HELP!!! This July, a few of us bachelorettes will be traveling to Europe for the first time. Our ages range from 32-37. We will be visiting Dublin, London, Paris, and Barcelona. We've already booked our transportation and lodging. We are all teachers, so we are on a bugdet. Any tips on where to go (nightclubs/bars), where to eat, and what to see (besides the obvious biggies) would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!

How many days is your trip, and how many days will you spend in each city?

Lee Ann

We'll be in Dublin for 6 days, London 4, Paris 5, Barcelona 7.

Why are you spending more time in Dublin than London or Paris. Dublin is a pretty small (and also pretty boring) city compared to your other destinations. Also the most expensive. And if you are going to Dublin because you want to see "Ireland" then you are missing the best part of Ireland (which is not in Dublin). Unless you have some specific reason to go to Dublin for that long (or at all) I'd rethink things a bit and see if you can't add some of those days to London and/or Paris. Even though you have accommodations booked you can often change things a few days. If you are stuck in Ireland for the six days at least plan to go somewhere else for most of that time ( the west coast is the best).

I have to disagree about Dublin - it's a charming city - although it is quite small. But agree that it has much less to see and do London or Paris. I would reverse the time - spend in Dublin and London.

Ditto. And I would spend less time in Barcelona in favor of a couple of additional days in London and Paris.

I was under the impression that Dublin would be more inexpensive than London. Not only that, but one of the girls suggested spending an extra day in Dublin to recover from jet lag...

"<i>I was under the impression that Dublin would be more inexpensive than London. Not only that, but one of the girls suggested spending an extra day in Dublin to recover from jet lag...</i>"

An extra day maybe -- but <B>6</B> days? Even when I'm spending my whole trip in Ireland -- I wouldn't spend 6 days in Dublin.

If it was me - Id spend 3 days in Dublin (even accounting for the jet lag). 4 days in London is OK if one only <i>has</i> 4 days - same w/ Paris. But you have lots of time, why short change two of the most fantastic cities on earth?

Does your 6/4/5/7 days include travel? If not, you actually have .5 to 1 full day less free time in each city.

In a perfect world I'd probably do 3 days Dublin (4 absolute max), 7 days London, 7 days Paris and 4 or 5 in Barcelona. Dublin is not at all cheap and there are LOTS of ways to economize in London.

"what to see (besides the obvious biggies"

We don't even know if the "obvious biggies" are the correct choice for you since you haven't told us your interests besides "nightclubs/bars." Do you like/hate . . . art? architecture? shopping? hiking? relaxing? strolling? historic homes? What made you choose these cities? Knowing this will help us make better suggestions.

Staying extra days in Dublin because it is less expensive is not the best economy if you're more interested what another city on your list has to offer and you fail to give it enough time to see all you want to see. (I have no experience whether or not Dublin is appreciably less expensive than the other cities you plan to visit.) However, you've booked hotels and transportation, so I'm sure you'll find plenty to do in Dublin.

Oh - darn. I now see you've already booked everything

Are the hotels already paid for? And how are you traveling between cities?

W/ only 3.5 days in London and 4.5 days in Paris you really won't have time to see more than a teensy bit - especially in London. So what are your interests - you need to be pretty selective.

We like art, shopping,architecture, and we are history buffs. Two of us are singers; I'm the jazz singer, so I've already looked up a couple of jazz clubs I'd like to see in Paris. We're flying to London, eurostar to Paris and flying to Barcelona. I will suggest to my travel mates cutting Dublin short a day or two to give ourselves more time in London. We are all still on a budget, so I'll have to see if it is to our benefit, economically speaking. Believe me, I'd LOVE to give London and Paris more time, but my wallet is having some issues with that!! hahaha

If you rent apartments in London and Paris you can save a fortune compared to hotel rooms.

