cruise ships would be a big help.

AirBnB is a classic example of the tragedy of the commons. When it is one apartment in a building, or one house on a block, it's fine, but it doesn't scale. The common benefit being enjoyed - a vibrant or peaceful neighborhood - is destroyed.

Cruise ships - they have their own hotel rooms onboard - maybe more hotel ships?

PixieGal,

Someplace like this in London work for you? Can't cook but you can bring in take-away, and there's a breakfast included. Price is good & Islington is a convenient location.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/9288608...dom&s=2soCksYc

Note that you will be sharing one bathroom with the five of them.

Maybe something like this, without the downside of a shared bath:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1249126...yNu7Xv#reviews

Maybe people with better memories for the most promising tube lines straight into town would be willing to help identify neighborhoods (like Finsbury Park?) with rapid connections to city centers, so you can make the AirBnb searches more efficient. IF not here, on other message boards.

did not you hear on Fodors why airbnb is so dangerous risky to book and has deleterious effects on local housing prices?

Pal--whenever I see that commercial with Viking Cruise ship sailing up the Grand Canal it makes me want to puke.

Well yes I understand - Venice suffers from crowds and a lack of real estate for them to spread out on. Yet kind of a aweing site in Venice to see such a ship dwarfing the city.

PalenQ, some people on this forum are so uptight about rules and guidelines, I bet they get their kicks from standing in the supermarket queue.

Sooo, what about dropping Paris and adding Venice? My daughter says she thought the Eiffel Tower would be cool to see, but it's not a "must" like I earlier thought. She says she'd rather see Ireland, Italy, Greece. I'd love to see Ireland and Greece as well, but they're kind of on opposite sides, lol. Thinking we could drop France and add Italy, but I what do I know? My big map isn't here yet, haha.

Yeh if seeing the Eiffel Tower is your only thing attracting you to Paris definitely cut it. Paris to me however is so so much more than the Eiffel Tower - but no place or city is sacrosanct so yeh cut it - Venice is a visual feast though in mid-summer can be boiling hot and crowded like you've never seen crowds before - elbow to elbow on main drags to St Mark's square.

Massimop, that 2nd one looks great, and cheaper than the first. What am I missing? Obviously I don't know the area.

Nothing can prepare you for the beauty of the Eiffel Tower, especially when lit up at night. Don't miss it!

Yes, Italy will be hot. Better to go to Ireland in the summer, but harder to do by public transport. Maybe a Rabbies tour in Scotland.

Better to go to Ireland in the summer>

and experience spring or fall -times I've been there quite cool and often wet in summer.

(Since she hasn't posted in a very long time you must have seen her posts in one of your past lives)-must be good old Caroline in Edinburgh! Really nice informative poster.

caroline_edinburgh

Type this into Fodors Go box at top of page to retrieve some of her always helpful posts on Edinburgh that though old now may give some useful advice.

156 replies to a general itinerary advice post - must just about be a Fodor's record for such a post?

>>caroline_edinburgh<<

wrong. Caroline hasn't posted about Scotland in years and years. She and her husband moved to Venice ages ago (have you read his book about the adventure? )

Massimop/ was thinking of a different Fodorite - a barrister who lives in Aberdeen - but again hasn't posted since before Massimop's last incarnation. (Hope she is OK)

Not sure you are missing anything other than it not being in the touristic core. (Zone 1) Some info on West Hempstead

http://www.movebubble.com/2015/11/we...-london-guide/

http://www.stuckinlondon.com/londona...thampstead.php

Also, there is a little B&B in West Hempstead, and while I suspect lodgings for 3 would go above your budget, you can read reviews where people talk about the convenience of the location.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...n_England.html

It's been a VERY long time since I lived in north London, and some neighborhoods that were affordable, charming & with zippy transport connections to some of the most famous sights are now posh beyond belief. But just for being in Zone 2, vacation rentals are going to be cheaper. Good locations also exist on the south bank of London, but like I said, somebody with more recent experience than me is going to be better at identifying those spots.

But I have no reason to think West Hampstead isn't safe and with local supermarkets & good transport, plus a few local affordable pubs & takeaways. I didn't read all the reviews on that place but obviously recommend doing so.

Oops jumping to conclusions about Caroline - yes it was Venice and hope she is well too.