>>Staying extra days in Dublin because it is less expensive is not the best economy if you're more interested what another city on your list has to offer and you fail to give it enough time to see all you want to see. (I have no experience whether or not Dublin is appreciably less expensive than the other cities you plan to visit.) However, you've booked hotels and transportation, so I'm sure you'll find plenty to do in Dublin.<<

For some reason Dublin is *extremely* expensive, and I say that as someone who lives in London. I had major sticker shock. Believe me when I tell you, London is cheaper than Dublin. And Dublin is tiny.

We've already booked our apartments in all of the cities. Thanks for the info on Dublin, Kate. WOW! I honestly thought Dublin would be the least expensive of all the cities. We also thought that London would be the most expensive, which is why we are spending the least amount of time there. Oh well, we don't plan on sleeping much and we intend on having the time of our lives!!!! So, where do we go?!?!? haha

Yup - agree - Dublin is VERY expensive. And I live in London. Food costs a small fortune. It is also one of my least favourite cities, not that attractive, kind of dingy, not much to do.

For bars the most obvious place in Dublin is Temple Bar - but this is also where all the tourists go and the food and drinks will be pricey. Have you thought of maybe staying in Dublin for a couple days and then maybe taking a bus somewhere in the countryside? I honestly cant imagine being able to full 6 full days in Dublin!

Another option is to book a low cost flight to London earlier on an airline like www.ryanair.com (be careful of extra charges and luggage weights) or www.aerlingus.com maybe that would be in budget and be worth the cost?

I'm sure you will have a blast no matter what you end up doing!

Another link you may find helpful:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ee-and-do-.cfm

Barcelona is a fabulous city, not least so for history-buffs, night owls and musiclovers.

I recommend you to visit the largest underground excavation of any ancient city in Europe when in Barcelona. In Museu d'història de la Ciutat, under what is today Barri Gòtic, lies the more than 2000 years old Roman city Barcino. Some 4500 m2 have been excavated, and you can walk through the streets of the ancient town and watch the quite well preserved ruins of public baths, shops, warehouses, homes etc.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Catalonia.html

About Barcino: http://www.hduquesadecardona.com/blo...man-period/57/

You should check the concerts in quite spectacular palau de la Música Catalana: http://www.palaumusica.org/

Many of the greatest flamenco artists are genuine jazz lovers, and I think that many jazz artists would easily connect to flamenco music. The finest flamenco artist in the world perform in Barcelona on a regular basis. The theater program is updated here. http://www.deflamenco.com/agenda/events.jsp?barrio=4

The Tablao Cordobés on central Las Ramblas has performances every night. This tablao has a high standing among the artists themselves and stages only top performers. Both song, guitar and dance, the three elements in flamenco art. http://www.tablaocordobes.com/

Tablao de Carmen also stages top artists every now and then, more and more often it seems: http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/
Named after, and in homeage to, the Barcelona born and raised greatest flamenco dancer of all times, Carmen Amaya (1913-1963).

When it comes to budget eating, I suggest you do as the Spanish: have your main meal at lunch-time (1.30 - 4). Then most restaurants will serve excellent value three-course meals with drinks included for some 10-12€. Also many of the finest restaurants would have excellent menus at affordable prices. Many have a short siesta sleep after lunch, and this will prepare you for a late night starting with some tapas at about 8.

At night, perhaps go tapas hopping in the vibrant El Born area, around the wonderful Santa María del Mar Church. The bars in this area will also lead you into the night: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html

... and great nightlife in the area around the Barceloneta beach, voted nr. three beach in the world by Discovery Channel in 2005. Many would let a day on the beach go on into the night at one of the many bars and clubs in the area. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Barceloneta,_Barcelona

For a history and architecture buff, if you can cut two days from Dublin, spend them in England, in Bath. Outside of London, Bath was really a center for society and has the ancient Roman baths, many ties to US history as well as to the writer, Jane Austen, and beautiful architecture. If you do end up with all that time in Dublin, go to the Art museum. It is a wonderful collection and the museum is lovely.

Go up to Belfast for a few days! You will find the people are better craic, and because you are using pounds everything is half the price!